Epaper_22-11-20 ISB

default rumors: dar says Pakistan will

ISLAMABAD staff report

ministerof finance and revenue senator muhammad ishaq dar saturday ruled out any prospects of pakistan being on verge of default over its international payments and reiterated that it would never come close to it as it was committed to making all its payments on time without any delay.

in a video massage, he strongly rejected the baseless and irresponsible statements and rumors about the country’s economy, saying that the government had arranged all international payments for the next one year.

the finance minister said that for the past few days, baseless and irresponsible rumors had been circulating about the country’s economy just for the political objectives.

When these rumors were spread through social media and various sources, it not only affected pakistan’s economy and economic interests, but also impacted the affairs and transactions with their bilateral and multilateral partners, he opined.

the finance minister said that rumors were being spread that pakistan would not be able to pay $1 billion sovereign bond (sukuk) in december. “this is baseless and contrary to facts, pakistan has never defaulted on its international payments and will never come close

to it,” he maintained.

rumors are also being spread about pakistan’s credit default swap, he said, adding that they had their own ambitions and formula with regard to credit default swap, this was a baseless thing and the speculations in this regard should be stopped.

the finance minister said that rumors were making rounds about the petroleum products which were also fake.

pakistan has reserves of petroleum products according to the country’s need and demand and there is no need for worry, he added.

apart from disturbing the public, such rumors also created concern in the financial and international institutions and they sent questions, which not only harmed the efforts for economic interests but also wasted time, he further said.

Converge at Rawalpindi on Nov 26 for ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’, Imran tells nation

LAHORE staff report

former prime minister and pti chairman imran Khan on saturday asked his supporters and party leaders to converge on rawalpindi on november 26 for “Haqeeqi azadi” and to demand free and fair elections to save the country from economic collapse.

“i am inviting the entire nation to reach rawalpindi on november 26 (next saturday). i will meet you there and announce future course of action. this movement is not going to stop even after this march,” he said while addressing

supporters via video link in rawat on saturday.

“We can never achieve real freedom while sitting at home and living like sheep,” he said as he urged supporters to come out of their homes to force the government to call snap polls. imran also addressed the powerful quarters, saying, “ask anyone you want be it business community, farmers, it sector or anyone else… everyone believes that free and fair elections is the only way forward to steer the country out of this quagmire”.

the former premier said the incumbent government did not have any plan or road map to lift the country out of crises.

“the entire nation will come there [rawalpindi] and we will demand free and fair elections… this movement will not stop until we achieve real freedom.”

‘establishment imposed thieves on country’ imran criticised establishment, saying that he was surprised by the establishment’s decision to impose “corrupt” sharif and Zardari families on the country.

“establishment has the power and can take country towards any direction — positive or negative.

Army Chief’s appointment is prerogative of PM: Bilawal

ISLAMABAD staff report

chairman of pakistan people’s party and foreign minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari saturday said that under relevant procedure and laws, the appointment of the chief of army staff (coas) was a prerogative of the incumbent prime minister whereas imran Khan was trying to make the whole process controversial, which would not be allowed. addressing a news conference here, the foreign minister said that pakistan tehreek-iinsaf (pti) chief wanted to link his politics with the appointment process of the new army chief.

imran Khan thought about himself only and did not care for the entire country suffering from the consequences of his petty politics, Bilawal regretted.

“Why did you choose rawalpindi? Khan sahib let this decision (appointment of coas) happen,” he said and suggested to pti’s chief to postpone his long march for the time being. the foreign minister said the previous pti’s government had damaged country’s foreign policy, economy and democratic set up and now imran Khan only wanted to create political instability which would be strongly resisted.

He said that during international monetary fund (imf) agreement, imran Khan had attacked islamabad, which was foiled. now all the democratic forces in the country were united and the pti chief would not be allowed playing such like past tactics, he added. the country and its people could no longer bear any crises, he maintained. the foreign minister said peaceful demonstration was a democratic right, but no unconstitutional or undemocratic tactics could be allowed and reiterated that pakistan peoples party would play its democratic role as it had manifested in the past by resisting all the undemocratic moves.

“Khan sahib wants to stop institutions playing their democratic role. He wants to make undemocratic moves, but we will not allow him,” he said and added that the parliamentary parties had played a very democratic role to oust the government of imran Khan through a vote of no confidence.

g says govt arranged all int’l payments for next one year g says reserves of petroleum products ample for local need and demand

fulfill its commitments

COAS lAudS IMprOveMeNtS BeINg INCOrpOrAted IN ArMy’S heAlthCAre INfrAStruCture

RAWALpiNDi Staff RepoRt

ASpart of farewell visits, General Qamar Javed Bajwa, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) on Saturday visited various setups of Army Medical Corps and lauded immense improvements being incorporated in healthcare infrastructure.

Lieutenant General Nigar Johar, Surgeon General Pakistan Army accompanied the COAS during the visit to Combined Military Hospital (CMH) Rawalpindi and was briefed by Major General Muhammad Mohsin Qureshi Commandant CMH, regarding state of the

art newly up graded healthcare facilities.

The COAS was briefed that medical care has been planned as per international best practices and patient care is the focus of hospital administration. Special counters have been established for facilitating civilian and non-entitled patients as well.

Efforts are being made to provide patient friendly environment and provide allied facilities for patients’ attendants.

COAS was also shown newly established control room to impart training to doctors through live surgery process in Academic Centre, designed and established to facilitate medical students for better understanding of surgical procedures.

COAS appreciated the efforts of Army

Nov 26 to mark ‘end’ of Imran’s ‘gimmickry’, says Marriyum

iSLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Saturday said Imran Khan’s “Tamasha” (political gimmickry) would come to an end on November 26. Marriyum, in a news statement, said the end of Imran Khan’s so-called ‘Haqeeqi Azadi March’ would not be different from his long march of 2014. “Imran Khan! It is over for you,” she said while indicating “the end” of Imran Khan’s politics. She said instead of urging his workers to reach Rawalpindi on November 26, Imran Khan should better have announced the date for filing cases in the United Arab Emirates and the United Kingdom over Toshakhana scandal. Instead of arriving in Islamabad or Rawalpindi, Imran Khan should book his flight either to the UAE or UK, she added. Marriyum said November 26 would too pass and Imran Khan would not have any support “from any quarter”. She regretted that the “fake march” of “Haqeeqi Azadi” had claimed innocent lives, including journalists, and rendered children parentless.

Balance of economic, political power shifting to Asia: Senator Mushahid

iStANBUL anadolu agency

Times are changing and the balance of economic and political power is shifting towards Asia, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed said on Friday at the 11th General Assembly of the International Conference of Asian Political Parties (ICAPP) here in Istanbul. “There is a historic, unique change taking place internationally and globally,” said the senator. “We are living in a very transformative period. The balance of economic and political power is shifting from the West to the East … to Asia,” he said. Türkiye’s Justice and Development (AK) Party is hosting the 11th General Assembly of ICAPP, which started on Thursday evening. AK Party’s foreign affairs chief, Efkan Ala, who is heading the organizing committee of this year’s event, will take charge at the ICAPP as its vice chairman for a two-year term. Around 70 political parties from 33 Asian countries, including China, Pakistan, Indonesia, Cambodia, and South Korea, are attending the three-day event. “We are talking of resurgence of Asia, the rise of Asia,” said Syed, quoting Pakistan’s national poet and philosopher Dr Muhammad Iqbal who had said: “See, the sun is rising in the East.”

Medical Corps which is providing quality health care and state of the art rehabilitation services to members of the armed forces, their families and civilian patients. Amongst other facilities, Shuhada Families & veterans’ Medical facilitation Centre provides disruption free basic healthcare facilities including blood sampling, Medicines and checkup to families of martyrs’ and senior veterans up to the age of 75 years. The up graded Pharmacy is now entertaining 3000 patients daily.

COAS also laid the foundation stone of new training block of Armed Forces Post Graduate Institute.

Later, COAS visited newly-

constructed Soldiers’ guestrooms, newly established Army Help Centre and upgraded facilities of Armed Forces Institute of Cardiology. COAS appreciated the doctors and healthcare professionals of AMC for their selfless devotion to duty and monumental work.

Lauding the immense improvements being incorporated in healthcare infrastructure. COAS said that quality healthcare for soldiers and their families is a cardinal feature of Army’s welfare regime and critical for morale of troops.

Earlier on arrival at CMH, COAS was receicved by Lieutenant General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Commander Rawalpindi Corps.

Sarah Ahmed receives Global Collaborative Award for work in protection of children

LAHORE Shahab omeR

Chairperson Child Protection and Welfare Bureau (CPWB) Sarah Ahmed has been honored with the prestigious Global Collaborative Award in Rome, Italy by Dr. Jennifer Wortham, CEO of Global Collaborative for her valuable work in the protection of children.

According to details, an event was organized by the Global Collaborative in

Rome, Italy, which was attended by leading child protection organizations from around the world whereas it was a celebration of last week announcement by the United Nations that declared November 18th as the World Day for Prevention of Child Sexual Abuse, Exploitation and Violence.

The Collaborative recognized ten individuals from across the world who are doing meaningful work for the prevention of child abuse. The honorees included CPWB Chairperson Sarah

Ahmed, UNICEF Director of Child Protection, CEO of Child USA, First Lady of Sierra Leone, Professors from Harvard University, Hollywood Actor Tyler Perry and others.

Speaking to Pakistan Today from Italy, Sarah Ahmed dedicated the award to the children of Pakistan and said that receiving such a prestigious award was an honor for her and for Pakistan.

“I thank Chairman Imran Khan and Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz

Turkiye keen to boost bilateral trade up to $5b: Envoy

iSLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Turkiye and Pakistan enjoy heart-to-heart relations and Turkiye is keen to boost bilateral trade with Pakistan at least up to US$ 5 billion in the next 2-3 years as the current volume of trade is not reflective of the actual potential of both countries.

This was said by Dr Mehmet Pacaci, Ambassador of Turkiye while addressing the business community during his visit to Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). Nurettin Demir, Commercial Counsellor of Turkiye was also present on the occasion.

The envoy said that he was assigned by his government to increase Turkiye-Pakistan bilateral trade to US$ 5 billion in 3 years as a first step and added that both countries have the potential to go beyond this target. He said that Turkiye wants to enhance cooperation with Pakistan in trade, industry, investment, education, health and other fields.

He said that the entrepreneurs of both countries should know each other more and work hard to expand trade and economic relations while he assured that his Embassy would fully cooperate in such efforts.

Nurettin Demir, Commercial Counsellor of Turkiye gave a detailed presentation at the occasion about investment opportunities in Turkiye.

Speaking on the occasion, Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, ICCI said that despite enjoying exemplary cordial relations. Pak-Turkiye bilateral trade is just around US$ 1.2 billion and stressed that both countries

should promote strong business linkages between their private sectors to improve trade volume.

He said that Turkiye can invest in a number of sectors in Pakistan including engineering, chemicals, housing & construction, electrical appliances, machinery, defence, irrigation, food processing, halal meat, agricultural productivity and solar energy.

He said that ICCI is organizing in partnership with the Ministry of Housing & Works the first International Housing Expo on Dec: 8 to 11, 2022 and invited the investors of Turkiye to actively participate in this mega event and introduce their projects in Pakistan.

He said that both countries are part of ECO and D8 Economies and they should take advantage of these platforms to further strengthen their trade ties.

Khalid Iqbal Malik Group Leader said that Turkiye is a strong economy of the Muslim world with a GDP of around US$ 800 billion and it should focus on promoting trade and economic relations with Pakistan that would be more beneficial for both countries.

Zafar Bakhtawari, former President ICCI said that Turkish airlines have flights to over 129 countries and it should connect Pakistan with Central Asia and D8 countries. Road and railway links with Turkey should be upgraded and PTA should be converted into FTA to improve bilateral trade. He further said that PakistanTurkey-Azerbaijan free trade market should be established. Faad Waheed Senior Vice President ICCI, Zubair Ahmed Malik, Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Maqsood Tabish, Raja Imtiaz, Muhammad Shabbir and others were also present at the occasion.

Elahi for their utmost support in the cause of child protection. I have added responsibility now towards child protection and will continue to work with a greater zeal. I am grateful for the support extended to me by Chairman Imran Khan and the Punjab Government to deliver the goods,” she said.

She also added that her aim is to provide protection to all destitute and neglected children and to curb child exploitation.

Buzdar gets interim bail in assets beyond means case

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

An accountability court on Saturday barred National Accountability Bureau (NAB) from arresting former Punjab CM and PTI leader Usman Buzdar in assets beyond means case.

The former Punjab chief minister had approached the court, seeking interim bail in assets beyond case launched against him by antigraft watchdog. The court ordered Usman Buzdar to submit surety bonds of Rs500,000 for availing the relief of the bail. Buzdar’s counsel argued before the court that the bureau had launched another inquiry against his client and it is feared that the anti-corruption watchdog may arrest Buzdar in assets case. He urged the court to bar NAB from arresting his client. The court, after hearing initial arguments of the counsel, granted interim bail to the former Punjab chief minister till Nov 30 and restrained the bureau from his arrest. On November 4, the Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered NAB to avoid taking coercive measures against Buzdar and former federal minister Moonis Elahi in ongoing inquiries against them.

Punjab minister castigates Aleem Khan’s Park View Society

pROfit REpORt Shahab omeR

LAHORE: Senior Punjab minister Mian Aslam Iqbal came out swinging against former party stalwart Aleem Khan and his real estate housing project, the Park View Society. At a press conference held at 90 Mall Road Lahore, Iqbal claimed that the housing scheme had committed fraud worth Rs 250-300 billion.

BAckgROund

The project has been a contentious issue for a few years now, and has taken a political twist ever since Aleem Khan left the PTI and switched allegiance towards the PML-N during the brief period in which Hamza Shehbaz was Chief Minister. The origins of the project can be traced back to the early 2000s, when Multan Road and Ferozepur Road were becoming very attractive for new

housing societies. The River Edge housing society was kickstarted as a project by a developer named Ammar Khan in 2004.

Two years later he got approval from the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) to begin his work. At that time the total land owned by this society was approximately 765 kanal as per documents.

A company named Vision Developers

Private Limited, owned by Abdul Aleem Khan, bought River Edge in 2010 and immediately renamed it Park View Villas.

This is where the issue began. According to one source in the Lahore Development Authority (LDA), in 2012, Vision Developers requested the LDA to extend the project in the Revised Master Plan of the Authority. “Since the said housing project was also including agricultural land in the project area, the LDA refused to extend it.”

Next, Park View Villas presented its case to

the then Secretary Housing Punjab who also made it clear that the said project is being built on a green area according to the LDA master plan of 2004, which by virtue of being old and later revised cannot be allowed. “It should not be extended even an inch beyond 765 kanals,” said the source.

THE cuRREnT siTuATiOn — As pER THE gOvT

In the press conference, Iqbal brought up this contentious issue of the 765 kanals. The accusation against Aleem Khan is that he used his influence over the LDA to extend the project beyond what was legal and had trapped a large number of unwitting investors who were impressed by his heavy marketing budget.

“Any housing society can be established only under an original master plan, but the land mafia has cheated the people by selling 15,000 to 16,000 additional plots in the

green area,” he said. “River Edge Housing Society is approved only on 765 kanal of land and nothing can be constructed on even an inch of it. In this regard, the case is in the court, yet the development works are carried out here brazenly by this mafia.

This is actually quite typical of how real estate works in Pakistan. Developers buy a certain amount of land and create a master plan based on that, but then market themselves as much larger projects and sell plots beyond their means. They then use these funds to acquire the rest of the land which can take much longer tying up investors’ money.

“Indiscriminate actions are being taken against illegal housing societies and sellers of surplus plot files across Punjab. These mafias have become so powerful that they do not bother about the courts and the government. If legal actions are taken

against them, they torture the employees of the institutions,” claimed Iqbal.

He also claimed that the subsidized electricity received for tube wells on agricultural land was sold to the residents of the society and LESCO was suffering a loss of RS 40 million per month whereas this electricity theft has been going on for the last 16 years.

“LDA (Lahore Development Authority) sent 17 notices to the owner of this illegal society and NAB also took notice but this land mafia does not care about it. He [Aleem Khan] stole the land of the plots of the poor in his society and built a mosque named his father, then he also built the grave of his father and mother on LDA land. He also sold more than ten kanals of graveyard land as a commercial plot and fraudulently declared the Christian cemetery as his society’s cemetery.”

ICt pOlICe fINe-tuNe ‘pArApherNAlIA’ tO deAl wIth ptI lONg MArCh pArtICIpANtS

iSLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

tHEIslamabad Capital Territory (ICT)

Police on Saturday finalized preparations to tackle the PTI long march participants after entry in the federal capital. The authorities have decided to tackle the protesters with unconventional means. The police have been provided 567 tear gas guns and 50,000 shells, the sources said. Moreover, 500 rubber bullet guns, 37,300 cartridges, 17 pepper guns and 11,000 pepper balls have been handed over to police officials.

Moreover, the law enforcement teams have been given spree paint to point out and arrest the protesters. The Rangers and Sindh Police personnel have also been kept on alert to tackle any emergency situation. Apart of the Islamabad Police, 5,000

Rangers personnel will be deployed for security, while 500 policemen of the Sindh Police will also assist the capital city’s police. Moreover, 4,700 FC personnel have been deployed at different points and locations in Islamabad.

Three thousand Islamabad policemen including

officers will perform duties in a single shift, according to sources. The Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) has issued NOC to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to hold rally in Islamabad.

The Deputy commissioner Islamabad has issued NOC to PTI for holding rally in the Federal Capital starting from Islamabad expressway.

The NOC stated that the PTI will follow the route fixed by the ICT administration. Any deviation from the rally route will ultimately lead to the cancellation of the NOC.

The rally must start from Islamabad expressway and Chak Beli whereas the participants of rally will be allowed to go to Koraal and Rawat, the city police added. The NOC is issued just for the KoraalRawat route while section 144 will remain imposed in the federal capital therefore, no rallies or processions could be taken out.

SC rules bail order removes all hurdles to person’s liberty

iSLAMABAD agencieS

The Supreme Court through a judgment has made it clear that if a court concludes that an accused is entitled to be released on bail, then the order should be executed at once and his liberty cannot be tacked to more conditions. “If the court comes to a conclusion that an accused is entitled to be released on bail, then of course such bail granting order cannot be subjected to riders (additional terms) and conditions,” says a five-page judgment authored by Justice Sardar Tariq Masood while giving guidelines on the issue of disapproving the grant of bail to an accused on certain conditions. The verdict is an important milestone in elucidating the link between the right to liberty and pretrial detention and understanding towards respect to the principle that punishment begins after conviction, and that every man is deemed to be innocent until duly tried and duly found guilty.

“While admitting to an accused person on bail, actually he is released from the custody of the authorised officer/judicial lock-up of the court and his custody is entrusted to a person known as his surety, who is bound to produce him in court at a specific time and place to answer the charge against him.

Next 10 dayS CruCial aS wroNG deCiSioN CaN Spread ChaoS: Sh raShid

RAWALpinDi staff report

aWAMIMuslim League Pakistan (AMLP) leader Sheikh Rashid on Saturday said that one appointment has become heavy on everyone.

In a message issued on Twitter, former interior minister Rashid said that in the next 10 days, the fate of the nation and the country will be decided, the right decision will take the country in the right direction and the wrong decision can create chaos. Sheikh Rashid further wrote in his tweet that the ruined economy can be more serious, every govern-

ment is under the influence of sugar mill owners mafia. He also claimed that large number of sugar mills belong to politicians who are also in ministries, for which the people and farmers suffer.

While attacking the incumbent government, Rashid went on to say that the current government is here to end cases on it but “the cases will be restored”.

He said that inflation in the country has increased by 30 percent. People are unable to pay bills of electricity and gas. The current government is giving relief to itself while making problems for the people. “A government of 77 ministers of 7 months can neither go to the public nor solve problems,” he said.

Tessori assures JI leadership of cooperation to resolve issues of Karachi

KARACHi staff report

Sedition case: Court to indict Shahbaz Gill on 22nd

isLAMABAD staff report

Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori assured the leadership of Jamaate-Islami (JI) for his cooperation to resolve the issues of Karachi.

He pledged this during his visit to Idara Noor-e-Haq, the JI Karachi headquarters, here on Saturday.

Upon his arrival, the Governor Sindh was welcomed by JI Karachi chief Engr. Hafiz Naeemur Rehman and presented him a set of Tafheemul Quran – the detailed description of the Holy Quran by JI Founder and religious scholar Syed Abulaala Moudoodi.

connection with progress and development of the city as well as in order to mitigate the miseries of the city.

Talking about the K-Electric, he said that the power generation and distribution company didn’t act as per expectations. He assured that he would take both the province and the center onboard in connection with the KE. He vowed that the KE’s license will not be renewed if the company doesn’t put its house in order.

expressed his hope that Governor Sindh Kamran Tessori will play his due role to resolve the issues pertaining to Karachi. On the occasion, he raised the issue of flawed results of the last census as well as the critical issue of power crises in the city.

Malaysia's veteran politician Mahathir defeated at polls

KuALA LuMpuR afp/app

Mahathir Mohamad, the 97-year-old elder statesman of Malaysian politics, lost his parliamentary seat in Saturday's polls, likely ending the career of one of Asia's most enduring politicians.

Mahathir came in fourth in a five-way fight in his long-held constituency in the holiday resort island of Langkawi, the country's election commission said. It was his first electoral defeat in more than half a century. Mahathir held the Guinness World Record for being the "world's oldest current prime minister" when he became premier for a second time in 2018 just two months shy of his 93rd birthday.

42 new corona cases, no death reported in 24 hours

LAHORE staff report

Pakistan has reported 42 new cases novel coronavirus with no death during the past 24 hours. With the news reported cases, the number of confirmed positive cases has surged to 1,574,868 while the nationwide tally of fatalities stands at 30,630 on Saturday. According to the latest figures by the National Institute of Health (NIH), at least 42 persons were tested positive for Covid-19 across the country during the past 24 hours. Pakistan has conducted 6,054 tests in the past 24 hours out of which 42 persons were tested positive for the disease. The COVID Positivity Ratio was recorded at 0.69 percent.

The two leaders after a detailed meeting held a joint press conference at the premises of JI Karachi headquarters. Speaking on the occasion, Tessori thanked Hafiz Naeemur Rehman for his warm welcome and said that he will try his level best to act in accordance to all the recommendations by the JI leadership in

Talking about another demand by the JI, he assured that all the affected people, who lost their houses during anti-encroachment operations in the city, will be compensated with amount and alternative plots.

He said that the issue of local bodies’ elections was subjudice, however, the Governor House will fully cooperate with the mayor office – no matter who would form the local government.

JI Karachi chief in his address

He said that unfortunately no ruling political party took any measure to resolve the issue of census. He recalled that the Muttahida Qaumi Movement and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf had notified flawed results of the 2017 census, reducing the population of Karachi to half as compare to the original number of citizens dwelling in the city.

The JI leader expressed his hope that Tessori will ensure a fresh census as soon as possible as per the formula that the individual lives in a city be considered the resident of the same city. He also demanded of the governor Sindh to play his role against the misconduct of the KE.

Court puts off Sanaullah’s indictment in drug case till 26th

LAHORE: A Special Court for Control of Narcotic Substances on Saturday delayed the indictment of Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah in a drugs case after approving his plea for one-day exemption from personal appearance.

The Special Anti-Narcotics Court Lahore took up hearing of the drug recovery case against Federal Interior Minister Sanaullah and other accused. At the beginning of the hearing, Advocate Farhad Ali Shah,

the counsel for the minister submitted an application in the court for exemption from appearance on day.

In the application, it was argued that Sanaullah is suffering from heart disease due to which the doctors have advised him a complete bed rest. The counsel requested the court to accept his plea for one-day exemption. The court, therefore, granted one exemption from personal appearance and summoned him at the next hearing to be held on November 26. staff report

Visibly slowed by age but still looking healthy, he ran this time around under his own Homeland Fighters' Party and had laughed off suggestions he should retire, telling reporters before the election he had a "good chance" of winning.

"I'm still standing around and talking to you, I think, making reasonable answers," Mahathir said. He added his party would not form any alliances with parties that are led by "crooks or jailbirds" -- an apparent reference to the United Malays National Organisation (UMNO), the party of jailed former prime minister Najib Razak.

'Mahathir's time has passed'Mahathir has been criticised for ruling the Southeast Asian nation with an iron fist from 1981 to 2003 but is also hailed for helping transform the country from a sleepy backwater into one of the world's top exporters of high-tech goods.

Mahathir's long leadership provided political stability and he gained the title of "Father of Modern Malaysia" as he oversaw the construction of highways and industrial parks in the 1980s and 1990s. He came out of his 15-year retirement to lead the opposition Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) coalition in the 2018 polls amid voter anger over then incumbent Najib's role in the massive financial scandal at state fund 1MDB. The reformist bloc won a stunning victory over UMNO and Najib, who was later convicted of corruption and is currently serving a 12-year jail sentence.

Mahathir became premier again but his government collapsed in less than two years due to infighting. He has warned that Najib would be freed if the jailed politician's allies in UMNO win. He also offered to become prime minister a third time, but observers said he had no chance from the beginning.

His titanic clashes with opposition leader Anwar Ibrahim, his erstwhile heir-in-apparent with whom he had a bitter falling out, have dominated and shaped Malaysian politics over the past two decades. In the end, age was his biggest opponent.

"Mahathir's time has passed," Bridget Welsh of the University of Nottingham Malaysia told AFP earlier this month ahead of the election.

Strategic location of Pakistan: Challenges and Opportunities

Pakistan becomes a curse.

Sea in the South.

China is emerging as a superpower and believes in the multi-polarity of the world. India recently becomes the fifth largest economy in the world. Iran is under sanctions imposed by the western world but it has an immense treasure of oil and gas. Our neighbor Afghanistan is full of precious minerals and other untapped natural resources. Gwadar Port in Balochistan can contribute protecting our vital interests. The strategic location of Pakistan is a challenge and an opportunity for it at the same time.

friendly relations with China in the north.

Pakistan came into being about 75 years ago and is strategically placed at the transit route of three ancient great civilizations i.e. Indus, Persian, and Chinese. It lies between 30.3753° N and 69.3451° E as far as latitude and longitude extents are concerned. It is surrounded by four countries and a sea; China in the North, Afghanistan, and Iran in the West, India in the East, and the Arabian

Pakistan has to face challenges with respect to its strategic location. As it is present at the epicenter of the international political arena, so it was bound to play certain roles in various political and military related episodes for example SEATO, CENTO, the erstwhile USSR invasion in Afghanistan, and the 9/11 incident. On its eastern front, there exists India, its eternal enemy. Pakistan remains in a state of constant risk from the said front but our nuclear capability i.e. deterrence is working day and night silently, according to DG ISI. Pakistan enjoys

China always has helped Pakistan. PakChina friendship is deep-rooted and eternal. Afghanistan has suffered immensely over four decades of wars and conflicts Millions of Afghans from the last three generations were displaced from their homes and forced to live in exile, some with formal refugee status and many with illegal status in a number of neighboring countries, including Pakistan. There exists always a troublesome on our western border. In the Middle Eastern region, Pakistan has to maintain a balanced posture between the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and Iran.

Major Powers have their own interests in this region. The United States of America wants to exercise its own hegemony in South Asia. It always pushes India to contain the progress of China. By 2025, the trade volume between India and Russia will be 30 billion USD. International powers are trying to sabotage the CPEC. Gwadar is a priceless gift bestowed upon us by nature. It can serve our vital interests but this is not acceptable to such powers. So the strategic location of

But challenges always come up with opportunities. They are closely interrelated with each other. Challenges can be converted into opportunities. It can be seen over the period of our own history. In 1974, when India tested its nuclear devices, apparently it was a challenge for Pakistan to survive with a nuclear capable neighbor but later it became an opportunity to develop our own nuclear program to deter our eternal adversary. Eventually, we came up with an unshakeable defense.

Today, Pakistan must have to convert the aforesaid challenges into opportunities. According to estimates, there exists a potential of about 20 billion USD in trade between India, Pakistan, and Afghanistan where Pakistan will serve as a transit corridor. Pakistan can enhance its bilateral trade relations with Central Asian countries by utilizing Wakhan Corridor. It can boost the pace of CPEC Projects under BRI. Paperwork for foreign investment in SEZs can be minimized by digitalization.

Maximum benefits can be gained from regional connectivity. Gwadar Port is situ-

ated near the Strait of Hormuz (International Oil Highway), witnessing roundabout seventy percent (70%) of world oil transportation and 100,000 shipments of annual trade transportation. This port has the ability to accommodate approximately 200,000 tons of supertankers. Pakistan can actually influence its neighbors through economic linkages. Ultimately, regional connectivity will turn Pakistan into an economic hub.

For the effective utilization of such a vibrant strategic location requires honest, sincere, rational, and wise leadership that can formulate a unified, stable, specific foreign policy in accordance with “popular will” to protect the national interest across borders. The policy shift from geo-politics to geoeconomics by Niazi’s regime will be fruitful for Pakistan. We must avoid such intentions as placing Pakistan nearby Iceland as intended by a high ranked official. Foreign policy will serve as means and economic prosperity and progress will be the ends.

The author is a student of Strategic Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. He tweets at @afnanwasif

An additional district and sessions court on Saturday fixed November 22 as the date for indictment of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Shahbaz Gill in the sedition case. Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Supra fixed November 22 as the date for indicting Shahbaz Gilll on the charge of inciting sedition in institutions. In this regard, copies were distributed to Shahbaz Gill and other suspects during the previous hearing. It should be noted that Shahbaz Gill is on bail in the aforementioned case.

AfnAn WAsif

HAlAl CosMetICs seCtor oFFers BrIgHt eConoMIC ProsPeCts For InDonesIA, PAKIstAn: envoy

fAISALABAd Staff RepoRt

INDONESIAand Pakistan must accelerate bilateral cooperation and research efforts to gain benefits from the flourishing Halal cosmetics market, which is rapidly increasing its share every year and creating number of investment opportunities with healthy future growth prospects. This was said by the Ambassador of Indonesia to Pakistan Mr. Adam M. Tugio while addressing the International Conference on Islamic Economy and Halal Cosmetics organized by the University of Faisalabad (TUF).

Ambassador Adam pointed out that the

popularity of Halal products is not confined to Muslim countries alone but also attracting a wide range of non-Muslim consumers with its high quality standard and certification methods supported by high consumer awareness of healthy and green products.

He said that the global halal cosmetics market is projected to grow from $33.3 billion in 2021 to $77.34 billion by 2028 with a growth rate of 12.75% between 2021-2028

while Indonesia’s $4.19 bn halal cosmetics industry is expected to grow by nearly 8% a year until 2025 with a target to become the halal industry center in 2024.

The envoy said that the global halal cosmetics market size is projected to reach USD 83.76 billion by 2030 with

growth rate of 12% from 2022 to 2030 and market size of beauty and personal care in Indonesia alone will reach about US $7 billion in 2023.

Considering the positive market trends, the Ambassador stressed that IndonesiaPakistan must expand cooperation in this exclusive Halal industry since both countries are located in Asia-Pacific region, which is home to about 62.1% of the world’s Muslim population.

He also highlighted the Indonesian traditional herbal medicine known as Jamu and other natural remedy methods which are considered as authentic natural ways to cure ailments and maintain beauty. “Basic natural ingredients for health care are in abundance

in Indonesia due to its rich biodiversity and need to be explored further for more benefits, and I observe that Pakistan also has many potential to develop traditional herbal medicines as we can see the popularity of Unani medicines here”, the envoy added.

The Ambassador urged the corporate sector to come forward and support the research activities as the universities can serve as incubator and to establish productive connectivity between Indonesia and Pakistan for the promotion of economically important Halal cosmetics sector and traditional herbal medicines.

Speaking on the occasion, Mr Haider Amin, Chairman BOG University of Faisalabad, said that Indonesia is among the top produces and consumers of Halal

products in the world with a progressive developing halal products market. While thanking the Indonesian Ambassador for participation, he emphasized the need to further strengthen Indonesia- Pakistan research cooperation in Halal sector.

In her short remarks, Dr Tanzeela Khalid said that TUF organized the Conference to expand inter-professional approach to promote skincare and health products with the participation of 40 international specialists and 300 online participants from different countries.

The conference would serve as a platform to commercialization of research skills to furnish the demand of industry and to enlighten knowledge on best practices of growing Halal skincare and cosmetics sector, she added.

UBL hosts 10th Edition of UBL Literature & Arts Awards Default rumors: Dar says Pakistan will fulfill its commitments

KARACHI pR

UBL passionately supports literature and arts as causes and hasconsistently invested towards advocating indigenous talent. The UBL Literature & Arts Awards is an event that has been undertaken by UBL annually for a decade now. In this regard,the10th UBL Literature and Arts Awards were held at a local hotel in Karachi, attended in large numbers bywriters, literary and media personalities, socialites, and celebrities. This annual celebration of Pakistani writerswasexpandedthisyeartoinclude-

threenewcategories,thusmakingitthemostcomprehensivePakistaniawards

celebratingthefieldof literature andarts.

The thirteen award categories received hundreds of nominations from

Four suspects picked up in minor’s rape, murder case

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

all over Pakistan. Thecompetition was open to all Pakistani authors who had published their original work in 2020.Entries were shortlisted by an esteemed panel of judges. The jury mem-

bers, an august lot ofsomeofPakistan’sleadinglegendarynamesinliterature,comprisedofDr.AsgharNadeemSy ed,Dr. ArfaSyeda, Dr. Anwaar Ahmed, Ms. KishwarNaheed, Dr. Nasir Abbas Nayyar, Mr. GhaziSalahuddin andMs. MuneezaShamsie.

Two special award categories were also announced. To celebrate the global impact of Pakistaniartists, the prestigious ‘Excellence in World Literaturein English’ award was posthumouslyawarded to the exemplary Zulfikar Ghose. It was accepted by Mr. Ghose’s nephew, Mr. ImranAfzal,onhisbehalf.

Money laundering case against PM: Court adjournes acquittal plea of 14 employees

LAHoRe Staff RepoRt

and his son Hamza Shehbaz have already been acquitted in the money laundering case.

ContInued fRom pAge 01

Ishaq Dar said that there were still rumors about the current account deficit. The current accounts are being closely monitored, professionally managed and well managed, he told and added that the current account deficit was $316 million in September, which was expected to be $400 million in October. “That is, by the end of the financial year, the current account deficit is likely to be 5 to 6 billion dollars, while the target of this deficit for the current financial year is 12 billion dollars. The current account deficit is expected to remain below target,” he added. The Finance Minister said that in the light of these facts, he appealed to all Pakistanis not to pay heed to any kind of rumors, as they accorded top priority to Pakistan and for the country’s economy, they needed to work beyond political affiliations.

Army Chief’s appointment is prerogative of PM: Bilawal

ContInued fRom pAge 01

The Karachi police on Saturday claimed to have arrested four suspects in connection with the kidnapping and rape of a seven-year-old girl in Quaidabad area of the port city. The body of missing girl was found in a plot of an under-construction building near Mengal School in Muslimabad Colony Landhi on Friday. Malir SSP Irfan Bahadur told media that the girl had gone missing on Thursday around 2pm. In a late-night search operation, the police conducted raids in several areas of town and arrested four suspicious persons in connection with the rape case.Meanwhile, a case was also registered at Quaidabad police station on behalf of the minor girl’s father. In a statement, Sindh Police surgeon Dr Summaiya Syed said that the body of Muniba, aged 6-7 years, was brought from the jurisdiction of Quaidabad police station with extensive injuries all over the body, especially the head.She said that the initial medical examination was highly suggestive of rape, whereas, the post-mortem findings were suggestive of asphyxia as the cause of death. Dr Syed added that samples were preserved for the toxicological screening of the minor. The Senior Superintendent Police (SSP) Malir and SSP Investigation visited the crime scene along with the forensic team and investigation officials who collected evidence. ContInued fRom pAge 01

The Special Court Central on Saturday adjourned the hearing against 14 accused employees in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his family’s money laundering case.

As per details, the court adjourned the hearing without any hearing due to the absence of the judge till January 7.

Muhammad Usman and 13 other employees accused of facilitating Sharif family in alleged money laundering have filed an acquittal plea in the special court (central). It is pertinent to mention that Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) President and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif

In November 2020, the FIA lodged the First Information Report (FIR) against Shehbaz and Hamza for alleged Rs25 money laundering. Later in July 2021, the accused secured interim bail from a banking court. The case was later shifted to the special court Central-I. In March 2022, the charge sheet of the money laundering case was submitted in which the amount of laundered money was reduced from Rs25 billion to Rs16 billion, whereas, the names of 100 witnesses were presented to the concerned court. The three accused in the money laundering case Suleman Shehbaz, Tahir Naqvi and Malik Maqsood alias Maqsood Chaprasi were declared absconders.

The foreign minister said that Imran Khan had always carried out his politics on the shoulders of undemocratic forces. He said the future of a politician like Imran Khan was linked with making institutions controversial. If Imran Khan wanted real freedom, then why did he wait for this week for his political objectives? the foreign minister questioned. Bilawal said the appointment of the new army chief was an administrative decision and its completion would end the politics of Imran Khan. Bilawal said the entire world was facing economic disaster due to the Russia-Ukraine conflict. Imran Khan’s decisions had damaged Pakistan’s ties with the countries in the Middle East, Europe and the US, he added.

Police shell protesting Islamia College students in Karachi

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Police fired tear gas and baton-charged students who allegedly pelted rocks at the police that had reached the Islamia College to execute an order of the apex court pertaining to it on Saturday.

Station House Officer (SHO) Jamshed Quarters police Naveed Soomro said that the college is built on private property, and the owners approached the

Supreme Court (SC) to vacate it. He added that the SC gave an order in favour of the owner directing the Sindh High Court (SHC) to end its “occupation”. Soomro said the SHC directed the City Courts to ensure the implementation of the apex court order and hand it over to the SHC Nazir.

The SHO said the police party arrived at the college along with the court’s bailiff and senior police and education department officials. The bailiff was talking with the college’s principal when some students al-

legedly pelted the police with stones, he added. Soomro added that the police resorted to “mild” tear gas shelling the students and baton-charged them to disperse them.

The officer said that after dispersing the students, East Senior Superintendent of Police Syed Abdul Rahim Shirazi, the education department’s secretary for colleges Aleem Lashari and other officials arrived at the spot and engaged the college administration in negotiations to evacuate the premises.

Converge at Rawalpindi on Nov 26 for ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’, Imran tells nation

lamabad.

“What Pakistan has achieved by regime change in the last seven months,” he asked he establishment. “Why did you impose them on the country… Don’t you know their past? Our agencies have files of their corruption.”

The former premier said “foreign conspiracy” against his government could have never succeeded without the help of ‘local abettors’.

‘No oNe caN remaiN Neutral’: The former premier said no one can remain “neutral” at this time, saying that what is happening today in the country is tantamount to slavery.

“There is a difference between sheep and humans. Humans have rights but society without rule of law turns into a society of animals.”

Giving examples of PTI Senator Azam Swati and Arshad Sharif murder case, Imran said no one would get justice until the nation made efforts for rule of law in the country. “If I as a former prime minister of the country cannot lodge FIR so how could a common man get jus-

tice in this society,” he added.

“No one will come for the rescue of underprivileged in societies where there is no rule of law… if they can kill Arshad Sharif who was number one investigative journalist of Pakistan then no one is safe here,” he added.

Imran said the Punjab police refused to lodge FIR of assassination attempt on him due to the fear of ‘Dirty Harry’. “All developing countries are facing the same problems as Pakistan because people like Nawaz, Zardari and ‘Dirty Harry’ are sitting there who are above the law.” He accused the coalition government led by PML-N of “destroying” the country’s economy, saying “their only aim is to take relief in corruption cases”.

“Thieves have closed down corruption cases worth Rs11,000 billion by amending NAB laws… It’s been seven months since my ouster but on one can tell a single good thing that they have done for the country.”

Earlier, senior party leader and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi, addressing participants at Rawat, said the party had shown utmost restraint after its chief “was riddled with bullets” and its supporters

were injured and killed in the assassination bid in Wazirabad. Earlier in the day, PTI’s Fawad Chaudhry said that the “final stage” of the party’s ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ march has arrived, urging people to “get ready” for the PTI chief Imran Khan’s call.

The former information minister announced the long march’s plan and added that today the cavalcades under the leadership of Vice President PTI Shah Mehmood Qureshi and senior leader Asad Umar will meet in the province’s Rawat area.

He furthered that the former prime minister will give a call later today to the people to reach Rawalpindi.

PTI’s official Twitter handle announced that the second phase of the march will end today at Rawat.

Spokesperson of chief minister Punjab Musarrat Cheema also shared the party’s plan and said the two marches under the supervision of Qureshi and Umar will gather in Rawat.

Pti to Protest ‘Peacfeully’: PTI Senator Faisal Javed also tweeted and said that the party will protest peacefully at the court’s designated place in Is-

islamabad admiN gives PermissioN for rally: The Islamabad Capital Territory’s (ICT) administration on Saturday granted permission to a Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) to conduct its rally from Koral to Rawat areas.

The 35-point no-objection certificate (NOC) issued by the capital’s administration was signed by the district magistrate of Islamabad and PTI Islamabad President Ali Nawaz Awan.

The rally is set to join the larger PTI Haqeeqi Azadi procession, with party chief Imran Khan soon to announce the plan to march to Rawalpindi.

While talking to the participants of the long march a day earlier, the PTI chief commented on his health in connection with the gunshot wounds he had suffered during his “Haqeeqi Azadi March” in Punjab’s Wazirabad on November 3, said that doctors would examine him on Saturday (today).

He also said that he will “personally lead the long march from Rawalpindi”.

The looming precipice

THATfederal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar felt the need to hold a press conference to announce that Pakistan would meet its payment on the Eurobond sukuk issued a few years ago, was in itself not a good sign, and sent the money market its firmest signal yet that Pakistan was on the brink of a precipice, and could welsh on this payment, which would leave it in default. While Mr Dar may bravely insist that Pakistan will make the $1 billion payment due on December 5, he might want to ponder two things. First, where is the money going to come from? Issuing a new sukuk or other instrument; in other words, by rolling over the loan? In other words, keeping the country’s debt stock at a higher level than before. Perhaps the only reason Pakistan can still approach the financial markets is because it is back on an IMF programme, and off the FATF grey list. Senator Dar must also ponder how long the country must carry on like this, from crisis to crisis, more worried about where the next payment is going to come from, than about ensuring growth in the economy.

Senator Dar was remembered as, and indeed brought back, as a clever financial manager, not as a root-andbranch reformer. The problem is, the economy has not really responded to his brand of management. Inflation remains high, and while there is a little good news about the current account deficit, it is not good enough to counteract the negative outlook that afflicts the rest of the economy. one troubling sign is that the latest IMF programme review is being delayed yet again. This reflects the fact that the purpose of all that borrowing has not been met. The idea was that the borrowing would lead to more production, higher state revenues, and an increased ability to pay.

A key problem was political stability.Senator Dar is merely trying the same solutions as were tried by his PTI predecessors, which in turn were much the same as he himself tried before, and which have left the country where it is: one payment away from default. Even if the sukuk is honoured on December 5, what happens the next time? Pakistan is in the unenviable position of having to borrow on increasingly onerous terms in order to make the next payment on previous loans. Senator Dar was brought in to revive the economy and thus restore the sagging fortunes of the PML(N);; but instead he is forced to run furiously to stay in the same debt-ridden spot.

THE ATTACK ON POLAND AND INDIAN GROUND REALITIES

clear arms race. Furthermore, the world institutions remained mute when it came to India.

THErEwas a missile attack on Poland, and there is mystification about who fired the missile, ukraine or russia. The missile killed two people near the Poland border. This incident engendered widespread ripples across the world. There is doubt about the origin of this missile.

The russia-ukraine conflict has brought nuclear bombs back into the discussion. The world is verbalizing this threat because of the ukraine war. However, the world is fixating on the hazards of nuclear war because it was transpiring in Europe, and in South Asia, despite the lamentable reputation of India relative to safety and security of nuclear weapons and materia.

The head of the International Atomic Energy Commission, rafael Mariano Grossi, recently said that India was a platform for nuclear Technologies, and he saw a bright future. At the same time, he showed concerns about ukraine; however, he heartened India and thoroughly forgot the Brahmos missile attack on Pakistan. Moreover, he failed to point out India's lack of implementation of united Nations Security Council resolutions and the IAEA convention.

The united Nations Security Council resolution 1540 and the IAEA Convention of Physical Protection of Nuclear Material (CPPNM) make it binding on the state to take rigorous measures to avert nuclear material from getting into the wrong hands. Furthermore, in the Nuclear Security Index ranking, India got 41 out of 100 and was ranked 20 out of 22 countries; it also has a low score in the security of nuclear facilities. How can the head of the IAEA call a country a future nuclear technology hub, which cannot implement IAEA conventions and has such a low ranking in the Nuclear Security Index?

India's record on the safety of radioactive material is abysmal, and India also fired a missile into Pakistan. The debate is not about whether it was contingent or deliberate. Firing a nuclear-capable missile only shows that either India was complacent or incapable. If it was accidental, then it shows the Indian command and control system is so impotent, and the world should take steps to ameliorate the Indian nuclear weapons system. It not only engendered the possibility of starting a war between countries but also imperiled many passenger flights. The second possibility is that it was deliberate and is a cause for concern.

In the book, After the Bomb: reflections on India’s Nuclear Journey, Achin Vanaik argued that the Indian nuclear elite is composed of a strategic core of crucial decision makers and strategic community, which has Sangh Ideologues. However, these days the situation has deteriorated. PM Narendra Modi is leading the Indian regime, and was an active member of the Sangh.

Kira Huju wrote a research article in the Interna-

tional Affair Journal, which talked about the Saffornization of the Indian Foreign Ministry. There is no reason to believe that Indian authority that deals with missiles does not consist of these elements.

Therefore, the world is always in peril because of Modi and his accomplices who inspired the Ideology of Hindutva. Thus, calling India a bright place for nuclear technology is predicated on sheer incognizance. The head of IAEA would not be making such verbal expressions if Hitler or Mouslinni had control over the nuclear weapons and would have beeen firing nuclear missiles in other European countries.The IAEA head would additionally be making this kind of statement about russia if there was a pattern of uranium smuggling in russia as there is India.

There is a history of uranium smuggling in India. Even The Diplomat magazine called India a ‘radioactive bazaar’. There are some recent examples of uranium smuggling as well. In February 2021, the Indian security forces held two people from Kolkata carrying radioactive material worth $570 million. These two people brought the radioactive material of 250 kg. In June 2021, seven people were apprehended in Jharkhand carrying 6 kilograms of mineral uranium.

India is incapable of implementing a stringent mechanism to safeguard radioactive materials. Secondly, firing a nuclear-capable missile in Pakistan's territory showed an Indian lack of capability or truculent design. International Agencies should make India accountable for its incapability as well as for its truculent plans. The world should additionally be vigilant on the Hitler-inspired ideology prevailing in the Indian Army and the Indian Strategic community. Therefore, a verbal expression such as that given by the IAEA head will further imperil the world's placidity. It will threaten strategic stability and imperil the utilization of nuclear technology to achieve the target of the Paris Climate Agreement because one unfortunate incident can transmute the world's perception about the utilization of nuclear technology to meet climate goals

Pakistan authoritatively mandated an investigation of these is paramount. Although India did not sign the NPT treaty, the uSA gave it access to the Nuclear Suppliers Group. recently, India refused to sign the Comprehensive Test Ban treaty and showed intention to test different nuclear weapons. The uSA did not react to the Indian aspiration to create a nu-

To make the world a tranquil place, it is very important for the world to rise above self-interest and a western-centric mindset. The Atlanticism mentality is becoming a grave threat to the world because the world cannot compete against the aggressor. The lives of Kashmiri and Pakistani people are equally consequential.

Due to the west's partial approach, most countries abstained from voting on the ukraine issue because they knew that the West always cared about its own problems.

Therefore, western bellwethers and institutions need to understand the concerns of countries not in Europe.

India is incapable of implementing a stringent mechanism to safeguard radioactive materials. Secondly, firing a nuclear-capable missile in Pakistan's territory showed an Indian lack of capability or truculent design. International Agencies should make India accountable for its incapability as well as for its truculent plans. The world should additionally be vigilant on the Hitler-inspired ideology prevailing in the Indian Army and the Indian Strategic community. Therefore, a verbal expression such as that given by the IAEA head will further imperil the world's placidity. It will threaten strategic stability and imperil the utilization of nuclear technology to achieve the target of the Paris Climate Agreement because one unfortunate incident can transmute the world's perception about the utilization of nuclear technology to meet climate goals.

YouTube A source of knowledge and ultimate ideas

that YouTube has generated $19.7 billion in revenue in the current year.

As per the Statista report, most YouTube users are in the age group of 15-35 and the majority of them are from India, estimated at 467 million, followed by the uSA. It has been proclaimed that the most YouTube traffic comes from the uSA, with 16.4 percent, followed by India, with 9.9 percent, then Japan, with 4.8 percent.

YouTube is the second largest social media platform after Facebook. It was invented in 2005 and purchased by Google in 2006. It is a videosharing search engine available in nearly hundred countries. People from across the globe upload videos of their choices and attract viewers of their interests. Since its invention, it has become the secondlargest search engine after Google. It offers movies, songs, news, comedy, science and technology, and educational material that engages people of all ages. According to Statista 2022, more than 206 billion people worldwide use YouTube once a month. The report also stated that people watch this channel for billions of hours and generate billions of dollars. It has also been claimed

More than 70 percent of people watch YouTube from their mobile devices. The male and female ratio of YouTube is 11:9. In a report, it has also been recorded that 54 percent of them are male and 46 percent female. The most watched channels on YouTube belong to comedy, with 77 percent of users. The report has also stated that every visitor checks nine pages on average once he steps into YouTube. As per the Statista report of 2022, YouTube has more than 5.1 million active channels which offer different programmes. It is astounding that YouTube has more than 100 local versions in over 80 languages.

YouTube has a significant impact on the education and learning experience of the students. Someone has rightly said that you never get bored with YouTube. Students of different disciplines should make use of it in a positive manner. Susan Wojcicki, the CEO of YouTube, has expressed on her YouTube website that “our hope is to support those who use YouTube to share their knowledge with the world and the million of the users who come to our platform to learn”.

ucation converted from classrooms to the online mode. People now preferred smart-learning techniques rather than visiting institutions personally. YouTube opened up a new horizon in education. Massive open online Courses (MooC), Edx, udacity, and others have converted online courses that can be accessed via YouTube. The Massachusetts Institute of Technology and Stanford have already converted their courses online, which can be accessed via YouTube. It has a wide variety of content, from entertainment to education.

Many experts have launched channels that offer online lectures and tutorials. YouTube is a source of income for technical, vocational and skills education. Now people in different disciplines prepare online courses and upload them on their channels, attracting millions of users. The world has become a global village; whatever is happening in other corners, you will find them on YouTube.

It is an excellent source of information. MIT and Harvard universities have become an active part of edX for online lectures, which are available for students of all ages.

courses via YouTube are Canvas Network, Coursera, Cognitive Class, Inversity, Future Learn, Khan Academy, Kadenze,

YouTube is, undoubtedly, a place of smart learning. To make it more effective, students should engage in quality courses that enhance their educational and career growth. YouTube is a source of entertainment, information, current awareness and, above all, an education platform. It depends on human minds what they should select. Though it has some negative aspects, like watching movies, dramas, and sports, if we use it for educational purposes, it will make us competitive in different spheres.

The majority of courses charge a heavy amount , however, YouTube is a free institution that offers extensive courses without spending a penny. Mere readings from textbooks and remembering them are not a good idea. It is YouTube that makes you a critical thinker and teacher in your subject. YouTube harnesses education and classroom teaching. It helps in your educational skills, and shows which courses are fruitful for our students that make them creative and active learners.

YouTube has a significant impact on the education and learning experience of the students. Someone has rightly said that you never get bored with YouTube. Students of different disciplines should make use of it in a positive manner. Susan Wojcicki, the CEo of YouTube, has expressed on her YouTube website that “our hope is to support those who use YouTube to share their knowledge with the world and the million of the users who come to our platform to learn”.

In this age of digital transformation, YouTube earned enormous fame exclusively during the pandemic when ed-

Free education is the need of every individual and YouTube plays a tremendous role in free education. Some informative search engines that offer comprehensive

The writer is Deputy Director Library at the Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad, a Think-Tank based in Islamabad. He can be reached at abidhussain@issi.org.pk

The writer is Research Officer at CISS, AJK. He tweets @zohaib24hdj

udemy and udacity, etc. These courses offer online learning, counseling, diplomas and degrees. In the last few years, the use of audio-visual material has made teaching methods effective and the present generations are taking a keen interest in this smart learning.

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

Worry over the attack should distract from Indian irresponsility

Abid HussAin

Racing towards a photo finish!

Endless scheming

nAqi AkbAr

Formany a cynical and law abiding Pakistani, the current quagmire seems to be a clash of egos. As this piece of analysis is in front of the reader’s, some way out might have been reached, as a flurry of meetings suggests. However, the last six months illustrate in the minds of observers, that it has always been a clash of egos. The last time such a thing happened was the aftermath of the hanging of a popular prime minister. For the next 10 years, each step of the government that hanged the popular prime minister was construed as the follow-up of that hanging.

Forty years-plus later, the ground realities at the helm of affairs and in the corridors of power seems to be proving again that the popular will is the last thing, which can be tolerated by the powers-that-be. Despite the fact that the leadership standards have gone through a “regime change”, falling standards of political discourse, especially when fighting with the established order, the unravelling of political machination does not seem to end anywhere.

There is no debate on the reality that Khan, despite being a very popular leader, has been at the same time a blundering leader. He could not dent the system as would have wanted to, as was his manifesto. He was booted out of power when he was at his lowest level of popularity. He took up issues and narratives, which had few takers outside his band of devout followers.

Yet 100 percent marks to the established order, which through a series of missteps proved him right in his fears as well as in his assessments of the powers-that-be. A few days ago, the situation regarding the key appointment in the Army was put to rest with every party or faction showing sportsman’s spirit. Even Imran Khan distanced himself from the debate and coose to stick what he called his party’s single-point agenda, of holding early elections.

However, that was not to be. The incumbent government in Islamabad, which is regarded as the B team of the establishment, instead of moving the usual summary of appointment of the new Army Chief, came up with the surprises of all, changes in the Army Act. In other words, the PMLN/PPP government is showing obvious and clear signals as to which person it wants to be the next Army Chief. As of now, things are still elusive. Procedure says separation orders of the outgoing individual are needed as well as summary for the incoming one.

Connecting that with the scepticism of Khan, even if an opponent of Imran Khan says that the former cricketer is fond of fighting imaginary shadows, the episodes of the last few weeks, in all fairness point out to the fears expressed from time to time by the PTI leader. Even a novice can conclude that things are not that as simple as they seem.

The clash of personality No. 1 with Personality No. 2 as debated and gossiped about in the country and on social media since March 2022, seems a reality for all practical purposes. If the

incumbent government has been quick to claim that, it has created a dent in the PTI narrative.

Further that the PTI leader's unguarded comments have helped the incumbent government demolish the narrative, the incumbent new initiatives under any pretext only strengthen the fears of the PTI die-hards and have the potential to win more admirers, the silent majority, as they are proverbially called by the political commentators.

Joining the nodes; assassination of key witnesses/journalists of the plot, unprecedented pressers to defend the respective positions taken by the establishment, sniper fire in a political rally, proposed amendment in the Army Act, regretfully prove that there are things afoot and are moving in that direction in one way or another.

Here it may be pertinent to note that the continued missteps by the incumbents have strengthened the hands of the opposition groups, despite their own leadership’s potential shortcomings. The last step, which seems to be the most ominous, also creates an impression that while the world is on the move to demolish idols, religious, Islamic or otherwise, Pakistan is being taken towards a path, which leads to greater regimentation to the benefit of the established order.

The established order, which is accused and may be rightfully, that it helped install Khan on the PM seat, wanted to transform the state of Pakistan to its advantage. During the tenure of Khan, the creeping established order was evident in every activity. A PM could only console a grandmother of a living “orphan child” but did not have the power to ask or even request the established order to respond to the human rights query.

In yet another case, people who were the target of death squads as well as intelligence sleuths, were called blackmailers by that very PM. How could a popular leader say that? Squarely the creeping order was the dictating factor.

speaking loudly to make home a point than to have convincing arguments, has in fact polarized Pakistani society to the prohibitive limits.

The common man also understands the cruel fact that the entire political race in one way or another is not to emancipate the Pakistani masses, rather it is to gain the approval of the kingmaker, nothing else.

Be it the muted bid for amendment in the rules of business of an important appointment in the Pakistani context; or trying to follow the same personality in letter and spirit when in power, not much change seems to be in the Pakistani political horizon, honestly. The number of demonstrators the opposition leader wants to show up in Islamabad is not to create a new world, a new Pakistan, it is the same management, he wants to appease.

In the run-up to the second last day of the current month, the bid for favour or success in convincing the real masters has gained strength.

Conclusively, when the state starts political games and concentrates on them more than the warranted attention, the stage is set for further disaster. Today Pakistan has to face a potential security threat at the shapr of resurgence of Islamist extremists; yet key institutions are more concerned about the spoils of war, which is to be decided in December. The unravelling of conspiracies one after another might push Pakistan into scenarios not expected or desired

As things stand, after April, for a common person with nominal political understanding, the mechanics of change were centred in a clash of personalities. Irrespective of the fact that both the warring parties tried to market their narrative, as they liked to, the average person knew the truth. That clash of personalities coupled with a new political culture, which rests more on

If one side is throwing as much mud as it can on the other faction, the faction or political party under fire is surprisingly trying to put up an innocent face. The disowning of many stances by the PTI chief, perceived or real, point to the fact that grabbing power by either side is the main goal for all concerned.

However, the intensity of fight between the two warring political trends; one with the established order’s backing and the other these days in the political wilderness, may not be taken as a real fight between justice and injustice. The photo finish, which is visible in the near future, will at most throw up another experimental political game plan. To call that a change in the favour of the masses is not the right analysis.

Conclusively, when the state starts political games and concentrates on them more than the warranted attention, the stage is set for further disaster. Today Pakistan has to face a potential security threat at the shapr of resurgence of Islamist extremists; yet key institutions are more concerned about the spoils of war, which is to be decided in December. The unravelling of conspiracies one after another might push Pakistan into scenarios not expected or desired.

The writer is a freelance columnist

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Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan. E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

New normal in Pakistani politics

INa vibrant democratic dispensation, it is a rather encouraging notion to have diversity of opinions. Diversity opens up new avenues to rid society of status-quo. Democracy itself has always been an explicit proponent of the freedom of speech and encourages the right to association. With diversity emerges a vigorous democratic society. Ironically, diversity turns into ignominy when it causes fragmentation and polarisation in society along ethnic, religious, political, economic and all other possible lines. And who knows it better than we do in Pakistan? None.

Pakistani society has gone through deep political changes in recent times that caused systematic polarisation, leading to sharp differences not only within the country, but within families and social circles … even within WhatsApp groups. The deeper we slide down, the more frightening outcomes we are bound to meet. Initially, it all started with the political rhetoric of maligning the rivals. Coming from the leadership, the tone and tenor of discourse turned into farcical frenzy on the back of the so-called fifth generation warfare. In turn, social media madness encouraged people to go nuts on the streets. Polarisation and blind belief lead to disproportionate and irrational animosity towards the rivals.

In contrast, societies rooted in sound politics do not stoop this low. In fact, societies having deep-rooted political wisdom and mature institutions do not succumb to the curse of polarisation. Thus, political awareness allows society at large to function smoothly and peacefully with all the different shades of opinion flourishing under a democratic dispensation.

Pakistani society has always been divided on political grounds, but in recent times this trend has seen an unprecedented rise, where politics has become a tool to exploit religious, ethnic and political opinions of people. Some have become so efficient in this game that they successfully exploit conflicting opinions simultaneously. The leaders alone are not at fault. At best, they can try to do all this because it suits them and their designs. But it is an indication of the low, almost non-existent, level of political and social awareness in society that the majority fails to pick up such exploitative tendencies, and even when they know what is going on, they prefer to believe that it is happening for the larger good. After all, everything is fair in love and war. And what we have in society today is not love. It is all war, and tactics are fair. Blatant ridicule with the intent to hurt is the new normal in society.

Ironically, the media has always served as the platform where the indoctrination of certain narratives is carried out through selective promotion on TV channels. Such biased rhetoric amplified in the media further brings democratic evolution to a complete halt. Thus, the media is eroding the concept of mutual respect and is questioning the very existence of diversity of opinions in the country. The gloomy state of affairs in the country has squeezed the space for the multiple narratives to exist, causing public alienation. Politics in a country where just about 50 per cent people turn out to vote cannot survive such intense polarisation. Conclusively, the only way to come out of this crisis is to stop mud-slinging and to keep the differences aside in the larger national interest. The agenda should be to develop and to let others develop Pakistan into a formidable democracy and a respectable nation. The politicians need to standardise the system from which no one would be able to deviate. Instead of dirty politics, they ought to focus on more genuine economic and social issues. If this polarisation is not checked, it may unfold undesirable consequences for us in the long term.

SUBHAN ALI LASHARI MATIARI

Wishful thinking

THISis with reference to the report ‘Sewage treatment project to be revived to stop rawal Lake contamination’ (oct 17), according to which, a whopping sum of taxpayers’ money in the range of rs6.2 billion is going to be spent on the project to protect the rawal Dam from contamination.

In fact, this money could have been utilised for establishing a hospital in that area, where presently health services are non-existent. It is very unfair that the individuals responsible for polluting the only reservoir of freshwater supply to rawalpindi go scot-free without being penalised for causing a calamity of this proportion.

The catchment areas of the reservoir are Banigala, Shahdara and Bari Imam. About half-a-century ago, when I used to go to these areas for birdwatching, there were lush green fields and swamps where, during winters, migratory birds from the colder regions up in the north used to stop on their journey to the lakes down in the south. It was due to this reason that this area in the master plan of Islamabad was earmarked as a national park and bird sanctuary. But the authorities concerned were overtaken by the greed of the land mafia, which started nibbling away at the land by way of converting it into a residential-cum-commercial area. Although time and again the relevant authorities have issued warnings, followed by lukewarm and half-hearted action against the encroachers, these measures have proven to be ineffective as there has been no letup in the construction activity in the catchment areas. untreated sewage continues to find its way to the rawal Lake. The least that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) or any other stakeholder can do is to stop further construction in the area. Inspections should be undertaken to ensure that the houses constructed around the lake have a septic tank or sewage treatment arrangement to stop the pollution of the lake. But, alas, this is all wishful thinking and not much can be expected when the high and mighty of the land are themselves involved in flouting the laws, and getting the master plan of Islamabad amended for their own vested interests.

KHALED ISLAMABAD

Double-deckers

THEterm double-decker reminds me of my early childhood days in Lahore. In the 1950s, I remember commuting from the railway station to Samanabad in Lahore. At the time, the double-decker was the only mode of public transportation, other than tongas, in the city. In the mid-1960s, with the introduction of taxis and private van services, these buses gradually vanished from the scene. A few years ago, some of these double-deckers were seen running between Islamabad and rawalpindi. Again, the government could not afford running the operations in loss, and, hence, the service was stopped. They were also found unsuitable for some of the city roads. one of these buses got stuck up while passing under a bridge because of its height. Luckily no one was hurt.

Now, only two to three buses can be seen around, but they are meant only for tourists visiting historical sites in and around Islamabad. Such top-open buses, as is wll-known, are very popular in London for sightseeing. I am sure Pakistan can also make a better, safer and friendlier use of these buses, especially in terms of tourism promotion.

CDRE (RETD) SAJJAD ALI SHAH BOKHARI ISLAMABAD

VHow can US woo a diStrUStfUl PakiStan? flood relief waS a Start.

me,” the Financial Times newspaper quoted Mr. Khan as saying in an interview Sunday on the U.S. role in the alleged political conspiracy. “Our relationship with the U.S. has been as of a master-servant relationship, or a master-slave relationship, and we’ve been used like a hired gun. But for that,” he added, “I blame my own governments more than the U.S.”

MoNitor HOwARD LAFRAncHi

JUSThow anti-American is Pakistan?

Judging by the outpouring of domestic political support that former Prime Minister Imran Khan received when he claimed the United States was in on the assassination attempt against him this month, quite a lot.

Go back to 2018, when the Trump-like populist Mr. Khan swept into power by shrewdly tapping into a deep vein of antiAmerican sentiments over the war on terror, and the antagonism seems confirmed.

Top it off with widespread support for Mr. Khan’s further claim that it was U.S.-engineered “regime change” that caused his ouster from power in April of this year. It would all seem to add up to a deep well of anti-Americanism. But hold on.

The hugely popular Mr. Khan appeared to switch gears this week when he told foreign journalists that he is ready to work with the U.S. – and even more surprisingly, that he no longer blames the U.S. for his removal from power in a vote of no confidence. “As far as I’m concerned it is over, it’s behind

Mr. Khan, who many believe would easily win parliamentary elections that could take place next year, now says he envisions “dignified” relations between the countries.

The charismatic leader’s about-face, which caused a collective national double take, reflects a number of factors at work in the South Asian nuclear power, regional analysts say. The factors range from a realpolitik recognition that Pakistan needs stable relations with Washington to warming feelings toward the U.S. for how it has stepped up with assistance following devastating floods that inundated as much as a third of the country this summer.

“PEOPLE-TO-PEOPLE DIPLOMACY”

Not to be overlooked, some say, is the influence of the large and prosperous Pakistani community in the U.S. A plea to turn down the anti-Americanism likely came from some of Mr. Khan’s biggest backers in the U.S., these observers speculate. Still, relations between the two countries are so broken right now that calls for “dignified” relations aren’t going to have much impact, says Rabia Akhtar, director of the Centre for Security, Strategy, and Policy Research at the University of Lahore.

What is needed now is reestablishing trust, she says. And that is going to come

first from what she calls “people-to-people diplomacy” and “soft-power initiatives” that strengthen ties between the two countries. “Imran Khan’s new statement reflects what he knows to be true, that Pakistan as a state cannot afford not to have relations with the U.S.,” says Dr. Akhtar. “But public trust needs to be restored first, because right now that’s gone,” she adds. “The only way to rebuild that trust is to restart and build back the ties between Pakistanis and Americans – the people-to-people connections – that we’ve lost.” Exchange programs that brought American university students here have withered, she says.

Moreover, growing hostility toward U.S. and international nongovernmental organizations over the last decade culminated in new laws in 2018 that forced many groups to leave Pakistan – despite the lifesaving work they were credited with doing after 2010 floods and a 2005 earthquake. (The new government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif claims it is taking steps to streamline the operation of international NGOs.) Dr. Akhtar cites three areas of cooperation she says both countries should focus on to rekindle these ties: climate change, renewable energy technology, and agriculture technology.

EMERGENCY ASSISTANCE: Indeed, for some Pakistanis, this summer’s devastating floods have had the positive side effect of setting U.S.-Pakistan relations on an upward course.

U.S. Agency for International Development Administrator Samantha Power visited Pakistan in September, announcing additional emergency assistance in Islamabad

and the launch of a U.S. military airlift of essential supplies in Sindh, a province that is home to many of the 33 million Pakistanis uprooted by the floods.

Noting the airlift would bring in muchneeded supplies, from food to tents and medications, Ms. Power said during a visit to Dadu, a city in Sindh, that she hoped the sight of the U.S. military providing humanitarian assistance would start to change Pakistani perspectives. “I think during the war in Afghanistan, there was an impression among some Pakistanis that the U.S. saw Pakistan only through the prism of Afghanistan,” she said. “Hopefully, this is a chance through this cooperation to strengthen the relationship between the two countries.”

Overall, the U.S. has provided nearly $100 million, making it the largest donor of emergency and recovery assistance. Of course, the U.S. has good reasons beyond philanthropy and even the security of Pakistan’s nuclear arsenal to want more than just stable relations with the country, some analysts say.

One of those reasons is China. Pakistan has been deepening its strategic and economic ties with Beijing for more than a decade now, joining China’s Belt and Road Initiative and jointly launching the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor as a steppingstone to Pakistan’s vision of becoming a regional transit hub.

“The U.S. doesn’t want to see Pakistan too tightly embraced in the arms of the Chinese,” says Furrukh Khan, an associate professor of postcolonial studies at Lahore University of Management Sciences, known

as LUMS.

NEW ARMS SALE: Indeed, U.S. desires to maintain strong security ties with Pakistan are a big reason the Biden administration in September approved the sale of $450 million in military equipment that will allow the Pakistani military to enhance the capabilities of its fleet of F-16s.

The Trump administration had suspended most security assistance to Pakistan and denied the sale of the F-16 equipment after former President Donald Trump took to Twitter in 2018 to accuse Pakistan of “deceit” over its anti-terrorist efforts. Relations with the U.S. have improved since then, if only marginally. But on the LUMS campus, many students say they remain hopeful for better ties with the U.S., a country they say shares more values with Pakistan than the country’s other major partners. “Right now I’d say Pakistan’s closest strategic partner is China, and I’m pretty sure most students you asked would say the same,” says Amar Lal, a fifth-year law student. “But culturally and politically I would say I look more to the U.S.,” he adds, “and that, too, would be true of most students here.”

It’s why so many students seek to go on to postgraduate programs of study in the U.S., he says. For Dr. Akhtar, it’s that vein of goodwill underlying the surface hostilities that should be mined first to put the U.S.Pakistan relationship back on course. “There is no magic wand that is going to suddenly bring mutual trust back to our relations,” she says. “It’s going to take sustained and expanded engagement, especially people to people, for that trust to be reestablished.”

Iran is emerging as a drone superpower How envy created the cryptocurrency monster

energy infrastructure last month. There is mounting evidence of their existence, such that Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian admitted earlier this month that Tehran had, in fact, supplied the drones to Russia, but before the Ukraine war.

Relatively-speaking, the Iranian drones are much cheaper than TB2s, costing around $20,000 per unit compared with $5 million, and the Shahed-136 and 131 have been used extensively by the Russians. There have also been sightings of the more advanced Shahed-129 and Mohajer-6.

Despite the criticism aimed at Iran for supplying drones to Russia, it has also benefitted from the conflict in Ukraine, which "offers a way to enjoy a more equitable relationship with a great power". It also offers "an environment in which Russia is subsidising Iran's military experimentation, making the process not only free for Iran but potentially profitable."

“IT IS NOT GREED THAT DRIVES THE WORLD, BUT ENVY.” THIS SUMMARIZES THE FRENZY AND CHAOS OF THE CRYPTOCURRENCY MARKETS. CRYPTO IS THE PERFECT PLATFORM FOR FRAUD AND DELUSION, BUT IT IS INDEED ENVY THAT HAS CREATED THIS MONSTER

News KHALED ABOU ZAHR

The billionaire investor Charlie Munger is fond of quoting his Berkshire Hathaway partner Warren Buffet’s observation that: “It is not greed that drives the world, but envy.” This summarizes the frenzy and chaos of the cryptocurrency markets. Crypto is the perfect platform for fraud and delusion, but it is indeed envy that has created this monster.

sympathetic coverage of SBF and the FTX collapse in pro-democratic media such as The New York Times. However, it is dangerous to cast doubt on important institutions such as the US Justice Department, falsely accusing them of corruption and bias. This sows the seeds of illegitimacy and pushes greater division between political formations.

tHEadvent of Turkiye's Bayraktar TB2 combat drone has undeniably propelled the country to superpower status, at least when it comes to the manufacture and supply of unmanned aerial vehicles.

The prevalence of Turkish drones in various conflicts from North Africa to the Caucasus has certainly helped to boost Turkiye's reputation as a major arms exporter. TB2s have been used extensively in Libya and Syria where they are described as game-changing. However, it was the Nagorno-Karabakh war in 2020 between Armenia and Azerbaijan which really raised the international profile of Turkiye's drones and their devastating capabilities, to the extent that the Bayraktars have become the "most famous" drones of all and are now synonymous with conflict videos shared on social media.

The most recent and high profile conflict wherein TB2s have been used is Ukraine where they have been very effective against Russian forces and assets. Turkish manufacturer Baykar Technology is currently working on the TB2's successor, the TB3, a naval drone which is expected to make its first flight by the end of this year. Meanwhile, the high-altitude, long-range Akinci drone has already caught the attention of foreign militaries, with four export agreements signed to date.

Nevertheless, the initial successes of the TB2 in Ukraine have been curtailed, if not overshadowed, by the arrival of Iranian drones, which were first rumoured by US intelligence to have been supplied to Russia over the summer. Although not officially acknowledged by either Moscow or Tehran, it is widely accepted that Iranian Shahed-136 "kamikaze" drones were used to target Ukraine's cities and

According to Iran, some 22 countries have submitted official requests to purchase their drones including Armenia, Tajikistan, Serbia, Algeria and Venezuela. The Iranians have had a drone programme since the 1980s and have an established domestic military industry. This exports arms or technical know-how to Iran's regional partners in the Axis of Resistance, including Lebanon's Hezbollah, the Houthi movement in Yemen and Palestinian Islamic Jihad and Hamas in Gaza. However, Iran's ambitions to replicate the commercial successes of Turkiye's drone exports will be hampered due to western-imposed sanctions. According to Forbes, "Iran will have to settle for a much more limited market consisting of other pariah states and cash-strapped countries with little to no viable alternatives." As a cheaper, more primitive alternative, the Shahed series of drones are unlikely to become "game-changing" in conflict zones, even while proving to be tactically and cost effective.

Crucially for Iran, the gradual proliferation of their drones in theatres of conflict helps to expand Tehran's geopolitical influence. This has been evident with the inauguration of an Iranian drone factory in Tajikistan in May, which will produce the combat and reconnaissance Ababil-2 drones.

Coupled with future plans for Russia to manufacture Iranian drones locally, Iran is presenting itself as an alternative supplier of drones across the wider Central Asia region in direct competition with Turkey, which has its own ambitions to reach out to the Turkic world. Iranian drones will continue to feature in conflicts, especially following their growing prominence in Ukraine.

They will also become increasingly sophisticated and lethal, although development may be hindered by sanctions. In any case, without the restrictions of the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), "Iran can now purchase and sell conventional weaponry, including drones, which opens up the path for Iran to become a rival to Western and Transatlantic countries for military exports." If Iran is able to capitalise on these export opportunities, it will be well on its way to joining Turkey as a drone superpower, no longer limited to supplying drones to non-state actors in proxy wars, but also with more high-profile state customers like Russia.

The collapse this month of the FTX crypto exchange, founded by 30-year-old Stanford graduate Sam Bankman-Fried — universally known as SBF — is a perfect example of this envy ruling the world.

A crypto exchange is basically a website on which account holders can buy and trade cryptocurrencies. This bankruptcy of FTX wiped billions of dollars off the total value of crypto assets, which dropped below $1 trillion. The consequences will affect not only cryptocurrencies, but also politics and lobbying.

There is in essence no difference between crypto mania, the frenzy of stock markets in the previous century, and the creation of every financial bubble in history. The development of crypto has been possible with the new digitized and interconnected world we live in, amplified by social media platforms. The reach empowered by mobile apps unleashed a cultlike following of celebrities and business personalities that boosted the sector. It turned followers into obedient financiers, and transformed celebrity capital into financial as well as political gains.

This new formula has blurred the lines between business, politics and entertainment even more. Indeed, in the US and elsewhere there has been a political polarization in business. SBF is the Democratic Party’s second-biggest donor, with contributions of $40 million, and filed for bankruptcy days after the midterm elections. What is strange is that no one asked how the owner of a company that is only a few years old and still expanding could donate this huge amount to a single party.

This is generating the same type of polarization that other political topics do between Republicans and Democrats, especially after the results of the midterms. Republicans on social media ask why SBF hasn’t been interrogated, or even detained, after this collapse. Their answer is that he is protected by the Democratic Party. This line of thought goes even deeper and into conspiracy theories that FTX laundered money for Ukraine and the Democrats.

These conspiracy theories are now amplified by

In fact, the topic of crypto is linked to politics because it is a nascent industry. The regulation around it still needs to be framed. This means that there is a great need for global lobbying to present the needs of the sector and how to allow it to continue developing. This can be a matter of life and death for companies in the sector. Indeed, a new regulation by lawmakers can literally shut a company down. Hence, lobbying and explaining the stakes to lawmakers is an important part of large successful companies. The same applies to other industries that are closely regulated, such as pharma or energy. And in this perspective, clout matters.

However, it is easy to see how successful hype can provide influence without substance. Kevin O’Leary, the Canadian entrepreneur and TV personality nicknamed Mr. Wonderful, was a spokesperson for FTX and said he felt comfortable and reassured about the crypto exchange because the founder’s parents were compliance experts. But as soon as it collapsed, damaging his reputation, he began calling for Washington to regulate the sector. Why didn’t he come to this conclusion before? He is now facing a class-action lawsuit with other celebrities who promoted FTX.

Crypto is no different from any other security or financial instruments. The risks are the same, if not greater, and FTX’s lobbying efforts might have been linked to this. However, crypto does not adhere to the same rules as securities. Undoubtedly this needs to happen to protect retail investors — and it would probably shut down most of the existing crypto businesses that do not have the capacity to apply the same level of compliance imposed on other securities such as stocks or other financial instruments. Regardless of the needs of regulation, business should not be about politics and more importantly politics should not be ruled by business. Yet we all know that human nature will stay the same and envy will continue ruling the world across new technologies.

Khaled Abou Zahr is chief executive of Eurabia, a media and tech company, and editor of Al-Watan Al-Arabi.

Middle eAst MoNitor

OmAR AHmED

ChristiAN sCieNCe

OVERALL, THE U.S. HAS PROVIDED NEARLY $100 MILLION, MAKING IT THE LARGEST DONOR OF EMERGENCY AND RECOVERY ASSISTANCE. OF COURSE, THE U.S. HAS GOOD REASONS BEYOND PHILANTHROPY AND EVEN THE SECURITY OF PAKISTAN’S NUCLEAR ARSENAL TO WANT MORE THAN JUST STABLE RELATIONS WITH THE COUNTRY

ArAb

corporate corner

SecRetARy HeAltH RevIewS fAcIlItIeS offeRed undeR SeHAt SAHulAt cARd

LAHORE INp

PUNjABHealth Secretary Dr. Ahmed javed Qazi chaired an imported meeting held in Punjab Health Initiative Management Company during which steps taken to provide more facilities to the people of the province through Sehat Sahulat Card were reviewed.

The meeting was attended by Chief Planning Officer of the Department of Specialized Health Care and Medical Education Abdul Haq Bhatti, CEO of Punjab Health Initiative Management

Company Dr. Ali Razzaq, Khurram Lodhi and other officers.

Expressing his opinion on the occasion, Dr. Ahmed javed Qazi said that the Punjab Health Initiative Management Company is playing an important role in providing better health facilities to the people of the province through the Sehat Sahulat Card.

Secretary Health said that according to the statistics, so far more than 27 lacs 23 thousand people in Punjab have received free treatment facility through Sehat Sahulat Card. So far the people of Punjab have received free treatment facilities worth more than 60 billion 15 crore rupees. 798 government and pri-

vate hospitals have been empanelled to provide free treatment facilities to the people of Punjab through Sehat Sahulat Card. 182 government and 616 private hospitals have been empanelled to provide free treatment facilities. As per details, more than 5 lakh 97 thousand people in Punjab have done free dialysis through Sehat Sahulat Card.

He said that so far more than 61 thousand 4 hundred people have got the facility of free coronary angiography through Sehat Sahulat Card.

More than 61 thousands and 600 women got free treatment facility of normal deliveryand More than 250,000 women got the free facility of

Sharjeel Memon inaugurates People’s Bus Service in Hyderabad

HYDERABAD Staff report

Karandaaz leads conversation on Climate-Smart Housing in Pakistan

IslAmAbAd: Karandaaz Pakistan held a webinar to launch its latest study on the potential of Climate-Smart, Low-Income Housing in Pakistan. Industry leaders and stakeholders came together to deliberate on the housing needs in Pakistan and the impact green initiatives can have in meeting the needs of populations especially vulnerable to the impact of climate change. Between 2000 and 2019, Pakistan was found to rank eighth amongst the top ten countries most vulnerable to the negative impacts of climate change. This vulnerability became starkly evident Earlier this year, as one-third of the country was flooded as a result of unprecedented rainfall and glacier melt. As estimated by Karandaaz, over 33 million people were displaced, and one-seventh lost their homesdue to the floods of 2022. With an ever-increasing frequency of severe climate-related events, depleting energy resources, and a population growth rate that far outpaces the provision of housing, this webinar was arranged as a platform to bring together a wide set of stakeholders, including architects, urban planners, financiers and funding providers, etc. to discuss Pakistan’s housing needs. Mr. Arif Hasan, one of Pakistan’s most reputable architects and urban planners, delivered the keynote address. In his address Mr. Hasan stated that “The most obvious climate change event in Pakistan has been the recent flooding. The main cause was consistent rain and though we cannot do anything about rain changing its course, lessons can be learned. A key factor that amplified the impact of the floods and contributed to the damage caused, was the fact that flood waters could not be drained out. Roadswithout culverts in them; canals, headworks, barrages that have not beendesilted; and saimnaalis that have been clogged with vegetation led to entire villages being wiped out. Therefore, avery important aspect in the rural areas will be the choice of a location for reconstruction. It has to bein a location where this is a disposal point for water, and any hindrances to reach the disposalpoint need to be removed. pr

Sindh Information and Transport Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon inaugurated here on Saturday the People’s Bus Service, saying that the service was provided for the citizens of Hyderabad by the leadership of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP).

Talking to the media after inaugurating the bus service at Haider Chowk, the minister informed that the service would charge a nominal fare of between Rs20 to Rs50 from the passengers.

“The people of Hyderabad can travel in the bus for free during the first three days after inauguration,” he announced.

He urged the people to consider those buses as their own property and to protect those vehicles as they protect their own vehicles because the government had offered that transport facility to the public from their own taxes.

The minister said the service was a gift for the people of Hyderabad from the leadership of the PPP and added that soon the Peoples Bus Service would also be launched in Sukkur, Mirpurkhas and other cities.

Memon said under the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) the exercise of lifting garbage from

“The Chief Minister Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah has allocated billions of rupees for development of Hyderabad,” he said.

Talking about the rain and flood affected people, the minister apprised that the provincial government would construct houses for millions of the affected people.

Commenting on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI’s) Chairman Imran Khan, Memon said the other day they came to know that not one but 3 watches were taken away by Khan from Toshakhana.

He indirectly expressed doubt that Khan sustained 4 gunshot injuries during an attack on his party’s rally in Wazirabad, Punjab, saying earlier the doctors had told that only one bullet had hit

Memon blamed Khan and his party for having launched a mud-slinging campaign against the country and its institutions on social media.

“Imran Niazi first came to power with the help of the establishment. And now when the establishment is acting with neutrality, Khan is feeling some pain,” he said.

He recalled that earlier Khan spread the propaganda that his government was removed under a conspiracy orchestrated by the USA but he later took a u-turn on his assertion.

The local leaders of the PPP, Commissioner Hyderabad Division Nadeemur Rehman Memon, Deputy Commissioner Fuad Ghaffar Soomro, Managing Director Mass Transit Department Altaf Hussain Sario and other officials were present on the occasion.

cesarean operation. So far, more than 40,000 people in Punjab have undergone free hernia surgery through Sehat Sahulat Card.

Dr. Ahmed javed Qazi said that as per statistics, more than 42,600 people get free facility of chemotherapy through the card. Till now more than 31 thousand 200 people in Punjab have obtained free facility of angioplasty through Sehat Sahulat Card. So far, more than 2 lacs people have undergone free eye surgery in Punjab. We are trying to provide more and more free treatment facilities to the people of Punjab through Sehat Sahulat Card, he concluded.

corporate corner Hamdard Pakistan refutes Rooh Afza sale to Indian market

Hamdard Pakistan in an official statement released on Friday has categorically stated that Hamdard Pakistan neither sells nor advertises Pakistan-made Rooh Afza to the Indian market as HP does not have statutory rights on the trademark of Rooh Afza in India. The statement was released in response to the decision of India to remove Pakistan-made Rooh Afza from the list of an international e-commerce outlet operating in India, followed by the spread of fake news and misleading propaganda on social media that this verdict has somehow hurt the business interests of Hamdard Pakistan in the region. Hamdard Pakistan’s representative maintains that the verdict has left zero impact on Hamdard Pakistan’s business as Pakistan-made Rooh Afza has been a leading export item to more than 38 countries worldwide and is widely liked and admired by consumers due to its taste and quality, even by Indian consumers. Therefore, let it be in clear that HP has not lost any business in the region. Moreover, the representative says that since Pakistan-made Rooh Afza has global recognition with a strong consumer base across borders, therefore it is possible that some independent vendors acting on their own and operating outside Pakistan might have showcased Pakistani Rooh Afza on an international e-commerce platform. It was their initiative and Hamdard Pakistan holds no responsibility for their actions since it has never encouraged nor supported any individual to sell its most iconic brand Rooh Afza to the Indian market as it was not Hamdard Pakistan’s domain.

IDEAS 2022: Another hallmark of achievement and self-sufficiency by Pakistan

Exquisite PAF Pavilion at IDEAS 2022

"Our country has showcased one of the best and technologically advanced air and ground equipment in the global market, thus, proudly achieving self-sufficiency in many fields related to the defence sector”, Mr Muhammad Israr Tareen, Federal Minister for Defence Production stated while addressing the closing ceremony of IDEAS 2022 held at the Expo Center, Karachi.

He further added that Pakistan has always been conscientious of the reality that arms facilitate peace, desires to live as a harmonious and peace-loving country in this competitive world.

Major General Muhammad Arif Malik HI(M) DG DEPO, Brig. Naveed Azam Cheema, Director Coordination DEPO, Commodore Mohammad Tahir SI(M), Director (Media) DEPO and Mr. Zohair Naseer, CEO Badar Expo Solutions were also present on the occasion.

The present era’s international matters revolve primarily around the geo-politicalstrategic importance of the countries. Of course!This epoch signifies that the balance of power is beholden to the presentationof production, innovation andprotection of weapons. Now the deterrence is maintained and sustained in this manner! Warfare today is, much more challenging when the battlefield has got reserved the unprecedented mode. It is no longer just on the borders alone! Technology in weaponry industry has unleashed the abundance of noveltyon account of the scientific revolution.The improvization in the arm-race is a newfangled set-target. The challenges are myriads in nature from countering the Hybrid warfare, race in Aerospace to win ahead, and to be the champion in Information Technology. Premeditated and executed by the Ministry of Defence Pakistan the International Defence Exhibition and Seminar at Karachi Expo Center serves the purposeof country’s deterrence and exhibit thecomplete range of defence system well. This November 2022 from 15 to 18, around285foreign defence delegations from 64 countries attended exhibition stands from the host-county as well guest-countries. Among all exhibits, the Pakistan Armed Forces’ stalls remained successful to attract the attention of majority of dignitaries and attendees. Nevertheless! Pakistan Air Force demonstrated its identical professionalism right from the release of aspiring and attractive videos to setting up an eye-catching stall. The design of PAF stall appeared the sophisticated and arresting to all its visitors. Eachproject, aircraft and devices displayed at the PAF Pavilion proved a class by itself. pr

He added that the aim of the IDEAS 2022 was to showcase our products, demonstrate our organizational skills to plan and conduct a mega event of international stature and provide a great international platform to convey our viewpoints on security issues of the Region. Moreover, to provide a unique

opportunity for our defence related industry, both in public and private sector, to display their products and interact directly with the defence industry of the developed world and creating a good opportunity to reinforce the diplomatic efforts in the domain of defence diplomacy.

Rohde & Schwarz pronounces IDEAS 2022 as an effective and successful exhibition

KARACHI: The German technology company Rohde & Schwarz, having its local presence in the country since 2005 as Rohde & Schwarz Pakistan (Private) Limited, participated in the IDEAS 2022 which has taken place from 15th November till 18th November 2018 at the Karachi Expo Center. Founded more than 80 years ago, the independent company, which is headquartered in Munich, Germany, has an extensive sales and service network with locations in more than 70 countries.The company is famous for its quality, precision and innovation in the fields of wireless communications for the last 80 years. Rohde & Schwarz has developed the local resources in the country and have established local service centers and engineering support. The company has contributed in showcasing its hi-tech Cyber Security Solutions enabling reliable and secure communications in the government and public sectors. Additionally, it also displayed the software defined radios for airborne (R&S SDAR) and land-based applications (R&S SDTR, R&S SDHR).Another area of interest for the customers at the Rohde & Schwarz booth was a very advanced Radar Echo Generator from the company’s Test and Measurement portfolio. pr

He said by holding IDEAS 2022 successfully under the prevalent environment is the manifestation to build the image of Pakistan as a modern, progressive and tolerant state that is willing to co-exist peacefully with the international community.

While giving an answer to a question he

said we have achieved all targets of holding the IDEAS 2022. Around 285 foreign defence delegations from 64 countries participated, which shows the significance and success of the exhibition. Over 30 MoUs were signed delegates on the side line of IDEAS-2022.

KARACHI pr

Latifabad had already started and soon all the parts of the district would be covered by the board.

Khan’s leg.

Director Media DEPO, Commander Muhammad Tahir giving a shield to Mr. Naveed Baig, Director Media, The Passage PR, in appreciation of his team’s efforts in handling the media during IDEAS Exhibition Pakistan 2022. pr

KSBL Commencemnet 2022 (Front, L-R): Dr Muhammad Abuzar Wajidi (Rector, Hands Institute of Community Development), Inamur Rahman (CEO, Dawood Hercules), Ghias Khan (President & CEO, Engro Corporation), Mubashar Hameed (Rector & CEO, KSBL), Hussain Dawood (Founding Chairman, KSBL), Dr Abdul Bari Khan (Founding President, Indus Hospital), Abdul Samad Dawood (Vice Chairman, Dawood Group in the group photo. pr

KARACHI pr

Xi eXpecTS china, US woUlD enhance UnDerSTanDing, reDUce miScalcUlaTion

beijiNG stAff report

FIVEdays after the closely watched meeting between the top leaders of China and the US at G20, Chinese President Xi Jinping had a brief conversation with the US Vice President Kamala Harris at the request of the US side on Saturday during the APEC Economic Leaders’ Meeting, and the Chinese president hoped that Harris can play an active role in bringing bilateral relations back to a healthy and stable track.

Xi said his meeting with US President Joe Biden in Bali, Indonesia, was strategic and constructive, serving as an important guidance for the China-US relations in the next stage.

It is hoped that China and the US will further enhance mutual understanding, reduce miscalculation and misjudgment, and work together to bring bilateral relations back to the track of healthy and stable growth, Xi told Harris. And he hoped Harris can play an active role on the matter, CCTV reported.

During the brief conversation, Harris said the meeting between the two top leaders was successfully held. The US does not seek confrontation or conflict with China, and both sides should cooperate on global issues and keep communication channels open, Harris said.

The short conversation is a concrete example of bilateral consensus made during the Xi-Biden summit on the sidelines of the G20 that China and the US maintain constant strategic communication, Li Haidong, a professor from the Institute of International Relations at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Saturday, adding such kind of amicable interactions is conducive to building highlevel mutual trust and presenting sincerity for cooperation.

Li saw China-US interactions during the G20 and APEC, including meet-

Turkish intelligence captures 11 Daesh terrorists in northern Syria

ANKARA Agencies

The Turkish National Intelligence Organization has captured 11 Daesh/ISIS terrorists in northern Syria, security sources said on Saturday.

The terrorists were arrested in raids from three separate houses within the Operation Euphrates Shield zone, a Turkish cross-border anti-terror operation, sources said on condition of anonymity.

Local forces of the Syrian National Army cooperated with the Turkish intelligence teams during the operation, they added.

A vast amount of explosives and ammunition was also seized, the sources said. In 2013, Turkey became one of the first countries to declare Daesh/ISIS a terrorist group.

The country has since been attacked by the terror group multiple times, with over 300 people killed and hundreds more injured in at least 10 suicide bombings, seven bomb attacks, and four armed assaults.

In response, Turkey launched operations at home and abroad to prevent further attacks, including several counter-terrorist operations such as Euphrates Shield (2016), Olive Branch (2018), and Peace Spring (2019).

ings between trade teams of the two countries on Friday, as a positive progress that curbed the spiraling down of bilateral relations in the past period of time, helped push the relationship back to the track of restoration, and toward stable development.

Xi met Biden on November 14 in Bali, Indonesia, which has been the first in-person meeting between the leaders of the world’s two largest economies since the COVID outbreak and has been closely watched by the world. Xi told Biden that the current state of China-US relations is not in the fundamental inter-

ests of the two countries and peoples, and is not what the international community expects.

The two sides viewed the meeting, which lasted for about three hours and 12 minutes, as in-depth, candid and constructive, and they also instructed the teams of the two countries to follow up the key consensus reached by the two leaders. Following the meeting, some tangible progresses have been made in some aspects. For instance, top climate officials from China and the US recently started talks after the leaders of both countries endorsed the resumption of communications on climate change, and US Trade Representative Katherine Tai met with Chinese Commerce Minister Wang Wentao Friday to discuss multilateral and regional economic and trade issues on the sidelines of the APEC meetings.

However, Chinese experts believe that despite recent enhanced interactions between China and the US, this won’t fully stop US provocations over the Taiwan question and what Harris will say and do in the Philippines should be closely watched.

Tensions over the Taiwan question are expected to be on the agenda when Harris meets Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr next week, Reuters reported on Thursday, citing Manila’s ambassador to Washington.

North Korea’s Kim reveals daughter at ballistic missile test

North Korean leader Kim Jong Un revealed his daughter to the world for the first time in striking photos showing the pair hand-inhand before the launch of the nuclear-armed country’s largest ballistic missile the day before.

North Korea test-fired a Hwasong-17 intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) on Friday.

A surprising addition to the launch was the presence of Kim’s daughter, whose existence had never been publicly confirmed before. Her unexpected appearance raises the prospect that leadership of the totalitarian state could pass to the fourth generation of Kims and suggests that nuclear weapons will be part of that inheritance, analysts said.

KCNA did not name the girl, who is seen in photographs in a white puffy coat holding hands with her father as they looked at the massive missile.

This picture, released by

North Korea’s official Korean Central News on Saturday, shows North Korea’s leader Kim Jong Un with his daughter as he inspects a new intercontinental ballistic missile (ICBM) “Hwasong

“This is the first observed occasion where we have seen Kim Jong Un’s daughter at a public event,” said Michael Madden, a North Korea leadership expert at the US-based Stimson Center.

“It is highly significant and represents a certain degree of

comfort on Kim Jong Un’s part that he would bring her out in public in such fashion,” he added.

Jenny Town of 38 North, a Washington-based North Korea research organisation, said that Kim’s taking his daughter to an ICBM test and publishing pictures of the two of them watching the launch suggests he is not about to bow to pressure to slow his weapons programmes or return to negotiations.

malaysia polls: anwar leading the close race

KUALA LUMPUR Agencies

Voting closed in Malaysia on Saturday with jailed exleader Najib Razak’s scandal-hit ruling party seeking to cement its power in a tight race with Anwar Ibrahim’s coalition. The popular opposition leader campaigned on a promise to fight corruption in Southeast Asia’s thirdlargest economy where people are struggling with soaring food prices. There were long lines at polling centres across the country despite concerns about monsoon rains, and the voters AFP spoke to said they hoped for political stability and economic improvement.

“I want a strong government and a stable economy so that there will be more job opportunities for the youth,” Nurul Hazwani Firdon, a 20-year-old tutor, said as she went to cast her ballot in the rural town of Bera in Pahang state. Social media posts showed people lining up in knee-deep waters outside a voting centre in Sarawak state on Borneo island.

One video on Twitter showed an old woman being carried on someone’s back into a flooded polling place. The Election Commission said turnout for the 21 million registered voters was at 70 percent as of 4 pm (0800GMT), two hours before the polls closed. Najib’s United Malays National Organisation (UMNO) usually dominates Malaysian politics but it suffered a humiliating defeat in the 2018 general election after a massive corruption scandal at state fund 1MDB.

The former prime minister, who was at the centre of the 1MDB storm, is currently serving a 12-year jail term. Because of infighting in the two successive governments since 2018, UMNO crept back into power last year despite lingering corruption allegations, and is seeking a stronger mandate in Saturday’s election — called 10 months ahead of schedule.

– Anwar’s dream –

The UMNO-dominated ruling Barisan Nasional bloc is up against Anwar and his allies. With age catching up, this may be Anwar’s last chance to fulfil his longstanding dream of leading Malaysia.

“A win today would certainly be gratifying after more than two decades of fighting to win the hearts and minds of the people,” Anwar, 75, told AFP before casting his vote in Penang state.

He added he was “cautiously confident” that his Pakatan Harapan (Alliance of Hope) could secure a simple majority in the 222-member parliament. Caretaker Prime Minister Ismail Sabri Yaakob, from the ruling coalition, cast his vote in Bera.

“I hope the voters will choose a government that can guarantee security and stability,” he told reporters. A record 945 candidates are contesting for parliament seats across the largely Muslim nation. Former prime ministers Mahathir Mohamad, 97, and 75-year-old Muhyiddin Yassin head two other coalitions.

– Corruption a key issue –

Corruption was a key issue during the campaign, with opposition parties repeatedly warning that if UMNO wins, Najib could walk free and graft charges against other party leaders could be dropped.

Division, partisan struggles to keep haunting US politics after Pelosi’s exit

US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi, who dragged China-US diplomatic relations into unprecedented danger after a provocative visit to the island of Taiwan in August, has announced that she will not seek the Democratic leadership again after Republicans secured control of the chamber.

However, Chinese observers believe that at the age of 82 and having led Democrats for two decades, Pelosi will continue to have an influence in the US Congress as a lawmaker. With her image as “a radical”, Pelosi’s stepping down will not end, but rather open another chapter of US’ polarized politics trapped in bitter partisan struggles, they said.

According to AP News, Pelosi said the October attack on her husband by an intruder into their home in California made her “think again about staying.”

The intruder’s question – “Where is Nancy?” – echoed the chants of the proTrump rioters at the Capitol during the riots on January 6, 2021.

The latest attack was one more example

demonstrating the deep political divisions in the US and heightened fears of politically motivated violence across the US in general, analysts said.

The US Capitol building is seen in Washington, DC Nov 10, 2022. The balance of power in the next US Congress is still undecided as of late Thursday night, two days after the 2022 midterm elections. Photo:Xinhua The US Capitol building is seen in Washington, DC Nov 10, 2022. The balance of power in the next US Congress is still undecided as of late Thursday night, two days after the 2022 midterm elections.

An epitome of polArizAtion: Liu Weidong, a research fellow at the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences, told the Global Times on Friday that Pelosi appeared to be disheartened after the Democrats’ loss of the House majority and her family issue.

Now, Pelosi will no longer be the vanguard in the face of Republicans’ “red wave,” but as she is a strong legislator and has served so long, her impact will remain, Liu said. The new generation of Democrats like Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez, or AOC, is more aggressive, more extreme and more

values-oriented, Liu said.

Diao Daming, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times on Friday that Pelosi would remain an important operator as long as she’s in the House, as her possible successors, such as Hakeem Jeffries are strongly influenced by her.

CNN said that whoever follows Pelosi will serve in the shadow of her legacy as one of the most powerful and polarizing figures in American politics.

Pelosi earned the House Speaker’s gavel after Democrats swept into power in the midterms in 2006 amid a backlash against then-president Republican George W. Bush, then lost it after the 2010 elections. She returned after the 2018 midterms in the Donald Trump era.

Pelosi led the Democrats in the impeachments of Trump. In her Thursday remarks on the House floor, Pelosi recapped her career, mentioning three of four presidents she had worked alongside, leaving out Trump.

Much of Pelosi’s popularity comes from her seniority and strong will to spearhead the attack, but not all Democrats like her, Liu said. Pelosi’s rise and her career somewhat

reflected an extremist tendency in US politics. Pelosi’s image in Congress is polarized. Democrats see her positively while Republicans view her very negatively. For median voters, she is not associated with an image that makes people feel comfortable, Diao said. Her radical style pushed the controversial Obamacare to be approved, but when partisan struggles intensify, radicalism in-

creasingly becomes a threat to US democracy and is causing unprecedented problems for the country, analysts said.

pArtisAn struggles: House Minority Leader Kevin McCarthy, who is in position to replace Pelosi as speaker, said on Fox News Wednesday that the GOP “have fired Nancy Pelosi” after Republicans won the House with 218 seats.

wAshiNGtON Agencies

PYONGYANG Agencies

WORLD MEGA SPORTS EVENT

FIFA World Cup kICks oFF todAy

DOHA Agencies

tHEwaiting is almost over. The 22nd FIFA World Cup kicks off on Sunday (November 20) when host nation Qatar play against Ecuador at 4pm UK time. There are a number of firsts for the tournament: It will be the first World Cup in the Middle East, the first World Cup to be held in the northern hemisphere’s winter and it will be played in a slightly reduced time-frame of 29 days.

The world tournament matches will be played in eight host cities of Qatar. Thirty-two best teams from all over the world are participating in the tournament, which have been divided into eight groups. A total of forty-eight group matches will be played in fourteen days till 2nd of next month. The top two teams of each group will reach the round of 16. These knockout matches will start from 3rd of next month. After this, the path from the quarter-final to the final will be decided. The final match will be played on 18th of next month.

Expectations surrounding England are

reasonably low, but one man who has arguably attracted the most attention is James Maddison. Gareth Southgate listened to the public outcry and included the Leicester star in his squad, but faces a race against time to be fit for England’s group opener against Iran on Monday with a knee problem.

Hosts Qatar will get the tournament under way on November 20 against Ecuador, with the final taking place at the Lusail Iconic Stadium on December 18.

The competition will kick off with the group stage where only the top two teams will advance to the knockout stages.

England will face USA and Wales in Group B, Argentina and Lionel Messi will go up against Mexico and Robert Lewandowski’s Poland in Group C, and it’ll be Luis Suarez and Uruguay looking to spoil a potential final World Cup tournament for Cristiano Ronaldo’s Portugal in Group H.

The tournament kicks off on Sunday, November 20 with an opening ceremony and the inaugural match between Qatar and Ecuador. It will wrap up less than a month later with the final set to be played on Sunday, December 18.

Brazil enter the tournament as the most successful nation in World Cup history with five titles, and they have a manageable group to navigate, while defending champions France are expected to finish top in their group and have a good chance to build up a head of steam into the knockout rounds.

Which teams could surprise? African champions Senegal are one of the stronger teams in Group A, which also features hosts Qatar. Making a first participation in 36 years, Canada landed in Group F, where their battles with Morocco and Croatia will likely determine second place behind Belgium.

The 2022 World Cup will follow along the lines of recent editions, with a 32-team group stage to whittle the field down to 16 teams only the top two teams from each of the eight groups survive.

Those 16 group-stage teams will advance to the single-game knockout stages, round of 16, quarterfinals, semifinals, final where the winner moves on and the loser goes home. There must be a winner on the day for every knockout-round match, and extra time and penalty kicks will be used, if necessary, to determine the

victor. The world tournament matches will be played in eight host cities of Qatar.

Thirty-two best teams from all over the world are participating in the tournament, which have been divided into eight groups. A total of forty-eight group matches will be played in fourteen days till 2nd of next month.

The top two teams of each group will reach the round of 16. These knockout matches will start from 3rd of next month. After this, the path from the quarter-final to the final will be decided. The final match will be played on 18th of next month.

A total of sixty-four matches will be played in this entire World Cup. There will be up to four matches daily during the group stage staggered throughout the day. The only matches that will overlap are the ones played on the final day of the groupstage phase, and that’s purely for competitive integrity.

Every time zone in the world will get a chance to watch matches at decent times throughout their day. Here’s a breakdown of how the local kickoff times in Qatar translate across various regions around the world.

England implode to hand second ODI and series to Australia

Australia wrapped up the three-match one-day international series with a comprehensive 72-run win over England at Sydney Cricket Ground on Saturday.

Chasing 281 to level the series after Australia won the first match in Adelaide on Thursday, England appeared well on track as Sam Billings and James Vince shared a 122-run partnership for the fourth wicket.

But once Vince was trapped lbw by stand-in Australian captain Josh Hazlewood for 60, the English imploded, losing 4-13 to virtually hand the Australians the match.

On a tricky wicket at the SCG, Steve Smith continued the form he showed in Australia’s six-wicket win in Adelaide with a hard-fought 94 to help Australia to 2808. The target always looked difficult on a surface that was playing slow with the occasional bad bounce.

And England got the worst possible start to the run chase when Jason Roy tickled Mitchell Starc’s second delivery down the leg side to keeper Alex Carey.

Three balls later Starc got the key wicket of Dawid Malan with an almost unplayable ball that pitched on leg stump then swung back to take the top of off, leaving England staggering at two wickets for no runs.

Phil Salt and Vince kept playing with the aggression that the England white-ball teams are renowned for, and took the score to 34 after five overs.

But Salt tried one big shot too many, stepping away to try and smash Hazlewood over cover only to miss the ball and see it cannon into his stumps.

Any hopes Australia may have had of crashing through the England batting lineup were dashed by

Vince and Billings.

The two mixed caution with aggression as they took the score to 156 before Vince was trapped by Hazlewood as he tried to hoist the Australian skipper over the square leg boundary.

England captain Moeen Ali came in and smashed leg spinner Adam Zampa for a four and a six, then missed a top spinner and was bowled.

At 168-5 after 28.3 overs, Australia were back in control and they tightened their grip one run later when Zampa bowled Billings for 71.

England wickets kept tumbling as Starc (4-47), Hazlewood (2-33) and Zampa (4-45) wrapped up the English tail.

Earlier, Smith’s 94 from 114 balls anchored the Australian innings after Hazlewood won the toss and decided to bat.

Hazlewood was brought into the side for captain Pat Cummins, who was rested with an eye to the upcoming Test series against the West Indies.

The pitch initially offered little help for the seamers but it deteriorated as the innings progressed.

ronaldo very optimistic about portugal’s World Cup chances

DOHA Agencies

— is just hypocrisy,” said the Swiss.

Agencies

FIFA president Gianni Infantino blasted the hypocrisy of Western critics of Qatar’s human rights record on Saturday, making a passionate defence of the World Cup in the Gulf state on the eve of the kick-off.

The build-up to the tournament has been dominated by concerns over Qatar’s treatment of migrant workers, women and the LGBTQ community, to the visible annoyance of organisers. Qatar officials say their country has been the target of “racism” and “double standards” and they point to the reforms on working conditions and safety that have been hailed as groundbreaking in the region.

Football itself again took a back seat on Saturday, with the focus firmly on off-field politics just 24 hours before hosts Qatar were due open the tournament against Ecuador.

Infantino, speaking at his opening press conference of the tournament in Doha, had harsh words for critics of Qatar.

“This moral lesson-giving — one-sided

“I don’t want to give you any lessons of life, but what is going on here is profoundly, profoundly unjust.” He added: “For what we Europeans have been doing for the last 3,000 years we should apologise for the next 3,000 years before starting giving moral lessons to people.” Infantino also expressed his support for marginalised communities.

“Today I feel Qatari, today I feel Arab, today I feel African, today I feel gay, today I feel disabled, today I feel a migrant worker,” he said.

Another issue that has dominated the build-up to the tournament is the sale of beer in the Islamic state, which severely restricts alcohol consumption.

Organisers on Friday performed a dramatic U-turn, banning beer sales around stadiums just 48 hours before kickoff.

World governing body FIFA gave no reason for the surprise decision but media reports said there had been an intervention by Qatar’s ruling family. Dozens of Budweiser beer tents had already been set up at grounds ahead of the first game.

Portugal forward Cristiano Ronaldo believes his country has an excellent group of players and they are capable of doing well in the World Cup in Qatar. Ronaldo said he had dreamt of winning the World Cup, but knows it will be extremely difficult to lift the trophy with teams like France, Spain, Argentina, Germany and Brazil to face. “I am very optimistic. We have a fantastic coach, we have a good generation of football players. I m looking forward that we’re going to an amazing World Cup,” Ronaldo told. “It s gonna be tough. Extremely difficult. But everything is possible, of course we re gonna compete.” The 37-year-old added that Qatar would probably be his last World Cup as he plans to retire at 40. “I want to play two, three more years maximum. I want to finish with 40, it will be a good age. But I don t know. Sometimes you plan one thing for your life and as I told many times, life is dynamic,” Ronaldo said. Portugal s captain also talked about Argentina s Lionel Messi, describing him as “magic, top and like a team mate” after sharing the global stage with him for 16 years. Fernandes double as Portugal warm up with big win over Nigeria Bruno Fernandes scored twice in the first half and debutant Goncalo Ramos and Joao Mario added late goals as Portugal crushed Nigeria 4-0 in a World Cup warm-up in Lisbon on Thursday.

sindh, Northern and Central punjab in hunt for QAt final

LAHORE stAff RepoRt

The tenth and final round of the Quaid-i-Azam Trophy (QAT) 2022-23 season begins at three venues across the country tomorrow (Sunday). Number two in the points table Sindh will take on Balochistan at the LCCA Ground, Lahore, fifth placed Southern Punjab play third placed Central Punjab in the Punjab derby at the Gaddafi Stadium, Lahore and top-ranked Northern face bottom placed Khyber Pakhtunkhwa at the Shoaib Akhtar Cricket Stadium, Rawalpindi. The SindhBalochistan match is of vital importance for Sindh who are harbouring hopes of playing their first final of the prestigious domestic trophy since the tournament was revamped as a six-team competition in the 2019-20 season. In the ninth round, Sindh drew their high scoring home tie against Northern at the National Bank Cricket Arena (National Stadium, Karachi). Sindh at present have Central Punjab breathing down their neck, the two have a mere five point gap – Sindh are at 118 and Central Punjab have a 113 points tally at the conclusion of the ninth round. The Saud Shakeel-led Sindh cannot afford to slip-up in their last match. Both Sindh and Central Punjab would be playing their matches a mere 100-metre or less apart – LCCA Ground and Gaddafi Stadium to add another twist to the intriguing 10th round tale. Sindh need to look for an outright win or ensure that they don’t lag behind Central Punjab in terms of the bonus points in case they draw the match, a loss can seal their fate in case of a win or a draw for Central Punjab with bonus points grabbed. The Mohammad Saad-led Central Punjab played a rain-affected draw against Balochistan at the LCCA Ground in the previous round. They would have to make a big effort to push for a win against Southern Punjab to improve their chances of a final’s berth. The two sides had drawn the first match of the Punjab derby in October at the Multan Cricket Stadium. Southern Punjab who are at the fifth spot would be hoping to salvage something out of what has been a disappointing season for them with a victory, they are yet to win a match in the season having drawn six games besides two defeats. Southern Punjab had their ninth round fixture against Khyber Pakhtunkhwa washed out in Abbottabad. Northern have all but confirmed their place in the final following their draw against Sindh and only a big defeat and victories for Sindh and Central Punjab in the tenth round can halt their progress to the tournament decider. Northern currently have a 132 points tally with three wins and six draws from the first nine rounds. Defending champions Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be hoping to upset the table-toppers to finish on a high following their worst season to date in the revamped format. They languish at the bottom with a mere 53 points (three draws, four defeats, two abandoned matches).

Top performers: Openers Abdullah Shafique –Central Punjab and Mohammad Huraira – Northern, are the only two batters to have reached the 800-run mark so far. Abdullah tops the list of tournament run-getters with 867 runs at 72.25 (three centuries and four fifties).

Huraira who scored 173 and 58 not out against Sindh in the ninth round has now tallied 800 runs at 72.73 (three centuries, two fifties). Southern Punjab’s seasoned performer Usman Salahuddin is at number three with 733 runs at 61.08 (three centuries, three fifties).

Sindh’s Abrar Ahmed continues to mystify batters with his leg-spin in the ongoing season. Abrar is on the top of the bowling list with 43 wickets in six matches – five five-fers – at an average of 21.95. Northern’s off-spinner Mubasir Khan is number two on the list with 26 wickets in nine games at 30.15 – one five-fer.

DOHA

SYDNEY Agencies

FIFA chief blasts ‘hypocrisy’ of Western nations on eve of World Cup

$659MN WithdrAWAl frOM NAyA PAkiStAN CErtifiCAtES iN 6 MONthS

pRofIt RepoRt aRiBa Shahid

tHENaya Pakistan Certificates (NPCs) that had seen net inflows up until March 2022 have seen $659 million withdrawn in the past six months. Introduced as a fixed income security offered digitally by the Government of Pakistan, the certificates saw great popularity but have seen more withdrawals than inflows since June.

Overall outflows surpassed inflows leaving $763 million in September 2022. This means that more withdrawals have been seen in the last six months than net inflows in the previous three quarters.

breaking dOwn The daTa

The data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its outstanding external debt and liabilities data document shows that the investment in NPC and Pakistan Banao Certificates had grown from $809 million in 30 June 2021, when the product was just picking up popularity, to $1,178 million by 30 September 2021, showing an increase of $369 million or 45.7%. The investment then grew 13.5% bringing it to $1,338 million in December 2021, and by a meager 6.4% in March 2022 bringing it to $1,423 million.

Cumulatively, between June 2021 and March 2022, the net inflow of investment was $614 million. However, after March 2022, the trend has reversed and in both quarters fol-

lowing, withdrawals can be seen from the certificates.

In June 2022, there was a 33% withdrawal whereby the net outflow of funds was $470 million, and in the next quarter, the withdrawal amounted to $190 million bringing the total investment in the NPCs to $763 million. The total withdrawal during these two quarters is equivalent to $659 million which means more funds have been withdrawn in the last two quarters than were deposited in the previous three quarters.

If you go on the SBP dedicated page for Roshan Digital Account (RDA), you will see that as of October 2022 the SBP has an investment worth $3,3344 million in NPCs. However, when you go on the data page, you will see a table showing your deposits in RDA accounts and investments in NPC.

It is very important to note that this table does not show you net investments, i.e. it does not show you how much stock of investment is present at the end of the month after factoring in outflows. Instead, it only shows you how much investment is flowing into the asset class.

As per the data releases, it can be seen that inflows in NPC have increased every month since September 2020 when they were launched. However, the pace of investment has slowed down to a more sustainable level by October 2021, following which the growth rates have been single-digit. This shows that indeed outflows have exceeded inflows for the NPCs. did The revisiOn in raTes

Wazirabad attack: Moazzam was shot in head, reveals autopsy

WAZIRABAD Staff RepoRt

The post-mortem report of slain Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) worker Moazzam Gondal revealed that the slain party activist died after a bullet had hit his head while catching the gunman in Wazirabad attack during PTI long march. According to the post-mortem report, the bullet was fired from a distance where the PTI worker was standing. The 36-year-old PTI worker Moazzam Gondal was killed on November 3 during Imran Khan-led long march in Wazirabad. The report further revealed that the bullet hit his head above the ear from right side and exited from the forehead, leaving two wounds on his head that later resulted in his death.

However, the hospital administration refrained from commenting on the post-mortem report.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chief (PTI) Imran Khan met with the family of the deceased PTI worker Moazzam Gondal, who was shot dead in the attack on the PTI long march in Wazirabad. The PTI Chief provided the mother of the deceased Moazzam with financial aid of Rs10 million. Imran Khan met with the children, mother and brother of the deceased PTI worker in Shoukat Khanum Hospital Lahore. The PTI chief expressed his grievances over the unfortunate demise of Moazzam in the attack on PTI long march in Wazirabad. It is pertinent to mention here that PTI worker Moazzam was shot dead during a gun attack on PTI’s long march in Wazirabad on November 3.

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While the SBP releases this data quarterly, it is likely that they monitor it on a regular or live basis. Seeing an increase in withdrawals and a decrease in inflows; the SBP and the Finance Ministry might have increased the returns on the certificate to make them attractive once again.

In September 2022, the Government of Pakistan, Finance Division (external Finance wing) notified a revision in the rate of return in PKR-denominated NPCs and also revised downward the minimum denomination of NPCs.

Previously the annualized return on a 5-year NPC was 7% for USD and 11% for PKR. Despite an increase in the US interest rate, the return was still lucrative for the USD-denominated certificates. However, with the policy rate rising in Pakistan, the government announced a 550 bps increase in the NPC rate for PKR-denominated certificates.

This meant the rate of return for 3 month PKR NPC was increased from 9.5% to 15%, 6 month certificates to 15.25%, 12 month certificates to 15.5%, 3 year to 14%, and 5 year to 13.5%. Minimum investment is of Rs 10,000 why The wiThdrawals?

There are possible reasons behind this net outflow. One could be that investors chose not to reinvest in NPC upon maturity. This could be because they found another lucrative avenue of investment, needed the funds, or had any personal reason.

“With the soaring inflation glob-

ally, we are witnessing aggressive monetary tightening by the majority of the central banks. Accordingly, the returns offered on NPC are not competitive anymore and the political instability is also dampening The investors sentiment leading towards withdrawal from NPC,” says Tahir Abbas, head of Research at Arif Habib limited.

In the past, former governor Dr. Reza Baqir in response to a question by Profit explained that advertising was an important factor influencing RDA account openings and inflows. He said, “When TV ads and overseas means to advertise are used, more accounts are opened, when stopped the pace slows down.”

Previously, sources at commercial banks working on RDA product development said that the SBP is pushing banks to engage customers more than ever and are encouraging banks to dedicate more resources to the marketing of RDA. The same sources are now claiming that the push from the central bank on the matter has moved to more serious topics such as foreign exchange-related issues.

Another possible reason for the net outflows could be a change in the government. While a preference for a political party may be the reason behind the withdrawal, it is important to note that changes in government bring instability which hurts investor sentiment. With Pakistan’s shaky fundamentals and struggles with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) review, investors may be reacting.

Financial crisis: KP directs LG Dept to return development fund

pRofIt RepoRt aziz BuneRi

Cash-strapped and struggling to even pay the salaries of its employees, tge Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has asked the department of local government to return the entire fund it had been provided for development work.

It is worth noting that local governments are constitutionally supposed to be the third-tier of democracy, and that in an ideal set-up local bodies would be able to collect their own taxes on property and run their own budgets. However in all provinces in Pakistan, including KP, local government laws are in their nascent stages and local governments are provided funds for development work by the provincial government.

The KP government had disbursed Rs 1.7 billion to the local government department under a mega project titled the ‘Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Cities Improvement Project’. Now, owing to the ongoing financial crisis, the KP finance department has directed the LGs department to immediately return Rs 1.33 billion to the provincial treasury.

Reports have emerged that the KP government is in a financial crunch and has failed to

The Rooh Afza trademark

The CEO of the Indian Hamdard, Hamid Ahmed, reportedly said that such a ruling would ‘safeguard local business’ when he filed a petition in September 2022.

Origins

Red in colour, sweet in taste and easy on the pocket–Rooh Afza checks all the boxes to be the national drink of Pakistan. And much like many Pakistani staples, India is also a natural market for this sharbat. In fact, India is where the Hamdard brand’s Rooh Afza was originally born.

Yet the past week saw the Delhi High Court ‘permanently restrain’ retailers on Amazon from selling the drink in India. The petition that led to the filing of the court case was filed by Rooh Afza’s manufacturer in India, Hamdard National Foundation, after it claimed that the products listed on Amazon were not manufactured in India.

The history of South Asia’s favourite drink goes back to colonial India, from a small family business named Hamdard in 1907 in Delhi. The drink was made by Unani medicine practitioner, Hakim Abdul Majid, whose main purpose was to create a source of energy and revitalization in the summer heat. For its more than hundred year history, Rooh Afza has lived up to that original purpose. Hakim Abdul Majid’s business became a fierce force to reckon with. By 1922, the business had to be moved to a larger building. But the Majid did not live long to fully reap the benefits of his seeds as he passed away

pay its employees their salaries, forcing it to take this drastic measure, The aim of the project, which will now naturally be halted, was to setup a sewage water treatment plants and ‘Greater Water Supply Projects’ in Kohat, Swat and Abbottabad districts. The official report said that a total of Rs1.33bn were released to the LG department but it was directed to return this fund by June 30.

However, sources said that the local government department has not returned the fund yet, after which the finance department has once again asked the department to return the fund in view of the financial crisis. The finance department has also directed the LG department to submit a progress report of the ongoing projects.

New COAS not to be a ‘surprise’ for anyone: Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has said that the process to appoint the next chief of army staff will formally begin after the weekend.

He added that the new army chief would be someone on whom neither the president nor the prime minister would have an objection to and would not be a surprise for either the political or military leadership in the country.

Speaking to a private Tv channel, Sanaullah said that currently, there were no names on the table and that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has yet to receive a summary from the Defence Ministry on finalizing a name.

He, however, asserted that when the summary is received, and a name is picked, the decision would be final. “It is the prerogative of the prime minister [on picking a name for the next army chief],” he said. Asked how many names are expected to be sent, Sanaullah gave an evasive answer that three, four, five or even six names can be included in the summary.

He added that the formal process to appoint the army chief would begin in the next two to four days.

Pointing to past practices, he said that new army chiefs have been nominated as late as just two days before the incumbent is due to retire or as early as two months before.

On the demands of Imran Khan for consultation prior to finalizing the name for the army chief, the interior minister said that the demand was intrinsically incorrect. “This is not a political process,” he said, adding, “This is the constitutional privilege of the prime minister.”

On the subject of when elections will be held and on replacing the chief election commissioner, Sanaullah said how it could happen when Imran Khan refuses to sit with other politicians for dialogue. Sanaullah suggested that Imran should seek time with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) President Maulana Fazlur Rehman for a sit-down. “Politicians are able to sit and evolve a solution through dialogue,” he quipped. Previously, in an interview, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif stated that the name of the new army chief would come to light in a couple of days. Sanaullah, though, noted that, per his experience, it was important to ensure consensus before taking important decisions. Though on this important matter, the prime minister is authorized to take a decision, and everyone has a consensus on it.

ECP gears up for next general elections

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Election commission of Pakistan has decided to accelerate preparations for the next general elections.

According to details, the election commission has asked the provincial government to submit lists of officers from grade 17 and above. The ECP sent letters to the chief secretaries of four provinces and sought a list of officers who have good credentials and deserves to be nominated as returning officers for the next general elections. Furthermore, the chief should submit these lists to provincial election commissioners, the ECP added. After submission, the ECP will announce the list of returning officers, assistant returning officers, and district returning officers.

The election commission will write a letter to the chief justice after the ECP decides to announce the lists of returning officers.

Trademark and legal baTTles

the same year at the age of just 39.

After his passing, Majid’s wife Rabia took over the business and raised the two sons Hakeem Abdul Hameed and Hakeem Saeed. The business tells a story of a typical family business. The two sons grew up to manage the lucrative business that even the bloody summer of 1947 could not wash away.

After the partition in 1947, Majid’s younger son Saeed moved to Karachi and established the business in the newly formed country while the older brother Hameed stayed back in Delhi. Both the brothers grew their businesses in respective countries and formed a charitable trust, Hamdard Foundation, with separate arms in both countries. Later in 1971, another wing was formed in Bangladesh and Rooh Afza became a household in all three countries.

Rooh Afza passed the test of desi family relations, time and even the most deadly partition in history – what it couldn’t pass was e-commerce. In recent years Rooh Afza did struggle with rebranding its image as modern, innovative and becoming the new drink for the millennials. In 2017, the first CEO from outside the family was hired in Karachi.)

The Hamdard company has trademark and legal rights to sell Rooh Afza only within the three countries it operates in. Furthermore, each company is restricted to using the trademark only in their respective countries. The current issue arose when the CEO of Hamdard India, Hamid Ahmed, claimed that Rooh Afza bottles listed on Amazon India are not made in India.

Amazon allows the seller to list the prod-

uct if the trademark of the product is from the same country as the seller. The Indian Express reported one of the listings on Amazon India was from Hamdard Laboratories (Waqf), Pakistan. In response to the fiasco, the marketing director from Hamdard Pakistan, Faiz Ullah Jawad reportedly clarified that the company is not involved in selling Rooh Afza in India and it has nothing to with the ban. He further said that there are so many sellers on Amazon and it is not in their knowledge who might be selling the product made by Pakistan in India as a third party.

The ban would surely affect the growing tech-savvy consumers in India, but in Pakistan there is nothing to worry about, except possibly for third party sellers who will now be unable to sell Pakistani Rooh Afza to the Indian market through Amazon.