Epaper_22-11-19 KHI

Appointment of new CoAS in Couple of dAyS: SAnAullAh

ISLAMABAD staff report

defenceminister Khawaja

Asif on friday said the next army chief would be appointed by next week. in an interview with Geo news show “Aaj shahzeb Khanzada Kay sath”, Kh Asif said: “the process will start rolling on monday and hopefully the decision of this whole matter will be before you by next week and the new army chief’s name will be revealed.”

the defence minister also lashed out at pti chief imran Khan for making the process controversial and casting “aspersions” on the candidates for the next army chief.

“no politician has made the kind of allegations on the army leadership as imran Khan has.” earlier, interior minister rana sanaullah said the matter of the next army chief’s appointment would be set-

tled in a “day or two”. in an interview with Geo news show ‘naya pakistan’, sanaullah said: “i believe the prime minister has completed this process (of consultation about the army chief appointment) and will bring it to paper, today or tomorrow or the

next two days, [it] takes no time.” upon further questioning, the interior minister seemingly reproached the interviewer and said: “i will also request you that this is a matter of a day or two so don’t ask questions which can lead to unnecessary speculation,” adding

that in his opinion there “is not a lot of time left to this decision and it will come before you”.

sanaullah said that a further delay in the matter would not be “appropriate” and the next army chief would be appointed in the next two days.

the interior minister also alleged that the purpose of the pti’s march to islamabad was the army chief’s appointment, rather than snap elections. “the long march is not really present anywhere — it’s only on the media,” he added.

Zardari against ‘Politicising’ aPPointMent: earlier today, former president Asif Zardari said that he strongly believed in the procedure laid out for promotions in the army. commenting on the appointment of the next army chief, the ppp co-chairman added that all three-star generals were equal and fully qualified.

need to revisit counter-terror policy amid ‘war or talks’ scenario: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD staff report

foreign minister bilawal bhutto Zardari on friday said pakistan would not take a solo flight to recognize the interim government of Afghanistan and stressed reviewing the country’s counter-terrorism policy to prevent the resurgence of militancy.

At a press conference held on the completion of six months of the government’s foreign policy, he called the need for an “in-camera review” to reform the approach on counter-terrorism in a bid to prevent the factors that gave rise to militancy in the past.

Asked if peace in Afghanistan meant countering the tehreek-e-taliban pakistan (ttp), he said it was important to internally review the policy.

“never think that the matter of ttp is as blackand-white as either it would be war or negotiations with them,” he said, highlighting that pakistan in recent years had undergone a successful journey to eliminate terrorism and extremism from its soil. however, he said, “there is nothing wrong with reexamining the approach on counter-terrorism viz-a-viz developments in the region”.

Peace in afghanistan crucial for Pakistan region: “when we came to power, we decided to engage with Afghan authorities regardless of

our differences for greater national interest. we won’t take a solo flight on the matter of recognition of the Afghan government,” he said. on closure of chaman border, he said terrorist attacks on pakistan’s security forces from the Afghan side led to closure of the border and urged the Afghan government to take measures not to let their country’s soil used against its neighbour. he said peace in Afghanistan was crucial for pakistan and the region, and urged the international community to get engaged with the interim government of Afghanistan to avert a humanitarian crisis.

Marriyum terms imran’s failed long march ‘work from home’

ISLAMABAD staff report

minister for information and broadcasting marriyum Aurangzeb said on friday that pakistan tehreek-einsaf chairman imran Khan’s failed long march had become “work from home” adventure.

Addressing a press conference, here, she said “imran Khan is in grief as his failed long march had been changed into work from home”.

“our watches show us the time, imran Khan’s watch has shown him his reality (‘ auqat’), she said while taking a jibe at the pti chief. she lamented that imran Khan allegedly sold the watch “having image of the holy Kaaba” for a few “pennies”. she said that today’s address of imran Khan convinced them (the government) that he (imran Khan) had not been hit by the bullet but was hit by grief and sorrow due to failed long march, she alleged. she, however, clarified that revealing the facts regarding imran Khan did not mean she was mocking the pti chairman as he was bedridden due to injury.

the minister said that she was responding to a healthy man who was in the habit of speaking lies, levelling allegations and slandering his opponents including maryam nawaz.

“mr. imran Khan ! people are not foolish and unwise to believe your lies and false allegations,” she said. the minister said that the people of the country had understood the real meaning and moto behind the “haqaqi Azadi march” as they could not be befooled any more. “when the no-confidence motion came against imran Khan, he (imran) said that there was a us conspiracy that wanted to impose an imported government,” she added. she said that imran Khan was a “hypocritical person” who always took u-turns and changed his stance frequently as he (imran) believed that the people of the country were “fools” who would believe in his propaganda of lies.

May 25 long March: Sc SeekS reply froM IMran khan In conteMpt of court caSe

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

tHESupreme Court on Friday

directed Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan to submit a reply to the federal government’s application, which presented material to prove that he (Imran) was aware of the May 25 order before his announcement to reach D Chowk in Islamabad.

A five-member larger bench of the court headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising Justice Ijaz ul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi heard the contempt of court case. The federal government, through the interior ministry, had filed petition for initiating contempt of court proceedings against Imran Khan for violating its May 25 order, wherein the PTI was restricted from holding its long march near the H-9 and G-9 areas of Islamabad. However, Imran Khan made his way towards D-Chowk.

During the course of proceedings, the

chief justice said that the bench hoped Imran Khan’s lawyer would submit correct details. The supreme court used its jurisdiction carefully and it could not issue any order on any expectation, he added.

He said that the court was very conscious about exercising the contempt jurisdiction, but maintained that he was aware of the court’s directions not being obeyed.

Additional Attorney General (AAG) Amir Rehman requested that the Imran Khan should be required to follow the law if the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) administration allowed the PTI to hold its march in Islamabad.

Advocate Salman Aslam Butt, counsel for the Interior Ministry, said that there were some things which could not be presented in the court. The court formed a committee whose names were presented to the court, he added.

Justice Ijaz remarked that at that time the bench had sought names from the parties regarding holding the procession at H-9 ground. The names were submitted before the court after stipulated time and it was also

Pakistan, Sri Lanka agree to continue supporting each other at all fora

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Third Round of Pakistan-Sri Lanka Armed Forces Defence Dialogue (AFDD) was held in Expo Centre Karachi from November 16-17, 2022, in which it was agreed that both the countries will continue to support each other at all regional and international fora. Pakistan delegation was led by Lt Gen (retd) Hamood uz Zaman Khan, Secretary Defence, Sri Lankan delegation was headed by Gen (retd) Kamal Gunaratne, Secretary Defence, says an official statement issued here on Friday. During the Dialogue, Pakistan and Sri Lanka reviewed the existing scope of bilateral military relations and expressed satisfaction on the progress achieved under the umbrella of AFDD. Both the leaders exchanged views on regional security and upcoming challenges. It was agreed that Pakistan and Sri Lanka will continue to support each other at all regional and international fora. The cooperation in the field of defence industry, military training, joint exercises and high level visits will continue. In the end, it was agreed that next meeting of AFDD will be convened in Sri Lanka on mutually agreed dates in 2023.

Cabinet okays tax exemption for Saudi-funded projects

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The federal cabinet on Friday approved tax exemption for Saudi-funded projects in Pakistan. According to details, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have settled their loan concerns, under which Islamabad has accepted Saudi conditions of tax exemption on Riyadh-backed projects in Pakistan. The sources informed that both the countries will sign agreements during a ceremony likely to be held during the Saudi crown prince’s visit to Pakistan. Saudi Arabia has decided to grant Pakistan $382 million for four projects in exchange for tax exemption. The projects include $3.5 million for Jagran-IV hydropower project in scenic Neelum Valley; $240 million for Mohmand Dam project and gravity flow water Mansehra project and others.

stated that jammers were present at that time, he added.

Salman Aslam Butt, called for the bench to pass directions for obtaining call direct records (CDRs) in order to verify that phones were working in the area where Imran’s convoy was protesting on May 25. At that time, all information was available on social media, he added.

Justice Mazahar Naqvi asked how the CDRs would be helpful. He questioned how the May 25 order was communicated to Imran Khan as the PTI chief may not have been in possession of his phone at the time.

Salman Butt said that Imran Khan was holding a mobile phone in his hand during the protest.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial said that the order that was given at that time was circulated within half an hour. He said that the court would hear arguments of Imran Khan’s counsel instead of the articles written in the newspapers.

Salman Butt said that the question was whether mobiles were working on the container or not. “My answer is that there were mobile towers operating near the

containers at that time,” he added.

On this, the chief justice said that in this matter the bench had to consider carefully before proceeding further.

The court remarked that the petitioner submitted an application detailing the contacts. A reply was filed last night to which the opposing party needs time to

respond, it added.

The bench remarked that the counsel for the opposite party should submit his reply and the USB produced before the court should also be provided to the opposite party.

Subsequently, hearing of the case was adjourned for one week.

PM to appoint new COAS as per law, says Zardari

Staff RepoRt

Former President and President of Pakistan People’s Party Parliamentarians (PPPP) Asif Ali Zardari has said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will appoint the new Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) in line with the law and the Constitution.

The spokesman for Bilawal House on Friday quoted Asif Ali Zardari as saying that “they strongly believe in the system of promotion in Pakistan Army”.

He said that all the “three-star generals are equal and they are fully able to lead the Pakistan Army”. He was of the view that the matter of new COAS

appointment must not be “politicized” at any cost, which could cause “damage to the institution”.

PPPP ENTRuSTS PM wITH APPOINTMENT OF NExT ARMy CHIEF: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the ally of the government, entrusted Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif with the matter of army chief appointment.

According to details, a consultative meeting of Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) was held in Islamabad, wherein it was agreed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would deal with the matter of army chief appointment.

During the meeting, the participants of the meeting opined that the prime minister should make the appointment as

per the constitution and law.

Speaking on the occasion, PPP CoChairman Asif Ali Zardari said that he doesn’t have any favourite individual as he believes in the ability of all the officers.

Earlier, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif rejected the rumours about a deadlock on the shortlisted names’ and the exact time of the appointment process for the new Chief of Army Staff (COAS).

While talking to journalists outside the Parliament House building, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif was questioned about the rumoured deadlock on the COAS name between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) co-chairman Asif Ali

Zardari.

To this, Asif responded, “How can a deadlock be created without even starting the consultation process for the appointment of new COAS?” He added that consultations for the COAS appointment will be held after November 18 or 19.

He further clarified that the ruling Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) has no favourite name for the COAS appointment. Asif said that consultations will only be held on the shortlisted names forwarded to the federal government by the Pakistan Army.

“Pakistan Army has not yet sent the shortlisted names for the army chief’s appointment.”

SECP releases annual report on reforms introduced in 2021-22

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbaS

The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has released its annual report for the financial year 2021-22, highlighting reforms introduced in the capital market and the corporate sector for enhancing efficiency, transparency, depth and ease for the investors. In his message published in the report SECP Chairman Aamir Khan expressed satisfaction that the Commission has achieved significant progress in multiple areas to support innovation, entrepreneurship and market development.

Mr Khan said that promoting digitalisation, simplifying regulatory structure, reducing cost of compliance and invigorating the exchange of ideas have been the basis to pursue developmental reforms.

During the year SECP automated the process for submitting IPO applications by the issuers, as the opening of news accounts by small investors has been simplified through a new category of “Sehl Account”, allowing the investors to be on-boarded through microfinance banks backed by telecom providers.

Among the new initiatives and achievement of frameworks that the commission had been planning for

some time includes starting of the “Digital mortgage certificates and statutory returns”. The SECP has started issuance of digital mortgage certificates and acknowledgement of annual and other returns which is equivalent to the physical certificate for all legal purposes.

The other such achievements includes “Online portal for companies’ easy exit” which is aimed at automated and simplified processes of easy exit. A private or public unlisted company which ceases to operate and has no known assets and liabilities, may apply directly to the registrar to strike its name off the register of companies through a simplified way instead of submitting a winding up petition to the court.

The “Digital portal for banks” launched in coordination with the state bank, in March 2021, the portal became fully functional in the fiscal 2021-22, enabling all banks to open corporate accounts without seeking physically certified copies of statutory documents from its customers.

“Automation of Public Subscription Process,” through enhanced accessibility, the automation of public subscription process has resulted in addition of 5,835 new retails investors, “Operationalisation of PCM Pursuant to the launch of first Professional Clearing Member (PCM)” allows the trading-only brokers have

been successfully on-boarded to provide custody and settlement services through PCM.

“Amendments to the Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations, 2020” allows companies to convert from one class of shares into another class, issue shares with differential rights without approval of SECP, and provide a mechanism for valuation of noncash assets. During the last fiscal the SECP has centralized the licensing function to standardize and streamline regulatory approvals through a unified department to handle all licensing applications.

The consolidation of operations is expected to promote consistent decision-making, leading to improved user experience. In September 2021, Special Purpose Acquisition Companies Public Offering Regulations, 2017 were amended allowing capital market professionals to issue securities and raise capital by forming a special purpose company for entering into merger or acquisition transactions.

“Market making for debt securities” and the regulator has allowed financial institutions including Banks, DFIs, PDs, AMCs etc. to act as market makers, as a result increasing secondary debt market liquidity and 16 financial institutions have been registered as market makers.

SC directs Imran Khan to obey rules during party’s long march

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court on Friday ordered PTI chief and former prime minister Imran Khan to follow law and obey rules during his party’s long march.

During the hearing of the contempt case against PTI Chief Imran Khan, Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandia remarked that the Supreme Court used its authority in a cautious way, saying it initiated contempt proceedings only when its orders were flouted.

A five-judge larger bench of the Supreme Court headed by CJP Bandial and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Muneeb Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, and

Justice Mazahir Ali Naqvi heard the contempt of court case against former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on Friday. At the start of the hearing, the PTI’s counsel submitted a detailed reply from Imran in to the court.

To which, Chief Justice of Pakistan Bandial remarked that the court hoped the PTI chief must have submitted a reply based on truth and facts, adding the court could not issue any order at this juncture. He remarked that the court always used its authority carefully and initiated contempt proceedings only when its orders were disobeyed.

Lawyer Salman Aslam Butt, appeared in the court on behalf of the federal government, said that the government had submitted its reply in detail. He said

jammers were not installed during the PTI long march on May 25. He contended that the tweets of PTI leaders were available posted on that day. He said how come it was possible to post a tweet if there were jammers, adding that the PTI leaders were also giving interviews to the media. He said he submitted a USB to the court along with his reply which contained PTI leaders’ tweets records showing that jammers were not in place on that day. The chief justice remarked that he hoped that Imran’s lawyer would give a truthful reply regarding this assertion.

The court, however, allowed time to PTI lawyer Salman Akram Raja for submission of his reply.

During the hearing, the additional

attorney general requested the court to bind the PTI to obey the law if it allowed the party to hold its rally. To this, the top judge remarked that there was already the May 25 court order available in this regard.

CJP Bandial said that he hoped that the PTI would act upon the law. He, however, ordered the party to obey rules.

After that, the court adjourned the hearing till next week.

IHC ASKS PTI TO FILE FRESH NOC

PLEA FOR ISLAMABAD SIT-IN: The Islamabad High Court (IHC) Friday asked Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to file a fresh NOC plea for a sit-in in the federal capital.

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq took up the petitions filed by local traders and the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf against and

in favor of a long march and possible sitin in Islamabad.

During the course of the hearing, PTI’s lawyer said that the plaintiff Ali Nawaz Awan is out of the city and will not be available in today’s hearing. To, this the Deputy Attorney General of Pakistan Fazlur Rehman Niazi said they were unaware of where they have to appear before the court. Niazi also gave a reference to the closure of motorways during the recent protest of PTI.

IHC CJ Aamer Farooq observed that the long march cannot be stopped and asked the PTI counsel to show some ‘responsibility’. He also directed the PTI to file a fresh NOC plea for a sit-in in Islamabad and added administration should ensure that roads are not blocked.

KARACHI

ecc allowS to apply pSo’S weIghteD average preMIuM for hSD prIce coMputatIon

ISLAMABAD Shahzad paRacha

tHEEconomic Coordination Committee (ECC) has allowed to apply PSO’s weighted average premium (KPC & Spot) for HSD price computation as per Federal Govt applicable policy guidance.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar presided over the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC), today.

Sources said that the Ministry of petroleum submitted the summary on High Speed Diesel (HSD)/Gas Oil premium.

It was told that ECC on November 4, 2022 had allowed a premium on HSD imports subject to maximum capping at $15/BBI for importing OMC during the months of November and December 2022.

However, the oil industry expressed serious concerns regarding procurement of

HSD as the product molecule is either not available in the gulf market or higher premiums are being charged in view of country specific risk factors in relation to supplies to Pakistan.

Consequently, the matter was again placed before the ECC for allowing premium on HSD import without capping at any upper limit and subsequently, ECC on November 14, 2022 approved premium on HSD import for the month of November 2022 only subject to maximum capping at $16.75/bbl.

Meanwhile, PSO spot tender opened on November 16 for HSD delivery during November 26 to December 5, 2022 has turned out to be non-responsive as no valid bid was received. this points towards the apprehension that currently the product is short in the international/gulf market and procurement thereof will most likely be at higher premium. any further delay in decision making on premium issues will make procurement more difficult,

discouraging the OMCs to import accordingly, there are strong changes of HSD shortages in the country.

Petroleum division asked ECC to apply PSO’s weighted average premium (KPC & Spot) for HSD price computation as per Federal Govt applicable policy guidance and in case of higher HSD premium paid by importing OMCs other than PSO, the

differential of premium may be conveyed by OGRA with relevant documents for consideration and approval of ECC of the cabinet before its adjustment through IFEM.

According to Finance ministry Press release, the ECC recommended that PSO’s weighted average premium (KPC & Spot) may be applied for HSD price computation as per Federal Govt applicable policy

Aisha Ghaus Pasha tells NA country faces no default risk

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha on Friday informed the National Assembly “in categorical terms” that the country faces no risk of default.

Speaking on the floor of nation Assembly during Question Hour, the Minister of State for Finance claimed that the country was faced with a difficult situation when the present coalition government came into power as the IMF program was suspended. “We have revived the IMF program while improvement is being seen in exports and remittances are also pouring in the country.” She claimed the investors were showing interest for investment in the country as a result of reform introduced by the incumbent government.

The Minister of State said the international community had shown the intent to help Pakistan in the post-flood reconstruction and rehabilitation efforts.

Aisha Ghaus Pasha said policies are being framed to enhance the size of the

formal economy by bringing potential taxpayers into the tax net. She said the entire supply chain from import to retail is being integrated with the FBR system to ensure documentation. She said responsibility rested with every Pakistani to pay taxes in order to provide funds for the health, education, transport, defense and other sectors.

Aisha Ghaus Pasha said both internal and external factors are behind the current price hike and it is the priority of the government to check it.

On the occasion, Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi said that damage assessment had been completed in Punjab and Gilgit-Baltistan while surveys of other provinces would be completed by the end of this month. He said damage assessment in Sindh and Balochistan could not be completed as water was still standing in certain areas. He was confident that the data of damage assessment will be available by the first week of next month.

Minister for Commerce Naveed Qamar said Pakistan’s trade with the

UAE had increased mainly due to the effort of the government.

On the other hand, the National Assembly passed a resolution reassuring to safeguard rights of all children as enshrined in the 1973 constitution and under the UN Convention on Rights of Child for a more equal and inclusive Pakistan.

The resolution moved by Mehnaz Akbar Aziz recognized the rights of every child as well as mothers and the need for provision of best available early care and safe environment for all children.

The resolution strongly condemned merciless practices of child trafficking, abuse, pornography and prostitution and recommended strong legislation and its implementation to curb these inhumane and brutal offenses. It also reaffirmed to tackle the menace of child and bonded labor as enshrined in the constitution.

The resolution pledged to ensure inclusion of children’s voices in important matters to establish peace and harmony in the society.

It committed to create equal opportunities for all to acquire quality education in true letter and spirit.

The house resolved to invest time and effort for reducing malnutrition in children and mothers and combat the menace of stunted growth amongst children to protect the future of Pakistan.

The house through its resolution further committed that the child who is physically mentally or socially handicapped shall be given the special treatment, education and care as required by his condition.

The resolution pledged to provide more opportunities for children’s civic engagement and participation as inclusion is pivotal to the future of democracy.

The house reiterated to further support and strengthen the parliamentary caucus on child rights for child centered legislation, advocacy and oversight.

The house offered fateha for those who died in a traffic accident at Sehwan Sharif. The house will now meet on Monday at five pm.

Pakistan’s fruits, vegetable export to China crosses $54 million in Jan-Sept 2022

BEIJING Staff RepoRt

Pakistan’s fruits and vegetable export to China topped $54.34 million, witnessing a massive increase in the month of January-September year-on-year, showed data from the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).

According to GACC, imports of dried leguminous vegetables (commodity code 07139090), amounted to $6.17 million, with imports totaling more than 4,040 tons in the January-September period, compared with $3.97 million in the same period last year.

Ahmed Raza, a Pakistani fruits and vegetable exporter, told China Economic Net that in wake of the high demand for fruits and vegetables in the Chinese market, Pakistani traders have an imperial opportunity to increase their exports and grow as a food basket

for China.

“Chinese people like Pakistani fruits & vegetables because of their good taste and high quality. If we enhance the techniques used by China to offer high-end products, the export value will increase,” he added.

three die in chagmalai IeD blast

SOUTH WAZIRISTAN Staff RepoRt

An improvised explosive device (IED) blasted in a local market of Chagmalai sub town in Servikai Tehsil, leaving three people dead. The blast rocked the area and left at least three people dead. The incident which took place immediately after the Friday congregation prayers also left two people injured, the rescue sources added. The deceased included Farid Shikari, Mustafa and Rehman Wali while Rehmat Khan and Zar Salam got injured. The bodies and injured were shifted to Jandola hospital.

He further said that the flood badly affected many sectors of Pakistan including agriculture. Many crops including rice, sugarcane, fruits and vegetables vanished by the flood but these crops should be replanted as soon as possible to cover the losses and increase exports,

he stressed.

“Due to climate changes, when our farmers harvest fresh fruits and vegetables, they encounter difficulties in storage, transportation, and preservation. Pakistani farmers are very helpless watching the fresh fruits and vegetables gradually deteriorate with the passage of time. To solve this problem China and Pakistan should further enhance cooperation in the fields of vegetable & fruit planting, storage, processing and make it highend products,” he mentioned.

It is to be noted that despite the pandemic of COVID-19 and the flood in Pakistan, bilateral trade between Pakistan and China has increased significantly. Pakistan’s exports stood at $ 2.57 billion in the first nine months (January- September) of FY22, up 2 percent from $ 2.51 billion in the same period of the previous year, which grew for three consecutive years.

guidance and in case of higher HSD premium paid by importing OMCs other than PSO, the differential of premium will be computed in the price.

The Ministry of Industries and Production submitted a summary on procurement of 200KMT Urea and shared that the Ministry has negotiated on various options including import from Chinese firms who have committed to supply the negotiated quantity of Urea fertilizer at the lowest rate. The ECC after discussion allowed TCP to proceed ahead for import of 125,000 MT on G2G basis from China for meeting demand of Urea fertilizer and import of 35000 MT on G2G basis through M/s Socar from Azerbaijan. The ECC further directed TCP to explore feasible options for importing the remaining quantity of Urea fertilizer to meet the strategic reserves of 200,000 MT.

The ECC also approved a technical supplementary grant of Rs. 115 million in favour of the Ministry of Housing and Works.

Flood damage survey to be completed by early December, NA told

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbasi on Friday said that the joint survey to assess the damage caused by the disaster in the remaining districts of Sindh, Balochistan would be completed by relevant district administration, Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) and National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) in the first week of December 2022. Responding to the query of Ms Alia Kamran in the National Assembly during question hour, he said the joint survey was necessary for a comprehensive plan for the rehabilitation of the affected people. The survey was delayed as the water has not yet receded in various floodhit areas of Sindh and Balochistan. A total of 1,750 people were killed in the floods and each family has already been paid Rs 1 million as compensation.

President’s actions will be supported by Imran: Fawad Ch

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior leader and former federal minister President Arif Alvi on Friday said that whatever initiatives will be taken by President Arif Alvi be backed by party chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan. Fawad Chaudhry said on Twitter that President Alvi will fulfill his constitutional responsibility in appointing the Army Chief, adding that he [Fawad] wants to emphasize –the point here – that whatever initiatives Arif Alvi takes, Imran Khan will support them all.

DG GDA reviews pace of work on Gwadar Old Town Restoration Project

GWADAR Staff RepoRt

Director General (DG) of Gwadar Development Authority (GDA) Mujibur Rahman Qambrani Friday visited the Gwadar Old Town Restoration Project and reviewed the ongoing work on the restoration and conservation projects of historical heritage Char Padgu, Tar Office, Shahi Bazar, Ismailia Mohalla and Omani Fort. On the occasion, Director General GDA said that the historical and cultural places of Gwadar are currently in a dilapidated condition. “Their restoration and preservation has been included in the city’s development plans, which are part of the Old Town Revitalization Plan,” he said adding that high quality will be ensured in their preservation and restoration work.

Govt borrows $4.255b in first four months of FY-2022-23

ISLAMABAD Shahzad paRacha

The government has borrowed $4.255 billion from multiple financing sources from July to October of the current fiscal year 2022-23.

According to the Economic Affairs Division, the government has obtained $4.255 billion from multiple financing sources during the first four months of the current fiscal year compared to $3.898 billion borrowed during the same period of the last fiscal year.

The country received $2.322 billion

from multilaterals, $497.44 million from bilaterals and $1.166 billion from IMF during July-October FY22-23. The nonproject aid was $3.668 billion including $3.101 billion for budgetary support and project aid was $587.42 million.

China disbursed $54.93 during the first four months of FY22-23 against the government budget estimates of $49.02 million for the current fiscal year, however. Saudi Arabia disbursed $400 million against the budgeted $800 million. The US disbursed $10.34 million during the period under review against the budgeted $32.49 million for the

current fiscal year. Korea disbursed $16.63 million and France $8.40 million during the first four months of the current fiscal year. According to the document, the Asian Development Bank (ADB) disbursed $1.635 billion during the first four months of FY 22-23.

The IDA disbursed $459.25 million, IBRD $41.89 million, Islamic Development Bank $13.40 million and the IsDB (Short-term) disbursed $155.53 million.

Meanwhile, the government has borrowed $200 million from foreign commercial banks during the first four

months of FS 2022-23.

The government also procured $2.017 billion external loans in October 2022 mainly due to the disbursement of $1.522 billion by ADB compared to $692.57 million during the same month of the last fiscal year.

The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has disbursed $1.166 billion during the period under review.

It is pertinent to note that the government has budgeted foreign assistance of $22.8 for FY23 including $7.5 billion from foreign commercial banks, and $161.46 million in grants.

StandinG witH imran KHan

‘LiKE a roCK’: SH raSHid

rAWALPINDI staff report

aWAMIMuslim League

(AML) Chief Sheikh Rashid has said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan will reach Rawalpindi next week before November 25, asserting he was standing with the former premier “like a rock”.

“Imran will announce the long march entry date to Islamabad on Saturday (tomorrow) and God willing it will begin by next Friday,” AML Chief Sheikh Rashid said while addressing a press conference at Lal Haveli here on Friday.

Criticizing the incumbent government, the former interior minister stated that the coalition partners had failed to run the country and were leading Pak-

istan towards default. “These people came through a deal and it is time they leave. Imran Khan’s demand is ab-

SHC orders ECP to release schedule for LG polls in Karachi, Hyderabad

KArAchI staff report

The Sindh High Court (SHC) on Friday ordered the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to immediately release the schedule for LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The reserved verdict on pleas filed by Jamaat-e-Islami and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf, seeking immediate LG polls in Karachi and Hyderabad, the court ordered Sindh government to provide security and other facilities for the LG polls.

A bench headed by Chief Justice (CJ) Sindh High Court (SHC) Justice Ahmed Ali Sheikh reserved its verdict on November 14.

It may be noted that the Muttahida Qaumi MovementPakistan had moved SHC seeking delay in the Karachi and Hyderabad LG polls until new amendments in the LG Law.

Earlier, the Sindh High Court (SHC) issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and the Sindh chief secretary on Jamaat-e-Islami’s request to set the date of LG elections in the province immediately. The second phase of LG elections was scheduled to be held on August 28, but the ECP postponed it due to torrential rains and floods in the province. The request to fix the new date of the local body elections in Sindh at the earliest has been filed by the Secretary of Jamaat-e-Islami Karachi Munim Zafar and Saifuddin.

It was worth mentioned here that Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Sindh president and former federal minister Syed Ali Haider Zaidi had earlier demanded that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) should hold local government elections in Karachi as soon as possible and on a single day.

Zaid asked the ECP why there was no discussion about compliance with the Supreme Court verdict in this regard. The continuous postponement of the local government elections in Karachi was a political decision that favoured the PPP and “their partners in crime, the MQM”, he said, adding that everyone knew that the PTI was heading towards a sweeping victory in Karachi and the only way to stop it was to postpone the election process on “flimsy excuses like a lack of security personnel”.

solutely valid,” he added. Sh Rashid claimed the upcoming eight days were “very important.” The senior politician

said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief Imran Khan will announce date on which he will reach Rawalpindi, adding that Imran Khan and other party leaders would be his guests at Lal Haveli.

Sh Rashid observed that country’s condition is becoming tense with every passing day and the masses want decisions. The former interior minister said Imran Khan’s demand for early elections in the country was legitimate as it was the only solution to steer the country out of prevailing crises. The AML chief also stated to accord warm welcome to Imran despite threats. “Our protest will be peaceful and no one will take the law into their hands,” he declared.

Commenting on the meeting between Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and President Dr Arif Alvi, Sh Rashid said he was also planning to meet the president.

20 devotees from same family drown in Sehwan floodwater

KArAchI agencies

At least 20 people, including 12 children, from the same family were killed and several others sustained injuries when a van carrying devotees fell into a deep ditch filled with floodwater in Sindh province, the police said. The accident took place on Thursday night when the devotees were heading towards the revered Sufi shrine in Sehwan Sharif when the van fell into a 30-feet-wide ditch adjacent to the Indus Highway near Khairpur where floodwater had accumulated during the recent floods.

“All the passengers belonged to the same family and were visiting the shrine for ziarat,” Deputy Commissioner Fariduddin Mustafa said.

Mustafa said that the van driver failed to see the barricades raised along the route.

“There was a ditch adjacent to the highway where floodwater had accumulated during the recent floods.” According to the police, the bodies have been retrieved and shifted to Syed Abdullah Shah Institute

Sehwan Sharif.

Meanwhile, the head of Syed Abdullah Shah Institute of Medical Sciences (SASIMS), Dr Moin Siddiqui, said that 20 bodies had been brought to the hospital. He said the deceased included eight women, six girls, and six boys, adding that the bodies had not yet been identified.

“But they are from the same family,” Siddiqui confirmed, adding that the driver also hailed from Khairpur Mirus.

President Dr Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed grief over the loss of lives in a traffic accident near Sehwan Sharif in Sindh.

In their separate messages, the president and the prime minister extended their condolences to the families of the deceased. Former President Asif Ali Zardari expressed grief over the tragic accident.

Sindh and Balochistan – the worst-hit regions during the recent floods in Pakistan-witnessed a 784 per cent and 496 per cent increase in the monsoon deluge. The rain in these provinces broke the 30-year record for the month of July.

Mobile import decreases 64.94pc in four months

ISLAMABAD staff report

The import of mobile phones witnessed a decrease of 64.94 per cent during the first four months of the current fiscal year (2022-23) as compared to the corresponding period of last year.

Pakistan imported mobile phones worth US $226.051 million from July-October (2022-23)

as compared to the imports of US $644.672 million during July- October (2021-22), showing a decline of 64.94 per cent, according to the latest data released by Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS).

Meanwhile, on a year-to-year basis, the import of mobile phones also dipped by 56.06 per cent during the month of October 2022, as compared to the same month of last year.

The import of mobile phones during October 2022 was recorded at $65.780 million against the exports of $149.712 million in October 2021.

On a month-on-month basis, the imports of mobile phones increased by 12.62 per cent during October 2022, as compared to the imports of US $58.407 million during September 2022, according to the data.

Four killed, another injured in Kharan house firing

QUETTA staff report

Four members of a same family were killed and one injured when unidentified attackers stormed their house near Dairy Farm Kharan in the wee hours of Friday. According to police sources, unidentified armed men stormed the house of Sheikh Saleem Ahmad in the night. The intruders opened indiscriminate firing, killing four members of the family while another sustained critical gunshot wounds. A private news channel reported that on information the police rushed to the scene and shifted the injured and dead bodies Kharan Civil Hospital.

The police sources informed that two of the deceased were identified as Sheikh Saleem Ahmad, son of Abdul Salam, and Seet Islam, son of Amir Bakhsh while the injured was identified as Dashad, son of Abdul Ghafoor.

The identity of the other two persons could not be ascertained yet. The police have launched further investigation with no clue to the culprits. The motive behind the incident is yet to be ascertained, informed a police official while seeking not to be named. He added: “We are investigating the matter and it is premature to say something about this incident.”

Four leopards shock residents in Capital’s Saidpur village

ISLAMABAD agencies

In a rare appearance close to human habitation, as many as four common Asian leopards Thursday evening intruded on Saidpur village located next to the protected area, and hunted a goat, causing panic among residents.

Media reports said that announcements were made through mosques requesting people to remain indoors. The Islamabad Police spokesman said that in case of any emergency, information can be shared at the 15 services.

The Islamabad Wildlife Management Board (IWMB) staff rushed to the spot to ensure the protection of the masses and the endangered wild cats after it received the information that a few leopards were spotted inside Saidpur village at 7:30pm, an IWMB staffer on the ground told media while sharing details of the incident after a small clip of leopards made the rounds on social media. The video, only a few seconds long, was made by locals. It showed a leopard and a crowd of locals throwing spotlights at the wild cat. The IWMB official maintained that he was a resident of Saidpur and had received the information from the IWMB official number. He said residents had gathered on the spot like “spectators of a fun fair” which was risky as the wild animal could have been provoked by the sounds of hooting and attacked.

He brushed aside media reports of more than half a dozen goats and cows being killed by the wandering leopards, saying they had attacked a single goat and left it after residents created noise to flee the cats. The IWMB official said the area residents were reluctant to leave the spot so that the leopards could also go back to their habitat.

“I had requested the Islamabad Police mobile on patrol to disperse the gathered crowd but they didn’t pay heed to it and left the spot.”

The leopards, however, left the spot after a while and no person was harmed, he said, adding, “the leopards have not intruded in the human settlement rather humans have encroached into their habitat as the leopard attacked the goats in a newly built dwelling by the residents which are illegal and within the national park.”

Int’l donor conference: Planning Commission picks up implementation of flood recovery framework

ISLAMABAD staff report

The Ministry of Planning Development and Special Initiatives has geared up its efforts to implement the Resilient Recovery and Reconstruction Framework (3 RD) while engaging the donors before presenting it to the donor conference to be held soon.

Secretary Planning Commission Syed Zafar Ali Shah on Friday chaired a consultative meeting with the donors and diplomats representing various countries so a comprehensive rehabilitation plan comprising shortterm and long-term could be presented before the donor conference.

Last month, the Planning Commission in collaboration with the World Bank, Asian Development Bank (ADB), United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) and the European Union conducted Post-Disaster

Needs Assessment (PDNA) and called for coordinated international support.

The consultative meeting was attended by the representatives of donors and officials of the Planning Commission. Member Infrastructure Planning gave a detailed briefing to the participants highlighting the shortterm and long-term rehabilitation plan in 17 sectors particularly in Infrastructure, education and health.

During the meeting, the secretary Planning Commission informed the participants that the basic objective of this meeting is to expedite the consultative process by engaging the donors before presenting a comprehensive plan in the donor conference. “The 17-sectors have been properly covered in the 3 RD which needs maximum funds to rebuild climate resilient infrastructure in flood-affected areas,” said Syed Zafar Ali Shah, while appreciating the donors for supporting Pakistan.

During the meeting, several projects were highlighted which have been recently started by the provincial governments after the recent floods in collaboration with the donor based on climate resilience.

It is noted that the majority of the projects will be executed by the provinces in their relevant sectors like the ML-1 project which will be executed by the Pakistan Railway. The Railway track has been badly affected in the flood.

“The consultative process will continue and the ministry will hold another round of meetings next week before finalizing a concrete plan which will plan the country to uplift in the rehabilitation phase, ” he added.

Pakistan strongly pleaded its case before the COP27 Climate Conference in Sharm ElSheikh and urged the world to support it despite it having a less than 1% contribution in global warming.

The donor appreciated the efforts of the Planning Commission and assured to con-

tinue their support in the second phase of rehabilitation.

PunjAB cABInET APPROvES RS300 PER mAund SuPPORT PRIcE fOR SugARcAnE

LaHore Staff RepoRt

The cabinet made it mandatory for sugar mills of Punjab to start sugarcane crushing from Nov 25. The cabinet also granted approval for engaging the Bank of Punjab in the Ehsaas Rashan Riyat programme.

The cabinet meeting also approved promotion of Director General Rescue-1122 Dr Rizwan Naseer from grade 20 to 21. The CM appreciated that the Rescue-1122 team provided assistance to the flood-affected people during the flood.

The provincial cabinet also granted approval to formulate regulations for registration of electric vehicles. It was decided in principle to run electric rickshaws in Punjab. The CM said that 50 per cent subsidy would be provided to electric vehicles in respect of taxes. Approval was granted to fill 3,000 vacant posts in the Punjab police de-

partment.

Approval was also granted to purchase drones for the police and to disburse Rs350 billion grant among the bar associations.

Approval was granted to extend the contract of Chief Operating Officer Punjab Safe City Authority Kamran Khan by two years.

Approval was accorded to a memorandum of understanding (MoU) signed between the PSCA and Huawei.

The cabinet granted approval to appoint president of LDA Tribunal, amendment to Punjab Drug Rules, revamping of provincial quality control board, annual re-

port on the State of Women Punjab Commission, audit reports about the accounts of Punjab government, audits of accounts of public sector enterprise, Government of the Punjab.

Rules and regulations for the appointment of chairman Zakat & Usher Council, amendment to Quaid-e-Azam Library Schedule Regulation 1984, amendment to the Punjab Public Library General Regulation 2012, to review the contract of Quaid-e-Azam Business Park and the payment of three months notice period salary to the former chairman RUDA were also

Need to revisit counter-terror policy amid ‘war or talks’ scenario: Bilawal

Continued from page 01

He also called upon the authorities in Afghanistan to fulfill the pledges, especially related to human rights and women’s education.

He mentioned that the nation’s whole-hearted support helped ending terrorism from the tribal areas including North Waziristan.

Foreign Policy objectives

Bilawal said the coalition government had put in good efforts to restore the foreign policy objectives by holding ‘meaningful’ high-level diplomatic engagements.

He mentioned that the country’s foreign policy was on positive trajectory to help achieve the goals of development by addressing important issues including counter-terrorism, security and economic cooperation.

Pak-US relations “de-hyphenated”

He said the government’s focus was to prioritize the national interest and emphasized maintaining a balanced relationship and a positive outreach with all countries including the United States and China. He said the relations between Pakistan and the US had been “dehyphenated”.

The foreign minister said persistent implementation of both action plans mainly countering money-laundering and terror-financing would remain high on the government’s agenda.

He mentioned that due to GSP Plus, the country’s export outlook witnessed an exponential growth of 80 percent in recent times.

The foreign minister said Pakistan was actively pursuing the activities at various international forums including the United Nations, Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), Organization of Islamic Cooperation

(OIC), Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN), Conference of Parties (COP27) and G-77 etc.

The foreign minister emphasized focusing on ‘trade instead of aid’ with other countries to put the country on path of economic stability.

Mr Khan U-tUrn aMerican consPiracy

Asked about the change in stance of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan regarding the ‘US cipher conspiracy, he said, “We welcome the latest U-turn of Mr Khan on leaving the American conspiracy behind”.

He stressed that there had never been a conspiracy by the United States as was earlier stated by Imran Khan. He said Pakistan and the U.S. enjoyed historic relationship in the interest of their people. He termed current political climate in the country ‘a storm in the teacup’, regretting the apathy of Imran

Khan in the midst of several challenges faced by the country.

He regretted that wrongdoings of the past resulted in agricultural and educational crisis in the country.

Bilawal said Pakistan wanted a peaceful engagement with all neighbouring countries to ensure regional development and prosperity.

However, he pointed out the involvement of a neighbouring country in carrying out nefarious activities of terrorism in Balochistan.

Regarding climate disaster affecting Pakistan, he stressed continued support at national and international level to minimize the catastrophic impact on economy. On Pak-Iran gas pipeline, he emphasized resolution of issues and hurdles through the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA) so as to get maximum benefit from the development project.

Appointment of new COAS in couple of days: Sanaullah

Continued from page 01

“The army chief’s appointment should not be politicised at any cost,” he said, adding that making the process political would harm the institution.

Zardari said that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would make the decision about the next army chief in accordance with the law.

Imran claims Nawaz wants to influence pick:

Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan alleged that PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif wanted to influence the appointment of the next army chief.

“The army chief is a professional soldier [but] Nawaz tries turning that person into the Punjab police chief. I know Nawaz will tell the army chief to somehow get rid of Imran Khan,” he said, adding that the PML-N leader was not “used to playing with a neutral umpire”.

Imran also claimed that Nawaz would urge the new army chief to wrap up the litany of corruption cases against him and not hold elections until he was sure he could win. Separately, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry said that President Arif Alvi would fulfil his constitutional responsibility in the appointment of the army chief.

“Let me just clarify that whatever step the president takes will have complete backing from Imran Khan,” he tweeted.

Marriyum terms Imran’s failed long march ‘work from home’

from page 01

“Today question mark is not on Imran Khan but the biggest question mark (credibility) was on those who believed in the leadership of Imran Khan,” she maintained. Marriyum said that first time in the history of Pakistan, the motion of no confidence was tabled through the constitutional method in which the allies of Imran Khan voted against him.

She said, after realising that the noconfidence motion would be successful, Imran Khan in the closed door meeting had offered to the Chief of Army Staff extension for an indefinite period.

She said that in public Imran Khan made sarcastic statements like Mir Jafar, Mir Sadiq and called neutrals as “animals”. She recalled that when the no-confidence motion was moved by the opposition, it was accepted by the then speaker and allowed discussion before voting on it.

“When Imran Khan was convinced that the no-confidence movement would be successful, he adopted the narrative of an external conspiracy,” she added.

The minister also played video clips of Imran Khan during a press conference in which Imran Khan purportedly took various stances after the no-confidence motion tabled in the National Assembly.

She said that Imran Khan misguided the public by “telling lies and frequently cheating people”.

She recalled that when the noconfidence motion began to succeed, Imran started “threatening to shut down

the entire country”.

She said that Imran Khan had forced the then National Assembly speaker and deputy speaker “for the violation of the Constitution” and during the meeting with his party members, he asked them to keep “playing with cipher”.

She said that Imran Khan then illegally dissolved the National Assembly to save his government but the Supreme Court of Pakistan reversed Imran’s “unlawful and unconstitutional action”.

The minister said that during the last six months “Imran Khan has pursued a malicious campaign against state institutions”.

She alleged that Imran Khan had badly damaged the foreign policy of the country during his tenure.

The minister said that the man who said “absolutely not” was now “apologizing” to the US by saying “it is over and behind me”.

“Imran Khan, it was not over and it was not behind us, it was in front of us and you will have to answer,” she added.

The minister said, “Imran Khan talks about creating Madinah state in front of the people, by giving “Islamic touch”, but unfortunately behind the doors he set a shop to sell Toshakhana gifts”.

She reminded that Imran Khan’s claim of filing cases in courts had not been fulfilled even after the passage of thirty-eight hours today. She quipped Imran’s legal consultation had not been completed to file a case in the court in the wake of Toshakahana scandal.

She demanded Imran Khan to provide receipts instead of spending so

much money on lawyers’ fees.

Marriyum saidthat Imran Khan stole the wristwatch from Toshakhana allegedly without depositing money and Toshakhana gifts to Umar Farooq.

Marriyum alleged Farah Gogi, Shahzad Akbar, the handlers of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan sold the wristwatch gifted by Saudi prince sans declaring in his tax returns.

The cash amount after selling the watch was brought through a chartered plane, she further alleged.

“Imran has bragged that he would file defamation suits (against a private media group, anchorperson and Umar Farooq) in United Arab Emirates (UAE), United Kingdom (UK) but his claim is yet to materialize.”

Marriyum Aurangzeb lamented that Imran was shedding “crocodile’s tears” about the absence of an affordable and effective justice system in the country. The provincial government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had locked Provincial Accountability Bureau (NAB), she said.

She asked Imran Khan to first activate the provincial accountability bureau in KP so that it can vigorously pursue corruption cases against his provincial government. “People should judge a person who is talking about accountability but not allowing the provincial accountability bureau to function,” she held. “He[Imran Khan] is holding the reins of Punjab government, he should start delivering affordable justice to people in the province,” she added.

She said Imran Khan said he would conduct medico-legal examination from a private hospital. She said as per his statement, he should also amend the law and allow all people of Punjab to conduct their medico-legal from any private hospital to strike balance and fairness. Imran is stressing to register the First Information Report (FIR) of his choice against some officials sans presenting any solid proof of their involvement, he should allow all to get this facility,” she again quipped.

“Imran should dissolve the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies as if he is so powerless and incapacitated,” she challenged the PTI chief who had in the past raised the outcry that he could not even register the FIR of his own choice.

“Imran has not yet appeared in a defamation suit filed against him by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif,” the minister said.

She said Imran had not declared in his tax returns the cash amount he received after “devouring” Toshakhana gifts, “grabbing lands in collaboration with mafia, corruption in power projects, and mishandling of LNG deals”.

Besides, Imran Khan had also “destroyed relations” with foreign countries, “sabotaged China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) project, and terminated foreign direct investments during his stint in power”, she alleged.

The prime minister, in his foreign visits, was made aware about Imran’s different stories from the hosts of visiting countries which she said was “disgusting”.

approved by the provincial cabinet.

Approval was also granted to extend the contract of 11 staff members of the capacity building of P&D for Policy Planning and Monitoring of Development process in Punjab.

The cabinet paid tributes to Dr Sania Nishtar for accomplishing years of work in only two-month time period, and attaining success in the flood relief programme.

The chief minister lauded efforts of Dr Sania Nishtar, SMBR Zahid Zaman Akhter, DG PDMA Faisal Fareed and the whole team. He said that implementation of the programme for disbursement of Rs12 billion among 5,000 flood affectees was an example of its own. He disclosed that the Punjab government had allocated Rs1 billion for flood-affected people of Sindh, but unfortunately a survey had yet not been conducted over there.

Provincial ministers, advisors, special assistants, chief secretary and officials concerned attended the meeting.

Two terrorists gunned down in Hoshab IBO: ISPR

raWaLpindi Staff RepoRt

At least two terrorists were killed in an intelligence based operation (IBO) initiated to clear a hideout of terrorists, linked with firing incidents on security forces and civilians besides planting of improvised explosive devices on M-8 in Balochistan, the military said on Friday. Military’s media wing, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR), said in a statement that as a result of continuous intelligence, surveillance and reconnaissance of the area, a location of the terrorists was identified and security forces were “heli inserted” in general area Balor, Hoshab. While establishment of positions by security forces was underway, two terrorists opened fire at the troops. “During ensuing heavy exchange of fire, both the terrorists have been killed, while a cache of arms and ammunition including improvised explosive devices has been recovered,” the ISPR said. It furthered that the security forces, in step with the nation, remain determined to thwart attempts at sabotaging peace, stability and progress of Balochistan. Last month, two soldiers embraced martyrdom, while four terrorists were killed during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the general area of Kaman Pass, near Shahrig in Balochistan. The soldiers were martyred during an exchange of fire with terrorists, which occurred by establishing blocking positions by the security forces, according to the ISPR.

All 306 candidates failed in written test for 65 SI posts

peSHaWar Staff RepoRt

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Public Service Commission (KPPSC) has announced results of examinations conducted for hiring of Sub-Inspectors and Inspectors under quota of fast promotions in August, 2022. According to KPPSC, only 15 candidates passed the written examination among 44 who applied for the 50 posts of Inspectors. Results of two candidates have been withheld due to petition filed in Peshawar High Court regarding qualification criteria. Not a single candidate passed written examination for 65 advertised posts of Sub-Inspector. The results of failed and successful candidates have been displayed on website of the commission. It is important to mentioning that commission received 379 and 306 applications for posts of Inspectors and Sub-Inspectors respectively.

Korean Embassy organizes seminar to promote renewable energy in Pakistan

iSLamaBad Staff RepoRt

The Embassy of the Republic of Korea in Islamabad has organized an interactive seminar to encourage energy infrastructure enhancement in Pakistan through the Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF). The seminar was held at a local hotel and attended by seniorlevel representatives from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs, Economic Affairs Division, EXIM Bank of Korea, Korean Companies, Pakistani Business Community Members, and the UN. While speaking at the seminar, Ambassador of Korea to Pakistan Suh Sangpyo said that Korea and Pakistan have always enjoyed cordial ties, and Korea aims to further enhance these bilateral relations between the two countries to new heights through renewable energy projects.

cHIEFMinister Punjab Chaudhry Parvez Elahi presided over the 4th provincial cabinet meeting at his office on Friday, which fixed the support price for sugarcane at Rs300 per maund.

LAHORE: Pakistan Sugar Mills Association Chairman Asim Ghani Usman along with Zaka Ashraf and others addresses a press conference. Staff photo

Lakki Marwat outrage

ThE killing of six policemen, including a subinspector, when they were out on patrol in Lakki Marwat, when their vehicle came under fire on Thursday, shows that terrorism is far from being defeated. The incident, which shocked the entire nation, was condemned by all sections of the political spectrum, with KP Chief Minister’s direction to the iGP, telling him to arrest the culprits, smacking of the treating the matter as something of a routine occurrence.

Not only does this incident show that terrorism is alive and well, as there has been no peace dividend for Pakistan from the Taliban takeover of Afghanistan, but it is actually spreading, with Lakki Marwat not previously being the venue of terrorist activity. The failure to predict this attack, and thus prevent it, must be accepted by the intelligence agencies as their responsibility. That is what they are there for, not engage in the political manipulation they are notorious for. in this context, the state’s negotiations with the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan remain shrouded in mystery, obscured by a lack of accountability to Parliament. Though the TTP has not claimed responsibility for the Lakki Marwat attack, it is a strong possibility that it carried it out. if nothing else, an investigation should allocate responsibility. however, it should also not be lost sight of, that this was a blatant attack on state power, in an area not known to be particularly restive. it also indicates that the police does not train its personnel right. The possibility of the police’s patrolling habits being known needs to be investigated.

however, perhaps the most important lesson of the whole episode is that the attitude of business as usual, and of sweeping the whole mess under the carpet in the hope that time will prove the greatest healer, cannot be kept up. There is a need for some out-of-the-box thinking, for some new approaches, if the problem is to be contained. it is perhaps too much at this point to ask for an elimination of the problem; even containment seems beyond what is happening at present. That six lives have been lost is bad enough, but that the lives were of policemen, shows that the writ of the state is under threat. it is perhaps the least of the problems that the KP government is preparing for the PTiLong March, or that the KP police is performing guard duty for PTi chief imran Khan in Lahore; worse is the central and KP governments, which should be coordinating closely, are at daggers drawn.

General Durrani’s admissions

politics

did not say, however, is that the one of the main reasons for the failure of the hybrid regime experiment this time was disassociation of the religious camp. Though the ex-Jamat-e islami politicians, who are members of the Pakistan Tehrek-e insaf (PTi), were available to serve the cause, most religious politicians were opposed to the PTi. A neo-MMA could not be formed to embolden the hybrid regime.

ON November 9, Karan Thapar of The Wire, a web-based indian publication, conducted an interview with the former Director General of Pakistan’s inter-services intelligence (isi) Lt Gen (retd) Asad Durrani. The digital publication aired the interview, which unbolted a debate on the past strategies of the Pakistan Army of poking its nose in civilian affairs to the extent of even violating the Constitution with impunity. in the interview, General Durrani claimed, “Pakistani people have become fed up with the musical chairs and circuses,” which the Army had played by favouring one politician over the other to ascend to power, and subsequently by removing the same from the throne.

This remained a candid admission of what is going on in Pakistan in the name of politics, security and governance. Nevertheless, of the phenomenon of musical chairs and circuses, two are obvious victims: first, politicians; and second, voters. Politicians, because they adopt a short-cut route to power through the stairs of the Army. Voters, because they are endusers ever ready to dance to the tune of their masters. in their love for the Army, they observe silence over the political musical chairs and circuses, by silently seeing one politician shunned at the cost of the other.

it was heard that the Muslim politics in the indian sub-continent was born in the drawing rooms of Dhaka (1906) till the time the Lahore Resolution (1940) stirred the Muslim masses into action. street politics replaced drawing-room politics. After 1947, though religious sentiments kept heating the streets, politics took refuge once again in drawing-rooms. This was the place that came under attack by the Army, which considered it easier to manipulate politicians confined in drawing-rooms than to deal with the masses in the streets.

Further, for the masses, the religious card was sufficient to keep them content. in recent history, the late Gen Ziaul haq did it and the fugitive Gen Pervez Musharraf repeated the same by forming the Muttahida Majlis-e Amal (MMA). What General Durrani

Gloomy skies

This winter, Pakistan is experiencing its sixth season of intense smog. Lahore, in particular, consistently takes top spot in the list of most polluted cities in the world, a position it continues to hold with AQi which has already topped 400. Residents of Karachi, Gujranwala, and islamabad are also breathing in toxic air, while other parts of Pakistan are equally exposed to hazardous levels of air pollutants.

Our officials, on the other hand, sound like a broken record by blaming india year after year for cross-border pollution. While that might explain part of the problem, it is certainly not the main cause, and any attempts to outsource responsibility is nothing but populist rhetoric. it is time we collectively understand the causes of air pollution, learn from countries that have successfully tackled it, and implement similar measures at home. Creating anti-smog task forces, closing down schools and offices during high smog days, and taking punitive action against farmers burning crops are band-aid measures that look impactful on television, but do little to save us from poisonous air come winter months.

The Global Alliance on health and Pollution found that 128,000 Pakistanis die of air-pollution related illnesses every year. This includes asthma, lung damage, bronchial infections, strokes, heart problems

and shortened life expectancy. An entire generation of kids who breathe and play in toxic air risk growing up with irredeemable adverse health effects. The issue is critical, and reforms had to be taken yesterday. But there is no high-level debate or a targeted approach to that effect. instead, the entire country is focused on climate reparations from developed countries.

it is true that Pakistan needs to be fairly compensated by countries that bear direct responsibility for climate change-related extreme weather events. But it must be emphasized that air pollution is primarily an anthropogenic home-grown phenomenon. Blaming Western Countries, or india for that matter, is misdirected and will do nothing to improve the situation in Pakistan. smog is caused by human activities such

in the interview, General Durrani further said that when the Army lost its confidence in the hired compromised politicians, it shunned them mercilessly after blemishing their characters to create a new political lot. The experiment remained successful in the past until now when the masses generally and the youth especially have got frustrated and disillusioned with the manoeuvers of the army. What General Durrani did not say, however, is that the masses now doubt the competence of the Army to select a politician and bet on him. The masses want to assert their own choice.

in the interview, General Durrani also said that, reflecting political trends in the wider population, the Pakistan Army had been subject to diverse thoughts and trends which kept the institution divided, but this time the division had created deeper fault lines. That is, this time sociop-olitical trends have impacted the Army more than before.

What General Durrani did not notice, however, is that the reason for the deeper palpable ominous fault lines in the Army is owing to the access of both soldiers and officers to the social and electronic media, which has raised the general awareness level. The informal source for the news has transformed society, which is passing through an immense social and mental change. it is not that the PTi has divided the Army; it is that diverse thoughts and assorted trends have impacted the Army more than before.

What General Durrani did not say, however, is that the volatile averse-to-theArmy situation has made it even difficult for the Army to impose martial law. Politicians have decided to take on the Army. Both Nawaz Sharif and Imran Khan did it and consequently multiplied the number of their voters. Each gain to a politician is a loss to the Army. Further, both the frustration and the cumulative awareness in the masses have worked in concert to assert their rights to decide.

of any controversy, whereas the incumbent government is trying to conceal its every move on who would be the next COAs. The situation simply means that Pakistan is witnessing the dawn of a new era when the Army has to decide if it is ready to stay above the Ministry of Defence or to hide below it. interestingly, the Army’s self-assumed wider role after transgressing the political domain has brought the situation to such a pass that the Army has to strategize covertly how to avoid the public ridicule and how to make the name of its chief uncontroversial. in the interview, General Durrani also said that the Army had withdrawn from political engineering, as its experiment failed and as it had lost the confidence of the masses to deliver substantially through the hybrid regimes. Further, the failed experiments not only permitted the masses to disparage the Army but these trials also afforded sufficient leeway to politicians to ridicule the role of the Army in politics. This time, the experiment has backfired viciously. The PTi, which had been losing popularity during its three and a half years stint in power, is garnering popularity in the streets. in the past, the Army used to stir the masses against politicians. This time, it is the other way around.

The way the PTi has made the appointment of the Chief of Army staff (COAs) the talk of the town, is unprecedented in history. Perhaps, no other country in the world has seen such a drama unfold as is going on in Pakistan. The Army is on the defensive in an effort to protect the next COAs from being the victim

What General Durrani did not say, however, is that the volatile averse-to-theArmy situation has made it even difficult for the Army to impose martial law. Politicians have decided to take on the Army. Both Nawaz sharif and imran Khan did it and consequently multiplied the number of their voters. Each gain to a politician is a loss to the Army. Further, both the frustration and the cumulative awareness in the masses have worked in concert to assert their rights to decide. No selection can be imposed to scuttle the choice of the masses in short, this time, not only have the politicians reacted vehemently against the army but the masses have also intervened in the nexus existing between the army high command and the politico-economic elite of the country. The tie has been challenged openly and got fractured.

as vehicular emissions, industrial pollution, fossil-fuel fired power plants and burning of waste material. it is compounded by a high population density and the rapid decline of tree cover due to expansion of roads, and construction of underpasses. Our power plan for the next ten years talks little of renewable energy sources such as wind and solar. Emphasis, instead, is placed on cost saving measures such as indigenous sources of coal for power generation. Extraction from Thar’s coal mines has picked up pace and new industries and power plants will soon be set up there. Responsibility for environmental protection was devolved to the provinces in 2011 but the existing laws are weak, and enforcement is poor. Despite the blame game with india, there is a lack of cross-border air quality data. Poor urban

The time for Pakistan to implement similar reforms is beyond due. It is a shame if a country cannot even offer its citizens healthy, safe, and comfortable lives. Blue skies and clean air should not be a luxury. It is a basic requirement, now it is time we started treating them as such.

planning and a dearth of reformist vision is part of the poor social attitude that ensures we remain stuck in the smog-alarm-rain-forget cycle every year.

To make any meaningful change, we must learn from countries that have successfully implemented reforms. Japan, for example, serves as a good model. in the latter half of the 20th century, Japan experienced worsening air pollution due to rapid economic growth and industrial activity, and the resultant build-up of soot, dust, and nitrous and sulphur oxides. To tackle this, Japan empowered local governments and passed laws such as the Municipal Environmental Protection Ordinance of Tokyo. Constitutional changes in air pollution control laws allowed the country to regulate industrial smoke emissions. Japan also overhauled their transportation policy through the passage of the Diesel Vehicle Regulations and the Automobile NOx PM Law which set a maximum permitted level of vehicle exhaust. Non-conforming vehicles had to be replaced and it promoted the use LPG, hybrid, and electric vehicles. A series of court cases also set the right precedent. The Amagashi pollution lawsuit declared particulate matter from

diesel vehicles to be correlated with cancer and respiratory disease.This combination of legislative, judicial, and executive action compelled the public to take notice and change their habits as well.

such changes also have a spill-over effect on the financial regime of the country. China serves as another successful example. in 2015, the Chinese government declared a war on air pollution and mainstreamed green financing in financial institutions for enterprises to reduce air pollutants and carbon emissions by increasing energy efficiency, investing in clean energy, and tightening pollution controls. The Jing-Jin-Ji region had one of the worst air quality numbers in China, but through such reforms was able to reduce carbon dioxide emissions by 2.5 million tons per year.

The time for Pakistan to implement similar reforms is beyond due. it is a shame if a country cannot even offer its citizens healthy, safe, and comfortable lives. Blue skies and clean air should not be a luxury. it is a basic requirement, now it is time we started treating them as such.

The

writer is a freelance columnist

How are the terrorists to be tackled?

The writer is a freelance journalist and can be reached atqaisarrashid@yahoo.com

Dr QAiSAr rAShiD

Yousaf Nizami Editor

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

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

Umar Aziz Executive Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad Joint Editor

Shedding a new light on the Army and

AzAwer ShAkeel

Medicine diplomacy

Myanmar presents opportunities to a growing Bangladeshi industry

SufiAn SiDDiQue

MEDiCiNEs play a direct or indirect role in ensuring the well-being and well-being of people by getting rid of human diseases and alleviating anxiety and restlessness. Therefore, medicine is one of the largest and most profitable industries in the world today. The pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh is known as an emerging industry with great potential which is playing a major role in the country’s economy. Despite many crises, this industry has gained enough reputation for its healthy development and quality productivity, and has been able to achieve international standards. Bangladesh continues to thrive in expanding the life-saving industry. it is very important for this sector to play a significant role in strengthening the economic base of the country.

Currently, Bangladesh has gained the glory of being an exporting country instead of an importing one in the pharmaceutical industry. Bangladesh is the only country which is becoming known as an exporting country after meeting its domestic needs. Currently, 97 percent of the country’s total demand for drugs is being produced in the country.

however, after independence, 96 percent of medicines had to be imported from abroad. Medicines are being exported to about 80 countries including Europe, America, Middle East, Central Asia. Currently, this industry is in the third position in terms of exports in Bangladesh. The day is not far when this industry will surpass the revenue of the garment industry.

in this era of globalization, the pharmaceutical industry is in a strong position in the context of Bangladesh. Therefore, the highest quality control of products is a prerequisite for exporting to join the international market of drugs across the borders of Bangladesh. Therefore, in product quality and meaning, Bangladesh will be at the forefront of promotion and expansion. To increase the acceptance of this country’s medicines abroad, its quality testing system must be made to international standards. Many developing countries, including neighbouring Myanmar, Nepal, and Bhutan, still import most of the drugs.

A significant development in Bangladesh’s health sector is the National Drug Policy, a global indicator for measuring health human development. This policy, which came into effect in 1982, aims to remove harmful and unnecessary drugs from the market and ensure access to essential drugs at fair prices in all cases. As a result of this policy, the pharmaceutical industry of Bangladesh has flourished. Bangladesh Exports of pharmaceutical products to Myanmar was $11.77 million during 2015, according to the United Nations COMTRADE database on international trade.

Medicines worth $188.7 million were exported from Bangladesh in the last financial year. Although this medicine is exported to 140 countries of the world, the largest shipment has gone to the neighbouring country of Myanmar. The country exported drugs worth $2.76 million dollars in the last financial year, which is about 15 percent of the total drug exports. however, Bangladesh accounts for only five percent of Myanmar’s total demand for pharmaceuticals, which is almost entirely dependent on imports.

Bangladesh sent medicines and medical equipment worth to 10 million as relief to

Myanmar flood victims in 2015.

There is, it seems, a very good possibility of increasing Bangladesh’s share in Myanmar’s pharmaceutical sector if it gets government support.

Despite the Rohingya issue, crackdown on insurgents in the border areas under the junta government, drug exports to Myanmar increased by more than 24 percent compared to the previous fiscal year ($22.4 million). But Bangladesh’s share is only 5 percent compared to Myanmar’s demand for medicine every year.

According to UN Comtrade data, Myanmar imported about $550 million worth of medicines in 2021. Of this, india imported $298.5 million, which is about 55 percent of the total imports.

The Bangladeshi government should bring the first-line specialist doctors there, who will mainly prescribe the drugs, to Bangladesh so they inspect several compliance drug factories here, and the entire process of drug production can be presented to them. Then it will definitely have a positive impact.

Analysis of data from the Bangladesh Export Development Bureau (EPB) shows that 34 items of goods were exported from Bangladesh to Myanmar in the last financial year. The income from this product is $38.8 million. Out of this, only medicine has been exported worth $27.6 million, which is about 71 percent of the total exports to Myanmar.

Again, in the fiscal year 2021-22, medicines worth $188.7 million have been exported from Bangladesh to 140 countries of the world. Among them, most of the medicines were exported to Myanmar. it is followed by sri Lanka, the Philippines and the UsA. Myanmar was the top country in the export of drugs from Bangladesh in the previous financial year as well. During this time, drugs worth $2.2 million were exported to the country.

however, Bangladesh is gradually increasing its share. Many export-oriented pharmaceutical companies are now establishing themselves in Myanmar. Chittagong’s Elbion Group is going to add a new name to the list of pharmaceutical exporters to Myanmar. Chittagong’s only drug-exporting company is going to export a 20-foot container of omeprazole group drugs to Myanmar next month, worth about $30,000 dollars. But this is the beginning. According to

the information of ThE Elbion group, applications have been made to the Myanmar Medicines Administration for the registration of 40 drugs of different groups. Next month, a shipment of trial-basis medicine will go to Myanmar.

The container will go directly to Yangon port in Myanmar via Chittagong sea port. Last June, registration was applied for, for 40 more drug. it will take a year to get approval. Elbion will export on a large scale in the future to the potential market of Bangladeshi drugs if approved. however, in this case, the restrictions imposed by Myanmar’s junta government on foreign currency transactions last April are causing some obstacles. however, the government should be proactive. in 2014, a 15-member delegation from Myanmar, mostly doctors or pharmacy-related, visited Bangladesh and visited several pharmaceutical factories. After the team returned to Myanmar, there was a positive impact on Bangladesh’s pharmaceutical exports there. in 2010, Myanmar’s domestic demand for medicine was about $3 billion. Coming there in 2021, Bangladesh exported medicine to the neighboring country of only $27 to $28 million, which is very less.

The Bangladesh government should bring the first-line specialist doctors there, who will mainly prescribe the drugs, to Bangladesh so they inspect several compliance drug factories here, and the entire process of drug production can be presented to them. Then it will definitely have a positive impact.

This business leader believes that the restrictions imposed by the Myanmar junta on foreign exchange transactions will not cause much problem for Bangladeshi businessmen. Because eight countries, including Bangladesh and Myanmar, are members of the Asian Clearance Agency or ACUR, transactions in their own currency are possible.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Editor’s mail

Climate targets and the case of Pakistan

This is with reference to the report “Guterres calls upon firms to end ‘toxic cover-up’” (Nov 9), which quoted United Nations (UN) secretaryGeneral Antonio Guterres’ call for the global corporate sector, as well as cities and regions, to come good on their voluntary net zero pledges. he rightly exposed the corporate world by pointing out that such entities cannot claim to be net zero if they continue to invest in new fossil fuels, cause deforestation or offset emissions instead of reducing them.

The UN chief was delivering his address at the 27th Conference of the Parties (COP27) as part of the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change (UNFCCC), which was held recently in the Egyptian city of sharm El sheikh. The corporate sector, and, indeed, the world at large would do well to pay heed to the warning that if things continued unchanged, the ‘toxic cover-up’ and the ‘bogus net zero pledges’ could push the world ‘over the climate cliff’. COP meetings have been routinely held since the mid1990s in the hope of mainstreaming the climate change phenomenon, to generate awareness, to set targets and to convert promises into actions in terms of energy transitions, clean technologies and carbon emission.

There is no denying the significance of the core agenda that lies at the heart of the discussion, but one can argue about the narrowness of the debate, discussion and line of action in relation to the critical core. if the climate-related happenings in Pakistan are anything to go by, and they surely are, there is a strong case for a narrative transition towards the vulnerable periphery of the globe. The environmental security narrative has unfortunately evolved in a degenera-tive manner, fundamentally reflecting the Western framework of mitigation and carbon management.

The fact is that carbon emission reduction cannot be a solution for vulnerable countries, like Pakistan, which contributes only 0.49 per cent to the world’s total carbon footprint, and yet suffers big time for no fault of its own. Pakistan can, and should, take a lead in this case as scientifically and technically neither carbon emission reduction is a solution, nor seeking financial reparations going to be enough to ensure a climate-resilient Pakistan. it is time to acknowledge the significance and criticality of the concept of climate security, and that the universalisation of norms is counter-productive concerning the prevailing asymmetries in the structural and proximate causes of climate calamities across the globe. Any one-sizefits-all approach will not work. One size does not fit all. it just does not. highlighting losses and damages and simply seeking reparations under climate financing is never going to be enough to ensure climate security. Adaptation is the most potent solution for not just Pakistan, but for the entire global south. We should focus on such issues and make them part of the global narrative. Countries like Pakistan should bring back the pragmatic and authentic spirit of the Rio summit, focussing on adaptation more than mitigation for themselves as part of their responsibility to find a solution for themselves, which, in turn, will help the larger effort going on across the world in this regard. We need to be practical and proactive. To use the words of the UN chief at COP27, though in a different context, ‘the sham must end’.

WARDAH REHMAN ISLAMABAD

Irritating social evil

KARAChi has never been a quiet city. it is always abuzz with pleasant and unpleasant sounds, like the noises made by cars, machines, fireworks, the sea, sirens and the people chatting and chanting all around. The city is hardly calm and composed; not even in the middle of the night, or early in the morning.

Recently, many people in society have noticed an increasing use of loudspeakers in residential neighbourhoods, which is a disturbing addition to the noise pollution in the city. in the wake of the recent floods, almost all welfare organisations worth their name started using high-definition loudspeakers in residential areas, exhorting people to donate. This was so annoying and irritating that i know many people who made it a point not to donate to those who were causing such unbearable pain and frustration in the neighbourhood.

Patients felt disturbed and uneasy. Their caregivers were frustrated. Mothers wanted to put their infants to sleep, but could not. The sleep deficit made the children grouchy and grumpy, and that made the life of mothers even more frustrating. students had their own sufferings as they could not focus on their studies. Mental peace stood destroyed at personal, familial and social levels just because the donation-seekers out on the streets were trying to shout louder than the rest. The civic authorities should control such irresponsible use of loudspeakers and ensure that the peace of neighbourhoods remains intact. A little effort can go a long way.

MUHAMMAD ZAREEF KARACHI

Child marriage in Thar

DEsPiTE being prohibited under the relevant laws, child marriages take place in several parts of the country. Thar is one unfortunate, almost tragic, areas of the country on this count. Among the most marginalised regions of Pakistan, Thar is not a very kind place for a girl growing up.

Recently, a 60-year-old man was all set to marry an 11-year-old girl. her parents were also involved in this crime as they were the ones forcing the minor to marry the man who was older perhaps than the girl’s father.

Bounding innocent children into lifelong commitments when they cannot even understand what is at stake is criminal. Doing it at a stage when their bodies are still in the process of puberty is criminal. Doing it when they are not mature enough to even understand what maturity happens to be is criminal. it is against their rights. it is criminal. Unfortunately, our laws have failed to protect children. Therefore, it is our collective social responsibility to make sure that all children are safe.

Ending this brutal practice will not be an easy feat, but it is certainly possible if we work together through collaboration with youth, parents, community members and the government. When parents and community leaders are educated and made aware of the negative consequences of child marriages, they will protect the rights of children and will encourage others to do the same. increasing access to education, removing barriers to girls’ education, providing economic support to their parents and enforcing strong legislations can also be of help in efforts to eliminate such practices. Our children deserve better. They definitely do.

NIAZ RAHIMOO UMERKOT

A MUSLIM PM In IndIA

nehRu, IndIRa, RajIv and sonIa knew ThaT hIndu angeR agaInsT muslIm-fIRsT seculaRIsm bubbled undeR The suRface. They also knew ThaT makIng a muslIm pRIme mInIsTeR would Release ThaT angeR and cause an elecToRal TsunamI agaInsT congRess

commissioner to Britain (1962-63) before Nehru inducted him into the Cabinet.

But when it came to electing a successor on Nehru’s death in 1964, Congress chose Lal Bahadur shastri. that was not a surprise given shastri’s experience as minister for external affairs, home and railways.

shastri retained Chagla, a brilliant judge and diplomat, as education minister. When Indira Gandhi took office as prime minister in January 1966, she appointed Chagla as external affairs minister. But the independentminded Chagla resigned the following year saying he believed the Indian government’s education policy “is likely to threaten if not undermine the unity of the country.”

the overall narrative didn’t change much during the six Vajpayee prime ministerial years. Vajpayee had been a hardline Hindutva advocate but, as prime minister leading a coalition of 24 political parties, he wore Nehruvian secularism on his sleeve.

US targets Iran’s oil trade with new sanctions

Merchant

It’s an uncomfortable question: Why has India never had a Muslim prime minister? India has had several minority presidents, including three Muslims and a sikh as well as a sikh prime minister. there are two reasons why India has not elected a Muslim prime minister. Between 1947 and 1977, there was no vacancy. Only three prime ministers served during those 30 years—Jawaharlal Nehru (1947-64), Lal Bahadur shastri (1964-66) and Indira Gandhi (1966-77).

But surely, after Nehru’s death in 1964, could not Congress have found a suitable Muslim prime minister? It had a monopoly in Parliament: 361 seats out of Lok sabha’s 1964 strength of 494 seats.

It also had eminent Muslims in Parliament and in the Union Cabinet. Among then was Mahomedali Currim Chagla, the education minister. Chagla served as chief justice of the Bombay High Court from 1947 to 1958. He was ambassador to the Us (1958-61) and high

Congress leaders continued to hold the prime ministership from 1967 to 1989 with a brief interruption in 1977-79 when the patchwork Janata Party was elected to office following revocation of Emergency. Once again, no suitable Muslim appeared as a prime ministerial candidate. Not even one Muslim made it to Prime Minister Morarji Desai’s Union Cabinet.

Congress under the Gandhis (Indira, Rajiv and sonia) was not the only party that shied away from putting forward Muslim candidates as potential prime ministers. Every party followed the same policy. that brings us to the second reason why a Muslim has never been an Indian prime minister and is unlikely to be in the foreseeable future: electability.

During the first 50 years of independence, Muslims were comforted by Congress’ Muslim-first secularism. Nehru codified Hindu personal law in 1955 but left Muslim personal law untouched. Muslims were grateful and voted en masse for Congress in election after election. they felt secure in its warm secular embrace.

Congress reciprocated with liberal policies on Waqf properties, Hajj subsidies and funds for minority institutions. Muslims didn’t feel the absence of a Muslim prime minister. the Gandhis made excellent proxies.

How it all fell apart in Afghanistan

Biden was serious about withdrawing American troops, his exclusion from diplomatic talks with the taliban and the unwillingness of the militant group to compromise, and the stacking of loyalists around the presidential palace that made corruption an endemic problem in Kabul.

When Congress returned to power in 2004 with the Gandhis in charge and Manmohan singh as loyalist prime minister, Muslims were delighted. singh pledged that Muslims would have first right on Indian resources. For Muslims, this was secularism on steroids. the advent of Narendra Modi in 2014 came as a rude shock. Modi was no Vajpayee. But unbeknownst to most, a new narrative was bubbling under the surface: Hindutva. Moderate Hindus, who in the past had voted for Congress, began to cross the aisle.

BJP’s highest vote share under Vajpayee in 1998 was 25.59 per cent. It slipped to 18.80 per cent in 2009 when the Congress-led UPA won re-election. But by 2019, under Modi, BJP’s vote share doubled to 37.36 per cent. the Indian electorate had rebelled against Nehruvian secularism that seemed for decades to discriminate against the majority. the answer: majoritarianism. Nehru, Indira, Rajiv and sonia knew that an undercurrent of Hindu anger against Muslim-first secularism bubbled under the surface. they also knew that making a Muslim prime minister would release that anger and cause an electoral tsunami against Congress. It would make the 2014 and 2019 Lok sabha election waves look like ripples.

What about the lesson Rishi sunak’s elevation as Britain’s prime minister teaches India? sunak represents just 2.3 per cent of Britain’s electorate. Muslims are almost 15 per cent of India’s voters. Does India need to learn from British politics?

Minhaz Merchant is an author, editor and publisher.

THE Us treasury Department announced new sanctions thursday targeting 13 companies it said were part of a network supporting the sale of Iranian oil and petrochemicals. Based in China, Hong Kong and the United Arab Emirates, the designated companies are accused of facilitating the sale of hundreds of millions of dollars’ worth of Iranian petrochemicals and petroleum products to buyers in East Asia on behalf of previously sanctioned Iranian companies, including the National Iranian Oil Company.

WHEN it comes to the history of U.s. nation-building efforts, it’s hard to do worse than Afghanistan. that’s according to the special Inspector General for Afghanistan Reconstruction (sIGAR), the U.s. government’s top watchdog office inside the Beltway that was designed to track American funding for the 20-year war and the fledgling government in Kabul, which collapsed last year as the taliban’s lightning offensive barged into the capital and American forces left in their wake.

sIGAR’s latest report found that the stunning collapse of Ashraf Ghani’s U.s.-backed government was influenced by a failure to recognize that U.s. President Joe

But even though the report is not exactly a doorstop by Washington standards—clocking in at just 70 pages—it will also leave Republicans, who won the House with a slim margin, plenty of ammunition to hold Biden’s feet to the fire about the administration’s messy exit from Kabul and the failure to see that Ghani’s government was likely to collapse.

“U.s. efforts to build and sustain Afghanistan’s governing institutions were a total, epic, predestined failure on par with the same efforts and outcome in the Vietnam War and for the same reasons,” said Chris Mason, an associate professor of national security at the U.s. Army

War College, who was interviewed for the report. strangely enough, there are some residual effects of America’s 20-year involvement in Afghanistan despite its horrific rush to the exit. Although the taliban have dissolved several of the ministries that the United states helped the Afghans create after its 2001 invasion that followed the 9/11 attacks, the Afghan ministries of finance, health, and the economy as well as the country’s central bank have “continued some basic functions,” sIGAR concluded. And the taliban have also mostly kept lowerranking civil servants in their jobs. the watchdog also cast blame on the United states for failing to help tackle Afghan corruption and its lack of ability to properly oversee elections, which were consistently weighed down by allegations of fraud. Ghani and his loyalists didn’t help matters either. Michael McKinley, former U.s. ambassador to Afghanistan, told sIGAR that the Afghan president consistently suggested development goals that were “completely off the charts” and that his apparent “separation from Afghan reality” was concerning. Ghani was “living in fantasyland,” McKinley said.

“today’s action further demonstrates the complex sanctions evasion methods Iran employs to illicitly sell petroleum and petrochemical products,” Brian Nelson, the treasury’s under secretary for terrorism and financial intelligence, said in a statement. “the United states will continue to implement sanctions against those actors facilitating these sales.” the Biden administration has stepped up its targeting of Iran’s sanctions evasion efforts as prospects for resurrecting the landmark nuclear deal have dimmed and anti-government protests continue across Iran. since June, the administration has imposed five rounds of sanctions on Iran’s illegal petroleum and petrochemical trade. On Nov. 3 the treasury Department unveiled sanctions on an international oil smuggling network accused of generating revenue for the Lebanese militant group Hezbollah and the foreign arm of Iran’s Islamic Revolutionary Guard Corps. Henry Rome, a senior fellow at the Washington Institute for Near East Policy, described the latest sanctions as a positive step but said more could be done to curb Iran’s illicit energy exports.

“Much more is required to exert real financial pressure on Iran’s pipeline of energy revenues,” Rome said. “the Us should think bigger, in terms of a broader, concerted campaign — with diplomatic as well as economic tools — to target these exports.” the latest measures come as tehran violently cracks down on one of its largest protest movements since the 1979 revolution, and Washington has shifted its attention from the stalled nuclear talks to holding the regime accountable for its repression.

Earlier this week, the administration imposed sanctions on six senior employees of an Iranian state-run media corporation accused of broadcasting hundreds of forced confessions of detainees in Iran. It also designated firms involved in the production or transfer of Iranian drones to Russia for use in attacks against civilian infrastructure in Ukraine.

Can one be African and French?

Jazeera Patrick Gathara

LAst WEEK, the French parliament was in an uproar. During a regular session, MP Carlos Martens Bilongo was questioning the government about a ship carrying hundreds of migrants rescued from the Mediterranean still stranded at sea, when he was interrupted by Gregoire de Fournas, a member of the far-right, anti-immigration National Rally. “they should go back to Africa,” de Fournas shouted at Bilongo.

Reactions of outrage followed from across the political spectrum, as many thought the comment was directed at Bilongo himself, who is Black, as the pronouns “he” and “they” are pronounced the same way in French.

De Fournas was handed a 15-day suspension and pay cut despite his protestations that he was referring to the people on the ship and not Bilongo himself.

It is easy to dismiss de Fournas as just another racist ignoramus from the French far right. And he may as well be one. However, he and the liberal politicians defending Bilongo, and even Bilongo himself, may have more in common than they would care to admit. Pronouns were not the only thing that that was in danger of getting mixed up.

“African” and “Black” were seemingly mixed up as well. Clearly, whom de Fournas was referring to would not have been in doubt had Bilongo been anything other than Black. And it did not seem to occur to anyone that the desperate migrants trying to get to Europe could be anything other than African. Yet the tropes of all, and only, Black people being Africans, and Africans making up the majority of people migrating to Europe, are easily debunked.

the episode also brought to mind a clash between south African comedian and Us late night tV show host, trevor Noah, and the French ambassador to the Us, Gerard Araud, four years ago.

Commenting on France’s victory in the World Cup in Russia, and the fact that 12 out of 23 French players were Black, Noah quipped, “Africa won the World Cup!” that infuriated Araud, who saw in Noah’s joke an attempt to deny the players’ Frenchness much the same way Bilongo’s colleagues today understand what de Fournas said.

Now, as Noah later explained, context is everything. His use of the word “Africans” to describe French players would not be understood to be a denial of their Frenchness in the same way a racist French politician might use “Africans” to do exactly that. But he went even further to critique the idea that Frenchness and Africanness are mutually exclusive. One might ask, if one can be European and French, why not African and French?

By implicitly accepting de Fournas’s premise of

identity as singular and exclusive – that French cannot be African – liberals in and outside the French parliament are unwittingly perpetuating an idea of Frenchness steeped in colonial attitudes of assimilation being an “act of civilising”. they also seem to embrace the imperial perception of people from the African continent as possessing rigid, all-encompassing identities.

the world shaped by colonialism on both sides of the Mediterranean and beyond has come to be defined by the strict European logic of “us vs them”. the French idea of assimilation was meant to turn Africans into one-dimensional Frenchmen, stripped of their alternative histories and the ideas and concepts about identity held by their ancestors.

But other colonial empires were similarly obsessive about regulating and standardising identity. As the late Professor terence Ranger wrote in a paper marking the 10th anniversary of his influential book “the Invention of tradition”: “Before colonialism Africa was characterised by pluralism, flexibility, multiple identity; after it, African identities of ‘tribe’, gender and generation were all bounded by the rigidities of invented tradition.” the imperial boomerang effect has seen techniques used to control populations in the colonies find their way back home. Identity has become a raging preoccupation of both the Left and Right in Europe, driven by increased immigration. Rigid ideas about what it means to be

French or English or American, etc are at the root of the regular complaints across the Western world about the failure of immigrants to integrate, adopt local norms, and learn local languages.

It is ironic that all the furore in the French parliament is much ado about literally nothing. It is well-established in science that every member of the homo sapiens species is of African descent, and rather than being coded into people’s genes, race, nationality, and, as we have seen, tribe, are social and political inventions. Even Africanness, and its association today with Blackness codified in the analytically spurious term “sub-saharan Africa” or in a less politically-correct “Black Africa”, is a colonial invention.

Rather than accept imperialism’s basis for exclusive identities and the constricted versions of humanity they represent, we need to dismantle them. “today I was sent back to my skin colour. I was born in France. I am a French deputy,” protested Bilongo.

What he meant was that his skin colour was being used to deny his Frenchness and that it need not be that way. But just as there are many ways to be French, there are many ways to be a human being. And that includes the possibility of being both African and French.

Patrick Gathara is a communications consultant, writer, and award-winning political cartoonist based in Nairobi.

al

The woRld shaped by colonIalIsm on boTh sIdes of The medITeRRanean and beyond has come To be defIned by The sTRIcT euRopean logIc of “us vs Them”. The fRench Idea of assImIlaTIon was meanT To TuRn afRIcans InTo one-dImensIonal fRenchmen, sTRIpped of TheIR alTeRnaTIve hIsToRIes and The Ideas and concepTs abouT IdenTITy held by TheIR ancesToRs

The latest sanctions follow designations for Iranian state-run media staff and firms sending drones to Russia

al-MOnitOr elizabeth haGeDorn

FOreign pOlicy Jack Detsch anD robbie GraMer

corporate corner Gwadar, Chabahar ports to boost pak-Iran trade: IranIan Consul General

LAHORE staff report

CoNSuLGeneral of Iran in Lahore Reza Nezari has said that Gwadar and Chabahar are two ambitious ports which will further boost trade relations between Pakistan and Iran.

USC slashes ghee, cooking oil prices across country

islamabad: Spectacular reduction in ghee and cooking oil prices on all utility stores across the country. According to the spokesman of the Utility Store Corporation of Pakistan, the Utility Store Corporation has reduced the prices of branded ghee and coking oil prices with immediate effect for the relief of general public. The price of Habib ghee is reduced by Rs 34 rupees per kg while the Habib Cooking oil per liter has been reduced by 36 rupees, the price of eva ghee is reduced by 39 rupees per kilogram and prices of soya supreme ghee is reduced to Rs 25 per kg while the soya supreme cooking oil by Rs. 7 per litre. It is clearify that the federal government has also extended the special subsidy available on ghee, sugar, wheat flour, under the Prime Minister Relief package on all stores. pr

Inter-University Rugby Championship held at IIUI

According to a press release, issued here on Friday, the Iranian consul general expressed these views during his visit to Pakistan-China Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) offices. Moazzam Ali Ghurki, President PCJCCI, SM Naveed, Chairman Special Economic Zones Authority (SEZA), Hamza Khalid, Vice President PCJCCI, Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI, Ali Raza Rizvi, Chairman Standing Committee on Diplomatic and Governmental Relations, welcomed Reza Nezari, along with other executive members of the PCJCCI.

The consul general appreciated

working of the PCJCCI related to regional connectivity and bilateral trade. He also praised various initiatives of the chamber including Pak-China Knowledge Portal, China-Way magazine, Chinese language courses and Pak-China Technology Gateway and another initiative of Pak-China Food and Cultural Analogue 2022. He said: “I feel so delighted on receiving invitation from the PCJCCI. We should conduct such gatherings more often to further enhance brotherly relations between Pakistan and Iran.”

Moazzam Ghurki said in his welcome address that Pakistan-China Joint Chambers of Commerce and Industry was resolute to serve as a model chamber and a vibrant platform for promoting mutual investment and friendship between Pakistan, China, Iran and other brotherly countries. He said: “We are striving to strengthen trilateral business, investment and cultural ties between China, Pakistan and Iran.”

The SEZA chairman said “we invite

Iranian brothers to come forward and invest as zone developers to attract investment from their country in the fields of pharmaceutical, agriculture, marble, automobile, gems and jewellery and sectors”.The PCJCCI vice president and secretary general thanked the consul gen-

Experts for businessmen’s capacity-building to come up to growing competitiveness

PESHAWAR staff report

Experts at a consultative session underscored the need for equipping the business community with modern techniques and methods for advancement in industrial sector, underscoring this would not only help to meet growing competitiveness in local and global markets but also stabilize the fragile national economy.

It is vital to equip business community with latest technology and tools to compete in local as well global market and bring stability in the country’ economy, stressed Muhammad Ishaq, President Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry while addressing the concluding session of a two-day training/consultative session.

Ghulam Hussain, Munawar Khurshid, Lala Badshah, Javed Ahmad, Ms Qurtul Ain, AllPakistan Commercial Exporters Association Chairman S Minhajuddin, SIE Kohat Association President Wahid Arif Awan, businessmen attached with various sectors from Peshawar, Nowshera, Mohmand and other parts of the province attended the two-day session.

Ishaq said the utilization of new techniques is vital for development of business and industries. He stressed the need for taking pragmatic initiatives to arrange on-jobs training and capacity building sessions to enhance professional/technical skills of human resource, workforce to meet increasing challenges.

eral Iran for his precious time and said that “we are endeavouring to build a better and prosperous future of Pakistan with the cooperation of Iran”. He added that Pakistani business bodies would be honored to serve Iranian investors to form a troika among Pakistan, China and Iran.

corporate corner

The Inter University Rugby Championship commenced here at the new campus of International Islamic University (IIU) that was attended by as many as 15 teams across the country under the supervision of Higher Education Commission (HEC).The championship was hosted by the Directorate of Students Affairs (DSA) of IIUI at the H-10campus that was inaugurated by the Special Assistant to Prime Minister, Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resources Development, Sardar Saleem Haider. Names of the participating teams included, University of Lahore , Cholistan University Of Veterinary & Animal Sciences Bahawalpur, University of Management and Technology Lahore, The University of Kotli Azad Jammu and Kashmir , Iqra University Karachi, Minhaj University Lahore, Punjab University, Islamia University Bahawalpur, LUMS, Superior University , Lahore Garrison University, International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI), FAST, University of Veterinary and Animal Sciences Lahore , University of Central Punjab. pr

The training/consultative session titled: “Industrial-Academic Linkage –Trainings (WBT) and Placements” was jointly organized by SCCI and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Technical Education and Vocational Authority (KP-TEVTA), with technical and financial support of GIZ – the German development agency.

Faiz Muhammad, GIZ/KP TEVTA consultant, elaborated main objectives of the session and apprised the participants of growing needs for using modern tools and methods for business and industrial advancement/upgradation, which, according to him, has become dire need of the hours amid increasing competitiveness local and global markets.

Former SCCI president Haji Muhammad Afzal, executive members including: Haji

The SCCI chief highlighted the importance of on-job training and informative sessions, saying that such programmes would provide availability of skilled and well-trained workforce, human resources.

Ishaq said while keeping in view the keen interest and participation of the business community, the SCCI has designed a holistic plan to conduct such training sessions to enhance capacity/skills of the members of the community in future.

He called for strengthening industry-academic linkages, adding that universities/educational institutions need to be focused on development of pupils’ technical skills in order to compete with the increasing market requirements.

The SCCI disclosed the proposed plan would bring positive changes through which all facilities, incentives and issues would be resolved on priority basis.

4th

China-Pakistan Marine Information Workshop held at CUI Wah

islamabad: The fourth China Pakistan Marine Information (CPMI-2022) was held in CUI Wah campus on Wednesday, November 16, 2022 and was jointly organized by academic and research institutions from China and Pakistan; including COMSATS University Islamabad, FAST, Pakistan Science Foundation, Pakistan Scientific & Technological Information Center, National Institute of Oceanography (Pakistan Partners), and Harbin Engineering University, China Association of Science & Technology, Chinese Society of Naval Architecture, and Heilongjiang Science and Technology Association (Chinese Partners). This was the fourth workshop of this series as part of the One Belt One Road initiative under China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) with this year’s theme “Smart Ocean Informatics” with oral and poster presentations. The worthy Rector CUI, Prof. Dr. Muhammad T. Afzal was the chief guest. On behalf of Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation (PSF), Dr. Miskatullah graced the opening ceremony as guests of honor. In his opening remarks the Rector CUI, Prof. Dr. Muhammad T. Afzal, extended his gratitude for bringing the China Pakistan Marine Information Workshop in COMSATS and organizing it successfully to strengthen the scientific collaboration in the field of marine engineering and sciences. He mentioned that CUI strongly believe in internationalization and working in emerging technologies and always take lead to bring research and academic programs to benefit Pakistan. He mentioned that there are a lot of opportunities in Pakistan at the coastal side of Gawaddar for the development of marine sciences and engineering under CPEC to explore. staff report

China displays advanced weapons, equipment at IDEAS-2022

tronic warfare defense system and a communications navigation system.

China has put on display many advanced weapons and equipment, including drone and anti-drone systems, at the ongoing defense expo in Pakistan, a move analysts said indicates that the two countries’ defense cooperation will continue to deepen under their ironclad friendship, with Pakistan’s armed forces already operating advanced main battle equipment of Chinese origin.

The 11th session of the International Defense Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS) kicked off on Tuesday at the Karachi Expo Center in southern port city of Karachi, with seven Chinese defense trade companies participating under the delegation “China Defence” led by the country’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence.

Exhibits of the Chinese delegation include the Wing Loong series drones, CH series drones, the WJ-700 drone, a comprehensive anti-drone system, a type of multi-role drone ship, the Y-9E transport aircraft, the LY-70 air defense system, the VT4 main battle tank, the SR5 multiple launch rocket system, the YLC-2E multi-role radar, a command information system, an elec-

China’s State Administration of Science, Technology and Industry for National Defence said that the Chinese delegation’s par-

ticipation in international defense expos aims to display the country’s advanced military equipment and technologies, promote international cooperation and communication in science, technology and industry for

Minister for Defence Production visits POF stall

At the 4th day of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar (IDEAS-2022), Muhammad Israr Tareen, Federal Minister for Defence Production visited the POF Stall. Mrs.Kishwar Ahsan, Member Production POF Board welcomed the honorable guest. Honorable Guest inaugurated the newly developed POF products. POF’s indigenous and vast product range has addition of over all 11 product, launched at IDEAS-2022. Products include 12.7 mm Heavy Sniper, 5.56 x 45 mm Ammunition. Federal Minister was briefed about new POF products. The Heavy Sniper Rifle Ammo is a high precision armor piercing cartridge for long range shooting against protected targets. It is designed for use in all 12.7x99mm sniper rifles and guarantees precision of 19.2cm at 550meters. It can perforate 22 mm armor plate at 100 m. Whereas, 5.56 x 45mm ammunition has also been produced indigenously as per NATO Standard with high accuracy and functioning quality which is in-line with the requirements of international standards. Ammo has the capability of precise powder load-ability at assembly stage with an accuracy of less than 0.3 grains. Muhammad Israr Tareen, Federal Minister for Defence Production has lauded the efforts of Pakistan Ordnance Factories to cater the defence needs of Pakistan Ordnance Factories. pr

national defense, and build a defense security community to safeguard regional peace.

The armed forces of Pakistan have commissioned many advanced weapons and equipment of Chinese origin, including the

VT4 main battle tank, the SH-15 self-propelled howitzer, the Type 054A/P frigate, the JF-17 fighter jet, the J-10C fighter jet and the ZDK-03 early warning aircraft, according to official announcements and media reports.

PAFpavilion remains iconic

KaRaCHi: The 11th Edition of International Defence Exhibition and Seminar, IDEAS-2022, is concluding today at Karachi Expo Center. As the exhibition enters its 4th and final day, National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) being the most appreciated project of the show, continues to gather admiration from the visitors. The broad spectrum of the project and it's national significance has made it the most successful project at the exhibition. The NASTP project as per CAS vision and his own initiative has materialized in record time.PAF pavilion with the static display of state of the art JF-17 Thunder and Super Muhshak Trainer Aircraft remained iconic in the mega event with keen interest shown in the indigenously developed aircraft by the visiting delegates and senior military officials of different countries.Earlier on the 3rd day of the event, PAF's legendary Mirage aircraft presented a breath-taking flypast at Karachi Sea view. The event also included a paratrooping show of PAF's Air Borne team jumping from the mighty C-130 Hercules. The Flypast was witnessed by several key officials and delegates from friendly countries. The excited crowd gathered at the venue were over joyed to see the power packed performance of the PAF aircrew. staff report

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital (SKMCH) honoured Sui Southern Gas Company by conferring its Social Responsibility Award 2021 in acknowledgement of gas utility's financial contribution to facilitate free treatment for cancer patients from the lesser privileged communities. Award was presented by Dr. Faisal Sultan, CEO SKMCH that was received on behalf of SSGC by Mr. Salman A. Siddiqui, Head of Corporate Communications in an impressive ceremony. pr

BEIJING agencies

FraUght UN cliMate talkS eNter eNdgaMe with eU ‘FiNal oFFer’

SHArM eL SHeIkH, egypT Agencies

UN climate talks entered their last day Friday with rich and developing nations deadlocked over creating a fund for countries devastated by the affects of global warming — and the EU warning its offer was final. Representatives from nearly 200 countries have gathered at the COP27 in Egypt for two weeks with the aim of driving forward action on climate change as the world faces a worsening onslaught of extreme floods, heat waves and droughts.

The daunting list of urgent tasks includes finding agreement — and funds — for the emissions cuts needed to limit average warming to 1.5 degrees Celsius from pre-industrial levels, which scientists say is a safer guardrail to avoid the most dangerous impacts.

For many developing countries — and small island states most threatened by sea level rise — the defining issues at the conference is money for the “loss and damage” caused by climate change.

A cascade of climate-driven extremes in recent months — from floods in Pakistan and Nigeria to heatwaves and droughts

across the world — have shone a spotlight on the ferocious impacts of a warming world for developing nations that are also struggling with debts and surging inflation.

The summit in the Red Sea resort of Sharm el-Sheikh went into the final hours of official negotiating time with a range of key

issues outstanding. These include funding for countries to prepare for future climate impacts — a priority for African nations.

With talks expected to spill into overtime, disagreement over creating a specific loss and damage fund has proved critical.

The European Union proposal outlined

late Thursday has indicated that the bloc, previously fearful of open-ended climate damages liability, have “shifted significantly”, said Rachel Cleetus, lead economist at the Union of Concerned Scientists’ climate programme.

But she said all eyes were now on the United States and China, the world’s top two polluters, fresh from a thaw in their climate relations after a meeting between Presidents Joe Biden and Xi Jinping earlier this week in Bali.

“It’s crunch time. There’s no time anymore for the US to sit on the sidelines. They have to come out with what their position is to show that they’re being constructive,” she told AFP.

Cleetus added that China should also make its position clear, particularly on the issue of whether it would contribute to such a fund and pledge not to draw from it.

“We think China and the US can really unlock this in these last 24 hours,” Cleetus said.

Earlier in the week, the “Group of 77,” a bloc of 134 “developing countries” that includes China, proposed creating the loss and damage fund at the COP27 meeting, with other details to be agreed later.

Frans Timmermans told reporters on Friday that the EU offer had two “very important” conditions that differ from the G77 proposal.

He said the fund should be for “the most vulnerable” nations and the money should come from a “broad funder base” — code for countries including China that have become wealthier since they were listed as developing countries in 1992.

“I have to say this is our final offer,” he said.

“This is where the (EU) member states can find an agreement and I have to thank all of them for for the courage to go this far. But this is it.”

Timmermans said he explained the EU proposal to US delegates who were “very interested in seeing” that reaffirming the need to step up efforts to cut emissions to reach the 1.5C target be reflected in the conclusions.

Developing nations have been relatively united in calling for the loss and damage fund at this COP. Some small island states said they had discussed walking out if they do not get progress.

But the AOSIS coalition of small island states has also indicated it wants to see China, India and other major polluters contribute.

North Korea fired ICBM lands near Japan

SeOuL Agencies

North Korea fired an intercontinental ballistic missile on Friday in one of its most powerful ever tests, with Japan saying the weapon may have had the range to hit the United States mainland.

The missile was believed to have landed in Japan’s exclusive economic zone (EEZ), Prime Minister Fumio Kishida said as he blasted the launch as “absolutely unacceptable”.

The launch is Pyongyang’s second in two days and part of a record-breaking blitz in recent weeks, which North Korea — and some allies including Moscow — blame on the US boosting regional security cooperation, including joint military exercises.

The missile flew 1,000 km (621 miles) at an altitude of 6,100 km, South Korea’s military said, only slightly less than the ICBM Pyongyang fired on March 24, which appeared to be the North’s most powerful such test yet.

US Vice President Kamala Harris con-

vened a meeting on the sidelines of an Asia-Pacific summit in Bangkok to discuss the launch with regional leaders.

North Korea has fired scores of ballistic missiles this year — far more than any other year on record — and recent launches have been increasingly provocative, includ-

ing firing a missile over Japan last month, triggering a rare air raid warning.

On November 2, Pyongyang fired 23 missiles, including one which crossed the de facto maritime border and landed near the South’s territorial waters for the first time since the end of hostilities in the Ko-

rean War in 1953. Seoul called it “effectively a territorial invasion”.

The next day, North Korea fired an ICBM — although Seoul said it appeared to fail mid-flight. Friday’s ICBM was fired on a “lofted trajectory”, Tokyo’s Defence Minister Yasukazu Hamada said, meaning the missile is fired up and not out, typically to avoid overflying neighbouring countries.

He said their calculations indicated that the missile “could have had a range capability of 15,000 km, depending on the weight of its warhead, and if that’s the case, it means the US mainland was within its range,” he said.

The launch comes a day after North Korea fired a short-range ballistic missile in what Pyongyang said was a response to Sunday’s talks between Seoul, Tokyo and Washington.

The North’s foreign minister, Choe Son Hui, had warned that Pyongyang would take “fiercer” military action if the US followed through on plans to strengthen its “extended deterrence” commitment to regional allies.

Blasts damaging Nord Stream pipelines were sabotage

Swedish investigators confirmed on Friday that the blasts damaging the Nord Stream gas pipelines earlier this year were due to major sabotage.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office said the remains of explosives had been found at the site, located under the Baltic Sea along the pipeline that connects Russia and Germany.

“Analysis that has now been carried out shows traces of explosives on several of the foreign objects that were found,” said Mats Ljungqvist who led the investigation.

Ljungqvist said in an official statement that the findings so far in the “very complex and extensive” investi-

gation pointed to “serious sabotage.”

“The advanced analysis work continues, to be able to

draw safer conclusions about the event,” he added.

The Public Prosecutor’s Office did not provide any further information on the probe. However it did mention that further investigation could yield evidence to name a suspect. Russia had previously been accused of being behind the explosions that damaged the gas pipelines on Sept. 26, causing large-scale ruptures in both the Nord Stream 1 and 2, with gas visibly leaking to the surface. The Russian Defense Ministry, however, accused the West and blamed British navy personnel of blowing up the pipeline. Two leaks had been detected in Denmark’s exclusive economic zones and two in Sweden’s. German authorities had halted the operation of both pipelines over the Russia-Ukraine war, though they remained filled with natural gas.

US always abandons friends; Ukraine will suffer same fate: Medvedev

The US has a history of abandoning its friends and Ukraine will suffer the same fate, according to former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev. After the midterm elections, the Republicans are set to take control of the US House of Representatives, marking the “the beginning of the end” of America’s support to Ukraine, Medvedev said in a Telegram post on Friday. He said the Republicans have pledged “more scrutiny” of US financial support to Ukraine. “The topic of money for Ukraine is becoming toxic in the US. Congressmen demand total checks on where the massive amount of money has gone,” he said. This will also be the case for the “new tens of billions requested” by President Joe Biden, added Medvedev, who now serves as the deputy chairman of Russia’s Security Council. There is no doubt that Washington will continue to allocate funds for military support to Ukraine as this “part of the Russophobic consensus of American elites,” said the former Russian president. However, this will become more and more difficult, he said, adding that ordinary Americans will gradually see the “reality.” “They were cheated once again. Huge funds were pumped out of the US budget despite the economic downturn and the fact that prices for everything are rising,” said Medvedev. Discontent will be keep growing until Congress halts US support to Ukraine, he said, emphasizing that this is inevitable because “America has always abandoned its friends.” Similar views were earlier expressed by Russian Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova, who said the “US creates monsters” that “go out of control,” citing the Taliban and the al-Qaeda terror group as examples.

China highlights role of Asia-Pacific community in addressing global challenges

an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future when delivering a speech during Friday’s meeting.

With the theme of “Open, Connect, Balance,” the 29th APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting kicked off on Friday, in Bangkok, which is the first such in-person meeting since 2018.

The voice of China is in the limelight as the country’s membership of APEC has not only boosted its own development but also greatly contributed to the regional and world economies.

Highlighting that the Asia-Pacific is “our home as well as the powerhouse of global economic growth,” Chinese President Xi Jinping stressed the importance of building

Asia-Pacific community with a shared future “Today the world has come to another historical crossroads, and this has made the Asia-Pacific region even more important and prominent in its standing and role,” Xi said.

Calling for joint efforts in building an Asia-Pacific community with a shared future, he stressed several aspects — peace and stability, prosperity for all, cleanliness and beauty, and a shared future.

He also underlined upholding international fairness and justice, adhering to openness and inclusiveness, seeking green and low-carbon development, and being commit-

ted to cooperation so as to reach the goal.

The region’s status is of great significance in the world. With a combined population of 2.9 billion, the 21 APEC economies account for over 60 percent of the world’s total gross domestic product (GDP) and about half of world trade.

APEC is working on areas such as trade and investment liberalization, business facilitation, and economic and technical cooperation, aiming to achieve sustainable growth and prosperity in the Asia-Pacific region.

In the latest Regional Economic Outlook Report for Asia and Pacific, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) lowered its growth forecasts for the Asia-Pacific region to 4 percent this year and 4.3 percent next year, by

0.9 and 0.8 percentage points, respectively, from its April forecasts.

Despite the growth cut, Asia remains a relatively bright spot in an increasingly dimming global economy, said Krishna Srinivasan, director of the IMF’s Asia and Pacific Department.

China Committed to regional partnerships: Since joining APEC 31 years ago, China has been firmly committed to regional partnerships and free trade and investment, making significant contributions to a multilateral trading system and an open world economy. “China will work with other parties on the full and high-quality implementation of the Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP),” Xi told the

APEC meeting.

The country will continue working toward joining the Comprehensive and Progressive Agreement for Trans-Pacific Partnership (CPTPP) and the Digital Economy Partnership Agreement (DEPA), he added. The RCEP, the world’s largest free trade deal, covers 10 member states of the Association of Southeast Asian Nations and its five free-trade agreement partners: China, Japan, the Republic of Korea, Australia and New Zealand. China was among the first to ratify the RCEP agreement last year. Both the RCEP and CPTPP are believed to be viable pathways toward the wider Free Trade Area of the Asia-Pacific (FTAAP), which the 21 APEC members aim to establish.

European Commission Vice President

MOSCOW Agencies

LONDON Agencies

THAILAND Agencies

RaJa MuhaMMad Saeed WInS qualIFyIng Round oF 7Th Thal JeeP Rally

MULTAN Staff RepoRt

RAJAMuhammad Saeed bagged first position in qualifying round of the 7th Thal Jeep Rally as he completed the 2.8 kilometres distance in one minute, 34 seconds and 83 milliseconds while defending champion Zain Mahmood clinched second position.

Nadir Magsi stood third in the qualifying round.

Deputy Commissioner Captain (R) Samiullah Farooq and MPAs Niaz Ahmed Gashkuri and Ashraf Rind inaugurated the qualifying round.

Talking to media, Deputy Commissioner said that Thal Jeep Rally was not only an event for the people of Muzaffargarh and Kot Addu, but it is a great entertainment for the people of South Punjab.

A fair is held in the desert of Thal, where local cultural games are also organized along with a jeep

rally, which includes horse riding, javelin and kabaddi competitions.

He said that the Thal Jeep Rally was organized with the support of Punjab government and TDCP and better entertainment opportunities were being provided to the people as per vision of Punjab Chief Minister.

MPA Niaz Ahmad Gashkuri said that the district administration has made exemplary arrangements and such events should continue to be held to provide entertainment opportunities to masses.

Ashraf Rind said that ‘we have to promote our cultural sports during the Thal jeep rally and this rally will continue and will be organized in a better way in future.

Earlier, Managing Dire ctor TDCP Agha Muhammad Ali Abbas also inaugurated the second phase of Thal Jeep Rally and dispatched the vehicles of Syed Asif Imam and Sajid on the track by flagging off. As many as 115 vehicles participated in the quali-

Saad Baig’s knock helps Pakistan level T20 series

MULTAN Staff RepoRt

Half-centuries by Arafat Minhas and captain Saad Baig and three wickets from Ali Asfand helped Pakistan U19 to a seven-wicket win over Bangladesh U19 in the second T20 match played at the Multan Cricket Stadium here on Friday. The two-match T20 series ended with both teams winning a match each. Meanwhile, the solitary four-day match was drawn, while Bangladesh won the three-match 45-overs series by 2-1. Chasing 164 to win, Pakistan was in a spot of bother with three wickets down for 46 runs on the board. Wicketkeeper-batter Saad was joined by Arafat Minhas and the pair added an unbroken 119-runs partnership for the fourth wicket to help the home side achieve the target in the 19th over. Saad top-scored for his side with an unbeaten 79 off 50 balls, smashing eight fours and three sixes. The left-handed batter Saad for his match-winning innings was named player of the match, while he was awarded player of the series for scoring 107 runs from two outings in the T20 series. Arafat returned undefeated on a 37-ball 50, striking four fours and two sixes. Earlier, after being put into bat, Bangladesh scored 163 for six in 20 overs. Opening batter Jishan Alam topscored with a 40-ball 73, hitting nine fours and two sixes. Chowdhry Mohammad Rizwan was the other notable run-getter with 29 off 28 balls, which included two fours and one six. Pakistan’s left-arm spinner Ali Asfand bagged three wickets, while Mohammad Ibtisam took two wickets.

ScoreS in brief: Pakistan U19 beat Bangladesh U19 by seven wickets Bangladesh U19 163-6, 20 overs (Jishan Alam 73; Ali Asfand 3-31, Mohammad Ibtisam 2-34) Pakistan U19 165-3, 18.2 overs (Saad Baig 79 not out, Arafat Minhas 50 not out)

Player of the match – Saad Baig (Pakistan U19).

Pak-Kazakh pair lifts ITF World Juniors title

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan’s M. Zaryab Khan and Azat Sarsembaev of Kazakhstan won the doubles title of ITF Pakistan J7 World Juniors Tennis Championships leg-2, beating Aarav Samrat Hada of USA and Aki Zuben Rawat of Nepal 6-4,4-6(10-5) in a well-fought final at PTF Complex Islamabad on Friday. This is the second consecutive title for them. In the girls’ doubles final, the pair of Deren Ozel of Turkiye and Polina Kaibekova of Russia outwitted Moldova’s Lia Belibova and Kazakhstan’s Melissa Jangarasheva 6-2,6-1 to lift the title. Meanwhile, Amir Asylkozhaev of Russia and Aarav Samrat Hada of USA will lock horns in the final of boys’ singles after recording wins in semifinals on Friday.Amir Asylkozhaev defeated Imran Khatibev of Uzbekistan’s 7-5,6-1, while Aarav Samrat edged passed Pakistan’s Sami Zeb Khan 3-6,6-3,6-4. Meanwhile, Janvi Aswa of India and Polina Kaibekova of Russia will clash in the final of girls’ singles as they pulled off wins in the semifinals.

fying competition.

Rakhshanda Jabeen, Rubab Sultan, Bushra Sultan, Palvasha Hayat along with Maria Jabbar and Maham Shiraz from women participated in the qualifying round. Stock category competitions will be held tomorrow (Saturday).

Commissioner DG Khan division, Liaqat Ali Chatha inaugurated the qualifying events of Thal Jeep Rally and flagged off the vehicles on the track. Deputy Commissioner Capt (R) Samiullah Farooq also accompanied by him.

Speaking on this occasion, Commissioner said that Thal Jeep Rally has become an identity of South Punjab as renowned racers from all over the country are participating in the rally.

He said that in the coming years it will be made an international level rally which will have a positive impact on the economy of the area and promote the culture of the area.

Ireland, Pakistan players look forward to Women’s League

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The first-ever tour of Ireland’s national women’s team to Pakistan completed on 16 November, during which the two teams played three ICC Women’s Championship matches and three T20Is over the two weeks.

Pakistan completed a comfortable clean-sweep in the ODIs, but the guests fought back to won the closely contested T20I series 2-1.

After witnessing the culture of Pakistan, the Irish players have expressed their desire to return to the country to be part of the inaugural The Women’s League, set to be played in March 2023 in Rawalpindi.

T20I Player of the series, Ireland’s Gaby Lewis said, “Everything has been

great here and if I get an opportunity [to play in The Women’s League] I will definitely come here and play. Everyone has looked after us so well, it’s great, we have been looked by all very well.”

Orla Prendergast, who scored 96 runs and bagged three wickets in the

T20I series, said here , “That’d be a great opportunity. I think anyone who gets the opportunity to come over and play, it’s obviously a great country to come to and play.”

Eimear Richardson said, “Yes, absolutely. I think all the players here;

they’re really excited for the opportunity to be available for The Women’s League. And then I suppose, the exposure, the experience of what that opportunity would bring. We’re all just so excited to be available for selection.”

Muneeba Ali – who scored her maiden ODI century during the series –said, “This has been a great initiative from the PCB, the league will help us understand foreign players’ game plan.

Foreign players have talked to me and have shown keen interest to feature in this league, I hope this go a long way in the promotion of women’s cricket.” Fatima Sana, who has been part of different leagues across the world, said, “It is really good for us. The league will allow us to share dressing room with other foreign players which will ultimately help to improve our game.

Japan drop Matsushima for France Test for ‘physicality’ Preaso

PARIS agencieS

Japan head coach Jamie Joseph said on Friday he had dropped ex-Clermont winger Kotaro Matsushima to the bench for this weekend’s Autumn Nations Series Test with France for “physicality reasons”.

Matsushima, who spent two seasons in the French Top, 14 weighs 178kg and has been replaced by 186kg-centre Shogo Nakano with 187kg Dylan Riley moving to the flank for Sunday’s game in Toulouse.

“We want a bit more physicality,” Joseph told reporters.

“Kotaro is a weapon on attack but on defence we’re going to get a lot of pressure.

“Bringing him off the bench brings pressure off the team around those areas.

“Kotaro will impact the game later on when it gets a bit loose.

He’ll be dangerous,” he added. New Zealander Joseph has made four other changes from last Saturday’s loss to England.

Scrum-half Noaoto Saito, fly-half Seungsin Lee, winger Siosaia Fifita, back-

Between the five, only 33-year-old Labuschagne has more than 11 international appearances with next year’s Rugby World Cup less than 10 months away.

“Our mentality behind our team is to give these guys an opportunity to test themselves under extreme pressure,” Joseph said.

“All our team is light on Test match experience.

World Cup chiefs ban beer sales as Ronaldo jets in

World Cup chiefs on Friday banned beer sales around stadiums in a stunning u-turn just two days before kickoff as Cristiano Ronaldo prepared to jet in to Qatar. Alcohol is largely prohibited in the Islamic nation but the organisers sparked anger from fans with their dramatic decision.

Football’s world governing body FIFA said beer would not be sold to fans around any of the eight World Cup stadiums following discussions with the hosts.

“A decision has been made to focus the sale of alcoholic bever-

ages on the FIFA Fan Festival, other fan destinations and licensed venues, removing sales points of beer from Qatar’s FIFA World Cup 2022 stadium perimeters,” FIFA said in a statement.

Dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up at grounds ahead of the first game on Sunday between Qatar and Ecuador.

The host nation has predicted that more than one million fans will visit the country for the 29day tournament and FIFA has had a longstanding sponsorship deal with Budweiser, which is owned by drinks giant AB InBev.

Beer will remain available in

he Football Supporters’ Association, which represents fans from England and Wales, criticized the move, saying it was symptomatic of a “total lack of communication” with supporters from the organizers.

“If they can change their minds on this at a moment’s notice, with no explanation, supporters will have understandable concerns about whether they will fulfil other promises relating to accommodation, transport or cultural issues,” it said in a statement.

“It’s important for the World Cup they get a taste of what it will be like, if they make the team,” he added.

Team (15-1): Ryohei Yamanaka; Dylan Riley, Shogo Nakano, Ryoto Nakamura, Siosaia Fifita; Seungsin Lee, Naoto Saito; Kazuki Himeno, Pieter Labuschagne, Michael Leitch; Jack Cornelsen, Warner Dearns; Jiwon Gu, Atsushi Sakate (capt), Keita Inagaki

replacements: Kosuke Horikoshi, Craig Millar, Shuhei Takeuchi, Wimpie van der Walt, Tevita Tatafu, Yutaka Nagare, Hayata Nakao, Kotaro Matsushima coach: Jamie Joseph (NZL)

rower Pieter Labuschagne come in with Takuya Yamasawa, Yutaka Nagare, Gerhard van den Heever and Tevita Tatafu out of the starting lineup.

DOHA agencieS

VIP suites in stadiums, in some fan zones and in some hotel and restaurant bars.

Turn around has begun, says MiTchell’s ceo najaM seThi

pRofIt RepoRt mUhammaD raafay Khan

rESPONDINGto the recent shakeup in management at Mitchell’s, the company’s recently appointed CEO Najam Sethi has claimed that the iconic fruit farm company has begun its road to recovery.

“After the exit of Naila Bhatti as CEO in October, I relinquished my post as Chairman of the Board and was appointed CEO. Shahzad Ghaffar took over as chairman. Usman Qayyum will be executive advisor to the chairman/CEO. Turn around has begun,” Mr Sethi tweeted in response to Profit’s report from last week regarding the changes at Mitchell’s.

The changes in management at Mitchell’s had caused quite a stir

after the company’s CEO Naila Bhatti resigned following the largest losses that the company had seen in its history.

However, Mr Sethi has claimed that the losses are set to be recovered and that he has taken over as CEO in place of Ms Bhatti, and that his resignation as chairman of the board was not based on performance.

According to well placed sources at Mitchell’s, the immediate vacancy created by the resignation of the CEO compelled the board of Mitchell’s to appoint Mr. Najam Sethi as the new CEO. Mr. Sethi was previously the chairman of the company, responsible for overseeing the board committees of the company. As the new CEO, Mr. Sethi will directly head the management of the company and try it to bring back the company’s fortunes of yore. However, there were also re-

ports present that Mr Sethi was a stop-gap solution until a permanent CEO could be appointed.

According to Mr. Sethi, it was not the company’s recent loss which forced him to step down as chairman, instead, it was the resignation of the previous CEO after which the board decided to appoint him as the chief executive of the company. He clarified that since a public company cannot be without a CEO, he was given the charge of management and in his place give the charge of the chairman to Mr. Shahzad Ghaffar (who is out of the country and cannot be expected to be the CEO).

It should be noted that the Chairman of the board of a public company is not responsible for the day-to-day management of the company. Instead, the chairman is only expected to oversee the board com-

mittees. Now that Mr. Sethi is the new CEO, he is the driving seat of the company and the company’s performance will be a reflection of the new CEO’s management.

It is also worth mentioning that Mr Sethi will be assisted in his duties by the earlier mentioned Usman Qayyum. Mr. Qayyum was most recently the managing director and Chief Executive of Rafhan Maize Products Company. He has over 27 years of experience in a diversified space of dairy, food, and beverage sectors. He also holds more than 17 years of experience in the FMCG sector of Pakistan, specializing in marketing, sales, distribution, general operations and senior management at the C-suite level.

Mitchell’s is yet to make a formal announcement to the PSX about this appointment.

Honda cars records half year profit of Rs273mln

pRofIt RepoRt Daniyal ahmaD

Honda Cars has filed its second quarter earnings from July to September to the Pakistan Stock Exchange. The quarter sees Honda’s total earnings reduce by 159% quarter-on-quarter (QoQ) from a profit of Rs 658 million to a loss of Rs 385 million. The loss translates into a half year profit of 273 million. This is a 85% year-on-year (YoY) reduction from the Rs 1.867 billion it recorded over the same period last year.

Honda’s sales revenue fell by 35% QoQ from Rs 30 billion to Rs 19.5 billion. The contraction revenue can be attributed to the QoQ dip Honda saw in its sales from April till June to July till September.

Monthly average sales dipped from 1,574 units to 938 units for a total contraction of 40% whereby QoQ sales dipped from 9,442 units to 5,626 units.

Cost of sales as a percentage of sales revenue also rose QoQ from 94% to 97% leading to the gross profit margin to decline from 6% to 3%. However, in YoY terms, Honda’s half year revenue increased 4% from Rs 47.7 billion to Rs 49.7 billion.

Honda’s other income also rose by 50% QoQ from 526.6 million to 787.7 million. This is also a 53% YoY increase from the Rs 516 million it earnt over the same period last year. Honda’s effective tax rate also rose from 40% to 342.3%, likely on account of the super tax adjustment for FY22. Finally, Honda’s earnings for the quarter ended with

a loss of Rs 385 million. This is a 159% reduction from the Rs 658 million it recorded in the previous quarter. This is also a Rs 1.3 billion decrease from the Rs 939 million it recorded over the same period last year.

Looking at the quarter ahead, it is likely that Honda will fare similarly, if not worse. This is because of the persistent issue that Honda has faced in regards to importing completely-knocked-down (CKD) kits due to the State Bank of Pakistan’s (SBP) administrative oversight of these imports. This will be alongside the aforementioned numerous problems already plaguing the industry. Honda’s gross profit margin in the coming quarter will be noteworthy to see on account of their newly launched HR-V. The vehicle has been available for almost a month, and is likely to have increased costs of sales and production for Honda as localisation levels are likely to be low for it, given how new it is.

Grand Mufti Pakistan Rafi Usmani passes away

KARACHI staff report

Grand Mufti of Pakistan, President of Jaamiyah Darul Uloom Karachi and renowned Islamic scholar Maulana Rafi Usmani passed away at the age of 86 here on Friday.

The deceased was son of Pakistan’s former grand mufti Shafi Usmani and elder brother of the Islamic University’s Vice President Maulana Mufti Taqi Usmani.

Born in the United-India’s Deoband town on July 21, 1936, Mufti Rafi Usmani was also the patron of the Wifaq ul Madaris Al-Arabia, Pakistan.

President, PM, the four CM’s, Governors, federal and provincial ministers besides other have expressed deep grief over the death of the country’s grand mufti.

They termed it a great loss for not only Pakistan but also the Islamic world. Mufti sahib’s contributions to the promotion of religious teaching are unparalleled, they added.

The PM and CMs said, “Death of Mufti sahib is a great tragedy for the Islamic world. His religious services are eternal.”

They prayed for Mufti Rafi Usmani to be granted a high place in Jannah.

PSO’s liquidity crunch: And why it matters?

baggage of legacy costs and a cyclical liquidity problem which could jeopardise the country’s energy supply.

The financial statements of Pakistan State Oil (PSO) have caused waves of concern after weak results shed doubt on the government-owned company’s ability to import petroleum to Pakistan.

As the national oil company, PSO is responsible for importing the bulk of Pakistan’s petroleum products, ranging from liquified natural and crude oil to finished products like motor gas (mogas) and high speed diesel (HSD).

However, the company’s recent financial results have shown that it is facing a dire liquidity crunch, which may hamper its ability to function. This is exacerbated by increasing demand and higher costs of energy products in the international market. With even private sector oil companies struggling to manage because of the international markets, the PSO has the added

For the three month period ending in September 2022, the company recorded a net loss of Rs 11.4 billion in its cash and cash equivalents, whereas for the same period last year the company recorded cash inflows of Rs 41 billion. This sums up to a decline of almost 127%.

Liquidity and reLevant ratios: Let’s break down what the term means. It is simply the ability of a corporation to quickly convert its assets (or nearcash securities) into cash. Businesses often use their current assets to cover their immediate liabilities and cover its immediate financial obligations. The more liquid your cash is, the more freely you can do business.

Now let’s see how it is calculated. The current ratio evaluates a company’s capacity to cover its entire current assets, which include cash, accounts receivable, and inventories against its current liabilities (due

within a year). More simply, it is calculated by dividing current assets with current liabilities. The higher the ratio, the more liquid the company is and the better it is.

Looking at the financials for the latest quarter, PSO currently has a current ratio of 1.27, a very healthy number in terms of liquidity.

A company should ideally have a ratio greater than 1, which means it has more current assets than current liabilities. But in real life the number alone doesn’t cut it. It’s important to compare ratios to similar companies within the same industry for an accurate comparison.

The fast ratio, also known as the acidtest ratio, is the same as the current ratio except that inventory is not included in the calculation. In contrast to cash, short-term investments, and accounts receivable, inventory is removed because it is the hardest to convert to cash.

Inventory is therefore less liquid than other current assets. From the perspective

defence Ministry yet to initiate coas discharge summary as nov 29 draws nearer

ISLAMABAD staff report

Though the appointment of new Chief of Army Staff has become talk of the town as November 29 draws nearer – the date incumbent Army Chief Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa will retire – the Ministry of Defense (MoD) is yet to initiate a summary for the discharge of the COAS under Rule 12 of the Pakistan Army Act 1954. It is to be noted that Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif had told the media a couple of days that consultations on the army chief’s appointment will begin after November 18 or 19.

He also clarified that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) had no ‘favourite’ among the nominees for the position. Speaking to journalists outside the parliament house, Kh Asif had brushed aside speculations about a deadlock between PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and former president PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari over the name of the next army chief.

“There is no question of a deadlock over the matter as consultation has not even started yet”, he said.

However, ambiguity looms over the process for reasons beyond the rumoured impasse as the notification of retirement of the COAS remains to be issued. According to a 2019 Supreme Court judgment concerning the extension of the COAS, the procedure whereby the then government had appointed Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa as army chief, had involved a multistep process.

First, a summary for the prime minister for the retirement of General Raheel Sharif was moved by the MoD on November 15, 2016. The premier gave his advice to the president to promote Gen Bajwa to the rank of General and approved the retirement of Gen Raheel Sharif on November 28, 2016. It was only then that the MoD notified the promotion of Gen Bajwa and appointed him COAS on November 29, 2016.

On the other hand, PTI Chief Imran Khan, while referring to the appointment of new army chief, accused the government of bringing changes to the Army Act “for its own benefit”, saying all appointments made by the incumbent government were made for “vested interest”. Experts and political pundits, however, see other sides of “the saga”, saying all speculations about the matter are unfounded as the president could comfortably block any such amendment or ordinance before November 27. The debate over the appointment of the new chief has intensified since the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR), the media wing of the military, confirmed last week that Gen Bajwa would doff off his uniform on November 29 at the completion of his six-year tenure.

The debate is also linked to the current political stalemate stemming from former prime minister Imran Khan’s long march. Political observers are of the view that one of the objectives of Imran’s long march is to influence the army chief’s appointment though he has denied such claims.

Given the past practice, the Ministry of Defence will send a list of the top five generals to the Prime Minister’s Office for the appointment of chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and the chief of the army staff. However, the prime minister can ask for more names if he is not satisfied with the list. The summary for the appointments of key slots in the military will likely be moved closer to the retirement date of Gen Bajwa. The formal announcement is likely to be made only a few days before the change of command. Following are the top five generals after Gen Bajwa: Lt-Gen Asim Munir, QuarterMaster General, Lt-Gen Sahir Shahmshad Mirza, Corps Commander Rawalpindi, Lt-Gen Azhar Abbas, Chief of General Staff, Lt-Gen Numan Mahmood, President National Defence University and Lt-Gen Faiz Hameed, Corps Commander Bahawalpur.

of liquidity, a ratio value larger than one is often regarded as favourable, but this depends on the industry. Using the quick ratio to gauge the liquidity of PSO yields a number of 0.87, which can be termed as being below the ideal.

If you’ve heard the phrase “Cash is King” you can probably make sense of accounting. Without cash businesses struggle to run their day to day operations. The net balance of money coming into and going out of a business at a particular period is referred to as cash flow, and managing this cash flow is absolutely vital.

The relevant business ratio to determine liquidity capacity and how frequently it can pay off current debts is the operating cash flow ratio.

And it is calculated by dividing operating cash flow by current liabilities. A higher figure is preferable since it indicates that a business can pay down its current liabilities more frequently.

PSO’s operating cash flow ratio is ex-

tremely dismal, that of -0.15. The negative figure indicates that more cash was spent than earned during the 3 month period. And this is something to worry about. The business will not be able to sustain itself in the long run without a positive operating cash flow ratio. A corporation that has a negative ratio needs to produce additional positive cash flow from either finance or investment activities to stay afloat.

ConCLusion: Most of these indicators don’t exactly paint a rosy picture for the financial health of PSO. At the same time the company has been struggling to recover its dues from its debtors, most of which are from the energy sector.

The lack of income being generated by PSO can potentially risk its ability to import petroleum products which are crucial for the economy. And with the latest announcement by the Finance Minister to fix fuel prices for the next fortnight the liquidity position of PSO, as well as other oil marketing companies will only worsen.

pRofIt RepoRt

asaD Ullah Kamran