Epaper_23-01-14 LHR

KP Chief Minister ‘PrePares’ suMMary for asseMbly dissolution

Punjab chief Minister Parvez elahi signed the summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly.

during an interaction with journalists on friday, fawad said that “money laundering” was the key reason behind the country’s economic crisis.

“How can there be economic prosperity in the country, when the finance minister is involved in money laundering,” he added. referring to a question, the Pti leader asked the Punjab governor not to wait for “48 hours” and urged him to dissolve the assembly immediately so that the process for the formation of an interim set up be initiated.

He hoped that a person who can hold impartial elections in the province would be named as a caretaker chief minister. ‘Court reJeCts Plea filed by new broiler MQM’: the plea filed by the new “broiler MQM” was rejected by the court, the Pti leader said, adding that the Lg polls in karachi and Hyderabad would be held as per the schedule — january 15 (sunday).

Petrol, diesel prices likely to go up for second half of January

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Price of petrol is expected to go up by rs8.98 per litre while high speed diesel (Hsd) by rs1.06/litre for the second to half of january on the basis of existing petroleum levy (PL) and general sale tax (gst) on petroleum products.

Hsd is fixed at rs 7/litre.

An estimated Pakistan state oil (Pso)’s exchange rate adjustment is rs 5 per litre on petrol and rs 3.50 per litre on Hsd. in the last 12 days the rupee value against the us dollar is from rs 225.93 to rs 227.72.

peSHAWAr StAff RepoRt

KHyBerPakhtunkhwa (kP) chief Minister Mahmood khan may initiate the process to dissolve the provincial assembly as and when the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly is duly notified, a senior cabinet member told on friday.

the kP government spokesman, Barrister Muhammad Ali saif, said that legally, it took at least 48 hours for any assembly to be dissolved after a summary was signed and sent to the governor.

However, he said that the process of dissolving the kP Assembly would begin after the Punjab Assembly was dissolved. He also said that there was no hurdle stopping the government from dissolving the kP Assembly.

Meanwhile, Pti central leader Asad umar

said that the next step was the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly. Asked when the kP Assembly was going to be dissolved, he said it “should be dissolved in the next 48 hours”.

on a question if there had been a final settlement between Pti and PML-Q on seat adjustment, he said there was no definitive number of the seats that the PMLQ was asking.

“in fact, they have said that they would be discussing the seat adjustment after the dissolution has taken place” to avoid the impression that the party was blackmailing the Pti. in line with the directions of Pakistan tehreek-e-insaf (Pti) chairman imran khan, khyber Pakhtunkhwa (kP) chief Minister Mahmood khan has prepared a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly, revealed the party’s senior vice-President fawad chaudhry.

the development came a day after

All component parties of the Pakistan democratic Movement (PdM) were trying to avoid the elections, he said, adding that they were afraid of facing the people. speaking on the occasion, fawad also urged the supreme court to ensure that the elections are held as per the schedule. extending a dialogue offer to the federal government yet again, he asked the centre to jointly devise a framework for the general elections in the country.

the Pti leader also said that President Arif Alvi can ask Prime Minister shehbaz sharif to take a trust vote as it is his “constitutional right”.

PML-n supremo nawaz sharif should return home and face the cases lodged against him, he said.

Let the investigations into the assassination attempt on the life of Pti chief imran khan be completed independently, fawad said and warned against any obstacle in it.

However, sources in the petroleum division said that the government can maintain the prices of petroleum products at the current level by adjusting the petroleum levy (PL) imposed on petroleum products for the second half of january.

At present, the government is charging rs 50/litre PL on Ms ron 92 (Petrol) and rs 32.50/litre on Hsd while zero general sales tax is imposed on petrol, Hsd, high octane blended component (HoBc), kerosene oil and light diesel oil (Ldo). similarly, inland freight equalization Margin is fixed at rs 3.51/litre on the sale of petrol, while rs 0.81/litre on Hsd. furthermore, oil Marketing Margins on petrol and Hsd is fixed at rs 5/litre. furthermore, the dealers’ commission on petrol and

oil companies sound alarm about fuel shortage in letter to finance ministry

severely deteriorated during the current month as banks are declining Lcs to industry members.

oil companies on friday asked the finance ministry to urgently intervene to ensure the timely issuance of letters of credit to import petroleum products to avoid a fuel shortage in the country.

the oil companies Advisory council (ocAc) wrote a letter on friday on behalf of oil Marketing companies (oMcs) and refineries highlighting challenges being faced due to delays in the opening of letters of credit (Lcs) for the import of petroleum products.

Pakistan, an energy deficit country, needs to import approximately 430,000 metric tonnes ( Mts) of mogas, 200,000 Mts of High speed diesel (Hsd) and 650,000 Mts of crude oil every month, which costs around $1.3 billion.

ocAc said challenges in opening and confirming Lcs has caused delays in multiple cargoes and a few cancellations as well. the situation has

“if Lcs are not established on a timely basis, critical imports of petroleum products would be impacted which may lead to fuel shortage in the country. it may be noted that if the supply chain is compromised, it may take six to eight weeks to normalise,” ocAc said in the letter.

Aqeel Ahmed khan, the chief executive officer of HAscoL Petroleum Limited, in a letter dated january 9, 2022, to governor state Bank of Pakistan (sBP) jameel Ahmad also highlighted the challenges being faced in opening Lcs and import contracts.

the Hesco chief explained that the imports of petroleum products requires a definitive financial instrument (in the form of import contracts/confirmed Lcs), as per requisite banking regulations, and delays in this regard, despite availability of Lc lines, is hampering the oil supply chain, leading to supply disruptions in the country.

furthermore, the non-availability of import contracts/Lcs has had a marked negative effect on international oil suppliers leading to forced cancellation of oil cargoes.

the situation has been especially bleak in the first week of january 2023, whereby Pakistani banks are denying any new Lc which will lead to critical shortages of oil at the retail stations in coming weeks, if not addressed immediately, added khan.

According to sources at the petroleum division, local banks have also regretted issuing Lcs to Attock Petroleum Limited (APL) based on the plea that the sBP has instructed them to ration based on the foreign reserves situation.

Pakistan’s foreign reserves held by the sBP have fallen to critical levels, standing at $4.3 billion, the lowest in years, which is enough to cover just three weeks of imports. total reserves, including those held by commercial banks is just $10.1 billion

Local banks have informed APL that they are not in a position to facilitate any new Lc due to

According to sources, if the government opts to increase the price of petrol and Hsd by rs 8.98/litre and rs 1.06/litre respectively, petrol price will go up from rs 214.80/litre to rs 223.78/litre, and Hsd price will go up from rs 227.80 to rs 228.86 per litre. the expected prices of kerosene oil (sko) is likely to go down by rs 3.10/litre from rs 171.83/litre to rs 168.73/litre and light diesel oil (Ldo) price will likely go down by rs 2.39/litre from rs 169/litre to rs 166.61 per litre for the second half of january 2023.

it is pertinent to mention here that in order to fulfil the energy demand approximately 430,000 Metric ton Mogas, 200,000 Mt High speed diesel (Hsd) and 650,000Mt crude oil is imported on a monthly basis at a cost of around $ 1.3 billion.

the reserves situation. Moreover, APL is also facing issues with the confirmation of import Lcs by foreign banks because of curtailed credit limits on account of downgrading of Pakistan’s credit rating being downgraded by international ratings agencies and rising associated risks.

APL, the second largest oMc in Pakistan with a vast network of 731 retail stations, told ocAc in a letter dated 12th january 2023 requested the organisation to immediately take up the matter with authorities to avoid an imminent fuel crisis.

in the letter, a copy of which is available with Profit, APL warned of the consequences of supplies drying out in retail stations: “this will eventually not only lead to

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Ruling coalition to hold foRmal consultations oveR evolving political situation

LAHore Staff RepoRt

iNwake of the evolving political situation and developments taking place, the ruling alliance of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has convened an emergency session to discuss and evolve a joint strategy to deal with the situation emerging out of the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) assemblies.

The agreement of the ruling alliance comes after Punjab Chief Minister Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday night sent an advice to Governor Balighur Rehman to dissolve the

provincial assembly, fulfilling the promise to PTI Chairman Imran Khan and paving the way for fresh elections.

Sources in the ruling coalition informed Pakistan Today that the top leaders of the ruling alliance also remained in touch for the past 24 hours and have been resolute in their resolve not to dissolve the National Assembly under pressure from Imran Khan’s Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

The PDM leaders including PML-N President and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, PPP Co-Chairman and former president Asif Ali Zardari and Jamiat Ulema-e- Islam (JUIF) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman have been in touch over the past 24 hours.

“Though the time and venue for the emergency meeting of the ruling coalition leaders is yet to be decided, it has been decided to meet at the earliest. Most probably, the meeting would take place in Lahore over the weekend,” a source told this scribe.

The PTI leadership is also to determine how the parties will participate in the elections should the dissolution of Punjab and Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) provincial assemblies trigger early polls.

The sources say that the PDM leaders will also decide if a legal battle on the matter should be pursued. While legal experts are being consulted, Asif Ali Zardari has pushed for a “political solution” to the matter at hand.

Furthermore, the leaders have also expressed determination to remove all reservations expressed by the MQM-P. It has also been confirmed that the provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan are not to be dissolved as of yet. Important decisions are expected after the consultations are completed. The PDM nonetheless remains resolute that general elections will be held as per schedule, revealed the sources.

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has emerged victorious as Punjab CM Elahi has signed a summary for the dissolution of the provincial assembly as per his desire.

Despite strong pressure and other tactics, the PML-N-led federal government along

with the ‘powerful circles’ were unable to refrain Elahi from taking a vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly.

It has been learnt that Punjab Governor Balighur Rehman had considered the situation after Elahi taking a vote of confidence. It was decided that the governor would accept the CM’s vote of confidence to avoid any judicial verdict, which might have curtailed his constitutional powers.

Political analysts are astonished that Elahi, who has a long-term association with the ‘powerful circles’, stood with Imran’s stance on the dissolution of the PA. A debate is also raging as to why Elahi went against the wishes of the ‘powerful circles’.

Pakistan to welcome US facilitation for talks with India on Kashmir

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan on Friday said it would welcome facilitation by the United States to break stalemate with India on the longstanding Kashmir dispute.

once wheat exporter, pakistan importing commodity worth $2b annually: cheema

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema on Friday said that now Pakistan is importing wheat worth $2 billion annually, at one time, Pakistan used to export wheat. Addressing a press conference here, he said that this time “we have to import 2.6 million tons of wheat from Russia, out of which we have received 1.3 million tons. The minister said that after the decision of the review committee, the government has decided to import 2.6 million tons of wheat this year. He said that the government had stored 1.8 tons of wheat in the Strategic Reserve last year, which will contain 1.5 million this year. The minister said that there is no shortage of wheat/flour anywhere in the country, “we have wheat in abundance and the provinces have also been asked to tell how much wheat they want.” He said that provinces including Punjab are not releasing wheat; they are getting wheat as per requirement. Tariq Cheema said that the shortage of wheat in the country and noise about prices is unnecessary and the government is ready to face all kinds of challenges. He said that after the 18th amendment, agricultural commodities including wheat are the issue of provincial governments. He said that all the provinces including Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are getting quota wheat and there is no shortage of wheat anywhere in the country. The minister said that when provincial governments released wheat from the provinces, the prices of flour in the country decreased. He said that Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation Ltd (PASSCO) does the procurement of wheat and all the provinces also deal with it in terms of wheat. Replying to a question, he said that efforts were being made to reduce the reliance on imported food commodities, and enhance the local output of food commodities, including that of wheat and oil seeds as edible oil imports swelled to $ 4.5 billion during last year and wheat imports to $ 2 billion. He said that a strategy was being devised for stabilizing flour prices to ensure the provision of flour at affordable rates. “The shortfall is being fulfilled by purchasing the commodity from the open market, due to which we faced price fluctuation”, he said adding “the government has also established about 38 sale points to provide wheat flour to the lower income groups.” The government was also inspecting the grinding capacity of flour mills in order to operate them to their optimal capacity to produce sufficient quantities of flour to meet local needs, he added. The minister further said that out of the total procurements, the government was procuring about 20 to 21 percent of the total wheat produced, whereas the remaining 80 percent was procured by the private sector.

“Regarding the Pakistan–India relations and the facilitation by third parties, including the United States, Pakistan has always said that we would welcome the international community to play their role in promoting peace in the region including in facilitating dialogue and resolution of the core dispute between Pakistan and India i.e. the Jammu and Kashmir dispute,” Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch told reporters at weekly briefing in Islamabad.

She was responding to a question about the recent statement made by Pakistan’s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan, who spoke about the possible role by the US on the resolution of Kashmir dispute.

Washington in the past did play a role to ease tensions between the two nuclear-armed neighbours. The 2003 ceasefire understanding was brokered by the then Bush administration in order to allow Musharraf

regime to focus on the war on terror.

Of late, however, the US follows a more cautious approach and avoids getting involved directly in the Pakistan-India tensions.

To a question about the possible visit of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi in April 2021, the spokesperson said the Foreign Office would not comment on speculative reports.

Meanwhile, at the invitation of president of the World Economic Forum (WEF), Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari will attend the Forum’s annual meeting from January 16-20, 2023 in Davos, Switzerland. The foreign minister will be accompanied by Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar.

The foreign minister and the minister of state will participate in a number of WEF events on contemporary global and regional issues. The World Economic Forum annually brings together political and business leaders to identify pathways to overcome economic, social, and environmental challenges. This year’s Forum is being organised under the theme, “Cooperation in a Fragmented World”.

FM Bilawal will share Pakistan’s perspective on

NEPRA increases power price for KE consumers under uniform tariff policy

profIt report

The National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) while adjusting the tariff of K-Electric (KE) under a ‘Uniform Tariff Policy’ has increased the power tariff for different categories of consumers.

Announcing its decision on the petition filed by the federal government, NEPRA has issued its decision of the price hike to be collected from January to April 2023.

According to this decision, residential consumers with consumption up to 300 units (excluding lifeline customers) will be charged Rs 1.4874 per unit whereas residential consumers with consumption above 300 units will be charged Rs

3.2116 per unit. And, all other categories will be charged Rs 4.4547 per unit.

Across Pakistan the approved uniform quarterly tariff adjustments will be applicable on KE customers for a period of four months from January 2023 to April 2023 to be applied on the consumption for the months of October, November, December 2022, and January 2023 after the notification from the federal government. For bills already issued in January 2023, the adjustments will be billed in the following month.

Individual distribution companies cannot unilaterally make any changes. All such petitions undergo a public hearing and scrutiny prior to approval. The public hearing on this petition was conducted on December 27, 2022.

Qureshi demands elections across country sans any further delay

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi demanded that the elections should be held across the country without any further delay because snap polls was the sole solution to the prevailing untold problems facing the country.

Shah Mehmood Qureshi, in a statement issued from PTI Central Media Department on Friday, said that that Punjab Assembly has been dissolved on the instructions of PTI Chairman Imran Khan, because the

PTI’s position is very simple that free, fair and immediate general elections was the sole answer to the current crises. PTI Vice Chairman stated that Chairman PTI directed to dissolve the provincial assembly so as the people could elect their new government.

He said that the stance of the PTI was very simple that the only solution to the country’s problems and the best reflection of public aspirations was possible only in the form of new elections. Qureshi urged that the elections should be announced immediately across the country sans any further delay.

economic and social impact of the evolving geopolitical realities, and challenges for the region’s security and stability. He will highlight the developing world’s perspective on issues of climate change, food and energy security, and social vulnerabilities in times of high inflation, and slowing economic activity. IndIan woman’s mIstreatment allegatIon at Pak HC In delHI beIng ‘Probed’: The Foreign Office Friday said it was “looking into” the allegation of indecent questioning by a member of its staff with an Indian woman at the Pakistan High Commission in New Delhi, adding that it “has zero tolerance for misbehaviour and mistreatment”. In a statement on Friday, Spokesperson for Foreign Office Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: “We attach high importance to proper etiquette and behavior towards all visa and consular applicants. “All our diplomatic staff is under strict instructions to conduct themselves professionally.” However, the FO spokesperson expressed surprise over the timing of the alleged incident and “the manner in which it has been raised”. “There are robust mechanisms in place for the redressal of all public grievances,” she added.

na session summoned to meet on monday

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The 49th session of the National Assembly will meet on Monday at 05:00 pm here in the Parliament House. The session of 15th Assembly was summoned by President Dr Arif Alvi under the powers conferred by Clause (1) Article 54 of the Constitution of Pakistan. The session will take up different agenda items

sanaullah insists na will complete its term

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Federal Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah Khan Friday insisted that the National Assembly, as well as the Sindh and Balochistan assemblies, will remain intact until August this year. “With the CM’s advice of dissolution, Imran’s bandit rule has ended in Punjab,” he claimed. Talking to a private news channel, Rana Sanaullah said that after dissolution, elections for both the KP and Punjab assemblies would be held within 90 days. “We will contest the elections and win them”. Opposing the option of general elections, the minister said how can we ask the governments of Sindh and Balochistan to dissolve the assembly? Rana further said that the coalition parties were not in favour of dissolving the assemblies as this was an undemocratic act. “There was a strong opinion in our party to let them dissolve the assemblies, but if it happens, we are ready for elections,” he added.

Minister informs Senate PTA blocked 6,418 URLs on spreading fake news

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Minister

6,418 Uniform

In a written reply to the question of Senator Bahramand Khan Tangi, he said the URLs had been blocked following the complaints lodged by stakeholders including organizations, general public and proactive search pertaining to spreading of fake news on Social Media. He said PTA immediately received complaints, however, Social Media platforms usually do not entertain requests

of regulators with reference to removal of defamatory content and encourage the users to directly report such issues. Besides, they, prefer direct communication with the complainants in order to seek relevant clarification (if any) for the purpose of effective resolution of the matter.

Moreover, Social Media platforms including Facebook and Twitter have been

directed to put in place proper strict mechanism so that the users are not able to easily create accounts until certain verifications/requirements are fulfilled by the account creator. In the same context, Social Media platforms offer verification of accounts owned and operated by public figures, so as prevent misuse of their credential by miscreants. Sharing details of

blocked sites, he said 104 fake links of dailymotion were blocked from out of 107; 2,105 links of Facebook from out of 3,214;113 links of Instagram from out of 140; 1,401 links of others from out of 2,663 links of which the complaints were received; 46 links of Tik Tok were blocked from out of 50; 2,227 links of Twitter from out of 8,413; 422 links of YouTube from out of 857 were blocked.

for Information Technology and Telecommunication Syed Aminul Haque on Friday said that Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) has blocked

Resource Locators (URLs) involved in spreading fake news.

pm shehbaz, pdm leadeRs Request mqm not to paRt ways with coalition goveRnment

KArACHI Staff RepoRt

pRIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif

Friday contacted MQM-Pakistan chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and requested him to review his party’s decision to quit the coalition government in the center and assured him that all reservations of his party would be addressed immediately.

Moreover, the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) leaders have also assured MQM-Pakistan of addressing

youtubers, tik-tokers entry banned in parliament house

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

its concerns over “biased delimitations” as the latter mulls quitting the PML-N-led coalition government at the Centre.

According to sources, MQM-Pakistan’s Coordination Committee has summoned an emergency meeting to deliberate on the option of parting ways with the federal government over its dispute with the PPPled Sindh government on local government delimitations in Karachi and Hyderabad.

The federal ministers of MQM-P have also submitted their resignations to party chief Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, they added.

The MQM-P believes that if the federal

government cannot help in addressing its reservations over delimitations then there is no point remaining part of the ruling alliance, the insiders said.

The potential move will put the federal government in jeopardy as Prime Minister Shehbaz can lose majority in the National Assembly without the support of MQM-P lawmakers. However, the MQM-P has also convened a general workers’ meeting tomorrow to take important decisions in this regard. Meanwhile, PTI Chairman Imran Khan has also held consultations with the party leaders wherein it was

deliberated that President Arif Alvi may ask PM Shehbaz to obtain a vote of confidence from National Assembly if MQM-P quit the ruling coalition.

Prime Minister Shehbaz later in the evening telephoned MQM-P Convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui and assured him his reservations regarding delimitations will be addressed by tonight.

“We want implementation on our demands. We are under pressure from the people and workers and they are waiting for your positive response,” Siddiqui was quoted as saying during the telephonic

conversation with the premier.

Likewise, PPP co-chairperson Asif Ali Zardari, PDM chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman and federal minister Ayaz Sadiq also called Siddiqui and assured him of addressing his concerns on delimitations.

Sindh Governor Kamran Khan Tesori, who belongs to MQM-P, also contacted the party chief and requested him to resolve the issues through mutual consultation.

Later, Siddiqui told the media at party’s Bahadurabad headquarters that Zardari has telephoned him and it is hoped that “he will fulfil his promise”.

Naqeebullah murder case moves towards final stage

KArACHI Staff RepoRt

National Assembly Secretariat has banned the entry of unauthorized social media Influencers, YouTubers, Tiktokers in the precincts of Parliament House. The banned imposed as a consequence of an incident of misbehavior with parliamentarians by some unauthorized YouTubers/social media influencers at Gate No.1 of Parliament House on December 23, 2022. These YouTubers entered in the precincts of Parliament House without authorized entry. The same incident was also conveyed to President Press Reporters’ Association (PRA) to seek PRA stance in this regard. The PRA formally conveyed that it is only responsible for its members and PRA detached itself from youtubers and social media influencers. Furthermore, PRA also decided to ensure a ban on entry of unauthorized individuals in in the Press Gallery and Press Lounge of the House. It was, further ,also decided by National Assembly Secretariat that entry of only those reporters, journalists, Media personnel would be allowed who are associated with Accredited Media Organizations along with Valid Registration card of concerned Media organisation. Social Media influencers who are interested to cover the proceedings of the House may accredit themselves with PID and have valid session card for entry in the Parliament House.

The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) is likely to reserve its judgment in the Naqeebullah murder case as the defence wrapped up its arguments on Friday, while the prosecution was directed to present its final arguments.

Naqeebullah Mehsud, a young aspiring fashion model from Waziristan area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa, was killed on January 13, 2018 in Karachi during a fake encounter allegedly staged by then SSP Malir District Rao Anwar.

As per sources, it has been learnt that

Rao Anwar and others appeared before ATC No. 16 in Central Jail’s AntiTerrorism Complex. Aamir Mansoob Advocate, the counsel for Anwar said that he wanted to draw the court’s attention to a very important matter.

The prosecution has not two but four eyewitnesses, named Muhammad Qasim, Hazrat Ali, Sharoob Khan, and Humayun, who have already recorded their statements. Naqeebullah, along with Qasim and Ali, were abducted from Agha Sher Hotel. The prosecution claims that Naqeebullah was abducted on January 4, while one of the eyewitnesses, named Humayun, said

that the incident took place on January 3. Humayun also did not mention presence of Rao Anwar in his statement.

The defence counsel pleaded before the court that due to this discrepancy, the case made by the prosecution must be rejected.

Advocate Aamir claimed that Naqeebullah, whose real name was Naseemullah, was a terrorist. Naqeebullah’s call data record shows he was present at Al-Asif Square, in Sohrab Goth, on January 4 till 4:30 am, while the prosecution claims that he was abducted on 2:30 am on January 4. “How is this even possible?”

Some social workers said in their statements that local residents

approached them to tell the whole story. The social activists told them that theywould go the next day to secure their release. “According to the statements of the two witnesses they were released on January 5, then whose release they would secure on January 6,” the defence lawyer said while raising a question.

Anwar’s counsel said that the CDR proves that his client was neither at Agha Sher Hotel nor at the place where the “encounter” had taken place. When the prosecution did not get Naqeebullah’s CDR, how would they prove Anwar was present at the spot?

CM’s advice on PA dissolution challenged in LHC

Staff RepoRt

The decision of Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi to dissolve the provincial assembly has been challenged in the Lahore High Court.

PTI issues show-cause notice to two MPAs for ‘violating party discipline’

were absent during Chief Minister Chaudhry Parvez Elahi’s vote of confidence in the provincial legislature on Wednesday night.

The ruling party in the province initiated action against the members who deviated from the party policy, issuing show-cause notices to two MPAs –Momina Waheed and Faisal Farooq Cheema – who were absent during the vote of confidence in the Punjab Assembly.

Following weeks of political turbulence in Punjab, Chief Minister Elahi proved his majority in the provincial assembly, winning the much-hyped vote of confidence amid ruckus and opposition’s boycott in the early hours of Thursday.

The vote of confidence that commenced after midnight concluded with the Pakistan Muslim LeagueQuaid (PML-Q) and PTI coalition showing majority in the provincial legislature with the support of 186 lawmakers – the minimum number of votes required to win the trust vote.

On January 14 (Saturday), the two lawmakers will appear in person before the party chairman, Imran Khan, and may face action under Article 63 (A).

The notice issued by the party said that you as a member of parliament deviated from the clear policy of PTI, despite clear instructions.

Produce arrested relatives of Wazirbad attack accused in court on 16th : LHC

LAHore Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court (LHC) Friday ordered production of the brother and nephew of the main accused involved in the assassination attempt on PTI Chairman Imran Khan during his long march in Wazirabad in November last year.

LHC Justice Alia Neelum heard a petition challenging the illegal confinement of accused Naveed’s brother and nephew in a case of gun attack on Imran

Khan. The ordered to produce both the persons in the court and adjourned the hearing till January 26.

The petition was filed by the wife of accused Naveed. The petitioner said that police have illegally detained the brother and nephew of Naveed. Police have not revealed the arrest of the accused’s kin, she claimed.

She prayed to the court to order police to release Naveed’s brother Shafiq and nephew Ali Raza from their illegal confinement.

The court ordered Gujranwala RPO to produce both the alleged accused before the court on January 16.

The applicant, Salman Cheema, prayed the court to declare null and void the advice forwarded by the chief minister to the governor for assembly’s dissolution as it was sent by Pervaiz Elahi under pressure from PTI.

The TLTP learnt that the LHC Registrar Office, however, raised an objection to the application, ruling

that the applicant is not an affected party and that there was no attested copy of the CM’s summary attached to the application.

LHC’s Justice Shahid Karim upheld the Registrar Office’s objection of incomplete documents. The lawyer for the applicant said they will refile the application.

LAHore Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has issued showcause notices to two members of Punjab Assembly, who

LAHore

04 NEWS 14 January 2023 (LHR)_Layout 1 1/14/2023 12:44 AM Page 1

PROPOSED

LAHORE StAff report

thEPakistan Industrial and Traders Associations Front (PIAF), while expressing serious concern over the proposed mini-budget to raise revenue by further enhancing the ratio of existing taxes, has asked the government to tighten its own belt rather than continuing its previous policy of burdening the trade and industry through further indirect taxation that would devastate the economy, given the appalling state of the economy and menacingly high inflation.

PIAF Chairman Faheemur Rehman Saigol said that the pressure of new taxes will be on the businessmen, as tariffs, par-

ticularly on gas and electricity, are expected to rise significantly as part of the IMF condition to achieve full cost recovery rather than to focus on dealing with sectoral inefficiencies.

To increase leverage with the Fund the government has been advised to slash the 8.6 trillion rupee budgeted current expenditure for the year against 7 trillion rupees budgeted last year, an option that appears to not be in consideration.

Faheem Saigol said that the decision may have severe socio-economic implications attributable to a 24.5 percent Consumer Price Index, besides lower output due to administrative and exchange restrictions that are negatively impacting on raw material imports and therefore on unemployment levels.

The PIAF Chairman observed that the tax compliance should be improved and tax base should be enhanced, which cannot be achieved with a single policy change, but through a systemic approach. he said that businesses are already in a complicated state-of-affairs, while antibusiness actions against business community will not only add to the miseries of the business community but also promote trust deficit between the government and the business community.

he said that in the past instead of focusing on controlling under-invoicing, curbing smuggling and expanding the tax net, the FBR seems to be inclined to pressurize registered taxpayers, who are already suffering due to a high rate of sales tax, income tax,

and custom duties by creating fictitious cases for recovery of outstanding dues to meet revenue target.

The PIAF Chairman also endorsed the government plan of FBR reforms to expand the tax base under a fully-automated system, which should need to be improved as it has still many flaws. he said that making the FBR stronger through improved tax collection will be immensely beneficial for the country.

he called for building a structure in the country, which is in accordance with the requirements of time, as it is easy to weaken institutions but it takes a long time to rebuild them. Whatever appointments government makes to the heads of the institutions should be based on transparency and merit, he said.

Workers’ remittances down 11pc in H1 FY23

inflow of $2.5 billion.

The overseas workers’ remittances posted a decline of 11.1 percent during first half (Jul-Dec) of fiscal year 2022-23 as the remittances fell from $15.8 billion in first half of FY22 to $14.02 billion in the period under review.

On year-on-year basis, the overseas workers’ remittances recorded an inflow of US$2.04 billion in December 2022, posting a decrease of 19 percent as compared with the previous month’s

On month-on-month basis, the remittances in December 2022 also witnessed a decline of 3.2 percent when compared with the inflow of $2.1 billion recorded in November 2022.

According to a recent data released by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday, remittances’ inflows during December, 2022 were mainly sourced from Saudi Arabia ($516.3 million), United Arab Emirates ($328.7 million), United Kingdom ($314.2 million) and United States of

America ($230.5 million).

During the corresponding month, the overseas Pakistanis living in Bahrain sent $32.6 million, from Kuwait $60.4 million, from Qatar $72.2 million whereas $73.2 million were dispatched from Oman.

Similarly the inflows from Germany, France, The Netherlands, Spain, Italy, Greece, Sweden, Denmark, Belgium, and Ireland were recorded at $37.6 million, $33.9 million, $3.9 million, $36.7 million, $64.8 million, $28.3 million, $5.9

million, $6.1 million, $7.2 million and $8.9 million respectively.

Likewise, from Malaysia, Norway, Switzerland, Australia, Canada, and Japan, the workers dispatched $7.3 million, $7.9 million, $3.6 million, $46.6 million, $35.7 million, and $21.1 million respectively.

Remittances from South Africa during the month under review stood at $17 million while that from South Korea stood at $7.9 million. Similarly $47.7 million were received from other countries.

KU dean, Turk delegates discuss establishment of Turkish department

KARACHI StAff report

A two-member delegation from Turkiye educational institutions discussed the possibility of establishing a Turkish department at the University of Karachi.

The proposed department would offer the Turkish language and educate students about Turkish cultural values, literature Turkiye history, and other aspects of

the modern and old Turkiye said a statement on Friday.

The head of the Urdu Department at Istanbul University Professor Dr. halil Toker, and Vice President of Yunus Emre Institute Assistant Professor Dr. Abdullah Kutalmis Yalcin visited the University of Karachi on Thursday.

They met the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi at the VC Office. The Dean of Arts and Social Sciences Professor Dr. Nusrat Idrees was also present.

Dr. Abdullah Kutalmis Yalcin expressed that he is confident that this project would manage to get the attention of a large number of students and they will take it with great interest. he shared that they are also interested in launching Turkish language certificate and diploma courses for KU students.

Professor Dr. halil Toker informed the KU VC Professor, Dr. Khalid Iraqi, that a large number of Pakistani stu-

dents are now going to Turkiye for studies but as they do not have any background regarding the language and because they have not completed the language certificate which is mandatory for studies anywhere in Turkiye, they have to spend at least a year in studying Turkish language and after clearing the language exams, they start their studies.

he observed that if students complete their compulsory language course before landing in Turkiye then they would be able to join their classes without any delay. The visitors shared that they would also like to initiate a faculty and students exchange program so that a good number of teachers and students could learn about the Turkish language and culture and hoped that Turkish teachers would also help them in learning the Turkish language at the campus.

The KU VC Professor Dr. Khalid Mahmood Iraqi while appreciating the proposal said that he would like to start language certificate and diploma courses in the initial stage and later Turkish department would be established at the University of Karachi.

he believes that the proposed project would provide good opportunities for Pakistani students as they would be able to learn the Turkish language and get to know Turkish culture, as well as it, also help in bringing Pakistan and Turkey closer to each other as both nations have very close relations throughout their sovereign histories.

KP makes PMU mandatory for projects worth over Rs1b

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has made Project Management Unit (PMU) mandatory for development projects worth Rs1 billion or more.

ISLAMABAD StAff report

Pakistan’s eConoMy Based on stronG footinG, zero CHanCe of defauLt: aHsan

iSLamabad Staff RepoRt

MINISTERfor Planning, Development and Special Initiatives Ahsan Iqbal has said despite economic challenges Pakistan was not defaulting in any case.

“Although we are facing economic challenges, there is zero percent chance of defaulting”, Ahsan Iqbal said while talking to British Broadcasting Corporation (BBC) on

Thursday night. The minister said Pakistan’s economy had a strong footing therefore it would come out of crisis very soon.

Speaking about the flood damages in Pakistan, Ahsan Iqbal said over 1,700 people died across the country during the torrential rains and floods last year.

More than 9 million people slipped under the poverty line while over 8 million people were facing malnutrition due to the devastating floods and rains, he added.

He informed that in the Geneva Confer-

ence held earlier this week, the international community and the development partners had pledged the support of over $10 billion to help Pakistan recover from the damages caused by the floods.

He said the rehabilitation and reconstruction process was underway in the floodhit areas across the country, however, he added that the complete recovery would take two to three years’ time.

To a question, the minister explained that the government had prepared a three years

agenda for the revival of the flood-affected people. As per the national reconstruction agenda, the government would provide 50 percent of total expenses in the rehabilitation and reconstruction process from its own resources. While rest of the funding gap would be bridged by the pledges made during the Geneva Conference, he added.

Pakistan on Monday (January 09) secured over $10 billion in pledges from international financial institutions, donor agencies, and development partners for the

Chinese diabetes medicine approved for use in Pakistan

beiJing Staff RepoRt

The insulin glargine injections developed by a Chinese pharmaceutical company has been approved for diabetes patients in Pakistan.

The insulin glargine injecta BASAGINE developed received approval for registration (Reg. No. 111178) by the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP), China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday. According to the company, it is the first insulin glargine injection (prefilled injection pen) biosimilar drug in Pakistan.

Insulin glargine injection is an essential long-acting insulin analogue product in the treatment of dia-

More than 260 Pakistani companies participate in Heimtextil exhibition 2023

betes for its efficacy and safety.

In Pakistan, 33 million people aged 20-79 were living with diabetes in 2021, ranking third in the

world after China and India. The prevalence of diabetes among adults aged 20-79 in Pakistan is 30.8 percent, the highest in the world, as per the latest data released by the International Diabetes Federation (IDF) Global Diabetes Overview 10th Edition (2021).

It is learned that the overall market for insulin in Pakistan is over $50 million. Sanofi, Novo Nordisk and Eli Lilly have taken the majority of the market share in the country, and the Chinese product will bring more quality options to Pakistani patients.

“Since 2010, the pharmaceutical trade between China and Pakistan has maintained good momentum. As China eases its Covid restriction, we believe that this momentum will continue to strengthen”, the company added.

Chinese envoy makes farewell call on National Assembly speaker

iSLamabad Staff RepoRt

rehabilitation, recovery, and reconstruction of flood-affected areas, during an International Conference on Climate Resilience.

The major pledges made at the conference, co-chaired by Pakistan and the United Nations in Geneva, Switzerland, included $4.2 billion from the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB), $2 billion from the World Bank, $1.5 billion from the Asian Development Bank (ADB), $1 billion from the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank (AIIB) and $1 billion from Saudi Arabia.

Beco steel halts production due to delay in L/C approval

Continued from baCk page

Company profile: Beco Steel Limited, formerly Ravi Textile Mills Limited, is a public limited company incorporated in Pakistan in 1984. The name of the company was changed in 2021 after two steel mill owners Chauhdry Muhammad Shafique and Muhammad Ahmad Raza bought a defaulting Ravi Textile Mills. BECO has a total melting capacity of 99,400 Metric Ton and re-rolling capacity of 99,000 Metric Ton, and is based in the heart of Pakistan Steel Industry Cluster of Badami Bagh in Lahore. The mid country location allows the company to service both central and northern Pakistan and export to Afghanistan. BECO is an integrated steel producer from scrap to billet to various end products. It also does downstream steel processing and distribution, and manufactures billet to re-rolled products including specialty steels. According to the last quarterly report ending September 2022, the company demonstrated 81% topline growth resulting in profit after tax (PAT) of Rs. 190.521 million as compared to a PAT of Rs. 2.323 million in the previous year. The net sales made in the year amounted to Rs. 6.310 billion as compared to previous year sales of Rs. 230.770 million mainly due to start of commercial operations of the company resulting in successful outcome.

Pharma sector hints at shortage

National Assembly (NA) Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf on Friday highly commended the outgoing Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Nong Rong for his significant contributions to strengthening PakistanChina bilateral and parliamentary relations during a farewell courtesy call by him at the Parliament House.

ate mutual opportunities under the strategic partnership, particularly through China Pakistan Economic Corridor to work for the benefit of people on both sides of the border. The ambassador expressed gratitude to the speaker for his kind remarks and said Pakistan was his second home as he had a very fruitful experience and fond memories during his two-year stay in Pakistan.

of life saving drugs

Continued from baCk page

LHC suspends Lahore Master Plan 2050

LaHore Staff RepoRt

The interim written order of the Lahore High Court (LHC) to suspend the Lahore Master Plan 2050 has been issued. According to the details, the LHC directed the Environment Department, Lahore Development Authority (LDA), and other parties to submit their reply by January 25. As per sources, it has ben learnt that LHC Justice Shahid Karim issued a two-page written decision on the petition of citizen Abdul Rehman against the Lahore Master Plan 2050. It is stated in the LHC’s interim order that important legal points have been raised in the petition and hence the petition is allowed for hearing. It added that the implementation of the master plan will remain suspended till the next date. In the interim order, the arguments of the petitioner’s lawyer Shehzad Shaukat have also been included.

Many big names from Pakistan home textile industry took part in Heimtextil 2023 including Nishat Mills, Nishat Chunian, Al Karam textiles, Sadaqat textile. Other small and medium sized companies under the banner of Trade development authority of Pakistan also participated in Heimtextil 2023. However, the textile industrialists had recently claimed that several industrial units were closed while many others were planning to either shut down or shift their production abroad. They informed that their factories were deprived of necessary raw material and accessories. Letters of credit worth as low as $5,000 are being refused, which has hit in-progress export orders of $500,000 per consignment. It’s causing severe disruption and production delays and has led to the cancellation of export orders. Demurrage on various consignments has increased the cost too much, they said. Continued from baCk page

PM Shehbaz Sharif lauded the historical ties between Pakistan and UAE and reaffirmed his government’s commitment to further strengthen existing bilateral engagements with the UAE in multiple fields including trade, investment, energy, culture and tourism.

Abu Dhabi Chamber encouraged to avail “excellent” business opportunities

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif urged the members of the Abu

The speaker said Pakistan highly valued the ironclad friendship with the People’s Republic of China. The all-weather strategic cooperative partnership between the two states had gone from strength to strength due to the consistent, dedicated, and sincere efforts from both sides and the role of the emissary in these efforts was very significant, he added. He also appreciated the Chinese envoy for his arduous work in promoting parliamentary cooperation between the two states as such interactions would help in learning from parliamentary experiences of each other and cre-

He said the Pakistan-China relationship had a very bright future and he would wish to see further growth in them emphasizing that China would continue to support Pakistan in pursuit of its national development and objectives.

The two sides also discussed the prevailing international and regional situation, expansion of bilateral cooperation, particularly with respect to trade and commerce; and regular people-to-people exchange between Pakistan and China.

The meeting was held in a cordial atmosphere and at the end, the speaker wished the ambassador success and good luck in his future endeavors.

peSHaWar Staff RepoRt

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Mehmood Khan on Friday inaugurated an online payment and automation of GP funds system for government employees.

Talking to the media persons after the inauguration, the chief minister said the government employees would now be able to check their GP fund balance on a single click with the GP Fund Automation System.

Dhabi Chamber to visit Pakistan and experience the “excellent” opportunities of growing their business.

The prime minister, in a meeting with a delegation of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce during his two-day visit to the UAE, said that bilateral trade between Pakistan and the UAE had grown significantly in recent times.

The delegation was headed by Chairman of Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce Abdullah Mohamed Al Mazrouei.

Talking to the delegation, the prime

He also inaugurated the pilot project for an online payment system under which project authorities would be able to issue and receive online checks from the payment system.

The chief minister said that

his government’s priority was to simplify and improve the system of service delivery to the people. He said the KP government had introduced a paperless governance system in all provincial departments, and the project would soon be implemented. He said that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa would be the first province to introduce paperless governance.

Later, Mehmood Khan also inaugurated the solarization project for the Accountant General Complex Peshawar.

He further said that FPCCI wants to develop IT sectors but LCs of IT equipment are not being opened. “How is it possible to increase IT exports in such a situation?” he questioned. During the meeting, the delegation of PPMA informed about their problems and said that a lot of tax was already being imposed on the pharmaceutical sector in the form of customs duty, additional customs duty, sales tax, additional sales tax, income tax, while more taxes will destroy the sector. The delegation requested FPCCI to play its role in fixing the value of empty glass tubing and empty glass ampoule, on which Qureshi assured full cooperation of the Federal Chamber.

Govt softens stance as oilseed vessels released except two being inspected

Continued from baCk page

“We had 1.8 million tonnes strategic reserves from the last year’s crop – but this is unfair to blame the federal government over the shortages or any mismanagements in wheat reserves,” the minister said, “The whole mechanism including relevant manpower and check-posts to curb smuggling is under the provincial control, so they must take the responsibility too.” He said that the situation has started to ease as the provinces were releasing more wheat from their stocks. “We have wheat stocks and I am openly asking all provinces if they need more wheat why not they place the demand – but strangely all the provinces were holding their stocks for unknown reasons,” the federal minister added, “The provincial governments should understand and do something about agriproduce, we are even importing oil seeds worth $4.2 billion.” He lashed out at the provinces for not doing enough to promote agricultural produce and they should identify new cultivation areas for oil seeds and wheat.

ber-to-chamber cooperation and urged the Pakistani chambers to reach out to the Abu Dhabi Chamber and develop new linkages.

minister said that the Abu Dhabi Chamber which also consisted of Pakistani members had played an important role in the economic development of the UAE.

He expressed the pleasure that one of the Pakistani businessmen had been a board member of the Abu Dhabi Chamber which was an indication of the fact Pakistani community was playing important role in the development of the UAE.

Prime Minister Sharif said that the vision and wisdom of its leadership had enabled the UAE to become an economic and

tourism hub within a short span of time.

He said Pakistan gave importance to its relationship with the UAE which was based on common faith, shared history, and people-to-people contacts.

“We consider the UAE an important strategic and economic partner for being located in the neighborhood, playing an important role in ensuring peace, stability, and economic development in the region and having potential for joint socio-economic development,” the prime minister remarked.

He stressed the need to enhance cham-

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that sending a skilled workforce to the UAE was one of the top priorities of his government.

The members of the Abu Dhabi Chamber of Commerce showed interest in doing business and investing in Pakistan.

The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Syed Naveed Qamar, Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Communications Maulana Assad Mehmood, Special Assistants to Prime Minister Aurangzeb, Tariq Fatemi and senior government officials.

The Great Unknown

By advising the dissolution of the Punjab Assembly, and with it poised to advise that of the KP Assembly, the PTI has taken the country into the uncharted territory of elections in two provinces being held separately from the national election. It appears that Punjab Governor Balishur Rehman is prepared either to dissolve the Punjab Assembly, or at best do nothing, which will result in automatic dissolution non Tuesday. It also means that two of the provinces will have elections held twice this year, for while Punjab and KP will have to elect new provincial assemblies in 90 days, according to the constitution, the remaining two provinces and the National Assembly, will have to dissolve at the latest on 12 August, with elections no later than October 12. The dissolved assemblies must have their elections held by April14. So long as the Election Commission of Pakistan remains within the constitutionally mandated 90-day limit, it may choose the same date for the two princes.

Apart from the political implications, the logistical implications will rest on the ECP for holding more than one election. Punjab will actually undergo three separate elections, for it is due to hold local government polls as well. The advantage of holding same-day elections are basically economic: it’s cheaper, because one saves on TA/DA for the polling staff, which has otherwise to be summoned again for the provincial poll, and paid separately for that. Elections are not held to facilitate the ECP or polling staff, but this consideration cannot be ignored. It is also too early to predict problems, but whereas previously both federal and provincial governments were caretakers, now there will be caretaker governments in two provinces, while the federal government will be political. The real challenge for the ECP will come with a nationwide election towards the end of the year, with two of the provincial governments of a political party, dedicated to having their candidates elected.The process of naming caretaker CMs is an entirely separate headache.

Whereas before the dissolution, the pressure was on PTI chief Imran Khan, to show that he did have a majority in Punjab, now the pressure is on the PDM federal government, which now faces the reality of the dissolved assemblies, and thus the logic of the situation, which says that the country can ill afford having two elections, where one is not only possible, but desired by one party.

HARDLy does Pakistan come out of one crisis when another crisis pounces upon it. Before the economic crisis is over, the combat crisis with the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is looming large on the national horizon.

The basic problem with Pakistan’s economy is constant: more expenditure and less earning. Overspending is customary now. Pakistan fell into the habit of extravagance with the assistance of foreign aid, which has now almost dried out. Currently, Pakistan is looking for a new donor instead of weaning off its deleterious habit of overspending.

The bug starts from the Army, which wants to spend more and more on its hardware and manpower to sustain its presence. The Army puts a constant pressure on civilian governments to raise the defence budget. The previous government, which was of the Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI), put a halt to increasing defence expenditure. The PTI enjoyed the privilege of being on the same page as the Army till February 2021. However, the incumbent government of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) lifted the bar in June last year and resorted to increasing the defence budget for the financial year 2022-2023. The way Pakistan’s former Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa retired from the Army as a billionaire speaks volumes for the lucrative rewards the Army bestows upon its servicemen.

The reward aspect has made other institutions conscious of and desirous for the same. The judiciary, especially the higher judiciary, has been trying to follow the reward system. The success of the lawyers’ movement in 2009 to restore the deposed judges offered the judiciary the needed strength to claim more finances from the national share than before. High salaries and associated perks have made the judiciary an attractive financial hub. Like the Army, the judiciary demands more and is not ready to drop its expenditures.

Crisis after crisis

Pakistan, the other has become the custodian of the Constitution. The Parliament is out of the equation. It is just an outsider now at the mercy of the duo.

The tragedy is that politicians are constrained not to disobey them, and the disability of politicians renders them disinclined to adopt austerity measures for themselves. Currently, the number of members of the Federal Cabinet has reached 74. The national exchequer has to pay their expenses comprising salaries and associated perquisites.

Seeing the trend coupled with possibilities for financial sufficiency, the bureaucracy raises its bet. Expenditures outclass work. Bureaucrats also follow the same trend of expensive lifestyle and post-retirement benefits. In 2010, the Eighteenth Constitutional Amendment abolished the concurrent list and devolved several powers to provinces (to materialize the concept of provincial autonomy). Even after a decade, the bureaucracy refuses to shift its fulcrum from the Federal Capital to provincial capitals. In principle, provincial ministries should be upgraded to serve the provinces, but the bureaucracy tends to get concentrated in Islamabad. The Federal Capital is now being developed to match a province.

Though all the aforementioned circles pay tax, deducted from the source (the salary), they can maintain a comfortable life, compared to the masses, who have to pay taxes and afford the bills of health and daily expenditures. Besides, the masses live in perpetual uncertainty for being at the receiving end of the decisions taken by the powerful four: the Army, judiciary, Parliament, and bureaucracy.

taxes. One is pitted against the other. The point is simple: impressed by the quartet, the masses are not ready to adopt austerity measures. They protest against reduction in the supply of gas, oil and electricity. Instead of expressing solidarity with the country, the masses tend to express disconnect. They consider it justifiable because they have to eke out their resources without much assistance from the government.

In the ongoing season of winter, there are dim chances of any flare-up in the activities of the TTP.

Nevertheless, Pakistan needs to understand that the receptivity for the TTP has increased manifold in the western half because Pakistan kept the Pashtun youth annoyed.

The disconnect is spotted by militant organizations such as the TTP, which selects its target one from amongst the ruling quartet, instead of the masses. That is, the TTP is in direct conflict with the State of Pakistan, and not with the masses. This aspect makes the masses less concerned about the stance and action of the TTP. The recent protests in Swat and Wana (South Waziristan) against the rising local tide of the TTP are less against the TTP and more against the prospects for another impending internal migration, as happened in the past. That is, the locals want to sensitize the government of the TTP so that the government finds out its targets precisely instead of penalizing the whole population in the name of purging the community from the TTP. The locals are not ready now to get dislocated.

The annoyance has also strengthened the will of the Baloch dissidents (or separatists). It is not the left-over US weapons that can be turned on Pakistan; it is the lingering stifled hatred that is aiming at Pakistan

Nizami Editor

Both these institutions seek refuge in the constitution by declaring themselves sacred cows, the status which has inflicted deep afflictions upon Pakistan’s political polity. Further, both have joined hands to protect the interests of each other. Whereas one has become the defender of the ideological boundaries of

Presently, there is a wedge of dissociation between the rulers (the quartet), and the ruled (the masses). Divorced from each other, both ends are on their own way to survive. This is one of the reasons the masses are reluctant to pay taxes.

For the past many years, a kind of struggle for survival has been going on between the Finance Ministry and the masses. The ministry makes an effort to raise taxes while the masses devise methods to evade the

Precisely, the TTP is the headache of the government (or the quartet), and not of the masses. In the ongoing season of winter, there are dim chances of any flare-up in the activities of the TTP. Nevertheless, Pakistan needs to understand that the receptivity for the TTP has increased manifold in the western half because Pakistan kept the Pashtun youth annoyed. The annoyance has also strengthened the will of the Baloch dissidents (or separatists). It is not the left-over US weapons that can be turned on Pakistan; it is the lingering stifled hatred that is aiming at Pakistan.

It is yet to be seen how the incumbent government of the PDM deals with the crises, which are rearing their heads disturbingly one after another.

The writer can be reached at qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

Can Donald Lu’s Bangladesh visit restore his credibility in South Asia?

Nepal, Sri Lanka, Pakistan. Jinx or pattern?

Biden administration in September 2021.

US Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu has recently been mentioned frequently in the media while talking about US relations with South Asian nations. This time his visit to Dhaka has generated a buzz in the diplomatic community against the backdrop of unease in Bangladesh-US relations. According to a diplomatic source, he will come to Bangladesh on January 14 to talk about a number of important topics, including trade, business, and collaboration in the areas of security and human rights.

US Ambassador to Dhaka Peter Haas unexpectedly visited the residence of a controversial leader of a political organization in Shaheenbagh, Dhaka, on December 14. Soon after his arrival, a group called Mayer Kanna attempted to deliver a memo to him, which forced the US ambassador to depart that area in an awkward scenario. Donald Lu brought up the security issue of the US Ambassador to Bangladesh at that time with the Bangladesh Ambassador in Washington. Lu’s trip to Dhaka is particularly relevant from that perspective.

Who is DonalD lu?: Donald Lu is the main driver of US foreign policy regarding South and Central Asia. He is a foreign service officer with more than 30 years of US government service. During his long diplomatic career, he has served as a political officer in the Peshawar Consulate of Pakistan, a consular officer in Tbilisi, Georgia, and a special assistant and political officer to the ambassador in New Delhi, India. A former US ambassador to Kyrgyzstan and Albania, he has also served as deputy chief of mission in the US embassy in New Delhi from 2010 to 2013. Lu became assistant secretary of state for south and central Asian affairs in the

lu’s role in south asia: When Nepal was dragging its feet on ratifying the US-led controversial Millennium Challenge Corporation (MCC) compact for the last few years, Lu had warned Nepalese Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba that there could be “cuts in US aid and assistance” and that the USA could deny support and investment that Nepal is receiving from various bilateral and multilateral agencies if the MCC compact was not ratified. Lu had conveyed the same warning to CPN-UML chairman K.P. Sharma Oli and Maoist Center chairman Pushpa Kamal Dahal alias Prachanda. This was the first strong message to the Nepali political leadership from Washington since Nepal and the USA established diplomatic relations in 1947.

Lu has visited Nepal twice since the beginning of the political impasse that started with the dissolution of the parliament in mid-2021. Amidst the political upheaval and in an election atmosphere, he met then Prime Minister Sher Bahadur Deuba and Foreign Minister Narayan Kharka in November. Within three months of this visit, the Millennium Challenge Cooperation Project, the largest in the history of Nepal, which has been stalled since 2012, received the approval of the Nepali Parliament.

It is no longer a secret that the USA and India see the Ukraine crisis differently. After the start of the RussiaUkraine war in February, the West imposed a series of sanctions on Moscow. Despite this, India maintains trade relations with Russia by purchasing oil there. Lu visited India in September 2022, where he led the US delegation that participated in the Two Plus Two meeting with the partner countries of the Quad Alliance. After that, in October last year, Lu visited Sri Lanka, which was devastated by the economic and political crisis, and offered full support to the Ranil Wickremesinghe government.

Given Lu’s unfavorable reputation in the region, his visit to Bangladesh offers him a second chance to demonstrate that promoting regime change in the region is not his assigned task. Instead, it is his duty to maintain cordial relations with countries.

However, Lu’s name has been discussed the most after the ouster of Imran Khan in Pakistan. Mr Khan accused Lu of conspiring to oust him. Khan even suggested in an interview with CNN that Lu be fired for interfering with Pakistan’s domestic politics and for “bad manners and sheer arrogance.” Furthermore, Pakistan’s National Security Council (NSC) issued a “strong demarche” over the “threat letter,” terming it “blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan.”

Undeniably, given South Asia’s growing strategic significance for the USA, it has taken aggressive or proactive diplomacy to get governments in the region to toe their line. But, these forms of coercive diplomacy may cause “anti-Americanism” to spread in South Asian countries, which may harm the USA’s long-standing relations with them.

BanglaDesh case anD message to lu: In the shifting global environment, a closer relationship

is in both countries’ best interests. Bangladesh believes in the USA’s free and open Indo-Pacific strategy and is looking into the “pros and cons” of the Indo-Pacific Economic Framework (IPEF) to determine if the country will benefit from joining it. Bangladesh made it clear that, if it is in Bangladesh’s best interests, it will join the US-led Indo-Pacific Business Forum. The USA should extend its hand of friendship to Bangladesh as a major partner in this undertaking.

Since the inception of diplomatic ties, bilateral relations between the two countries have come a long way and improved to a great extent. Washington and Dhaka have extensive cooperation in regional and global security, counterterrorism, and climate change. With regard to trade, education, travel, investments, and other areas, it goes without saying that Bangladesh has closer ties with and more communication with the USA.

Chinese influence in Bangladesh must not be a cause for concern for the USA. Because Dhaka is skillfully balancing relations with major nations, especially China, and is aware of and sensitive to US concerns in the region, Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina has openly said that Bangladesh has no military aspirations and sees China as a development partner.

It is illogical for Bangladesh to get involved in any power struggles, given geopolitical calculations and high development goals. Dhaka could become a pawn in a global confrontation if it participates in any geopolitical rivalries. Bangladesh thus upholds its foreign policy guiding concept of “friendship to all and malice to none” and supports peaceful coexistence in the area.

Given Lu’s unfavorable reputation in the region, his visit to Bangladesh offers him a second chance to demonstrate that promoting regime change in the region is not his assigned task. Instead, it is his duty to maintain cordial relations with countries. The misperception that he was the mastermind behind the region’s regime changeS can be dispelled if he plays a constructive role in enhancing US-Bangladesh relations.

writer is a freelance columnist

The dissolution of two provincial assemblies has created an unprecedented situation

The

sufian siDDiQue

Dr Qaisar rashiD

Yousaf

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

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

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

Compassion and Human Value: Perspectives and Status

precursor to compassion. c. Engage in acts of kindness: Helping others and doing good deeds can increase feelings of compassion and connection to others. d. Cultivate gratitude: Being grateful for what we can, helps others feel more content and less likely to focus on our own sufferings. This can create space in your mind and heart for compassion towards others. e. Seek out role models: Surrounding ourselves with people who embody compassion can be a great way to learn about and practice of compassion.

COMPASSION is the emotion that arises when we see someone else suffering, and feel motivated to help the affected person. It is often accompanied by feelings of kindness, warmth, and concern. Compassion is considered a virtue in many cultures and is seen as an important part of being a good person. It can be difficult to cultivate compassion, especially when we are dealing with our own challenges, but it is an important quality to develop as it can help us feel more connected to others and the world around us.

Compassion is an important value for any society because it helps to create a more caring and supportive environment for everyone. When people feel compassion towards others, they are more likely to help and support them, which can lead to a more cohesive and harmonious society. Compassion can also play a role in promoting social justice and reducing inequality. When people feel compassion for those who are disadvantaged or marginalized, they may be more motivated to act to address the root causes of these issues and work towards creating a more equitable society.

In addition, research has shown that compassion can have numerous personal benefits as well. People who are more compassionate tend to have stronger relationships, greater wellbeing, and less stress and anxiety. They also tend to be more resilient and better able to cope with difficult situations. Overall, cultivating compassion can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life for both the individual and society as a whole.

concept anD kinDs of compassion: It is natural for humans to feel compassion, especially towards people they are close to or care about. However, it is possible to cultivate compassion and extend it to a wider range of people. There are several ways we can work on developing compassion: a. Practice mindfulness: This involves being present in the moment and paying attention to our thoughts and feelings without judgment. This can help us become more aware of our own suffering as well as the suffering of others and expose ourselves to different perspectives: b. Try to understand what it might be like to be in someone else’s shoes. This can help us develop empathy, which is an important

There are many different kinds of compassion, and the specific characteristics of each type may vary depending on the person experiencing it and the situation. There are many kinds of compassion which include: a. Self-compassion: This is the practice of showing compassion towards oneself. It involves being kind and understanding towards oneself, especially during times of struggle or suffering. b. Maternal compassion: This is the compassion that mothers often feel towards their children. It is characterised by a strong desire to protect and care for one’s offspring. c. Empathetic compassion: This is the kind of compassion that arises when we deeply understand and relate to another person’s feelings. It involves feeling what the other person is feeling and wanting to help. d.

Tough compassion: This is a type of compassion that involves holding high standards and expectations from someone, while being caring and supportive. It is often used by parents, teachers, and coaches to motivate and help someone grow. e. Altruistic compassion: This is compassion that is motivated by a desire to improve the well-being of others without any expectation of reward or recognition. It is characterised by selfless acts of kindness and generosity.

Research has shown that people who are more compassionate tend to have greater well-being and happiness. They also tend to have lower levels of stress and anxiety. c. Increased resilience: Compassion can help us cope with difficult situations in a more positive and healthy way. It can also increase our ability to bounce back from challenges and setbacks. d. Improved physical health: Compassion has been linked to a range of physical health benefits, including lower blood pressure, improved immune function, and faster recovery from illness. D. Contribution to social good: Compassion can inspire us to act to improve the well-being of others and create a more just and caring society.

There are some indicators that suggest that compassion may be in decline in some parts of the world. Further studies have shown that people in some countries are becoming less empathetic and less willing to help others, and that incidents of violence and aggression are on the rise in many areas.

The economy and compassion are often seen as being in tension with one another, as the pursuit of economic goals such as efficiency and profitability can sometimes conflict with compassion and the desire to help others. However, it is possible for the two to co-exist and even be mutually reinforcing. For example, businesses that consider the well-being of their employees and the community in which they operate may be more successful in the long run, as this can lead to increased productivity, employee retention, and customer loyalty. Similarly, government policies that prioritise the needs of the most vulnerable members of society can lead to a more stable and prosperous society overall. Ultimately, the relationship between economy and compassion is complex and multifaceted, and finding ways to balance these competing goals is an ongoing challenge. It is difficult to assess the global status of compassion, as it is a complex and multifaceted concept that varies widely across different cultures and societies.

Editor’s mail

Shipping industry is a game changer

IT is a pity that while so much is being said and written about the poor state of national economy, a great opportunity that can contribute towards its betterment continues to remain unexploited; even unmentioned. The shipping industry has the potential to become a major and sustainable contributor to the economy, especially when it comes to the issue of balance of payment.

Unfortunately, no in-depth study has ever been carried out to understand the working of this particular industry in Pakistan’s specific context and how we can benefit from it. The result is that shipping policies announced from time to time bore no result. The focus of official policies has always been on increasing private ships under the national flag. Had there been a study, we would have known that shipping is not just about owning the ships; it is much more than that. Bulk of the modern shipping industry is run in the private sector where the sole motive is to make profit. It is for this reason that a large number of ship-owners do not manage their ships but give them to independent ship management companies for cost-effective management. This highlights the importance of efficient running of the ships.

Pakistan may not have much to offer when it comes to ship-owning, but it has some unique advantages to offer cost-effective ship services. These advantages include the close vicinity of a terminating shipping lane where ships pass its coast twice and can call Pakistani ports with little diversion, and a ship demolition yard that can provide recycled machinery and spare parts. Much more critical is the availability of local manpower for both ship and shore use along with training and certification capability for labour force. If these advantages are utilised intelligently, Pakistan can provide cost-effective ship services, like repairs, supplies, crew change, etc., and can become one of the most sought after destinations for ship services.

Once vessels start calling Pakistani ports for such services, it will facilitate large-scale employment of Pakistani seafarers and will lead to the establishment of ship management companies in the country. These ship management firms will give us some kind of a much needed say in the affairs of international shipping. To achieve the above, a paradigm shift is required in our approach towards the neglected shipping industry. Instead of ‘ship-owning’, our focus should shift to ‘ship services’, and towards the efficient removal of irritants in the way of the delivery of these services.

MUHAMMAD MOHSIN ZAIDI KARACHI

Can we welcome the returning doctors?

THERE are nearly 226,000 doctors in Pakistan, as per the survey done by the Ministry of Finance in 2017-18. Funnily enough, there are around 122,000 doctors registered with the Pakistan Medical Commission (PMC), as per its recent data. Some of these may be registered here, but still practising abroad. In any case, for a population of over 220 million, the numbers mean there is at the most one doctor for every 1,000 patients on an average.

In a situation like this, another important factor in the equation is the number of doctors moving abroad for the promise of three times the salary, better life and better work-life balance. Social media trends are definitely playing a major role. They see their colleagues, who started at the same time as they did, but after what seems like a short span, they are way ahead of them in financial terms with a high feel-good factor about their lives. The ones who do not leave mostly end up wondering why they never thought of such an option.

In such a scenario, the doctors who had left the country and now want to return represent a key community. The primary pull force is almost always family or parents, followed closely by culture and religion. Those for whom the second set of reasons is primary generally go to the Middle East for obvious reasons. Under these circumstances, the odds are never in our favour. All that we can hope to do is to optimise the use of those who return for family reasons. Do we have a plan to do that? Hardly.

We are losing a prime resource that we acquired after investing millions of rupees. I am sure it is not confined to doctors alone. We are losing basically just about every professional who can and wants to leave.

While moving back to Pakistan, we were questioned by our friends and family what we would do there. We felt and still feel all eyes were and are on us; whether we succeed here or fail will help many others make this critical decision. Most Pakistani doctors have an intense desire to come back to the country of their origin, and to their parents. They want to show their children the love, family and cultural values they experienced in their younger days. Money is never going to be the reason for doctors to return to Pakistan. Not because they do not want it or need it, but because they were, and are, making much more abroad.

DR RUBIA USMAN ISLAMABAD

Hepatitis screening

Compassion is an important value for any society because it helps to create a more caring and supportive environment for everyone. Various research have shown that compassion can have numerous personal benefits as well. People who are more compassionate tend to have stronger relationships, greater well-being, and less stress and anxiety. Overall, cultivating compassion can lead to a happier and more fulfilling life for both the individual and society as a whole.

There are numerous benefits to cultivating compassion, both for the individual and for society as a whole. Some of the potential benefits of compassion include: a. Stronger relationships: Compassion can help to build trust and connection with others, leading to stronger and more meaningful relationships. b. Greater well-being:

However, there are some indicators that suggest that compassion may be in decline in some parts of the world. Further studies have shown that people in some countries are becoming less empathetic and less willing to help others, and that incidents of violence and aggression are on the rise in many areas. At the same time, there are also many examples of individuals and communities who are working to promote compassion and to help others, and there are several organisations and initiatives dedicated to these efforts.

The writer is a Youth Motivator, presently Professor of Political Science and Dean of Social Sciences along with Dean, Student’s Welfare (DSW), at B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura (Bihar), India. His 22 books published in addition to 900 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries.

HEPATITIS, if not treated in time, is fatal. According to the World Health Organisation (WHO), hepatitis B and C are the leading causes of morbidity and mortality globally. Pakistan has the second largest burden of hepatitis, with almost 15 million people suffering from hepatitis B or C.

Since many in the country live without getting a diagnosis or treatment, therefore every year there are around 150,000 new cases and 30-35,000 mortalities. Most people catch this infection in healthcare settings without being aware of it. In Sindh, hepatitis C has grown to 6.1 per cent from 5pc in 2008, whereas hepatitis B prevalence has shown a significant decrease, falling from 2.5pc to 1.05pc over the same period. This has been possible only because of the availability of hepatitis B vaccine. The major risk factors for the transmission include the use of dangerous (un-sterilised/reused) therapeutic injections, blood transfusion, razor blades and body-piercing equipment. Also among the culprits is inadequate sterilisation of surgical, dental and circumcision equipment in clinical settings. Drug users and thalassaemia patients carry higher risk than others. A non-profit organisation functioning in marginalised peri-urban squatter settlements noticed during 2020-21 a serious increase in hepatitis C cases among pregnant women. With timely intervention, 42 such cases received complete treatment. The actual disease burden, however, is much higher and needs due attention.

DR MAHWISH NAIM KARACHI

Dr rajkumar singh

The glue that keeps society together

Prince Harry’s 25 kills say eVeryTHing aBouT THe WesT’s airBorne assaulTs on MusliM MajoriTy counTries

professional soldiers to dwell on kill counts, least of all to dehumanise their victims as chess pieces.

Despite this, the self-satisfied celebrity later cynically claimed that his humble bragging – “sharing that detail” – was somehow aimed at stopping other soldiers from committing suicide. As usual, nothing was his fault, and he blamed press “spin” for anyone thinking negatively about him. Prince harry told 60 Minutes that joining the British Army and serving in Afghanistan “saved me in many regards.” harry said his struggle began when his mother died and serving helped him heal. “It felt like I was turning pain into a purpose.”

combatants with innocent civilians, and indeed for forcing the non-committed to take up arms on its behalf on pain of death.

The truth is that the tribes which dominate the mountain ranges of Afghanistan, one of the poorest countries in the world, have repelled invasions for centuries, and – whether British, Americans, or Russians – foreign armies are naturally viewed as enemies, especially when their ultimate mission is so imprecise.

briefly makes the fresh-faced prince (just look at how young and untroubled he looked in all his staged PR images from Afghanistan) sound like the mournful narrator in military classics such as All Quiet on the Western Front. In fact, there were no trenches, or hand-to-hand combat, or last stands in isolated fox holes during harry’s service career.

sENDING harry, a Prince of the Realm, to help bring democracy to Afghanistan was always a crass idea. The UK King’s son owes everything in his life to hereditary privilege and not merit, let alone equality or justice. It is evident in his ghost-written memoir Spare – one that is littered with factual inaccuracies and unproven allegations – that he is either ignorant or contemptuous of all complex ethical principles.

So much so, that harry boasts about shoots in which he massacred more than two dozen unidentified Afghans in their own country from the extremely safe position of a $52 million Apache attack helicopter. This is the kind of aircraft with missiles that can liquidate human beings from more than five miles away, or rip their bodies apart with a chain gun. harry spares us the specific operational details of why these executions from on high were necessary, except to say that he did not view his victims as “people”, but instead as “chess pieces” that needed taking out. “So, my number: Twenty-five,” he states unequivocally in his book, adding: “It wasn’t a number that gave me any satisfaction. But neither was it a number that made me feel ashamed.”

Military veterans were among the many who condemned harry’s callousness – it is highly unusual for

Blood and gore on TV

Such deceit is typical of harry’s communication strategy – he pours out select claims about his odious adventures, and then tries to mitigate them with more weasel words. What is far more important than harry’s shoddy PR image, however, is what this garrulous showoff tells us about the West’s asymmetrical conflicts in Muslim-majority countries.

Without mentioning them all – and there are many, from Iraq to Libya – we can say that the Afghanistan disaster is just like the harry-style barbarism that has prevailed. According to the US Department of Defence, almost a trillion dollars was spent on the two-decade war that finally ended in defeat in August 2021. More pertinently, at least 114,000 Afghans were killed – including tens of thousands of civilians – compared to 3,587 service personal fighting for the Americans and their allies. The vast majority of the Afghan deaths, together with many more wounded, were caused by airborne weapons. Sandal-wearing insurgents brandishing Soviet or even Victorian era rifles did not stand a chance, nor did the women and children who stayed close to them.

harry, who comes across as a hollywood obsessive brought up on childish black-and-white moralising and video games, claims the Afghans he butchered were “‘bads’ taken away before they could kill ‘goods’”, but there is no proof of this whatsoever.

he says they were members of the Taliban, but the extremist Islamist group is well known for mixing its

While serving in his grandmother’s army – the UK sovereign is Commander of all British forces – harry infamously referred to such combatants as “ragheads” – a racist slur referencing the kind of headwear worn by numerous Muslims. his bigotry towards Muslims extended to calling Pakistanis “Pakis”. Pathetic mitigation offered for this in his book, is that he didn’t know that the word was a pejorative one.

In fact, harry’s racist tropes are comparable to the bigots who relish spreading collective guilt, and who view pouring fire on Muslim countries as being morally justified. harry himself confirms that at one point he was fed the narrative that he was part of a “Christian army, fighting a militia sympathetic to Muslims.”

he also makes out that he was in Afghanistan to somehow exact revenge for the September 11, 2001 terrorist attacks on America, even though not a single Afghan was involved in the 9/11 atrocities. harry even refers to his Afghan victims as an “Other” – language that, at worst, evokes the sub-human category embraced by the Nazis. (harry once wore an Afrika Korps uniform complete with Swastika to a fancy dress party). Despite harry’s allegations, this is not how the professional soldiers of the modern British Army are trained. On the contrary, the Geneva Convention instructs soldiers to respect their foes.

huge efforts were put into the “hearts and minds” campaign in Afghanistan – one that was meant to portray western soldiers as peacemakers tasked with rebuilding a shattered nation, not as gung-ho crusaders focused on death and destruction.

The purple prose deployed by harry’s ghost-writer

he even said that his time in the Army was about personal therapy. “I was able to focus on a purpose larger than myself,” he said, adding, apparently without irony, “It felt like I was turning pain into a purpose.”

harry’s crowing about killing Afghans started back in 2013, when he told journalists, “Take a life to save a life,” without yet letting on that he was on his way to 25 dead.

One ludicrously crafted stunt video from the time shows harry grinning as he operates a machine gun from what looks like a battlefield fire position, but it is so obvious that there are no enemies in front of him. No, it is only during short sojourns in an armoured helicopter fortress that harry really went in for the kill. Shortly before, harry had mysteriously missed a drugs test at his Airforce base in Britain, and he has since admitted being a regular user of all kinds of illegal substances including cocaine, and to being a heavy drinker with psychological problems.

Outlining how many Afghans a junior officer with so many serious personal issues was allowed to blast to death with impunity does not reflect well on the image of the UK armed forces.

harry’s revelations have certainly threatened the security of past and present military personnel, including veterans who compete in the Invictus Games – the sports event for limbless and otherwise wounded soldiers of which he is patron.

The ultimate aim of harry’s verbiage is, of course, to increase book sales, and so make as much money as possible. This precludes any kind of compassion for the 25 anonymous Afghans he slaughtered. Like him, they are likely to have once been part of loving families, but such facts are clearly irrelevant to harry’s wretchedly destructive egotism.

did Bollywood’s longest kiss really happen in 1933?

Tribune

The government’s advisory to TV channels against broadcasting ‘disturbing and distressing footage’ must lead to sincere introspection and debate in TV newsrooms and among editorial boards across the country. In the advisory, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting has said that TV channels are telecasting disturbing visuals with no editorial discretion, and has cited recent cases in which the race for Television Rating Points (TRPs) trumped prudence and good taste. The advisory referred to the video footage of cricketer Rishabh Pant, who was hurt after his car was involved in an accident, and the visuals of a teacher mercilessly beating a five-year-old boy in Patna until he lost consciousness. ‘The ministry has observed that in most cases the video clips are being taken from social media and broadcast without editorial discretion and modifications to ensure compliance and consistency with the Programme Code,’ the advisory added. While libertarians and advocates of unfettered freedom for news media might bemoan the government advisory, the fact is that TV channels, in their relentless pursuit of TV ratings — and, consequent upon them, advertising revenue — have forsaken the principle of editorial discretion. Now, news programming is clearly designed to sensationalise critical and sensitive issues; newsreaders shout rather than read news, and anchors have given up the non-partisanship their job requires and spout and provoke hatred. Showing blood and gore on TV screens is, clearly, part of the whole performance — the tamasha is conceived in such a way as to manipulate the fears and emotions of the watchers and keep their eyes glued to the screen. Responsible news organisations exercise a high degree of editorial discretion out of respect for individuals and their families, to avoid causing distress to the audience and prevent desensitising them to blood and gore. Sadly, most TV channels have abdicated responsibility, bringing disrepute to journalism. The owners and promoters of news channels seem to have lost the moral fortitude to stick to the basic principles of journalism, but rightthinking media professionals must instigate reform. This is essential because people’s trust in the Fourth Estate must not be eroded, for that can have grave and irreversible consequences for our democracy.

WhEN a beautiful princess leaned over and tried to resuscitate her comatose lover with a kiss, she made cinematic history. The kiss - from the 1933 film Karma - featuring real-life couple Devika Rani and himanshu Rai - has long been written about as the first-ever Bollywood film to have a lip lock and “Bollywood’s longest kiss ever”. Apparently, neither is true. The press at the time reported that the kiss was more than four minutes long, and the couple exchanging it on screen have been the subject of much myth-making in India ever since.

Rai and Rani went on to set up Bombay Talkies, India’s first professional film studio, in 1934 which dominated the first decade of talking cinema in India and set trends, many of which are still followed to this day. A 2020 book, which recently received the National Film Award for Best Book on Indian Cinema from the country’s president, tries to set the record straight on the kiss and the tumultuous lives of the couple. “The film was made at a time when Rai and Rani had just been married, they were still very much in love, so if passionate kisses were exchanged on screen, it was not a surprise,” says Kishwar Desai, author of The Longest Kiss: The Life and Times of Devika Rani.

Also, she says, “it was not unusual” for Indian cinema at the time to have a kissing scene as India was still ruled by the British and many of the films were made for a Western audience and some of them in the late 1920s and 1930s featured kisses. Karma, like a lot of the cinema of the time, was steeped in “exotic orientalism”.

Described as “a love drama”, the 63-minute film was directed by British filmmaker JL Freer hunt and boasted that it “featured actual royal palaces and scenes of oriental splendour”. It was packed with clichés the West liked - the Indian royalty, a tiger hunt, mating cobras and a snake charmer. The kiss takes place almost at the end of the film as the desperate princess kisses the prince in a bid to revive him as he lays unconscious, bitten by a cobra. “The myth is that it’s over four minutes long but that is not true,” Ms Desai says. “The kiss is obviously not the longest ever in a Bollywood film. To begin with it was not one kiss, it was a series of kisses. If you time it, it couldn’t probably cross two minutes.”

PUBLIC DISPLAYS OF AFFECTION ON AND OFF SCREEN HAVE BEEN LARGELY TABOO IN INDIA FOR DECADES - THOUGH CINEMATIC DEPICTIONS HAVE GOT BOLDER IN RECENT YEARS

And the kiss was not a selling point of the film at the time, she says, adding that “it became a popular myth much later, most likely created by the press”.

Public displays of affection on and off screen have been largely taboo in India for decades - though cinematic depictions have got bolder in recent years.

In 2007, protests broke out after hollywood actor Richard Gere kissed Bollywood actress Shilpa Shetty at a charity event in Delhi. Protesters burned effigies of the actor, claiming that he had insulted Indian culture. In another incident a couple of years later, a young married couple in Delhi were charged with obscenity for kissing in public. The film censor board also keeps a keen eye on anything that’s even slightly risqué - until some years ago, kisses were depicted by flowers brushing against each other and passion was expressed by a cup of milky coffee frothing over. So, Karma stands out just because of the fact that a film made such a long while back featured a kiss. The film though was a flop. “The actress singing in an operatic style was not really meant for the Indian masses who didn’t like it much,” Ms Desai says. But, she adds, the intention behind making this film was not its popularity but to use it “as a showpiece to tell the world that they could make cinema for the world stage from Bombay”.

“himanshu Rai was already a success in Europe where he was considered a rising star. But he was an astute businessman, he was already thinking about setting up a studio in Bombay [now Mumbai], and by making a film like Karma, he was trying to send a message that he could make a film which would be equivalent to a hollywood film.”

This, she says, was necessary as the prospective investors were British or members of the affluent Parsi community who were very Western in their outlook. And that’s where Rani’s presence helped. The great-niece of Nobel laureate Rabindranath Tagore, she had been schooled in England from the age of nine and “was cast in the Western mould and was cosmopolitan”.

In her book, Ms Desai writes that Karma opened with great style at the Marble Arch theatre in London, where the show was attended by several prominent members of the British aristocracy amid rumours that King George V and Queen Mary would attend too.

The film got rave reviews, Ms Desai says, especially for Devika Rani, with “critics impressed by her beauty and diction”. One newspaper wrote that “it would be dif-

ficult to find anyone lovelier than her” while another raved about “her lovely features and lustrous eyes and graceful movements”. The film catapulted the actress into a league of her own, turning her into “India’s only internationally-renowned star, who was being wooed by hollywood and European cinema”. But she returned with Rai to Mumbai to set up India’s first professional studio, “where she got really busy working hard”.

She starred in over a dozen films and had a successful on-screen pairing with legendary actor Ashok Kumar, working in a number of hit films, including Achhut Kanya (The untouchable girl), where she played a lowcaste woman in love with an upper-caste man.

Talented and beautiful, Rani ruled the hearts of her fans and was dubbed “the First Lady of Indian cinema”. But her relationship with Rai soon began to unravel. “She was working very hard and was not credited enough. her relationship with Rai also soured when she discovered that he was married before and had a daughter,” Ms Desai says.

In letters to her second husband - Russian artist Svetoslav Roerich - whom she met and married a few years after Rai’s death, Devika Rani documented how he had started treating her badly, forcing her to work hard even when she was sick with a high temperature. On one occasion, she wrote that he hit her with a script until she fell on the floor bleeding.

The fissures in their relationship were there for all to see when in 1936 she ran away with a co-star but despite that, Ms Desai says, “she was welcomed back with open arms - and that’s because she truly was irreplaceable”. The outbreak of World War Two severely impacted the Bombay Talkies as its entire German staff was detained and put in camps by India’s British rulers. After Rai suffered a nervous breakdown and died in 1940, Devika Rani ran the studio as a producer, giving breaks to legendary actors such as Madhubala and Dilip Kumar, and delivering many superhit films. But in 1945, she sold her shares, married Svetoslav Roerich and moved to the himalayan state of himachal Pradesh, and eventually relocated to Bangalore. She lived there until her death in 1994, a year after her husband died.

“After her marriage to Roerich, she probably got the life she wanted,” Ms Desai says. Bombay Talkies, however, didn’t survive long once Rani left - “it limped along for a few years before folding up in 1954”, she adds.

Middle easT MoniTor nabila Ramdani

HARRY’S CROWING ABOUT KILLING AFGHANS STARTED BACK IN 2013, WHEN HE TOLD JOURNALISTS,

“TAKE A LIFE TO SAVE A LIFE,” WITHOUT YET LETTING ON THAT HE WAS ON HIS WAY TO 25 DEAD

bbC

Geeta Pandey

News channels must introspect, learn and reform

corporate corner

Sindh launcheS PakiStan'S firSt eV PeoPle'S BuS SerVice: Sharjeel MeMon

Karachi staff RePoRt

PROVINCIALMinister for Information, Transport and Mass Transit Sharjeel Inam Memon along with Provincial Local Government Minister Syed Nasir Hussain Shah and Labor Minister Saeed Ghani on Friday inaugurated Pakistan's first EV People's Bus Service in Karachi. Member Sindh Assembly Ghanwar Isran, Secretary Transport Abdul Haleem Shaikh, MD Sindh Mass Transit Authority Zubair Chana, Project Directir NRTC Sohaib Shafiq and others were also present on this occasion.

The provincial ministers reviewed the facilities in the EV People's Bus Service and also traveled in the bus.

Provincial Information Minister Sindh Sharjeel Inam Memon while talking to the media said that Pakistan's first electric bus service is being started today from Karachi, these are environment friendly buses, which will run on electric charge. Capable of covering a distance of 240 km from a single charge,These European standard buses will not spread any kind of pollution. He said that along with the elimination of pollution in city, we are trying to provide the best travel facilities to the citizens at the minimum fare. He said that the bus service is being started from Tank Chowk Jinnah Avenue

to Airport, Shahrah-e- Faisal, FTC building, Korangi Road, Khayaban-i Ittihad to Clock Tower Seaview.

He said that passengers traveling to airport had no such bus facility in Karachi. He said that citizens use private vehicles or cab services which charge them a fare of up to Rs.1500. But in the EV bus service, citizens can now travel to the airport for just Rs 50.

He said that the Sindh government is grateful for the cooperation of the Civil Aviation Authority, which allowed the bus service to enter the airport premises.

Sharjeel Inam Memon said that providing best public transport facility to citizens across the province is top priority of Sindh government of Pakistan People's

Party He said that Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has given instructions to all the members of the Sindh Cabinet to provide maximum facilities to the people and former President Asif Ali Zardari also takes special interest in resolving the issues of public. He said that Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah is the captain of our entire team.It is not possible to start any project without his support.

Sindh Cabinet members enjoy the full support of Sindh Chief Minister who takes ownership of all development projects. Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the Sindh government is focusing to complete mega development projects of Karachi on top priority, as it is the economic hub of Pakistan.

community, partners join hands for reconstruction in flood-affected areas of Pakistan, says PHF chief

Islamabad: International Community and development partners join hands as an act of compassion for the floodaffected people of Pakistan and pledged $9.7 billion during the International Conference on Climate Resilient Pakistan that was co-hosted by Pakistan and the United Nations in Geneva on 9th January 2023, says the Head of Executive Committee of Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF), Adil Sheraz. While applauding the efforts of Government of Pakistan, PHF Chief said that Geneva conference is a milestone, and we welcome the commitments of the Geneva conferencefor resilient recovery, rehabilitation, and reconstruction framework and the skills and expertise of international organizations would be helpful in implementing the Pakistan’s National Adaptation Plan at the grassroot level. In a statement, Adil Sheraz stated that INGOs are playing a vital role in the humanitarian relief efforts especially in the aftermath of the floodsthat impacted 33 million people and inflicted cumulative damages of more than $30 billion. PHF Member Organizations (INGOs) mobilized $150 million for flood responsein hard-to-reach areas of the country. Now is the time to synergize the efforts for reconstruction of infrastructure, rehabilitation of flood-affected communities and enable people to rebuild their livelihoods. While highlighting the role of PHF, Adil Sheraz shared that the Pakistan Humanitarian Forum (PHF) is a representative body of 42 INGOs and 8 affiliate members registered in Pakistan. The forum supports humanitarian aid delivery and long-term development initiatives in alignment with the development priorities of the Government of Pakistan. Adil Sheraz expressed that the INGOs are keen to support the government and relevant stakeholders in the flood response activities with their existing structure and networks in the flood-affected areas. PHF is closely working with the government stakeholders on sustained institutional basis and building awareness on climate resilience and adaptation at the grassrootlevel. PR

SNGPL to carry door to door survey for installation of Conical Baffle in geysers

In line with the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan’s Energy Conservation Plan, OGRA has made installation of Conical Baffle in conventional gas geysers mandatory for domestic gas consumers. In this regard, OGRA has approved gas utilities request to undertake mandatory installations of Conical Baffles. A public hearing in this respect was held at OGRA Head Office in Islamabad on January 09, 2023. The installation of Conical Baffles will result in 20 to 25% saving in gas bills and will as such help in mitigating the ongoing natural gas crisis in the country. SNGPL teams will shortly be initiating door to door survey of gas consumers premises to ensure that conical baffles are installed in the geysers. SNGPL will install conical baffle if any consumer is found to be using gas geyser without conical baffle. Cost against the same will be recovered through gas bill in 12 monthly installments.

Sui Northern Gas has requested the consumers to extend maximum cooperation for early installation of Conical Baffles which will result in substantial gas savings for the consumers. This will lead to conservation of Natural Gas in line with the vision of the Honourable Prime Minister of Pakistan’s plan on energy conservation. PR

‘Provinces causing crisis by not releasing requisite wheat stocks to flour mills’

islamabad staff RePoRt

Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema in a press conference on Friday said that the unnecessary crisis of wheat in the country was mainly because of less than required release of wheat by the provinces to the flour mills.

He said that after hue and cry, the Punjab government has now increased the release of wheat to the mills. “On 10 Jan 2023, the Punjab Government released 26,000 MT to the flour mills in Punjab, and instantly the price of wheat flour fell by Rs 800,” he added.

He questioned why the provincial governments are not releasing the wheat stock when the Federal Government is providing them with the required quantity.

Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema said that the Punjab government requested the Federal government to provide them with wheat to meet the shortage. Punjab Food Department has lifted only 37% of the quantity allocated from PASSCO (Pakistan

Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation), he added. He said that there are enough reserves and there is no shortage of wheat, but slow lifting of wheat stocks from PASSCO warehouses by the provincial governments is causing this crisis. He added that PASSCO is expected to carry forward 1.5 million MT of wheat stock this year.

He said that there will be a surplus stock of wheat in the county when harvesting of the crop will start in April. If provinces do not lift the demanded stock by that time from PASSCO warehouses, then the imported wheat on the demand of provinces will be of no use, he said. He added, precious foreign reserves were spent to import this wheat on the request of the provinces.

“We have offered provinces to lift the wheat from port as well,” said Federal Minister Tariq Bashir Cheema. He highlighted that after the 18th Amendment, it is the responsibility of the provincial governments to ensure availability of essential items in the market and control prices, but provinces have failed to do so.

Cashbacks on bills: KE partners with savyour and visa for savings

Karachi PR

Promoting a culture of bill payments through digital means, K-Electric (KE) has partnered with Visa, the world leader in digital payments, and Savyour – Pakistan’s only consumer’s reward platform to provide cashbacks to the customers on paying their KE bills. This is an industry first in the power sector where a company is offering discounts to all customers paying digitally via a debit or credit card.

Savyour is Pakistan’s first and only cashback app and rewards platform featuring more than 500 brands across various categories while Visa is the world’s second largest payment gateway for digital transactions.

The exclusive offer is available until 28th February to all KE customers with Visa debit and credit cards using the Savyour app. There is also no minimum limit on the bill amount to be eligible for

cashbacks. On weekdays, customers can avail 2% cashback of the total bill amount paid via digital payments through Savyour and 4% with VISA debit/credit cards with a maximum cashback of PKR 1600, while upto 10% cashback can be availed on weekends with a maximum cashback of PKR 2100 with Visa Debit/Credit cards.

KE has been working actively to integrate digitalization into its core processes to provide customers with a seamless experience. The utility is pioneering innovation and supporting regular bill payment through the KE website and KE Live App by offering cashbacks, discounts, and also the ability to convert bill payments into installments. These combined efforts have enabled KE to achieve 1 million digitally connected users which is a significant milestone. To avail the cashback, users can download Savyour app which will redirect them to KE’s website.

Jazz conducts successful trial of Pakistan’s first 1.2Tbps transport network with Huawei

Islamabad: Jazz, Pakistan’s leading digital operator and part of VEON Group, has successfully conducted trial of Pakistan’s first 1.2Tbps (1200Gbps) transport network. This technology increases the optical fiber capacities by 50% from its existing 800Gbps over a single wavelength. The trial was conducted in a live network in collaboration with Huawei, during which Jazz commercial network was upgraded to 1.2Tbps per wavelength. Jazz is the first operator to introduce next-generation transport network solution on its network. With over 15,000 operational cell sites this new technology will help Jazz meet its customers’ growing needs of data services. Commenting on this industry-first development, Jazz’s Chief Technology Officer, Khalid Shehzad said, “Our customers are increasingly using high-bandwidth applications which has led to an amplified demand for faster data. The 1.2T technology allows us the freedom to provide more data at greater speeds in an efficient manner enabling our customers to use enhanced services on their 4G devices.” The demand for broadband speed and volume grows exponentially with a rise in lowlatency services like virtual meetings, online gaming, video streaming, etc. Recently, Jazz also successfully launched 400G technology on its long-haul optical transport network and 800G on its metro and datacenter networks. PR

Haier

Brand Seminar

2023: Winning

Transformation, Leading & Redefine

Together

Haier has built a name for itself as the pioneer of the home appliances industry. Haier came back again this year with its most exciting and mega event of the year. Yes, you guessed it right, we are indeed talking about the Haier Brand Seminar 2023, which is one of the most talked about annual events. The seminar's theme for this year was "Winning Together," where Haier acknowledged their clients, dealers, business partners, staff and distribution network and gave them credit for the brand's success. Haier also inspired them to believe that working together will result in a win-win situation for everyone. Haier took this event as an opportunity to introduce a high-end home appliances brand to Pakistan- Casarte, which comes with a variety of interactive smart products, innovative technologies and premium lifestyle products. Casarte, which translates to "Art of Home," seeks to redefine lifestyles and promote "Refined Living." Everyone had the opportunity to experience Casarte home scenarios live at the Brand Seminar, where they could experience the interconnectivity of the complete home appliances range. For better comprehension, interactive smart products and appliances were also shown to them and the attendees were amazed to witness the brand-new, cutting-edge smart devices. This year the featured Haier products included Haier Twin Inverter + Refrigerator, the “Real Freshness Leader” which keeps fruits and vegetables fresher for longer, Haier Solar Hybrid AC which helps reduce energy bills, Haier Commercial Air Conditioner which is engineered to provide healthy living with smart inverter technology, Haier Deep Freezer which has a complete range of convertible freezers, Haier Washing Machine front-load range which provides a superior washing experience. PR

Premier Fashion Designer Mohsin Naveed Ranjha launches new luxurious studio in Karachi

Karachi PR Pakistan’s premier fashion designer Mohsin Naveed Ranjha launched his new studio in DHA Phase 6 Bukhari Commercial in Karachi. The new store is the brand’s first one outside designer’s home base in Punjab.

The luxurious new Mohsin Naveed Ranjha studio opened its doors to Karachi just in time for this festive season, showcasing the label’s

most sought after collections, along with an signature heirloom bridals, semi-formals and prêt-à-porter collections.

Speaking on the launch of his new studio designer Mohsin Naveed Ranjha commented, “Over the years we have hada lot of interest from people in Karachi who have been wanting to buy our clothes and places orders for custom bridals. They have always loved our work and for us it was Understanding that not everyone can travel to Lahore or Gujranwala, this studio will try to satiate those customers and also allow us to better serve them with our expanded retail footprint. Also we will be having

flagship store is sure to be the perfect one-stop shop for weddings this year.

The star-studded launch turned out to be an exciting affair for fashionists and glitterati from all across Pakistan with some flying in from Islamabad and Lahore to show their support. Models presented an exclusive preview of Mohsin Naveed Ranjha’s new signature creations. The launch was attened by power house actorsMaya Ali, SyraYousuf, Armala Hassan, Hareem Farooq,

Gohar Rasheed, Ushna Shah, Hamza Amin, Bilal Saeed, Imran Ashraf, Junaid Khan, AijazAslam, SarwatGilani, Fa-

hadMirza, Fellow designers like Hassan SheheryarYasin, Zaheer Abbas,Ansab Jahangir and modelsHiraTareen, Nausheen Shah, UmerAlam, Amna Arshad, Waqar Butt, JunaidNiazi, Nubain Ali, JerjeesSeja, Abdullah Sultan, Zainab Reza, stylist Mehek Saeed, Zahra Malik, graced us with their presence .Members of press and many morealong with an assemblage of luminaries from the fashion, entertainment, and media industry were also in attendance.

‘Int’l

more exclusive collections and launches tailored to the Karachi taste palette” With this the brand new Mohsin Naveed Ranjha

Islamabad: The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) in collaboration with Pakistan University Sports Board, HEC organised All Pakistan Intervarsity Squash Championship for Men 2023 at NUST Islamabad Campus from January 11 to 13, 2023. As many as 105 players from 21 universities across Pakistan took part in the competition. Government College (GC) University, Lahore won the championship after defeating Sarhad University of Science & Information Technology (SUIT), Peshawar by a decisive margin of 2-0. PR

AT DAvos, wAR, clImATe AnD ‘De-globAlIsATIon’ TAke cenTRe sTAge

PARIS agencies

THEworld’s political and business elites will gather for the annual Davos summit next week to promote “cooperation in a fragmented world”, with war in Ukraine, the climate crisis and global trade tensions high on the agenda. For half a century, the World Economic Forum in the Swiss Alps has brought together executives and policymakers to sing the praises of globalisation, but that process is seen as unwinding as new fault lines harden around the world. The Covid19 pandemic, growing US-China hostility and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine have led some politicians and experts to even speculate about “an end to the era of globalisation”, which began in earnest in the decade after the first Davos meeting in 1971. The agenda for this year’s meeting in the snow-deficient Alps, starting next Monday, reflects this gloomy reality.

“There’s no doubt that our 53rd annual meeting in Davos will happen against the most complex geopolitical and geoeconomic backdrop in decades. So much is at stake,” said Borge Brende, a former Norwegian foreign minister who is now president of the meeting. German Chancellor Olaf Scholz and UN chief Antonio Guterres are among the most prominent figures attending the forum, alongside nearly 400 government ministers and policymakers, 600 CEOs and a smattering of celebrities, including actor Idris Elba. Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelensky will appear by video link on Wednesday for a live interview. Other sessions will discuss whether we are living through “de-globalisation or re-globalisation”, the impact of trade tensions and supply-chain disruptions, the cost-of-living crisis and the planet’s heating climate. Russia is expected to miss out on the event for a second consecutive time, underlining the sea change since 2021, when President Vladimir Putin addressed delegates via video link, or 2009 when he attended in person.

Renowned Islamic scholars laud religious freedom, minority rights during Xinjiang visit

Led by Chairman of World Muslim Communities Council, Ali Rashid Al Nuaimi, the visiting team composed of more than 30 members from 14 countries, including the United Arab Emirates (UAE), Egypt, Saudi Arabia, Indonesia, Bahrain, Bosnia and Herzegovina, Mauritania, Tunisia, South Sudan and Serbia, he said during his regular briefing held at International Press Center (IPC).

During the trip, the delegation visited Urumqi, Altay and Kashgar, saw an exhibition on counter-terrorism and de-radicalization and visited mosques, the Xinjiang Islamic Institute, local companies and old streets and towns.

They also visited Uyghur families, prayed together with local Muslims at a mosque and participated with locals in a workshop on rural revitalization and poverty alleviation, he added.

The spokesperson informed that members of the delegation said they were deeply impressed by Xinjiang’s achievement in development and stability over the past decade.

They saw a safe, prosperous and stable Xinjiang where Muslims can freely exercise their ethnic and religious rights, and people from all ethnic backgrounds live in harmony as equals.

The Chinese government has made enormous efforts to protect Xinjiang’s multi-ethnic culture. China’s counter-terrorism and de-radicalization policies have been very successful and delivered benefits to people of all ethnic groups.

Wang said that members of the delegation said that what they saw in Xinjiang is entirely different from what has been painted by some media, and the accusations against Xinjiang’s human rights situation and so-called Uyghur cultural genocide are nothing but distortion of facts. The Islamic civilization and the Chinese civilization have interacted with each other amicably throughout the ages.

They members of the delegation expressed readiness to deepen cooperation between the Islamic world and China and firmly support China’s position on Xinjiang-related issues, he added.

“Seeing is believing. People can tell right from wrong.

ISLAMABAD Mian abrar

A delegation of world-renowned Islamic experts and scholars recently paid a visit to the Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region at the invitation of the local government, Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday.

GleNN PHilliPs fires New ZeAlAND tO ODi series wiN Over PAkistAN

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

NEWZealand batter Glenn

Phillips put on a scintillating show with his brisk 63-run knock and powered his side to defeat Pakistan by two wickets in the ODI series decider.

Set to chase 281, New Zealand amassed the total on the first delivery of the 49th over at the back of a quickfire 63-run knock of Phillips.

The touring side had a decent start to their run chase as openers Finn Allen and Devon Conway provided an important 43-run partnership before Allen got run out in the eighth over after scoring a runa-ball 25. Following the dismissal, Conway and skipper Kane Williamson anchored the run chase with a gritty partnership and took New Zealand to over the 100-run mark before Agha Salman picked up his maiden ODI wicket and provided a much-needed breakthrough to Pakistan.

Conway scored 52 off 65 deliveries, laced with five boundaries and a six.

Williamson then joined hands with Daryl Mitchell and put on another important partnership for his side as the duo added 52 runs for the third wicket before

both Mitchell perished for 31.

New Zealand skipper Williamson then brought up his 42nd half-century but could not stick for long as he got run out for 53 off 68 deliveries with the help of two boundaries. With New Zealand struggling at 181/5 after Michael Bracewell’s departure in the 36th over, Phillips came out for his side and turned the game on its head with clean striking and put Pakistan bowlers under pressure.

The right-handed batter scored a quickfire half-century off just 28 deliveries and brought New Zealand back into the game despite no support from the

other end.

Amid Phillips’ brilliance, New Zealand kept losing wickets but the right-handed batter stood firm and drove his side to glory in the 49th over.

Phillips top-scored for New Zealand with an unbeaten 63 off just 42 deliveries, hitting four fours and four sixes.

Salman Ali Agha and Mohammad Wasim Jr took two wickets each, while Mohammad Nawaz and Usama Mir made one scalp each. Batting first after winning the toss, Pakistan posted a decent 280/9 on the board at the back of a brilliant century and a half-century from

Fakhar and Rizwan respectively.

The hosts had a dismal start to their innings as they lost two early wickets including their skipper Babar Azam for a mere 21 in the seventh over.

Following the setback, Fakhar and Rizwan scripted an astounding recovery for Pakistan as they added 154 runs amid their third-wicket partnership and brought Pakistan back into the game.

Rizwan was the core aggressor of the stand as he kept ticking the scoreboard with his sensible rotation of strike while Fakhar played an anchoring role.

The duo frustrated the Kiwi bowlers and were looking for their team to amass the 300-run mark before Ish Sodhi provided a much-needed breakthrough to his side in the form of Rizwan.

The leg-spinner castled Rizwan with a googly and brought an end to his vital 79-run knock. He faced 74 deliveries and hit six boundaries.

Following Rizwan’s dismissal, Fakhar continued to push for the runs and soon brought up his century. The left-handed batter, however, soon perished after achieving the landmark and remained the top-scorer for his side in the series decider.

Fakhar scored 101 off 120 deliveries, laced with 10 boundaries and a six.

Pakistan aim high in upcoming Australia tour as hosts lose Healy to injury

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan embarks on their first away bilateral series against Australia in eight years. Taking on Australia in three ODIs, Pakistan also have the opportunity to gear up for the Women’s T20 World Cup with three T20Is against the tournament’s defending champions. It’s a timely return for Bismah Maroof’s team, desperate to make early ground in the ICC Women’s Championship race and to finalise plans ahead of next month’s global event in South Africa. Pakistan began their tour with a oneday match against the Australian Governor General’s XI. At one stage, it made a strong start to the outing, consigning their opponents to 8/3, claiming both Ash Gardner and Phoebe Litchfield early. Runs from Charli Knott and Erin Burns threatened to take the match away from the tourists, though Pakistan’s bowlers, most notably experienced campaigner Nida Dar, hit back. Dar claimed 4/46 (10) to keep Pakistan slightly in front, with five wickets shared between opening bowlers Diana Baig (2/26) and Fatima Sana (3/27). They restricted the Australian Governor General’s XI to a score of 253.

The visitors looked on course during their chase, but a collapse would lead to them being bowled out for 182 and losing the contest by 53 runs.

The tour hosts will likely need to tinker with their playing XI, particularly in the shorter of the two formats, with multiple squad shuffles ahead of their title defence.

Schedule

1St odI: 16 JanuaRy

2nd odI: 18 JanuaRy

3Rd odI: 21 JanuaRy

1St t20I: 24 JanuaRy

2nd t20I: 26 JanuaRy

3Rd t20I: 29 JanuaRy

Australian Open: Novak Djokovic receives warm welcome on Melbourne return

SYDNEY agencIeS

Novak Djokovic received an adoring welcome on his first public return to the Australian Open for a practice match with home favourite Nick Kyrgios. The 35-year-old Serb was deported before last year’s tournament after a row about his Covid-19 vaccination status that divided public opinion. “I’m very happy. Thank you so much,” said Djokovic after walking on to Rod Laver Arena to a rapturous reception. “I feel a bit emotional. I was looking forward to coming back to this court.” Djokovic returned to Australia last week and received a warm welcome when he played in Adelaide, where he won the ATP 250 event. But there was fascination regarding how he would be received back in Melbourne, which endured some of the toughest coronavirus lockdowns in the world. In a city with a huge Serb population, hundreds wore the Balkan nation’s colours as Djokovic stepped out there for the first time since 2020.

Pakistan, UaE agrEE to dEEPEn stratEgic PartnErsHiP

ISLAMABAD staff report

PAKISTANand the United Arab Emirates have agreed to intensify consultation and coordination, geared to strengthening strategic partnership with a view to develop tangible and meaningful bilateral cooperation in key areas.

The bilateral ties were discussed during Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif’s interaction with the UAE leadership as the former paid an official visit to the Emirates at the invitation of President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on January 12-13. This was the prime minister’s third visit after assuming office, according to a joint statement issued on Friday.

During the interaction, the two sides agreed to enhance cooperation, particularly in the field of information and communication technologies and work

together for bridging the digital divide.

The prime minister held a bilateral meeting with the UAE president wherein the prime minister was presented with a guard of honor at the Presidential Palace.

In the “most warm and cordial” meeting, the two leaders held detailed discussions on concrete measures to strengthen the bilateral relationship while also exchanging views on regional political and security matters.

They also discussed specific initiative to enhance cooperation in political, defense, economic, commercial and cultural areas, developing joint ventures, and strengthening collaboration in the human resource sector.

The prime minister thanked Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan for UAE’s generous assistance during the recent floods in Pakistan, particularly through an air bridge, established for this purpose.

Pakistan and the UAE reaffirmed

Pharma sector hints at shortage of life saving drugs

Mohammad Nadeem Qureshi has indicated that there will be a severe crisis of life-saving drugs in the country in the coming days due to the nonopening of LCs. LCs are commercial letters of credit. Also referred to as documentary credit, LCs can offer a guarantee to a seller that it will be paid while assuring the customer that no payment will be made until the goods are received.

LCs are being non-opened in Pakistan, as the country is facing low foreign exchange overall. The state bank regulates foreign exchange, and in order to retain it, they’re non-opening LCs. While the policy makes sense given the economic turmoil, it’s a problem for pharmaceuticals as they’re essential needs. The lack of medicines has grave consequences on human health.

“Government should issue immediate instructions to banks to open LCs of important sectors. State Bank has issued instructions to commercial banks regarding opening LCs but none of the banks are ready to do so,” Qureshi said.

While discussing with the delegation of Pakistan Pharmaceutical Manufacturers Association (PPMA) at FPCCI Lahore office, the regional chairman said that pharmaceutical is the most important sector. “Does the government want to treat medicines like flour? Companies do not have a one-year stock of raw materials. The stock the pharma sector had is running out and the drugs/medicines have already started disappearing from the market.

The details of the negative list (prohibited products) should also be given to FPCCI so that we can inform all our more than 200 industrial and trade organizations,” Qureshi added.

their historical and brotherly ties, rooted in shared religion, culture, values, and pursuit of regional and global peace and security. Both sides expressed satisfaction at the convergence of views on a host of regional and global issues.

Based on their decades-old fraternal ties, both countries expressed solidarity with each other in efforts to preserve their sovereignty and territorial integrity.

With a view to developing tangible and meaningful bilateral cooperation in key areas, the two countries agreed to intensify consultations and coordination in order to strengthen their strategic partnership.

The two sides signed Memoranda of Understanding in the field of combating human trafficking, information exchange, and between the diplomatic academies of both countries.

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif invited Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan to visit Pakistan at a later date,

and the invitation was accepted by the UAE leadership.

pM, uAe’s MInIsteR foR toleRAnCe dIsCuss bIlAteRAl tIes: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif met United Arab Emirates’ Minister for Tolerance Sheikh Nahyan bin Mubarak Al Nahyan and discussed strengthening relations and ties between the two countries.

The discussions regarding the UAE’s investment in Pakistan in various sectors also came under discussion. Sheikh Nahyan apprised the prime minister about his government’s efforts towards promoting values of tolerance and peaceful co-existence around the world.

He lauded the dedication and hard work of the Pakistani community which was significantly contributing towards the development of the UAE.

ECP rejects Sindh govt’s plea to postpone LG polls in Karachi, Hydrabad

ISLAMABAD/KARACHI staff report

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Friday ruled the local bodies’ elections in Karachi and Hyderabad scheduled for Jan 15 (Sunday) and turned the Sindh government’s request to postpone local government elections.

Chief Election Commissioner Sikander Sultan Raja took the decision at a meeting of ECP members held here at its headquarters in Islamabad. It is to be noted that in the wee hours of Friday, the Sindh government announced that the long awaited local government elections would not be held in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions.

Addressing a hurriedly-called press conference, Information Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said the polls in seven districts — Tando Allahyar, Tando Muhammad Khan, Badin, Thatta, Sujawal and Jamshoro — would go ahead as planned on Jan 15.

Memon had also announced that the notification to hold the polls on the basis of the existing delimitation had also been withdrawn on the demand of their ‘coalition partner’, the MQM-P, which had serious reservations with it. The MQM-P had rejected the delimitation of local government constituencies and, terming them “unjustified”, demanded the withdrawal of the notification issued in this regard.

The electoral watchdog, in its

meeting today, reviewed the request sent by the Sindh government but unanimously rejected it and reiterated that the local body polls will go ahead as planned.

The ECP also decided that the Ministry of Interior will be communicated to ensure the presence of Army and Rangers personnel at most sensitive polling stations across the province.

JI AnnounCes pRotest: On the other hand, JI’s Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said his party will hold a protest outside the ECP’s Sindh office in Karachi against

the Sindh government’s decision.

Rehman demanded that the ECP reject the letter issued by the Sindh government as “legally, there was no room for the elections to be postponed on its (the letter’s) basis”.

He also demanded that the CEC take suo motu notice of the announcement, adding: “I warn the election commission that the elections shouldn’t be delayed; the decision is in their hands. If he does this (allows the postponement), then we will fight the legal battle but this struggle will also take place on the streets.”

PPP, MQM-P challenge ECP decision

KARACHI: Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) and Mutahidda Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) joined hands on Friday to challenge the decision of Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to hold the last phase of Local Government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions on January 15, claiming that the ECP had no powers to take such a decision. Sindh Information Minister Sharjeel Memon asserted on Friday that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) could not reject the provincial government’s decision to postpone local government elections in Karachi and Hyderabad divisions. In the wee hours of Friday, the provincial government had announced that the long-awaited local body elections would not be held and the notification to hold the polls based on the existing delimitation had also been withdrawn on the demand of their ‘coalition partner’, the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P). However, earlier today the ECP rejected the Sindh government’s request and ruled that the polls — which have been twice delayed — would be held on Jan 15 as decided earlier.

Speaking to the media at the launch of an electric bus service in Karachi, the Sindh minister said: “The courts have certain powers, the election commission has certain powers and the government has certain powers.” staff report

Beco steel halts production due to delay in L/c approval

Delays in approval of letter of credit (L/C) and reduction in inventory has forced Beco Steel Limited (BECO) to temporarily halt production starting next week. The company made the announcement to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday.

The notification read, “Due to delays in L/C approval and significant reductions in inventory levels, which have a negative impact on the supply chain and production activities, the company has decided to temporarily halt production activities from January 16, 2023 and continuing until further order.”

L/C is issued by commercial banks to businesses who want to import crucial raw materials for their production activities. The L/C acts as a guarantee by the bank to the foreign seller/exporter that they will receive their full payment on time. Because of a shortage of dollars in the market since the middle of last year, commercial banks in Pakistan have been delaying issuing L/C to many manufacturing businesses which have led to their suspension of production. Without L/Cs, industrial activity in Pakistan has been paralysed and many manufacturing businesses have suspended operations leading to mass unemployment across the country.

More than 260 Pakistani companies participate in Heimtextil exhibition 2023

More than 260 companies participated in participated in the international Heimtextil exhibition of 2023, an annual textile trade fair, in Germany. The participation came amidst the news of industry closure due to economic crisis.

The annual exhibition of 2023 came in place after two years of break due to covid and was was held in Frankfurt, Germany from January 10 to January 13. The event received attendance 2,400 exhibitors from over 120 countries.

According to sources in the textile industry, Profit learned that the exhibition marked Pakistan’s record high attendance. The historic participation placed Pakistan fourth in place internationally at the event after China, India and Turkey.

The Pakistani pavilion at the event was organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP), an attached department of the Ministry of Commerce.

The textile products exhibited by Pakistani included bedsheets, towels, kitchen linen and other home textile products.

As per the textile industry sources, Heimtextil create new opportunities every year but the economic situation in Pakistan makes it difficult for exporters to meet the import orders they receive from importers at such forums.

However, in a conversation with Hunain Hamid, Director of Habib Calico, Profit learned that the fair went quite well and Pakistani firms got 40% more visitors compared to previous editions.

Similarly, Bial Qasim the export and marketing director of Zaman Textile Mills said that “the fair was good and we got buyers from Italy, Portugal and many other countries.”

Govt softens stance as oilseed vessels released except two being inspected

PROVINCES RESPONSIBLE FOR WHEAT SHORTAGES: CHEEMA

indicating that the government has softened its stance on the issue of GMO.

While few vessels of import oilseeds have reportedly been released so far after the months’ long confusion and debate over the oilseeds being Genetically Modified Organism (GMO), two vessels of Soybean are still stuck at port for being GMO.

Addressing a press conference here in Islamabad, Federal Minister of Food Security and Research Tariq Bashir Cheema claimed that the vessels are being cleared after laboratory reports about being non-GMO. “Two vessels are stuck at port for being GMO. However, the importers have challenged the test report and they are going to test from other relevant labs. In case the imported seeds proved to be GMO they would not be allowed to clear from port,” the minister said

In reply to a query, the minister said that imported vessels of oilseeds (Soybean and canola) are now being imported after getting a certificate from the exporting country/exporters about the seeds being non-GMO. Though he did not confirm, the minister’s remarks also indicate that there is still no government facility to inspect the imported oilseeds being GMO or NonGMO. The concerned authorities were relying on the certificate of the exporting country and assurance of the importers about the organism of the seeds.

“As long as I am food minister I will not allow the GMO oilseeds to enter into Pakistan,” Cheema, however reiterated his stance on the issue claiming that the importers were now importing only Non-

GMO oilseeds.

“The subject of GMO testing is the Ministry of Climate Change. As I have talked to Sheri Rehman, Minister of Climate Change, she is too serious about the issue. She has taken bold steps to stop the GMO seeds,” he claimed while replying to a query.

Earlier talking about the issue of wheat shortages, Cheema criticized provinces for not providing wheat in their respective jurisdictions and said that the blame game against the federal government over wheat and wheat flour shortage was only a politically motivated move.

“The federal government is responsible to provide wheat requirements of the armed forces, GB and the AJK – but for the provinces it is their responsibility after the 18th amendment and during the seasons the provincial cabinets finalize their assessments and procure wheat,” the minister said.

He added that this is the third consecutive year that the country was facing wheat

crises, and culprits are identified.

He named the Punjab government for not releasing the required quantities from the stocks, which led to artificial shortages.

“The officials of the food department were involved in illegal selling of wheat in open markets through the flour mills, and smuggling to Afghanistan through KPK and Balochistan,” he added. He added that this was not the state of affairs at the provincial end, and the price of wheat in the market was unrealistically high in the country.

“But nobody is asking one simple question – who has to check it? What do these magistrates, ACs, DCs do?,” Mr Cheema added, “why are they failing to manage their districts, especially the bordering districts.”

He added that smuggling and hoarding prone areas are the bordering districts and “what are the check-posts there doing? But the provinces were shifting the blame upon the federal government.”

He added that the report of wheat flour

smuggling out of the country was an open secret, and it was the responsibility of Balochistan and KPK provinces to manage their respective areas.

He expressed dismay that Pakistan has now turned out to be a wheat and cotton importing country, and this year around $2 bn have been spent on wheat imports.

“Earlier we had estimated that the wheat shortfall would be around 3 million tonnes this year, but the review committee asked provinces to provide their stock position and an order was placed for import of 2.6 million tonnes wheat,” Mr Cheema said.

He informed that out of this quantity 1.37 million tonnes has already been disbursed and 400,000 tonnes was being unloaded and the provinces are directly lifting it from the ports. The remaining quantity will be received up to the end of February and fresh crop from Sindh and Punjab will be in the markets after that.

pRofIt RepoRt muhammad raafay Khan

pRofIt RepoRt

Ghulam abbas

PM SHEHBAZ MEETS UNITED ARAB EMIRATES’ MINISTER FOR TOLERANCE SHEIKH NAHYAN BIN MUBARAK AL NAHYAN

pRofIt RepoRt Ghulam abbas

pRofIt RepoRt shahab omer

The Regional Chairman of Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry (FPCCI)