Epaper_22-6-13 LHR

Monday, 13 June, 2022 I 13 Dhul-Qadah, 1443 I rs 40.00 I Vol XII no 344 I 44 Pages I lahore Edition

Pakistan, China reaffirm strategiC military PartnershiP in ‘Challenging times’ g

Senior level tri-Service military delegation viSitS china

RAWALPINDI

t

staff report

he military leadership of Pakistan and china on Sunday reaffirmed their strategic partnership in challenging times and agreed to continue regular exchange of perspectives on issues of mutual interest. the agreement came as a senior level tri-service military delegation of Pakistan visited china from June 9 to 12 where the delegation held wide ranging discussions with senior officials of chinese military and other government departments. chief of army Staff (coaS) general Qamar Javed Bajwa joined the tri-service military delegation on Sunday and attended the apex committee’s meeting along with the top chinese generals. the high-level military interaction

between the two countries came at a critical juncture when tensions are deepening between china and the United Sates. earlier this week, the US and chinese defense ministers held a face to face meeting in Singapore on the sidelines of a regional security dialogue but the two sides exchanged barbs over many issues including taiwan and russiaUkraine conflict.

Pakistan has also faced significant pressure from the West to change its stance on russia-Ukraine conflict. islamabad has so far walked a tightrope even after the change of government. a statement issued by military’s media wing, the iSPr, on Sunday said the tri-service delegation held wide ranging discussions with senior officials of chinese military and other government departments. the apex meeting was held on June

12 wherein the Pakistani side was headed by chief of army Staff (coaS) general Qamar Javed Bajwa while the chinese side was led by vice chairman central military commission of china general Zhang youxia, said the iSPr statement.

Both the sides discussed their perspectives on international and regional security situation, and expressed satisfaction on defence cooperation between the two countries, it added.

Both the sides also vowed to enhance their training, technology and counter-terrorism cooperation at the triservice level. observers believe military diplomacy and military to military cooperation has assumed greater significance in view of the fast changing developments. the current Pakistan army chief is the only military leader who visited china on the invitation of the chinese president. the visit is part of Pak-china Joint military cooperation committee ( PcJmcc), Which has an apex committee – the highest body in military cooperation. the committee has two sub committees that include joint cooperation military affairs (Jcma) and Joint cooperation military equipment & training (Jcmet). relations between Pakistan and china have shown great improvement in recent years in all fields including defence. Pakistan now heavily relies on china for military equipment. only recently china provided Pakistan with J10 fighter jets. Pakistan is the only country to have been provided the war planes since their induction into the chinese military showing deepening military ties between the two sides. there have been pressures on Pakistan to maintain some balance in the relationship between china and the West.

But given the strategic interests of the US in the region and threats of new cold war, it is becoming increasingly difficult for Pakistan to maintain that balance.

Elections only remedy to politico-economic woes of Pakistan: Imran ISLAMABAD staff report

Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) chairman imran Khan on Sunday said that his party wants immediate elections in the country as elections are the only way forward and the solution to political and economic problems being faced by the country lies in them. “i will not sit quietly until the announcement of the election date,” the former prime minister said while talking to a delegation of lawyers hailing from Bar association mian channu. lauding the participation of the lawyers from South Punjab in the azadi long march, Pti chairman imran Khan said he will soon announce the date for a ‘huge’ long march towards islamabad against the ‘imported govt’. mudasir raza, president of mian channu Bar association said Pti chairman imran Khan will soon announce the date for his address to the bar. meanwhile, former prime minister imran Khan vowed to continue the struggle till the announcement of fresh election date. talking to media persons at Bani gala, imran Khan said that the only solution to the present political turmoil is the announcement of immediate elections in the country.

“Seems like ‘powerful circles are

PPP forms committee to galvanise support against bypassing Parliament in talks with TTP ISLAMABAD Mian abrar

Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) has stepped up efforts to gather political support for opposition to the secret dialogue with banned outfit of tehreek-e-taliban Pakistan (ttP). in this regard, the PPP leadership on Sunday constituted a three-member special committee to reach out other political parties and win their support over the recent developments in Pakistan’s talks with the ttP. the special committee would comprise of Qamar Zaman Kaira, Senator Sherry rehman and Farhatullah Babar, according to a statement issued here.

Per the statement, the People’s Party has stated that it will raise the issue, jointly with other parties, in the Parliament. it merits mention that the People’s Party on Saturday decided to reach out to its allied parties to build a consensus on the way forward amid talks with the tehreeki-taliban Pakistan (ttP). a high-level meeting was held at Zardari house in islamabad under the chairmanship of the party’s cochairman asif ali Zardari and chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari.

Senior party leaders — yousaf raza gillani, raja Pervaiz ashraf,

murad ali Shah, Sherry rehman, Khursheed Shah, Faryal talpur, nayyer Bukhari, Qamar Zaman Kaira, chaudhry manzoor, nadeem afzal chan, akhunzada chattan, nisar Khuhro and others — attended the meeting. in a statement issued after the meeting, the PPP said that the party had reiterated that all decisions must be taken by the parliament, and thus, the parliament must be taken on board on dialogue being held with the ttP and tehreek-e-taliban afghanistan (tta) which rule

afghanistan. taking to twitter, Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that PPP held a highlevel meeting to discuss the issue of terrorism, particularly in light of recent developments in afghanistan, with the tta (tehreek-i-taliban afghanistan) and ttP. “[the] PPP believes that all decisions must be taken by parliament.

Will be reaching out to allied parties to create consensus on the way forward,” the foreign minister wrote on twitter. experts however are closely

monitoring the situation, arguing that being a part of the coalition government and having its leaders a part of the federal cabinet, the PPP leadership first should have hold a meeting with Prime minister Shehbaz Sharif and discuss the issue before going public with its concerns.

Shehryar Khan afridi, former state minister for interior and chairman Kashmir committee, told Pakistan today that the PPP’s act is a mere eyewash as the PPP and the Pml-n are top parties in the ruling coalition and they are partners in all crimes being committed against the people of Pakistan. “it’s amazing to note that a sitting foreign minister of the country is portraying that he has been kept in dark over dialogue with the ruling party of afghanistan. if Bilawal is in dark, who is to be blamed for his failure and why he is not taking the nation into confidence and resign,” argued Shehryar afridi. he said that efforts to muster political support reflects PPP may jump ship soon. “the move of the PPP actually is a bid to save itself from public anger due to unprecedented price hike and record inflation,” he said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

also worried due to ongoing political and economic turmoil in Pakistan,” he was quoted as saying. imran Khan predicted that the government would be sent packing in 30 or 45 days.

PEoPlE looKIng aT 'InsTITUTIons' for InflaTIon: imran Khan said that the people are looking towards institutions of the country amid a “sea of inflation” and “foreign conspiracy”, pledging that come what may he will not accept the coalition government led by the Pml-n.

“We will hold the next power show with full planning and first we will seek permission from the Supreme court that do we have right to peaceful protest,” he said in an interview with a local tv channel while responding to a question related to his party’s second long march against the incumbent government. the Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) approached the Supreme court earlier this month, seeking directions for the federal and Punjab governments to allow the party to hold a peaceful protest in islamabad. the petition seeks to bar the government from using any force, coercive measures and ‘intimidation tactics’ such as raiding homes of party workers, unlawful restrictions and blocking entry points.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

more inside

Pak-UK striving to double trade volume from current $2.1b: Turner STORY ON PAGE 02

Shaukat tarin admits Pti got loans worth rs20,000b in four years: marriyum STORY ON BACK PAGE in today’s issue

attention Some readers have complained that they are not getting the magazine with their newspaper copy. Please call or WhatsApp us at the following number to register a complaint.

Contact: 0307-7338168 irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

02-03 NEWS 13 JUNE_Layout 1 6/13/2022 1:09 AM Page 1

02

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

PAK-UK stRiviNG to doUbLE tRAdE voLUME FRoM CURRENt $2.1b: tURNER ISLAMABAD

b

App

RITISH High Commissioner in Pakistan Dr Christian Turner said that bilateral trade with Pakistan would be double by next year 2025 and both the countries are making efforts to develop a consensus in this regard.

The United Kingdom (UK) is Pakistan’s third largest global trade partner, with Pakistan’s exports reaching $2.1billion at the end of last fiscal year, British High Commissioner said while talking to APP at the birthday ceremony of Queen ElizabethII here Sunday.

The British High Commissioner said that Pakistan was an important economic and trading partner of UK and both the countries had decades long relationship.

He said that the UK Embassy in Islamabad was always facilitating visas and

other immigration issues and last year, the UK issued a record number of visas to Pakistanis.

He said that the visa process was being made easier for the business community and people, which would enhance bilateral economic ties and people-to-people contacts.

Dr. Christian Turner said that the diplomatic and economic relations between the two countries spanned over 74 years in which the relations between the two countries became stronger and more fruitful with each passing year.

He said that the 1.6 million Pakistani expatriates living in UK are major source of strengthening relationship between the people of both the countries. Pakistanis living in UK are playing vital role in the economic, trade, diplomatic and social activities of the two countries, he expressed.

The High Commissioner said that around 100,000 British citizens were living

Pak Army soldier embraces martyrdom in N Waziristan RAWALPINDI: A soldier of Pakistan Army on Sunday embraced martyrdom while valiantly fighting terrorists amid fire exchange that took place between terrorists and the Army troops in general area Datta Khel of North Waziristan District. The Army troops fought bravely and effectively engaged the terrorists’ location, said an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release here received Sunday. The martyred soldier was identified as Sepoy Shahzaib Imtiaz (age 25 years, resident of Kotli Sattian) who having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat (martyrdom). The area clearance was being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area. StAff RepoRt

Punjab govt restores Local Government Act 2019 LAHORE: The Punjab government on Sunday has restored the Local Government Act 2019. According to the notification, the Punjab government has also appointed local government administrators in all the districts while the Administrator Commissioner Lahore will be the Metropolitan Corporation Lahore. It is pertinent to mention that the Punjab Local Government Ordinance 2021 had expired on June 8, 2021. INp

Ehsaas Nashonuma disburses Rs310.81m till March FY2022 ISLAMABAD: The Conditional Cash Transfer (CCT) intervention of Ehsaas Nashonuma has enrolled 99,190 beneficiaries and disbursed Rs310.81 million till March Fiscal Year 2022, since inception. According to an official source, the CCT intervention was designed by Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) in August, 2020 to increase the uptake of Health and Nutrition services of its beneficiaries. The primary objectives of the program is to prevent stunting in children under two years of age, improved weight gain of pregnant women during pregnancy, reduce anemia and micronutrient deficiencies and prevent low birth weight. World Food Programme is the lead implementing partner for Ehsaas Nashonuma. The total budget of the three-year program is approximately Rs8.52 billion. A total of 50 Ehsaas Nashonuma Centres across 14 districts are being established countrywide at the district and tehsil level to provide health services and conditional cash transfers under two years old; Rs1,500 for a boy child and mother and Rs 2000 for a girl child mainly to prevent children from stunting growth issue. StAff RepoRt

in Pakistan, who belonged to different sector including trade. Over 50 percent of the total population of Pakistan comprising of youth which is exceptional in the world, he said and added that such a large number of young population had great potential for Pakistan which would play important role in the local economy in future.

He said that the United Kingdom would extend full cooperation to Pakistan in education and other fields with regard to youth.

The High Commissioner said that the educated and skilled youth would play their dynamic role in the economic development of Pakistan and strengthening Pakistan-UK relations.

Dr Christian Turner said that the relations between Pakistan and the United Kingdom had become enthusiastic with historical and cultural ties, which were getting stronger day by day.

He said that the British Queen Elizabeth II, made a total of 200 trips around the world out of which she made two visits to Pakistan.

He said that the Queen and the British Royal Family attach special importance to their

No respite as wildfire breaks out in more areas of Swat SWAT Syed ShAhAbuddIN

The incidence of wildfire continued across Swat region as a fresh fire broke out at Babuzai in Kabal Tehsil and Barikot Tehsil on Sunday. According to Rescue 1122 and the Swat district administration, over 68 incidents of wildfire in various areas of the region have been reported so fa.

According to the Swat district administration most of the wildfire incidents, since June 1st, were controlled while a full-fledged operation is underway to extinguish the wildfire broke out in the hills of Marghuzar valley, Malkidam, Gul Maira, Amlooktal, Sherkanai, Shingrai, Kandak Jahangir and Quanj Totano Bandai area.

“Along with the forest department officials, the personnel of Rescue 1122, Swat levies, police, volunteers of civil defense, civil society members and local community members are taking part in the fire-fighting operation,” Swat DC Junaid Khan informed.

He said that all the assistant commissioners and

revenue staff were also taking part in the operation.

Member of the local community in Marghuzar area said that the fire on Marghzar hill was spreading fast towards other areas, burning down everything in its way from small plants to mountain bushes and pine trees.

“Both the government officials and civil society members have been working to control the fire on Marghuzar hill since last night but it could not be controlled yet and was spreading to Barikot hill,” said Abdullah, a local who is part of fire-fighting operation. Babuzai Assistant Commissioner Ashgar Surani said that the fire at Amlooktal was completely extinguished while 95 percent fire at Sherkhani mountain, 95 percent fire at Tortam of Marghuzar area was extinguished while the fires on the mountains of Kandak Jahangir in Barikot and Gul Maira in Manglawar areas were also completely controlled.

On the other hand, dry weather has been adding fuel to the fire incidents and people have been making announcements from mosques for collective prayers for the rain.

Punjab budget to help ease public life: Hamza LAHORE StAff RepoRt

Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz has said that the focus of provincial budget is to provide maximum relief to the masses in the prevailing circumstances and bring down prices of essential commodities.

He said the present government has been taking out-of-the-box steps in an attempt to bring ease in the lives of people. The CM underscored that no burden would be put on the poor people in the coming budget and steps would be taken to address difficulties of the common man, said a handout issued here.

He said the country was facing economic challenges; however, the government was making efforts to avert the prevailing situation. He said the government was devising a comprehensive plan to provide relief to masses as special steps would be proposed in the budget to control inflation. The historic package to provide subsidised flour across the province would continue in the next fiscal year as well, he added.

PUNJAB BUDGET ON JUNE 13: The Punjab government will present the budget proposals on Monday June 13, for fiscal year 2022-23, focusing on pro-poor initiatives and controlling inflation.

A Finance Department spokesperson told the media here Saturday that no new tax would be imposed in the budget while special concessions and incentives given

in the past would continue.

The government has planned to launch a special aid package to control inflation, while steps would be taken to control prices of edible items, alongside increasing the purchase power of commoners.

Further, different schemes have been decided to reduce the electricity and gas bills by efficient use of energy. These steps would not only reduce loadshedding but also curtail electricity bills.

To minimise the hardships of the businesses, trade and commoners due to the energy crisis, the government has decided to continue the tax relaxations and exemptions given during the last two years.

Similarly, the facility package of Punjab Chief Minister Hamza Shehbaz for availability of flour at lower prices would also continue. Overall volume of Punjab’s budget for the next financial year would also be increased. The development budget would be increased with special focus on social sectors including health and education.

A large part of the budget would be spent on achieving development goals. The first priority of the government in the budget for the next financial year would be development of the social sector and revival of the economy.

Several important initiatives would be introduced.

In order to achieve the sustainable development goals, the solution to public problems at the district level would be ensured.

Climate governance major issue to tackle climate change: Khan ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

Chairman Department of Environmental Sciences, Islamic International University Islamabad (IIUI) Dr Muhammad Irfan Khan has said that Pakistan is persistently among the top ten countries most vulnerable due to climate change and climate governance was a major issue of the country to tackle rising environmental degradation. The Chairman Department of Environmental Sciences in an exclusive chat with APP in connection to World Environment Day 2022 said the country’s major issue was of governance as their were policies but no instruments of implementation and if they existed in any case then the departments concerned lacked human, technical and financial capacity to implement those functions. The theme for this year’s world environment day was #OnlyOneEarth. The geographical location of the country was naturally a disaster prone terrain as it possessed the world’s largest ice reserves after the North and South Poles in its Northern areas that were the origin of our rivers, he said. He said the global warming due to increasing emissions across the world were causing temperature rise driving glacial melting leading to floods. The country could not develop any proper reservoir in the past 50 years to conserve that floodwater which could help mitigate the flood disasters, he added. He said the shift in rain pattern was also disturbing the hydrological cycle incurring impacts on the crop cultivation practices damaging the country’s agriculture economy. On the rising heatwaves impacts, he said it was mainly due to global warming which was also affecting the waves cycle at the sea level disturbing the temperature inversion. The ratio of forests to contain carbon emission mainly carbon dioxide released due to vehicualkr emissions, industrial emissions could not be done through man made solutions rather trees can absorb it. The population growth would generate more emissions, land clearing or tree felling could not make up with the void created by the replaced old trees, he said adding that this issues should be considered by the stakeholders for sustainable development. “When we talk of national security then there has been a paradigm shift in the world where the water and energy security form the environmental security that is linked to our food and agriculture.

The rare Asiatic poison once again CITY NOTES M A NIAZI

I’ve not heard Imran Khan weaving the deaths of Amir Liquat Husain or Maqsood Chaprasi into any of his speeches, which reflects the inefficiency and incompetence of his staff, which is head by the redoubtable Dr Shehbaz Gill. I mean, Dr Amir Liaquat was obviously murdered by Nawaz Sharif, who (together with Shahbaz Sharif) forced down his throat that rare Asiatic poison which would cause a heart attack and leave no trace in the body afterwards.

This rare Asiatic poison, it must be remembered, is the same as the curare used

by Amazonian Indians to tip their arrows.

How Asiatics got hold of it from the Amazonian Indians is a question best asked

of the Brazilian President. (He’s a retired captain, and recently he’s been expressing doubts about the voting system, doubts being repeated by the military. Imran would have got support if he had been a retired captain of the army, not the cricket team.

One might ask why would the Sharifs want Dr Amir Liaquat dead? Did they want a by-election on his seat? Or maybe it was mere motiveless malignity. At least the death of FIA official Dr Rizwan, whose heart attack was the first time Imran tested hi are Asiatic poison tope, was the investigating officer in the money laundering case against Shahbaz Sharif.

One of the witnesses of that case, Maqsood Chaprasi, whose accounts were allegedly used, and who turned out to have billions in his accounts, also suffered a heart attack. He died in Dubai, which is presently ornamented by Farhat Shahzadi ‘Gogi’ who

is supposed to have made billions and transferred them out. I suspect her because poison is supposed to be a woman’s weapon.

Now she is someone whose evidence could prove damaging to the Kuptaan. So maybe she should employ a taster.

Meanwhile, Shahbaz Sharif is dealing with other problems in his own style.

Remember how he made Saturdays on again in government offices after they had been abolished? The idea of government employees sluggishly staying abed on Saturday mornings was anathema to him, so he ordered them in on Saturdays, so that they would spend the sixth day of the week with their feet on the desk, the newspaper spread over their heads, catching up on their sleep.

The loadshedding crisis has intervened, and the holiday has been reintroduced.Now isn’t that why the second offday was introduced? To save electricity during some

relations with Pakistan.

He expressed the hope that Pakistan-UK relations would be further strengthened and that Pakistan would play its major role for development and peace in the world.

previous crisis? Another bright idea has been to shut down markets at 8 pm. That would be less an electricity conservation measure than a police welfare measure. I mean, the degree of strictness with which the local police would interpret the closure deadline, and the force theory would exert to enforce it, would depend on their negotiations with the market association, which exists primarily to engage in such delicate dealings.

A more fruitful approach would be to cut off electricity to these markets at a fixed time. Not loadshedding, for both customer

and shopkeeper could wait our the closure, but a 12-hour shutdown. Customers wouldn’t like to make choices in the dark, and shopkeepers wouldn’t like to sit in the dark and heat for hours, so the market would automatically shut early.

Another step, which would be wildly popular among the younger set, would be to extend school holidays. I know schools are already off, but by the time they will reopen, I doubt if the power crisis will be over. In fact, maybe government offices can close down or the remaining five days a week they open. See if it will make any difference.

One of the functions of government has been performed, the presentation of the Budget. Miftah Ismail presented iii, the absence of the PTI saving him from having to shout. The convention here is not that the Leader of the House, the Budget speech or the presidential address is to be heard in pindrop silence, but amid the constant jeering of the opposition. Unfortunately, the Opposition didn’t do its job. The jeering has been left to thew people.

02-03 NEWS 13 JUNE_Layout 1 6/13/2022 1:09 AM Page 2

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

bUdGEt oFFERs EdUCAtioNAL oPPoRtUNitiEs, sUbsidiEs to WEAKER sEGMENts: PM ISLAMABAD

P

StAff RepoRt

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday said that the budget for fiscal year 2022-23 has offered more educational opportunities for the youth and targeted subsidies to the financially weaker segments of the society.

On his Twitter handle, the Prime Minister said the fiscal budget also represented significant improvements in several ways. “The non-productive assets of the rich were also taxed.

Budget represents a significant

improvement in several ways. It has provided more educational opportunities for our youth, particularly from Balochistan & targeted subsidies for financially weaker people. More importantly, it has taxed nonproductive assets of the rich,” the Prime Minister posted a tweet.

Meanwhile, in view of prediction about an above normal monsoon rainfall during the last week of this month, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday directed the ministries and departments concerned to alert the provinces and district administrations.

The prime minister directed for

GLoF-ii to focus flood risk reduction in 24 NA valleys

formulation of a comprehensive strategy in collaboration with the provinces considering the forecast for heavy monsoon downpours, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release.

The prime minister directed that all precautionary measures should be taken in accordance with the forecast of the meteorological department, besides ensuring arrangements in the low laying areas and in those regions which could be affected during the rainy period.

He also asked for timely supply of necessary equipment and other necessary steps for the protection of

crops and animals in the agrarian areas.

The prime minister further observed that residents in the affected areas should be forewarned and shifted to safer areas. Other steps like proper drainage, dredging of nullahs and water channels and fumigation should also be taken, he added.

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD), in a statement, has predicted that country was expected to receive “above average rainfall” during the upcoming monsoon season.

It further said that pre-monsoon rains are likely to start in the second week of June.

Forest field staff urged to take preventive measures in forest fire cases RAWALPINDI

ISLAMABAD

StAff RepoRt

StAff RepoRt

The second phase of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood (GLOF-II) project will focus on ensuring flood risk reduction activities in 24 valleys of northern areas particularly Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Gilgit Baltistan. The rising temperatures all over the world has casted serious impacts on Pakistan and South Asia region which has increased the risk of GLOF events in the country, an official of Climate Change Ministry told APP while elaborating details of the important GLOF-II project. He said the areas targeted for the project included eight valleys of Khyber Pakhtukhwa (KP) and 16 valleys of Gilgit Baltistan (GB). The GLOF-II project activities included establishment of Early Warning System, installation of 51 Automatic Weather Stations, 153 Rain Gauges (tipping bucket), 63 Water Discharge Gauges, 77 River Water Level Gauges, 63 Lake Water Level Gauges and 48 Warning Posts. He informed that the Ministry of Climate Change was implementing GLOF related Projects (GLOF-I & II) where the GLOF-I was related to reduction on the risks of Glacial Lake Outburst Flood in Northern Areas of Pakistan. “In this context vulnerability risk assessment with respect to communities in one district each in GB and KP had been done”, he mentioned while claiming the first phase of the project being executed .

The official mentioned that to understand the dynamics of glaciers, WAPDA had established Glacier Monitoring Research Centre (GMRC) in 2012 by upgrading the already existing Pakistan Snow and Ice Hydrology Project (PSIHP) in the wake of Climate Change and its impacts on the country’s Glaciers in Upper Indus Basin (UIB).

The GMRC purpose is to conduct monitoring activities through available resources in the field of climate change and global warming for informed decisions to develop water resources. The Centre was collecting data from 11 Automatic Weather Stations (AWS) Network in UIB. “As per GMRC’s preliminary observations, the glaciers in Pakistan’s northern mountain ranges show tendency of rapid melting due to rising temperature. However, detailed studies are needed to know the actual health of glaciers”, the official said. He added that apart from that a joint study conducted by Pakistan Agriculture Research Council (PARC) and Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) in 2015 that revealed a total of 3,044 glacial lakes out of which 13 exist in the GB and KP and 33 of these lakes were identified to be prone to GLOF.

Chief Conservator Forest, (CCF) North Zone, Rawalpindi, Saqib Mehmood Sheikh has directed the Divisional Forest Officers (DFOs) and forest field staff to further tighten preventive measures to reduce forest fire cases.

The CCF while assigning the field duties to the DFOs and staff members also cancelled leaves of the officials of the forest department and instructed them to take solid steps to prevent fire incidents.

Talking to APP, Saqib Mehmood Sheikh informed that all possible steps would be taken to prevent forest fires and negligence on part of the officials concerned would not be tolerated. Though, some cases are reported

in fire season but, now a strict notice has been taken and the officials concerned have been directed to take all possible steps to reduce fire incident in forests.

Special teams have also been formed and deployed to ensure security of Kahuta, Kalar Syedan, Kotli Sattian, Panjar, Lehtarar and other fire prone areas. The authorities concerned have also been directed to establish field camps in fire prone areas with all available resources, he added.

The DFOs were instructed earlier to jointly work with tehsil admin and local communities to control fire incidents in forests.

Saqib Mehmood also directed the officials to finalize all the arrangements and grow maximum plants in nurseries of the department to meet targets of the upcoming monsoon season.

SC to function during summer break as pendency of cases declining

03

Pakistan denounces shameful treatment of Muslim protestors in india ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

Pakistan has strongly condemned the heavy-handed treatment by the Indian authorities of Muslim who were registering a peaceful protest after Friday prayers over the derogatory remarks of the two members of the ruling political party Bhartiya Janata Party (BJP) against Holy Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him). The indiscriminate and widespread use of brute force by the Indian authorities across various states in India resulted in killing of two innocent Muslim protesters and critically injured thirteen others in Ranchi city. The Foreign Office Spokesperson, in a press release on Sunday, said that the footage of Indian forces unabashedly opening fire on unarmed protesters in Ranchi city was horrific beyond belief. In Uttar Pradesh alone a total of 227 people had been arrested so far. “This is a new low in the Indian government’s repressive ‘Hindutva’ inspired majoritarian policy aimed at demonizing and persecuting minorities, especially Muslims. Pakistan denounces this shameful treatment of Indian Muslim citizens by the Indian government and expresses its solidarity with the Muslims of India in these testing times,” the spokesperson added.

Pakistan once again strongly urged India to ensure that demonstrable action was taken against those responsible for making derogatory remarks and attacking the dignity of the Holy Prophet Muhammad (PBUH). The international community must also take immediate cognizance of the grievously aggravating situation of Islamophobia in India, the spokesperson said, adding India must be held accountable for stifling the rights of the minorities, especially Muslims, and ensure that Muslims living in India were not victimized for practicing their faith and religious beliefs It was alarming that despite the global condemnation of the BJP officials’ sacrilegious remarks, the Indian government’s reaction has been muted, while on the other hand the BJP-RSS regime has persisted in its Islamophobic actions and shamefully chosen to handle public protest with brutal and indiscriminate use of force. “The Indian government’s apathy to the grievous situation and the vicious cycle of communal violence may lead to further marginalization of the Indian Muslims,” the spokesperson maintained.

Removal of 17pc st from seeds to encourage use of hi-tech hybrid seeds ISLAMABAD StAff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD AgeNcIeS

In the last four months, the Supreme Court of Pakistan had witnessed a decline of 1,182 cases; meanwhile, during the last week ending on June 10, it had disposed of 568 cases.

Moreover, the institution of cases

was 183 thereby reducing the backlog by further 385 cases.

The top court while being cognizant of pendency and backlog of cases would be functioning with the maximum strength at its Principal seat (Islamabad) as well as branch registries to dispense justice to the public at large during the summer

spell that is commencing from June 13. In the first week of summer spell, the Supreme Court has constituted four benches: three at Islamabad and one at Karachi Branch Registry with two larger benches on June 13-14.

The same routine would be followed during the entire summer spell in current year.

Chairman Pakistan Hi Tech Hybrid Seed Association (PHHSA) Shahzad Ali Malik Sunday said that a decision on withdrawal of 17% Sale Tax on all kinds of seeds will fully encourage the growers and farmers to use hi tech hybrid seeds for obtaining double to triple crop production. He expressed these views while chairing a meeting of the association here today to express the highest degree of gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Federal Finance Minister Miftah Ismail, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Federal Food Security Minister and Governor Punjab Baligh Ur Rehman for exercising their sphere of influence to pave the way for withdrawal of unjustified sale tax on seed. He said it would boost agriculture production manifolds to meet the ever increasing food staple needs of growing population in the wake of impending hovering threat of food insecurity. He said agriculture sector is indispensable to country’s economic growth,food security,employment generation and abject poverty alleviation particularly at the rural level that contributes 20 % of GDP and provides job to 40% of labour force. He said rice is an cash crop which accounts for 4 percent of the value added and ranks second amongst the staple food grain crops as well as major source of foreign exchange. He said in Pakistan’s agrarian economy rice plays multifarious roles. Shahzad Ali Malik said agriculture is backbone of Pakistan’s economy and majority of population is directly or indirectly dependent on it.

Latest technique in vogue to facilitate pilgrims ISLAMABAD NewS deSk

Endowed with humility and gratification, the intending pilgrims have started reaching the holy land after Covid-19 restrictions were lifted by the Saudi government for foreigners, allowing the faithful to perform Hajj.

It is definitely an hour of pleasure for the overseas faithful, who after a long time of two years or so, would offer Ibada and perform Hajj at the holy places with religious zeal and reverence.

Both the Pakistan and the Saudi governments have made elaborate arrangements for the convenience of the pilgrims including a special initiative of using the digital modes for better connectivity and safety of the pilgrims.

Keeping in view the significance of modern technology, the Saudi Ministry of

Hajj and Umrah has made effort to digitize the Hajj operation through the use of smart phones and designated ‘mobile apps.’

These apps; “Tawakkalna” and “Eatmarna” have been introduced to ensure better security, healthcare and crowd management for pilgrims as well as improve performance of Hajj rituals.

“It is a good omen and would pave way for better management of Hajj operation,” said Special Representative to the Prime Minister on Interfaith Harmony and Middle East, Hafiz Tahir Ashrafi.

“Facilitating pilgrims is our national and religious duty and this system would help better streamlining connectivity and ensuring hassle free performing of Hajj,” Ashrafi said.

Around 81,000 intending pilgrims from Pakistan would perform Hajj this year under the government as well as the private hajj

schemes. The Hajj operation started on Monday when four flights carried over 2,000 passengers from different destinations in Pakistan to the holy land. The Hajj operation would culminate by June 30 and return of pilgrims would start from mid of July.

The Ministry has urged the pilgrims to download mobile applications of ‘Tawakkalna’ and ‘Eatmarna’ in their latest hand gadgets to benefit from approved app services in getting Umrah, Hajj and visit permits for the holy mosques in Makkah and Madina. “Intending pilgrims were being imparted technology-based training sessions at Haji Camps across the country,” said Ministry of Religious Affairs Additional Secretary Aftab Akbar Durrani .

“It is important for pilgrims to learn the usage of these apps before proceeding to the holy land for performing the sacred obligation,” Durrani said. “Non-usage of

these apps may result in complications for them in performing rituals and mobility.”

The present coalition government in an effort to facilitate pilgrims has reduced the Hajj expenditures from Rs 850,000 to Rs 700,000 for those performing Hajj under the government scheme – a decision widely appreciated.

“Introducing modern communication gadgets is a good decision,” said Chairman Council of Islamic Ideology Qibla Ayaz. “It will help both the governments to smooth Hajj operation.” He also appreciated the decisions of reducing Hajj cost on government scheme and pleaded to extend it to private scheme as well.

Meanwhile giving details about use of mobile apps, Spokesperson of Religious Affairs Ministry Muhammad Umar Butt has said that the ministry has launched an updated electronic monitoring system for

prompt redressal of pilgrims’ complaints, ensuring better quality services for them.

“This system would help us look after the Hajj operation in a better way and improve quality of services for the pilgrims during their stay at the holy places,” Umar Butt said.

He said that the in-built mechanism had been launched in collaboration with Punjab Information Technology Board. “It also has provision of transferring unresolved complaints to the next tier of management for taking appropriate measures.”

The monitoring system, he said, would also evaluate the performance of Hajj Group Organizers (HGOs) as it was a comprehensive portal with a variety of value-added features designed to cater the specific needs of all pilgrims. “A ‘daily situation report’ would also be generated for the information of senior management.”

04 NEWS 13 LAHORE_Layout 1 6/13/2022 12:03 AM Page 1

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

04 NEWS

Kashmiris diasPora role vital to resolve Kashmir issue: aJK President MIRPUR (AJK)

a

Staff RepoRt

ZAD Jammu and Kashmir President Barrister Sultan Mehmood Chaudhry said that Kashmiris settled in UK can play an important role in resolving the Kashmir issue and bringing an end to the spate of violence and bloodshed in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu Kashmir.

Barrister Chaudhary made these remarks while addressing a reception hosted in his

honor by the Kashmiri community here in Birmingham on Sunday, AJK President office said on Sunday.

The reception was attended and addressed by Chaudhry Khadim Hussain, Karamat Hussain, Chaudhry Hukam Dad, Chaudhry Dilpazir, Chaudhry Malik, Chaudhry Shaaban, Chaudhry Amjad, Chaudhry Abdul Ghafoor, Chaudhry Muhammad Hussain, Sardar Sarfraz Qayyum and Ansar Ali, Allah Datta, Irfan Lehri, Gulfraz and others.

In his address, the AJK president

WB approves $300m for climate-resilient roads in KP ISLAMABAD agencieS

The World Bank’s Board of Executive Directors on Friday approved $300 million in financing to support Pakistan in upgrading rural roads to provide safe and reliable access to schools, health facilities and markets in the most vulnerable districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) province. The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Rural Accessibility Project (KPRAP) will provide safe and affordable transportation to primary and middle schools, especially for young girls, in remote areas, which have the lowest enrollment and attendance rates. The project will also improve connectivity to markets and provincial centres to support income generation for rural farmers by reducing transportation costs and travel times, according to a press statement issued by the World Bank.

“This project takes a climate-smart approach that builds resilience into the design of transportation infrastructure, which is critical to improving the reliability and connectivity of rural road networks in KP, especially for remote areas most at risk to extreme weather,” said Najy Benhassine, World Bank Country Director for Pakistan. “By increasing year-round mobility and access to schools and health facilities, these investments will directly support human capital development and help farmers better cope with weather-related travel disruptions and economic shocks,” Benhassine added KPRAP’s climate resilient design includes all-weather roads that are safer and will help reduce accidents and fatalities. It will also generate savings from reduced maintenance and construction costs when a road fails. “Access to basic education and health services is a major issue in KP due to travel disruptions and poor connectivity between districts and provincial centres, especially in the northern and southern areas,” said Lincoln Flor, Task Team Leader for the Programme. “Providing safe, all-weather roads and reliable transportation services will help increase student attendance in schools to address/reduce low school enrollment and early dropouts. It will also address the lack of access to health facilities, which is linked to higher mortality rates from preventable or otherwise easily treatable diseases,” Flor added. KPRAP will benefit 1.7 million people who live in rural areas in KP and will improve income generation for women and men in agriculture, accounting for 20 percent of employment in the province. It will also increase regular attendance of up to 60,000 girls at the primary- and middle-school levels and support up to 5,000 new enrollments of girls from the most vulnerable communities in KP.

while referring to his efforts to highlight the Kashmir cause, said, “From 2014 to 2018, I organized million marches in London, Dublin, New York, Brussels and Berlin under the auspices of Kashmir Peace Forum International (KPFI)”.

He urged the diaspora community to unite together under the platform of the KPFI to highlight the plight of Kashmiris effectively at global level.

He was of the view that Kashmiris living in other countries should also unite and redouble their efforts to galva-

nize international support for early and amicable solution of the Kashmir dispute.

Regarding the recently formed committee, he said, a defense committee was formed that will take legal action for the release of Hurriyat leader Yasin Malik.

“Kashmiris in the UK and other countries should unite and intensify their efforts to seek world attention towards the dire situation in Occupied Kashmir and to expose the India’s ugly face before the world”, he said.

Abu Dhabi and China’s Shandong province to exchange industrial data and expertise ABU DHABI tLtp

The Abu Dhabi Department of Economic Development (Added) and China’s Shandong province signed an initial pact to boost co-operation and exchange expertise and data in the industrial sector, in a move to further increase bilateral investment opportunities.

The National UAE reported that the agreement aims to establish ways for exchanging information to improve industrial co-operation and facilitate delegation visits and investor meetings, Added said in a statement on Friday. In addition, the pact seeks to organise training programmes on entrepreneurship and management consultancy between companies on both sides.

The agreement “is part of our efforts to strengthen relations with Abu Dhabi’s major trade partners; China is one of our largest partners in non-oil trade, particularly in industrial materials,” Rashed Abdulkarim Al

Blooshi, undersecretary of Added, said.

“It also reflects our plans to enhance the development of the manufacturing sector and to keep pace with Industry 4.0, which is one of the strategic objectives of Abu Dhabi economy.”

During 2021, Abu Dhabi’s industrial sector recorded growth, thanks to the government policies and incentives aimed at attracting more investments.

The number of new industrial sector licenses issued increased by 17 per cent compared to 2020, while the establishment of new factories rose 15 per cent, according to Added data.

Abu Dhabi has built solid infrastructure to support sustained and innovative investing, despite the Covid-19 pandemic. Besides reducing business setup and renewal requirements and fees, it also eased doing business in the emirate, reflecting a strong partnership between the government and global private sectors players.

People should respect mountains, nature: Prof Pinelli SWAT Staff RepoRt

Renowned International and national mountaineers emphasized on people to respect mountains by keeping them clean and pristine and not to observe any aggressive activity to dent the pristinely of the mountains and nature. They were speaking at a ceremony held to celebrate the recent summit of Mankiyal Peak of Hindu Kush Mountain Range in Swat. Renowned mountaineer Carlo Alberto Pinelli was the chief guest on the occasion. Different Pakistani trekkers and rock climbers participated in the event.

Carlo Alberto PINELLI is a high altitude mountaineer and mountaineering instructor who was conferred upon Sitara-e-Imtiaz, “Star of Excellence” by the government of Pakistan in 2017 for his services to the mountains of Pakistan including leading the famous ecological expedition FREE K2 freeing the second highest peak on the planet of tons of garbage and fixed ropes abandoned by previous expeditions.

Presently Professor Pinelli has been leading a project known as The Swat Project aiming to survey and document the possible trekking and mountaineering itineraries of the fascinating mountains of Swat and publish a practical guidebook on the outdoor activities.

The project is running jointly by Mountain Wilderness International and International Association for Mediterranean and Oriental Studies.

“The visitors, hikers and trekkers must respect mountains to keep its pristinely but unfortunately people do not respect mountains and leave garbage there,” said Pinelli adding that respect for nature and the shared enjoyment of mountains by everyone who loves them must be promoted.

He said that the mountains of Swat were very fascinating and beautiful where ecofriendly tourism must be promoted.

The three mountaineers Syed Ali Shah Mian, Muhammad Rahim and Farman Khan who recently summited the historical Mankiyal peak in the Upper Swat said they were excited to become the first Swatis

by summiting the peak.” We are honoured to receive shields from the hands of Pinelli and we will try to summit the Falak Sar peak in our next expedition,” they said and thanked SPS Trekking Club for celebrating their success of summiting Mankiyal Peak.

Impact of India’s hybrid warfare on Pakistan’s national security

By AfnAn WASIf Variation is inherent in the nature of the universe. In view of this natural law, war tactics and techniques have also changed and they have shifted from the first generation to the fifth generation or hybrid warfare. The subject of security has expanded significantly since the end of the Cold War and after the 9/11 incident. It is not enough to weaken or subjugate a country or a nation by military force alone.

It has become possible to subjugate the country and the nation politically, economically, diplomatically and socially. India has also used such ploys to undermine Pakistan’s national security, which is still ongoing.

Indian-sponsored terrorism via Kulbhushan Jadhav, India’s efforts to put Pakistan on FATF’s gray list, the Pulwama-Balakot dispute in 2019, India’s misinformation campaign, violations of Indus Water Treaty etcetera are Indian tactics to impair Pakistan’s security.

Many unsuccessful attempts have been made to portray Pakistan as an unsafe and dangerous state on the world stage. To this end, every possible support was given under the

auspices of India to promote terrorism in Pakistan. Recently, India has been found involved in activities to spread chaos and terrorism in Balochistan through Kulbhushan Jadhav. He provided military and economic support to various separatist groups fighting against Pakistan, such as the BLA, the BRA, and the BLF. Moreover, India was also found involved in the attack on the Chinese Consulate in Karachi to sabotage CPEC. The Zoji La Pass tunnel is also being built by India to monitor CPEC. Such Indian maneuvers have done significant damage to Pakistan’s internal and external integrity.

At the FATF meeting held in Paris on June 29, 2018, approval was given to put Pakistan on the gray list. India did

its utmost to put Pakistan on the gray list by justifying its failure to take strong action against Hafiz Saeed, Jaish-eMuhammad, and Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation, Lashkar-e-Taiba and other religious organizations allegedly involved in the Mumbai attacks and other terrorist activities. The reality is quite the opposite. Hafiz Saeed has also been jailed for 31 years. Organizations such as the Falah-e-Insaniat Foundation have also been banned. Apart from this, Pakistan has also completed most of the tasks given by FATF. Acknowledging Indian influence and interference in FATF, the Indian Foreign Minister said in a statement: “The BJP government led by Narendra Modi has ensured that Pakistan remains on FATF’s gray list. Because of us, Pakistan is under the supervision of FATF and has been placed on the gray list.” The United States, India’s strategic partner, has persuaded Turkey, Saudi Arabia, and China to take action against Pakistan. Similarly, India assured China of its support for FATF’s future leadership.

Therefore, due to the strong Indian lobby, Pakistan is still on the FATF’s gray list. This is causing serious problems to Pakistan’s economy.

After the Kargil battle, the Pulwama-Balakot dispute was a serious military tension between Pakistan and India. India blamed Pakistan for the suicide attack in Pulwama. In response to the suicide attack, the Indian Air Force dropped its payload at Balakot, a Pakistani territory, and retreated. It claimed that we had dismantled the training camp of the organization involved in the Pulwama attack in Balakot in which more than 300 terrorists were allegedly undergoing training with the aid of the Pakistani Intelligence Agency.

In fact, the Indian Air Force could do nothing but cut down a few trees in Balakot. But to cover up the humiliation, they launched a campaign to spread negative propaganda. It has been falsely reported on Indian channels that 300 terrorists have been killed and we have shot down an F-16 fighter jet of the Pakistan Air Force. In this way, India has tried its best to throw dust in the eyes of the world. One of the main purposes of using such stratagems was to isolate Pakistan diplomatically.

A Brussels-based NGO has identified a network that has been operating under the patronage of the Indian

“Srivastava Group” for 15 years. The aim was to spread fake news against Pakistan and tarnish its international image. Srivastava Group and India’s largest video news agency and Reuters News Agency’s Indian partner “Asian News International” were key players in the entire operation.

There were 265 websites in 65 countries seeking to spread fake news against Pakistan and tarnish its international image. The Srivastava Group lobbied members of the European Parliament and persuaded them to write against Pakistan. Asian News International used these articles as credible references to present Pakistan’s alleged negative image to the world. Such moves, in particular, threaten to harm Pakistan’s tourism industry and the revival of international cricket in Pakistan.

India has always tried to cause irreparable damage to Pakistan’s economy by violating the Indus Water Treaty. India laid the foundation stone for a dam on the Kishanganga River in occupied Jammu and Kashmir in 2007 which was a total violation of the Indus Water Treaty. Because it was diverting the flow of water and causing the depletion of water level.

Pakistan took the matter to the Permanent Court of Arbitration in 2010 which ruled in favor of India in 2013.

As a result, Pakistan faced a 21% water shortage in the Neelum River, which resulted in a 13% reduction in energy production in the Neelum Jhelum project. These Indian actions were tantamount to destroy Pakistan’s economy and agriculture.

However, these gambits by India to destabilize Pakistan’s national security did not last long or will last. But they have done some damage to Pakistan’s military, economic, political, diplomatic, and social security. However, Indian efforts are futile in the face of Pakistan’s retaliatory efforts.

To address the threats posed by hybrid warfare, Pakistan must build its integrity, sovereignty, self-reliance, and the ability to defend its national interests. The unity of the entire nation, all state and government institutions, media, and civil society are essential to tackle this multifaceted threat.

The author is a student of Strategic Studies at National Defence University, Islamabad. He could be reached at afnanwasif84@gmail.com

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

PPP forms committee to galvanise support against bypassing Parliament in talks with TTP continued from page 01 “But the people of Pakistan would never forgive this coalition for dancing on the tunes of their foreign masters and helping the regime change operation succeed. They would be punished by the people of Pakistan and it’s a matter of weeks now,” he asserted. A cabinet member, requesting not being named, said that it would have been better for the PPP leadership to share their concerns first with Shehbaz Sharif, the premier.

“Going public with its concerns without consulting the premier, who is an ally of the PPP, was bit indecent act. But the start of efforts to galvanizing political support over the subject without meeting Shehbaz Sharif reflects that the PPP is either involved in politics of blackmail or it wants to ditch the ruling alliance,” the minister concluded.

Elections only remedy to politico-economic woes of Pakistan: Imran continued from page 01 “The government of thieves is at the helm [which] is absolving its corruption cases... evidence of foreign conspiracy has been found and there is a sea of inflation..,” Imran said while explaining his decision to stage the protest against the government. Imran, the ousted prime minister, said due to the aforementioned reasons it is his right to stage a peaceful protest against the government. “If we don’t have the right to peaceful protest then announce openly that there is no democracy in this country.” Besides the apex court, he said the political and economic instability is also a huge challenge for 'neutrals' – a tacit reference to the establishment. “Come what may I will never accept this government of thieves and will stage a peaceful protest against it,” the ousted premier said.

GB CM slams 50pc cut in development allocations in federal budget ISLAMABAD: Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Khalid Khurshid has slammed the federal government for cutting the development allocations of the region up to 50% in the budget 2022-23. Addressing a press conference on Sunday in Islamabad along with Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders including Murad Saeed and Ali Amin Gandapur, GB CM Khalid Khurshid said that at least Rs50 billion should be allocated for the Gilgit-Baltistan region in the federal budget.

Khurshid said the coalition government led by Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) has deliberately reduced the allocations of the GB region while the 50% cut will affect the pace of development. He detailed that GB was not given electricity from Water and Power Development Authority (WAPDA) despite the region contributing to hydropower generation for the country. agencies

05

OuTaGEs fOrCE PEOPlE OPT fOr alTErnaTIvE OPTIOns iSlamaBad

T

news desk

HE recent power outage followed by increase in per unit charges of electricity has pushed the consumers to opt for alternative options of energy instead of relying only on provision of power by the government.

Instead of staying just as consumers, the clients of power distribution companies have already been provided a modern facility of selling extra electricity, which they could generate easily through the solar and wind systems.

Following successful models of several western and eastern countries, the government had already introduced the net metering technology to facilitate power producing customers and help overcome the menace of load-shedding in the country.

The launch of ‘Net-Metering Regulation’ paves the way for establishment of flexible regulatory regime where any consumer can install solar panels and sell extra electricity to the distribution company concerned by following a simple process.

In order to avail the alternative options of electricity, the government has decided to exempt tax on the import and local supply chain of solar panels for facilitating public. The decision was announced by Finance Minister Miftah Ismail while presenting the Budget for the fiscal year 2022-23 (FY23) in the National Assembly. In the budget, the Finance Minister has also proposed that families using less than 200 units of electricity will be

given loans in easy installments for purchasing a solar panel.

The metering not only helps in ensuring uninterrupted power supply for consumers but it also goes a long way in establishment of clear and consistent tariff regime where the consumers receive charges for electricity generated by the system they installed. Any consumer who meets the requirement of a distributor generator by becoming a 3 phase domestic, commercial or industrial consumers can submit application to the relevant power distribution companies (DISCO) with necessary documents. The government has already made Net-Metering Arrangement very simple to attract more and more consumers, and DISCOs had set up special facilitation desks to guide the applicants.

The system includes five steps including submission of application, technical review of the application by DISCO, signing of net metering agreement, payment of interconnection charges and sale/purchase of electricity.

Many countries such as USA, China, UK, Germany, Australia, Brazil, India, Japan and Thailand etc have been generating electricity through the solar system.

Pakistan receives one of the best solar irradiation in the world and has a potential to generate over 2.324 million megawatts electricity per annum through solar thermal and photovoltaic system. Solar irradiation in Pakistan and India stands at 1,900 kWh/m2 against China’s 1,500 and Germany 1,200. However, net metering works only for grid connected systems and

what makes it so beneficial, besides offsetting a self-consumption, is that excess energy sent to the utility is paid for, at the rate identified in the regulations.

The consumer may produce five units of electricity every hour with a 5KW system costing around Rs 700,000 to Rs 800,000. This adds up to total 35 units every day, considering the average daylight for seven hours available for Solar PV panels to operate.

Producing 35 units daily, a consumer can produce around 1050 electricity every month. If there is an average consumption of 600 units for domestic use, 400-450 units can still be sold.

Rabia Khalid, consumer manager of Sigma Solar, said that they dealt in 3KW, 5 KW, 8KW, 10 KW, 15 KW and 20KW, adding that the prices started from Rs 600,000 to over Rs 5,000,000 respectively. Now a days, each Solar PV having 540W capacity were being used and around 6-7 panels were needed for 5KW system, she said.

Executive Chairman of Sky Electric Inc Ashar Aziz said that solar system was the best solution for all markets across the globe. It had been adopted globally for multiple reasons, including grid independence, adoption of clean energy, net-metering, and lower electricity bills. For countries in the developing world with unstable grids, such as Pakistan, India, Bangladesh, Nigeria & various countries in Africa, the main purpose of Solar Solutions was to provide continuous electricity amidst frequent power outages, he said.

Meanwhile, the all power distribution companies (DISCOs) and K-Elec-

tric has received a total of 16,149 applications for net metering during the last three years and out of which 12,918 licenses have been issued so far.

According to official data, as many as 1,981 applications were received during fiscal year 2018-19, 4,232 in FY-2019-20 and 9,936 in FY2020-21. Similarly, out of total, some 1,167 licenses had been issued during FY-2018-19, 3,334 in FY-2019-20 and 8,417 in FY-2020-21. A total of 3,404 net metering licenses have been issued in Lahore Electric Supply Company during the said period, 3,216 in Islamabad Electric Supply Company, 1,089 in Multan Electric Power Company, 740 in Faisalabad Electric Supply Company, 666 in Peshawar Electric Supply Company, 623 in Gujranwala Electric Supply Company, 18 in Hyderabad Electric Supply Company, 13 in Sukkur Electric Supply Company and 2,340 in K-Electric. Neither a single application for net metering was received in Tribal Electric Supply Company nor has any license been issued during the period.

IESCO Chief Dr Muhammad Amjad told APP that the company had installed 5,242 net metering connections so far in various areas of its region. The company had received 5,417 applications for net metering connections so far and out of which 5,325 applications had been approved by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority. The installed net metering connections included 4,760 domestic, 322 commercial, 80 government, 62 industrial, 15 agricultural and 3 bulk supply connections, he said.

PPP Women Wing KP hails federal govt for presenting people-friendly budget peSHaWar agencies

President Women Wing Pakistan People Party (PPP) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Senator Rubina Khalid on Sunday lauded the federal government for presenting people-friendly budget within limited resources and said that 15 percent increase in salaries would help government employees to deal with current situations.

Addressing a Women Workers Convention in Karak district, she criticized Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Mahmood Khan for ignoring most im-

portant meeting of National Economic Council and said that his lack of interest harmed the public interest.

She congratulated the women of Karak for attending the convention at large and said that KP women would emerge in the history of rural areas by participating in the upcoming general election with full potential. She urged the participants to serve the masses in line with Party’s policy, so that the problems confronted by rural women could be overcome.

Addressing a Women Convention at Bannu, Rubina Khalid said that Pakistan People Party is poorfriendly political party which always served the

masses without any discrimination. She said the people of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in particular and the country in general have benefited by the projects initiated by PPP during its tenure.

She was also accompanied by PPP KP General Secretary Shazia Tehmas, Information Secretary Mehr Sultana, Deputy Secretary Qazi Mussarat, Vice President Ashbar Jadoon, President Peshawar division Naseem Riaz, and others.

Later, Senator Rubina Khalid administered oath to the newly elected cabinet of PPP Women Wing at district Kohat.

IIOJK delimitations – a blatant Indian effort of gerrymandering

By faridullaH farid Delimitation of constituencies by BJP-led government in IIOJK using gerrymandering tactic giving more assembly seats to minority Hindu populace over Muslim majority populace has not only hurt the sentiments of people of Kashmir on both sides of the border but also united the political leadership of IIOJK to resist this unlawful Indian move.

In leading democracies, gerrymandering is being used for political control of electoral district boundaries with the aim of providing unnecessary benefit for a party, group, or socio-economic class inside the constituency.

Two principal tactics are utilized in gerrymandering: “cracking” and “packing”.

Though delimitation in IIOJK has been on the BJP’s manifesto since 1995, when the last such exercise was done in the state.

Now, the delimitation commission established by the Modi government in its “Draft

proposal” submitted in Dec, 2021 had proposed six extra assembly seats for the Jammu district and just a single additional seat for Kashmir.

The Commission has proposed redrawing of five out of eight assembly segments of the capital Srinagar. Under the new suggestions, the HabbaKadal assembly segment, which had a sizable number of Kashmiri Pandit voters, has been parted into three seats. Wide-scale consolidation and formation of new constituencies in North Kashmir and Central Kashmir’s Budgam has been proposed.

The Kunzer region is probably going to be another assembly segment, while Sangrama will be merged into different electorates in North Kashmir. Rajouri and Poonch areas, which have a huge populace of Hindus, will be a part of South Kashmir’s Anantnag parliamentary body electorate, which previously had overwhelmingly Muslim majority. The plan would raise the number of assembly seats in Jammu to 43 from existing 37 and to 47 in Kashmir from 46.

The figures available from the 1995 delimitation show that Kashmir in spite of having 56.15% of the populace had just 55.42% share in the assembly, while Jammu having 43.84% of the populace, got the representation of 44.57% in the assembly.

The recent visit of Indian PM Modi to IIOJK on 24 Apr, 2022 seems an effort on his part to muster support for finalization / implementation of IIOJK delimitation commission report and secondly, to launch a convincing campaign to develop a favourable public opinion for the acceptance of recom-

mendations of the commission. Thirdly, his visit was also aimed at pacifying the mounting international concerns over the Indian occupational forces HRAs in IIOJK. Though PM Modi has announced that statehood in the valley will be restored after the situation returns to normal but his real plan to impose Hindu Raj in IIOJK through political coercion and bringing a Hindu CM in Muslim majority areas in IIOJK after delimitations has been exposed and not only the people of IIOJK but its political leadership and international stakeholders would out rightly reject any such attempt by Indian government.

The commission’s report had come up with sharp criticism especially from the Kashmir based political parties after it had recommended an increase of six seats in Jammu and one in Kashmir. All political forces of IIOJK including ‘Apni Party’ which was earlier labeled by Peoples’ Alliance for Gupkar Declaration (PAGD) as B group of BJP has also rejected the proposals of delimitation commission considering it as an “attack on political incomparability of Kashmir in J&K’s legislative issues and “part of the series of measures began by BJP-led government from fifth August 2019 to undermine Kashmiris of IIOJK”. National Conference (NC) dismissed the commission report, saying the proposals were “unlawful”. The subsequent draft can be named as an obtrusive move of “Gerrymandering” to redraw the constituencies to give Hindu populace larger share.

Omar Abdullah said, “The proposal of the J&K delimitation commission is unacceptable. The distribution of recently created

cmyK

assembly constituencies with 6 going to Jammu and simply 1 to Kashmir isn’t legitimized by data of the 2011 census”.

Mehbooba Mufti said “the real game plan is to introduce an administration in J&K which will legitimize the unlawful and illegal acts of 5 August 2019. They want to pitch individuals against one another by disregarding the population census and proposing 6 seats for one region and just one for Kashmir”.

Sajad Ghani Lone said the proposal “smells of a predisposition” and is a “shock to the individuals who have faith in majority rule democratic government in Kashmir”.

The Gupkaralliance has also likewise dismissed the proposal of the delimitation commission by emphasizing that India has no legitimate purview to include Jammu and Kashmir being disputed region in the light of UN resolutions; India illegally attempted the activity in the garb of revocation of Article 370 and 35A. India has intentionally done the delimitation, with the goal that it can hold and win elections to persuade the world of its goal to the democratic values.

It is a bitter global fact that the issue of IIOJK has always been a flashing point between the two nuclear neighbor states and it is evident from the history that three wars were fought between India and Pakistan on this longstanding unresolved issue.

The BJP-led government of India is using extensive military might against the unarmed brave nation in the valley who are struggling for their right of self determination in the light of UN declarations. Many international human rights organizations, UN bodies and international community al-

though are raising voices against human rights violations at the hands of Indian forces in IIOJK but even then,the Indian rulers are adamant and continue to suppress the voices of Kashmiri people which is clear violations of UN declarations and international laws.

The issue of Kashmir hasserious implications for the regional and international peace and security. The cruelties of Indian PM Narendra Modi did not stop despite of prolonged imposition of curfew-cum lockdown in IIOJK since 5 Aug, 2019 and now has gone beyond the heights of brutalities by bringing delimitations in IIOJK to lower assembly seats of Muslim majority and raise assembly seats of Hinduswho are in minority.

This brazen effort by the Indian government is a direct attack on the democratic rights of the people of IIOJK, particularly Muslims and exposes India’s true face to regional and international power corridors.

Pakistan will also continue to morally, politically and diplomatically support Kashmiri brothers and sisters in their rightful struggle in all regional and international venues. Second, the resilient and brave people of the valley, particularly the youth, will not accept any such move by the self presumed champion of democracy and so-called secular state putting together totally on the basis of malafide designs. The people of IIOJK see a bleak future under Indian rule, and they now wish to free themselves from the chains of enslavement imposed illegally by Indian expansionist designs.

The Author is media scholar and freelance journalist. He can be reached @faridfaiz@hotmail.com

06-07 Comments - 13th June 2022_Layout 1 6/13/2022 12:27 AM Page 1

Monday, 13 June, 2022

06 COMMENT

Tehran eyes on Beijing’s arms

The blame game Government and opposition need to find solutions to the economy

T

he presentation of the Budget has led to the resumption of the government-opposition blame game on who is responsible for the economy’s parlous state. each says that it was because of the other side. The opposition claims that the massive need in the coming fiscal year for foreign exchange is not just the current government’s fault but tasty of the government preceding it, which again were the current coalition’s components. The current coalition claims it inherited this need from the present opposition’s massive forex borrowings. What neither side seems to realize is that the ordinary Pakistani, who is after all the person most affected, as he will have to shell out the taxes to pay off the debt, and bear with the inflation that has been caused so far. That man in the street is not bothered about who is to blame; he has to live with the reality of expensive food, unaffordable fuel and electricity out of reach.

It does seem as if the proposal for an economic compact between the parties, an agreement to establish continuity in economic policy, is needed if the country is to break out of its current debt trap. At present, every new government tries to reinvent the wheel, claiming that the previous government made a misshapen wheel. Perhaps the best example was when the PTI government began its tenure in 2018 by presenting a fresh budget to replace the previous budget, apparently just because it had been presented by the previous government. however, it does seem that any such agreement will have to await a fresh election, and even then overcome the PTI’s reluctance to talk to those it has designated as ‘corrupt elements’. The present assembly, the present government, would like to protect its policy decisions, but it is not really in a position to do so, because it may find that it has presented the only budget it can preside over.

If it presents next year’s budget, it will be before going into fresh elections. If it loses the election, it may see that budget replaced if it loses the election. As a first step, the major parties must agree that there will be a ’Charter of the economy’, as Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has called it, afterwards, and that the corruption or honesty of the other side will have nothing to do with negotiating it. Without this, the ordinary Pakistani will continue to sink in the economic quicksand that prevails.

Dr. MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer

C

hINeSe minister of national defense Wei Fenghe visited Tehran on 27 April 2022 and met with high profile personalities of Iran.

Wei Fenghe expressed that Iran sees China as a strategic partner. The close cooperation of both countries would provide security, particularly in the current critical and tense situation. The intentions of both countries demonstrate that their cooperation may lead towards deep strategic cooperation.

After meeting with President ebrahim Reisi, the two sides agreed to expand all areas of cooperation, including the military, while reiterating their shared commitment to protecting fundamental interests, gainst what they called the West’s “unilateral, domination and external intervention.” Admittedly, it emphasizes mutual inattention. After meeting with AFGS, the two countries “agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in joint military exercises, exchange of strategies, training matters and other common areas.”

Due to Iranian Armed Forces Cihef of Staff Maj Gen hossein Bagheri’s strong defense diplomacy, Iran’s relations with the Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) have become closer in recent years. In 2019, General Bagheri became the first Iranian armed forces chief of staff to visit China since the 1979 Islamic Revolution.

In addition, Wei Feng’s was the third high-level PLA delegation to visit Iran since 2016, which coincided with General Bagheri’s appointment as head of the Iranian armed forces. It shows that there is more

New India

T

he latest blasphemy controversy has once again highlighted the fact that the Muslims of India are suffering because of the majoritarian impulses of the hindu voter. The Muslims have engaged in protests against the blasphemy against the holy Prophet (PBUh) committed by BJP spokesperson Nupur Sharma and its Delhi media chief Kumar Jindal, and though the BJP has removed both from their posts, as well as from membership of the party, there has been no official condemnation of their action, nor any criminal action, not even under the relatively mild provisions of the Indian Penal Code.

The communal rioting which has ensured shows that there is at least a section of mass opinion which feels that the duo’s blasphemy was protected by the freedom of speech, and made points that deserved to be made. That such a mindset exists explains why the BJP has received a sympathetic enough hearing for its RSS-inspired hindu chauvinism for its spokesmen to have committed blasphemy. The BJP government has taken the little action it has because of a protest by Arab countries, whose citizens are also very sensitive about the holy Prophet (PBUh), and who have boycotted Indian products. There is also the fear that India might have to face the expulsion of its workers from those countries.

It is not a matter of Indo-Pak rivalry, but Pakistan must use this event to highlight the fact that the pandering to India, which has included a neglect of the Kashmir cause, by Arab countries, has led to hindu extremism getting room to expand, which it has done in the fashion that has been shown. At this point, Pakistan has to keep uppermost the honour of the holy Prophet (PBUh), whose honour has been insulted, for which redress has not been provided. It should also be remembered that the insult came in the course of a programme on a Benares mosque, where hindu extremists claim there was a hindu temple, just as the claimed about the Babri Mosque.

India constantly violates international law

SaiMa afZal

T

he Kashmir dispute has remained one of the main agenda items of the UN Security Council. The abrogation of Articles 370 and 35A of the Indian Constitution by the Modi government has intensified tensions in the disputed region that have severe repercussions for global peace and security. At a time when the rulesbased international system is under threat from populist regimes and non-state actors, the need to endorse basic principles of international law becomes imperative. The above action by India in Indian-held Kashmir is incompatible with international law, bilateral treaties, and even its domestic law. Therefore, Kashmir is a test case for the efficacy of the international rules-based order, requiring all states to uphold the sanctity of international law as a legal and moral obligation.

India is a signatory to the International Covenant on Civil and Political Rights (ICCPR). Article 6 of the ICCPR expressly prohibits derogation from the right to life. Thus, even during the time of emergency,” no one shall be arbitrarily deprived of his life.” Articles 4 and 7 of the ICCPR explicitly ban torture, even in times of national emergency or when the security of the state is threatened. The Indian army, Special Task Force, Border Security Force, and

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami M. A. Niazi

Umar Aziz

Joint Editor

Joint Editor

Executive Editor

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

US Secretary of State Mike Pompeo, and there is no question of a jet trade for energy.

With the possibility of a resumption of the nuclear deal, it may allow Tehran to gain greater access to funds, which could lead to a growing concern for the arms trade among Washington and its allies. Some analysts have ruled out the possibility of China becoming a major arms exporter to Iran in the post-sanctions period, but as the Lebanon war and recent bombings have made clear, Chinese technology is in the wrong hands Drones, dual-use and missile technology are also of concern. Unlike other major arms suppliers in the region, China is not a party to the Wassenaar Agreement, which could make it the largest supplier of armed drones in the Middle east Region.

Because Iran can manufacture its drones locally, Tehran’s opponents currently use Chinese drones exclusively. Reports have revealed Chinese support for the local production of unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) in the Gulf States, including a recent joint venture between China and Saudi Arabia to develop military drones in the kingdom. Given China’s highquality, low-cost drones, as well as its ability to transfer knowledge and upgrade Iranian UAVs, the possibility of bilateral cooperation in this emerging field cannot be ruled out.

In January 2021, Beijing sources confirmed that Iran and Pakistan had gained access to China’s BeiDou satellite navigation system for military purposes. Although current Iranian ballistic missiles rely on guidance methods rather than satellites, BeiDou can help the Iranian armed forces determine launch locations and target positions, especially with intelligence support and other strategies. In contrast, satellite navigation is suitable for controlling surface-to-surface ballistic missiles, cruise missiles and drones within a range of 500 km.

During the recent years, both the countries have increased their military cooperation with their navies visiting each other’s seaports and organized joint naval drilling in the Indian Ocean. In March 2021, China and Iran signed a 25-years strategic cooperation agreement. It also covers all varieties of cooperation and economic activities from oil and mining to establishment of industries in Iran.

The improvement of strategic and defense cooperation between China and Iran would have a remarkable impact in diffusing unilateralism and fighting terrorism in the region.

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo.com

Kashmir intractable conflict: International law perspective

The roots of the problem are not the RSS ideology, but the Hindu voter

Editor Aziz-ud-Din Ahmad

going on below the surface.

China has reaffirmed its commitment to peace and security in the Middle east and the Gulf. At the same time, he criticized the USA for imposing unilateral sanctions on Iran and proposed a series of forgotten alternative security frameworks for the Gulf, which undermined the US-led security umbrella in the region. It may ensure the prosperity of Beijing and the free flow of oil.

China has been considered suspicious of arms supply to Iran during the sanctions and it also has been cautious with Iran over the UN arms embargo, which was in effect until October 2020. Once sanctions are lifted, private and state-owned companies may seek to diversify their portfolios by selling military assets. China was the largest supplier of weapons to both sides during Iran-Iraq war, they bought more than $7.5 billion worth of arms in the late 1980s. According to the Stockholm International Peace Research Institute, China took advantage of a flaw in pre-2006 orders to continue supplying weapons to Iran after the years of sanctions. These weapons were anti-ship missiles, surface-to-air missiles; armored personnel carriers, surface-to-air missile systems, air search radar and missile launch catamarans systems, which reached Iran.

In recent years, Iran has used its control over this strategic barrier of the Strait of hormuz, through which one-fifth of the world’s oil passes, to attack passing tankers and shoot down US drones. For their own reasons, China and Iran are trying to develop A2/AD capabilities on their shores to counter US and allied navies. Both countries practice downing US aircraft carriers in mock-ups. he has also helped develop long-range anti-ship missiles, demonstrating how Chinese companies can boost Iran’s development of indigenous weapons.

In March 2010, it was reported that Iran had begun manufacturing Chinese-designed Nasr-1 anti-ship missiles. Just four years ago, during the 2006 Lebanon war, four Israeli navy soldiers were killed by an Iranian derivative of a Chinese C-802 subsonic anti-ship cruise missile launched by the Iranian proxy hezbollah.

Since the lifting of sanctions in 2020, bilateral arms purchases have not been reported, possibly due to Tehran’s economic woes and the possible backlash from Iran’s rivals (especially through US executive Order 13949). But Iran’s defense industry is showing interest in Chinese weapons, especially fighter jets.

The possibility of future deployment of Chinese J-10 fighter jets in the Persian Gulf was raised by former

I

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

I

state-sponsored paramilitary groups and village defense committees-the principal government forces operating in Jammu and Kashmir have systematically violated these fundamental norms of international human rights law. Under international law, India’s state-sponsored militias are state agents and therefore must abide by international human rights and humanitarian law. The government of India is ultimately responsible for its actions in Indian-held Kashmir.

It is sad to say that the UN could not protect the basic human rights of oppressed Kashmiris, hold India accountable, and deliver on the promise of a plebiscite to the Kashmiri people. Although Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru approached the UN Security Council (UNSC) in December 1947, to seek its help to settle the Kashmir dispute, India portrayed the matter as a territorial issue, Pakistan stressed that it was rather about the right to self-determination of the people of Kashmir. Pakistan’s viewpoint was later endorsed in the UN’s resolution that declared Kashmir a disputed territory whose future should be decided through a free and fair plebiscite.

Therefore, the UNSC passed resolutions in 1948/49, which asked for a ceasefire and the holding of a plebiscite under its supervision, to enable the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide through their vote whether they wanted the state to join Pakistan or India. Soon after the resolution, the conditions for holding a plebiscite were also laid. however, the implementation of the resolution has been lingering ever since, as India has consistently found ways for its delay. In the 1950s, the Indian government renounced the plebiscite, calling the UN resolution non-binding as it was made under Section 6; and started calling Kashmir its integral part.

The resolutions passed on Kashmir from 1947 to 1957 cannot be termed as recommendatory only.

What we need to be clear about is that, in its initial years, the practice of the UNSC was not to mention the title of the chapter under which it was passing the resolution. During this time, it was the content and the substance of the resolution that would determine the nature of implementation. If one looks at the UNSC’s practice in its first decade of existence, only a handful of resolutions mention the title of the chapter, whereas the majority of resolutions that were

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

I

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

I

acted upon by the member states did not mention any reference to a chapter of the UN Charter.

Interestingly, when the Indian tactic did not bore fruit, India tried to bypass the UN resolution by calling the dispute a bilateral issue and not an international one. Kashmir is an unresolved issue and the existence of UN observers at the Line of Control (LOC) verifies this claim. Therefore, India ought to accept this reality instead of trying to make it look ambiguous by raising petty issues. While India calls it a territorial issue, to Pakistan it’s a humanitarian issue where the population of 17.6 million (on both sides of the LoC) is being denied the right to self-determination.

Currently, India maintains almost 1 million troops in Kashmir, making it the most militarized zone in the world, and these troops have been involved in crimes against humanity. The entire freedom struggle in Indian-occupied Kashmir is fundamentally indigenous with their fifth generation now fighting the war. The USA and its allies have failed to press India to resolve the Kashmir dispute at the UN forum because of the strategic convergence of Indo-US interests. The USA deems India as a crucial player in its China-containment strategy. hence, India acts with impunity in Indian-held Kashmir and the region.

The UN must not become a tool in the hands of great powers; instead, it must go back to its primary responsibility as mentioned in the UN charter. After the passing of the Kashmir resolution, the UN now is also a party to the issue; and even without the resolution, it is the UN’s primary job to resolve such disputes, and the continued human rights violations in Indian-held Kashmir must be addressed as a matter of priority. The UN cannot keep itself aloof from human rights violations in Kashmir. The UN has failed to resolve the Kashmir dispute; therefore, its credibility as a viable international institution has become dubious.

India’s gross violations of human rights in Kashmir have internationalized the Kashmir issue. It is the UNSC’s obligation to ‘enforce’ its resolutions regarding the plebiscite in Occupied Kashmir. Priya Pillai, an international lawyer also stresses that Pakistan to approach the ICJ via the route of a treaty violation.

The writer is an Islamabad based analyst and can be reached at sarahamidkhan21dec@gmail.com.

Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

06-07 Comments - 13th June 2022_Layout 1 6/13/2022 12:27 AM Page 2

Monday, 13 June, 2022

COMMENT 07 Editor’s mail Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday.com.pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Youth struggling for Jobs ONe of my friends was recently asked by education officials in her district to pay more than Rs25,000 to be posted as a primary school teacher in her own locality. This person had been waiting eagerly for her appointment letter for quite some time. however, to her dismay, the longawaited letter told her that she had been posted in a far-away village.

Being the only breadwinner of the family and the lone attendant to her ailing father, she requested the education officials for a posting closer to her home. however, she was told to furnish the said amount.

What kind of a country do we live in? With such officials in charge of the country’s education system, how can we hope to promote good values and habits in our children? The officials concerned should have at least shown some empathy towards hardworking women.

Money earned by causing pain to others never lets its owner sleep in peace. But, apparently, that is not an element that carries much weight in many an eye.

TASAWUR FATIMA NAUSHAHRO FEROZE

Tax system in Pakistan

Horizontal growth eating up agricultural lands Food security and the future of Pakistan

a letter from Prometheus agha iqrar haroon

T

he Ukraine crisis has triggered a debate that countries must not be dependent on others for food security because Ukraine, which provides over 60 percent of wheat to the european market, is closed virtually to transport wheat outside of its land.

Pakistan bought over 60 percent of its last year’s important wheat from Ukraine. The Food and Agriculture Organisation has already released a warning that the global situation of food security is in danger. Such statements are partially political to accuse Russia of causing world hunger and partially true because the suspension of Ukrainian wheat supplies would be a disaster for many. Ukraine is known as the breadbasket of europe as years ago the Subcontinent was.

Alas, the agricultural land resources and food security have become two serious issues for Pakistan in the last three decades.

According to statistics, agriculture is the backbone of Pakistan’s economy and it employs 45 percent of the labour force, contributes 21.4 percent to the gross domestic product, and provides food to a huge population. The decrease in agricultural lands is technically increasing food insecurity. Punjab, the most advantaged for producing food, has become the most disadvantaged province because real estate tycoons found in the leveled lands of Punjab the available lands to convert into “files”.

This practice has nothing to do with population growth and increasing demand for housing because the price of plots is beyond the reach of the majority of our population. The horizontal growth of housing has already eaten out fertile agricultural lands around all big cities because real estate tycoons are so strong that all laws bow down in front of them.

They actually rule the country, manipulate political developments, and influence everybody that is important in the system. Just look at Multan where thousands of mango trees are cut and sold to level agricultural lands for a new housing society and nobody dares to raise the question.

We have seen this before in Gujranwala.

Agriculture lands are being converted into fivemarla, 10-marla,one-kanal files. Lahore, Faisal-

abad,, Multan and Gujranwala divisions are the most affected areas where agriculture fields, that produced wheat, sugarcane, and other seasonal crops and vegetables and fodder for animals are now just “plot files”. The most unfortunate part of this whole game is that money earned out of files is not fully coming into the economic circle of the country and only thousands of people are making billions of rupees by converting farmland into housing colonies.

A report published last year by the Turkish News Agency (Anadolu Agency) indicates that real estate developers offer farmers triple the market price, a temptation hard to ignore, and even use administrative and political power if any farmer tries to refuse selling land.

Alas, nobody is here to help those who do not want to sell their land. In the Rawalpindi division, several farmers had been murdered in the last 20 years over this issue when many villagers refused to sell their lands to tycoons for their housing societies. The reality is simple: farmers who used to produce their own food are now buying wheat, flour, and vegetables from the market According to a report of the Kisan Board of Pakistan, around 2030 percent of fertile land in Punjab province, which produces 65 percent of the country’s total food requirement, has been converted into industrial units and housing schemes. Only in the Lahore division, 70 percent of agricultural land has been converted to housing and industrial units, followed by Gujrat where the ratio is 60 percent.

Unfriendly Indo-Pak relationships are a factor that border areas are still providing food because they cannot be converted into housing societies due to security reasons but in the future laws can be amended to pave the way for the expansion of several housing societies till the border line between Pakistan and India.

The city-wise situation according to the Kisan Board report is that in Faisalabad, Gujranwala, Sheikhupura, and Kasur, 30-40 percent of fertile land has been sold to real estate developers and industrialists in the last five years. The landholding ratio is still satisfactory in southern Punjab and the northern districts of Sindh, which together are currently producing more than 50 percent of the country’s wheat, sugarcane, and cotton. I fear soon real estate tycoons would move to other parts of southern Punjab for developing new housing societies after the successful sales in Multan.

One can say that this disproportionate con-

version is due to the demand for housing units for disproportionate population growth. Yes, it can be a reason but plot prices in housing societies that have eaten up agricultural lands are not in the breach of a common man in Pakistan.

Plots and even files are so expensive in these housing societies that only the rich class is playing in this field. The minimum rate of a fivemarla plot in such housing societies is over Rs 5 million. Can a poor and lower-middle-class person have enough money for a five-marla plot?

Businessmen dealing in these housing societies are mostly serving retired civil and military men who had been before in the business of car dealing just 30 years ago. This business is running, owned, and looked after by a particular clas,s therefore it is not helping the overall economy of the country. how can we demand or expect small farmers not to sell their lands when such a strong group, along with real estate tycoons, is in the business?

The PTI government, by using the term “economic growth” provided exceptional support to this including amnesty of investing in real estate, by announcing that the government would not ask any question about the source of income if someone would invest in the construction industry. Instead of providing low-cost housing schemes for the poor as promised in the PTI manifesto, favours were provided to powerful, rather almost “untouchable”, real estate czars.

In Pakistan, the horizontal growth of housing units is directly linked with the horizontal growth of their businesses that are calling the shots in the real estate world, and they are expanding products and services by announcing new housing societies. They are not providing low-cost housing units to a country where around 30 percent of the population is living under the poverty line and where the lower middle class is already fighting hard to avoid the “extinct phase”. The import of edibles is surely further hurting the poor and middle-income social classes while the powerful are minting money by eating out agricultural lands.

Playing havoc with the food security of the country while providing almost nothing to the majority of the population of the country, real estate tycoons are beyond the law of land and they can shave away jungles, fertile lands, and fruit gardens with the direct help of the state and laws always go in their favour..

Playing havoc with the food security of the country while providing almost nothing to the majority of the population of the country, real estate tycoons are beyond the law of land and they can shave away jungles, fertile lands, and fruit gardens with the direct help of the state and laws always go in their favour.

The writer is an international award winning journalist who has been in the field since 1988 and appears in national and international media as analyst and political scientist.

ThIS refers to the news ‘Government stops funds for development projects to finance budget deficit’ (May 27). It is unfortunate that successive governments, instead of strategising and planning effectively based on upcoming market outlooks, always feel the need to pass on the burden of inflation and market volatility to the hapless poor and working classes.

In this regard, the policymakers should take a cue from the British government’s pragmatic decision of raising additional revenues instead of further inconveniencing the blue collar people. To help protect the vulnerable from the fallout of inflation, London recently raised taxes on oil giants, raking in windfall profits from the ongoing price volatility. Our government, too, instead of slashing development expenditure and proposing cuts in the already meagre higher education budget and health resources, should consider imposing higher taxes on sectors/entities making huge profits or those not paying their fair share to the government.

These sectors include banks, big farmers, real estate, automobile, cement, fertiliser industry, sugar mills, traders, high-earning professionals and restaurants, etc. Another source of additional revenue for the government is the imposition of additional health tax on the sale of tobacco products and sugary drinks.

The government’s recent decision to ban the import of non-essential items is a step in the right direction to arrest the outflow of dollar from the national market, but more can be done to address the problem. For example, the government can reduce the travel allowance and discourage the purchase of foreign exchange.

For now it appears that the government does not want to take hard decisions that affect the status quo and lifestyle of the richest of the rich.

Further curtailing essential services for the poor is an ill-advised measure, which will only lead to expenses incurred on account of poor health and frustrated people looking for ways to vent their agony and anger.

ARIF MAJEED KARACHI

Biased lens for Balochistan The flawed and unjust approach of viewing all issues in Balochistan through the security lens has further exacerbated the existing problems in the province instead of resolving them. The state appears to view the province as a gateway for foreign proxies and the land of insurgents waiting to be exploited. Narratives emerging from these two perspectives have overshadowed other vital issues of the province, leading to nothing but political and social chaos.

One of the key elements that underpin Balochistan’s lack of social and economic development is its tribal customs and people’s stubborn adherence to the most antiquated of norms.

For the common Baloch, man or woman, the tribal chief represents the ultimate authority of the state and society. The power enjoyed by tribal chiefs across the province remains unchallenged, serving as a bulwark against rights-based social and economic development. It also creates opportunities for accumulation of wealth and exploitation of resources by a few, breeding the stark inequalities in the province.

These tribal chieftains enjoy access to high-quality, expensive education both at home and abroad. Ideally, such an exposure should open up their eyes and minds to the plight of the lesser mortals, but since life is far from ideal, this exposure only ends up increasing their ability to rub shoulders with power brokers in the land. The people continue to vote for such leaders, considering them their only chance of having some representation in Islamabad.

It should be remembered that Balochistan contributes a major share of its revenue to the national exchequer, which is a fact that gets pushed aside by the security-centric narrative. But this contribution of the province does not bring employment opportunities for its inhabitants.

It is ironic that when this issue is raised with the government, those in power cite the high percentage of unskilled and jobless people as an excuse for not investing in human and social development of these areas. It is an open secret that concrete steps have never been taken for imparting vocational or skills-based training and creating economic opportunities in the province. The bounty of Gwadar, Reko Diq and Sui is apparently meant for people everywhere except the locals.

As such, prolonged debates about the security situation in Balochistan will remain inconclusive unless the economic plight of the locals is made an integral part of the equation. It is good that the government is trying to talk to nationalist groups, but any effort would be in vain if it does not address the socio-economic problems.

This is not to say that the government should not protect itself and the province through ongoing measures, such as fencing of borders or enhanced security measures. All that needs to be done is to simultaneously work on schemes related to education, healthcare and economic activities to allow the locals a chance at self-development. To deny basic rights is unfair. The politics of fear must end.

MUHAMMAD SHARIF OTHO SOBHODERO

08 WORLD VIEW 13th June 22_Layout 1 6/12/2022 10:38 PM Page 1

Monday, 13 June, 2022

08 WORLD VIEW

The end of hisTory is hisTory FRANCIS FUKUYAMA ON LIBERAL DEMOCRACY AND ITS DISCONTENTS with constraints on the power of the state, through rule of law, through constitutional checks and balances that make sure that even though a leader is democratically elected and legitimate, that that person isn’t able to do whatever he or she wants in terms of violating individual rights or legislative will.

Vox sean IllIng

f

RANCIS Fukuyama is easily one of the most influential political thinkers of the last several decades. he’s best known for his 1992 book The end of history and the Last Man, which arrived on the scene as the Cold War was ending.

Fukuyama’s central claim was that liberal democracy had won the war of ideas and established itself as the ideal political system.

Not every society around the world was a liberal democracy. But what Fukuyama meant by declaring it “the end of history” was that it was only a matter of time.

The claim made a big splash.

Now, 30 years later, Fukuyama’s written a new book called Liberalism and its Discontents. It’s both a defense of liberalism and a critique of it. It does a great job of cataloging the problems of liberalism, but also argues that liberalism is still the best option there is.

Fukuyama writes about some very current challenges, like the American right’s move toward authoritarianism, and the resurgence of nationalism around the world. The upshot: It’s not clear that liberal democracy really is the end of history.

I reached out to Fukuyama for a recent episode of Vox Conversations. We discuss the promise of liberalism, whether he thinks it’s failing, and if there’s anything he’d like to revise about his end of history thesis.

Below is an excerpt, edited for length and clarity.

Sean Illing: Do you think we’re in a genuine political crisis?

Francis Fukuyama: Well, I think we’re in a big political crisis. If you look around the world, liberal democracy has been in decline pretty steadily for the last 16 years. And it’s not small countries that are involved in this decline. It’s countries like the United States and India — the world’s two largest democracies. And we’ve seen great powers rising, like Russia and China, that are overtly anti-liberal and anti-democratic. So there’s been a lot of stress on democracy and particularly the liberal part of liberal democracies.

Sean Illing: What’s the liberal part of liberal democracy?

Francis Fukuyama: The democratic part of liberal democracy has to do with institutions like free and fair multi-party elections. The liberal part really has to do

Sean Illing: Would you say that liberalism has lived up to its many promises? Has it delivered for enough people in enough places to justify itself?

Francis Fukuyama: There are so many dimensions to liberalism that it’s hard to answer that question in any simple way. You wouldn’t have the modern world if you didn’t have liberalism, meaning you wouldn’t have rich developed countries with long lifespans and high degrees of personal wealth, and the kind of individual freedom that exists. So in general, it’s been an enormous benefit.

I think there are many reasons why people don’t like liberal societies. For example, they tolerate a higher degree of economic and social inequality, because they are linked to a market economy.

And because they agree to disagree about the most important ends of life, a lot of conservatives don’t like liberalism because they would prefer to live in a society where everybody shares the same highest religious values, and liberalism doesn’t offer that. So there are a number of reasons why people are discontented.

In general, though, I’d say the promise of liberalism is equal treatment of individuals that are equally worthy of respect, and no liberal society ever fully lives up to that.

Sean Illing: I count myself a liberal, despite some misgivings, but I wonder if you think that some of those conservatives are right that a society without some shared vision of the common good will eventually unravel? Or perhaps that the myth of liberal neutrality falls apart once a certain level of cultural and moral diversity is reached?

Francis Fukuyama: There are a couple of different answers to that. The first is that liberal societies do have their own cultures. For example, if people are not basically tolerant of diverse opinions, a liberal society won’t work. If they’re not public-spirited enough to do the work of self-government — paying taxes, voting, paying attention to public affairs — then a liberal society isn’t going to work. And so there are common things that liberal societies have.

The other answer is that existing liberal societies have been built on top of non-liberal foundations. You have nations and pre-existing cultures that give people a common heritage. One of the most important things in most countries is language. If you’re German or French or British, you have that common linguistic basis. You have a shared history. You have cultural traditions that are carried forward that give your life a certain thickness that just being a liberal individual doesn’t necessarily give you.

But this creates a tension because sometimes those cultural foundations are exclusionary and they can’t be entered into equally by everybody in the society, in which case they start being illiberal. So I think the trick for a successful liberal society is to have enough of a culture that people do have a sense that they are in a common endeavor, that they do share things with their fellow citizens. But that common shared core has to be tolerant and accessible.

Sean Illing: I suppose what I’m getting at is something you write in the book: “Liberalism sought to lower the aspirations of politics, not as a means of seeking the good life as defined by religion, but rather as a way of ensuring life itself, that is, peace and security.”

To be clear, I do think liberalism has failed materially for lots of people, but what if the reduced aspirations of liberalism aren’t enough for human beings? What if too much “peace and security” for too long leads to complacency and boredom? What if the metaphysical needs that go untouched by liberalism finally lead people (mistakenly, I’d argue) to reject it?

Francis Fukuyama: I think we’re seeing examples of that in the present-day world. And historically we’ve seen that liberalism is the most attractive when it’s threatened. So if you experience terrible world wars like europe did in the 20th century, or if you live under a terrible dictatorship, then you’re really eager to live in a liberal society.

But once you start taking that society for granted, and we’ve had 75 years of peace since the end of the Second World War, you start taking that for granted and then you aspire to other things. And I think there is complacency that has affected a lot of people in peaceful, liberal countries. And they want something more than that.

They’re bored, in a way, with peace and prosperity.

In The end of history and The Last Man, I had a line where I said something to the effect that if people can’t struggle for justice and peace, then they’ll struggle against justice and peace because it’s a part of human nature that we want to struggle. We want respect for our ideals, for ourselves. And if it’s given to us too freely, then we’re going to want something else, and that’s a source of instability in liberal societies.

In many respects, a lot of the resentments and anger in the United States is a product of people losing sight of what the absence of liberalism would really mean.

Sean Illing: You have a whole chapter in the book about neoliberalism, and you basically argue that liberalism has been undermined by excesses of market economies. But what if we think of neoliberalism not as a cancerous outgrowth of liberalism but rather as liberalism fulfilling its own logic? It does seem like we have enough evidence to say that market societies tend toward the concentration of wealth and power, and that that leads to political corruption, and that that finally undercuts the ability of liberal societies to mitigate their own excesses. Is that account too simplistic for you?

Francis Fukuyama: No, it’s correct. I would agree with that. For a liberal society to be successful in the long run, you need to link liberalism with democracy because you need a political mechanism to do a certain degree of redistribution — not to completely equalize, but to mitigate the kinds of inequalities that a market society produces.

That’s why I think that the most successful liberal societies were the social democratic ones that emerged after World War II, where the elites had this recognition that a lot of the horrors of the early part of the 20th century were due to these class cleavages in both Germany and Japan, for example. In other democracies as well, there was a real effort to create a welfare state, and to try to be more inclusive in terms of having everybody sharing the benefits of economic growth. I think that’s the way that liberal democracy survives.

Sean Illing: You don’t quite endorse a Bernie Sanders-style progressive economic agenda, but unless I’m missing something, that does seem to be exactly the thing we need to save liberalism from itself.

Francis Fukuyama: Yeah, I’m not shying away from any of that. I think we need more redistribution. We need some kind of universal health care system, and it’s a tragedy and kind of outrageous that we’re the only developed country that doesn’t have one.

There are other aspects of the Sanders program that I think are not terribly well thought out. For all the complaints about fiscal conservatism and austerity, if you don’t worry about those sorts of things, you’re not going to be able to sustain a progressive redistributive agenda. So you gotta be a little bit careful about it. But yeah, I do think that you need to correct some of the inequalities that have been created by this very ruthless capitalism that we’ve experienced in the last generation or two.

Sean Illing: Reading your book and listening to you now, it’s never entirely clear to me whether you think liberalism has failed or whether you think we’ve failed liberalism.

Francis Fukuyama: A lot of this depends on your definition of liberalism. And mine is a fairly expansive one. I can see a version of liberalism that was actually quite successful when combined with other institutions and other features. I do think that there was an effort to push things to extremes on both the right and the left that were not intrinsic to the design of liberalism.

So I believe that neoliberalism is a deformation of classical liberalism in the sense that it takes the ideas of property rights and market transactions and absolutizes them and demonizes the state in an inappropriate way.

Similarly, I think there’s a version of identity politics that turns into something very illiberal. When you begin denying the premise that, under the skin, we’re all fundamentally equal individuals, and begin to say that our group characteristics are the most essential things about us, and that society ought to be organized around those group, that’s a clear deformation of the liberal principle of universal human equality.

how gaming elites exploit gamblers BOTH VIDEOGAME DEVELOPERS AND STREAMERS ENCOURAGE PLAYERS TO GAMBLE AWAY MILLIONS OF DOLLARS RT Ian MIles Cheong

T

he twin evils of the videogame industry – streaming service Twitch and game publisher Activision Blizzard – have reached new lows, crossing the threshold of user exploitation with the promotion of gambling.

Not content with raking in millions of dollars a day from the sales of their products, or in the case of Twitch, through advertising to its streaming audience, these companies are now profiting from real-world addiction, and they’re doing so by normalizing gambling as a healthy activity.

One of Twitch’s biggest streamers, Quebec-based Felix ‘xQc’ Lengyel – whose claim to fame came from professionally streaming the Activision Blizzard game ‘Overwatch’ – has recently come under fire for hosting sponsored streams for online casinos.

In a recent stream, Lengyel boasted that over $119 million had been wagered through his referral links to an online casino, used exclusively by members of his audi-

ence. his remarks attracted condemnation from fellow streamer hasan Piker, who pointed out that the losses incurred by his viewers quite possibly resulted in him earning more income from the sponsorship.

“A lot of these websites, Stake and all of them, if they have a code, if you are offering a code, that means that Stake is tracking all of your losses, and you are getting a percentage of your fanbase’s losses,” Piker said on stream. “That is quite literally the truth. That is how f***ing bad it is. They let you in on it, dude. They let you in on the losses of your f***ing fanbase.”

Gambling streams by xQc are so popular that a single six-hour stream has been estimated to have been viewed by approximately 98,500 people who spent a collective 550,000 hours watching.

What’s worse is that the streamer even admitted that a lot of the time, streamers who promote online casinos don’t even spend any of their own money to gamble. In other words, they have no skin in the game – they’re just there to promote the life-destroying activity to their hapless viewers.

Gambling has become so popular on Twitch that the platform has even created a dedicated section to promote the activity – alongside its most popular video games like ‘Overwatch’, ‘hearthstone’, and the newly launched ‘Diablo Immortal’, all of which are made by Activision Blizzard.

But how are gambling and video games connected?

For starters, some of Activision Blizzard’s most popular video games all contain a gambling component, requiring their players to spend real money to be competitive. While the gambling in ‘Overwatch’, which comes in the form of “loot crates,” offers purely cosmetic upgrades, the same can’t be said of ‘hearthstone’ and ‘Diablo Immortal’.

Unlike other video games like ‘Fortnite’, players can’t simply opt to buy what they want. To win, players must first pay for the chance of augmenting their card deck or character. Not content with simply taking their customers’ hard-earned cash in exchange for upgrades, players are required to spend that money in a glorified slot machine, with a slim chance of getting what they want out of it.

In ‘Diablo Immortal’, which just launched in the American and european territories, gamers can expect to spend a minimum of $110,000 to max out their player character. As detailed by Bellular Gaming, this deliberately convoluted system of character upgrades excludes non-gambling users from earning the best items.

As with the company’s other titles, you can’t just spend money to get what you want, either. You have to participate in a game of chance by buying a randomized loot box, which Blizzard calls “Legendary Crests” in their new RPG. The mechanics are the same – you have to spend money for a chance of getting something, and there’s absolutely no guarantee you’ll get anything at all – those “Legendary Gems” you need to upgrade your character

are not guaranteed to drop no matter how much money you spend. It’s all a crapshoot.

The egregiousness of the monetization system in ‘Diablo Immortal’ even earned it a ban in both the Netherlands and Belgium, which have laws against online gambling. China, too, has laws that require gaming companies to disclose the payment, chances of winning, and prizes – all of which are hidden from view in the United States and much of europe.

But that isn’t stopping the company from fully monetizing the gambling addictions of gamers elsewhere around the world – and Twitch is banking on it. With the newly released title (alongside ‘hearthstone’) sitting in the site’s top-10 list of most watched feeds, millions of viewers are exposed to gambling both in online casinos and in video games.

The platform, which was ostensibly designed for a young audience, is happy to push and monetize a dangerous addiction, which the World health Organization lists as a psychiatric disorder. The “desire [to] experience thrills and highs” is cited as a massive factor in the addiction – and just like gambling, opening loot boxes provides an instant dopamine rush. You spend money and out come the potential rewards.

Gambling is addictive, obviously, and both Twitch and Activision Blizzard know it. They bank on their users to feed their unhealthy addictions, and prominent influencers are encouraged to promote the lifestyle.

They say that, in gambling, the house always wins.

It might be time to burn down the house.

Ian Miles Cheong is a political and cultural commentator. His work has been featured on The Rebel, Penthouse, Human Events, and The Post Millennial.

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

NEWS

corporate corner PR launches anti encroachment operation on Shalimar Link Road

KoREa RaISES EMPLoyMEnt quota FoR PaKIStanI WoRKERS: Envoy ISLAMABAD

a

LAHORE: Railways Police Mughalpura division in collaboration with railways staff conducted an eviction operation against illegal occupants of shops of railways at Shalimar Link road, Lahore.

11 out of 16 shops were vacated and the possession handed over to the new allottees. The remaining 5 shops were sealed on the spot by railways administration.

On termination of lease agreement, the shops were allotted to the new allottees through transparent bidding process conducted by railways administration not long ago and previous allottees were bound to hand over the possession to new ones but, they were carrying the business activities with impunity.

The operation was carried out in the supervision of SP (Workshops) Mughalpura Malik M.Attique, Divisional Engineer, Assistant Engineer Mughalpura, SHO's of District police and railways police Mughalpura and IOW north along with sufficient contingents of police and railways staff.

The valuables of old allottees were handed over to them in the presence of officers during eviction process.

IG railways Faisal Shahkar extolled the team on successful completion of operation. pr

PEW terms budget an effort to appease IMF

09

app

MBASSADoR Suh Sangpyo of Republic of Korea Sunday said that his country has decided to increase the employment quota for Pakistani workers from 1000 to 1500 per year under Employment Permit System (EPS).

In an exclusive interview with APP, the Korean Ambassador said that the program was suspended during the pandemic period, but since last January, it had become operational again and more Pakistani workers would go to Korea on employment visas.

Presently, the envoy said that around 10,000 Pakistan workers in South Korea were performing their duties in different fields with full dedication and commitment.

The cooperation could be extended further, but for this, the Ambassador said both countries are also required to enter into a particular arrangement like and Free Trade Agreement (FTA), on which negations are underway but unfortunately, the process is slow and should be expedited. Moreover, FTA is very important to boost economic relations between the two countries, he added.

In reply to a question on a recently signed agreement with Pakistan under Economic Development Cooperation Fund (EDCF) worth USD 1 billion for five years from 2022 to 2026, he said that this would be a soft loan that would be returned in 30 to 40 years.

This soft loan will help Pakistan to

establish IT Parks in Karachi by spending almost $120 million and around $80 million in Islamabad, he expressed.

The Ambassador further added that Pakistan’s Information Technology industry was booming and export to other countries were increasing day by day, but we found that the export from Pakistan was mainly in IT services.

It accomplished that the establishment of IT parks buildings in Islamabad and Karachi would enhance the scope of IT exports, he added.

Commenting on the electronics of Samsung, he said that the company had made an investment in Pakistan and established a mobile production unit in Karachi last year. But, the envoy said, taxes are too high in Pakistan on the import of electronic gadgets such as mobile phones.

Therefore, the production of mobiles had witnessed a decrease due to the difficulty of importing mobile parts in the current situation now, he said adding, the original plan to produce more than 3,000,000 units here in Karachi is complicated.

Kia and Hyundai also just started their business here and created their space in the vehicle industry of Pakistan, he told.

Ambassador Sangpyo said there are multiple projects underway between Pakistan and Korea as in the business sector, both countries partner in the automobile, transportation, hydropower, smartphones, and confectionaries production sectors.

Talking about tourism and peopleto-people exchange, the Ambassador said that Gandhara Buddhist heritage

was a resource for Korean tourism.

Moreover, in both countries, people-topeople exchanges are increasing gradually, and Education plays a significant role in boosting such exchange programs, he said.

Replying to a question on Education, Global Korea Scholarship (GKS) provides international students with opportunities to conduct advanced studies in undergraduate & graduate programs at higher educational institutions in the Republic of Korea to promote international exchanges in education and mutual friendship between countries.

The Ambassador said, “Around 1,500 Pakistani students are studying undergraduate and graduate programs in Korea.

He said that the University level Cooperation included PMAS-Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi and the Chungbuk National University memorandum of understanding (MoU).

The institutions agreed to cooperate over a full spectrum of mutual interest with specific agreements on January 26, 2022, which included academic and technical staff Exchange for joint research, a joint publication of research papers, etc.

In defense, cooperation between both countries is also expanding, especially in training and capacity building, as military officers are doing six months or one-year courses from both sides.

Moreover, one country annually holds an exhibition event; in that case, Pakistan’s high-level military officers visit Korea.

ISLAMABAD staff report

The Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) on Sunday said the budget is for the IMF, not for the people.

“The growth rate and revenue targets are based on aspirations rather than facts while giving tax relief to the agricultural sector is a good decision.”

In statement issued here on Sunday, Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW, regretted that no effort has been made in the budget to address the economic problems or initiate reforms but its entire focus is on appeasing the IMF. Growth rate and tax collections are based on desires rather than facts, manipulation of facts and rhetoric has been given priority over facts in the budget, said Dr. Murtaza Mughal, President of PEW. The issue of petroleum levy, sales tax and Gas Infrastructure Development Cess which will be imposed on the behest of IMF have been downplayed in the budget, he added.

Dr. Murtaza Mughal said that the budget estimates inflation at 11 percent, which contradicts the facts, while the prices of various commodities, including oil, gas and grain are rising in the global market. o plans have been put forward to counter the increasing price of oil, gas, food and other commodities which is surprising.

Dr. Mughal said that the budget claims to improve the tax system which is unlikely, while taxing the real estate market, tax relief for the solar sector and tax cuts for the agricultural sector are better measures.

The property market has become a mafia whose job is to rob the people and launder black money which has not been regulated for years.

The budget may help to improve the condition of the devastated agriculture and the government has planned to collect taxes from the affluent class which is unlikely to succeed.

TDCP opens modern Fort Monroe resort for tourists MULTAN News Desk

Zakir Hussain in the resort.

The TDCP would run the resort on self-operation

basis without any contractor to ensure better accommodation facilities and booking, he said.

The Tourism Development Corporation of Punjab (TDCP) has formally opened newly constructed TDCP Resort Fort Monroe, completed at a cost of about Rs70 million.

TDCP Dera Ghazi Khan Deputy Manager Sheikh Ijaz while talking to media, said that the resort has been opened for the people under the directions of Managing Director TDCP Asadullah Faiz Khan.

He further said that the TDCP Fort Monroe resort was the only modern and the tourists would enjoy their time in the resort.

The hotel was constructed on 16 kanal land with a boundary wall and a gate, so the tourists could feel safe. The resort was completed in two years, he said.

Ijaz said that there were in total ten bed rooms, including six double bedrooms in old block and three huts, adding that at least 25 people could stay in the hotel at a time.

Separate huts have been built for families in new block of the resort. Likewise, amphitheatre, three gazebos, bonfire and walking track have also been built there for the tourists. The walking track led to Demis lake, he added.

He said that TDCP was making efforts to provide maximum facilities with neat and clean environment to the tourists.

The TDCP has deputed Malik Khalid Abbas as manager South, and deputy manager Sheikh Ijaz and

New Gwadar International Airport to become operational from December QUETTA staff report

The test flight from new Gwadar International Airport would be started from December this year as the construction work on site has been expedited, an official of Gwadar Development Authority said.

The new $246m greenfield Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) being built at an area of 4,300 acres would be made operational before the deadline which was September 2023, the official said.

The government has expanded the 50bed Pak-China Friendship Hospital Gwadar to 150 beds state-of-the-art medical centre in order to ensure best health care facilities for the people of Gwadar.

The authority would ensure state-of-theart free medical facility to the inhabitants of port city of Gwadar from January next year, he said.

The quarters concerned were making all out efforts to expedite the infrastructure and development projects for its timely completion.

The GDA said the authority has expedited the implementation of old town rehabilitation plan of Gawadar to provide best infrastructure and provide every facility to masses of port city.

With the support of federal government, the project worth Rs 3.3 billion for old town rehabilitation of Gwadar was in full swing to set city on modern lines to end the sense of deprivation among the people of area, he added.

The federal government would be funded 67 shares of the total cost while Balochistan government would bear the remaining cost for the development of old town rehabilitation under the Gwadar development plan.

Under the plan, water drainage, supply and distribution of utility projects would be

completed soon, besides ensuring the supply of clean drinking water to the port dwellers.

The official said the water supply to Gwadar would be resolved in the short period of three months as desalination plant is also in progress to curtail the need of whole city.

He said the authorities asked to strictly adhere to Gwadar Master Plan while carrying out development and other public welfare projects in the city.

The departments concerned were making all out efforts to expedite the infrastructure and development projects for its timely completion in Gwadar.

He said there were vast investment opportunities in every sector and comprehensive strategy would be adopted to attract investors in this regard.

Balochistan government was striving hard to develop Gwadar to end the sense of deprivation among the people of port city.

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

10 FOREIGN NEWS

IndIan STaTe ‘pUnISheS’ MUSlIM acTIvISTS by deMolIShInG TheIr hoMeS

I

NDIAN authorities have bulldozed the homes of several Muslims over the weekend who participated in or organised protests against inflammatory comments about Prophet Muhammad by a ruling party spokesperson.

Homes in the cities of Kanpur, Saharanpur and Prayagraj (formerly Allahabad) were demolished amid heavy police presence or are slated to be razed, according to local media. People active on Muslim genocide claims were specifically targeted.

In New Delhi, authorities completely demolished the home of Javed Mohammad, a leader of the Welfare Party of India and father of student rights activist Afreen Fatima, in the evening of Sunday, June 12.

Amid heavy police deployment, two JCB bulldozers reached Mohammad’s residence in the afternoon. The bulldozers, after taking down the front and the back gates, took out personal belongings from inside the house and dumped them onto an empty plot next to Fatima’s residence.

The walls of their home are currently being demolished.

Over 60 people have been arrested amidst a crackdown on protestors in Prayagraj (Allahabad) in connection with the violence on June 10, which saw stone pelting, the torching of vehicles and a subsequent lathi charge by the police.

Javed Mohammad, a prominent face in the anti-CAA protests, was named as a key conspirator by the Uttar Pradesh police alongside 10 others, and was taken into custody from his Kareli based residence on Friday.

Later that day, his wife and daughter were also detained, family members say, but the were subsequently released.

The police claim Javed Mohammad gave a call for the Friday protest against the controversial statements BJP leaders made on the Prophet.

A notice to demolish his residence had been handed over to the family on June 11 after which the police reportedly made efforts to get the family to leave the home, as several female members of his family were staying in the house.

Mohd. Umam Javed, the brother of Afreen Fatima, told The Wire that a team of policemen had reached their

home and threatened the family with ‘bulldozer action’.

“A team of different officials reached us again tonight (June 11).

They harassed us and warned us to leave our home immediately. We have been told that they will be back at 2 am to get us to empty our home,” he said.

The notice served refers to illegal construction of the family’s home and reads, “In a case pertaining to the matter a notice was sent to the family on the 10th of May and a hearing was to take place on the 24th of May. However, no response was given from the family.” As per the notice, the house is scheduled for demolition on Sunday at 11.00 am.

Local governments, many of which belong to Narendra Modi’s right-wing BJP, claim that the houses were illegal structures.

The chief minister of India’s largest state Uttar Pradesh, Yogi Adityanath –

known for his hateful and incendiary remarks against Muslims – said that the home demolition spree would continue to eliminate ‘criminals and mafia’, according to the Hindustan Times.

Thousands of Muslims over the past few weeks have protested against derogatory comments made by a nowsuspended BJP spokesperson. The police responded forcefully, with dozens of videos online showing policemen brutally beating protestors with sticks and batons. Around 230 people have so far been arrested from seven districts of Uttar Pradesh following protests which turned violent after Friday prayers on 10 June.

Hundreds of others have been arrested across India, and two people were killed in the eastern city of Ranchi allegedly during to police firing.

India has reportedly been accused of using home demolitions as punitive punishment against those suspected of carrying out crimes. Many of the levelled homes belong to members of India’s Muslim community.

Earlier this year, government authorities in Madhya Pradesh, Delhi and Gujarat demolished homes, shops and the entrance to a mosque soon after right-wing Hindu extremists organised incendiary rallies in Muslim areas.

Several Muslim and Arab countries, including Qatar, Saudi Arabia, Iran and Indonesia, have condemned the remarks against the prophet. Agencies

NATO chief says Turkey’s security concerns are legitimate HELSINKI Agencies

German parliament approves 100 billion euros defense fund The German Bundesrat approved a 100-billion-euro ($107.2 billion) special defense fund to strengthen Germany’s military by topping up the existing annual defense budget of around 50 billion euros over several years.

“The aim of the earmarked special fund is to maintain existing capabilities in the Bundeswehr and to be able to make the necessary investments in our defense and alliance capabilities,” the German federal government said in a statement on Friday.

Purchasing Eurofighter jets and F-35 fighters will be included in the fund.

German Chancellor Olaf Scholz said the special fund is “the right answer to the turning point in history.”

In late February after the Russia-Ukraine conflict broke out, the chancellor pledged 100 billion euros of the 2022 budget for the German armed forces.

He repeated his promise to reach the 2% of gross domestic product spending on defense in line with NATO demands, German media outlet DW reported.

Germany’s military expenditure ratio to GDP stands at 1.4 percent, according to the World Bank. Agencies

Security concerns raised by Turkey in its opposition to Finland’s and Sweden’s NATO membership applications are legitimate, NATO Secretary General Jens Stoltenberg said on Sunday during a visit to Finland.

“These are legitimate concerns. This is about terrorism, it’s about weapons exports,” Stoltenberg told a joint news conference with Finnish President Sauli Niinisto while visiting him at his summer residence in Naantali, Finland.

Sweden and Finland applied to join the Western defence alliance last month, in response to Russia’s invasion of Ukraine. But they have faced opposition from Turkey, which has accused them of supporting and harbouring Kurdish militants and other groups it deems terrorists.

Stoltenberg said Turkey was a key ally for the alliance due to its strategic location on the Black Sea between Europe and the Middle East, and cited

the support it has provided to Ukraine since Russia sent troops into its neighbour on Feb 24. Moscow calls its actions a “special military operation”.

“We have to remember and understand that no NATO ally has suffered more terrorist attacks than Turkiye,” Stoltenberg said, using the Turkish pronunciation of the country’s name, as preferred

by Turkey and its President Tayyip Erdogan.

Stoltenberg and Niinisto said talks with Turkey would continue but gave no indication of progress in the negotiations.

“The summit in Madrid was never a deadline,” Stoltenberg said, referring to a NATO meeting in Madrid at the end of June.

Tens of thousands rally against gun violence across US Tens of thousands of demonstrators descended on Washington D.C. and joined hundreds of rallies across the United States on Saturday to demand that lawmakers pass legislation to curb gun violence following last month’s massacre at a Texas elementary school.

“Enough is enough,” Washington, D.C. Mayor Muriel Bowser told people at the second March for Our Lives (MFOL) rally in her city.

“I speak as a mayor, a mom, and I speak for millions of Americans and America’s mayors who are demanding that Congress do its job. And its job is to protect us, to protect our children from gun violence,” she said.

Speaker after speaker in the U.S. capital called on senators, who are seen as a major impediment to legislation, to act or face being voted out of office, especially given the shock to the nation’s conscience after 19 children and two teachers were killed on May 24 at Robb Elementary School in Uvalde.

“If our government can’t do anything to stop 19 kids from being killed and slaughtered in their own school and decapitated, it’s time to change who is in government,” said David Hogg, a survivor of the 2018 shooting that killed 17 students and staff at Marjory Stoneman Douglas High School in Parkland, Florida.

Yolanda King, the granddaughter of Martin Luther King Jr., who was also present, said, “This time is different because this isn’t about politics. It’s about morality. Not right and left, but right and wrong, and that doesn’t just mean thoughts and prayers. That means courage and action.”

People display placards during the second March for Our Lives (MFOL) rally in support of gun control in Washington, D.C. U.S., June 11, 2022. /CFP In the nation’s capital, organizers with MFOL estimated that 40,000 people assembled at the National Mall near the Washington Monument, saying that more than 450 demonstrations were planned across the U.S. around the world on the day.

The first MFO rally was held in 2018 following that year’s massacre at Parkland high school, and the gun safety group was founded by the student survivors of that incident. abSOlutely abSurd: The recent deadly mass shootings in Uvalde, Texas and Buffalo, New York that killed 10 Black people have added new urgency to the country’s ongoing debate over gun violence. However, the prospects for federal legislation remain uncertain, given staunch Republican opposition to any limits on firearms.

U.S. President Joe Biden, a Democrat who urged Congress to ban assault weapons, expand background checks and implement other measures earlier this month, said he supported Saturday’s protests.

“We are being murdered,” said X Gonzalez, a Parkland survivor and co-founder of MFOL, in an emotional speech alongside survivors of other mass shootings. “You, Congress, have done nothing to prevent it.”

Among other policies, MFOL has called for an assault weapons ban, universal background checks for those trying to purchase guns and a national licensing system that would register gun owners.

Parkland survivor and activist X Gonzalez speaks to the crowd during in the second MFOL rally in support of gun control in Washington D.C., June 11, 2022. /CFP The U.S. House of Representatives on Wednesday passed a sweeping set of gun safety measures. Agencies

Chinese Defense Minister outlines vision of regional order at Shangri-La Dialogue Chinese State Councilor and Defense Minister Wei Fenghe on Sunday delivered a speech on China’s vision of regional order.

Addressing the 19th Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore, Wei said the world is facing multiple crises rarely seen in history, and the way forward is to uphold and practice multilateralism and build a community with a shared future for mankind.

“China’s development is unstoppable,” Wei said, adding that China is committed to pursuing peaceful development.

China’s development makes a huge contribution to global peace and development, and is not a threat to others, the minister said.

“The Chinese military is always a force for peace and will remain firm in safeguarding China’s sovereignty, security and development interests.”

On the SOuth China Sea: Wei vowed that China would preserve freedom of navigation in the South China Sea area

based on international law, asking neighboring ASEAN (Association of Southeast Asian Nations) countries to stay united and prevent “some countries” from meddling on issues in the region.

“Freedom of navigation has never been compromised in the South China Sea,” he said.

“In fact, China benefits most from freedom of navigation. If it were hampered in the South China Sea, China would suffer the most. Because without freedom of navigation, China’s economy would hardly grow,” he added.

He accused “some big powers” of practicing “navigation hegemony,” saying that it has sent warships and warplanes on a “rampage” in the South China Sea. The Chinese defense chief also urged neighboring countries to “properly handle disputes” and “resolve small differences,” so as to keep issues between sovereign countries and proceed in each other’s long-term interests.

China and the ASEAN countries

launched consultations on the Code of Conduct in the South China Sea in late 2018, and the parties have been in negotiations since.

Last June, China and the ASEAN countries agreed to push for an early agreement.

“We countries in this region must stay vigilant and prevent some countries outside this region from meddling in the affairs of our region and turning the South China Sea into troubled waters,” Wei said in his speech at the dialogue.

On taiwan: Wei also warned against any separatist activities seeking “Taiwan independence,” stressing that China “will not hesitate to fight, will fight at all costs and will fight to the very end.”

“Taiwan is China’s Taiwan, period. The Taiwan question is China’s internal affair,” Wei said. “No one should ever underestimate the resolve and capabilities of China’s armed forces to defend its sovereignty and territorial integrity.”

“Those who pursue ‘Taiwan independence’ in an attempt to split China will definitely come to no good end, and foreign interference is doomed to failure,” he said.

Noting that the U.S. fought a civil war for unity, Wei said China does not want such a civil war, but will resolutely crush any attempt to pursue “Taiwan independence.”

“Let me make this clear: If anyone dares to secede Taiwan from China, we will not hesitate to fight, we will fight at all costs and we will fight to the very end,” he said. “This is the only choice for China.”

In a series of recent moves, from visits by elected representatives to approving a $120 million arms sale to the Taiwan region, the United States has been “hollowing out its commitment to the one-China principle,” the Chinese defense minister said.

On China-u.S. relatiOnS: In his speech, Wei said China opposes using competition to define bilateral relations with the

United States.

“Confrontation will benefit neither our two countries, nor other countries,” he said, warning that it would be a historic and strategic mistake to insist on seeing China as a threat, adversary or enemy.

China demands the U.S. “stop smearing and containing China, stop interfering in China’s internal affairs and stop harming China’s interests,” Wei said. “If you want to talk, we should talk with mutual respect. If you want to engage, we should seek peaceful coexistence. If you want to cooperate, we should seek mutual benefits and win-win results. However, if you want confrontation, we will fight to the very end,” he said.

Earlier on Friday, Wei met with his U.S. counterpart Lloyd Austin. He told the U.S. secretary of defense that Washington should view China’s development and growth rationally, and called for an end to “smearing or suppressing China.” Agencies

11 Sports 13 JUNE_Layout 1 6/12/2022 10:46 PM Page 1

Monday, 13 June, 2022 | LAHORE

SPORTS 11

US jUdgE dISMISSES rAPE SUIT AgAInST fooTbAll STAr ronAldo LOS ANGELES AFP

A

US district judge in Las Vegas has dismissed a rape lawsuit against football superstar Cristiano Ronaldo, castigating the legal team behind the complaint. Judge Jennifer Dorsey threw out the case brought by Kathryn Mayorga of Nevada, who alleged she was assaulted by the Portuguese soccer star in a Las Vegas hotel room in 2009.

In a 42-page ruling released Friday, the judge accused Mayorga’s attorneys of “abuses and flagrant circumvention of the proper litigation process” and said that as a result, “Mayorga loses her opportunity

to pursue this case.”

Her attorneys had actually moved to dismiss the case voluntarily last month, US media said, but Dorsey decided that their repeated use of illicitly obtained confidential documents meant the case had to be dismissed “with prejudice” — meaning it cannot be revived.

“Nothing less than a with-prejudice dismissal will purge the taint that has permeated this case from its very inception and preserve the integrity of the litigation process,” Dorsey wrote.

Mayorga filed a complaint in September last year alleging she was sexually assaulted by Ronaldo, who strongly denied the accusations.

Mayorga said that while she had agreed to a financial settlement with Ronaldo shortly after the alleged

incident — reportedly for $375,000 — her emotional trauma at the time did not allow her to participate in the mediation process.

But in trying to revive the case, Dorsey found, Mayorga’s lawyer Leslie Stovall made repeated use of “cyber-hacked attorney-client privileged documents.”

That use of the documents was “bad faith,” the judge ruled, “and simply disqualifying Stovall will not cure the prejudice to Ronaldo, because the misappropriated documents and their confidential contents have been woven into the very fabric of Mayorga’s claims.”

Ronaldo is one of the biggest stars of world football and is a five-time winner of the Ballon d’Or award for the world’s best player.

Families of 9/11 victims outraged at US LIV Golf players NEW YORk AFP

The chair of a September 11, 2001, attacks victims’ families group says members are outraged by the “betrayal” of US golfers playing in the Saudi-funded LIV Golf Invitational Series.

The comments from Terry Strada, the widow of a 9/11 victim, were made in a public letter Friday to agents of such major champions as Phil Mickelson, Dustin Johnson, Bryson DeChambeau and Patrick Reed.

“Please rethink your membership in this Saudi enterprise,” Strada wrote. “We urge you to reconsider so that you can stand with us and send a message to the Kingdom: you cannot buy respect, you must earn it.”

All have been confirmed as signing with the rebel series, which offers the richest purses in golf history, after departing the US PGA Tour.

All are set to play in the upcoming US Open at The Country Club in Brookline, Massachusetts, which is organized by the US Golf Association.

“Our community wishes to express our outrage at your partnership with LIV Golf and remind you of the responsibility that your new business partner, the King-

dom of Saudi Arabia, shoulders for providing the financial support and logistical support that enabled the terrorists to attack our nation and kill our loved ones,” Strada wrote.

“Much to our disappointment, you appear pleased to be in business with them. Given Saudi Arabia’s role in the death of our loved ones and those injured on 9/11 — your fellow Americans — we are angered that you are so willing to help the Saudis cover up this history in their request for ‘respectability.'”

Strada has been active in the group that has sued Saudi Arabia for complicity in the 9/11 attacks in which almost 3,000 people died, something the Saudi government has denied.

But Strada said US golfers who opt to play in the new series have betrayed the victims’ families.

“Please, do not insult our loved ones’ memories and take the pathetic position, as one of your foreign colleagues did last week, claiming you are ‘just golfers playing a game’ or blandly treating the evils of the Saudi regime as ‘human rights’ concerns. You’re all Americans, keenly aware of the death and destruction of September 11.

“Whether it was the appeal of millions of dollars of hard cash or just the opportunity to prosecute your professional grievances with the PGA, you have sold us out.” Strada said no consideration should ever be made to allow LIV Golf players to represent the United States in the Ryder Cup. “We understand that some of you are hopeful that rule changes will be implemented to allow you to again represent America in the Ryder Cup despite your betrayal of American interests in joining the Saudi ‘sports wash,'” Strada wrote.

Agencies

2 victory in 93 minutes.

Murray will play in his 70th career final and bid for his first title since

Antwerp in 2019 when he plays Matteo Berrettini.

“You expect things to happen against

Australian firebrand Nick Kyrgios claimed he was racially abused by sections of the crowd as he slipped to a bad-tempered defeat against Andy Murray in the Stuttgart semi-finals on Saturday.

Kyrgios was penalised a point and then a game for unsportsmanlike conduct early in the second set, smashing a racquet before an angry exchange with a group in the crowd.

The 27-year-old, who is of Greek origin, said he had been the victim of racism.

“When is this going to stop? Dealing with racist slurs from the crowd?” Kyrgios wrote on Instagram.

“I understand that my behaviour isn’t the best all the time, but ‘you little black sheep’ ‘shut up and play’ – little comments like this are not acceptable.

“When I retaliate to the crowd I get penalised. This is messed up.”

After the tournament supervisor was called, Kyrgios merely went through the motions on court as Murray took complete command to secure a 7-6 (7/5), 6-

NEWS DESk Former Pakistan pacer Mohammad Amir has rated opener Imam-ul-Haq as the ‘best white-ball player of Pakistan’ currently. The 26-year-old Imam, who doesn’t feature in playing Xi of Pakistan’s T20I side, has been in phenomenal touch in ODIs lately. The lefthander has scored seven consecutive fifty-plus scores in ODI cricket. He is only the second batter in the history of ODIs to do so. Legendary Pakistan batter Javed Miandad holds the record for scoring the most consecutive fifty-plus scores in this format (9). Quetta Gladiators Head of Player Acquisition/Manager Nabeel Hashmi highlighted Imam’s phenomenal run and his performances get overshadowed due to Babar Azam’s brilliance.

While quoting Hashmi’s tweet, Amir rated Imam over Babar as the best white-ball player in the side. It must be noted that Imam is only behind Babar Azam and India’s Virat Kohli in ICC Men’s ODI Rankings for batters. He has scored 2520 runs in 52 innings at an average of 55+.

Moeen Ali open to England Test comeback for Pakistan tour

Kyrgios claims he was racially abused STUTTGART

Amir says Imam is the ‘best white-ball player’ in Pakistan team

him, so I’m not surprised when they do,” said Murray on Kyrgios.

“It was a very frustrating set for him to lose and he broke a racquet. He also had a back and forth with the umpire and something seemed to happen in the crowd.

“But I didn’t really hear anything after the first set.”

The British star added: “The second set was not much fun to play, it was not very competitive.

“It wasn’t really a match. He started well but closer to the end he got frustrated. The first set was tough and the end of the first set was the crucial part of the match.”

Berrettini reached his fourth career final on grass as he overcame German Oscar Otte 7-6 (9/7), 7-6 (7/5).

The runner-up at Wimbledon last year is competing for the first time since March after undergoing hand surgery.

Berrettini will be seeking his first title since winning Queen’s in London last June.

The world number 10 improved to 27-6 on grass and maintained a perfect 8-0 record in Stuttgart after winning the 2019 edition at the Weissenhof Club.

AGENciES Moeen Ali has revealed he would be willing to end his retirement from Test cricket if England ask him to tour Pakistan later this year. Moeen ended his 64-cap Test career last September after admitting he found it hard to stay motivated for the five-day form of the sport.

But the 34-year-old all-rounder has been impressed by new England coach Brendon McCullum’s impact during the current Test series against New Zealand. During a commentary stint on BBC’s Test Match Special on Saturday, Moeen confirmed he would be ready to tour Pakistan this winter. “When, or if, (England head coach) Baz McCullum wants me, I’ll definitely play in Pakistan,” he said. “I have played Pakistan Super League out there a few years ago but it’s not the same, to travel with an England side there having family background from that part of the world will be amazing. “It would be a historic event because of England not touring there for so many years. “I know the support and love you can get out there, they love cricket. It’s really something that’s very appealing for sure.” Kiwi McCullum and new England Test captain Ben Stokes inspired a five-wicket win over New Zealand at Lord’s in the first Test. England have found it harder in the ongoing second Test, but Moeen is intrigued at the thought of being part of the new regime.

“I find it very hard to say no to him. He scares me a little bit. We’re going to have a chat and see how it pans out,” he said. “At the time I said I was retired I felt like I was done. I felt really tired with cricket.”

Lethargic England lacking sharpness: Southgate WOLVERHAMPTON Agencies

England manager Gareth Southgate blamed a run of three games without a win to start their Nations League campaign on a lack of sharpness in front of goal after a 0-0 draw against Italy on Saturday.

A rematch of last year’s Euro 2020 final took place in front of just 3,000 school children in Wolverhampton as England served a one-match behind closed doors punishment for the chaos that ensued that night at Wembley last July.

Southgate labelled that situation as an “embarrassment” for the country and believed the lack of atmosphere played a part in another Nations League clash lacking verve at the end of an exhausting season.

England’s only goal in the last three games came from Harry Kane‘s late penalty to salvage a 1-1 draw away to Germany on Tuesday. “We had two or three really good chances we need to score, but just lacked that sharpness in front of goal,” said Southgate.

“You can see when you are pushing like we were in the second half, you don’t have any crowd to help you or put the opposition under any pressure.”

Since beating the Three Lions on penalties to become champions of Europe, things have gone wrong for Italy as they missed out on a second consecutive World Cup. However, Roberto Mancini‘s men have bounced back to top Group A3 with five points from three games.

England remain bottom with two points, behind Hungary and Germany, who drew 1-

1 in Budapest. Mancini named an experimental line-up with only two survivors from the 11 that started the Euro final.

“We know we have to improve, it’s part of the path for growing,” said Mancini.

“We had opportunities, perhaps better ones than theirs, but the lads in general had a good game.”

Southgate also took the opportunity to rotate the side with Kane left on the bench among six changes. When the sides last met, England struck within the first two minutes and nearly got off to a flying start again when Mason Mount crashed a shot off the bar from Raheem Sterling’s perfectlyweighted pass. The inexperienced Italians soon found their feet and had the better of the chances before the break.

Aaron Ramsdale spread himself to pro-

duce a stunning save on just his second England start to deny Sandro Tonali a first international goal.

The Arsenal goalkeeper then tipped over Manuel Locatelli’s deflected effort with the last action of the first half.

BC’s Test Match Special on Saturday, Moeen confirmed he would be ready to tour Pakistan this winter. “When, or if, (England head coach) Baz McCullum wants me, I’ll definitely play in Pakistan,” he said.

“I have played Pakistan Super League out there a few years ago but it’s not the same, to travel with an England side there having family ba England upped the tempo after the break and should have claimed three points to kick-start their Nations League campaign when Sterling somehow spooned over Reece

James’ cross from point-blank range.

Sterling also fired into the arms of Gianluigi Donnarumma before Southgate unloaded his bench with the introduction of Kane, Jarrod Bowen and Bukayo Saka.

Kane had one opportunity to further close on Wayne Rooney’s record of 53 goals but blazed over as both sides had to settle for a point.

Scotland deServed booS: robertSon Scotland captain Andy Robertson said his side were deservedly booed off by a large travelling support in Dublin after being thrashed 3-0 by the Republic of Ireland.

The Irish had not won in 12 previous Nations League matches and scored just two goals in the process, but were thoroughly deserving of their first win on home soil in a competitive match for three years.

Scotland were also outclassed 3-1 by Ukraine in a World Cup playoff 10 days ago to bring an eight-game unbeaten run to an abrupt end.

Monday, 13 June, 2022

prayer tiMings

NEWS

PAkISTAN whITEwASh wEST INdIES IN OdI SErIES MULTAN

P

Mian abrar

AKISTAN completed its whitewash of the visiting West Indies sweeping the ODI series 3-0 after a 53 run-win (DLS method) in the third ODI in Multan on Sunday.

Shadab Khan was man of the match for his brilliance with bat and ball.

Shadab Khan hit a career-best 86 to lift Pakistan to 269-9 after unlikely West Indian hero Nicholas Pooran grabbed four wickets in the third and final one-day international. Later, Shadab claimed four West Indian wickets to help Pakistan sweep the home series after a long time.

Hassan Ali and Mohammad Nawaz claimed two scalps each.

Chasing a target of 270 runs, West Indies managed to score 216 – thanks to a brave innings of 60 runs of 37 balls by Akeal Hosein. His innings had two fours and six towering sixes. Keacy Carty played well for his 33 runs while Shai Hope and Keemo Paul chipped in with 21 each.

At one stage when Akeal Hosein was batting, it looked all over for Pakistan.

However, it was again allrounder Shadab Khan who sent Akeal packing. later, it

was all over for Windies.

Earlier, Pooran turned his arm over only for the second time in his 43-match ODI career to take 4-48 after Pakistan slumped from 85 without loss to 117-5, having won the toss and opted to bat.

The innings seemed to have fallen apart with Babar Azam’s rare failure for one but Shadab wielded his bat to the best effect.

Punjab budget: PA Speaker says PML-N does not enjoy majority LAHORE

Between a 60-minute dust storm that curtailed the match to 48 overs-a-side, Shadab hit three sixes and four boundaries off 78 balls before being bowled in the last over.

He improved upon his 54 against New Zealand in Wellington in 2018.

Sensing the Multan stadium pitch helping spin, Pooran brought himself up after Fakhar Zaman (35) and Imam-ul-

Haq (62) gave Pakistan a solid start.

Pooran chipped in with the wickets of Zaman, Haq, Mohammad Rizwan (11) and Mohammad Haris (nought) off just 25 balls, having never taken more than one wicket in his first class career.

Haq smashed seven boundaries and a six off 68 balls for his 14th ODI half century. He became only the second batter to score seven or more fifties in successive ODIs. Former Pakistan great Javed Miandad, celebrating his 65th birthday on Sunday, held the record for most fifties in successive ODIs with nine, scored in 1987.

In between Pooran’s destruction, Azam fell leg-before to spinner Hayden Walsh for just one, having hit a century and 77 in the first two matches.

Shadab added 84 with Khushdil Shah (34) for the sixth wicket and 40 for the eighth with Mohammad Wasim who made six.

Pakistan, leading the series 2-0, handed fast bowler Shahnawaz Dahani his ODI debut and brought back Hasan Ali, resting Shaheen Shah Afridi and Haris Rauf.

West Indies left out Alzarri Joseph, Anderson Phillip and Brandon King to bring in Keacy Carty, Jayden Seales and Keemo Paul.

Tarin admitted PTI got Rs20,000b loans in 4 years: Marriyum

inp

ISLAMABAD

Speaker Punjab Assembly Parvez Elahi on Sunday said that the PML-N does not enjoy a majority in the assembly to pass the budget to be presented on Monday (tomorrow).

In a statement issued today, the Punjab Assembly’s speaker said that a lot will depend on PML-N to ensure that the budget session is held or not. “There is a big question mark on if there will be hooliganism in tomorrow’s session or not,” he said and blamed that it was the police who are running the affairs in the province, not Chief Minister Punjab Hamza Shahbaz.

He asked how the PML-N could present a budget when it does not enjoy a majority in the House. Speaking over differences within the PML-Q, Parvez Elahi said that they have no differences with the party chief Chaudhry Shujaat. “PML-Q remains intact and all is well in the party,” he said. On the opposition leader’s slot in the House, he said that the decision would be made in today’s parliamentary meeting and there could be two opposition leaders. It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan will decide on the name of the opposition leader in Punjab Assembly today ahead of the budget session on June 13. Former Punjab law minister Raja Basharat confirmed that Imran Khan will decide the name of the opposition leader. “The name will be finalized in today’s meeting of the parliamentary party,” he said. The Punjab government has summoned a meeting of the provincial assembly on June 13 for the presentation of the budget, however, it seems difficult in the presence of the Speaker Parvez Elahi that it would sail through easily from the assembly amid no obvious majority for both sides of the aisle after de-seating of 25 PTI lawmakers by the ECP.

inp

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said that finally the former finance minister Shaukat Tarin has admitted that PTI government got twenty thousand billion rupees loans during four years which is 76 percent of total loans in the history of Pakistan. In a tweet on Sunday, the Information Minister said similar admissions will be made by the former prime minister in coming days.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said confession of agreement with IMF on tough terms, increase in value of dollar up to 189 rupees, inflation, unemployment, economic disaster and corruption will also be made soon.

ISLAMABAD President Dr Arif Alvi said on Sunday that Pakistan is committed to its international obligations towards the prevention of child labour in all its forms and manifestations.

“World Day against Child Labour is observed all over the world to raise awareness for the prevention of child labour, encourage stakeholders to speak against this social evil and re-affirms our resolve to end child labour in all its forms and manifestations,” the President said in a message on the observance of the Day across the globe on June 12.

The President said that child labour was a growing curse in the world, particularly the developing countries and Pakistan was the victim of this growing

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

1:30

5:15

5:00

7:08

9:15

India can never be sincere with Pakistan, says Qureshi MULTAN: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Vice Chairman Makhdoom Shah Mehmood Hussain Qureshi on Sunday said that India could never be sincere with Pakistan. Commenting on reports making rounds that Pakistan will not oppose India for becoming permanent member of Security Council of the UN, Qureshi demanded the government to deny the news.

Qureshi was addressing a public meeting in connection with election campaign in PP 217. Qureshi stated that the trade ties with India should not be developed as it was committing human rights violation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK). He added that the incumbent government had also deputed a trade officer in that regard.

He recalled that last PTI government had categorically rejected trade with India till restoration of previous status of Jammu and Kashmir. Qureshi informed that PTI Chairman Imran Khan would visit Multan on July 14. He claimed that PTI was one of the most popular political party in the country. Criticizing the recent wave of inflation, he stated that prices of daily used items witnessing upward trend on daily basis and creating trouble for masses. He hoped that people would cast vote in favour of PTI in by-elections as his party ensured record development projects in the city.

On the occasion, PTI candidate for PP 217 Makhdoom Zain Qureshi, Malik Aamir Dogar, MPAs Dr Akhtar Malik, Javed Akhtar Ansari, Waseem Khan, Wasif Raan, Mian Tariq Abdullah and many other local leaders were also present. news desk

FIA to launch probe against Moonis Elahi in money laundering case LAHORE: The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to launch a money-laundering probe against the former federal minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid leader Moonis Elahi.

The PML-Q stalwart is accused of making properties abroad by allegedly sending money through Hundi and Hawala, the FIA said.

Moonis is the son of Pervaiz Elahi, a senior leader of the PML-Q and Punjab Assembly speaker. FIA sources said they have decided to formally start an investigation against the former federal minister. inp

PTI, PML-Q finalise strategy for today’s Punjab budget session

Pakistan committed to prevention, eradication of child labour: President staff report

FAJR SUNRISE 4:10

global phenomenon.

The President said Article 11 (3) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan guaranteed that “no child below the age of fourteen years shall be engaged in any factory or mine or any other hazardous employment. Furthermore, the federal and provincial laws forbade child labour, however, implementation of these laws needed to be strengthened at all levels, the President said, adding “The entire nation needs to stand together to fight this evil.”

The child labour, President Alvi said, deprived children from receiving basic education and access to health facilities. It exposed them to harmful and hazardous environments and clipped their basic rights to life and liberty, he added.

LAHORE: Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) and Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q) have finalised strategy regarding the upcoming Punjab Assembly session for budget 2022-23.

A joint session of PTI and PML-Q’s parliamentary parties was held under the chair of Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi, Usman Buzdar and Sibtain Khan today. The session was also attended by Mahmoodur Rasheed, Dr Yasmin Rashid, Raja Basharat, Aslam Iqbal and other lawmakers. The opposition lawmakers condemned the registration of cases and arrests of the leaders.

It has been decided to table a resolution in the Punjab Assembly against blasphemous remarks delivered by India’s ruling party BJP and lodge a strong protest.

It was decided to ensure the attendance to protest against the anti-people budget in which the opposition lawmakers will submit movements against the budget cuts. During the joint session, the lawmakers approved key decisions regarding the strategy of the byelections. They criticised that the Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) was committing the worst revengeful activities and alleged that vote-rigging has been started in the concerned constituencies by the present rulers before the by-polls. The members of the PTI and PML-Q parliamentary parties said that blueeyed officers are being transferred and deputed in Punjab, whereas, they expressed concerns over the visits of the provincial chief secretary in the districts of concerned constituencies. staff report

Budgetary relief measures draw public, experts appreciation ISLAMABAD news desk

The relief measures announced in the budget for 2022-23, despite severe financial constraints, have drawn a positive feedback from experts and the masses alike.

Almost all major segments of society have got their fair share of benefits in the new budget, including slashing of duties on solar panels (17% to zero) to help the people generate their own power, withdrawing sales tax on tractors (5% to zero) and seeds (17% to zero) to boost agriculture, and expanding the reach of Benazir Income Support Pro-

gramme (BISP) to Rs 364 billion.

All these measure have come at a time when, according to a recent World Bank report, the global economy is heading towards a recession, with prices of fuel and food hitting an all time high, amidst the war in Ukraine, supply chain disruptions and recent Covid-related issues.

The government, despite the odds, introduced a number of budgetary measures aimed at correcting economy in tandem with providing relief to all segments of the society, including industrialists, businessmen, farmers and most importantly the downtrodden.

Targeted subsidies have been announced

to protect them with the increase in BISP’s allocation from Rs 250 billion to Rs 364 billion this year that will benefit nine (09) million families.

Despite several financial constraints and the fact that higher education is a devolved subject, the government allocated Rs 65 billion for the Higher Education Commission (HEC) in the current budget to promote higher education, which is currently 9% in the country.

To boost agriculture production, the government proposed to withdraw sales tax on the supply of tractors, agricultural implements, and various seeds, including wheat, maize,

sunflowers, canola, and rice. The initiative was widely welcomed by the farming community.

Custom duty on import of agriculture machinery related to irrigation, drainage, harvesting, post-harvesting handling and processing, besides plant protection equipment, machinery and other capital goods, has also been withdrawn.

Chairman of the Pakistan Hi-Tech Hybrid Seed Association Shahzad Ali Malik, while hailing the government decisions, said the initiatives would help boost agriculture production to ensure food security. He lauded the decision to withdraw 17 per cent Sales Tax in the budget on all kinds of seeds.

Considering agriculture the backbone of the country’s economy, the government along with other measures, allocated Rs 21 billion to increase crops yield and uplift of the livestock sector.

A progressive farmer, Pir Saddam Hussain Shah told APP that the measures would help increase output and make agri products more competitive in the international market.

The 15 percent raise in the salaries of federal government employees and five percent increase in the pensions of retired employees, besides raising minimum limit of tax from Rs 0.6 million to Rs 1.2 million will increase the take home cash.

Published by Arif Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk