Epaper_22-12-28 ISB

‘No other optioN’: pm vows to implemeNt imF programme

would not make additional expenditures over the solarisation process.

The prime minister said that with these urgent measures, the government would be able to generate 300MW to 500MW of cheap power, thus reducing the import bill worth billions of dollars each year.

He assured that the whole process would be conducted through transparent bidding via a third party, urging provincial chief ministers to emulate the federal government’s launched pattern and introduce solar systems in their respective provinces.

“It is the only option for our survival as a nation,” he added.

The prime minister said the process for the generation of 10,000MW solar power in the country had already commenced and such a conversion by the federal government buildings would be the first phase.

Suspects involved in Islamabad suicide bombing ‘arrested’

ISLAMABAD staff report

pRIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif said on Tuesday that the government had “no other option” but to implement the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme, calling it a “painful reality”.

Pakistan entered a $6bn IMF programme in 2019, which was increased to $7bn earlier this year. The programme’s ninth review is currently pending for the release of $1.18bn. It had earlier been put off for two months due to the PML-N-led government’s unwillingness to accept certain conditions placed before it by the Fund, and the disagreements have yet to be resolved.

Earlier this month, IMF Resident Representative for Pakistan Esther Perez Ruiz had said that discussions between Islamabad and the international moneylender on the ninth review had been “productive” so far.

Speaking at a press conference in Islamabad today, the premier said that the country had no other option but would have to implement the IMF programme and criticised the PTI for breaching its agreement with the inter-

national lender.

He lauded the nation for braving the burden of the price hike with patience.

PM Shehbaz also regretted that the government could not provide subsidies to any sector without approaching the IMF, saying that it was a “painful reality”.

During the press conference today, the prime minister revealed that the government had devised a plan to immediately convert all the federal government entities’ buildings to solar power by April to slash a huge chunk out of the country’s costly fuel import bill hovering around $27 billion.

Unveiling the details of the plan, he said the procedures for conversion of solar power should be fast-tracked as they had set April 2023 as the timeline for the implementation of this plan.

“Consider it as our political, social, national, and religious duty to implement it as soon as possible.”

PM Shehbaz highlighted that under the plan, all the federal government ministries, departments, authorities, and their offshoots in the provinces would immediately shift to solar energy.

He asserted that the project would be a model for the rest of the provincial governments as the federal government

Enumerating the economic challenges faced by the country due to skyrocketing fuel and gas prices after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said developing countries like Pakistan had to bear the brunt.

PM Shehbaz said that the $27 billion costly fuel import bill was a big challenge for countries like Pakistan, adding the ongoing conflict had also surged prices of gas and worsened its availability as the supply to Europe was disrupted.

The prime minister said that during the Covid pandemic, the prices of gas crashed to the lowest and it was sold at $2 per unit, but the then government committed criminal negligence by not securing its import and now the whole nation had been suffering because of that decision.

He recalled that during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, a 15-year agreement for the purchase of LNG at 13.2 per cent of the Brent was reached with Qatar, but unfortunately, it was politicised by the previous government.

“Now, due to the global situation, gas is not available while fuel is being sold at an exorbitant price in the global market,” he said, adding that authorities would have to convert to solar and renewable energy with lightning speed.

Bilawal accuses Imran for attempting to ‘make military controversial’

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)

Chairman and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Tuesday criticised former premier Imran Khan for what he called “attempting to make the military controversial” by asking them to intervene and pave the way for snap polls in the country.

“Imran is raising hue and cry because the army had decided to remain apolitical, and for this reason, Khan has been pressuring the military establishment to involve itself in politics,” said Bilawal while addressing a rally in Larkana’s Garhi Khuda Baksh.

The PPP rally was staged to mark the 15th death anniversary of slain former premier Benazir Bhutto.

Bilawal lashed out at PTI chief Imran Khan, saying the former premier has also become a thing of the past like former military ruler General (retd) Pervez Musharraf.

“We will reject the politics of puppets which is based on lies. The ‘selected’ has also be-

come a thing of the past, just like Musharraf,” he asserted.

“Shaheed [martyred] Benazir Bhutto believed in the politics of truth and not lies. We will bury the politics of lies and mischief,” the PPP chief said.

“Perpetrators of Benazir’s assassination had thought they would prevent the party from pursuing its mission.. [but] see how many bibi jiyalas [supporters] have gathered here in Garhi Khuda Bux.”

Referring to Imran’s foreign

conspiracy allegations, the scion of the Bhutto family said that for the first time in the country’s history the former premier was sent packing through a vote of no-confidence in April this year.

“The ‘selected’ [Imran Khan] wanted to give the credit of no-confidence to US President Joe Biden but conspiracy of his ouster was hatched in Bilawal House not in White House,” he remarked.

“This [no-confidence mo-

tion] was not a closed-room conspiracy but one that was taken to streets and publicly announced to topple his [Imran] government.”

He also urged the PTI to return to the parliament and play its role in legislation on different matters, including accountability and elections.

“Or else we won’t be able to stop those elements who want to victimise you,” he said. Who allowed negotiation with terrorists?

Speaking about failed negotiations with the Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP), Bilawal blamed ex-PM Imran for an uptick in terrorism, saying, “Who allowed the incompetent and selected government to hold negotiations with terrorists responsible for killing innocent people?”

“The entire nation, institutions, children and teachers of APS fought against those terrorists… but who allowed him [Imran] to kneel down before them? Who allowed the imprisoned terrorists to be released from the jail and return to Pakistan from Afghanistan?” he remarked.

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Tuesday said that the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) have arrested suspects involved in last week’s suicide bombing in Islamabad.

“The banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) accepted the responsibility for the attack,” the minister stated about the incident, which claimed the life of a policeman and wounded several others.

He said the “taxi driver is innocent”, and he was not involved in the attack as the suspects had taken the cab on rent from him. The suspects, according to Sanaullah, travelled from Kurram Agency to Rawalpindi.

Last Friday, a suicide attacker riding a cab with a woman, blew himself up when four bike-riding cops of Eagle Squad intercepted them at Sector I-10/4 — sending the federal capital into a frenzy.

As a result of the blast a police official was martyred, while seven — including a policeman and civilians were injured — police told the media. Later, a joint investigation team (JIT) was formed to probe the suicide bombing.

“We have rounded up four to five suspects and their handlers have also been apprehended,” the security czar said as several embassies — including the United States, Saudi Arabia and Australia — warned their citizens not to travel unnecessarily in the federal capital.

The first was the US, which advised its mission personnel to avoid “non-essential and unofficial” travel in the federal capital throughout the holiday season. Later, other countries issued similar advisories.

Pakistan is battling a fresh wave of terrorism after the outlawed TTP announced ending a ceasefire with the country and upped attacks on civilians and security forces alike.

As many as nine intermittent blasts hit Balochistan leaving five soldiers, including a captain, martyred and injuring 15 others on Sunday.

Earlier this month, militants took over a Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) compound in KP’s Bannu area, which was cleared by the Pakistan Army three days later. However, four soldiers embraced martyrdom and 10 sustained injuries.

But the government and the army have expressed the resolve to ensure that the rising terror will be nipped in the bud before it grows out of hand.

In his address during a ceremony a day earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif reiterated his resolve to uproot the menace of terrorism by using all resources available in Pakistan.

“We are working hard to prevent them. We will employ all resources to uproot terrorism to bring peace in Pakistan,” he added.

PIndI PolIce arreStS 13 SuSPectS, recoverS armS, ammunItIon In chauntra oPeratIon

The Rawalpindi Police on the directions of City Police Officer (CPO) Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari, conducted a search operation in Chauntra area, arrested some 13 suspects and recovered a large quantity of arms and ammunition.

The search operation was conducted on houses in the vicinity of private housing societies, the Police spokesperson said.

The search operation was headed by SDPO Saddar Waqar Azim, SHO Chauntra, SHO Chakri and special elite teams participated in the activity.

The search operation was conducted in the areas of Ladian, Khengar and Sangral.

The arrested accused included Faizan, Azhar, Sherbaz, Wajid, Abid, Salman, Shoaib, Sajid, Saleem, Hasan, Adnan, Sajid and Mikail.

The weapons recovered from the possession of the accused were a light machine gun (LMG), Kalashnikov five, 8mm three, rifle 12 bore three, and 30 bore pistol, magazines and cartridges.

CPO Syed Shehzad Nadeem Bukhari appreciated SDPO Saddar, SHOs Chauntra and Chakri and the team.

GARHI KHUDA BUX staff report

ISLAMABAD staff report

NEPRA okAyS RS3.60/uNit Cut iN PowER tARiff foR PRivAtE AgRiCultuRE CoNSuMERS

ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani

tHENational Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) has approved Rs3.60 per unit reduction in the power tariff for private agriculture consumers, which will be applicable to the agriculture consumers of all DISCOs including K-Electric.

According to NEPRA, the decision on cut in the electricity tariff from Rs16.60/unit to Rs13/unit will benefit the agriculture consumers of all power distributing

companies (DISCOs) including K-Electric by Rs28 billion while this decision will be applicable from the monthly bills of November, 2022 and the government will pay this amount under the head subsidy.

The Ministry of Energy, Power Division (MoE, PD) vide letter dated December 13, 2022 has requested the Authority to share its concurrence regarding Kissan Package 2022 for reduction in price of electricity for Private Agriculture consumers, said NEPRA’s decision.

The NEPRA added that the Authority has considered the request of the Ministry and observed that the Ministry has not

requested for any change in the NEPRA determined tariff/ Revenue Requirement of DISCOs, rather has submitted that the proposed relief of Rs3.60/kWh in the current base tariff of Private Agriculture consumers, will be picked up as Additional Supplementary Grant in the head of TDS.

“In view thereof, the Authority has no objection to the instant proposal, as it does not have any impact on NEPRA determined tariff, hence, approved. No adjustment on this account will be allowed in the tariff determination of DISCOs,” reads NEPRA’s decision.

Meanwhile, NEPRA on Tuesday

completed its hearing on the application of K-Electric under which the K-Electric sought Rs7/unit cut under the head monthly fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for the month of November 2022. However, the NEPRA, after scrutiny of data, has worked out Rs7.43/unit under FCA of November, 2022 for one month.

The NEPRA, in a statement, said that this proposed cut in power tariff on account of FCA of November 2022 will not be applicable on the lifeline consumers, domestic consumers who use 300 units a month, agriculture consumers, and Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS).

Substandard, poor quality steel being produced for lack of government’s oversight

As production and distribution of substandard steel products are left unnoticed in the steel sector, the large steel producers have demanded appointment of a regular head of Pakistan standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA), the only body to ensure quality and standard of locally produced/ imported products, to improve functioning of the important government body.

Through a letter sent to the concerned ministry, the Pakistan Association of Large Steel Producers (PALSP) has urged the government to appoint a full time Director General of PSQCA. For the last one year, the government has not appointed a regular head of PSQCA to steer the organization effectively.

For the efficiency and proper

functionality of PSQCA a full-time capable Head/DG is mandatory, to take responsibility of organization and take urgent needful measures to enforce the PSQCA Standards and Laws/Act in letter & spirit and put a permanent stop to the production and distribution of substandard steel products.

As per the letter, presently the market is flooded with substandard steel materials and there is no check on production and sale of substandard steel. The dilemma is rules and standards are already there but unfortunately they are not implemented/ enforced, providing perfect ground for the culprits that are putting the lives of various people at stake.

There is blatant violation of standards countrywide that is not only creating national risk for the future generations but it is also creating unfair competition within the steel sector

because of significant price difference between substandard and quality compliant bars. As a result, the documented and quality compliant sector is at great disadvantage and discouraging further investments and hurdles in achieving economies of scale.

Steel is included in PSQCA Mandatory List and has to meet the standards. So strict enforcement of the Section 14 of the PSQCA Act (1996) is required under which the Mandatory Items notified by the Federal Government prohibit the manufacture, storage and sale of articles that do not comply with the Pakistan Standards.

Also, under Section 22 of the Act, the manufacturers who do not comply with the specified standard should be charged with strict penalties and punishments.

According to Pakistan Standards (PS) specification for deformed and plain

carbon-steel for concrete reinforcement (PS: 1879-2018R, Section 5 – “Material and Manufacture”) the bars shall be rolled from properly identified heats of moldcast or strand-cast steel using the Electric arc furnace or induction furnace coupled with ladle refining furnace basic oxygen or open-hearth process from Quality steel scrap or its substitute or combination of both. Material of rerolling scrap from ship breaking industry is excluded for direct rolling.

As per the standard the bars shall be produced by following the proper process and meet the tensile requirements. Whereas the domestic market is loaded with the substandard bars manufactured through direct rolling of re-rollable scrap and shipbreaking material/ship plates and fail to meet the strength and elongation tests when measured against the standard. The menace of production and sale of

case

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

A team of Punjab Anti-Corruption Establishment on Tuesday arrested PML-N MNA Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf on charges of “state land grabbing.” PML-N MNA from NA-161 Sahiwal, Chaudhry Muhammad Ashraf is accused of occupying 157 acres of government land.

The Punjab Anti-Corruption Department said the PML-N lawmaker occupied the land through fake documents with the help of Muhammad Saleem Patwari, claimed a spokesman for the ACE. The lawmaker has been arrested after an inquiry found him to have committed the crime and a case has also been registered against him, the spokesperson said. Last month, Punjab Anti-corruption Establishment (ACE) team arrested Osama Abdul Karim, son of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz senator over land grabbing charges. As per details, the Punjab ACE team in an action in Dera Ghazi

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif has asserted that the government had devised a plan to immediately shift all the federal government entities’ buildings to solar power by April next year to slash a huge chunk out of the country’s costly fuel import bill hovering around $27 billion.

Addressing a solarization conference, the prime minister said that the procedures for shift to solar power should be fasttracked as they had set April 2023 as the timeline for the implementation of this plan.

PM Shehbaz noted that under the plan, all the federal government ministries, departments, authorities and their offshoots

in the provinces would immediately shift on solar energy.

He said it would be a model for the rest of the provincial governments as the federal government would not make additional expenditures over the solarization process.

The prime minister also urged all the relevant authorities and the stakeholders to complete the required process by the end of April next year and meet the timeline which had been set. “Consider it as our political, social, national and religious duty to implement it as soon as possible,” he opined.

PM Shehbaz further said with these urgent measures, they would be able to generate 300 MW to 500MW of cheap power, thus reducing the import bill worth billions of dollars each year.

a shopping plaza by occupying land of the mosque. The Punjab ACE authorities said the arrest was made after the registration of the case. Challan of the case will be presented before the court after an investigation from Osama Abdul Karim, they said. According to a spokesman, Ashraf, who was elected an MNA from NA-161, Sahiwal, had been arrested after allegations against him were proved. He was accused of grabbing more than 157 acre state land and committing fraud.

The spokesman added that the MNA had occupied the state land after showing fictitious allottee Sharif Ahmad Hashmi. Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday while reacting to Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) lawmaker Muhammad Ashraf’s arrest, said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was still continuing its tradition of political victimization. He said AntiCorruption Establishment (ACE) Punjab was used as a tool for political victimization upon PTI chief Imran Khan’s directions.

“NEPRA will announce its decision in detail on FCA of November for the consumers of K-Electric after further necessary scrutiny of the data,” said NEPRA. Besides, NEPRA on Tuesday also completed a hearing on an application of the federal government seeking uniform tariff for the DISCOs and the K-Electric. The hearing was held under the chairmanship Tauseef H. Farooqi wherein NEPRA members Engineer Rafique Ahmed Shaikh, Engineer Maqsood Anwar, and Engineer Motahar Niaz Rana were in attendance. However, NEPRA will issue its decision later on.

Rain likely in upper parts of country to subside fog: PMD

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

After a long dry spell, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain with snowfall over the hills in upper parts of the country that would subside foggy conditions and benefit the standing crops. The Met Office on Tuesday informed that a westerly wave has entered northwestern parts of Balochistan and is likely to grip upper and central parts of the country on December 28 (night) till December 29. Under the influence of this weather system, rain with snowfall over the hills is expected in Quetta, Zhob, Barkhan, Ziarat, Nokkundi, Dalbandin, Harani, Qillah Saifullah, Qillah Abdullah, Chaman, Pishin, Gwadar, Jiwani, Turbat, Panjgur, Kalat, Khuzdar, Sibbi, Naseerabad and Lasbela from December 27 (evening/night) till December 29.Light to moderate rain with snowfall over the hills is also expected in Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Dir, Swat, Malakand, Kohistan, Mansehra, Abbottabad, Haripur, Mardan, Peshawar, Charsadda, Bajaur, Kurram, Waziristan, Kohat, Sargodha, Islamabad, Murree, Galiyat and Potohar region on December 28 and December 29.

Strong political will crucial to address reservations of Baloch nationalists: CoMBS

ISLAMABAD: Balochistan National Party (BNP) Chief and MNA Sardar Akhtar Mengal chaired the 12th meeting of the Commission on Missing Baloch Students (CoMBS) formed in the light of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) order to address resentments of Baloch students here at Parliament House on Tuesday. The Commission was briefed by the convener about the recommendations received so far from members over the issue of Baloch missing students and their profiling. The Commission secretary informed the members regarding the progress made so far in connection with the compilation of the report to be submitted before the Court next month. The Commission members held an extensive discussion over the content of the draft report and exchanged views on the preliminary findings of the Commission. It was decided that members will further review the draft and share their insight in the upcoming meetings. Staff RepoRt

The prime minister assured that the whole process would be conducted through transparent bidding via a third party.

He also urged the provincial chief ministers to emulate the federal government’s launched pattern and introduce solar systems in their respective provinces and assured the federal government’s complete assistance in this regard. “It is the only option of our survival as a nation,” he added.

The premier added that the process for the generation of 10,000MW solar power in the country had already commenced and such a conversation by the federal government buildings would be the first phase. Enumerating the economic challenges faced by the country due to skyrocketing fuel

and gas prices after the Russia-Ukraine conflict, he said that developing countries like Pakistan had to bear the brunt.

He said $27 billion costly fuel import bill was a big challenge for the countries like Pakistan, adding the ongoing conflict had also surged prices of gas and worsened its availability as the supply to Europe was disrupted.

PM Shehbaz said during the Covid pandemic, the prices of gas were crashed to the lowest and it was sold at $2 per unit, the then government committed a criminal negligence by not securing its import and due to it, now the whole nation had been suffering.

He said during former prime minister Nawaz Sharif’s tenure, a 15-year agreement for the purchase of gas at rate of $13.2 per unit was reached with Qatar, but

unfortunately, it was politicized by the subsequent government.

Now due to the global situation, gas was not available while the fuel was being sold at an exorbitant price in the global market, he said, adding that they would have to convert to solar and renewable energy with lightning speed.

The prime minister said during the previous PML-N government, efforts were made for the production of cheap hydel electricity and land worth Rs100 billion was acquired for the construction of Bhasha dam, but those were long-term measures to generate affordable power in the country.

He said under China Pakistan Economic Corridor, coal and gas-fired projects were completed by the PML-N government during 2015 to overcome 20 hours crippling power outages in the country.

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbaS

Khan arrested Osama Abdul Karim.

The son of PML-N’s senator is accused of building

Steel industry urges Govt to appoint full-time head of PSQCA

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

PAKISTANTehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) senior member Fawad Chaudhry on Tuesday said that, if the National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf rejects the resignations of PTI MNAs then the party will approach Supreme Court (SC).

Fawad Chaudhry maintained that, Speaker’s absence is hindering confirmation of PTI MNA’s resignations adding that, if the speaker doesn’t accept the resignations, PTI will take the case to the Supreme Court.

He maintained that, despite dense fog in Punjab, 100 assembly members reached Islamabad, but there is no sign of the NA speaker, adding to this he said, sources confirmed that he is in Larkana and will later travelling to Australia.

The former minister reminded the Speaker that tendering resignation is a

lawmaker’s constitutional right. “You have to confirm all the resignations and announce snap polls in the country” said Fawad Chaudhry. While mocking Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) to which the Speaker belongs, Fawad maintained

that party which is not able to conduct the local body elections, how can they help hold the exercise on country-level.

Earlier, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Tuesday has decided not to appear in the National Assembly,

tomorrow, for the confirmation of the resignations tendered by the MNAs due to the non-availability of the Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf.

Pti to APPRoACH CouRt if NA SPEAkER REjECtS RESigNAtioNS: fAwAD CH Revamp

PTI was expected to vsit NA tomorrow Wednesday for the confirmation of the resignations of MNAs, but due to the unavailability of the speaker, the decision has been postponed. Imran Khan was also scheduled to address the MNAs in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad.

The NA speaker has invited PTI MNAs for verification of their resignation in pursuance of Paragraph(b)of Sub-Rule(2)of Rule 43 of Rules of Procedure & Conduct of Business in NA, 2007. The letter mentioned that MNAs of PTI were earlier invited in the Chamber of NA speaker for verification of resignation from 06th to 10th June 2022 but none of them came for verification of their resignation.

Strict security steps adopted for islamabad amid attack threat

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Days after a fatal vehicle explosion in the I-10 neighbourhood of Islamabad, the police in the capital city issued a “special plan” introducing temporary security points and requiring travelers to carry identification documents at all times. According to the plan, shared through the Twitter account of police, the authorities will record through surveillance cameras entry points of the Red Zone housing government and diplomatic facilities, as well as conduct video monitoring of Metrobus passengers. In addition to it, security checkpoints have also been installed at 25 different locations across the capital. The police have also advised people to use government-issued car number plates. “Legal action will be taken against illegal number plates and [owners of] unregistered vehicles,” police said. Measures under this plan also require landlords and employers to register their tenants and domestic staff at a nearby police station or facilitation centres. Police said people who had employed unregistered local or foreign workers would also be investigated. The government also appealed to people to inform authorities of any unusual activity on the 15 police helpline. Pakistan is facing a resurgence of violent attacks, with analysts saying the government must immediately devise a strategy to counter the threat to internal security as the country heads into an election year. Known and specific threats include the Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA), both based in Afghanistan. The most notable threat is from the TTP that called off a ceasefire with the security forces on November 28.

PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Mahmood Khan on Tuesday said that work on revamp of District Headquarters (DHQs) Hospitals and establishment of four new tertiary hospitals was underway at a brisk pace, saying upon completion, these projects will provide quality healthcare facilities to people at their doorsteps. KP Chief Minister Mahmood Khan was chairing a meeting held to review work on extension and up-gradation of Naseerullah Babar Hospital, Peshawar.

MPAs – Asif Khan and Malik Wajid, the officers of Health and Food departments, and other relevant officials attended the meeting. Matters regarding transfer of land, feasibility, and tendering of the project were discussed in detail during the meeting.

The chief minister directed the authorities concerned to complete all requirement for initiation of physical

Siraj blames establishment, PDM-PPP Pti troika for political, economic turmoil

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

work on extension and up-gradation of Naseerullah Babar Hospital in Peshawar, including the transfer of proposed land to the health department as well as completion of feasibility study.

He termed the project of great importance in view of the increasing population in the provincial capital, adding that the government is working under a well-devised strategy, keeping in view the public needs and requirements of the near future. Completion of the

ongoing development initiatives to this effect will bring forth an effective network of service delivery in the province, he added.

The CM directed the authorities concerned to immediately move a summary for transfer of the proposed land to the health department so as to get the matter approved by the provincial cabinet on a priority basis.

He also directed them to finalize the feasibility study of the project without

any delay, adding that his government will provide the required resources for this purpose.

He made it clear that the upgradation of Naseerullah Babar Hospital is of vital importance, keeping in view the increasing demand for health facilities in the region. He said that the incumbent provincial government has established a model of sustainable development having long, mid, and short-term initiatives in various sectors with the aim of meeting contemporary needs and addressing possible future challenges. Up-gradation and extension of Naseerullah Babar Hospital is also a part of this strategy which, on completion, will help reduce the burden on the existing tertiary hospitals in Peshawar.

Mahmood Khan made it clear that the provincial government has undertaken reforms in every sector, keeping in view present-day needs and ensuring the opt imum performance of the existing government machinery.

Road, rail connectivity to usher in new

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Pakistan, Sirajul Haq held the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI0 troika and the establishment equally responsible for the prevailing political and economic crises. While addressing the Islamic Lawyers Movement at Mansoorah on Tuesday, he said, “All sides are using each other to protect selfinterests and stay in power, unconcerned about the plight of the public.” There are two Pakistanis now, one for the ruling elite and the other for the poor, Sirajul Haq said, adding that poverty, inequality and injustice became permanent perils, and they were due to bad governance and ill-devised policies of the perpetual governments. He said that the dictators had destroyed 35 years of the country, and the rest were damaged by the socalled hybrid regimes. The country, he said, was moving ahead directionless and most important institutions like judiciary and bureaucracy failed to deliver. How could Pakistan go forwards without the rule of law and justice, he questioned, saying the poor could not get justice all their life while the powerful made a mockery of the law.

Land grabbers, mafias and corrupt have ruled the country for decades, the JI chief said. He said Pakistan was deprived of the Islamic system under a conspiracy. The country’s rulers, he said, were the agents of Washington. He said the time had reached to get rid of the status quo forces and establish a truely democratic and Islamic system.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday stated that road and railways connectivity projects between Pakistan and Central Asian States (CASs) will not only bring the trade communities together but also usher in a new era of peace and prosperity in the region.

He was talking to a high level delegation of Uzbekistan led by Deputy Prime Minister and Minister for Investment and Foreign Trade Khodjaev Jamshid Abdukhakimovich in Islamabad on Tuesday.

The Prime Minister appreciated that fruitful discussion between business communities of the two countries to establish business to business contacts would enhance bilateral trade and investment.

Recalling his recent meetings with Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev on the sidelines of SCO Summit in Samarkand and CICA Summit in Astana, the Prime Minister reaffirmed Pakistan’s resolve to further enhance the existing ties between the two brotherly countries.

The delegation apprised the Prime Minister of their meetings in Pakistan during which it was agreed to enhance economic and trade ties between the two countries. They

expressed satisfaction that bilateral relations between Pakistan and Uzbekistan is further deepening and pace of interactions is moving at a positive trajectory.

Qatar’s Amir Invited Int’l Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited the Amir of Qatar Sheikh Tamim ibn Hamad Al Thani to participate in the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan, co-hosted with the United Nations, in Geneva on January 9, 2023.

In a telephonic conversation, PM Shehbaz Sharif thanked the Amir for the generous humanitarian assistance provided by Qatar in the wake of the devastating climate-induced floods in Pakistan earlier this year.

He recalled that Pakistan now

faced the enormous challenge of rehabilitation and reconstruction in a climate-resilient manner.

The premier highlighted that while Pakistan had mobilised its own limited resources to the extent possible, continued international support and solidarity was required to meet the daunting challenge of recovery, rehabilitation and reconstruction of the affected areas, and to build resilience against future climate shocks.

Shehbaz Sharif congratulated Amir on Qatar’s successful hosting of the FIFA-2022 Football World Cup, which had set a new benchmark for international sports events.

PM Shehbaz Sharif and the Emir of Qatar also exchanged views on bilateral and international issues of mutual interest.

Punish those responsible for damaging economy, demands minister

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Javed Latif demanded his own government must give maximum punishment to those he holds responsible for running the economy and triggering political instability in the country. Addressing a news briefing, he identified Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan as the person responsible for the fragile condition of the economy and demanded the former prime minister “must be exposed and punished”. The minister claimed Khan was imposed on the nation in 2018 when the economy was performing exceptionally well and Pakistan was thriving, but it tanked during the threeyear rule of his PTI party. A former prime minister, Nawaz Sharif, was disqualified to pave way for Khan, he declared. However, the experience of promoting the former cricket legend failed and this should be rectified by bringing Sharif back after seeking an apology from him, the minister thundered. “Sharif was disqualified on ‘flimsy grounds’ to pave way for Khan who left the government after laying landmines for the new government.” After spending a year in prison, Sharif, 72, secured a conditional one-month bail in November 2019 to travel to London on the pretext of medical treatment but has since refused to return. The nation was paying the price of the “incapable government” of PTI in the shape of burgeoning inflation and price hike, he said, adding the nation was perturbed that he was being facilitated even now.

lHC extends closure of lahore schools to cut smog

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court (LHC) ordered a seven-day extension in winter vacations across educational institutions in the provincial metropolis due to unrelenting smog. On December 14, the school education department announced week-long winter vacations for schools across the province from December 24 to December 31. But last week, the court directed the province to propose to the department to implement a two-week-long vacation as a step to help curb smog. Previously, on December 7, it ordered a four-day week to achieve the said objective. Air quality is usually the poorest in Lahore’s winter months of December and January. Every year, a combination of industrial pollution, burning waste and farm fires in neighbouring India fouls the air in the city, making it one of the world’s most polluted cities. The hazardous pollutants across its skyline cause residents respiratory difficulties, eye irritation, and cardiac complications, among other ailments. The latest move comes after the chief minister of Punjab said his government, in order to ease pollution, will provide farmers with a modern harvester to destroy crop residues, and ensure the transfer of all brick kilns to zigzag technology. Hearing the public interest petitions on different environmental issues on Tuesday, Justice Shahid Kareem observed that vacations in schools and colleges ought to be extended due to the persistent smog.

era of prosperity, says PM

IHC Hands over kIds to PolIsH motHers

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

tHEIslamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday ordered a Pakistani citizen to hand over his two children to their polish mothers in a petition regarding the custody dispute of kids. The court directed the citizen to hand over the children and their passports to the FIA for the process.

Justice Mohsin Akhter Kayani heard the petition filed by two Polish women seeking custody of their children from Pakistani citizen Muhammad Saleem. The official of the Poland Embassy and the two children appeared before the bench.

The petitioner’s lawyer argued that his client was a Muslim and he had two children from his two Christian wives.

The children’s father adopted the stance that he brought the children to Pakistan with

the consent of their mothers, adding that his relationship with his wives was affected due to religion as they [wives] used to take his kids to church. He said he had a large business chain in Poland and he used to help these two women.

He further said he was ready even to cancel his Polish citizenship for his kids. The court said the father could nurture his children while staying in Poland. The father said it was difficult for him to raise his children in the Islamic way as the nearest mosque was some 300 kilometers away from his house.

The court said if the father owned a large business in Poland, he could construct a mosque near his home.

The two women on the occasion refused to meet their husband. The court was told that the women had reached Pakistan in the morning.

After listening to arguments, the court ordered to hand over the kids to their Polish

mothers. The court said that the two children would be kept in Polish Embassy and would be produced again tomorrow (Wednesday).

The court said it had temporarily handed over the children to the mothers and would decide the matter after hearing further arguments.

The father told the court that he had been living with his wife despite the divorce. He said that he had brought his children to Pakistan in August 2021 with the legal permission of mothers. He also produced the permission letter before the court.

The lawyer said that the two children were Polish citizens and they were studying there, adding that their stay in Pakistan had exceeded. The citizen told the court that he was a dual national, to which the court observed that it was a crime.

The court adjourned further hearing of the case till tomorrow (Wendnesda).

PHC asks varsity to pay pension to 260 employees

PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

Accepting the plea of over 260 former employees of the Islamia College Peshawar, the Peshawar High Court has ordered the University of Peshawar to immediately release their pension withheld since August this year.

A bench consisting of Justice Lal Jan Khattak and Justice Sahibzada Asadullah ordered the respondents, including the UoP, to make all due pension payments to the petitioners forthwith until any decision was taken by a committee constituted by the higher education department to determine their status.

The TLTP learnt that it declared that as pension payment was necessary for the well-being and peace of mind of the retirees as well as it was their right, their petition was accepted by the court.

The petition was jointly filed by former ICP associate professor Sher Haider and 260 other pensioners.

The UoP has stopped the payment of pension to the petitioners insisting that after the establishment of the ICUP, the ICP was no longer its constituent college and therefore, the pension for petitioners should be released by the ICUP.

Qat chief pays tribute to great sindhi poet shaikh ayaz

HYDERABAD Staff RepoRt

President of Qaumi Awami Tehreek (QAT) Ayaz Latif Palijo on Tuesday paid glowing tributes to great Sindhi poet Shaikh Ayaz and said that he was a universal poet who wrote poetry in other languages including Urdu. In a statement issued here on the eve of Ayaz’s anniversary, Palijo said Ayaz would be regarded as a pleasant gift for many generations because of his enlightening poetry. He urged the youth to read and write Sindhi poetry, prose and essays and to also sing the Sindhi songs. “The students learning in elite private schools may have everything except but if they lack command over their mother tongue and bonding with their culture they will find themselves empty,” he said and advised youth to study literature besides their academic subjects.

Senate panel seeks education, law ministries’ input on narcotics bill 2022

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Standing Committee of the Senate on Narcotics Control on Tuesday directed the ministries of education and law to give its input on the Control of Narcotics Substances (Amendment) Bill, 2022 which mainly involved educational institutions.

The directives were passed by Chairman Committee of Narcotics Substances Senator Ejaz Ahmed Chaudhary on a request made by Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shazain Bugti.

Secretary for Ministry of Narcotics Control Humaira Ahmed stated that the bill, which involved the educational institutions, had been sent to the ministry concerned for its input, but the latter had not responded on the matter so far.

Senator Mohsin Aziz, mover of the bill, said its primary objective was to reduce drugs’ usage in the varsities and ensure the creation of a healthy environment for the students.

The panel also deliberated on the current status of a drug trafficking case against Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah.

The committee was told that the court had decided in the favour of Rana Sanaullah.

The secretary for Ministry of Narcotics Control informed the committee that an inquiry had been initiated to probe the matter related to the alleged involvement of some officials of the Anti-Narcotics Force in bribery at the Islamabad airport.

The report would be submitted before the committee once it was completed, she added. The senate body was

also briefed about the steps taken by the ministry so far for the eradication of drugs from the country.

The federal minister remarked that the ministry had taken stern action against the drugs’ peddlers and seized 100 metric tons of drugs in the last few months.

The committee congratulated the ministry for their efforts and assured full support in curbing the menace of drug from the country.

The meeting was attended by Senator Naseebullah Bazai,Senator Rana Maqbool Ahmed,Senator Falak Naz,Senator Dost Muhammad Khan,Senator Mohsin Aziz,Federal Minister for Narcotics Control Nawabzada Shazain Bugti, Secretary for Ministry of Narcotics Control Humaira Ahmed, and other relevant officers were also in attendance.

20 workshops underway to train journalists on modern trends

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has launched a series of workshops for the capacity building of new and mid-career journalists across the country.

The training workshops were organized at the Pakistan Information Centers which were established by the Press Information Department (PID) to impart professional training to the journalists, said a news release.

Currently, more than 20 training workshops were underway in Islamabad, Lahore, Quetta, Peshawar, Karachi, Muzaffarabad, and GilgitBaltistan to train journalists associated with print, electronic and digital media on different topics mainly related to modern trends and challenges in

journalism.Earlier in June 2022, the Pakistan Information Center organized 16 workshops across the country on various topics to impart training to more than 700 journalists.

The Ministry of Information and Broadcasting’s initiative related to the workshops received an overwhelming response from the journalist community and praise from their different organizations, including the Pakistan Federal Union of Journalists.

The series of training workshops is not only extended to the provincial capitals but also to the far-flung areas of the country, especially in Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and remote areas of Punjab so that the journalists living in those areas can also reap the benefits of such initiative. Senior journalists, media experts, and faculty members from mass communication de-

partments of different universities are being invited to those workshops for the training of journalists. The Pakistan Information Center will also organize training workshops on important topics like investigative journalism, digital media authenticity, fake news, and documentary-making in the next few days. To this end, a two days training workshop titled “News Authenticity and Curbing Fake News and Anti-state Propaganda” will kick off at the Information Service Academy, Islamabad from December 28.

dsP, Inspectors promoted to next rank in railways police

LAHoRE Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Railways Police officers who have been waiting for promotion for long have been promoted to the next ranks on Dec 26, 2022. In this regard, 1 DSP as SP and 08 Inspectors have been promoted as DSsP. This has been made possible due to the personal interest and initiative of the IG Railways Police, Rao Sardar Ali Khan. This would go a long way in boosting the morale of the force and ensure effective administration. DSP Niaz Ahmad, has been promoted to SP while those who have been promoted to the post of DSsP from Inspectors include Rafaqat Hayat Tarar, Syed Amir Hussain, Habib Ullah Khan, Iftikhar Ahmad, Zulfiqar Ali Shah, Naila Ashraf, Rana Arsalan and Javed Khan. It is pertinent to mention here that Inspector Naila Ashraf is a first ever lady officer who got promoted to the rank of DSP. This is in line with the vision of IG Railways Police for empowerment of female officers. IG Railways said that departmental promotion is a reflection of honor as well as increase in responsibilities of an officer and expressed hope that after getting promotion, the officers will perform their duties better and gracefully.

Pakistani food ranked 47th in world

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistani cuisine was ranked 47th in TasteAtlas’ World’s Best Cuisine Awards 2022, with a rating of 3.95 out of 5 stars. According to the Bulgaria-based experiential travel guide to traditional food, Pakistan’s top-rated foods include chapli kebab, chicken karahi, halwa poori and shahi tukray. Furthermore, the best Pakistani restaurants in Karachi include Kolachi Restaurant, Javed Nihari, Bar.B.Q Tonight, and Ridan House of Mandi, as well as Waris Nihari in Lahore. According to TasteAtlas, the top 10 cuisines in the world are Italian, Greek, Spanish, Japanese, Indian, Mexican, Turkish, American and French. Pakistan is ranked 47th on the list, following Taiwan (45th) and Paraguay (46th). Morocco and Norway are ranked 94th and 95th on the TasteAtlas list of the world’s best cuisines, respectively.

The counsel for petitioners, Nazeer Ahmad, said his clients were pensioners of the UoP as they’d either retired on attaining the age of superannuation or their family members were the former staff members.

The bench ruled that the respondents had insisted that the university was unable to pay those benefits to the petitioners due to financial constraints but didn’t produce records to prove the assertion.

SHuJAAT uRgeS PoLiTiCiAnS To RiSe Above

PARTy inTeReSTS, woRk foR PAkiSTAn

ISLAMABAD Mian abRaR

PAKISTANMuslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) President Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain on Tuesday called for political stability to ‘save Pakistan’, urging all parties to put national interest before party interest. The former prime minister expressed his views at a reception held in honour of Pakistani American businessman, Naveed Anwar Chaudhry, here in Islamabad. The event was attended by Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema, Senator Mushahid Hussain Syed, PML-Q MNA Mrs Farrukh Khan, Chaudhry Shafay Hus-

sain and others. Pakistani-American entrepreneur Ms Shagufta Khan, Terbia Khan, Fareeha Khan, Khalid Mahmood MP of UK, Ms Fauzia, Lt. Col. (R) Zahid Ali Khan and others were also present.

Chaudhry Shujaat urged all the stakeholders to put their heads together for the country’s progress. “Political and economic stability is crucial for the country,” he said, adding: “Only way to save Pakistan is to work together.”

The PML-Q president further said that if the political parties could understand the need to set aside their differences, only then International Monetary Fund (IMF) would lend its support to Pakistan. “If we don’t ensure political stabil-

ity, no one will send a rupee our way,” he added. He also called consensus between political parties, reiterating that it was the only way to ensure Pakistan’s survival.

Shujaat added that ‘many powers’ want to destroy Pakistan as they want supremacy of India in the region.

In response to a question, he asked: “Will snap elections ensure an end to unemployment or inflation?” He added that the elections should be held on time.

Responding to another question, he said Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan should return to parliament, adding: “The people, who elected them, are witnessing their actions.” He said that it was useless to draw salaries and receive

privileges without going to the assembly.

On the occasion, Senator Mushahid also lauded Ch Shujaat for presenting a formula back in year 2006 to help resolve Balochistan unrest. Mrs Farrukh Khan also eulogised the services of the PML-Q leader for empowering weaker segments of the society, especially women segments. She said that Ch Shujaat especially took measures to ensure women representation in the party as well as the parliament and also worked untiringly to legislate to ensure women empowerment.

Naveed Anwar expressed gratitude to Chaudhry Shujaat for hosting him a lavish lunch and vowed to keep working for the interests of Pakistan in the US.

SC raises objection to plea against funds allocation for constituencies of Elahi, family

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court of Pakistan has returned a constitution petition against allocation of disproportionate funds to constituencies of Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi and his family members in violation of procurement laws. The SC Registrar office returned the petition by raising several objections over it.

LHC requested to remove Punjab governor

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

A constitutional petition seeking the removal of Baligh ur-Rehman, a Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) stalwart, as governor of Punjab was filed in the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Tuesday.

The petitioner — one Shabbir Ismail from the provincial metropolis, lodged the plea through his counsel Azhar Siddique — argued the governor breached his mandate by asking the chief minister, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, to seek a vote of confidence from the provincial assembly without any concrete reason. The governor does not have the authority to issue such an order until the legislature was in session, the petitioner noted.

He said a letter was also sent to President Arif Alvi and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif but they took no action against the governor, and pleaded with the court to direct the two to do it.

On Friday, the high court reinstated Elahi hours after he was removed as chief minister to halt the plan of former prime minister Imran Khan to force snap polls in the nation.

But Elahi was allowed to continue in his office on condition that he would not dissolve his government until the next hearing of the case on January 11, according to his counsel Ali Zafar.

The governor had issued an order Friday to remove Elahi. He said he acted on Elahi’s failure to seek a vote of confidence, which was mandatory after the governor officially asked him to do that.

“I am satisfied that he doesn’t command the confidence of the majority of the members of the Punjab Assembly, and therefore ceases to hold his office with immediate effect,” Rehman’s order said.

The crisis has deepened political instability in Pakistan which is in an economic meltdown with a severe balance of payment crisis.

In the petitioner, Advocate Mian Dawood requested the apex court to issue an order restraining Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi from allocating public development funds for the constituencies belonging to his family members. The petitioner also requested the apex court to prevent different government agencies from releasing payments to contractors or placing the public revenue at the indirect disposal of Punjab Assembly members from the constituencies belonging to the family members of the chief minister.

Dawood said that it was an admitted fact that the Punjab chief minister granted his home district the status of division and then allocated over Rs100 billion for development schemes, apparently for two districts Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin. He alleged that the chief minister had released funds to the constituencies

of Ch Hussain (NA-68, Gujrat-I), Moonis Elahi (NA69, Gujrat-II), Sajid Ahmed Bhatti (PP-67, Mandi Bahauddin-III) and his own constituency of PP-430, Gujrat-III.

The petition requested the court to declare as unconstitutional the allocation of disproportionate funds to the constituencies of the chief minister and his family members, besides ruling that the allocation or reappropriation through supplementary or excess grants of funds in the constituencies and the projects have been initiated in violation of the principle of transparency, good governance and procurement laws.

The petitioner also requested the apex court to direct the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) or any other agency to launch an investigation against those responsible for violation of constitutional provisions and principles of transparency and procurement laws and causing loss or damage to the public exchequer.

“It turns out that 70 per cent of the funds are for the constituencies belonging to the family of the incumbent chief minister,” the petition said, adding that the allocation of funds by masquerading the same as supplement grants is in addition to the non-developmental expenditures to be incurred on building paraphernalia for all divisional offices in Gujrat.

The end is nigh: Climate, nuclear crises spark fears of the worst

KARACHI afp

For thousands of years, predictions of the apocalypse have come and gone. But with dangers rising from nuclear war and climate change, does the planet need to at least begin contemplating the worst?

When the world rang in 2022, few would have expected the year to feature the US president speaking of the risk of doomsday, following Russia’s threats to go nuclear in its invasion of Ukraine.

“We have not faced the prospect of Armageddon since Kennedy and the Cuban missile crisis” in 1962, Joe Biden said in October. And on the year that humanity welcomed its eighth billion member, UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres warned the planet was on a “highway to climate hell.”

In extremes widely attributed to climate change, floods submerged one-third of Pakistan, China sweat under an unprecedented 70-day heatwave, and crops failed in the Horn of Africa — all while the world lagged behind on the UN-blessed goal of checking

warming at 1.5 degrees Celsius (2.7 degrees Fahrenheit) above pre-industrial levels. Biggest risk yet of nuclear war?

The Global Challenges Foundation, a Swedish group that assesses catastrophic risks, warned in an annual report that the threat of nuclear weapons use was the greatest since 1945 when the United States destroyed Hiroshima and Nagasaki in history’s only atomic attacks. The report warned that an all-out exchange of nuclear weapons, besides causing an enormous loss of life, would trigger clouds of dust that would obscure the sun, reducing the capacity to grow food and ushering in “a period of chaos and violence, during which most of the surviving world population would die from hunger.” Kennette Benedict, a lecturer at the University of Chicago who led the report’s nuclear section, said risks were even greater than during the Cuban Missile Crisis as Russian President Vladimir Putin appeared less restrained by advisors.

While any Russian nuclear strike would likely involve small “tactical” weapons, experts fear a quick escalation if the United States responds.

CDA eyes Rs20b revenue from auction of 58 plots in Jan-2023

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Capital Development Authority has geared up for auctioning 58 commercial and residential properties in January 2023 with the aim to fetch Rs20 billion to meet its developmental and nondevelopmental expenditures.

According to the budget documents of previous years, the CDA fulfills its most of the financial needs by selling commercial and residential plots.

A meeting of the CDA Board is scheduled to be held this week in which an approval for upcoming auction would be solicited.

The city managers have purposed to auction a total of 58 plots including 6 plots of different marakiz, 5 plots of blue area, 3 plots of Northern Strip E-11, an economy flats plot, 10 agro farms plots, an hotel plot, 2 industrial plots, 2 hospital plots, 4 petrol pump plots, 4 commercial plots of Park Enclave, 7 class three shopping centre plots, a plot of school in E-11 and 12 residential plots of Park Enclave.

Sources told that CDA is going to offer 5 percent rebate to the overseas Pakistanis to attract foreign investment while 15 percent rebate will also be given for full payment within 30 days of provisional bid letter issuance in one go. Meanwhile, the civic authority has also increased the timeline to complete the buildings to facilitate the investors, which is being considered as a positive development by concerned circles.

Earlier, the building completion time of all plots was 3 years but now the relaxation of 4 years is given on the plots having more than 1000 square yards area while 5 years are given to the plots having more than 3000 square yards area.

The auction is expected to be held on 23-25 January, 2023 under a committee headed by the Member Finance CDA while Member Estate, Member P & D, DFA-II, DG Law, Director Public Relations, Director Urban Planning, Director Regional Planning, Director EM-II and Director Finance will be members of the committee.

The plots would be sold out through open auction and bids received will be presented before CDA Board which is competent forum for acceptance of bids. At present, the civic authority is doing several development projects at a rapid pace for which it will have to give billions of rupees to the contractors in the next quarter. A senior officer informed that if we remain successful in auctioning plots in January then we will easily manage the funds for the ongoing projects otherwise the authority could face scarcity of funds to keep the projects ongoing.

Maulana Tariq Jamil hospitalized after cardiac arrest in Canada

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Renowned religious scholar Maulana Tariq Jamil was hospitalized in Canada on Tuesday after he suffered heart stroke. According to details, Yousaf Jamil s/o Maulana Tariq Jamil confirmed that his father present in Canada suffered heart attack was shifted to hospital. Yousaf Jamil in a tweet appealed to pray for health of his father. Hospital sources said that condition of Maulana Tariq Jamil was out of danger.

Confusing million with hundred thousand: Wrong ICT population figures surprise IHC

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) has expressed surprise when it was revealed that the population of the federal capital is mentioned as 200 million in a summary during the hearing of the local body election case.

The court questioned the veracity of the claim given that Pakistan’s population numbers around 222 million.

The TLTP learnt that the question raised by the IHC while it was hearing Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) appeal to hold local body elections in Islamabad on December 31 and issued notices to the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and other respondents.

PTI challenged the decision of the single

bench of the IHC to nullify the Election Commission of Pakistan’s (ECP) earlier verdict and hear all stakeholders before deciding on holding elections on December 31.

The party claimed that increasing the number of union councils, days before the poll’s scheduled date, is of no importance and prayed that the single bench decision be annulled and ECP’s decision on the matter restored.

The counsel stated that just 11 days ago, the government increased the number of union councils from 101 to 125 after claiming that the population of the city has increased.

Responding to the court’s earlier question regarding the population of the federal capital, the lawyer replied that 205 million is written in the approved summary. He further claimed that the government increased the

number of union councils to 101 according to the city’s population six months ago, and is now further increasing local seats to 125.

PTI’s counsel also questioned the government’s claim of population increase.

Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani said that when PTI was in power, it did not hold bypolls, as is the case with the present government. “Maybe it suits political parties not to hold local elections,” he said.

The PTI lawyer repeatedly pleaded to stop the ECP from giving its decision today, saying that it should not give a decision on the matter till tomorrow or else the decision would be made subject to the decision of the court.

The court, while rejecting the request for an immediate injunction on PTI’s appeal,

said that it will decide in the plea on Wednesday after hearing all parties.

The hearing was then adjourned till Wednesday (today).

Possible covid-19 resurgence

Government ill-affords any major outbreak

As the country faces multiple complex challenges ranging from a worsening economic crisis to rising terrorism, all in a highly volatile political climate, a new yet familiar threat seems to be on the horizon; the resurgence of a new covid-19 variant. Although the new variants have so far only been detected and are spreading at a rapid pace in China, the UsA and neighbouring india, there is no room for complacency that would allow a similar wave of the deadly virus to hit Pakistan. While it is encouraging to see the NDmA finally address the possibility of a covid-19 resurgence, asking the National institute of Health to take stock of vaccine availability and making adequate arrangements in hospitals, more needs to be done. Perhaps a more proactive approach that involves screening or restricting entry of passengers travelling from countries with high infection rates should be applied.

it is understandable that any aggressive expansive countrywide testing or closing down of public places would be premature and a largely unpopular move at this point, yet there are measures that the government should start taking, at least to be prepared for any possibility. An awareness campaign that explains basic preventative measures against covid-19 such as mask wearing, avoiding crowded public spaces and maintaining better hygiene, is necessary. The NCoC must be brought up to the same efficiency that it ran throughout the PTi’s tenure as a centralized response centre with an impressive real-time response time to a constantly evolving situation. A fresh vaccination drive is also essential at this point as many who got their first doses would not have bothered with booster shots given how the virus has gone into the background over the past six months.

it is noteworthy that the country came through the pandemic not unscathed, but not as badly hit as it might have been. The coalition government now has to handle this crisis. The head of the government, Prime minister shehbaz sharif, while Chief minister Punjab, had to tackle another viral disease epidemic, dengue fever. one hopes that there is no procrastination on the part of the PDm government in dealing with the threat of another covid-19 wave. The sooner it acts, the less severe the possible impact may be. The federal government knows very well that it neither has the time or money to deal with a nationwide outbreak.

Pakistan’s football dilemma

from now. That is what a global superstar can achieve. it is not only messi and Argentina that Pakistanis love, many other players have melted the hearts of Pakistani fans with their skills. They have a huge fan base in Pakistan.

Football fans watched the World Cup with passion and thrill supporting their favorite team. Despite no Pakistani team, football fans in Pakistan supported their favorite players and teams. The positives for Pakistan in this whole World Cup were the footballs that were manufactured in Punjab, Pakistan, and the Pakistani soldiers who provided security to the World Cup.

The population of Argentina is around 45 million and the population of Pakistan stands at 225 million. meanwhile, Argentina is the world champion while Pakistan is yet to play a World Cup match.

with the sport so unprofessional that it gets banned by FiFA even after years of establishment?

The sole reason that is at the heart of the matter is the lack of a will. A lack of will at the state level to make the sport progress in the country and a lack of will at the basic level that includes the authority in charge of the affairs of the sport in the country.

Terrorism has once more shaken Pakistan as the year comes to a close. The blacklisted Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) has attacked the federal capital after causing devastation in KP, bringing to light the achingly uncomfortable reality that unless the militant organization is stopped in its tracks, the current wave of terrorism may very well spread to other regions of the state.

When a suicide bomber detonated himself in islamabad on Friday, when police tried to stop his car for verification, a police officer was killed. There is no doubt that terrorism is spreading beyond the heart of the country. The wave of terrorism in the state is a cause for severe worry. it is stated that if the capital is not safe, then

THe FiFA World Cup concluded recently with Argentina emerging victorious. Argentina and messi fans around the globe, including a vast number from Pakistan, are elated and ecstatic. The Pakistani fans of messi are over the moon as they have seen him lift the World Cup trophy. Their dream has come true.

For them, the debate “who is the best player” has settled now.some football fans in Pakistan even celebrated the victory of Argentina with firecrackers.

From the news anchors, sportspersons, celebrities, and politicians to the Prime minister, everyone congratulated Qatar for hosting a successful World Cup and Argentina for winning the World Cup. messi might not even imagine how much of a fan following he has in Pakistan. Pakistani football fans appreciate, adore, and follow him. Argentinians might not know much about Pakistan, but almost everyone here knows about Argentina. That is the power of a global sport.

And it is not this generation alone that knows about Argentina as a great football nation because of messi and company. it was maradona, decades ago. it will be someone else, a couple of decades

Pakistan joined FiFA in 1948. According to a FiFA survey of 2006, Pakistan was among the top 20 nations with the most soccer players. it is necessary to know that the population of Pakistan at that time was around 164 million. And one can easily predict that with the increase in population, the number of soccer players must have increased considerably because the passion and craze for soccer have only increased with time. But still, Pakistan remains the only AFC member team never to win a FiFA World Cup qualifier.

one of the many strategies propounded by experts all over the world to popularize a sport in youth is the marketing of that sport in the youth. in Pakistan’s case, even this strategy is also not required. Football is not short of popularity in the country. And the popularity is similar in villages and cities. The craze of football is incredible due to the following reasons: A) The famous footballers have a great fan following in Pakistan and young players love to imitate their favorite players, B) The sport does not require a lot of money. All the players need to do is to get one ball that can help them play several games without having to spend any more money, C) many young players consider soccer more rewarding in terms of fitness and health than other sports.

Having said that, the sport remains ignored and devoid of attention. But why has football not developed as a sport in Pakistan? Why has Pakistan not been able to do well at the international level? Why has Pakistan failed to utilize the potential and talent of the youth? Why is our highest authority dealing

A sport can get ignored at the state level for various reasons. it could be the lack of will of the respective governments, lack of resources, lack of attention, etc. For example, as the World Cup ended, politicians, anchors, and sports personalities deemed it necessary to congratulate Qatar for successfully holding the World Cup and the winning team for winning the Cup but did nothing to better the state of the sport in the country. All could have pressed the government to take effective steps. But it did not happen.

The Pm could have taken the matter into his hands. He could have shown a strong will and taken immediate steps to make sure Pakistan qualifies for the next world cup. But, it was not to be.

similarly, the media, sportspersons, and politicians could have exerted pressure on the prime minister to take revolutionary steps for the next World Cup. But things remain the same as they were before. Time will pass. Another World Cup will arrive but nothing will change.

similarly, a lack of will at the level of authority in charge of the sport has a lot to do with this sorry state of football in the country. it could argue that the lack of funds, infrastructure, etc hampered its progress but given the talent, available resources, and existing infrastructure in the country, it could have dealt with the sport a lot better than it has done. But, instead, it got banned a couple of times in the last five years.

Having said that, what can make football progress as a sport in Pakistan?

The first step in this regard is the development of a strong will followed by a merit-based process of discovery and nurturing of talent to become a finished product.

Good infrastructure, adequate resources, and all other steps are necessary and aids to the process but they can only be utilized when there is a strong will at all levels to take the sport forward and bring glory to Pakistan.

terrorism in Pakistan

no other place in the state is either.

A few days before this incident, the blatant assault on security officers took place outside the counter-terrorism department (CTD) facility in Bannu Cantonment. The TTP inmates’ siege and hostage-taking at the centre, which had started on December 18, took place for more than 60 hours and cost five precious lives. Alongside, a police station in Lakkimarwat near Bannu, North, and south Waziristan was also raided by terrorists on December 18 and 19. There, dozens of TTP militants beat up police officers and took all the weapons while issuing a warning to all local officials to quit their jobs as police officers as soon as possible.

TTP head Noor Wali mehsud, who is apparently in the protection of Kabul under the Taliban, had stated to CNN just a day prior to the TTP attack on the CTD and the Bargi Police station in Lakkimarwat that his organization is not using Afghanistan territory for strikes within Pakistan. He asserted that Pakistani land is the location of whatever the TTP does to further its objectives. ironically, Noor mehsud followed this up by telling his “mujahedeen” who were occupying the CTD building (on December 20) not to give up.When all of this was happening, Centcom Chief Gen michael e. Kurilla was on a visit to Pakistan too and during the visit, he offered Pakistan “every possible help” against the TTP.Approximately two weeks before this, the Us state Department identified four al-Qaeda subcontinent and TTP combatants as global terrorists.

This whole situation is complicated since all the stakeholders, overtly and covertly involved, have different goals. The TTP is one of the stakeholders that has borrowed heavily from the Taliban’s ideology of shariah to apply it in Pakistan. The TTP intends to seize control of the border region in order to establish its ideal Caliphate. Additionally, it wants the Pakistani Army to vacate the border regions, which the administration views as unacceptable. Another important stakeholder is

the UsA,

This

a

tricably

is

stakeholder

parties

want to stop CPeC from proceeding any further, as they see CPeC as a threat to their monopoly in this region. since the events of 9/11, Pakistan has been battling terrorism with the UsA as its “NonNATo Ally.” Pakistan has made unparalleled and laudable achievements in this regard. it has, however, received accusations from the UsA instead of praise. Pakistan was set to reap the rewards of its well-played role in the Us-Taliban peace pact in 2020 and the UsA pullout from Afghanistan after 18 years of domestic peace and stability concerns brought on by terrorism, which led to economic hardship and a devastated society. Nevertheless, the rise of this new wave of terrorism is quite frightening and portends major future risks.While joining hands with the international community to combat terrorism and nipping it in its bud, it is crucial to consider regional organizations like sCo as well. in order to ensure comprehensive security, sCo has vowed to coordinate efforts to counter common security challenges and threats, increase communication and strengthen collaboration, combat terrorism, cyber terrorism, separatism, extremism, transnational organized crime, and illicit drug trafficking, as well as strengthen global information security and emergency response. moreover, The sCo Convention on Countering ex-

tion amongst member states.

Pakistani and russian military personnel have participated in the Druzhba joint training exercises every year since 2016. The drills involve personnel from both nations’ special operations teams. The goal of the exercises is to train the special Forces in counterterrorism (CT) and to share experiences with other special forces.

russia has already shown concern about the need to further increase the multifaceted bilateral cooperation, including in counterterrorism with Pakistan. in addition, the two nations agreed to enhance cooperation for military training. Although the Ukraine war has brought a halt to the joint military exercise this year, its inevitability should not be ignored.

russia, China and iran have a convergence of interest with Pakistan in terms of counter-terrorism and regional stability. They are interested in a peaceful Afghanistan with minimal Us engagement. They are well aware that counter-terrorism is connected to having a prosperous and progressive region. Therefore, they should join hands with Pakistan to combat terrorism in an effective way.

The writer can be reached at guleayeshabhatti@gmail.com

The writer is a freelance columnist

which regrets leaving Afghanistan and wants to make a welcoming return.

comeback

only feasible if Pakistan is seen to have failed completely to end domestic terrorism and to find

viable solution to its problems with the Taliban administration because the stability in Pakistan is inex-

linked to the stability in Afghanistan. The third

are those

that

tremism is the organization’s joint reaction to the continually expanding menace of extremism. Along with this is the shanghai Convention on Combating Terrorism, separatism, and extremism, the Convention of the shanghai Cooperation organization against Terrorism, and the 20162018 sCo member states Programme on Cooperation in Combating Terrorism, separatism, and extremism.The sCo Convention on Countering extremism aims to improve the legal environment in this area while also strengthening security and enhancing effective collabora-

Russia, China and Iran have a convergence of interest with Pakistan in terms of counter-terrorism and regional stability.

Good Infrastructure, adequate resources, and all other steps are necessary and aid to the process but they can only be utilized when there is a strong will at all levels to take the sport forward and bring glory to Pakistan.

MUHAMMAD ALI ALVI

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

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

Myanmar, Bangladesh benefitting from ‘Rice Diplomacy’

Bangladesh and myanmar officials signed a sales contract on 8 september in order for exporting 200,000 tonnes of myanmar’s white rice to Bangladesh. About 30,000-50,000 tonnes are scheduled to be sent to Bangladesh from the Pathein Port. on 28 october, the loading of 2,650 tonnes of emahta rice onto a ship for Bangladesh commenced.

“rice exports generate foreign currencies as well as contribute to private sector development. it is the first step of the regional efforts with the first ever direct rice shipment from Pathein city to the external market, with an aim to spur the developments in public and private sectors harmoniously together. The next step is to facilitate the trade in the Pathein industrial City. The exports of rice also cause the GDP growth in the region. in addition to rice, corn and sesame are also targeted for direct export through Pathein City.

Ayeyarwady region are running to export goodquality rice, it is learnt.

myanmar has conveyed about 110,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh under the government-to-government pact, according to the ministry of Commerce.

MyanMar Following the contract, white rice (ATAP) GPCT Broken sTX variety will be delivered. since 7 september 2017, myanmar and Bangladesh have engaged in rice trade under the government-to-government pact. That moU stated that Bangladesh has agreed to buy myanmar’s white rice (250,000 tonnes) and parboiled rice (50,000) tonnes between 2017 and september 2022.

THere is nothing new about the impact food has on politics. in the old days, many kings practised food diplomacy in entertaining their guests; by serving the best and most unique dishes that could have been created only by the royal house’s finest chefs. The tradition continues in the modern political world. many leaders of political parties and heads of government use food diplomacy to strengthen relationships between allies or diffuse tension with the opposition. rice seems to have emerged as a favourite diplomatic tool for myanmar and Bangladesh to build strong ties with each other. The commodity is the staple diet for most people in countries like indonesia, Thailand and also the neighbouring countries China and india.

The agricultural sector is one of the most important and most strategic sectors for the survival of a country, for without food the country could be in a position of chaos and bankruptcy.

There are so many ways that the Bangladesh government maintains the availability of rice, one of the most common ways is by importing rice. Bangladesh is known as an agricultural country, but unfortunately, it continues to import rice.

Due to the current state of the world, especially the Ukraine-russia conflict, many nations have stopped exports to maintain their domestic stock. rice is a very important commodity in the Bangladeshi people’s lives; and there is even a proverb that says that Bangladeshis have not eaten if they have not consumed rice.

Despite tensions between myanmar and Bangladesh, Dhaka imports millions of tonnes annually, and has placed an import order with myanmar.

As agriculture and livestock are the backbone of myanmar’s economy, it earns foreign exchange from rice exports beyond self-sufficiency. The state is supporting the stockholders including farmers and investors to bring about business opportunities. According to the memorandum of Understanding between myanmar and Bangladesh, 200,000 tonnes of white rice from myanmar will be exported to Bangladesh.A total of 2,650 tonnes of rice are to be directly shipped by the mV mCL7 for the first time from the Ayeyarwady international industrial Port AiiP in Pathein industrial City, Ayeyarwady region, to Bangladesh.

myanmar’s rice exports to the neighbouring countries can enhance the livelihood of the farmers and create business opportunities for related businesses. This achievement in Pathein city can also strengthen the tripartite relationship between the state, farmers and entrepreneurs for ensuring A sustainable market and export promotion.

more than 20,000 tonnes of rice have been sent to Bangladesh by october, according to the ministry of Commerce of myanmar, after the moU in september.

According to this moU, Bangladesh agreed to buy 250,000 tonnes of rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled rice from myanmar between 2022 and 2027.

since 7 september 2017, myanmar and Bangladesh have engaged in rice trade under a government-to-government pact. That moU stated that Bangladesh has agreed to buy myanmar’s white rice (250,000 tonnes) and parboiled rice (50,000 tonnes) till september 2022. myanmar sent 100,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh each in 2017 for the first time and 2021 for the second time, as per the sales contract.

The ministry of Commerce has granted an export licence for 191,700 tonnes of rice for Bangladesh according to the agreement.

As per the moU 48 companies, under the supervision of the myanmar rice Federation, are to export 200,000 tonnes to Bangladesh with Chinese yuan payment between october 2022 and January 2023.

myanmar and Bangladesh inked another moU this september, according to which Bangladesh agreed to buy 250,000 tonnes of white rice and 50,000 tonnes of parboiled from myanmar between 2022 and 2027.

myanmar plans to export a total of 200,000 tonnes of rice to Bangladesh under a G-to-G agreement. The first shipment was directly made by the Ayeyarwady international industrial Port (AiiP) in Pathein of Ayeyarwady region, and 10,565 tonnes of rice out of the targeted 200,000 tonnes has been exported from 2 to 22 November.

Deputy Director U Tun Tun from the Consumer Affairs Department commented on the benefits to farmers and businessmen due to direct export, said there was an instruction to export 20,000 tonnes as the first batch and 40,000 tonnes as the second batch, totalling 60,000 tonnes.

The respective ministry and export companies are working together to ensure the quality of export rice and fast shipping. rice mills in

According to the Government-to-Government, Bangladesh has been purchasing myanmar’s white rice. The country has shipped rice directly from Pathein industrial City since 2 November 2022. Between 1 and 8 December, 5,260 tonnes of rice were loaded onto the two ships in the second batch and the mCL-12 ship carrying 2,650 tonnes of rice departed in the morning of 8 December from the Ayeyarwady international industrial Port AiiP in Pathein industrial City, Ayeyarwady region, to Bangladesh.

earlier, myanmar conveyed rice to Bangladesh through Yangon Port and Thilawa terminals. in the first batch from 2 to 22 November 2022, 10,565 tonnes of Aemahta rice (fiveper-cent broken) were shipped by four ships directly from Pathein city to Bangladesh. The country delivered 2,610 tonnes on 1 December and 2,650 tonnes on 8 December in the second batch, totalling 5,260 tonnes. on 7 December, the mCL-18 ship arrived at the Ayeyarwady international industrial Port and further exports are to be undertaken.

myanmar’s white rice direct delivery from Ayeyarwady region to Bangladesh was an accumulated 15,825 tonnes, with 10,565 tonnes in the first batch and 5,260 in the second.

“The main export item from Pathein Port is rice. if Bangladesh buys corn in addition to rice, there is an adequate supply of corn in the region. myanmar has indicated readiness to export corn depending on the market demand. The rice shipment for the second batch has finished. “We plan to export agricultural products from Ayeyarwady region to foreign trading partners. For the initial stage, efforts are being made to complete the rice shipment first,” said U Tun Tun, deputy director of the Ayeyarwady region Consumers Affairs Department.

earlier, the second batch of rice shipment was slated for the second week of December. However, myanmar managed to ship the rice in the first week to Bangladesh as rice outputs from Ayeyarwady region increased.All the stakeholders involved in the supply chain, including the Ayeyarwady region Government, departments concerned and private businessmen, are being exerted upon to meet the rice demand of Bangladesh and ship directly from the region. The direct rice shipment from Ayeyarwady region, myanmar’s rice bowl, to the foreign markets brings about economic opportunities for rice millers, farmers and traders and employment opportunities for local communities.

The writer is a freelance columnist

Editor’s mail

Sindh police failure

THe police force is believed to be the guard against all evils or wrongdoings in society. However, it has failed to do its assigned duty in sindh as is evident from increased rate of crimes in the province. Having said that, there are reasons behind such a failure.

First, the department is politicised, like many others, and is meant to serve the will and interests of the ruling elite. it is controlled by politicians who exploit its functions for their own benefits. The department does whatever it is asked to do by the politicians. The head of the department is also appointed on the basis of ‘approval’ from the ‘right’ quarters rather than the relevant quarters on the basis of merit. if he goes against his supposed masters, he gets sidelined and is replaced by someone who is ‘loyal’.

second, it faces failure owing to insufficient resources and obsolete technology. The police department is given less priority in budgets. This hinders the performance of its duties. The weapons the policemen carry do not match the lethality of those that the criminals usually have. in certain areas known as hubs of crimes and hideouts of criminals, policemen are reluctant to carry out even basic surveillance as their armoured personnel carriers (APCs) and weapons have often been snatched during raids.

moreover, it does not have the latest technology that may help it trace, detect and gather information of criminals and their hideouts.

Third, it seems that the police department is not willing to take action against criminals for some reason. officers usually are busy in enjoying perks, and care less about the safety and protection of the citizens. They are not motivated to control crimes. resultantly, people’s trust in police is eroding and they perceive the force as a partner in crime. it is time the police department focused on regaining the trust of the people by taking proper professional steps. on their part, the authorities concerned should take care of the various stumbling blocks hindering the performance of the force.

RASHID ALI DOOL THUL

Smog in Lahore

LAHore is one of the most polluted cities on the planet. its air quality index is higher compared to the other cities across the country. several thousand cases of lung diseases are caused by air pollution. Unfortunately, there is no long-term plan in place for things to get any better.

Three to five million tonnes of crop residue is burnt on the Pakistani side of Punjab, while the indian region burns around 15 million tonnes annually. The pollution on our side can be controlled with strict implementation of laws. However, the burning of crop residue on the indian side may be a bit challen-ging, requiring Pakistan to invoke the relevant international laws in this regard. There has been an ongoing debate about carbon emissions from large factories. While it plays a great role, it is not the only factor contributing to the seriously bad air quality. it is high time the factories transformed and prevented emission of greenhouse gases. But, considering the current political and economic state of the country, this transition may take some time. in the meanwhile, the government may introduce and implement laws on waste burning. Also, vehicles should be checked for on-road emissions and heavy fines must be imposed on those that cross the limit.

ISA SWALEH KHAN KARACHI

Vaccination anomaly

i recently got my Covid vaccination certificate from the designated portal of the National Database and registration Authority (Nadra) and was surprised to see an extra entry on my certificate. i had taken my first dose of vaccine on may 1, 2021, followed by a second dose on may 29. After a passage of about six months, i got a booster dose on Jan 3, 2022.

All these three entries are correctly reflected on my certificate. But then the certificate also shows another booster dose entry on July 2, 2022, related to some remote place in sindh which is not known to me. i have never been to this place, leave alone going there to have myself vaccinated.

Also, in my wife’s certificate, a fake entry from the same place on a different date is shown. Whenever we went for vaccination, we went together and it was done on the same date and from the same place. The Nadra higher-ups should look into the matter.

M VAQARUDDIN KARACHI

CSS exam reforms

eVerY year thousands of aspirants sit the Central superior services (Css) examination conducted by the Federal Public service Commission (FPsC) to become part of the country’s civil services. However, hardly about two per cent of the applicants are able to pass the competitive examination (Ce). Why do majority of the candidates fail to qualify the test?

There are two schools of thought on this issue. one says that those who fail to qualify the examination are not well prepared and their writing skills are not up to mark. if this is the case, why do those who have qualified the test once fail to pass it in their next attempt? moreover, those who have passed the examination are often found saying that they qualified owing to nothing but a stroke of luck.

The other school of thought believes that the Ce process is not transparent and objective. it leaves the candidates at the mercy of lady luck. They are of the opinion that since thousands of candidates appear in the test, it is difficult to give reasonable time and focus to every paper, and that leads to errors in the checking and marking process. such mistakes, howsoever small they may well be, can ruin the career of many eligible candidates and deprive the state of efficient future civil servants.

it is high time the FPsC reformed its examination process. in this regard the commission can learn a lot from india’s Union Public service Commission (UPsC) which faced similar problems, and resolved the issue by increasing the number of attempts from three to four. it also introduced a preliminary test of 200 marks based on multiple-choice questions (mCQs), and 50pc marks are now required to pass the preliminary test which also entails negative marking. After these reforms, the number of applicants for the main examination decreased drastically and the burden of paper checking decreased, and transparency and objectivity improved.

if we care about the future of our young generation, which should be the case, such and other possible reforms are imperative.

TASAWAR ALI

tILLotAMA RAnI CHARULAtA

Bangladesh gets its staple, Myanmar develops the Ayeyarwady region

Is a global recessIon really around the corner?

have no fundamental value whatsoever.

a 50% chance of a recession in 2023 and a 75% chance of it happening at some point during the next two years.

Project SyndicAte JEFFREY FRANKEL

tHE world’s leading economists spent most of 2022 convincing themselves that, if the global economy was not already in a recession, it was about to fall into one. But with the year’s end, the global slump has been postponed to 2023.

Clearly, the reports that the United states was in recession during the first half of the year were premature, especially given how tight the Us labor market is. and, despite the confidence with which many again proclaim the inevitability of a downturn, the chances of one in the coming year are well below 100%. But, owing to the rapid interest-rate hikes by the Us Federal reserve and other major central banks, there is something like

Europe, hit hard by soaring energy prices, is more likely to head into a recession, which conventional wisdom defines as two consecutive quarters of GDP decline. China, however, seems to be in even worse shape. It has the same problems as Europe, plus a collapsing property sector and a surge in COVID-19 cases, owing to the Chinese government’s recent decision to reopen the economy without a sufficient vaccination push.

While China’s growth next year is expected to be far slower than the historic pace it has become accustomed to over the past four decades, it is unlikely that its GDP will contract for two quarters. after all, even an eight-percentage-point decrease in Chinese GDP growth during the peak of the 2008 global financial crisis was not enough to cause its domestic output to shrink in absolute terms. This is yet another example of the flaws in defining recession by the rule of two consecutive quarters of negative GDP growth.

Moreover, many countries’ current economic woes are self-inflicted, owing to pol-

icy errors that have been as harmful as they were predictable. Between 2011 and 2021, for example, Europe needlessly deepened its dependence on russian natural gas, leaving it exceedingly vulnerable when the Kremlin launched its war against Ukraine. Likewise, China’s draconian zero-COVID policy came at a high economic cost, while the absence of a plan for how to ease pandemic restrictions meant that China’s containment strategy merely postponed COVID mortalities.

The Us, for its part, has made numerous mistakes, including willingly relinquishing its leadership of the liberal international order and ignoring the World Trade Organization and the trade frameworks that its members had negotiated over many years. Former President Donald Trump’s tariffs were wrong, yet President Joe Biden has done little to reverse them. In fact, the “buy american” provisions in his otherwise-laudable Inflation reduction act flout WTO rules.

While the expected adverse effects of higher interest rates are not yet evident, there are signs that the “everything bubble” has finally burst. Us stock prices peaked in January 2021 and have been trending downward

city of god, 20 years on

since. Bonds, real estate, and emerging-market assets are all down for the year as well.

In July 2021, I argued that there was a 90% chance that the asset bubbles dominating financial markets would burst. Historically high valuations – relative to dividends, earnings, or incomes – were an obvious indicator, although real and even nominal interest rates were zero or negative this time last year. a low discount rate meant that virtually any asset-price level could be rationalized as the present discounted value of future income.

This year began with four kinds of assets more clearly screaming, “I am a bubble”: meme stocks like Gamestop, cryptocurrencies, nFTs, and special-purpose acquisition companies. Each was innovative, although not necessarily in a good way, and all collapsed by the end of the year.

But should savvy investors see these declines as opportunities and “buy the dip”? Given that stock prices are not yet back to where they were three years ago, on the eve of the pandemic, it is reasonable to assume that they might fall further before they are in line with economic fundamentals. The same might be said of cryptocurrencies, which

SEVERAL OTHERS (MOSTLY UPPER-CLASS SCHOLARS, SOME OF WHOM CLEARLY VIEW THE POOR MERELY AS A SUBJECT OF STUDY RATHER THAN REAL PEOPLE) ACCUSED THE MOVIE OF ‘GLAMOURISING’ POVERTY AND VIOLENCE THROUGH ITS ‘HIGHLY STYLISED’ DEPICTION OF FAVELA LIFE

played in transforming this suburban neighbourhood (purpose-built to try and keep the poor outside the centre) into a place where laws do not apply, justice is never achieved and no one can ever truly feel safe. Today, regrettably, the state of Brazil’s favelas is perhaps much worse.

Paramilitary groups composed of former policemen and firefighters are seizing control of these neighbourhoods. In some cases these militias are working together with drug gangs, in others, they are viciously fighting them. Just like was the case in the movie, all this is happening in the deliberate absence of state control.

nities for economic mobility in Brazil for those born into poverty, even after they achieve remarkable success in their chosen field of work.

Of course, despite its overwhelming success and undeniable impact, City of God is not above criticism. In fact, it was harshly criticised by many – including real-life residents of the City of God favela – as soon as it was released.

While next year will be rough for the world economy, the coming slump probably should not qualify as a recession, even considering that the two-consecutive-quarters criterion is too narrow. Global growth in the postwar period has seldom fallen below zero for a single quarter, let alone two. By that measure, the severe oil-shockinduced downturns of 1974 and 1981 do not qualify as global recessions. Even in times of apparent recession, positive growth among emerging and developing economies tends to outweigh advanced economies’ negative growth, the two notable exceptions being the 2008 global financial crisis and the 2020 COVID-19 crisis. While the OECD and International Monetary Fund expect global growth to plunge to 2.2-2.7% in 2023, from 6.1% in 2021, that still leaves the world economy unlikely to shrink for consecutive quarters.

Even if we adopt less strict measures of defining a global recession, such as a decline of GDP growth below 2.5%, a 2023 global recession is hardly a foregone conclusion. Is it possible? Of course. But it is also entirely avoidable.

Iran says nuclear deal stIll ‘on the table’

Al Monitor

Al jAzeerA GAbRiEL LEão

IT has been 20 years since the Brazilian crime epic, City of God, hit theatres for the first time and put Brazilian favelas and their unique structures of power, race and class under the global spotlight.

set in rio’s infamous Cidade de Deus (City of God) suburb between the end of 1960s and the beginning of 1980s, the film tells the stories of several interconnected characters struggling to escape violence and poverty from the point of view of a dark-skinned favela dweller nicknamed “rocket”.

Directed by Fernando Meirelles and Kátia Lund, the film received widespread critical acclaim as soon as it was released and secured four Oscar nominations in 2003. In the years that followed, it came to be seen by many as the definitive motion picture of modern Brazil and one of the greatest films of the 21st century.

City of God won hearts and minds in Brazil and abroad alike for many different reasons. First of all, the story, adapted from the 1997 novel of the same name written by afro-Brazilian author Paulo Lins, allowed for a realistic depiction of favela life. It presented those living in the City of God neither as blameless “victims of society” nor as senseless thugs who chose violence, but as real people trying to navigate their difficult circumstances as best as they can. It allowed moviegoers to glimpse at the narrow alleyways and poorly constructed homes of the City of God, and the extreme violence and poverty that defines them, through the eyes of people actually living there. While the movie looks much like a Hollywood blockbuster and is highly stylised, it still feels authentic, perhaps due to most of its cast being comprised of modern-day residents of the favela depicted in the movie.

In the 20 years since its release, City of God not only aged well but remained very current – the issues it depicts are still as salient as ever before.

Indeed, poverty and extreme inequality are still chief problems in rio de Janeiro. In favelas like City of God, the many struggles caused by poverty are exacerbated by police brutality and corruption, addiction, racism and – as it was very subtly depicted in the film -the condescending attitudes of the liberal white middle class towards the poor.

The film depicts a favela in the grip of organised crime in the 1970s and underlines the role corrupt police officers

The personal hardships encountered in the film by rocket and other characters such as Knockout ned (seu Jorge) when they attempt to make an honest living also underscore the realities of favela life today. In the movie City of God, these characters are condemned to the peripheries of Brazilian society due to their social class and favela addresses. Moreover, they are held back by structural racism. Today, the same obstacles and prejudices are keeping countless favela youths from being able to break the cycle of poverty and lawlessness and build a different life for themselves.

Consequences of this debilitating lack of opportunity can also be observed in the lives of City of God actors who hail from backgrounds similar to that of the characters they brought to life.

I recently got the opportunity to interview alexandre rodrigues, the actor who played rocket, for a magazine profile. During our conversation, he recalled how shocked he was by the luxuries he encountered during the trips he took outside of rio in the early 2000s to promote the film. He talked of the cold awakening he and other cast members experienced when they returned to rio after these trips and truly realised the extent of poverty they have been surrounded by in their home city – one of the most unequal in the world. sadly, their backgrounds which made them perfect for their role in City of God also held them back in their careers. rodrigues, for example, managed to build himself a respectable acting career over the years but never reached superstardom the way an actor who played the leading role in “one of the best movies of the 21st century” would be expected to. In fact, in 2016, it was revealed that rodrigues was driving an Uber to make ends meet, which triggered a conversation on the apparent lack of opportu-

One of the movie’s harshest critics was rapper MV Bill. a City of God resident himself, Bill strongly argued that the film reinforced prejudices about favelas for dramatic effect. He claimed that favela residents were presented in the movie as the “animalistic other” -a typical depiction of those who are dark-skinned and live in developing contexts. Meanwhile, several others (mostly upper-class scholars, some of whom clearly view the poor merely as a subject of study rather than real people) accused the movie of “glamourising” poverty and violence through its “highly stylised” depiction of favela life. However, watching this movie never made me (and I suspect anyone else) want to move into a favela and live the difficult life experienced by the likes of rocket. It was masterfully shot and edited in a way that pleases the eye, but it in no way serves as a tourism advertisement for the favela.

That City of God is a movie as relevant today as it was 20 years ago speaks to its timelessness as a work of art. But beyond that, it demonstrates how in the years since this masterpiece put Brazil’s favelas under a global spotlight nothing has been done to prevent the tragedy depicted in the movie from repeating itself. Indeed, countless innocent children are still growing up amid abject poverty, uncontrolled violence and a deep sense of injustice in favelas across Brazil today.

On the 20th anniversary of its release, City of God might be Brazil’s magnum opus, not only because it is one of the best, most impactful movies the country ever produced, but also because it lays bare an ugly truth about our nation we rather not have mentioned in our middle-class homes, let alone in the international arena.

Gabriel Leão is a journalist based in São Paulo, Brazil. Leão has written for outlets in the UK, the US and Brazil. He holds a Master’s degree in Communications and a postgrad degree in Foreign Relations.

Iran’s Foreign Ministry spokesperson nasser Kanani criticized the Us approach to the ongoing nuclear talks. addressing Iranian journalists at a press conference, Kanani said that the United states is “two-sided and contradictory in its approach” on reviving the Iran nuclear deal, the Joint Comprehensive Plan of action (JCPOa). He added that while the United states publicly expresses “negative positions,” the messages sent to Iran via intermediaries are different.

Kanani added that the “agreement is still on the table and the window is still open.” Iran refers to the currently stalled negotiations as “the talks to remove sanctions.”

Discussing the Baghdad II conference held in Jordan last week, Kanani said, “It was a good opportunity to conduct negotiations between Iran and senior European Union negotiators.” He added that the conclusion of those talks was “to continue to find a path to the final steps.”

Kanani’s comment on the United states’ public negativity was likely in reference to a recently surfaced video of President Joe Biden speaking on the sidelines of an election rally nov. 4, where he said that the nuclear deal was “dead.” Biden campaigned on restoring the JCPOa, which limits Iran’s nuclear capabilities in return for sanctions relief. Biden’s predecessor Donald Trump exited the deal in 2018.

Biden’s efforts to restore the deal have been met by a number of setbacks. Iran’s current hard-liner president took the country toward on a maximalist approach, seeking Us guarantees not to leave the deal again — a promise no Us president could offer given the nature of how sanctions are applied.

In the last few months, Iran has also been rocked by protests. More than 500 people have been killed and thousands have been arrested since they began sept. 16. Two individuals accused of attacking security personnel during the protests have been executed and a dozen more have either been sentenced or are charged with crimes that carry the death penalty.

Jeffrey Frankel, Professor of Capital Formation and Growth at Harvard University, previously served as a member of President Bill Clinton’s Council of Economic Advisers. He is a research associate at the US National Bureau of Economic Research.

WHILE THERE ARE SIGNS THAT THE “EVERYTHING BUBBLE” IS ABOUT TO BURST, LEADING ECONOMISTS’ PREDICTIONS THAT THE WORLD ECONOMY IS HEADED TOWARD A MAJOR SLUMP IN THE COMING YEAR SEEM PREMATURE

According to Iran’s Foreign Ministry, the nuclear deal could still be restored

ShehBAz RememBeRS BeNAzIR’S vIBRANcy oN deATh ANNIveRSARy —‘cRUSAdeR foR RIghTS’

ISLAMABAD staff report

THEprime minister on Tuesday paid tribute to slain Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) chairperson Benazir Bhutto on the 15th anniversary of her assassination, saying the former prime minister was a “crusader for human rights and democracy”. Shehbaz Sharif said Bhutto left an indelible mark on Pakistan’s politics and the void left by her tragic death has widened over the years.

Bhutto, a charismatic and controversial politician who served twice as prime minister between 1988 and 1997, was killed in a shooting and bomb attack as she left a political rally in Rawalpindi in December 2007, two months after she returned from exile to contest the national elections.

The PPP government of Sindh has declared December 27 as a public holiday to mark the event, according to a notification issued by the province earlier this month.

In his statement, the prime minister said

the “black day [of her death] is unforgettable”.

“Benazir Bhutto is a shining example of democratic and political struggle who sacrificed her life while fighting for the rights of people,” he said. As the first woman prime minister of the Islamic world, hers was a fascinating

story of the lifelong struggle, Sharif said. “We pay tribute to the historical services of Benazir Bhutto for the country, people, and democracy.”

The prime minister also recalled that the supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N), Nawaz Sharif, and Bhutto

Benazir Bhutto’s 15th death anniversary observed

RAWALPINDI:

The 15th death anniversary of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP)’s chairperson and former prime minister Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was observed here on Tuesday with a pledge to continue her mission. Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis Sardar Saleem Haider Khan, while speaking on the occasion as chief guest, said that Bibi Shaheed devoted her life to the people and created awareness among the masses about their rights. “Benazir wanted to strengthen democracy in the country and was martyred in the struggle for the rights of the poor," he said, adding that she introduced politics of reconciliation in the country. He said that Benazir never hesitated in raising the voice of oppressed segments of the society. "We renew the pledge that the party would keep raising voice for the welfare of an ordinary man. Quran Khawani was held at Liaquat Bagh, and fateha was offered for the departed leader. PPP leaders, including Managing Director Pakistan Bait-ul-Maal Amir Fida, Mian Khurram Rasool, Malik Khalid Bobby, Raja Kamran Hussain, Raja Altaf, Sardar Nasir, Nasir Mir, Jameel Qureshi, Sohail Mukhtar and ex-nazims and naib nazims attended the function. People Students Federation (PSF), People Youth Organisation (PYO), Lady Wing (LW) Peoples Lawyers Forum (PLF), and Peoples Unity of PIA also participated in the event. The two-time prime minister of Pakistan, and the first woman prime minister of a Muslim country, Shaheed Benazir Bhutto was assassinated in a terrorist attack on Dec 27, 2007, while she was leaving after addressing a public meeting at Liaqat Bagh, Rawalpindi. app

corporate corner

gave the nation the “historical gift” of the socalled charter of democracy that he claimed started a new era in the country’s politics.

The two agreed to the document in 2006 which set out constitutional amendments and other reforms aimed at enshrining democracy to rid politics of the old military-bureaucratic establishment.

Bhutto and Sharif were bitter rivals in the 1990s when they alternated as prime ministers. Both were accused of corruption and served two terms over a tumultuous period that ended when then-army chief Pervez Musharraf ousted Sharif in a bloodless 1999 coup.

It was the first time in Pakistan’s history

that the two main parties had come together. Sharif termed the document a landmark achievement of the political vision of Pakistan’s leaders which ushered in a new political culture and tradition in Pakistan.

He said Bhutto took a bold and clear stand against militancy and her assassination showed the nation’s determination against the menace. She also rendered immense services for the strengthening of national defence, constitutional institutions and for social welfare, he added.

The prime minister extended condolences to her family, including her husband Asif Ali Zardari and son Bilawal Bhutto.

BB’s struggle for Constitution, democracy to be always remembered: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD: Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Tuesday that Shaheed Benazir Bhutto's struggle for the Constitution, the Parliament, democracy, people's rights and social improvement will always be remembered. Paying homage to former Prime Minister and Chairperson of Pakistan People's Party Benazir Bhutto on her martyrdom day, Marriyum Aurangzeb said in a statement that Benazir Bhutto had a unique personality. Marriyum said that Benazir handled the relationships of a brave daughter, mother, wife and sister with great virtue and courage even in very difficult circumstances. Terming the slain PPP chairperson as an example of sagacity,bravery and struggle in politics she said until her last breath, Benazir Bhutto continued to fight for the unity, development and prosperity of Pakistan as a chain of the federation. She was an inspiration for women political activists who always challenged the dictatorship, she maintained. Marriyum said that Benazir Bhutto also suffered a lot in her personal life but those difficulties made her political and democratic struggle more powerful and energetic. Her martyrdom was a great loss to Pakistan which the nation will never forget, Marriyam said.

"Today we also pay tribute to former President Zardari who strengthened the unity of Pakistan by chanting 'Pakistan Khappay" slogan, she said.

Marriyum extended condolences to all the family members including former President Asif Zardari, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Bakhtawar and Asifa Bhutto Zardari.

She prayed to Allah Almighty to rest the departed soul in eternal peace and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with fortitude. app

IcI Pakistan changes its name to ‘Lucky core Industries Ltd’

Pakistan

and

Uzbekistan to strengthen cooperation in field of plant quarantine

dalfa cattle Show offers big opportunities to cattle & milk industry

A special team from the University of Veterinary & Animal Science (UVAS) will provide training to local farmers at Dalfa Cattle Show for adoption of modern techniques for value addition in order to contribute to the GDP.

The team comprising Vice Chancellor Prof. Dr. Nasim Ahmed, Project Director Dr. M Junaid and few other experts will hold training sessions on milk value addition. This training session will be part of the seminar on milk value addition, technology advancement in milk processing & packaging, farm management, animal health & nutrition, and awareness on government policies. pr

Karachi: We are pleased to announce that the name of ICI Pakistan Limited has changed to ‘Lucky Core Industries Limited’ as disclosed to the Pakistan Stock Exchange on December 23, 2022. Drawing on its core strengths, the Company’s new name embodies its central role in Delivering Enduring Value through a diverse portfolio of essential products that are at the ‘core’ of almost every industry and a part of every home in Pakistan.

Transitioning to its new identity, ‘Lucky Core Industries’, further aligns the organisation with its holding company, Lucky Cement Limited – a part of the YBG – a progressive and diversified Pakistani conglomerate. pr

News channels taken over by schoolgirls to highlight importance of education

Bank Alfalah wins ‘Best Investor Relations’ award, for 9th year in a row

Karachi: It is no secret that women in Pakistan are deprived of their basic right to education. The Global Gender Gap Report placed the country at the 145th rank out of 156. UN Women stated that 53.6% of women had limited access to education, training, and employment in Pakistan. These facts would have remained ignored, but a hijacked news segment stressed the importance of girls' education and shared the progress of the educational sector in Pakistan. On 23rd December, young schoolgirls took over leading Pakistani news channels and shared how the literacy rate of the country has gone up by 4 points in the last three years, standing at 62.3%. They highlighted how the distribution of funds for girls’ schools has led to an increase in the literacy rate in Pakistan. New schools in the areas with low literacy rates were mentioned in their news bulletin. pr

NSU Islamabad will support Technology Institutions in Balochistan

According to Engr. Taren, Balochistan is blessed with healthy youth eager to contribute to the nation's prosperity. There is a dire need to equip this workforce with the necessary job/entrepreneurial skills to be beneficial citizens inside the country or go abroad to earn decent livelihoods besides bringing much-needed remittance to the nation. pr

JICA to extend support to worst flood affected districts of Punjab, KP

ISLAMABAD staff report

The government of Japan and the Japan International Cooperation Agency (JICA) Pakistan office decided to extend its support to the worst floodaffected districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa.

“JICA Pakistan office extended its support to the flood-affected districts of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces by providing in total 9000 mosquito nets, 80,000 ORS and 400,000 water purification tablets,”

said a news release on Tuesday.

In Punjab, the target districts are Dera Ghazi Khan and Rajanpur while in KPK, the target districts are Kohistan, DI Khan, Tank, Nowshera and Charsada. The expected beneficiaries of this support are around 80,000 families with pregnant or lactating women and children under five.

According to the Post Disaster Need Assessment (PDNA) on Pakistan Floods 2022, around 650,000 pregnant women are facing challenges in getting access to maternal services; nearly 4 million children lack access to health

services and substantial increase in communicable diseases such as diarrhea, malaria, dengue and cholera has been observed. In this regard particular attention should be given to pregnant and lactating women and children under five. JICA support will help these vulnerable segments of society and will also help in reducing the outbreaks of communicable diseases.

JICA is utilizing its ongoing technical cooperation projects “The Project for Strengthening Maternal and Newborn Health Care in Punjab” and “The Project for Strengthening Continuum

of Care for Mothers, Newborn and Child Health in Primary Health Care Settings in KP” to provide its above said support to flood affected districts of both the provinces.

Earlier, the government of Japan provided USD 7 million as an emergency grant to address the immediate impact of the floods in September 2022. In addition, the government announced another grant assistance of USD 38.9 million to Pakistan as part of Japan’s supplementary budget to deliver life-saving aid to the flood victims on December 2, 2022.

islamabad: Ministry of National Food Security and Research and Agency of the Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan have agreed to further strengthen cooperation in the field of plant quarantine. In this regard, a ceremony was held at the ministry. Ibrohim Ergashev, Director General Agency of the Plant Protection and Quarantine of the Republic of Uzbekistan while representing the Uzbek side agreed to improve mechanisms of pest control measures between the two countries. pr

Youth and technology trainers in the far-flung areas of Pakistan will be facilitated to learn and popularize skills education across the country. Prof. Dr. Muhammad Mukhtar, Vice Chancellor of the National Skills University Islamabad, and Vice Chairman of National Technology Council stated this during a meeting with Engr Inayatullah Taren, Principal Govt College of Technology, Quetta.

Karachi: One of Pakistan’s largest commercial banks, Bank Alfalah, has been honoured with three prestigious awards in recognition of its exceptional banking performance, Investment Banking and investor relations at the 19th Annual Excellence Awards hosted by the CFA Society Pakistan in Karachi.

The bank was nominated in several categories and was awarded the ‘Best Investor Relations’ award for the 9th time in a row this year. pr

ChiNa tO ReSUMe OUtbOUNd tOURiSM, SCRap teStS, qUaRaNtiNe ON aRRival

ISLAmABAd MiAn AbRAR

CHINA’s Ministry of Foreign Affairs announced on Tuesday that starting from January 8, 2023, when the country begins to downgrade the management of COVID-19 from Class A to Class B, nucleic acid tests will no longer be carried out on people entering the country, and that those with normal health declarations will no longer undergo any special process.

China will gradually resume the entry and exit of passengers and commercial transport at land ports based on comprehensive assessment, the notice said.

The ministry also said that it will further optimize arrangements for foreigners returning to China for work resumption, business, study, family visits and reunions, and provide visa facilities accordingly. Also, in light of the international epidemic situation and the service support capacity of all sectors, China will plan to resume outbound tourism for Chinese nationals in an orderly manner.

According to the ministry, China will lift the load factor limit for international flights and increase the number of flights in phases. At the same time, airlines are requested to continue to prevent

COVID-19 infections on board, and passengers are required to wear masks.

According to the notice of interim measures for personnel exchanges between China and foreign countries issued by the ministry, persons with abnormal health declaration or fever and other symptoms shall still be subject to antigen detection by Customs.

If the results are positive, asymptomatic infected persons without serious underlying diseases or mild cases can enter home quarantine or manage their own care. In other cases, individuals are recommended to report to a hospital for diagnosis and treatment as soon as pos-

sible. If the results are negative, the Customs shall conduct routine quarantine inspection in accordance with the related laws and regulations.

To meet surging demand for crossborder tourism, China’s National Immigration Administration is set to resume the processing of Chinese mainland residents’ exit endorsements for travel to the HKSAR starting on January 8.

Both inbound and outbound demand travel immediately started to skyrocket on Tuesday. According to data released on Tuesday by the Chinese major travel agency Ctrip, inbound ticket orders to the Chinese mainland

rose 412 percent from the same period on Monday, and they were 1.6 times higher than outbound ticket orders. The average price of inbound air tickets rose 8.6 percent month-on-month.

Ctrip said that a rush back from the West is underway, and it is price-insensitive, noting that this trend is likely to see a gradual increase as cross-border travel continues to pick up.

Data from Ctrip also showed that the impact of the new policy on travel spending was swift. Within half an hour following the policy announcement, the number of searches for popular overseas destinations on Ctrip’s platform surged by 10 times, and searches for outbound air tickets and overseas hotels (including those from China’s Hong Kong and Macao special administrative regions and Taiwan region) reached three-year peaks.

Singapore, South Korea, Japan and Thailand as well as the HKSAR saw the highest growth in air ticket orders, becoming the top five most popular destinations for Chinese, according to Ctrip.

A staff member of the Beijing Customs District told the Global Times on Tuesday that the office is much busier receiving consulting calls and it is wellprepared to welcome a boom of crossborder travelers.

Webb telescope promises new age of stars

PARIS Afp

US not to succeed in suppressing multipolar world order: Russian FM

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov said Monday that Washington’s attempts to preserve its complete ideological hegemony, stop the course of history, and suppress the formation of multipolar world order will fail.

“Everything that we are currently seeing in Europe… everything that we are seeing on other continents, where U.S. messengers are demanding every state to adopt an antiRussian position, join sanctions, and stop communication with Russian representatives, all this is a reflection of that very attempt to establish the end of history,” Lavrov was quoted by TASS news agency as saying.

However, the course of history cannot be stopped, and Washington’s attempt to suppress the formation of a multipolar world and establish irrevocable dominance will most certainly fail, he said during an interview with the heads of Russian media outlets.

Lavrov noted that in the near future, the West will have less leverage and reduced opportunity when it comes to “steering the global economy,” and will be forced to negotiate with other countries. The minister said that Moscow will certainly not “chase after the West,” but focus on developing cooperation with countries that have remained trustworthy instead of deceitful.

The James Webb Space Telescope lit up 2022 with dazzling images of the early universe after the Big Bang, heralding a new era of astronomy and untold revelations about the cosmos in years to come.

The most powerful observatory sent into space succeeded the Hubble telescope, which is still operating, and began transmitting its first cosmic images in July.

“It essentially behaves better than expected in almost every area,” said Massimo Stiavelli, head of the Webb mission office at the Space Telescope Science Institute, in Baltimore.

Already scientists say the Webb telescope, now orbiting the sun at a million miles (1.6 million kilometres) from Earth, should last 20 years, twice its guaranteed lifetime.

“The instruments are more efficient, the optics are sharper and more stable. We have more fuel and we use less fuel,” said Stiavelli. Stability is vital for image clarity.

“Our requirement was similar to that of Hubble, in terms of pointing accuracy.

And we ended up being seven times better,” the mission office chief added.

The public appetite for the discoveries has been fed by the colouring of the telescope’s images.

Light from the most distant galaxies has been stretched from the visible spectrum, viewable by the naked eye, to infrared — which Webb is equipped to observe with unprecedented resolution.

This enables the telescope to detect the faintest glimmers from the distant universe at an unprecedented resolution, to see through the veil of dust that masks the emergence of stars in a nebula and to analyse

the atmosphere of exoplanets, which orbit stars outside our solar system.

18 PETalS: “The first year (of observation) is a way to test out the tool for the small rocky planets in the habitable zone that could potentially be like Earth,” said Lisa Kaltenegger, associate professor in Astronomy at Cornell University.

“And the tests are beautiful. They’re spectacular.” Webb blasted off aboard an Ariane 5 rocket at the end of 2021, crowning a 30-year project at the US space agency NASA.

It took 10,000 people and $10 billion to put the 6.2tonne observatory into space.

‘Once-in-a-lifetime’ blizzard kills at least 27 in western New York

BUFFALO ReuteRs

A blizzard that paralysed western New York over the Christmas weekend has killed more than two dozen people, local officials said on Monday, as crews struggled to dig out the snow-bound region around Buffalo from its fiercest winter storm in decades.

With snow continuing to fall on top of more than 4 feet (1.2 meters) dumped on Buffalo since the blizzard took shape on Friday, New York’s second-largest city stood as ground zero for a storm the governor called an “epic, once-in-a-lifetime” weather disaster.

The toll of confirmed storm-related deaths climbed to 27 in Buffalo and the rest of Erie County on Monday, from 13 the night before. The fatalities included cases of people found in snow banks and in cars or who had died from cardiac stress while plowing or blowing snow, county executive Mark Poloncarz said.

The county issued a “Shovel Smart” alert warning that the over-exertion from “shoveling heavy, wet snow can cause back injuries and heart attacks.”

At least 60 lives have been lost in weather-related incidents nationwide, according to an NBC News tally, from an arctic deep freeze and sprawling storm front that extended over most of the United States for days, as far south as the Mexican border.

The larger storm system has wreaked havoc with travel across the country over the holiday weekend, stranding passengers as thousands of flights were canceled.

The greater Buffalo region, on the edge of Lake Erie near the Canadian border, was hardest hit.

Nearly 50 inches (1.27 meters) of snow was measured at Buffalo Airport as of Monday morning, according to the National Weather Service.

Although blinding winds that created white-out conditions for more than two days had abated by Monday, snow kept coming down, with accumulations of up to a foot (30 cm) more forecast through Tuesday in areas south of Buffalo and north of Syracuse.

RESCUE EFFORTS PERSIST: Roadways remained littered with cars, buses, ambulances, tow trucks and even plows buried beneath towering drifts, complicating efforts to clear snow-blanketed streets and reach stranded residents in need of medical care. Authorities deployed high-lift tractors as hospital transports.

Despite a ban on personal road travel that remained in effect on Monday, hundreds of motorists had to be rescued from their vehicles over the weekend

A few of the grocery stores that had been closed for days reopened on Monday, and people trekked more than a mile (1.6 km) through the middle of otherwise impassable streets to get there.

The severity of the storm, notable for a region accustomed to harsh winter weather, grew out of a combination of meteorological factors that supercharged one another.

Howling winds, numbing cold and “lake-effect” snow — the result of moisture picked up by frigid air moving over warmer lake waters — produced a storm that New York Governor Kathy Hochul said would go down in history as “the Blizzard of ’22.”

She and local officials ranked it as the worst Buffaloarea snowstorm since a 1977 blizzard that killed nearly 30 people.

CPC leadership stresses implementing spirit of 20th CPC National Congress

MiAn AbRAR

The Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee stressed strengthening political building and implementing the spirit of the 20th CPC National Congress in a two-day “democratic life meeting” that concluded on Tuesday in Beijing.

“The democratic life meeting,” a longtime CPC tradition, saw members of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee reflect on their own performance and criticize themselves and each other.

Chaired by Chinese President Xi Jinping, also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee, the meeting highlighted unity to implement the important decisions and plans set at the Party’s National Congress.

EmbaRkIng On a nEw jOURnEy: The Party’s National Congress took place at

a critical time as the entire Party and the Chinese people embarked on a new journey of achieving full socialist modernization of China by the centenary of the People’s Republic in 2049, known as the “Second Centenary Goal.” The CPC Central Committee, with Xi Jinping at its core, has united the Chinese people of all ethnic groups to face down the risks and challenges and has led them in coordinating epidemic prevention and control with economic and social development, said a statement issued after the “democratic life meeting.”

Throughout the year, the economy maintained growth, employment remained stable, and food security, energy security and people’s livelihood were effectively guaranteed, according to the statement.

The meeting stressed the importance of acquiring a deep understanding of the decisive significance of the establishment of both Comrade Xi Jinping’s core position on the

Party Central Committee and in the Party as a whole and the guiding role of Xi Jinping Thought on Socialism with Chinese Characteristics for a New Era, as the country embarks on the new journey.

UPhOldIng CEnTRal PaRTy lEadERShIP: Xi responded to the remarks delivered by every member of the Political Bureau, acknowledging the progress and raising further requirements.

He said the Political Bureau of the Party Central Committee should take the lead in upholding and strengthening the centralized, unified leadership of the Party Central Committee.

The CPC represents the fundamental interests of the overwhelming majority of the Chinese people, and it has no special interests of its own, nor has it ever represented the interests of any individual interest group, power group, or privileged stratum, he said.

He also urged the members of the Polit-

ISLAmABAd

ical Bureau of the CPC Central Committee to cultivate their self-discipline and take the lead in promoting clean governance and opposing privileges.

KARACHI TEST

NeW ZeAlANd opeNerS puT STroNg reSpoNSe To pAkiSTAN’S 438

the aSSociated pReSS

dEVON Conway and Tom Latham forged an unbroken opening partnership of 165 to lead New Zealand’s robust reply to Pakistan’s first-innings 438 in the opening Test in Karachi on Tuesday.

Conway was batting on 82 having completed 1,000 Test runs in 19 innings, the fastest by a New Zealand batsman.

Latham was on 78 with New Zealand, who scored at three-

and-a-half runs an over, still 273 behind.

After Pakistan resumed on 317-5 on day two, home captain Babar Azam fell in the first over but the lower order resisted strongly, led by Agha Salman’s maiden Test hundred.

Babar could not add to his overnight score of 161 and was caught behind off the bowling of Tim Southee but the collapse New Zealand wanted did not materialise.

Batting with the tailenders, Agha cleverly rotated the strike and brought up his hundred with

back-to-back fours off spinner Ish Sodhi.

Agha was the last Pakistan wicket to fall, trapped lbw by Southee (3-69) after trying to hit the bowler over midwicket.

Agha’s defiant 103 included 17 fours.

Conway and Latham denied Pakistan an early breakthrough and shared a century stand before the home side managed to create an opportunity.

Conway was on 57 when he attempted a cut shot against left-arm spinner Nauman Ali and Pakistan’s half-hearted ap-

peal for caught-behind was turned down.

Nauman looked convinced Conway had edged the ball, and replays later confirmed it, but Babar, who was standing in the slips, chose not to review the decision.

Conway and Latham had little difficulty dealing with young Pakistan spinner Abrar Ahmed, who claimed 17 wickets in two matches in his debut series against England this month.

Babar himself bowled three overs but his part-time off-spin failed to make the breakthrough.

Conditions in Pakistan are a real test for fast bowlers, says Tim Southee

New Zealand Test captain Tim Southee feels the conditions in Pakistan are a real test for the fast bowlers.

Southee was named Test captain after veteran Kane Williamson decided to go aside after more than six years in the job. Williamson had indicated that he will remain captain in white-ball cricket and would concentrate on the next limited-overs World Cups.

The fast bowler’s first duty as Test skipper will be on the Pakistan tour, which begins today in Karachi. “I don’t imagine too dissimilar to Kane; I played a lot of cricket with him and learned a lot from his captaincy and leadership

over 6-7 years he did the job; we’ve been closer together for the last how many years it has been,” Southee said in a video posted by the Pakistan Cricket Board. “So I can’t imagine too dissimilar, I think you take bits and pieces from captains and people in leadership roles that you’ve worked with in the past, and I guess put them into what works for you.”

When asked about bowling in Pakistan, where pitches are lower and slower than in New Zealand, Southee said he was looking forward to his first experience in the country.

“I certainly haven’t cracked the code, it is a very tough place to come as a pace bowler, and it is always a challenge. It is a new challenge, having played in Pakistan never before,

so I am looking forward to this. “It is great to test you as a bowler; as you say, it is so foreign to what we’re used to back home, and I guess as a player, you want to perform in various conditions worldwide. So yeah, it will be a tough tour for the seamers, and we have seen that in the cricket being played in Pakistan.

“I think the way England played was very impressive; they obviously got the players and style which works for them. They played very entertaining cricket coming here, which is a tough place to come and play, and they played some exceptional cricket. We will do our best to get the best out of our side here and the style which suits our players.”

Lingard slams Man United’s ‘false promises’

LOnDOn agencieS

Nottingham Forest midfielder Jesse Lingard said he was given “false promises” about playing time during his final year at Manchester United and is still in the dark over why he was used so sparingly.

uMT and lahore Qalandars Signs Mou

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Sameen

on behalf of

Qalandars while UMT President UMT Ibrahim Hasan Murad, Rector UMT Dr Asif Raza, GM Marketing Ahmer Shahzad, Head Participant Affairs Ali Mukhtar represented UMT. The ceremony started with the National Anthem. A MoU was signed between UMT and Lahore Qalandars according to which Lahore Qalandars will play friendly matches together with high achievers of UMT. Along with this, the UMT cricket team will have special training sessions at Qalandars High Performance Center (QHPC). The MoU was signed by President UMT Ibrahim Murad and CEO Lahore Qalandars Mr. Atif Rana. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and other guests including Atif Rana, Sameen Rana expressed their gratitude on the arrival at UMT and said that the enthusiasm of the students is admirable because we felt like we are present in the stadium. Lahore Qalandars also thanked President UMT for his warm welcome and said that Pakistan's No. 1 cricket team has come to Pakistan's No. 1 private university today. Speaking to the students, Shaheen Afridi said that PSL Trophy 2023 will be won by Lahore Qalandars once again. President UMT Ibrahim Murad expressed his views and said that for student grooming games are very important along with quality education. In the future, UMT and Lahore Qalandars will together outshine the name of Pakistan in the world of sports. Rector UMT Dr. Asif Raza welcomed Lahore Qalandars to UMT and expressed his views that UMT will soon be among the best universities in the world and the process of providing quality education to students is continuing successfully. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf and Atif Rana interacted with the students and answered their questions and also distributed signed shirts and cricket balls among the students.

Lingard, who joined United at the age of seven, had returned to Old Trafford last year after a successful loan spell at West Ham United, where he revived his career

with nine goals and five assists in half a season.

The 30-year-old played 232 times for his boyhood club but started only two Premier League games last season under former managers Ole Gunnar Solskjaer and Ralf Rangnick before he joined Forest on a free transfer earlier this year.

“I don’t know what the problem was, whether it was politics or whatever. I still haven’t got an answer to this day,” Lingard told The Telegraph ahead of Forest’s trip to United on Tuesday.

“I didn’t even ask. I’d rather that someone out of respect for me being there that long told me, ‘This is why you’re not playing’, but I never got that. It was false promises. I was training hard and I was sharp, I was ready to play … When you’re working hard in training and don’t play at the end of it, it’s very frustrating.” Forest are struggling in 19th place but Lingard hopes they can bounce back in the second half of the season.

“This is another chapter in my life, and a different challenge for me which I wanted,” he said.

“It will be an enjoyable one, but we want to win the game. You can’t get caught up too much emotionally. It’s a chance to say my goodbyes because I never really got that.”

Warner scores 200 in 100th Test as South Africa struggle

AgEnciEs

David Warner battled through searing

to hit an epic

200

Cricket Ground. On a scorching day, the hosts were 386-3 at stumps on day two of the second Test, leading by 197 after the Proteas were dismissed in their first innings for 189.

Travis Head was not out 48 with Alex Carey on nine. Steve Smith (85) and Marnus Labuschagne (14) were the only wickets to fall. But worryingly for Australia, Cameron Green, who took 5-27 in South Africa’s first innings, also retired hurt after a nasty rap on the finger from Anrich Nortje. Smith and Warner’s 239-run partnership took the game further away from South Africa, whose bowlers toiled in temperatures touching 37 degrees Celsius (98.6 Fahrenheit). Opener Warner, 36, snapped a near-three-year century drought in typically aggressive and gritty fashion, reaching three figures for a 25th time after coming into the game under pressure on a lean run.

Three high-performing teenagers added to Test squad

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

As part of its strategy and vision to develop, grow and incentivise high-performing talented youngsters, the Men’s Interim Selection Committee have added three top-performers from age-group cricket to the Pakistan Test squad with the objective of providing them international exposure and experience. The three players are: allrounder Arafat Minhas (Multan), toporder batter Basit Ali (Dera Murad Jamali) and right-arm fast bowler Mohammad Zeeshan (Faisalabad). Shahid Afridi, Chair of Men’s Interim Selection Committee said on Tuesday : “We are not only looking at present but also have an eye on the future.

Alcaraz ready to keep torch burning

The men’s “big four” may be history but two of its remaining members, Novak Djokovic and Rafa Nadal, kept offering stiff resistance to the next generation in a seismic year for tennis.

Swiss maestro Roger Federer had not played since the summer of 2021, so while his retirement in September, aged 41, was not unexpected, it still shocked. Especially as a few weeks earlier, Serena Williams, like Federer an icon whose impact transcended way beyond the tennis court, made an emotional farewell at the US Open aged 40.

Williams, whose 23 Grand Slam

singles titles make her in most people’s eyes the greatest female player ever – even if she ended one behind Margaret Court’s record – lost her third-round match to Australia Ajla Tomljanovic.

It prompted an outflow of tributes for the American whose journey, along with sister Venus, from the public courts of Compton in Los Angeles to more than two decades of dazzling domination, was the stuff of Hollywood fairytales. “Congratulations, Serena, for your heart, skill, intelligence, dedication, and grace,” former US president Barack Obama. “Few athletes have inspired more people both in and beyond their sport!”

Federer certainly did that in a career that included 20 Grand Slam ti-

tles, achieved with a panache the like of which we may never see again. He took effortless shot-making to new heights during a 24-year professional career that was the foundation for indisputably the greatest era of men’s tennis. Appropriately he bowed out in London, scene of his record eight Wimbledon titles, playing doubles alongside Nadal, the Spaniard with whom his career has been gloriously entwined.

Both were in tears, and even held hands, after their doubles encounter against Jack Sock and Frances Tiafoe at the Laver Cup, and there were few dry eyes in the house. So, tennis has two voids to fill in 2023, but Carlos Alcaraz and Iga Swiatek appear equipped for the job.

University of Management and Technology (UMT) gave a pleasant reception to the team and management of Lahore Qalandars. Shaheen Shah Afridi, Haris Rauf, CEO Lahore Qalandars Atif Rana, Head Coach Aqib Javed, COO Lahore Qalandars

Rana were present

Lahore

KARAcHi

AgEnciEs

LOnDOn Staff RepoRt

heat

unbeaten

in his 100th Test on Tuesday before retiring in pain as Australia consolidated their advantage against South Africa at the Melbourne

INa circular addressed to presidents and chief executives of authorised dealers in the country, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) withdrew restrictions on imports effective January 2, 2022. “Attention of the Authorised Dealers (ADs) is invited to EPD Circular letter No. 9 of May 20, 2022 and Circular letter No. 11 of July 5, 2022, wherein ADs were required to seek prior permission from Foreign Exchange Operations Department SBP-BSC before initiating any import transaction pertaining to HS Code Chapter 84, 85 and certain items of Chapter 87,” read the circular.

Previously, the cash-strapped SBP required ADs to seek prior permission from the Foreign Exchange Operations Department (FEOD), and SBP –BSC before initiating import transactions which included issuance or amendment of letters of credit (LCs), registration or amendments of contracts, making advance payments, and authorising transactions on open account or collection basis. The approval was granted on a case-to-case basis.

However, with effect from January 2, 2023; the SBP has withdrawn the instruction.

“Consequently, requests for import transactions already submitted to SBP-BSC pertaining to above referred HS Codes stand returned to the ADs for appropriate disposal at their end,” added the circular.

Despite the removal of the restriction, it isn’t smooth sailing for all importers. ADs are asked to prioritise or facilitate imports under essential imports, energy imports, imports by export-oriented industry, imports for agriculture imports, deferred payment/selffunded imports, and imports for export-oriented projects near completion. The ADs need to keep the customers’ risk profile along with the liquidity position in the FX market before processing. Why is the SBP doing this?

With the upcoming International Monetary Fund (IMF) review, the government and the SBP need to work towards a market-determined exchange rate. Through restricting outflows, the rupee depreciation was contained.

Similarly, Senior sources within the ministry of finance shared documents with Profit that state that the ministry increased the Petroleum Development Levy (PDL) by Rs 5/litre on High-Speed Diesel (HSD), Rs 6.09 Kerosene (SKO) and Rs 0.90 Light Diesel Oil on the 16th of December in an attempt to meet the IMF condition of collecting Rs 850 billion through this levy during this fiscal year. With reserves dropping to $6.1 billion, their lowest since April 2014 the country has an import cover at a meagre 1.16 months signifying liquidity and foreign exchange management challenges. What sectors are given preference?

Food in the form of wheat, edible oil, etc, inputs, medicines, surgical equipment, and key components of the pharmaceutical sector will be given priority. The import of oil and gas will also be prioritised. Coal for power projects can be imported based on their merit order decided by the Ministry of finance.

In addition to these essentials, export-oriented businesses can import raw materials, inputs, and spare parts; while the agriculture sector can import inputs like seeds, fertilisers, and pesticides. What does this mean for the auto sector?

The immediate impact of the SBP’s decision to rescind its mandate over the import of completely knocked-down (CKD) kits in Chapter 87 will be an easing of the supply side tensions that automotive companies will have been dealing with.

“Now the industry is to deal with authorised dealers which will be rather convenient compared to dealing with SBP,” says Abdul Waheed Khan, Director General of the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association. Access to LCs will enable companies to once again more quickly import their requisite components,

and thereby reduce their current production lead times to meet customer demand more effectively.

This will provide the sector with the life support that it needs at a time when the five month FY 2022-23 sales volume is 31.52% lower year-on-year in comparison to the FY 2021-22 over the same period. Much of this decrease has been due to the supply side problems that have led to many companies halting their bookings for vehicles, pushing lead times upwards, and in the case of Toyota Indus Motors, providing refunds to customers.

“This has not only saved the industry but also the employment of thousands of employees,” says Shafiq Shaikh, Head of Public Relations and Official Spokesperson at Pak Suzuki Motor Company Limited. The SBPs announcement also comes at a pivotal moment with Toyota having announced non-production days for the remainder of the year two weeks ago, and Suzuki having announced its non-production days for 2023 earlier this week. Both had cited the SBPs mandate over LCs for the import of CKD kits as the main reason.

However, whether there is enough latent demand for these automotive companies to benefit from their new productive capacities remains to be seen. The hierarchy of rationing forex that the SBP has created and handed over to the ADs may, however, limit the efficacy of this measure for the sector.

“We import raw materials to make spare parts for the auto industry. However, the auto industry is not an essential item and therefore our imports will continue to be controlled and rationed by SBP,” Munir Bana, Chairman of the Pakistan Association of Auto Parts & Accessories Manufacturers. The SBPs circular still leaves room for opacity, and subsequently leaves many onlookers from the automotive sector in the dark.

Even if the CKD kits can be imported, if parts manufacturers are unable to subsequently import the requisite components then the downward effect on lead times across the industry will remain limited.

Yamaha hikes motorcycle prices for eighth time in 2022

On average, Yamaha’s prices have increased by more than 55% from January till now. The price changes until now are as follows:

349,500............117,000.............50.32% YBR-125G (Matt Dark Grey)............Rs 235,500...............Rs 352,500............117,000.............49.68%

eCP postpones local government polls in federal capital

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has postponed “for the time being” the much-anticipated elections for local governments in Islamabad scheduled for December 31 on the pretext of an increase in the number of union councils. Last week, the federal government decided to delay polls, announcing an increase in the number of seats in the capital from 101 to 125, at a time when the vote was just round the corner. This increase in the union councils required new delimitations — a process that is expected to take several months to complete.

Initially, the election tribunal rejected these amendments saying the move was against the election laws, and announced the elections would be held per the schedule.

But, on Thursday, the government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) coalition, in a frantic attempt to delay the polls, passed a government bill seeking to increase the number of union councils, less than 10 days ahead of the polling day. The bill was passed with the house visibly lacking quorum throughout the proceedings which lasted less than 40 minutes.

On Tuesday, a five-member bench of the commission announced the judgement it had reserved earlier in the day after arguments in the case were concluded.

During the hearing, former attorney general, Ashtar Ausaf, who is representing the central government, told the bench the number of union councils was increased based on the increase in population.

At this, Sikander Sultan Raja, chief election commissioner (CEC), asked whether the census report had been published. Ausaf said the census bureau had informed about the increase in the capital’s population, adding the commission must look at the increase in population. “The Islamabad High Court (IHC) also recognised the increase in population but authorised the Election Commission to take the final decision after listening to the government’s point of view,” Ausaf told the bench.

“In the past, even after the schedule was released, elections were postponed. The Election Commission has to decide according to the constitution and the law,” said Ausaf, adding the ECP cannot deprive citizens of their fundamental rights.

NDMA boss, Chinese ambassador discuss flood relief measures

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Worst start since Covid

The price hikes have led to Yamaha experiencing a 13% lower year-on-year (YoY) sales volume. It’s current ten month sales of 16,892 trails by 2,470 behind the 19,362 it had achieved over the same period last year. The company’s monthly average sales have also contracted from 1,760 units to 1,536 units. This amounts to the worst start the company has had since the breakout of Covid19 and the ensuing lockdowns in 2020. No respite on the horizon

Going forward, further depreciation in the PKR will inevitably lead to Yamaha introducing more price in-

creases in the upcoming year. Future price increases will be compounded not only by the PKR’s depreciation but also because the Federal Board of Revenue has increased the number of parts upon which additional customs duty is levied via Statutory Regulatory Orders (SRO) 693 (I)/2006. Yamaha, owing to its lower sales volume, will likely face a greater double whammy than many of its competitors.

However, irrespective of whether Yamaha does as predicted, inflationary pressure alone is likely to compound the negative multiplier that these price increases will have on Yamaha’s sales in

the months to come. However, the silver lining to Yamaha’s woes may be the various financing schemes introduced recently, either directly or indirectly through a partner. The popularity of these schemes will likely increase on account of both the increase in motorcycle prices, and because of the nature of Yamaha’s target market.

Yamaha, unlike Chinese manufacturers and Honda Atlas, targets upmarket customers who are more likely to have higher monthly salaries in comparison to those targeted by other motor companies. The financing schemes can therefore reduce the cost of the pur-

chase by spreading it out over a certain period. This will allow Yamaha to enjoy a regular stream of income and better enable prospective customers to absorb any future price increases.

In most cases, the problem with these financing models is the risk that a customer may default on the payments. This risk subsequently translates to the sales team rationing their supply across those individuals that they perceive to have better repayment capacities. Targeting the upmarket category, however, reduces the search cost associated with this task. Sales figures, for now, paint a bleak picture for the model.

The chairman of the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA), Lt. Gen. Inam Haider Malik, met Nong Rong, the ambassador of China, and acknowledged the continued assistance from Beijing for the recovery plan from devastating floods.

They also discussed the various aspects of mutual collaboration and a proactive approach to disaster management in Pakistan, a press statement from Malik’s office said. Malik thanked the overwhelming Chinese support in rescue and relief operations. He shared details of the transformation plan of the futuristic and technology-driven National Emergency Operation Centre (NEOC) which will be the interface of integrated emergency response with all stakeholders, including humanitarian agencies and global donors.

The ambassador underscored the strong collaboration at the front of climate-induced disaster management and stressed further expansion of the existing working relations with Pakistan.

Roosevelt Hotel to be leased as PC initiates redevelopment

drunk PIA would be selling the hotel.

The hotel’s origins

The saga surrounding the PIA owned Roosevelt Hotel in Manhattan was discussed once again during a meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCoP), which has recommended that the process to redevelop the hotel be kickstarted.

The CCoP directed the Privatisation Commission (PC) to initiate the appointment of a Financial Adviser to redevelop the historic hotel that had to shutter operations because of losses incurred during Covid-19. The suggested redevelopment would involve the land of the hotel being utilised to redevelop the site into a mixed use of primarily office tower over retail and condominium.

With a lot of fist thumping and disagreement over what should be done with the hotel, the plan for redevelopment may also be a way for the government to quell rumours that the already financially punch-

In use by Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) since the late 1970s, the Roosevelt Hotel occupies a unique place both in the history of the United States and Pakistan’s national airline. One of the grandold buildings of 19th century New York, the hotel was bought by developer Paul Milstein in July 1978. In the bid for the hotel’s ownership, Milstein beat out a number of high-profile middle-eastern investors that wanted to form a consortium and buy the hotel.

The very next year in 1979, Milstein ended up leasing the hotel to the PIA which had partnered with Prince Faisal bin Khalid bin Abdulaziz Al Saud in the transaction. The lease cost an estimated $35 million and was to run for 20 years.

Prince Faisal and PIA were to pay $2.7 million to $4 million annually in rent, and they also obtained an option to acquire the hotel after 20 years at a set price of $36.5 million.

True to this, in 2000, the PIA and Prince

Faisal bought the hotel for $36.5 million. However, in the course of the lease the hotel was regularly mismanaged and its facilities began to deteriorate and become outdated.

Over the years, the question of selling the hotel arose a number of times. However, everytime the government of Pakistan shied away from actually pulling the plug and has spent millions of dollars on its renovations. Things really took a turn for the worse in 2020 when the Covid-19 pandemic hit.

Hotel closure and suggestions galore

According to media reports, the hotel took a great hit from the general downturn that the hospitality industry saw during the course of the pandemic. An Aviation Division report from earlier even indicated that the hotel had to be shut down in December 2020 with the approval of cabinet to avoid a yearly loss of $37 million.

Back in 2020, the Cabinet Committee on Privatization (CCoP) the approved leasing of the hotel site for setting up a joint

venture project for prospective mixed used development, the best suited mode of privatisation as delineated in the PC Ordinance, 2000 and directed PC to initiate the appointment of Financial Advisor.

However, litigation in Tethyan Copper Company (TCC) in a Reko Diq case, halted the process for appointment of FA.

Current status

With the settlement of the Reko Diq case, the government is once again keen on doing something with the hotel but have also made it clear that the hotel is not up for sale. The timeline of major events in recent months is as follows:

14th September: The government decides to revive the plan for leasing out the site of the Roosevelt Hotel in New York to set up a joint venture project for prospective mixed-use development and agrees to explore the option of reopening the hotel following protest from the employees union.

18th December: Aviation and Railways Minister Khwaja Saad Rafique unequivocally denies that the government has any

plans to sell the Roosevelt Hotel. The minister also rejected the reports that Pakistan’s flag had been removed from the Roosevelt Hotel and clarified that the national flag was hoisted there only when any head of state stayed there. 27th December: The government decides to hire a firm to give the Roosevelt Hotel in New York on lease.

The current plan has actually been twoyears in the making. Back in 2018, the CCoP directed the aviation division to make a presentation on the possibility of construction of high rise hotels on the land of Roosevelt Hotel New York on Public Private Partnership basis. In July 2020, the CCoP directed the PC to initiate the process of appointment of FA to undertake envisaged leasing of Roosevelt site for meeting up a Joint Venture project for prospective mixed use development.

However, as mentioned earlier, the plan met a hitch because of the Reko Diq case. With the case settled, the CCoP reaffirmed its earlier decision on Roosevelt Hotel, said the finance ministry.

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Daniyal ahmaD