Epaper_22-12-07 ISB

FOOT-DRAGING ENDS

Capital poliCe registers Fir oF arshad shariF’s gruesome murder

g TAkInG SuO-MOTu, SuPREME COuRT ORdEREd FIR In BRuTAl SHARIF MuRdER

g PM WElCOMES SC’S nOTICE On ARSHAd

SHARIF’S MuRdER, ASSuRES Full COOPERATIOn

criticising institutions and “abetting mutiny” within the army.

His employer, ARY news, had fired Arshad in August, saying the journalist had violated its social media policy, without specifically mentioning the post. His talk show, Powerplay, which aired on Mondays and Thursdays, was discontinued.

Sharif’s family, his friends and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), including its chairman Imran khan, have demanded a fair investigation into the murder. They claimed he was forced to leave the sheikhdom at the request of the Foreign Office. The Foreign Office has, however, dismissed the claim.

last week, khan penned a letter to the chief justice, requesting him to conduct an independent judicial inquiry into the assassination.

FInAllY, the Islamabad Police late Tuesday night registered a First Information Report (FIR) of grisly murder of top investigative journalist Arshad Sharif in line with the directions of Supreme Court.

Sharif, 50, a fierce critic of the military, died in a suspected police shooting near kenya’s capital nairobi on October 24.

In an FIR registered at Ramna police station of the federal capital, three accused Waqar Ahmed, khurram Ahmed and Tariq Ahmed Wasi have been nominated.

However, the spouse of late Arshad Sharif rejected the FIR, arguing why it was registered with Islamabad Police as complainant.

“While the heirs of Arshad [Sharif] are still alive, the FIR would be registered with my mother-in-law [mother of Arshad].

Rest, why the FIR was registered with Police as complainant? Arshad has his heirs,” she wrote in urdu language.

Earlier in the day, a five-judge bench of the Supreme Court — headed by Chief Justice umar Ata Bandial and comprising justices Ijaz ul-Ahsan, Jamal khan Mandokhail, Mazahar Ali Akbar naqvi and Muhammad Ali Mazhar — directed the government to register a first information report (FIR) of the event by tonight.

“The police report should be registered by tonight,” Justice Bandial said, as his court directed the authorities to submit a copy of the FIR to the court by Wednesday. He also sought the inquiry report of a panel formed by the government to probe the murder. The suo motu provision allows the judge to take up cases on his own initiative.

Arshad Sharif fled Pakistan in August — first to the united Arab Emirates (uAE) and later kenya — after sedition charges were levelled against him for allegedly

Responding to the letter, the court fixed the matter for hearing at 12:30 pm on Tuesday, according to a statement. The apex judicial forum also announced that notices have been issued to the interior, foreign, and information secretaries; bosses of the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Intelligence Bureau (IB); and the president of the Pakistan Federal union of Journalists (PFuJ).

during the proceedings, the chief justice wondered why the court had not yet been provided with the report by the fact-finding committee. At this, the additional attorney general informed the court that Rana Sanaullah khan, the minister for interior, was in Faisalabad when the report was received.

“The report will be handed over to the court once Sanaullah khan peruses it,” he said.

“does the interior minister have to make changes to the report?” the judge wondered, saying his court could summon the minister.

Bumpy year ahead as tractor industry braces for lowest sales in 15 years

g TRACTOR SAlES ARE PREdICTEd TO ExPERIEnCE A HISTORIC dIP OF 67% In THE MOnTHS TO COME

In an emergency meeting held on Monday, Chairman of Pakistan Association of Auto Parts and Accessories Manufacturers (PAAPAM) Munir Bana predicted a collapse in the sale of tractors by 67% in FY 2022-23.

The impending slump

Bana predicted tractor sales to drop significantly from FY 2021-22’s sale of 60,000 units to a measly 20,000 units in FY 2022-23. At 20,000, tractor sales would effectively be at their lowest number in 15 years with an all time low being set since the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) began collecting industry sales data. The current lowest sales record stands at 32,727 units sold in FY 2019-20.

Bana cites several reasons for this dip in the tractor sector: The rupee’s depreciation, import restrictions on auto parts, delays in refunds of sales tax by the government, and the existing dutyfree import of second-hand tractors.

“Yes this is an accurate assessment of the market. I would say it is fairly representative, compared to the same period last year. We (Millat Tractors) have seen a reduction, and so have our competitor (AlGhazi),” mentioned Millat Tractors’ CEO Raheel Asghar in a conversation with Profit.

The current market situation

“There are a number of factors affecting the market. The most evident one is the flash floods of

2022 that rampaged across Sindh, Balochistan, and lower Punjab and directly hit the purchasing power of farmers. Other than that, the government had previously exempt tractors from the sales tax. We were able to obtain refunds from the government for our input costs. We will not receive this refund now, and subsequently we had to increase our prices to cater to this,” explained Asghar.

He cited “the combination of these two factors alongside the general economic downturn in the country responsible for this decline.”

FY 2022-23’s Four month industry wide sales at 9,258 units is 47% lower compared to last year’s 17,386 units over the same period last year.

Furthermore, the 9,258 units also amounts to a 24% decline from the 12,256 units sold in FY 2019-20 over the same period. On its current trajectory, FY 202223 will likely record lower sales than FY 2019-20.

iSLAMABAD staff report

profit report

Daniyal ahmaD

IMrAN KhAN SAyS NrO-2 MOrE ShAMEFul, dAMAgINg ThAN NrO-1

SAYS CABAL OF CROOKS GOT CORRUPTION CASES CLOSED BY AMENDING NAB LAW INSTEAD OF FACING COURT TRIALS

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

lASHINGout at what he called “the cabal of crooks” for amending the NAB’s law to get their corruption cases closed, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Tuesday said that NRO-2 was even more shameful that NRO1 that cost the country dearly.

In a statement issued here, PTI Chairman said that in yet another shameful event in history of Pakistan, the cabal of crooks amended the NAB law to give themselves an NRO instead of getting their names cleared through court trials.

He said that the two crooked families and their associates looted the country’s resources and increased debt four times in ten years.

“NRO-2 is even more shameful, as Rs. 1100 billion corruption cases are being closed down. It’s a daylight robbery,” he added.

Sharing the details of NRO-2, Imran Khan said that with amendment of section 14, the condition for an accused to provide money trail for purchase of assets has been annulled, resultantly providing Nawaz Sharif an NRO.

Similarly, he said, the amendment in section 21(G) benefited Maryam Nawaz, as evidence from abroad shall not be entertained, thus her forgery case was closed.

Likewise, Khan added, under the amendment of

LAMBASTS PDM ‘MAFIA’ FOR TARGETING KASHMIRI LEADERSHIP

BY SEALING CENTAURUS MALL

section 9 (A) (V), the assets definition has been changed, resultantly the TT and falooda cases of Shehbaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Bilawal have been closed.

Amendment of section- 4: Now the decisions of bureaucrats and politicians cannot be questioned, resultantly cases of Raja Pervaiz Ashraf and Shahid Khaqan Abbasi would be closed.

Amendment of Section 18: The amendment of plea bargain has been amended under which any accused can refuse to pay his due amount without any fear of NAB trail. Only normal default proceedings will happen.

Amendment of section 9 (A) (VII): Amendment regarding issuance of malafide SROs has led to quashing of Toshakhana cases of Nawaz Sharif, Asif Zardari and Yousaf Raza Gilani.

Amendment of section 18 (C): Now the NAB cannot registered FIRs against any accused unless it provides inquiry report to him, thus the accused will go to court and stop all the proceedings. Any inquiry not completed in six months shall be closed. It will put an indecent haste in the system and would also compromise the quality of investigation.

Similarly, Money Laundering Act Amendment would lead to making the Financial Monitoring Unit (FMU) redundant and it will not send STRS to NAB due to which money laundering would go out of NAB’s ambit.

Amendment of Section 9 (A) (X) & Section 5(S) would increase cheating the public at large. The graft

case against Khawaja Saad Rafique will be closed. 76 persons are involved in the case.

Amendment of Section 5 (E): Benamidar definition has excluded dependents and associates. So its effect would mean that the corrupt may accumulate assets in names of their dependents and associates now and would go scot-free.

With Amendment of Section 23 abolished), the accused can now liquidate their assets after authorization of the case. This will jeopardise all assets case because of third party interest.

Amendment of section 24 (F) has been abolished. Now the Chairman cannot notify any police station or declare a palace as a jail. Thus, there would be no protection for approvers and witnesses. Likewise, the word President was replaced with federal government i.e. Ministry of Interior thereby NAB’s authority stands neutralised.

Amendment of Section 5 (U): Now civilian involved

PM calls Hindu extremists’ revisionism nightmare for Indian Muslims

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said that a process of revisionism put into motion by the Hindu extremists had become a living nightmare for Indian Muslims and other minorities.

Taking to his twitter handle on Tuesday, the prime minister referred to the 30th anniversary of demolition of historic Babri Mosque, which was razed to ground by the Hindu zealots in Ayodhya, India during 1992.

The prime minister urged the world community to take note of the rising religious hatred in India.

“Today marks the 30th anniversary of demolition of historic Babri Mosque. A process of revisionism put into motion by Hindu extremists has now become a

living nightmare for Indian Muslims & other minorities. World needs to take note of rising religious hatred in India,” the prime minister posted a tweet along with pictures of the demolished mosque.

On December 6, 1992, a group of Hindu zealots razed the mosque on a disputed religious site in the state of Uttar Pradesh, triggering clashes with minority Muslims that left 2,000 people dead.

In September 2020, the Supreme Court of India acquitted 32 people accused of criminal conspiracy and inciting a mob to tear down the mosque.

Pakistan condemned the construction of a temple at the site of the Babri mosque which was torn down by mob of Hindu zealots 30 years ago.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Office called out New Delhi for acquitting the suspects and supporting the construction

of the Ram Temple, which has long fuelled Hindu-Muslim tension in India, on the site. “We condemn the ongoing construction of a Hindu temple on the site of the demolished mosque, and the acquittal of the criminals responsible for its destruction.”

The statement demanded the Indian government ensure that Babri Mosque “is rebuilt on its original site” and the criminals responsible for its “destruction are awarded befitting punishment.”

In November 2019, the Supreme Court ruled the original site will be handed over to Hindus for the construction of the temple, and a “suitable plot” of land measuring five acres would be allotted to a government-owned Muslim body either by the central government or state of Uttar Pradesh, of which Ayodhya is a part, to construct a

mosque. The Foreign Office noted that Hindu supremacist groups in India were now demanding the conversion of some other mosques into temples, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi. “These demands might lead to more tragedies like that of the Babri Mosque,” it added.

““There is a persistent assault on the religious freedoms of the Indian Muslims. The ruling party in India continues to incite hysteria and hatred against Muslims.”

PM welcomes SC’s suo moto on Arshad Sharif’s murder

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday welcome the suo moto notice taken by the Supreme Court on the killing of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif.

In a Twitter post, the prime minister assured that the government would extend full cooperation to the Court. “I welcome Supreme Court taking suo moto notice of the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif.”

FM embarks upon three-day visit to Indonesia, Singapore today

in connivance with the public office holder has been excluded from corruption. Resultantly, front men and commission agents of the corrupt will go scot-free.

KhAn furIouS over SeALIng of CentAuruS MALL: In a strong-worded statement, Imran Khan condemned the sealing of the Centaurus Mall by what he called the “PDM mafia”. Imran Khan said that the sealing of the Mall clearly indicated there was law of the jungle in Pakistan.

He said that sealing of the Centaurus Mall in a bid to settle scores with the PM AJK Sardar Tanveer Ilyas Khan for censuring Shehbaz Sharif for not mentioning the sacrifices of Kashmiris, actually reflected there was law of the jungle in the country for the last eight months.

PTI Chairman stated that the move would send negative signals to Kashmiris too. He asked the Honourable Judges to take action to prove they were upholders of the law.

Army Chief visits forward troops in Tirah Valley

RAWALPINDI Staff RepoRt

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir on Tuesday visited Tirah Valley, Khyber District and spent the day with forward troops deployed along Pakistan-Afghanistan Border. He was briefed by the field commander about operational preparedness and border control measures in place as part of Western Borders Management Regime, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said. While interacting with officers and men, the COAS praised them for their high morale and operational readiness in the line of duty. He said, “State’s writ has been established due to innumerable sacrifices by tribal people and security forces. Our fight against terrorism will continue with the support of the nation till we achieve enduring peace and stability.” The COAS said that defence of the motherland would be ensured at all costs and there would not be any space for peace’s spoilers. “No one will be allowed to disrupt the hard earned gains of war against terror made thus far,” the COAS concluded.

ISLAMABAD Staff coRReSpondent

Central Government debt increased to Rs 50.1 trillion in October 2022, rising Rs 750 billion in a month and Rs 9.9 trillion in a year. External debt, a major pain point for the cash-strapped and reservehungry country stands at Rs 17.6 trillion, up 27.8% over last year, but down 1.9% over last month.Central government domestic debt comprised 64% of total debt, whereas the remaining 35% consisted of external debt. The country’s domestic debt clocked in at Rs 32.5 trillion, up 22.8% in a year, and inched up 3.5% in a month. The domestic debt is concentrated primarily in long term, with most coming in the form of permanent debt made up of federal government bonds. Short-term debt makes up 20% of Pakistan’s domestic debt, clocking in at Rs 6.7 trillion, up 5.4% over last year and up 0.5% in a month. Permanent debt includes medium and longterm debt such as treasury bonds, or investment bonds that take longer to mature with tenors of 3, 5, 10, 15, and 20 years.

ISLAMABAD Shahzad paRacha

The Executive Committee of the National Economic Council (ECNEC) has approved Flood Emergency Rehabilitation Programmes worth billions in three provinces to restore agricultural productivity and protect lives, infrastructure and properties in the flood affected areas. As per the details, Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar chaired the meeting of the ECNEC. The ECNEC considered and approved following development projects related to reconstruction and rehabilitation in flood affected areas of Pakistan. ECNEC approved Emergency Flood Assistance Project (EFAP) – On Farm Water Management Component, at the total cost of Rs 3828 million ($ 17.4 million), with FEC of Rs. 3300 million ($ 15 million), to be funded by the Government of Balochistan and Asian Development Bank (under a Loan). The project will be implemented in flood affected districts of Balochistan. The proposed project envisages restoration of flood damaged on-farm water management infrastructure for revival of agriculture production in the severely flood affected districts of the province.

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will embark on three-day official visits to Indonesia and Singapore from today [Wednesday]. In Bali, Indonesia, the Foreign Minister will hold a bilateral meeting with Indonesian Foreign Minister Retno Marsudi and will attend 15th Bali Democracy Forum and International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education. At the Bali Democracy Forum, the Foreign Minister will underscore Pakistan’s commitment to democratic values and the importance of democracy in responding to modern day challenges. At the International Conference on Afghan Women’s Education, he will highlight Pakistan’s efforts for lasting peace and development in Afghanistan, including the importance of equal access to education for all segments of society. In Singapore, the Foreign Minister will hold a meeting with his Singaporian counterpart Dr. Vivian Balakrishnan and will also call on President Halimah Yacob. He will discuss a wide spectrum of bilateral relations during these meetings.

All is not well on

the economic front, says

Aisha Pasha

ISLAMABAD: Minister of State for Finance Dr. Aisha Ghaus Pasha has said all is not well on the economic front and the government is eager to complete its current IMF program and that talks with the IMF are still ongoing. While talking with Journalists after an event in Islamabad, the State minister said that all is not well on the economic front. However, there is not such a thing that something is going to happen wrong, she added. Pasha said that the country is out of danger as the situation has been changed after timely payments on its Sukuk bond adding that she said that there is no longer at risk of default. The minister said the default risk was highest when the coalition government took the reign. She also said that loan repayments under mutual agreements are being rolled over and that plans are being made to finalize payment of other debt obligations. The government has the resources to survive and will do everything possible to avoid disappointing its bilateral partners. “We have the resources and will make timely payments on our loans,” she added. The minister said that Pakistan requires at least $16 billion for rehabilitation and reconstruction.

“It will take many years to restore and rebuild,” she said. Earlier, speaking at a panel discussion titled Energy Corridors: CASA 1000 arranged by local NGO in the federal capital, Dr Musadik Masood Malik, Minister of State for Petroleum, said that the govt is committed to completing the CASA-1000 and other clean energy projects as this would help save the future of next generation.

Total central govt debt rise to rs50 trillion, up 24.5 percent over last year

ECNEC approves flood emergency rehab plan to restore agri productivity, infrastructure

FATIMA FErTIlIzEr EyES ExPANSION

PRofIt RePoRt

INan expansion bid, the Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited (FATIMA) has decided to consolidate its fertilizer business by merging its associate company, Pakarab Fertilizers Limited, into FATIMA. The announcement was made on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Monday.

CoMpAny BACKgrounD: While the company is called Fatima Fertilizers, it is in fact a joint venture between two major business groups in Pakistan, the Fatima Group and Arif Habib Group. Both Arif Habib, and Ali Mukhtar are prominently displayed in an equal frame in the company’s annual report. Arif Habib related companies hold a cumulative 16.11%, while the Fatima Group companies cumulatively hold 22.92%

Fatima Fertilizers makes two intermediary products – ammonia and nitric acid – and three final products, which are

Chinese Ambassador Nong rong calls on Minister Finance

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

urea, calcium ammonium nitrate (CAN) and nitro phosphate (NP). The company, which was incorporated in 2003, has three units in Punjab: the Sadiqabad plant, Multan plant and the Sheikhupura plant.

The Sheikhupura Plant was acquired by the company in 2015. It is capable of producing 445,500 metric tons per annum of urea. Finally, the company acquired its third plant in Multan from its associated company, Pakarab Fertilizers Limited, in September 2020.

A trenD of rISIng proDuCtIon: It goes back to 2020. The company’s annual report, released on April 5, offered some clues. First, production went up. But this was less because of some miracle, but because the third plant in Multan was acquired in September 2020, increasing production capacity. The Sadiqabad plant also had one whole year of operations without any disruption. The plant that was disrupted? Sheikhpura, which remained out of operations for eight months because there was no gas. Turns out the gas shortage

in Pakistan did end up affecting Fatima Fertilizers after all.

While sales revenue fell as a result by 5% year-on-year, the cost of sales of the company declined by approximately 10%, it also meant that they were no longer paying for the Sheikhpura plant’s operation costs. This meant that while the overall revenue fell, profits were increasing.

Back in August this year, the Ministry of Industries and Production had submitted a summary to ECC on issues faced by Fatima Fertilizer ( Sheikhupura Plant) and Agritech. As a result, the government promised to provide a unified price of feed gas to fertiliser manufacturers in the country WhAt IS BehInD the ConSoLIDAtIon effort?

The public announcement states, “The Board of Directors of Fatima Fertilizer Company Limited in its meeting held on December 5, 2022 has considered and approved a business expansion plan to

further consolidate all the fertilizer business by amalgamating its associated company, Pakarab Fertilizers Limited (“PFL”) with and in to Fatima w.e.f. July 01, 2022.”

Pakarab Fertilizers Limited produces Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN), Nitro Phosphate (NP) and Urea. According to the company website, it has a monopoly in the production of CAN and NP. Previously, Pakarab Fertilizers was already a wholly owned subsidiary of FATIMA but operated as a separate fertilizer business of the fertilizer giant.

According to the company announcement, the amalgamation of the two companies would lead to an increased asset base and size of FATIMA, which can help the company to benefit from economies of scale by resulting in increased expansion opportunities for FATIMA.

In addition to getting the fertilizer business, FATIMA will also benefit from wholly owning Fatima Packaging Limited, which is currently a wholly owned subsidiary of Pakarab Fertilizer,

Delay in PA’s dissolution to be a ‘better decision’, Punjab CM tells Fawad

LAHoRe Staff RepoRt

Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China Mr Nong Rong called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar. The Minister welcomed the Ambassador and highlighted about the long-standing and deep-rooted relations between the countries. It was shared that China and Pakistan have strong bilateral ties in a number of economic avenues. Both sides discussed further strengthening the already existing friendly relations, particularly in the field of economy and finance, said a press release issued here by the finance division. Ishaq Dar expressed his grief over the demise of former Chinese President Jiang Zemin and said that it is a great loss for China as well as Pakistan. The Minister said that the deceased president was a great friend of Pakistan. The Minister highlighted the ongoing reconstruction and rehabilitation program being undertaken by the current government in the areas where the recent flood brought devastation in terms of loss of lives and infrastructure. He commended the support of Chinese government in the hour of trial and said the present government is taking various measures to protect the vulnerable segment of society.

BhC restrains provincial govt, authorities from filing new FIrs against Swati

QUettA Staff RepoRt

The Balochistan High Court (BHC) on Tuesday restrained the provincial government and authorities from registering any more first information reports (FIRs) against PTI Senator Azam Swati and from moving him out of Quetta. The senior PTI leader was arrested last month, the second time the senator was taken into custody by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) in less than two months over controversial tweets about senior military leaders. He was arrested after the FIA booked him in a case registered under Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crime Act 2016 (Peca), which deals with offences against the dignity of a person. He was also nominated in multiple FIRs registered in Balochistan and Sindh for using “derogatory language” and “provoking the people against the army”. Azam was transferred to Quetta on Friday after the judicial magistrate of Islamabad handed him over to the Balochistan police and subsequently on Sunday, a judicial magistrate remanded him in police custody for five days. A two-member bench comprising Justice Kamran Mulakhail and Justice Aamir Rana announced the verdict today after presiding over a hearing on a petition by Osman Swati that requested the court to bar law enforcement agencies from lodging “false, fabricated and malicious FIRs” against his father. ccording to the written verdict, a copy of which is available with Dawn.com, Osman’s counsel contended that as many as 25 FIRs — five in Balochistan alone — had been lodged against the senator throughout the country on the basis of the same allegation. The counsel said that Azam was in the custody of the Crime Investigation Agency in connection to an FIR registered in Quetta. He shared his concerns that once a bail was secured, his father could be moved to another location where a similar FIR would be in place. Osman’s lawyer added that Azam was a senator, along with being an “ailing and aged” person, and was subjected to “undue harassment and [being] dragged in unnecessary prosecution”.

Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Tuesday advised Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan to delay dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, suggesting the assembly’s dissolution should be delayed for three months to get the development projects completed.

“The PML-Q has no objection whatsoever to the Punjab Assembly dissolution but it will be a better decision to delay it for time being.”

The sources informed after back-to-back meetings of PTI Central Information Secretary and former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry with Punjab CM Pervaiz Elahi and Imran Khan, on Tuesday.

According to the sources privy to the meetings, Punjab Chief Minister Ch Pervaiz Elahi categorically told Fawad Chaudhry that the PML-Q didn’t have any objection to the dissolution of the assembly. “We are ready to dissolve the assembly on the Imran Khan’s call, but various important developmental projects underway in the province require three months to complete. So we just want the time to get these project completed”, he elaborated.

The Punjab CM emphasized on delaying the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly for at least three months so that development projects could be completed, calling “it will be a better decision.”

On the occasion, Fawad Ch conveyed the message of PTI Chairman Imran Khan to Ch Pervaiz Elahi that “if the dissolution of the assemblies is delayed, the country will default.” The sources stated that Imran Khan was sticking to his position that immediate

elections were the only solution to the problems facing the country.

Earlier, Fawad Ch confirmed on Monday that “informal communications” between the PTI and federal government, pertaining to the snap elections, had begun. Former premier Imran Khan last week gave the federal government an ultimatum to either “sit and talk and give a date for the general elections” or “we will dissolve the assemblies”.

“Either they can sit with us and talk, gave us a date for the general elections […] or else we will dissolve our assemblies on December 21,” he had said.

Imran’s offer came after the PTI leadership greenlit plans to dissolve the KP and Punjab assemblies after Imran said the party would no longer be part of the corrupt system on the last day of his long march in Rawalpindi in November.

Speaking to the media in Lahore, Fawad Ch said that “informal communication” with the federal government had begun. “We are trying to make the coalition representatives, especially Finance Minister Ishaq Dar […] who is more [determined] from the PML-N […] we told the president […] the problem is that the government is rapidly becoming irrelevant due to the economic situation.

Earlier, Punjab CM said the provincial assembly will “continue the same way for the next four months till March”, with his remarks being in contrast to the repeated threats of the assembly’s immediate dissolution by key ally and PTI Chairman Imran Khan. On November 26, Imran announced his party’s intention to disassociate itself from the “current corrupt political system” by quitting the assemblies of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Punjab.

PM vows to protect, promote freedom of expression, information

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday said media freedom and democracy reinforced each other and expressed his government’s resolve to support an environment for journalists free of intimidation and harassment.

“My government believes that no journalist or human rights activist should be called out in the line of duty,” he said, expressing resolve to promote the implementation of the Journalists Safety Law.

Addressing an event to mark 10 years of the United Nations’ Plan of Action organised by Journalist Safety Forum, the prime minister said free press and freedom of expression were the critical pillars of a state.

Sharif said press freedom in Pakistan had been close to the hearts of journalists and civil society.

He said journalists over the years contributed to press freedom and mentioned that Hamid Mir, as the chairperson of the forum, faced various challenges including an attempt on his life.

He termed the murder of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif in his government an “extremely sad incident” and recalled that soon after, he spoke to the president of Kenya and later wrote a letter to the chief justice of Pakistan to form a judicial commission.

Sharif said despite the chequered history with 33 years of military rule, the collective political efforts lead to the resumption of democracy to put the country on right track. He termed the 1973 constitution “a very sacred document” which acted as a binding force among the units of the federation and ensured democratic values besides ensuring the basic rights of the citizenry.

In 2013, he said, Pakistan became the first country

in Asia to pass legislation on the safety of journalists and last year, the parliament passed the landmark Protection of Journalists and Media Protection Act.

Sharif, on requests of the media, assured to look into the Section 6 of the law to prevent harassment and intimidation of journalists.

He mentioned there were still challenges facing the journalists in their line of duty and required sustained efforts by media, civil society, UN and international bodies.

He appreciated the contribution of the international community in supporting the economic and social development of Pakistan, particularly UNESCO and countries including Norway, Denmark and France.

He expressed confidence that the outcomes and recommendations of the forum would help lead towards a free media in Pakistan. Speaking on the occasion, Nicolas Galey, ambassador of France, said freedom of expression could not be termed as an obstacle in the working of a government and emphasised the need to promote the safety of journalists, media pluralism, and the right to inform and be informed.

He lauded the law on the safety of journalists as a significant step in encouraging freedom of expression.

Jakob Linulf, ambassador of Denmark, said it was crucial to promote freedom of expression and ensure a safe environment for journalists. He said Denmark backed the “community journalism” in Pakistan. He congratulated Pakistan for its remarkable step to legislate on the safety of journalists, the first in Asia.

Per Albert Ilsaas, ambassador of Norway, said best quality journalism provides proper information and ensures democratic values. Journalists in Pakistan “selfcensored” the content, which could otherwise be said directly, such as the use of the word “establishment”, she noted.

and the main supplier of packaging material to the company.

Earlier this year, in the company AGM held on April 29, 2022, the shareholders of FATIMA passed a special resolution to renew the Running Finance Facility limit of up-to PKR 2,000 million given to Pakarab Fertilizers Limited for a further period of one year.

Additionally, another special resolution was passed which increased the Corporate Finance Guarantee(s) extended to Pakarab Fertilizers Limited from PKR 2,000 million to an aggregate amount of PKR 4,000 million, to be renewed for a further period of one year. This facility was issued by FATIMA in favor of any financing facilities required by Pakarab.

FATIMA has announced to hold its Extraordinary General Meeting (EGM) on December 27, 2022, to consider and approve the merger of its subsidiary with and into FATIMA, in addition to approving any other finance facilities to be given to Pakarab Fertilizers Limited.

JI chief dubs Pakistan-Turkiye two bodies with a

single soul

ISAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Sirajul Haq said on Tuesday that Jamaat highly values brotherly relations Pakistan and Turkey and wanted to see Ummah united for the common cause. “Both the countries could provide leadership to the Muslim world to cope with the different challenges particularly Islamophobia.” Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Sirajul Haq expressed the views during a meeting with Turkiye Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pacaci here on Tuesday. They discussed bilateral relations between the two countries and matters of mutual interests during a meeting held here. JI (Foreign Affairs) Director Asif Luqman Qazi was also present on the occasion.

Appreciating the role of Turkish President on Palestine and Kashmir issues, the JI chief said that both the nations supported each other on Kashmir and Northern Cyprus. He highlighted the Islamic world should set aside their mutual differences and pose unity among their ranks.He said unity among Pakistan, Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Iran was the need of the hour to counter the influence of western civilization, adding that Turkey and Pakistan were two bodies with a single soul as they had centuries old religious and cultural relations. Haq said Turkey occupied a distinct position in the Muslim world and the government of President Erdogan was the torchbearer of great Turkish civilization and glory.

Pakistan condemns construction of temPle on BaBri mosque site

ISLAMABAD/NEW DELHI StAFF RePoRt

Pakistan condemned the construction of a temple at the site of the Babri mosque in the northern city of Ayodhya, which was torn down by a baying mob of Hindu bigots 30 years ago. On December 6, 1992, a group of Hindu zealots razed the mosque on a “disputed” religious site in the state of Uttar Pradesh, triggering clashes with minority Muslims that left 2,000 people dead and plunged the country into a political crisis.

28 years later, in September 2020, the Supreme Court of India acquitted 32 people, including former deputy prime minister Lal Krishna Advani, accused of criminal conspiracy and inciting a mob to tear down the mosque, citing a lack of evidence.

In a statement on Tuesday, the Foreign Office called out New Delhi for acquitting the suspects and supporting the construction of the Ram Temple, which has long fuelled Hindu-Muslim tension in India, on the site.

“Today marks the 30th anniversary of the demolition of the historic Babri Mosque in the Indian city of Ayodhya by Hindu

growing

“We

ished mosque, and the acquittal of the criminals responsible for its destruction.”

The statement demanded the Indian government ensure that Babri Mosque “is rebuilt on its original site” and the criminals responsible for its “destruction are awarded befitting punishment.” In November 2019, the Supreme Court ruled the original site will be handed over to Hindus for the construction of the temple, and a “suitable plot” of land measuring five acres would be allotted to a government-owned Muslim body either by the central government or state of Uttar Pradesh, of which Ayodhya is a part, to construct a mosque.

The Foreign Office noted that Hindu supremacist groups in India were now demanding the conversion of some other mosques into temples, including the Gyanvapi Mosque in Varanasi.

“These demands might lead to more tragedies like that of the Babri Mosque,” it added. “There is a persistent assault on the religious freedoms of the Indian Muslims. The ruling party in India continues to incite

hysteria and hatred against Muslims.”

‘BLACK DAY’

On the occasion, India’s prominent Muslim leaders said December 6 will forever remain a “Black Day” for that nation’s democracy.

“6th December will forever remain a Black Day for Indian democracy. The desecration and demolition of #BabriMasjid is a symbol of injustice,” one of India’s leading Muslim politicians, Asaduddin Owaisi, wrote on Twitter.

“Those responsible for its destruction were never convicted. We will not forget it & we will ensure that future generations remember it too.”

Asma Zehra Tayeba, a women activist and member of All India Muslim Personal Law Board — an apex umbrella scholar body in India — tweeted: “Fall of Babri masjid and conditions of Muslims in last 30 [years] need introspection.”

Security arrangements were tightened in the city of Ayodhya on the eve of the 30th anniversary of the demolition.

Govt plans amends to clip ‘powers’ of Hec

ISLAMABAD StAFF RePoRt

The federal government has decided on amendments to HEC Law to limit authority of the Higher Education Commission (HEC). The cabinet committee for legislation has given the go-ahead for the proposed amendments to the HEC laws. According to the proposed amendments, the status of the federal minister will be taken back from the HEC chairman. The laws of HEC will be approved by the ministry of education, while the executive director of the Higher Education Commission will also be appointed by the government. The amendments will be presented to the federal cabinet for final approval, the sources said. On th other hand, the Higher Education Commission has invited innovative start-ups owned by students, alumni, faculty members, or researchers from public or private sector universities to apply for the Innovator Seed Fund (ISF) Grant. In a statement, the HEC noted that Innovator Seed Fund (ISF) Grant envisioned for the development of innovation and start-up ecosystem in Pakistan – is a flagship initiative of the commission under the Higher Education Development in Pakistan Project (HEDP).

DOHA AFP

TV network Al Jazeera submitted the case of slain journalist Shireen Abu Akleh to the International Criminal Court (ICC) on Tuesday, saying she was killed by Israeli forces.

The Qatar-based channel said it had “unearthed new evidence” on the death of the Palestinian-American, shot while covering an Israel army raid in Jenin on May 11.

Any person or group can file a complaint to the ICC prosecutor for investigation, but the Hague-based court is under no obligation to take on such cases.

Al Jazeera said its submission highlighted “new witness evidence and video footage (that) clearly show that Shireen

and her colleagues were directly fired at by the Israeli Occupation Forces.”

“The claim by the Israeli authorities that Shireen was killed by mistake in an exchange of fire is completely unfounded,” the channel said.

An AFP journalist saw a lawyer representing Al Jazeera‘s case entering the ICC’s headquarters to hand over their submission.

The ICC last year launched a probe into war crimes in the Palestinian territories, but Israel is not an ICC member and disputes the court’s jurisdiction.

Israel said it would not cooperate with any external probe into Abu Akleh’s death.

“No one will investigate IDF (Israeli military) soldiers and no one will preach to us about morals in warfare, certainly not Al Jazeera,” Israeli Prime Minister Yair Lapid said in a statement. The Israeli army conceded on September 5 that one of its soldiers had likely shot Abu Akleh after mistaking her for a militant.

The veteran reporter, who was a Christian, was wearing a bulletproof vest marked “Press” and a helmet when she was shot in the head in the Jenin refugee camp, a historic flashpoint in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict.After receiving complaints from individuals or groups, the ICC prosecutor decides independently what cases to submit to judges at the court. Judges decide whether to allow a preliminary investigation by the prosecutor, which can then be followed by a formal investigation, and if warranted, charges. In the majority of cases, such complaints do not lead to investigations, according to the ICC.

Al Jazeera takes killing of journalist Abu Akleh to International Criminal Court Pakistan’s seafood exports to China up

ISLAMABAD StAFF RePoRt

Pakistan’s seafood exports to China topped $166.56 million, an increase of 41% in the month of January-October year-on-year, while last year it was $118.07 million, a media report said on Tuesday, quoting the General Administration of Customs of the People’s Republic of China (GACC).

GACC’s data shows that in the first ten months this year, Pakistan’s exports of frozen fish, commodity code (03038990), to China, crossed $45.47 million, which were $21.80 million during the same period last year.

In terms of volume, in January-October more than 22331.728 tons of frozen fish were exported to China whereas last year during the same period it was 13084.984 tons.

Data shows that in January-October this year exports of fresh & chilled crabs, commodity code (03063399), to China touched $22.46 million.

However last year in the same period they were $17.14 million, an increase of

31%. In terms of quantity, in the first ten months of this year it was 3174.391 tons and last year in the same duration it was 2445.136 tons, an increase of nearly 30%.

Conferring to the data, in January-October this year, exports of molluscs and shellfish, commodity code (16055900), to China, crossed $19.77 million, whereas they were just $1.89 million during the same period last year.

Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor, Pakistani Embassy in Beijing, told media that China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement helped many Pakistani products enter the Chinese market, and Pakistan’s seafood exports to China are increasing day-by-day due to this agreement.

“Now many Pakistani seafood exporters enjoy zero-traffic duty on seafood items while they are getting more awareness about China-Pakistan Free Trade Agreement.

Recently, we registered new species under the 2nd phase of CPFTA which helped increase exports to China and we are negotiating with GACC to add more species to our seafood export list under

CPFTA,” he added. Qadir further said that many Pakistani seafood exporters want to increase collaboration with Chinese partners to enhance exports by using China’s latest technologies, techniques, and best

covid-19 daily report: 25 new cases

ISLAMABAD StAFF RePoRt

Pakistan recorded 25 new Covid-19 cases over the past 24 hours, the Ministry of National Health Services said on Tuesday. According to data released by the ministry, the overall tally of infected people increased to 1,575,355 across the country after adding the new cases. A total of 30,632 people died of Covid-19 in Pakistan, with no more deaths reported on Monday, according to the ministry’s statistics. On Monday, 3,636 tests were conducted throughout Pakistan and the positivity rate stood at 0.69 percent. There are 34 patients who are in critical condition in the country.

three suspected militants killed in kP: police

ISLAMABAD StAFF RePoRt

Three militants associated with a proscribed outfit were killed on Tuesday by the security forces in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, police told the media. According to police, the militants were killed in an intelligencebased operation early morning in the Draban town of Dera Ismail Khan. The police said the names and other details of the killed militants had been identified, adding that they were members of the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP). There has been a significant surge recently in terrorist attacks in parts of Pakistan, especially in KP, after the TTP called off a ceasefire with the government last week.

launch of salim saifullah’s biography on dec 8

PESHAWAR StAFF RePoRt

The launch of a book titled: “Zindagi Tira Shukria”, an autobiography of senior politician former Senator Salim Saifullah Khan, would be held on Thursday (December 8) at Pearl Continental (PC) Hotel at 3:00pm. Lt-Gen (r) Ali Kuli Khan Khattak, Hilal-Imtiaz (Military) would preside over the ceremony while former Senate chairman Wasim Sajjad would participate as a chief guest.

practices in this field.He said that the Marine Fisheries Department (MFD) in Sindh and GACC are closely cooperating to enhance seafood exports to China by adding new species under zero-tariff rate.

zealots. The occasion is a sad reminder of the

anti-Muslim frenzy in India ever since,” it said.

condemn the ongoing construction of a Hindu temple on the site of the demol-

US ENvOY, DAR DISCUSS REHABILITITATION OF FLOOD AFFECTEES

ISLAMABAD stAff report

AMBASSADORof the United Stated of America (USA) to Pakistan Donald Blome called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa, Secretary Finance and other senior officers from Finance Division participated in the meeting, said a press release issued here.

The finance minister welcomed Donald Blome and highlighted the historic and durable bilateral relations with the United States on the economic and trade front.

The finance minister apprised the US Ambassador about the ongoing postflood reconstruction and rehabilitation projects being undertaken by the present

government. It was also shared that the present government was highly concerned about the well-being of the masses, therefore a number of measures

Roadside bomb kills seven in Afghanistan

MAZAR-I-SHARIF, AFGHANISTAN Agencies

A roadside bomb killed seven petroleum company employees commuting to work on a packed bus in northern Afghanistan’s biggest city, an official and survivors said on Tuesday.

A police official told AFP that Tuesday’s blast happened around 7:00 am (0230 GMT) in Mazar-iSharif — an ancient city famed for its beautiful blue mosque. “I was reading the Quran on my phone screen and there was a boom,” survivor Azim, whose right leg was injured by shrapnel, told AFP.

Mohammad Hanif, who was also hurt in the blast, said there were around 52 people aboard the bus at the time. Seven people were killed and six others wounded according to Asif Waziri, spokesman for the Balkh province police department.

“The bomb was placed in a cart by the roadside. It was detonated as the bus arrived,” he said. There has so far been no claim of responsibility. At least 19 people were killed and 24 others wounded earlier this month by a blast at a madrassa in Aybak, southeast of Mazar-i-Sharif.

Türkiye’s IHH helps out over 150,000 Pakistani flood victims

ISTANBUL Agencies

Türkiye’s Humanitarian Relief Foundation (IHH) reached out to over 150,000 Pakistani flood victims in the aftermath of the most devastating deluge on record in the South Asian country.

The Istanbul-based aid group said in a statement that to date, it had distributed 13,272 food packages, 1,107 tents, 6,215 blankets, 7,337 hygiene packages, over 3,000 kitchen sets, 100 water strainers, and around 4,500 mosquito nets since the floods that began in mid-June inundated vast parts of the country until they subsided in October.

It also served hot meals and canned foods to over 55,000 flood victims and supported four mobile field clinics in the Sind and Balochistan regions for 195 days, the statement said, adding that the clinics provided free examinations, treatment, and medicine. While the IHH has helped over 150,000 Pakistanis in various ways, nearly 34,650 people received medical treatment at these field clinics, it said. Over 1,700 victims died in the massive floods and heavy rainfall, according to figures by the Pakistani authorities.

The aid group also extended a helping hand to orphans and their families in Pakistan with food and income aid.

were being undertaken in this regard.

Both sides shared other matters of common interest as well during the meeting.

Dar apprised the US ambassador about

the government’s comprehensive and pragmatic plans in terms of revenues and expenditures for meeting its national as well as international financial obligations.

Donald Blome reciprocated the same sentiments on bilateral relations between the United States of America and Pakistan.

He acknowledged the huge level of economic losses being faced by Pakistan due to the flood crisis and shared that the US government stood with Pakistan in such testing times. Ishaq Dar commended the support of the United States and stated that the US had always been a great support Pakistan during tough times.

The finance minister shared various economic avenues in which both countries can further deepen their economic relations. In conclusion, the finance minister thanked Donald Blome for his support to Pakistan.

Foot-draging ends: Capital police registers FIR of Arshad Sharif’s gruesome murder

CoNTINUeD FRoM pAGe 01

It is the government’s job to investigate the matter, not the judiciary’s, he noted.

“A journalist was killed. It should be revealed who was behind the killing,” Bandial remarked, adding the fact-finding committee which had travelled to Kenya had been back in Pakistan for some time.

“Why has the final report of the government-formed commission not been provided to the SC?” The additional attorney general said the report would be submitted by Wednesday. However, the judge told him to submit it Tuesday so the hearing could continue Wednesday.

“[We] have been waiting for the report for the past 43 days,” the judge said, terming Sharif’s medical report to be “unsatisfactory”.

“We are taking the matter seri-

ously. That is why a five-judge bench was constituted”.

Justice Ahsan remarked that Sharif was killed in Kenya under “suspicious circumstances”. “What action has the foreign ministry taken?” he asked.

Asad Majeed Khan, the foreign secretary, replied the prime minister had contacted the president of Kenya in this regard. “Pakistan’s High Commissioner in Kenya is in touch with the relevant authorities,” he said. Justice Ahsan then asked whether it was true that a case had not yet been registered in Pakistan or in Kenya.

The foreign secretary said he was not aware whether a case had been registered in Pakistan and would check with the Kenyan authorities regarding the same.

“Why was a case of Arshad Sharif’s killing not registered?” the top judge questioned, to which the foreign secretary said a decision in

this regard would be taken after the inquiry report was reviewed.

The court then asked the Foreign Office to submit a response to the court regarding the investigation and the registration of a case in Kenya. PM welcomes SC’s suo moto on Arshad Sharif’s murder, assures full cooperation

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday welcome the suo moto notice taken by the Supreme Court on the killing of prominent journalist Arshad Sharif.

He assured that the government would extend full cooperation to the Court.

“I welcome Supreme Court taking suo moto notice of the murder of journalist Arshad Sharif,” he said in a Twitter post.

Shehbaz Sharif mentioned that he had already written a letter to the Chief Justice of Pakistan for setting up a judicial commission to probe the murder.

Sri Lankan State Minister for Finance calls on Ishaq Dar

ISLAMABAD stAff report

Sri Lankan State Minister for Finance Shehan Semasinghe along with Deputy Secretary to the treasury Priyantha Rathnayaka called on Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

SAPM on Finance Tariq Bajwa and other senior officers from the finance division participated in the meeting, said a press release issued here by the finance division.

The finance minister welcomed the delegation and shared Pakistan’s overall economic outlook.

He also talked about the ongoing post-flood reconstruction, and rehabilitation program and shared that due to the pragmatic policies of the present government, the economy of Pakistan has resiliently faced the negative repercussions of the devastating flood crisis.

The Sri Lankan state minister of finance apprised the economic situation of Sri Lanka and it was shared that Sri Lanka is currently facing massive economic crunch.

He appreciated the well-consolidated and fully

streamlined digital cash transfer system and social safety net in form of BISP in Pakistan.

The finance minister offered that Pakistan would be happy to provide any assistance in terms of technical assistance and capacity building to Sri Lanka.

The finance minister shared best wishes and offered full support and cooperation to Shehan Semasinghe in this time of crisis.

The Sri Lankan finance minister thanked the Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Senator Mohammad Ishaq Dar for his support and goodwill.

corporate corner

Offer for Sale of Globe Residency REIT on Dec 14 and 15

karachI: General subscription for Globe Residency REIT (GRR), Pakistan’s first developmental REIT being listed on the Pakistan Stock Exchange, will take place on December 14 and 15.

14 million units, which make up 10% of the total units of the REIT Scheme have been offered by Javedan Corporation Limited to the General Public at a price of PKR 10 per unit. Arif Habib Limited is the Lead Manager for this Offer for Sale with Habib Bank Limited, Habib Metropolitan Bank Limited, Bank Al Habib Limited and, Bank Alfalah Limited as bankers to the offer along with Ismail Iqbal Securities and Growth Securities acting as underwriters. GRR is a closed ended, Developmental REIT Scheme with a limited life of 48 months offering investors the opportunity to become an investor in the Globe Residency apartments project at Naya Nazimabad. pr

Nayatel & Huawei Technologies Pakistan Celebrate Decade of Business Together

Islamabad:

Gas supply schedule announced for Punjab, KP

Consumers in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provinces are likely to face 16-hour gas outages this winter season, whereas, the SNGPL MD unveils a new schedule. Gas outages are likely to intensify in Punjab and KP provinces.

The Managing Director of Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) Ali J Hamdani said, “Only eight hours of gas will be supplied to domestic consumers in the span of 24 hours across Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).”

While speaking to the media in Lahore, Ali J Hamdani blamed Ukraine and Russia for the gas crisis saying, that the increase in RLNG price in the global market was the outcome of the Ukraine-Russia war, which affects the supply across Pakistan.

Not much RLNG could be bought this year, due to the expensive RLNG in the global market. Meanwhile, people are installing compressors and stealing gas worth billions.

MD SNGPL urged that gas prices should be increased as they are unable to purchase expensive gas and resell it at a low price.

“We are not cutting off the gas at industries but we are

just putting a ban on new connections due to ongoing crisis,” Hamdani stated.

While talking to the media, MD Hamdani announced the daily schedule of the gas supply. “Despite the crisis, domestic consumers will receive gas three times in 24 hours from 6 am to 9 am, 12 noon to 2 pm and 6 pm to 9 pm.”

Citizens stage protest against loadshedding on KaraChi’s Mauripur road: Citizens of Lyari area have staged a protest against K-Electric (KE) on Mauripur Road in Karachi against unannounced and prolonged power loadshedding,

BOP declared ‘Corporate Finance House of the Year’ by CFA Society Pakistan

CFA Society Pakistan hosted the 19th edition of its prestigious Annual Excellence Awards in Karachi to recognize the outstanding performances of financial institutions, corporates and professionals. The Bank of Punjab (BOP) was declared ‘Corporate Finance House of the Year’ for its remarkable services extended to corporate sector of Pakistan, for bringing quality transactions to the market and for the breath of its distribution across banking sector and capital markets. The prestigious award was conferred upon BOP for the first time. pr

PTCL group to conduct fire drill at ufone

tower, blue area

This is to inform you that Pakistan Telecommunication Company Limited (PTCL) Group, including PTCL & Ufone 4G, will be conducting a Fire Drill on Thursday, December 8, 2022, at 11AM at Ufone Tower at Blue Area, Islamabad. Around 2000 PTCL and Ufone 4G employees will participate in the drill and will gather at the assembly area near the building. We are informing all media organizations in advance, so they are aware of this activity taking place and are not misled into understanding that any untoward incident has occurred, leading to any misreporting.

Fire drills are mandatory and regular activities in accordance with the country’s Fire Code and the organization’s Environment, Health and Safety (EHS) protocols. pr

KARACHI

stAff report

-Nayatel & Huawei celebrated a decade of a successful partnership at Serena Hotel in Islamabad. The event was attended by both teams and there was a warm sense of partnership and accomplishment in the air as they came together to celebrate a decade longjourney of two companies growing stronger together.

Managing Director Huawei EBG, Mr. GaoWeijie gave the welcome address and talked about the friendship between the two companies and how they have become more like family over the last decade. He announced a specially created commemorative coin to mark this special occasion that would be presented to the guests. pr

Old habits

The mask is off

THe Chaudhrys of Gujrat can be the gift that keeps on giving, or taking. Their mere presence in a dispensation can lay bare many realities in the scheme of things. Their transformation, for instance, from being the People’s Party’s bête noire Qaatil League, to the same party’s coalition partners, with the then former and future Punjab CM Pervez elahi becoming deputy Prime Minister, brought into focus the vagaries of Pakistani power politics yet again.

They’re at it again, even if in the relatively uncharted territory of there being a split, of sorts, in the family. Family scion Moonis elahi’s disclosure in a recent interview that former army chief General Bajwa had, contrary to expectations, told them side with the PTi in the battle for Punjab, rather than going with the PdM. it has been many days since that interview came out and a rebuttal is conspicuous by its absence.

The former chief and his entourage had been talking a great game about how the army had, since a year, made a conscious decision to stay away from politics; the kerfuffle in Punjab, on the other hand, is mere months ago. The timeline gives it all. The General, it appears, was playing a game of Tetris: the PdM fits into the federal government, the PTi in Punjab’s. instead of asking for an explanation of the General’s extracurricular political activities before the decision was taken, we are left asking for an explanation of his exploits after it was supposedly taken. But we won’t get an explanation for it. institutions that pivot away from their away from their waywardness - and we still don’t have any solid evidence for their having done so - don’t miraculously fall back into line immediately. But here, it would appear there is no intention for this in the first place.

The new army chief faces an uphill task if he wants to wrest his institution away from the sins that it admits to having been party to. The same afternoon that he received that Sword of Honour thirty-six years ago, he also swore an oath, with the rest of his coursemates, to never involve himself in political activities. The problem is that it is the same oath that all of his predecessors also took. We wish him well, so for him to take stock of the institutional experiences of the recent and not-so-recent past.

SiNCe its founding, political Zionism has had two distinct and contradictory personas.

One portrayed it as a national liberation movement that was liberal, democratic, tolerant, and inclusive. This was the face its adherents saw when they looked in the mirror, and it was the way they presented themselves to and wanted to be seen by the rest of the world.

in reaction to antisemitism and the resultant ghettoization and pogroms that victimized european Jewry, Political Zionism promised an alternative for Jews in which they would be free to realize their full potential as a people while practicing the values and fruits of liberalism in a home of their own.

The problem was that the european liberalism on which political Zionism was modeled was, itself, based on a contradiction, in that the benefits and progress it provided for europeans were based on the colonial subjugation of asians and africans and exploitation of their conquered lands.

as the early Zionists were immersed in that same european culture and worldview, it was without any hesitation or embarrassment that they saw themselves as an extension of the european colonial enterprise. That was why Theodore Herzl sought guidance on how to secure support for his proposed colony from Cecil Rhodes; or why he would write in The Jewish State that the enterprise he wished to establish would serve as “a rampart of europe against asia…and outpost of civilization against barbarism”; or why he proposed using the natives that his followers might find in their new colony to clear the land and engage in menial labor and then evacuate these natives to other lands.

champions: Chaim Weizmann, david Ben Gurion, and Golda Meir. even Benjamin Netanyahu made his name in political circles as a proponent of the cause of “liberal Western democracy” versus the authoritarian, savage, terrorist arab World.

Because such a worldview was so ingrained into europe’s dominant sense of itself, the two faces of Zionism (the liberal and the racist) never raised an eyebrow. it was, if anything, understood and embraced by the British and French (and later by the USa) who saw the need for, as Herzl had envisioned it, a civilized outpost to protect Western values and interests from the barbarians.

Maybe this is what is meant when israeli and US leaders speak of our “shared values”— the fact that we both have been able to mask the “dark side” of our behaviours with the outward facing veneer of our “claimed values,” values that apply to “us”, not to “others.” and we’ve both gotten away with this game, until recently.

For the USa, it was the iraq War and its attendant horrors, the epidemic of mass killings, systemic racism, and the emergence of the anti-democratic, racist, and xenophobic Trump movement that began to unravel the mask of our claim to be the bastion of “liberal ideals.”

despite israel’s record of abominable behaviour toward Palestinians, it has taken much longer to peel away the veneer of liberalism from israel’s image. One reason is that their propaganda machinery has been quite effective, and another has been the fear that pointing out the obvious ( that israel is engaged in oppressive and racist subjugation and dispossession of Palestinians) will result in the accusation of antisemitism.

in this context, it may be considered ironic that it was israel’s own democracy that has finally exposed for all to see its underbelly of intolerance and racist violence. By electing a far-right coalition led by Benjamin Netanyahu’s hardline Likud party and including fanatic nationalists and intolerant ultra-religious parties, the most recent israeli election served as a clarifying moment for the Political Zionist movement.

The newly elected Netanyahu government will

include bigoted, intolerant, and violence-advocating ministers and deputy ministers who will oversee police, settlements, administration of the occupied territories, finance, and “Jewish identity.”

They include ideologues who: advocate expulsion of arabs from israel and the Occupied Palestinian Territories; support rapid settlement expansion and annexation of the West Bank; back settler violence against Palestinians to demonstrate who’s boss; adhere to a theology that maintains that while Jews are full human beings with souls, arabs are not; claims that human rights organizations pose an “existential threat” to israel and therefore want them banned; maintain that only their rigid interpretation of Orthodox Judaism is true religion, and deny other Jews their rights; and insist on altering the status quo at the Haram al Sharif, turning Jerusalem into another Hebron.

With ministers and policies such as these, the mask is off.

This is Political Zionism, without the frills. it is intolerance, bigotry, repression, and aggression without the accompanying rhetoric of “liberalism” to smooth things over or put on a pretty face for the world.

it’s been fascinating to watch how the major proisrael US groups have responded (or failed to respond) to this challenging situation. There were immediate protests over the ultra-Orthodox push to change conversion law, to outlaw LGBTQ rights, to restrict which “legitimate” Jews could immigrate to israel, and to require the segregation of Jewish women at prayer. But these same leaders have been silent in reaction to the bigoted anti-arab beliefs being espoused by key members of Netanyahu’s governing coalition and the policies they seek to implement that will further dispossess Palestinians.

it’s true that many of these ugly attitudes and policies have shaped the Palestinian reality for decades, but they were always covered by the pretty words and the outward face of Zionist liberalism. But now the mask is off and those who, for decades, have been covering for israel have the responsibility to acknowledge the ugly reality their silence has allowed to fester.

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

Joint Editor

Political Zionism was the dream of Jewish liberation, but its implementation was to be the nightmare of Palestinian dispossession. These two sides of the same ideology coexisted, with the upside acknowledged and celebrated, and its reverse ignored and/or denied. This was true not only for the founders of Zionism but also for its most recognized “liberal”

Many ugly attitudes and policies have shaped the Palestinian reality for decades, but they were always covered by the pretty words and the outward face of Zionist liberalism. Those who, for decades, have been covering for Israel have the responsibility to acknowledge the ugly reality their silence has allowed to fester.

Indian media enslaved to BJP fascist regime

in the movie are also fabricated to instigate hatred toward Muslims.

propaganda, and information warfare. if we talked about the indian media industry, it is contributing more towards propaganda, radicalization, and extremism. The report of the World Press Freedom index 2022 highlights india’s ranking has fallen to 150 out of 180 countries. Their media is not allowed to raise objections to the radical policies of the government. Their corruption is also not highlighted in the media such as in the Rafale fighter jet deal. The media maintained a precautious silence over the Rafale controversy to cover up Modi Sarkar for its megacorruption. it is focused on targeting minorities, particularly Muslims, building their negative perception, excluding and marginalizing them hence contributing towards islamophobia.

TThe indian media narrative, powered by the visceral demonization of Muslims, is tarnishing their image internationally.

ganda, and is frightening in its relentless targeting of every Muslim represented on screen. There is an exaggeration of every incident. The movie claimed that 500,000 to 700,000 Kashmiri Pandits were residing in Kashmir Valley. Contrary to this their estimated population was 170,000. The Kashmir Files claimed 50,000 to 700,000 Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley in the 1990s while as per the response of the Region’s Relief and Rehabilitation Commissioner 135,426 Kashmiri Pandits left the Valley. Furthermore, the movie claimed that almost 4000 Kashmiri Pandits were killed while the region’s police department put the number at 89. The events of brutalities highlighted

Lapid claimed The Kashmir Files to be a vulgar propagandamovie, having fascist features. He considered the movie to be inappropriate for the artistic competitive section. Moreover, the movie was included in the international Film Festival of india due to political pressure. The movie is crude and violent, it can be compared to the movies of Leni Reifenstahl, a Nazi propagandist.

Lapid further added that he did not know everything about the Kashmir conflict but still he cold recognize the propaganda when he saw the movie. amixed response came from the public after watching the movie, some were calling it totally fake, and even a Hindu woman called it an attempt to make a Hindu-Muslim fight. The critics of the

movie were openly called terrorists by the director of the movie, Vivek agnihotri.

The passive audience is worst affected, they were showing their anguish and hatred towards Muslims, which was the real purpose behind the movie. One of the Hindu men in the cinema after watching the movie shouts, ‘you have all seen what happened to the Kashmiri Hindus and Hindus must protect themselves against the treachery of Muslims and prepare to take up arms.’ From the audience one of the Hindu men agitated by the movie urged others to marry Muslim girls to preserve their religion. They have criminalized the very presence of Muslims through opposition to public prayer and hijab bans. The film has been accused of inciting communal hate.

Media as the fourth pillar of the state plays an important role in perception building. The magic bullet theory by Harold Lasswell explained the impact of media and how its message is like a bullet fired into the viewer’s head, and is this platform used throughout history to achieve national goals and interests.

Madam Noor Jahan is one of those whose service is recognized in the 1965 War, her tunes and music created a spirit of courage and resilience in the Pakistan army and the public during the war. The same entertainment industry could be having devastating impacts contributing towards misperceptions,

The recent controversy sparked over The Kashmir Files after the recent comments made by the head of the international jury, Nadav Lapid, an israeli filmmaker, at the international Film Festival of india. The Kashmir Files is also a chain of the agenda. The way the Bharatiya Janata Party was endorsing the movie by saying all should watch it. it highlights how the media industry is working on the framework of the BJP ideology. The RSS also came out in support of the movie calling it a ‘historical reality’ that must be presented to the generations as fact.

The movie is based on the mass exodus of Hindu Pandits from Kashmir in the 1990s. it is filled with factual inaccuracies, propa-

Indian media attempts to justify the brazen Hindu extremism of the present Indian policy in Kashmir. India has lost its secular image which it has somehow maintained in the past. From the largest secular democratic state, India has turned into an autocratic state. The Indian media is the depiction of India’s further descent into bigotry, working on BJP ideology.

indian media attempts to justify the brazen Hindu extremism of the present indian policy in Kashmir. india has lost its secular image which it has somehow maintained in the past. From the largest secular democratic state, india has turned into an autocratic state. The indian media is the depiction of india’s further descent into bigotry, working on BJP ideology. The jury head is receiving hundreds and thousands of threat messages. intolerance is rising in society due to the radicalized policies of the state. india under the BJP government has left secularism far behind and embarked on a rapid descent into the darkness filled with radicalization, fanaticism, extremism, intolerance, and bigotry.

The author is Research Officer at the Center for International Strategic Studies CISS, AJK. She tweets Tehmii_Syed.

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

SyeDA TAHreem bukHArI

WASHINGTON WATCH

Dr JAmeS J. ZOGby

The Kashmir Files shows how the media is being used to spew hatred

Yousaf Nizami Editor

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

Ahmad

The last election exposed Israel and Zionism

Game of power politics

main neutral.

own fortunes as well as of those who supported them in the game of power politics.

Constitution, law and morality have been the major casualties. Consequently the masses have suffered enormously due to their shenanigans. These demagogues have been exploiting the masses in the name of islam and by propagating false narratives to win their franchise.

imran Khan mocked the stance of neutrality by the establishment, contending that only animals were neutral as there was no concept of neutrality in islam and one had to stand on the side of the right. Surprisingly this false narrative helped him to resurrect his political career. However, staying true to his reputation, he retracted from that narrative recently by exonerating the USa and the army from the allegations of conspiracy.

Editor’s mail

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

I hope every woman can

a girl is born with hopeful eyes and a soul as pure as a crisp white page, but little does she know her gender had many strings attached. everything is sunshine and rainbows till childhood but then things start going downhill for good. People start whispering, a constant shadow of judgmental aunties starts following her, smiles turn into frowns, and suddenly she starts feeling that the whole world is dying to give their two cents on her life and find ways to protect her as if she were a weak lamb. Well, do they want to protect her or just act on their savior complex?

in Pakistan, women make up 48.5 percent of the whole population. However, despite various gender reforms and robust NGO movements, women still struggle to voice their frustrations and experience the blissful feeling of freedom. To sit in a park and take swings, to ride a bicycle and feel the cold breeze, to stay out with friends after dark, to go on long drives after work, to fall in love, to opt for the career of her choice, to go abroad guilt-free, to wear the outfit her heart desires… is that a lot to ask for?

Unfortunately, in a country like ours, the fate of a woman is sealed by the society she resides. She might be rebellious and decide to meet her parents midway on some issues, but once again the notorious society circulates the poor woman and strips her of the glimpse of happiness and freedom she fought for. She does not remember the beautiful moments of her childhood but she surely does remember the pressures of being a pious lady in her years growing up. Her whole teenage and adolescent life she is torn between pleasing her parents, leading a life by the norms of society, and doing what makes her happy. amid the hustle and bustle, she forgets to take a breather, and deal with the whirlwind of emotions that have set camp in her body.

She’s just tired of carrying the burdens of people’s opinions on her shoulders, she wants to climb a mountain and scream her lungs out till the frustration leaves her body and runs down her rosy cheeks as tear droplets.

“Parh k kya karoge” (What will you achieve studying?), “ab shadi kar lo nahi toh waqt guzar jayega” ( about time you get married otherwise the time will pass), “ Ye pehan ke bahar jaogi?” (Will you wear this and go out?), “Shaadi k baad toh bas ghar aur bachon par dhyan dena” (You will just be looking after your kids and the household after marriage). These are the statements an average Pakistani woman has to listen to at some point in her life. No one ever thinks twice about passing such condescending comments. To them, it might be a few words that they will forget about in the morning, but these very words would act as daggers ripping through the soul of a naive woman and driving her into a deep state of worthlessness and eventually into an existential crisis.

SiNCe times immemorial there has been a continuing struggle between classes ruling the states— with vested interests to reinforce and protect their incumbency— and those vying to change the system they thought was serving the interests of only the ruling classes rather than the masses and therefore needed to be changed.

Not surprisingly there has been no dearth of arguments on both sides to justify and authenticate their stances. as for arguments, even the atheists would give innumerable arguments about their belief.

However it is satisfying to note that human societies, while traversing through uncertainties and trivialities of times, have evolved norms and principles in regards to the conduct of state business and yardsticks and touchstones to judge the veracity and authenticity of the arguments and claims made by involved stakeholders in a given situation or struggle. Some of them have universal acknowledgment and acceptability.

The maxim ‘majority is authority’ undeniably has universal acceptability and arguably is the essence of democracy, practised by the majority of nations across the globe. The nations have also drawn up their own constitutions which define the contours of the state structure, correlation between the state institutions and their obligations towards the state which ensure peaceful progression in regards to accomplishing national goals and the changing economic situation of their people.

The constitutions of most nations do recognize the sovereign and democratic right of the masses to elect governments of their choice. The party which wins the franchise of the majority of the masses forms the government while the others sit in the opposition. Periodic elections as prescribed in the constitution are supposed to ensure peaceful transfer of power.

But it is a regrettable reality of our political history that all the elections that were held in the intervening periods between dictatorial regimes have invariably led to political instability and upheaval. The political parties losing the elections have never accepted the results and their priority has been to destabilize the incumbent government. The unscrupulous politicians who ruled the country during intervening periods between military governments never made a serious and honest effort to reform the exploitative system of governance having inbuilt avenues of corruption which helped them to inflate their

imran Khan has surpassed all of them in the game of power politics. Since 2013 he has been relying on false narratives to dupe the people and foment a political crisis in the country. Who in the country is not aware of his mantra of 35 punctures in the general elections of 2018, on the basis of which he created a political turmoil in the country. When the judicial commission in its findings nullified the claims of rigging, in an interview with a private TV channel, he confessed that 35 punctures were only a political talk and somebody had told him about it. it was indeed a strong rebuke to his false narrative. any dignified individual would have changed his ways after that.But like an obstinate child, imran Khan persisted with his brand of politics.

He relished taking u-turns on his stated positions on national issues and unabashedly claimed that it was the forte of all great political leaders. He introduced an element of violence in the politics of the country and traversed the course of political vendetta when he came into power allegedly with the help of the praetorian powers.

When the conglomeration of the opposition parties known as PdM resorted to a constitutional move to remove him from power, he adopted an unconstitutional way to thwart it, but without success as the SC, taking suo motu notice, declared the action of rejection of the no-confidence motion by the deputy speaker, the advice by imran Khan as Prime Minister for the dissolution of the assemblies endorsed and approved by the President calling for new elections, all unconstitutional.

The PTi has also sprung a surprise by advocating through ex-minister Fawad Chaudhry that in the present circumstances the establishment should remain neutral. What a farce? The party is also making reconciliatory overtures to the USa and Chaudhry Fawad has met the US ambassador the other day in this regard. How can a leader like imran Khan be trusted?

Nevertheless, riding on the wave of regained popularity he has been demanding immediate elections, claiming that it was the only way to winch the country out of political stability and the unprecedented economic crisis. and to put pressure on the government, he has of late announced dissolution of the provincial assemblies of Punjab and KPK in a few days after consultation with the party leaders and both chief ministers.

The lessons drawn from our own history require the politicians to change their ways, reform the system of governance and elections through their collective efforts and wisdom and ensure strict adherence to the Constitution, law, and internationally recognized norms of democratic behaviour. Holding elections under the existing system which promotes power politics is not the solution to lift the country from the quagmire that it is stuck in.

History is witness to the fact that the popularity of a leader is not the touchstone for claiming righteousness of the cause or philosophy that he is trying to preach and sell. it is replete with instances when whims and fancies of certain individuals assumed the shape of ‘larger national interest’ and mass hysteria was at times marketed as ‘national pride and honour’ which plunged the nations head on into catastrophes.

Hitler’s popularity premised on supremacist ideas is a vivid example of this historic fact. The end result was that he not only initiated World War ii which claimed millions of lives, brought death and destruction of his own nation and left a legacy which is a perennial shame for the country.

it is a shame how the plight of women does not end here… a woman can never let her guard down once she leaves the premises of her residence. She is like a warrior going out into the battlefield with the sole objective of making it back home unharmed. Be it a woman driving her car, or a woman commuting through public transport, both have to withstand the obnoxious stares of men scanning through their garments and staring at them till they move on. Passing the streets she has to turn a blind eye to the chants, whistles, and those disgusting smirks from men around her. What a beautiful start to the day right? after a whole day of hard work even making a small pitstop at the superstore seems to be a huge task. Not to mention the shameful gaze of the shopkeeper as she asks for a pack of sanitary pads. Still wondering when this act became a crime. The list just goes on and on, and a woman can’t help but feel stuck in a vicious loop of a lifelong struggle. it is sad that all the issues discussed earlier are not even more significant. Rape, murder, honor killings, kidnappings, domestic violence, workplace harassment, gender discrimination, forced marriages, child abuse, and acid attacks must be happening in some parts of the country as we talk about it. Policies have been made, but they have barely made any contributions to better the state of women in Pakistan. Women are being dehumanized and killed in cold blood at the hand of egocentric narcissistic men. if we were created equal at birth, why must women suffer at the hands of a male-dominated society?

Women just want a moment of peace and tranquility. Today, i hope and pray that every woman in this nation has autonomy. i pray she becomes the person she aspires to be regardless of society’s reservations because when she is in deep waters these people would do nothing except stigmatize her. i hope every woman is respected. i hope a woman is another woman’s friend. i hope men drop the act of hypocrisy and let go of the evil desires and hostilities that breed within. i hope every woman can wander around the streets safely. and i hope every newborn girl born with hopeful eyes does not let the world seal her fate, her destiny is hers to create and so she shall.

HAIDER ALI LAHORE

Car parking miseries

THe dual-carriage road in front of the e-11/2 Markaz in islamabad is currently being carpeted. during the process, the relevant authorities have constructed a divider to separate the parking lane from the rest of the road. Since the road is not wide enough, it was not advisable to partition the parking lane because the divider itself is consuming considerable space.

The partition has narrowed the road down, and the parking area is not wide enough to allow a smooth car parking experience. The parking lane actually is good enough for the bikers only. as a result of such faulty planning, the car owners are now forced to park their vehicles on either side of the divider, as is visible in the accompanying photograph, which further narrows down the road for traffic. The authorities concerned should dismantle the divider to make the road wider and designate the left side of the road for parking purposes by simply painting the road with parking slots, preferably diagonally, in order to accommodate more cars at a time.

FARAH MIRZA ISLAMABAD

after his exit from power through constitutional means, he devised a narrative of conspiracy hatched by the USa in connivance with the PdM and supported by the establishment, and kept rubbing in this notion in almost 70 public rallies that he held around the country, notwithstanding the fact that our intelligence agencies had rejected his contention of conspiracy.

He was particularly harsh on the establishment and castigated its leadership for orchestrating his removal from power, rejecting the claims of the latter that it had decided to re-

The lessons drawn from our own history require the politicians to change their ways, reform the system of governance and elections through their collective efforts and wisdom and ensure strict adherence to the Constitution, law, and internationally recognized norms of democratic behaviour. Holding elections under the existing system which promotes power politics is not the solution to lift the country from the quagmire that it is stuck in.

The author is an academic. He can be contacted at: ashpak10@gmail.com.

Looming threat

iT is quite alarming that the per capita water availability in the country has decreased considerably due to rapid growth in population and depleting water storage capacity of the reservoirs because of the natural phenomenon of sedimentation. it is also a matter of great concern that Pakistan can store only 10 per cent of its annual river flow against the world’s average of 40pc because no major storage facility has been developed after the Tarbela dam.

The Kalabagh dam can be constructed in just six years, and would generate up to 3,600MW power. it would be able to store as much as seven million acre feet (MaF) of water. if the project goes ahead, Punjab and Sindh would both get substantially more water for irrigation purposes.

UZMA MARYAM KARACHI

mAlIk muHAmmAD ASHrAf

Politicians must reform themselves

The rISIng numBer of crImInAlS In PolITIcS

naiDu

ThE rising number of elected representatives with criminal backgrounds in Parliament and state legislatures is a matter of deep concern to all law-abiding and right-minded citizens. The increasing trend of criminalisation of politics is dangerous and has steadily been eating into the vitals of our democratic polity along with growing corruption of a humongous nature. This perilous drift needs to be checked both by all political parties as well as the judiciary. Timely corrective measures need to be put in place without any further delay, for the common man to have faith in the fairness of the system. Only a time-bound justice delivery system, firmer steps by the Election Commission of india (EC) and a proper strengthening of relevant laws can cleanse the body politic of this evil.

Fast-tracking the judicial process will weed out the corrupt as well as criminal elements in the political system. it is high time all political parties came together and developed a consensus on keeping criminals — some of them with serious charges including kidnapping, rape,

murder, grave corruption and crimes against women — out of the system.

When criminals turn into elected representatives and become law-makers, they pose a serious threat to the functioning of a democratic system. The very future of our democracy gets imperilled when such offenders masquerade as leaders, making a travesty of the entire system. Can we expect the youth to look up to such “leaders” and see role models in them?

We take pride in being the largest democracy, but if we do not correct this fundamental flaw of letting criminals and the corrupt turn into elected representatives, we would have failed the people of this great nation. it is not enough for india to be the world’s largest democracy — it must also evolve into the ideal one. As we assume leadership at several levels on the world stage, it is important for india to showcase itself as a model democracy and the global moral compass.

This increasing trend of criminalisation of politics is linked to political control of state machinery, corruption, vote-bank politics and above all, loopholes in the legal system. is it fair to expect probity and integrity from the bureaucracy if it is controlled in large measure, by criminals? Good governance gets seriously undermined when, for instance, criminals, gangsters or mafia dons, become the political bosses of bureaucrats and subvert the system to serve their interests. in such a scenario, the bureaucratic system ceases to resist corruption and often embraces it to carry out the diktats of criminal political bosses and also to suit its own ends.

This is a pervasive malaise in our body politic, which is assuming cancerous proportions. As a result, the three main pillars of our democracy, namely, Parliament, judiciary and executive, get progressively weakened, and the fundamental concept of a democratic system gets subverted.

Over the years, there have been some attempts at decriminalising politics and alarm calls raised with regard to the imperative need for reform. The Vohra Committee set up by the Centre in 1993 sounded a note of warning saying that “some political leaders become the leaders of these gangs/armed senas and, over the years, get themselves elected to local bodies, state assemblies and the national Parliament.” This was nearly three decades ago.

The supreme Court had flagged the issue on several occasions, and in August 2021 observed: “The nation continues to wait and is losing patience.” in 2002, the Court ruled that every candidate contesting election has to declare his criminal and financial records along with educational qualifications. it must be said that mandatory declaration of assets and existing criminal charges in self-sworn affidavits to the EC, prior to elections, has brought in some degree of transparency.

Further, in 2005, the supreme Court had ruled that a sitting mP or mLA will be disqualified from contesting the election if convicted and sentenced for imprisonment for two years or more by a court of law. in 2014, the apex court accepted the Law Commission recommendations and passed an order directing that trials against sitting mPs and mLAs should be concluded within a year of charges

being framed and conducted on a day-to-day basis.

As a follow-up to these directives, in 2017, the union government started a scheme to establish 12 special courts for a year to fast track the trial of criminal cases against mPs and mLAs. The apex court has since then issued many directions, including asking the Centre to set up a monitoring committee to examine reasons for delay of investigation in these cases.

The number of pending cases continues to be a matter of grave concern, so much so that the supreme Court had been informed, as per media reports of February 2022, that the number of pending criminal cases against sitting and former mLAs and mPs had risen to close to 5,000 towards the end of december 2021.

What is the way forward? Fast tracking trials and expediting the judicial process through a time-bound justice delivery system alone can cleanse our public life and rid it of this widespread disease. There cannot be any leniency to criminals and the corrupt in public life, especially when it comes to a range of crimes which are serious and heinous in nature.

Checking the nexus between crime, money and muscle power will be among the first few steps required to be taken. The growing dependence of political parties on criminals for muscle power and “electability” must be stopped. Parliament, judiciary and executive will have to find common ground to put firm mechanisms in place to deal with increased criminalisation of politics.

The writer is a former Vice President of India.

Buddhism and ways to strengthen S Korea-Pakistan relations

forgotten the kindness and hospitality of the people of Pakistan. i continue to do all i can to foster a closer relationship between Korea and Pakistan, and strongly believe that with a population of more than 220 million, Pakistan is a land of limitless potential for growth.

and the police officer went to help the settlers. he attacked mefleh and insisted on arresting him.

“horrified by today’s killing of a Palestinian man, Ammar mefleh, during a scuffle with an israeli soldier near huwwara in the occupied West Bank,” tweeted uN Coordinator for the middle East Peace Process, Tor Wennesland. he was criticised by i24 News who said that Wennesland failed to mention that mefleh, “who by then had already stabbed two other israeli soldiers, was trying to seize the border guard’s automatic weapon when he was shot.”

Yet again, though, it seems that the evidence contradicts the official israeli version of events, and what we saw was another crime committed by an israeli in uniform against an unarmed Palestinian. That hasn’t stopped israel from pushing its own narrative.

“This incident is a terror attack, in which an israeli policeman was stabbed in his face and the life of another police officer was threatened and consequently he shot his assailant,” claimed israeli Foreign ministry spokesman Emmanuel Nahshon on Twitter. he accused the uN peace envy of “distorting reality.”

Buddhism was introduced to Korea through two paths: the ancient Korean kingdoms of Goguryeo and Baekje. in 372, the emperor of Former Qin, a Chinese dynasty, sent an envoy and monk to Goguryeo’s King sosurim, with Buddhist statues and scriptures. Twelve years later in 384, the monk marananta, born in Chota Lahore in north Pakistan, crossed the ocean to Baekje via Eastern Jin, another Chinese dynasty, to bring Buddhism to King Chimnyu of Baekje.

i would like to present the current status of the relationship between south Korea and Pakistan, and propose some measures to further promote a closer relationship between the two countries.

When North Korea invaded south Korea on June 25, 1950, Pakistan sent a significant amount of cash to aid south Korea. Pakistan is a country we hold in gratitude, because it shared the wisdom of its own economic development plan with south Korea when the country was developing its first five-year plan (1962-1966) for economic development. As a nation that received aid from Pakistan in south Korea’s most dire hour of need, south Korea is now in a position to be able to share some of its success. south Korea must strive to repay Pakistan’s generosity, and must work to develop a cooperative, win-win relationship with Pakistan, which will fill in for each other’s potential areas of weakness.

in 1997, daewoo Construction Co. — now daewoo E&C — built a 357-kilometer highway from islamabad to Lahore in Pakistan, and Korea became known as an economically advanced country with one of the top 10 biggest economies in the world. The pride i felt in my country could also be felt in Pakistan.

of the attacks have been deadly.

in the latest “extrajudicial execution”, young Palestinian Ammar mefleh, 22, was shot dead by a police officer who was manhandling him in huwwarah, near Nablus. The shooting was captured on video and has been shared widely on social media. As the young man was trying to free himself from a headlock, the policeman drew his pistol and fired two shots at close range. Another two shots were fired while mefleh was lying motionless on the ground. According to the israeli occupation police, the Palestinian victim attempted to carry out a stabbing attack and the officer “neutralised” him. israeli i24 News reported that a police spokesperson claimed that a “knife attack” occurred when a group of suspects approached a patrol of soldiers operating in the area. The video was said to show the Palestinian youth attempting to steal the police officer’s gun before stabbing him. The media outlet said that the police distributed one photo of a knife on the ground and another of a policeman with what appeared to be a stab wound to his head.

however, haaretz reported that, “israeli police say the incident started when the Palestinian man attempted to break into an israeli couple’s car in order to stab them, but eyewitness testimony contradicts this version of events.”

A haaretz journalist spoke to eyewitnesses who gave a different story. They rejected the israeli police account that Ammar mefleh was shot by the officer acting in “self-defence”. moreover, the israeli occupation forces “prevented medics from trying to save the victim as he lay on the ground.”

indeed, Palestinians who witnessed the incident said that mefleh was attacked by illegal israeli settlers

israel’s incoming National security minister, the far-right extremist itamar Ben-Gvir, spoke to the officer and hailed the killing of the Palestinian as a “well done, precise, swift and rigorous action,” calling the officer a “hero” in the process. “Precise action, you really fulfilled the honour of all of us and did what was assigned to you,” Ben-Gvir told the killer. “You protected yourself and the people there. Every terrorist will know that if he wants to steal a weapon and kill a fighter, this is how the fighters operate.”

such poisonous and provocative remarks came from a far-right extremist israeli official, but they reflected the narrative across the political spectrum in the occupation state. Both defence minister Benny Gantz and Prime minister Yair Lapid also hailed the killer.

Lapid said that he “saved lives” and stressed that attempts to tell a “false story” about the attack were “a disgrace” before adding, “Our security forces will continue to act resolutely against terrorism wherever it raises its head.”

What this and many other incidents illustrate is that, in israel, the distinctions between the political left, centre and far-right are blurred. All are extremists in their own way, because they all continue to oppress the Palestinians. They all know that their state is built on terrorism and ethnic cleansing; that they are colonising someone else’s land; and that they impose a system of apartheid on the people of occupied Palestine.

Renowned israeli historian Professor ilan Pappe has described all israeli governments, both right and left, as extensions of each other. “This old-new political elite will continue to do everything that previous governments have done over the past 74 years,” he said of the incoming far-right government, “but with more zeal, determination and disregard for international condemnation.”

it is said that when marananta decided to leave what is now Pakistan on this long journey in order to spread Buddhism to the faraway country, marananta’s teacher gave him a stone sculpture of Buddha’s head. marananta’s teacher told him that if he encountered rough seas, he should throw the sculpture into the ocean. indeed, marananta was able to safely arrive in Baekje because he did exactly as his teacher said when a big storm came over his ship. When marananta safely arrived at port, he was astonished to find that the stone sculpture of Buddha’s head which he had thrown into the ocean had arrived in port ahead of him. This port in south Jeolla Province is now called Beopseongpo, or “harbor of holy Buddhist monk.” The temple Bulgapsa, which was the very first Buddhist temple to be built in Korea, is now located there. in 2005, marananta Temple, known as the sacred memorial Ground of the Birthplace of Korean Buddhism, was built in the area as well.

The Buddhist sculptures that arrived in Korea to propagate Buddhism originate from Gandhara as a cultural remnant or as the result of cultural exchange, when Alexander the Great (356 BC-323 BC) extended his military campaigns into east and south Asia. during the years following Alexander the Great’s incursion into what is now Afghanistan and northwestern regions of Pakistan including Gandhara, Alexander the Great asked Buddhists where the symbols of their god Buddha could be seen. The devotees gave a detailed description of the Buddha that was in their hearts, and Alexander the Great’s artists who were traveling with him created sculptures of what was described. Gandharan Buddhist sculptures have influenced the Buddhist sculptures in China, Korea and Japan.

Pakistan is sometimes associated with negative images of terrorism, but as one who served as Korea’s ambassador to Pakistan from 2013 to 2016, i have never

The government of south Korea increased the Economic development Cooperation Fund loans for Pakistan up to $1 billion for five years (2022-26). The Korea international Cooperation Agency is continuing to provide development grants to the government of Pakistan. Through the EdCF, an iT park is being constructed in islamabad. The two countries are actively pursuing cooperation in the areas of national defense, education and tourism. Korean corporations such as Lotte Confectionery, hyundai motor Group, samsung and hydroelectricity companies are expanding their businesses to Pakistan. Currently there are more than 10,000 workers from Pakistan in Korea, and this year the annual employment quota for workers from Pakistan has been increased to 2,500 per year.

Buddhism is a medium that can further develop the relationship between Pakistan and Korea.

First, i suggest that the Buddhist community of Korea establish a Gandhara Cultural Research Center in Pakistan, with the goal of expanding it into a university specializing in the Buddhist historic sites of Pakistan.

second, i suggest developing religious tourism programs in which the Korean Buddhist community can periodically visit Pakistan for pilgrimage to their holy sites. i recommend the resumption of plans to charter planes specifically for tourism in Pakistan, by widely promoting such plans in Korea and to the overseas Pakistanis in Korea.

Third, i recommend international exhibitions in several countries such as Thailand, China, Korea and Japan, of the Fasting siddhartha which is housed in Lahore museum. i am certain that such an exhibition of the intricate beauty of Pakistan’s art will deeply move the Buddhist community all over the world and provide an opportunity to replenish Pakistan’s foreign currency reserves.

Dr. Song Jong-hwan is a chair professor at Kyungnam University and a former Korean ambassador to Pakistan.

THEY ALL KNOW THAT THEIR STATE IS BUILT ON TERRORISM AND ETHNIC CLEANSING; THAT THEY ARE COLONISING SOMEONE ELSE’S LAND; AND THAT THEY IMPOSE A SYSTEM OF APARTHEID ON THE PEOPLE OF OCCUPIED PALESTINE

indian express M Venkaiah

IT IS HIGH TIME ALL POLITICAL PARTIES CAME TOGETHER AND DEVELOPED A CONSENSUS ON KEEPING CRIMINALS — SOME OF THEM WITH SERIOUS CHARGES INCLUDING KIDNAPPING, RAPE, MURDER, GRAVE CORRUPTION AND CRIMES AGAINST WOMEN — OUT OF THE SYSTEM

Middle east Monitor

MotaSeM a Dalloul

ATTACKs against Palestinians in the occupied West Bank by israeli occupation forces and extremist Jewish settlers have increased sharply. Too many

Korea Herald Song Jong-hwan

In Israel, there is no right or left; they’re all extremists

Heritage Foundation’s Zero Carbon Alternative Model

Karachi: Heritage Foundation and the Bank of Punjab hosted a press conference here earlier today at a five-star hotel, to throw light on Heritage Foundation’s endeavours for a Zero-Carbon Alternative Model to build sustainable communities and rehabilitate one million households. The conference was well-attended by the media. With Arif Bahalim performing the duties of MC, the speakers included Prof. Yameen Lari, CEO Heritage Foundation Pakistan, Mrs. Dani and Mrs. Ramu from Pono Colony Village Mirpurkhas, Safeeyah Mooosa, CEO Spiritual Chords/Dadabhoy Foundation and Mr. Zafar Masud, CEO Bank of Punjab.

Yasmeen Lari shared a detailed presentation on the occasion and said, “It is well known that Pakistan is among the most at-risk and vulnerable countries of the world. A major part of the country is situated on fault lines or in the path of melting glaciers, facing risk of torrential rains as experienced in 2022. pr

NUST Convocation Week begins

IIUI EXTRAVAGANZA 2022: SAUdI AMBASSAdoR INAUGURATES GRANd EVENT

islamabad pr

ExTRAvAGANZA2022 organized by International Islamic University (IIU) was inaugurated by H.E. Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki Ambassador of Saudi Arabia on Tuesday at the new campus. The event shall continue till December 9 in which a food gala, book fair, speeches, media hunt, arts exhibition, competitions of Qirat & Naat and Mushaira are being organized. On the first day, a book fair, flower exhibition and food festivals were organized. The Inaugural ceremony was also joined by Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC) Dr. Mukhatar Ahmed, IIU President Dr. Hathal Homoud Alotaibi, diplomats of KSA and other Muslim countries, vice Presidents of the university, Deans, DGs, Students Advisors,

the youth to showcase talent and utilize their energies. He said Islam is a religion of peace and this is the message that we can disseminate through educational institutions and youth. He said IIUI has a special role in nurturing the Muslim youth in the light of the Islamic teachings. Talking about the Pak Saudi relations, he said both countries

Training of Master Trainers kicks off for 7th Population Housing Census

islamabad: The second convocation week of the National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) commenced at the university’s main campus in Islamabad on Monday. On the inaugural day, medals were conferred upon distinction holders in undergraduate and postgraduate programmes. All Bachelor’s, Master’s and PhD students are to receive degrees during the convocation week that will last till December 9, 2022. Degrees are being awarded to over 3400 graduates from all NUST Schools at the main campus in the 7 core disciplines, including Engineering, Information Technology, Applied Biosciences, Management Sciences, Natural Sciences, Social Sciences & Humanities, and Art, Design & Architecture. pr

CNS message on Maritime Security Workshop 2022

It is a matter of great satisfaction for me that Pakistan Navy is holding its fifth Maritime Security Workshop 2022 (MARSEW-5) at Pakistan Navy War College Lahore. The Workshop has become an annual signature event of Pakistan Navy since 2017. It is heartening to know that MARSEW has evoked growing interest and traction in the academic circles and at the institutional level. Such an initiative was needed to fill the gap in the maritime awareness at the national level which is in sync with the demands of fast changing global trends.

Understanding Oceans and allied issues are assuming centre stage in global geopolitics and economic security of nations in the 21st century. Pakistan cannot remain oblivious to the demands of Blue Economy or the developments taking place in the Indian Ocean and adjoining waters. pr

NEPRA welcomes Mathar Niaz Rana as Member NEPRA

The inauguration ceremony of Training of Master trainers for the conduct of 7th Population Housing Census was held on 6th December, 2022 at National Institute of Banking and Finance (NIBAF), Islamabad. Prof. Ahsan Iqbal, Minister of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives was the Chief Guest. The Ceremony was also attended by Dr. Naeem uz Zafar, Chief Statistician/ Chief Census Commissioner, Members and other senior officers of Pakistan Bureau of Statistics.

The training will be conducted in 5 batches. These Master Trainers will further train trainers at division level who will further train enumerators at tehsil level. Hence training will be completed in three tiers and will be imparted by ethical, subject and IT experts from PBS and NADRA.

The main focus is on stan-

Madcom

Later on, an Introductory meeting of the new Member was arranged with the NEPRA employees. The Member introduced himself and shared his various academic and professional achievements during his career. He also encouraged the employees to approach him personally for any professional and service-related matter. He further advised the employees not to let differences of opinion affect their personal relationship. Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi appreciated the rich experience of the new Member and shared his confidence that the new Member with his vision and rich experience will immensely contribute to the achievement of NEPRA goals. He further emphasised on the employees to maintain work-life balance for better performance. pr

dardizing the concepts as the quality of training will ensure reliability of data collection. To achieve this target apart from conventional training and conceptual videos, real life examples case studies, mock exercise and FAQs have also been added. To make the sessions interactive the trainer’s involvement and questioning has been encouraged. Pre and Post-test and cross-questioning is also part of training. The session started

with welcome remarks from Dr. Naeem uz Zafar, Chief Statistician/Chief Census Commissioner. He thanked Minister Ahsan Iqbal, Provincial representatives, Stakeholders, Demographers and workers to grace the occasion with their presence. He informed the audience that with endless efforts of PBS, cooperation of Stakeholders and support of Government, PBS has been able to achieve the dream of completing. pr

have deep rooted brethren ties that are historic. He said university is an omen of strong times between KSA and Pakistan. Dr. Mukhtar Ahmed in his address said universities are vital across the world as every nation’s progress is dependent on higher education institutions. He said the government is keen to make the youth compatible and competitive according to modern needs so that young minds may contribute to the socio economic progress of the country. We in the education sector have to impart knowledge and we have to integrate with the society, said Chairman HEC. He added that universities must operate according to the needs of society. IIUI has made a tremendous chain of activities that deserves appreciation. Dr. Mukhtar opined that universities must address the societal requirements like IIUI adding that IIUI is heading towards the right direction.

foodpanda partners with U Bank for bike financing opportunity to riders

orable evening for its annual event, Madcom Nights, under the banner of Bindaas 80’s for the employees and clients.

The madness of the night was a pleasant and much needed break from the craziness of the agency work culture. It was all about letting loose and just diving into pure fun - from eccentric outfits and loud antics to the dhinchak 80’s grooves and hilarious moves –the night was thoroughly enjoyed by the entire motley crew that graced the event with their sheer passion. pr

Shan Foods rolls out digitalization; goes live with SAP S/4 HANA Private Cloud Edition

Cementing its commitment towards innovation and greater, better customer centricity, leading food brand, Shan Foods, has gone live with SAP S/4 HANA Private Cloud Edition, hitting a critical milestone as part of the company’s digital transformation plan.

As one of the biggest food brands in the country providing premium quality products to its consumer base spread

through more than 70 countries for 40 years, this investment in SAP’s latest real-time ERP business suite will allow Shan Foods to drive end-toend digitized operations while

Grey-structure Completed for Shaukat Khanum Hospital in Karachi

inspiring instant value and progress throughout the company’s business processes. Previously, Shan Foods was using an in-house developed legacy system.

Since 1994, the Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre, built and funded by charitable donations from all across the world, has become a symbol of hope for people living with cancer in Pakistan and in adjoining areas. Over the last twenty-eight years, in Lahore, and the last seven years in Peshawar, Shaukat Khanum Hospitals have seen hundreds of thousands of patients with cancer, and treated them based on principles of quality and equality.

SKMT earned the Gold Seal of Approval from the Joint Commission International (JCI) in the Enterprise Accreditation category in 2022, which is testament to the highest standards of clinical excellence available for all patients, over 75 percent of whom receive treatment free of charge. pr

MoU signing ceremony between Pakistan Science Foundation and Institute of Space Technology

Provosts and a large number of students at both the campuses. Speaking on the occasion, the KSA Ambassador said that the extravaganza 2022 is a true picture of the university's Islamic and International character. He said these activities that have been organized by the university in such an organized manner will provide a platform to

The crazies, the hipsters, the funkaars, the gulukaars and the dramey-baaz of Adcom Leo

Burnett Lahore, unleashed their creative, fun-filled and contagious energy to organize a mem-

Nights: Adcom Leo Burnett Lahore celebrates annual event in true Bindaas 80’s style

islamabad: An MoU signing ceremony between Pakistan Science Foundation and Institute of Space Technology for promotion and popularization of Science, STEAM Education in space science, technology and its application held today in the ministry of Science and Technology. The ceremony was witnessed by the Federal Minister Agha Hassan Baloch, the Sceretary G.M Memon and other senior officers of the ministry, PSF and IST respectively. the MoU was signed by the chairman PSF. Professor Dr. Shahid Mahmood Baig and Vice Chancellor IST. Major General (R) Rehan Abdul Baqi. pr

Karachi: foodpanda entered into strategic partnership with U-Microfinance Bank (U Bank), Pakistan’s fastestgrowing Microfinance Bank, to provide motorbike financing opportunities for its delivery riders. Through this partnership, foodpanda riders will have access to relevant financing facilities to acquire motorbikes on easy monthly installments. pr

NEPRA Authority including Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi and Members NEPRA, Engr. Rafique Ahmad Shaikh and Engr. Maqsood Anwar Khan formally welcomed Mr. Mathar Niaz Rana, who joined NEPRA as Member (Tariff / Finance), representing the province of Balochistan.

KreMlIn dIscusses ‘dOMestIc securIty’ after uKraIne drOne attacKs

MOSCOW Agencies

PRESIDENTVladimir Putin on Tuesday met with top officials on Russia’s domestic security as the Kremlin said the latest Ukrainian drone attacks presented a danger to the country.

Earlier Tuesday, authorities said that a drone had struck near an airfield in Russia’s Kursk region bordering Ukraine, a day after Moscow blamed Kyiv for drone strikes at two other airfields. Monday’s drone strikes were highly unusual as both sites are hundreds of kilometres away from Ukraine’s border.

The Kremlin said on Tuesday that Putin convened a meeting of his Security Council to discuss how to ensure the state’s “domestic security.” No other details were provided.

In IIOJK, Mirwaiz completes 40 months of illegal house detention

SRINAGAR Agencies

In Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJ&K), the All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has said that senior APHC leader Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has completed 40 months of arbitrary and extra-judicial house detention.

Mirwaiz Umar Farooq has been under continued house arrest since August 05, 2019 when the Modi regime repealed the special status of IIOJK.

The APHC in a statement issued in Srinagar said this extra-judicial incarceration of the Mirwaiz without being informed reasons for it or any charges levelled against him, is gross violation of fundamental human rights of a person and is in complete violation of the Human Rights Convention of which India is a signatory. It is also a violation of Article 14, 19 and 21 of the Constitution of India, it added. Yet for the last 40 consecutive months, despite appeals for his release from all quarters, being the religious head of the territory also, he continues to be incarcerated, it deplored.

The APHC said that it salutes the courage and determination of Mirwaiz Umar Farooq, who is patiently and with dignity enduring this incarceration for standing firm on his principled political stand with regard to the resolution of the Kashmir dispute and peace in the subcontinent.

when asked about the drone strikes.

Earlier Tuesday, Kursk governor Roman Starovoyt said that as a result of a drone attack near a local airfield an oil storage tank caught fire. There were no casualties and Starovoyt did not specify where the drone originated.

On Monday, Russia’s defence ministry said Ukraine “attempted to strike” the Dyagilevo airfield in the central Ryazan region and the Engels airfield in the Saratov region with “Soviet-made drones”.

Engels is a base for the country’s strategic aircraft that Kyiv says have been used to strike Ukraine. As a result of those strikes, three soldiers had been killed and four others injured, the ministry said without providing further details. Two planes were also slightly damaged.

The Kremlin has kept a tight lid on its human and material losses during the Russia-Ukraine conflict.

China blasts US military report as ‘groundless speculation’

China on Tuesday criticised a US defence report estimating Beijing’s nuclear arsenal would triple by 2035 as “groundless speculation” and accused Washington of “hyping up” the military threat posed by the world’s most populous country.

The US Department of Defense released its annual China Military Power Report last week, which said China’s People’s Liberation Army (PLA) would likely acquire around 1,500 nuclear warheads by 2035 at its current pace of expansion. That figure would still lag far behind the arsenals of the United States and Russia, which each include several thousand nuclear warheads.

Chinese defence ministry spokesman Tan Kefei said the report “distorts China’s defence policy and military strategy, is groundless speculation on China’s military development (…) and is (the United States’) customary trick to hype up and exaggerate China’s so-called military threat”.

“The United States is making accusations and speculations about the modernisation of China’s nuclear forces, when in fact it is the one that should deeply review and reflect on its own nuclear policy,” Tan added.

The Pentagon report also said Beijing had “adopted more dan-

gerous, coercive and aggressive actions in the Indo-Pacific region”.

The PLA would “likely continue to increase military pressure — in concert with diplomatic, information and economic pressure — in an attempt to compel Taiwan toward unification”, it said.

Tan on Tuesday said this “grossly interfered” in China’s internal affairs regarding its attitude towards Taiwan, which is a flashpoint in deteriorating USChina relations.

After US House Speaker Nancy Pelosi visited the self-ruled island in early August, China staged unprecedented military exercises in the surrounding waters and fired multiple missiles, some of which Japan said landed in its exclusive economic zone.

“The PLA increased provocative and destabilising ac-

tions in and around the Taiwan Strait, to include (…) conducting exercises focused on the potential seizure of one of Taiwan’s outlying islands,” the US report said, in reference to this incident.

Chinese President Xi Jinping and top military officials have repeatedly stated that China’s eventual “unification” with Taiwan is inevitable, and have hardened their rhetoric to include the possibility of a takeover using military force.

In October, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken said China was “determined to pursue reunification on a much faster timeline” than previously expected.

The United States has pledged to provide Taiwan with the means to defend itself in the event of an invasion, but remains ambiguous on whether it would intervene militarily.

Georgia runoff senate vote a new test for Biden’s presidency

WASHINGTON Agencies

Choosing between a pastor and a former football star, voters in Georgia will decide Tuesday on a seat in the US Senate in an election with high stakes for Joe Biden’s presidency.

Democratic senator Raphael Warnock and his Republican challenger Herschel Walker, who is backed by former president Donald Trump, will clash in a hotly contested runoff after neither of the African American candidates earned more than 50 percent in the November 8 midterm election.

With Warnock, 53, and Walker, 60, running neck and neck, Biden has urged Georgians to turn out and vote Democrat. “It really is critical,” the president has said. Even though Democrats have already retained control over the Senate in last month’s vote, albeit just barely, this election is nonetheless decisive for Biden.

Republicans see the Georgia Senate seat as a chance to boost their ability to block Biden’s policies, having won back control of the House of Representatives.

With 700 days to go before the 2024 presidential election, Republicans hope to stymie Biden’s momentum, after his party performed much better than expected in November.

For Democrats, on the other hand, a Warnock victory would help consolidate their paper-thin Senate majority and allow them to wield greater influence in key congressional committees.

It would also significantly curb the power of centrist Democratic senator Joe Manchin, who has already blocked several major Biden initiatives in the first two years of his term.

– Top guns to the rescue –Determined to win the race, Democrats have called on their top guns: former president Barack Obama, the most charismatic leader in the Democratic Party, campaigned in Atlanta last week.

And in yet another sign of how high the stakes are, some 400 million dollars have already been spent in this campaign, making the Georgia race the most expensive in all of the midterms.

Some 1.9 million people have already voted early, many of them likely Democratic voters, while Republicans are expected to turn out in force on Tuesday.

With the two candidates running head to head, according to most recent polls, the outcome is hard to predict.

Historically a Republican state, Georgia took America by surprise when voters chose Biden over Trump in the 2020 elections and then sent two Democrats to the Senate two months later in another runoff.

– Polar opposites –

This time, while both of the candidates are natives of Georgia, the men are polar opposites. Born the eleventh of 12 children to a former soldier and preacher father and a mother who worked in the cotton fields, Warnock, 53, grew up in poverty.

China slams reported US tariffs on steel, aluminum, vows necessary measures

between the US and the EU may be unlikely until 2023 at the earliest, the report said.

China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday expressed opposition to unilateral tariffs that violate WTO rules and vowed necessary measures to protect China’s rights and interests, as the US is reportedly pushing for an agreement with the EU on imposing additional tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum exports.

Such a move would not only violate international trade rules but also undermine cooperation on tackling global climate change, Chinese experts warned on Tuesday. However, the move is unlikely to cause a major impact, given China’s already falling steel and aluminum exports to the US and the EU’s reluctance to join such a move.

Citing unidentified sources, Bloomberg reported on Tuesday that the US and EU may jointly impose new tariffs on Chinese steel and aluminum as part of a bid to fight carbon emissions and global overcapacity.

US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and her team presented the idea to the EU side in late October, when EU officials raised questions over the legality and compatibility with WTO rules as well as the bloc’s internal carbon pricing mechanism. An agreement

Asked about the report at a regular press briefing on Tuesday, Mao Ning, a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said that she was not aware of the specific reports.

“So I would just like to say broadly in principle that China is against unilateral tariffs that violate WTO rules, which serve no one’s interest. We will take all measures necessary to defend our legitimate rights and interests,” Mao said.

Chinese industry analysts noted that the move, if it materializes, will impact China’s relevant exports, but the impact won’t be too big.

“While additional tariffs will hamper China’s steel and aluminum exports, the country’s export volume has been so low that the impact would be slight,” Wang Guoqing, research director with the Beijing Lange Steel Information Research Center, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

In addition, China has large domestic demand with the stable recovery of the economy and the country could also diversify its export markets, according to Wang.

China’s steel and aluminum exports to the US slumped in recent years due to mounting trade remedy investigations and

additional tariffs. According to data from the Beijing Lange Steel Information Research Center, China exported 853,700 tons of steel to the US in 2021, a significant drop compared with 3.4 million tons in 2014. Exports of aluminum oxide to the US fell from 5,311 tons in 2014 to 1,730 tons last year.

“Rather than targeting China’s steel and aluminum, the proposed idea is more like a political trick that aims to showcase solidarity between the US and the EU,” Gao Lingyun, an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing, told the Global Times on Tuesday.

Adopting tools that are usually used in trade conflicts for its climate agenda, the US sets a bad example as it risks extending China-US trade conflicts to involve the EU, which does harm to multilateralism and worsens the sluggish world economy, according to Gao.

However, the EU may echo the US’ move in words but is unlikely take action, as the US might pressure the EU to side with it in other agendas with the threat of additional tariffs on the EU’s steel and aluminum, Gao said.

The US, under former president Donald Trump, imposed punitive tariffs on EU steel and aluminum exports, though the two sides

reportedly reached a deal to end the tariffs just last year.

Meanwhile, there are growing trade tension between the US and the EU. Just a few days ago, French President Emmanuel Macron pushed back over the US Inflation Reduction Act in Washington, saying that it would have negative repercussions for Europe

by making it less attractive for companies to invest in the US and risks “fragmenting the west,” the Financial Times reported.

Moreover, the US’ move is a clear departure from its recently reaffirmed commitment to cooperate with China to address global climate change and other challenges, analysts noted.

Speaking to reporters separately, Putin’s spokesman Dmitry Peskov said authorities were taking “necessary” measures to protect the country from

Ukrainian attacks. “Of course, the line openly declared by the Ukrainian regime to continue such terrorist acts is a danger factor,” Peskov told reporters

BEIJING Agencies

BEIJING AFP

RonAldo eyeS WoRld CuP quARTeRS AS MoRoCCo dARe To dReAM

DOHA Staff RepoRt

CRISTIANORonaldo will aim to fire Portugal past Switzerland and into the World Cup quarter-finals on Tuesday as Morocco bid to derail Spain’s bid for a second global crown.

Just two last-eight slots remain to be filled in Qatar after five-time winners Brazil swatted aside South Korea 4-1 and 2018 finalists Croatia squeezed past Japan via a penalty shoot-out.

Ronaldo was hogging the headlines

at the tournament even before he kicked a ball after launching a tirade against Manchester United and their manager Erik ten Hag.

Following an exit by “mutual agreement” he is now seeking a new team, with sources saying he is in talks over a blockbuster deal with Saudi club Al-Nassr.

The 37-year-old superstar forward, who is appearing in what is almost certainly his last World Cup, has been a shadow of his former self in Qatar despite all the hype.

After scoring a penalty in his team’s opening clash against Ghana to become the first player to score at five World Cups, he

has huffed and puffed but has failed to find the net again.

Ronaldo’s starting role in the team remains a hot topic among Portugal fans, but coach Fernando Santos said he was not paying attention to the raging debate.

“I do not read this type of material,” he said. “It is not a lack of respect, it is simply that we have three days to train for a game and I am not looking at other kinds of news. We focus on the upcoming match.”

Santos said he expected a close contest against Switzerland. Portugal beat the Swiss 40 in the UEFA Nations League in June before losing 1-0 in the reverse fixture.

Croatia edge Japan in World Cup penalty shootout

DOHA agencieS

Goalkeeper Dominik Livakovic was the hero for Croatia, saving three penalties in the shootout as his side beat Japan to reach the World Cup quarter-finals on Monday while Brazil were on course for a thumping win over South Korea.

Japan had already beaten European heavyweights Germany and Spain in Qatar and they looked on track to take down 2018 runners-up Croatia when Daizen Maeda put them ahead just before half-time.

But Ivan Perisic brought Croatia level in the 55th minute with an impressive header from Dejan Lovren’s cross and a hard-fought match became the first of this World Cup to go into extra-time.

When neither side could break the deadlock, the tie also produced the first penalty shootout of Qatar 2022. It continued a remarkable pattern — seven of Croatia’s past eight knockout games at major tournaments have gone to extra time, the only exception being their defeat in the final by France in Russia four

years ago.

In nail-biting tension, Livakovic saved the first two spot-kicks before stopping Maya Yoshida’s effort, then Mario Pasalic struck the winning penalty to send Croatia through.

Livakovic, the hero of the hour, said: “I don’t think they were difficult penal-

ties to save, they weren’t perfect penalties, and thank God for that.” Croatia captain Luka Modric said: “It seems that we can’t do it without a drama.

“We are more than happy to reach the quarter-finals. It was a very difficult game against a very tough team.”

Japan forward Ritsu Doan gave a

frank assessment of his country’s performance: “No matter how well we fought today, we didn’t change history.”

BRAzil’S hAlf-timE cuShion: In Monday’s later match, Neymar returned to Brazil’s line-up after missing the last two matches and his influence was immediate as his side hit top gear against the helpless South Koreans to take a 4-0 lead by half-time.

An early goal from Vinicius Junior set them on their way, before Neymar slotted in a 13th-minute penalty to move within one goal of Pele’s all-time Brazil scoring record. Richarlison added a magnificent third just before the half-hour mark at Stadium 974 and Lucas Paqueta volleyed home another after an incisive counter-attack.

Neymar injured his ankle in Brazil’s opening 2-0 win against Serbia and had to sit out the 1-0 win against Switzerland that secured qualification for the knockout stage and then the 1-0 defeat to Cameroon when coach Tite made nine changes to the starting line-up.

Brazil are bidding for a record-extending sixth world title but first in 20 years.

PAF White clinches 31st CAS Challenge Cup Polo Tournament title

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

All set for Punjab School Cricket C’ship final at Gaddafi today

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The final match of the Punjab School Cricket Championship will be played between the teams of Lahore and Faisalabad here on Wednesday (today) at Gaddafi Stadium. PTV Sports will broadcast this match live. Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi will grace the concluding ceremony of the event as the chief guest. Punjab Chief Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal reviewed the arrangement for the final match in a meeting at the Civil Secretariat. Secretary Sports, DG Sports Board, Deputy Commissioner Lahore and officers concerned attended the meeting. The Chief Secretary asked the authorities to make best security and traffic arrangements for the final match of the championship. He said that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) team, district administrations and provincial departments deserve appreciation for successfully organizing the cricket tournament. The Chief Secretary also issued instructions regarding ensuring full utilization of the funds for sports activities allocated in the Local Government Department. The Chief Secretary was informed that under the constitution of PCB, the cricket tournament was organized at the school level across the province. A total of 882 matches were played during the School Cricket Championship started in collaboration with the Punjab government and PCB from August 28. As many as 396 school teams from 36 districts participated in the cricket tournament.

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

All seeded players have advanced to the next round of men’s singles of 35th Federal Cup National Ranking Tennis Championships here at S Dilawar Abbas PTF Tennis Complex on Tuesday.

The first-round matches in Men’s Singles and Junior 18 & Under went into action and exciting tennis was seen. The best encounter of the day was between upcoming youngsters Ahmed Nael Qureshi and Sami Zeb Khan, both from Islamabad. Qureshi won the match in a well-contested three-set match. In the

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

England’s Jos Buttler and Adil Rashid, and Pakistan’s Shaheen Shah Afridi have been shortlisted for the International Cricket Council (ICC) Men’s Player of the Month Award for November 2022, the ICC said in a statement on Tuesday.

Leading his team to ICC Men’s T20 World Cup glory was Jos Buttler’s most significant moment of the month, but he also played a significant hand in their journey towards it, smashing an unbeaten 80 off 49 balls in the semifinal clash against India.

Studded with nine fours and three sixes, Buttler’s brilliant knock and unbeaten opening stand with Alex Hales led England to a 10-wicket win against

India and booked their place in the T20 World Cup final.

Overall, Buttler made 207 runs in T20Is in the month, including two fifties, one each against India and New Zealand, across the four matches he played.

In the final against Pakistan, Buttler kickstarted England’s aggressive start in the run chase, helping them to 43 in five overs. His impressive captaincy earlier in the game had helped restrict Pakistan to just 137/8 in the first innings.

Adil Rashid (England): Wicketless in the first three matches of the Super 12 phase of the T20 World Cup, Adil Rashid turned the script around in extraordinary fashion in England’s final three matches of the campaign, playing a significant role in their title triumph.

In the must-win Super 12

Shaheen Afridi, Buttler, Adil Rashid selected for ICC Men’s Player of Month Award Top

first set, Sami Zeb was leading 5-2 by breaking the 3rd and 7th games of Qureshi and grabbed the 1st set by holding his own serve of the 8th game. In the second set, Qureshi changed his game plan and played aggressively to take up the lead 5-1 by breaking 2nd, 4th, and 6th games of Khan. At this point, Qureshi lost his 7th game by hitting some unforced down the lines but in the 9th game, Qureshi wrapped up the set at 6-3 and leveled the match 1-1 set all.

In the final set, Qureshi again changed his pace of the game and build up the winning lead without conceding a single game by breaking 1st, 3rd and 5th

games of Khan. In the 2nd round Qureshi would face top seed Aqeel Khan in the pre-quarterfinal. In Men’s Singles (Main Draw 1st Round), Aqeel Khan beat Bilal Asim 6-1 7-5; Ahmed Nael Qureshi beat Sami Zeb Khan 2-6 6-3 6-0; M.Talha Khan beat Muhammad Azeem Khan 76(5) 6-1; Barkatullah beat M.Hamza Aasim 6-3 6-2; Muzammil Murtaza beat Hamid Israr 6-3 6-3; S.Nofil Kaleem beat Abdul Hanan Khan 6-2 6-4; Abdullah Adnan beat Shahzad Khan 2-6 7-5 (retd.); Heera Ashiq beat Major Suleman 6-1 61; Muadssar Murtaza beat Parbat Kumar 6-2 6-1;M. Waqas Malik beat Hasam Khan 6-3 2-6 7-6(7); Baqar Ali beat Ji-

clash against Sri Lanka, he delivered a Player of the Match performance, bowling a stringent spell of 4-0-16-1.

In the semifinal against India, he got rid of the opposition’s key batter – Suryakumar Yadav – and delivered another economical spell, conceding just 20 runs from his four overs.

His most important showing, though, perhaps came in the final when he dismissed Mohammad Haris and Babar Azam in quick succession to derail Pakistan’s innings. He finished with 2/22 including a maiden in the big game.

ShAhEEn AfRidi: Shaheen Afridi returned from injury to lead Pakistan’s wicket-taking chart at the T20 World Cup, snaring 11 scalps at an average of 14.09 and an economy rate of 6.15.

bran-ul-Haq 6-4 6-2; Muhammad Abid beat Usman Ejaz Yousaf 6-3 6-1; Yousaf Khalil beat Mahatir Muhammad Khan 75 6-3; M.Huzaifa Khan beat Uzair Khan 6-2, 4-6, 6-4; Asadullah Khan beat Daisuke Ubemi 6-3 7-6(5); Muhammad Shoaib beat Muhammad Salar 6-0 6-2.

In Junior 18&Under Singles (Main Draw 1st Round), Bilal Asim beat Faisal Khalil 6-1 6-0; Talha Khan w/o Jabir Ali; Hamid Israr beat Saaim Shehzad 6-0 60; Abdul Hanan Khan beat Zaeem Ghafoor 6-0 6-0; Arslan Khan w/o Saif Ali Khan; Muhammad Salar w/o Abdul Basit; Ibrahim Nouman Yousaf w/o Nabeel Ali Qayyum; M.Talha Khan beat Rayan Ahmed Khan 6-1 6-0; Hamza Aasim was given a walk over against Hamza Roman Khan.

The second round matches of Men’s Singles, Junior Singles as well as 1st round of Men’s Doubles, Ladies Singles would be held on Wednesday.

Pakistan Air Force (PAF) White displayed a standout performance to seal the 31st Chief of the Air Staff (CAS) Challenge Cup Polo Tournament, defeating PAF Blue in an exciting final at the lush green Islamabad Polo Club on Tuesday. PAF White outshone PAF Blue with 5-1/2 to 5 goals. Chief of the Air Staff, Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu, who was the chief guest on the occasion, gave away prizes to the players and awarded CAS Challenge Polo Cup Trophy to the winning team. The Air Chief congratulated the winners and appreciated the club management for the successful conduct of the event. He also emphasized the significance of sports for the improvement of psychomotor skills and physical health of the youth. PAF Sports Control Committee in collaboration with Islamabad Polo Club management organized the 31st Chief of the Air Staff Challenge Cup Polo Tournament 2022. With all the domestic stars of the game in action in the incomparable setting of Islamabad Polo Club’s stunning grounds, situated in the heart of the capital, the tournament draws in polo aficionados from all over Pakistan. Six polo teams – PAF Blue, PAF White, Asean, ASC Rizvi, ASC Ahmed Khan and ASC Vaulters participated in the event. Diplomats, high-ranking civil and military officials along with polo enthusiasts witnessed the final match. PAF regularly contributes in the nation building efforts by organizing such tournaments. The event was widely appreciated both at domestic and international levels which is a true manifestation of the PAF’s commitment to promote sports in the country.

PBCC to take up visa denial by India for Blind T20 WC with WBC

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Blind Cricket Council (PBCC) would be taking up the matter of denial of visas to Pakistan team for participation in T20 World Cup Cricket of the Blind with the World Blind Cricket (WBC) body to take stern action against India. PBCC with sheer disappointment informed that the Pakistan team has been denied visas by India to feature in the T20 World Cup Cricket of the Blind which was scheduled to be held from December 5 to 17. “This unfortunate incident has left Pakistan team in the lurch. Pakistan was a serious contender to win the World Cup as Pakistan has been the Runners-up twice in the earlier two editions of this format of World Cups (2012 & 2017) and has beaten the current T-20 World Champion India five (5) times consecutively in the last five encounters during two Tri-Nation competitions in 2021 and 2022 and won both events,” PBCC said. It was highly likely that Pakistan and India would have locked horns in the final of on-going World Cup and considering the current form of Green-shirts, Pakistan had the high chances to win the World Cup. PBCC said as per available information the Ministry of External Affairs India has denied Pakistan Blind Cricket clearance on political grounds. “PBCC strongly condemned this discriminating act of India as Sports should be above regional politics and particularly the Special Persons mega sports events would be treated fairly and all teams must be given equal chances to compete the event. Our counterpart Blind Cricket Association in India pleaded their government for Pakistan’s clearance but it went in vain. “The current Indian Government’s hatred towards Pakistan has also violated the United Nations Charter for Persons with Disabilities (UNCRPD) that induces States to provide equal sports playing opportunities to Persons with Disabilities”, PBCC said.

Auto finAnce spirAlling into oblivion

If we’re getting oil from Russia, why not Iran?

Why don’t we formally buy it from Iran ?

tHEState Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has released its credit data for the month of October, 2022, and the numbers do not paint a pretty picture for automotive loans. As per the central bank’s data, net automotive loans have reduced by 1.4% month-on-month (MoM) from September for a contraction of Rs 4.9 billion, contributing to a larger pattern of auto loans both defaulting and shrinking. Month on month carnage

Outstanding automotive credit stood at Rs 345.186 billion in comparison to Rs 350.1 billion in September. The current MoM decrease marks the fourth month of the downward spiral for net automotive lending for FY 202223 with a total decrease of Rs 22.658 billion witnessed from July till October. This amounts to a 160% year-onyear decrease from FY 2021-22 over the same period.

It is pertinent to note that the negative value does not mean the banks did not engage in any lending. A negative value denotes that the number of loans that have matured exceeds the number of fresh loans that have been taken out.

“Auto production and financing remains impacted on supply and demand fundamentals, and require both time and a more conducive economic environment to recover. However, this isn’t Pakistan’s first economic cycle, and the nation continues to show economic resilience and its capacity to absorb shocks.” Babbar Wajid, Head of Consumer Banking at Habib Metropolitan Bank, told Profit.

of the main reasons for decrease in fresh automotive loans, alongside with the State Bank’s amended prudential requirements, was the prevailing cost of borrowing. This new increase is likely to increase the MoM net decreases that we see in the months to come.

“These suppressed financing volumes will continue

As the latest announcement from the government came on Monday regarding positive discussions with Russians on several proposals involving oil and gas, a question arises: Why don’t we source our energy requirements from Iran?

Although it is widely believed that due to sanctions and trade embargoes on Iran the country is not able to trade with other countries hence damaging the economy. This is untrue, there is a huge market for Iranian oil in Asia especially China and India.

If Pakistan is willing to engage with Russia, which is heavily sanctioned by the west, the question remains why don’t we source oil and gas from Iran instead ? Practically speaking it would be cheaper and logistically more feasible as compared to any deal with Russia.

The short answer to this question is that since Iranian oil is heavily sanctioned purchasing it would attract unwanted attention from the US, Saudi Arabia and international financial institutions.

“There are still pockets of unique clients targeting both new and used cars that offer great value for money. Non-resident Pakistanis also continue to get benefits from the Roshan Apni Car program. However, the uptake of auto financing is also linked to inflation-driven fears, which forces a large number of consumers to carefully re-assess economic choices, focusing expenses on essentials.” Wajid continued.

State Bank tightening the noose

The State Bank’s recent policy rate hike by 100 bps to 16% has led to the Kibor to rise to a 12 year high. One

as the new normal, till benchmark borrowing rates come down, consumer confidence rises, AND financing regulations are relaxed to earlier levels. In the larger scheme of things, this cooling off should help reduce inflationary and trade pressures on our economy.” Wajid told Profit.

Bleak prospects

Moving beyond the reduction in fresh loans being disbursed by banks, there is also the possibility that more customers are choosing to rid themselves of their outstanding payments. This is likely due to the increase in the cost of living and/or the possible increase in the cost of repayment that customers are likely to experience as a result of increase in KIBOR. Profit calculated that customers who took out auto loans in 2021 alone on floating finance rates would see a 30 to 35% increase in their monthly payments going forward, before the current increase in the policy rate.

Wajid estimated that ““The average auto loan has a life of 48 months. It’s an inverted curve so the principal repayments accelerate over time. The interest repayment is greater than the principal in the initial part of the loan but as the loan goes past 18-20 months then the principal portion decreases very rapidly”

Utilising the 18-20 month timeline, the current debt servicing, notwithstanding customers terminating their debt obligations earlier, is still for loans taken out in early 2021. If new loans do not increase then these dips will likely increase as the principal for the Rs 97 billion automotive loans will start being serviced.

“By and large we have to assume that autos and the rest in the next 12-18 months are going to remain suppressed, the way they are, unless something fundamentally changes.” Wajid told Profit.

Industry experts believe that shipments of Iranian crude oil to many nations, including Malaysia, were transferred to other ships and blended with crude oil grades that did not originate in Iran before they were shipped to China, according to a report by the US based Energy Information Administration on Iran. Industry analysts also claim that in order to avoid being discovered by customs officials, a large portion of the oil that was exported from Iran to China was relabelled from nations like Malaysia, the United Arab Emirates, and Oman. Small amounts of crude oil and oil products have been delivered to Syria as well, largely as part of barter agreements and through lines of credit with Iran.

Exports of liquids like petroleum make up a sizable portion of Iran’s income. The country’s oil industry saw an increase in net oil export revenues to roughly $40 billion in 2021 from about $15 billion in 2020. As a result of rising global oil prices and a rise in Iran’s overall shipments of petroleum liquids from 2020, total export income increased in 2021. According to EIA projections, Iran will earn more money when oil prices rise in 2022. Iranian oil outlook

In case you’re not aware, Iran has the third largest reserves with respect to oil and gas. According to the US based Energy Information Administration (EIA), Iran was the third-largest producer of natural gas in the world in 2020 and the fifth-largest producer of crude oil in OPEC in 2021. It ranks as the third-biggest oil and second-largest natural gas reserve holder in the world in 2021 and has some of the largest amounts of proven oil and natural gas reserves.

Iran has 12% of the world’s and 24% of the Middle East’s oil reserves as of the end of 2021. Despite having large reserves, Iran’s crude oil production has decreased since 2017 due to underinvestment and international sanctions that have affected the oil industry for a number of years.

Iran’s crude oil production might resume at its full potential, which is estimated by the EIA to be 3.7 million barrels per day, if sanctions were lifted. As of September 2022, indirect talks between the United States and Iran on Iran’s nuclear programme are still ongoing.

For these reasons and issues concerning how payments can be made for large volumes of oil and refined products Pakistan is unable to access cheap Iranian oil and gas. The offer from Iran to Pakistan to purchase gasoline, power, and gas is still valid, according to Iranian Ambassador Mohammad Ali Hosseini, who spoke exclusively with a private television channel in October.

According to the Iranian envoy, Pakistan can get petroleum products in exchange for other products whenever it wants, and Iran is also willing to provide all the gasoline required by Pakistan.

However it is virtually impossible to formally buy Iranian oil for two main reasons. The bulk of institutions that deal in US dollars are under US control, hence they won’t permit simple US dollar transactions with Iran. Second, as part of the sanctions, the US will punish anyone it learns is conducting business with Iran. The majority of financial actors won’t engage with Iran because of this penalty and the US’s level of influence on the global stage.

Oil in black

In reality however there’s a huge black market for Iranian petroleum products in Pakistan, especially in Balochistan, according to sources in oil marketing companies. A significant portion of the petroleum products being utilised in Balochistan is sourced from Iran, which is openly allowed by the Frontier Constabulary (FC), according to senior sources in the oil and gas sector.

This also allows space for other illicit activities in the region particularly involving smuggled goods from Iran. For this very reason any crackdown on these activities is met with resistance from within the ranks of Pakistan’s various institutions that rely on under the table deals with Iran for commercial gains.

The local population in the regions bordering Iran also

Due to a lack of approved alternative mechanisms, oil and diesel have been flowing across the porous borders with Iran for a while. The primary factor is that it is less expensive, and therefore consumers from the province and other parts of the nation are drawn to it. The Pakistani market is no different than other consumers that prefer the cheapest rates, however, the primary limitation of the country is its economic vulnerability.

After spontaneous protests, Centaurus Mall partially de-sealed

iSLAMABAD staff report

After a day of heated political arguments and protests by traders and students over sealing of the Centaurus Mall – the biggest shopping plaza of twin cities, the Capital Development Authority (CDA) partially de-sealed the Mall.

Centaurus Mall is a high-rise shopping centre located in Islamabad’s F-8 sector on the confluence of Jinnah and Faisal avenues which is owned by PM AJK Sardar Tanveer Ilyas. The plaza admin was sealed by CDA management over alleged ‘violations of building regulations’ – a claim denied by the Mall admin.

The closure of the Mall triggered spontaneous protests in twin cities and Muzaffarbad, AJK while Kashmiris also blamed Shehbaz govt for taking revenge on PM AJK for raising the voice for rights of Kashmiris during Sharif’s speech at Mangla Dam inauguration on Monday.

However, after daylong protests against PM Shehbaz Sharif , the director of CDA’s Building Control Department, Nasir Mehmood Butt, told media that the first floor of the mall had been reopened, while the basement was still sealed because of “nonconforming”.

“The basement was being used for commercial activities which is illegal,” he said.

Earlier in the day, traders and PTI leaders claimed that the mall was sealed overnight in an act of “political revenge”.

However, a notice pasted outside the mall stated: “The premises has been sealed on account of non-conforming use by order of director building control-city, CDA (Capital Development Authority)”.

Videos circulating on social media

showed barbed wires placed outside the mall, with a police mobile unit parked nearby.

In a December 2 notification, the CDA said that the orders to seal the mall were being issued on account of the failure to “remove building violations”.

The notification reads: “Consequent upon the persistent non-compliance to remove building violations conveyed vide numerous 15 days notices served by Building Control Directorate […] and a show-cause notice … the sealing order of the subject premises/ property is hereby issued, in accordance with ’Islamabad Capital Territory Building Control Regulations 2020 framed thereunder CDA Ordinance 1960 and terms and conditions of allotment/ sale agreement.”

The PTI linked the sealing of the mall to criticism of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif by Azad Jammu and Kashmir premier Sardar Tanveer Ilyas — who owns the mall — for “not mentioning the sacrifices of Kashmiri people” during a speech on Monday.

PM Shehbaz inaugurated the refurbishment project of units 5 and 6 of the Mangla Dam Hydroelectric Power Plant, built on the Jhelum river in Mangla area of AJK, on Monday where he addressed the project’s inauguration ceremony.

As he was winding up his speech, Ilyas interrupted him and asked what he had done for AJK.

In a video clip that went viral on social media, PM Shehbaz could be seen gesturing to the AJK premier to sit down and raise his concerns after the speech.

According to a witness, after wrapping up his speech, PM Shehbaz hurriedly left the venue without heeding to Ilyas, who tried his best to get the premier’s attention.

Later, at a press conference, Ilyas said

PM Sharif’s body language and gestures spoke volumes of his “irascibility”. He also said PM Shehbaz’s omission of Kashmiris’ sacrifices in his speech was tantamount to “insulting” the Kashmiri people.

On Tuesday, PTI chief Imran Khan weighed in on the matter. “Sealing of Centaurus Mall by [the] PDM mafia in response to PM AJK censuring Shehbaz Sharif for not mentioning sacrifices of Kashmiris shows there is law of the jungle in Pak since last 8 months,” said Imran.

The move “sends negative signals to Kashmiris too. Question for our honourable judges: Are they not upholders of the law?” he tweeted.

Later, retorting to Imran’s tweet, Information Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb fired a volley of allegations towards the PTI chief and said he had better not tell the premier

what he should say on Kashmir.

Separately, PTI leader Fawad Chaudhry also claimed that the sealing of Centaurus Mall was a consequence of Ilyas’ criticism of the premier as the former ran the mall.

“First his car was stopped in Mangla and today, in Islamabad, his business Centaurus Mall was sealed. A more fascist and non-democratic government has not come to power in Pakistan’s history.

“If you are meting out this treatment to the AJK prime minister only for his criticism, what message are you giving to occupied Kashmir? What message are you giving to the investors in this country?” he questioned.

Meanwhile, PTI leader Shireen Mazari termed the move “pathetic” and an example of “petty vengeful behaviour” of the incumbent government.

“The petty vengeful behaviour of crime

minister and the state is showing everywhere, especially since they cannot get their act together to stop their economic disaster and political chaos. So PM AJK criticised Shehbaz Sharif for not mentioning Kashmiris’ sacrifices and Shehbaz Sharif responded by sealing Centaurus. Pathetic,” she tweeted.

Later in the day, the AJK premier said he was grateful to the support from Imran and others. He said he would not compromise on AJK’s rights and dignity or its relationship with Pakistan.

Meanwhile, PML-N leader and special assistant to the prime minister Atta Tarar claimed that Ilyas’ antics during PM Shehbaz’s speech yesterday were a bid to “pressurise” the premier into issuing no-objection certificates for his housing societies in Islamabad.

“Remember this […] the government will only issue NOCs according to the law,” he said in a press conference earlier today.

Tarar stated that the Centaurus Mall had been issued four notices, two of which were issued during Imran’s tenure, over violations and failure to conduct building inspection.

He also claimed that the way Ilyas disrespected Shehbaz yesterday had “harmed” the Kashmir cause across the globe. “The entire world was shocked at what happened yesterday […] it showed that Pakistanis are fighting among themselves.

“You may have a lot of money but this doesn’t mean you will be allowed to harm the Kashmir cause internationally,” the PML-N leader warned.

Moreover, he alleged that Ilyas had “bought” the premiership of AJK from Imran and had no cause.

“An auction of the seat of AJK prime minister was done and the highest bidder was chosen,” Tarar said.

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