Epaper_23-02-23 ISB

Thursday, 23 February, 2023 I 2 Sha ʻ ban, 1444

‘Elders’ order’: Justice Isa declines PTI request to probe Cablegate

Profit

A complete guide to new taxes on airlines tickets and travel destinations

Pakistani officials in Kabul for crucial talks on combating militancy

High-profile ‘detentions’ as PTI launches court arrest drive

Govt scrambles for money as Imf talks reach fInal staGes

SAYS CABINET MEMBERS WoULD FoRGo SALARIES, GIvE UP LUxURY vEHICLES

lahore abdullah niazi

hELDup against the ropes both economically and politically, the federal government on Wednesday announced a slew of measures including an expected loan of $700 million from the China Development Bank (CDB) and austerity measures as it tries to ride out the threat of default.

on a day marked by the chaos and excitement of the Jail Bharo Tehreek launched by the Pakistan Tehreek i Insaaf (PTI), finance minister Ishaq Dar in a presser said that the loan from the CDB had been approved and formalities completed. The loan is a vital if temporary injection to Pakistan’s scarily dwindling foreign exchange reserves, which the government is hoping will carry the country through until an agreement is reached with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

In a separate press conference, flanked by members of the PDM cabinet, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said cabinet members would forgo their salaries and take other austerity measures like giving up their luxury vehicles. The prime minister claimed this would save Pakistan some Rs 200 billion.

The current dire straits faced by the coalition government have followed from high-drama that saw the country’s negotiations with the IMF fall flat after a misguided effort by the PML-N’s financial wizard Ishaq Dar to peg the dollar at a set rate.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) is expected to receive the money from the CDB this week, which would help shore

up the country’s dwindling foreign exchange reserves, Dar wrote on Twitter. This money will be crucial in maintaining enough import cover until a deal can be struck with the IMF. The fund’s deal is currently keeping a tranche of $1.3 billion away from Pakistan. While former finance minister Miftah Ismail has warned that Pakistan will have to enter another IMF programme immediately after completing this one, the more important aspect is that the IMF tranche is expected to unlock inflows from friendly countries and other multilateral institutions.

Dar had said earlier this year that the country’s foreign reserves situation would be “much better than you can

think ” by end-June. China and Saudi Arabia would enhance their support, government-to-government (G2G) disinvestments would be completed, and the current account deficit would be about $3bn less than earlier projections, he had said.

Meanwhile, addressing a press conference alongside members of the federal cabinet in Islamabad, the premier said that ministers, state ministers and special advisers to the premier had “willingly” decided to forego their salaries and perks. He said that all ministers would now pay their own telephone, electricity, water and gas bills.

“All luxury cars being used by cabinet members are being revoked and

will be auctioned,” he said. “Where needed, ministers will be provided only one car for security.” The premier further said that federal ministers would also travel in economy when undertaking domestic travel or going abroad. He said that support staff would no longer

be allowed to go on state visits while cabinet members would not stay in five-star hotels during foreign trips. He added that the current expenditure of ministries, departments and sub-departments would be reduced by 15 per cent.

China Development Bank’s board approves $700 million in financing

ISLAMABAD: In a situation of drying up funds, the Chinese Development Bank (CDB) has become the first drop of rain in providing respite. In a tweet, the finance minister, Ishaq Dar, mentioned that formalities had been completed and the board of the CDB had approved a facility of $700 million for Pakistan. The money will be received by the State Bank of Pakistan within the week and the money will help shore up the country’s ever so shrinking reserves.

Chinese Development Bank, is a state owned and a state funded institution, that is overseen, directly by the State Council. The terms of the loan have not been made public. However, being a state-enterprise of the Chinese government, the financing facility is likely to be under the same terms as other CPEC loans. A top government official reportedly told media sources that the government was hopeful about the refinancing of already matured loans of Chinese commercial banks too.

Pakistan obtained an approximately $6.3 billion rollover from the Chinese government and commercial banks in the last quarter, a considerable portion of which is owed to Chinese commercial banks. The majority of these loans mature in March 2023.

According to media reports, Pakistan is looking to obtain a refinancing of approximately $2 billion worth of loans, by the first week of March.

As Pakistan closes in on the prior conditions set by the IMF, it is now out to scout for additional external financing sources. Despite the promised bilateral loans from friendly countries, that are contingent upon the IMF tranche, Pakistan will need more financing to close in on the requisite figure of $16 billion, set by the IMF.

As of now, the country has spiked up its fiscal revenue targets, as asked by the IMF. This has been done by raising fuel and power prices and additional tax measures introduced through the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023. Talking to the standing committee on Finance and Revenue, the State Minister Aisha Ghaus Pasha, said that Pakistan had made considerable progress over virtual negotiations with the Washington based lender and the Staff Level Agreement will soon be signed. shahnawaz ali

CJP takes suo motu notice of delay in Punjab, KP polls

islamabad staff report

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday took suo motu notice of the delay in holding polls in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, saying that there appeared to be a “lack of clarity” on the matter.

Elections are to take place in both provinces after previous PTI governments had dissolved their assemblies before the expiry of their five-year mandated term on the orders of party chairman Imran Khan.

It is pertinent to mention that the suo motu notice comes two days after President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday unilaterally announced April 9 as the date for holding elections in both the provinces after his invitation for consultations on the matter was turned down by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP).

The CJP has constituted a ninemember bench to hear the case and ordered the matter to be fixed for hearing tomorrow (Thursday) at 2pm.

The bench comprises the CJP, Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi, Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail, Justice Muhammad Ali Mazhar and Justice Athar Minallah.

In the notice, CJP Bandial said that the SC bench would consider the following questions:

Who has the constitutional responsibility and authority for appointing the date for the holding of a general election to a provincial assembly, upon its dissolution in the various situations envisaged by and under the Constitution?

How and when is this constitutional responsibility to be discharged?

What are the constitutional responsibilities and duties of the federation and the province with regard to the holding of the general election?

In the notice, the CJP said two SC judges, in an order dated February 16, had referred the matter to him for suo motu proceedings. He noted that separate pleas had also been filed in the apex

court regarding the delay in holding polls.

He further noted that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had directed the ECP to immediately announce the date for polls in Punjab. He said that the Punjab governor and the ECP had filed intra-court appeals which were currently pending.

“It seems to be the governor’s case that since he did not act on the advice tendered by the then-chief minister and made no order dissolving the assembly, he does not have the responsibility or authority to appoint the date for the general election. The election commission has, it appears, also taken the position that under the Constitution it has no authority to appoint the date for a general election, though it has categorically stated (as reported in the public media, both print and electronic) that it is fully committed to conducting the said election in accordance with the Constitution.”

He further said that the KP governor had also not fixed a date for holding polls and a petition in this regard was pending before the Peshawar High Court.

CJP Bandial went on to say that the

president had taken the position that he had the authority and responsibility for fixing a date, and had announced that polls would be held on April 9.

The CJP said that over a month had passed since the two provincial assemblies were dissolved, adding that “it

seems prima facie that even the matter of appointing the date of the general elections, which is the first step towards the holding of the elections, has still not been resolved”.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 05

g PM ANNoUNCES SLEW oF AUSTERITY MEASURES FoR CASH-STRAPPED GovT To SAvE RS200B FoR CoUNTRY

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PML-N DeMaNDS RecUSaL of Sc jUDgeS To ‘cLeaR PaTH’ foR SHaRif’S HoMecoMiNg

PAKISTANMuslim LeagueNawaz’s (PML-N) legal team has planned to ask two judges of the Supreme Court to recuse themselves from hearing cases against the party leadership, according to Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah Khan.

In a series of tweets, Khan named the judges — Ijaz ul-Ahsan and Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi — and alleged they have a biased attitude towards PML-N. One of them had supervised cases against deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, and the party expects no justice from him, said Khan.

He also referred to an audio leak apparently related to Naqvi, questioning his

impartiality. The legal team of PML-N will request both judges to step down from benches hearing cases of the party’s leaders, the minister added.

The decision comes after Shehbaz Sharif consulted with the government’s legal team on Tuesday.

Quoting a party insider, Dawn reported the move will pay off if both judges step down from the cases against the party’s supreme leader, who is in London, opening the way for his return.

Sharif wants relief in the Al-Azizia Mills corruption case before returning home, the insider said. He was sentenced to seven years in prison and fined $25 million in the case in December 2018 after the court ruled he was unable to prove the source of income that had led to his ownership of the steel mill in Saudi

Dar, US ambassador discuss bilateral ties

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday met Ambassador of the United States (US) to Pakistan Donald Blome and discussed bilateral economic, investment and trade relations between the two countries. According to details, the finance minister and US Ambassador also discussed opportunities to further strengthen economic relations. During the meeting, Ishaq Dar apprised Donald Blome of Pakistan’s national and international financial responsibilities and also informed about the government’s policies in the difficult economic situation. Speaking on the occasion, US Ambassador expressed his satisfaction over the government’s policies for economic stability and economic development and said that there are strong relations between Pakistan and the United States. Earlier in the day, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar announced that the Board of the China Development Bank (CDB) has approved a loan facility of $700 million for Pakistan. “This amount is expected to be received this week by State Bank of Pakistan which will shore up its forex reserves” tweeted Finance Minister Ishaq Dar. Pakistan has been eyeing to reach an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that would not only lead to a disbursement of $1.2 billion but also unlock inflows from friendly countries. It is pertinent to mention here that the National Assembly on Monday passed the Finance (Supplementary) Bill, 2023 aimed at amending certain laws relating to taxes and duties. The bill proposed to impose new taxes of Rs 170 billion to minimize fiscal deficit. On the other hand, the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and Pakistan moved closer to the revival of $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) as the lender responded to the Memorandum of Economic and Financial Policies (MEFP) draft. The sources informed that IMF and finance ministry held virtual talks today, adding that the ninth review to the revival of $7 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will be completed soon. Meanwhile, Federal Minister for Commerce, Syed Naveed Qamar on Wednesday claimed International Monetary Fund (IMF) was likely to announce staff level agreement on Extended Fund Facility (EFF) with Pakistan by this week. Talking to an international news outlet, the federal minister said that Pakistan has taken all the measures needed to unfreeze a $6.5 billion credit line and expects to clinch the deal ‘any day now’. After formal announcement by the fund, Pakistan would get a $1.2 billion tranche under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF). Naveed Qamar said that the IMF agreement would give investors and creditors confidence that “Pakistan’s economy was now stabilizing and has taken all the right steps, so in that sense their money would remain protected.

Arabia. Under the law, this is taken to prove corruption.

Recently, Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has also stressed the need for Sharif’s return to lead the party.

The PML-N has been publicly criticising the apex court judges in rallies and press conferences. Recently, PML-N chief organizer Maryam Nawaz called for accountability in the judiciary and expressed the need for honest judges instead of those allegedly favouring Prime Minister Imran Khan.

She also urged the judges named in the purported audio leak to resign from their posts and accused Khan of “trying to get support from the judiciary” to come back to power after “failing to get support” from the establishment.

Pakistan seeks breakthrough in high-level US trade talks: minister

WASHINGTON ReuteRS

Pakistan is looking for breakthroughs in agriculture and information technology during the first ministerial-level meeting of a US-Pakistani trade and investment body in seven years, the commerce minister said.

Syed Naveed Qamar will meet on Thursday with US Trade Representative Katherine Tai and other senior US officials under the US-Pakistan Trade and Investment Framework Agreement (TIFA).

Qamar told Reuters the meeting would strengthen ties between the two

countries that he claimed had been strained in recent years by political tensions, and could help boost bilateral trade in goods and services, which Pakistan’s embassy said now totalled about $12 billion.

“It is important that we start talking,” he said. “These were supposed to be annual meetings, but for one reason or another, they have been on the back burner for so long. Now that we are starting, there are many areas where we expect some breakthroughs, and that is on both sides.”

No comment was immediately available from Tai’s office, which included the meeting in its public

calendar.

Ties between Islamabad and Washington, once close allies, have just started to warm after some years of frosty relations, following Washington’s humiliating withdrawal from Afghanistan in 2021.

Qamar said Pakistan was looking to increase its exports of mangoes to the United States, and ensure smooth, increased trade in information technology and computer programming services. The US side was looking to boost exports of beef and soybeans.

“When we talk about trade, we’re talking about the entire spectrum, but we’re focusing on these things because

Nation completely rejects PTI’s `Jail Bharo’ drive: Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD

app

Minister for Interior Rana Sanaullah on Wednesday said that the nation had completely rejected the `Jail Bharo’ movement of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI), as it flopped before it kicked off.

Addressing a press conference here, the minister said that PTI Chairman Imran Khan wanted to use the innocent hapless workers for his vested interests, but, fortunately, his so-called court arrest drive could not take off.

A similar drama was staged by him on May 25, 2022 which also aborted with Imran Khan fleeing from Islamabad, pledging to return back in six days but he had not turned up in the Federal Capital till date, he added.

Rana Sanaullah said that the people had totally rejected the 'Jail Bharu' Movement as only 300 to 400 persons gathered for the drive.

The government had made

arrangements for the arrest of 500 persons but only around 80, including three or four cronies of Imran Khan, courted arrest and three vehicles were used for their detention, he added.

The minister said Imran Khan had polarized society as he viewed his political opponents as enemies. He preferred his political vendetta over national interests. The government had invited him to talks but he did not come to the table.

"Imran Khan wants to make the whole country hostage again, but we will not allow him,” he warned.

The minister said that Imran Khan had not given answers regarding the theft of gifts from the Toshakhana which were recovered from his house.

The PTI leader desired to come to power again so that he could continue stealing state gifts, he added.

Rana Sanaullah said that they were ready for the elections and they had started their campaign also, but the polls should be held throughout the country at the same time. A

caretaker set-up was necessary for free and fair elections but assemblies should complete their constitutional tenures, he added. There was no guarantee that Imran Khan would not question the fairness and transparency of the elections in case of his defeat, he remarked.

Rana Sanaullah welcomed the suo motu notice, taken by the Chief Justice of Pakistan about elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. He, however, expressed his party's reservations about the larger Supreme Court bench which would hear the case.

The minister said that the IMF had demanded to impose taxes of Rs. 870 billion but the government team succeeded to convince the international lander for levying Rs. 170 billion instead. The incumbent government was endeavoring to steer the economy out of the crisis which was the result of bad policies adopted by Imran Khan’s government during its three and a half years tenure.

that’s where things would start happening right away,” he said.

Pakistan also hoped to attract more US investment, with a particular focus on IT and pharmaceuticals, after a long lull during which China became the dominant investor, he said.

“What we don’t want is for one country to have an open field. We want that this should be an open competitive environment,” he said.

Pakistan was well-placed to help diversify US supply chains that were dependent on China before Covid-19, but have started to shift toward other regional suppliers. It could serve as a gateway to Central Asia, Qamar said.

Tobacco-induced ailments cause huge economic burden of Rs615b annually: Health activists

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Health activists have expressed satisfaction on government’s decision to double the Federal Excise Duty (FED) on cigarettes, saying that tobacco-induced diseases cause an annual economic burden of Rs615 billion which is 1.6% of Pakistan’s GDP.

“On the other hand, the revenue generated from the tobacco industry is 120 billion”, they said. Society for the Protection of the Rights of the Child (SPARC) says the decision will go a long way in solving Pakistan’s financial woes and recommended government to remain steadfast against tobacco industry’s misinformation campaign. Malik Imran, country head, Campaign for tobacco-free kids (CTFK), pointed out that revenue generated from the tobacco industry is much lesser than the annual economic burden being caused by tobacco induced-diseases. “The govt generates merely Rs120 billion from tobacco industry annually against the huge economic burden of Rs615 billion or 1.6% of GDP”, he drew a comparison.

Bharo’ drive for helpless workers, ‘Jail se Bacho’ for PTI leaders: Marriyum

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb

Wednesday said PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s ‘Jail Bharo’ campaign was only for the helpless party workers as it was, in fact, a ‘Jail se Bacho” campaign for the leadership.

It was an irony that Imran Khan had obtained protective bail for himself, but at the same time he was asking the innocent PTI workers to court arrest, she said while addressing a press conference.

The minister said instead of leading the court arrest drive, Imran Khan was apparently taking refuge in a bunker at Zaman Park in Lahore with a plaster on his leg. Terming the ‘court arrest movement’ a conspiracy against the country, she said it should have commenced with the arrest of Imran Khan, who was trying to escape from accountability through such tactics.

The minister said for the last nine months, Imran Khan had been changing his stance over the dismissal of his government by negating his own statements one after the other. The incompetent and inefficient former rulers had conspired against the

country and ruined its economy since they were involved in foreign funding and Tosha Khana theft, she added.

Imran Khan, she said, ruled at the federal level for four years and in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for 10 years but miserably failed to deliver to the people.

Marriyum Aurangzeb said during his tenure as prime minister, Imran Khan misused the ‘state power’ to fill his pockets with illegal gains and benefits.

The PTI leadership, she added, sent their political opponents to jail and used public funds to spread baseless propaganda against their political opponents. However, despite

having all the state power for four years, they could not prove even a single penny of corruption against them (opponents).

The entire Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz leadership, including Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Shehbaz Sharif, and Hamza Shehbaz were placed in death cells to settle political scores, she said. Marriyum said: “When they could not prove any charges (against the opponents), they pushed the country towards the economic disaster, rendered youth unemployed, and did compromise on the Kashmir issue.”

The minister said the PTI rulers destroyed each and every sector of the

country and today the people were suffering from its consequences.

She said Imran Khan Niazi had started his narrative nine months ago first with a cipher conspiracy, but he recently confessed that no foreign conspiracy was hatched against his government.

He had embarked on a long march from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa towards Islamabad, during which his followers attacked and injured the police personnel, she added. Imran Khan, she noted, was fully aware that neither there was any global conspiracy behind his ouster from the government nor any such move was harboured in the United States.

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

‘Jail

cHiNa iNSPiReD gReeN eNeRgy PoLicy To booST cLeaN eNeRgy iN PaKiSTaN

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

PAKISTAN-CHINAInstitute and Sustainable Development Policy Institute hosted a high-level conference on “The need to switch towards a greener future: Lessons from China”. The conference featured insightful speeches by parliamentarians, industry experts and representatives from think tanks. Senator Rukhsana Zuberi chaired the sessions, while Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed made the keynote speech.

Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed in his welcome remarks said that “green is the defining element of China’s development agenda” and President Xi Jinping in COP 2015 Paris committed to carbon neutrality by 2060 and China is now emerging as a leader in green development. Today China is leading the world as producer and investor

in green technology and finance. He further informed that the shift to green technology has created additional 54 million ‘green jobs’ so far which shows the immense multifaceted potential of green development. He said that China is officially at par or has taken lead from USA in green technologies, AI, STEM, due to the commitment of China in innovation and technology.

Senator Eng. Rukhsana Zuberi stressed on conducting energy audits to identify wasteful practices and increase the energy efficiency. She informed that after the first energy audit of the building of Pakistan Energy Council, 35% reduction in energy consumption was achieved. She stressed the need for advocacy and engaging with common people to increase energy efficiency at the household level by highlighting the financial cost that can be saved by making small consumption changes.

Dr Abid Q. Suleri, the Executive

Director, SDPI, said that we must recall success stories from China in tackling environmental and climate issues. He said that China successfully reduced SMOG and particulate matter air pollution by 60% in a short span in Beijing. He further elucidated that China’s Great Green Wall in 2013-14, was another initiative, which effectively management of desertification. He said that China offers a leadership model from micro to meso-level in managing resources efficiently, and addressing the growing threats of environment and climate change which Pakistan must take inspiration from. He said that CPEC is not limited to trade or energy rather agriculture and food security are an essential component of green CPEC and use of nature for greening is visible in various CPEC initiatives including China’s assistance to Pakistan in the form of genetically engineered seeds and rice.

Dr Zhao Baige, Vice Chair of the 12th NPC Foreign Affairs Committee, Chair of

Advisory Committee of RDIinformed that China announced in 2016 its policy for carbon neutrality and has been committed to the achievement of the policy guidelines which is the reason behind China emerging as a global leader in renewables and emission reduction. She stressed that Pakistan has immense potential for green development by promoting renewable energy. She said that Chinese enterprises are interested in investing in green development projects in Pakistan and there is much that can be achieved with commitment, cooperation and right policies.

Dr Sajid Amin Javed, Deputy Executive Director, SDPI said that the green financing in Pakistan is still a residual policy and not a mainstream economic policy and stress first and foremost it must be made a main economic and financing policy. He said that climate change is a macro-economic risk and no longer an environmental risk which is evident from recent floods. He recommended that we need change of narrative and

A complete guide to new taxes on airlines tickets and travel destinations

CONTINuED

The Bill ordered that a tax equivalent to 20% of the ticket’s fare or Rs 50,000, whichever was higher, be levied on passengers travelling in business class, first class, and club class.

The measure, however, stirred controversy which was brought to light at the meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue on February 16. At the meeting, Senator Saleem Mandviwalla informed the Finance Division that the Aviation Ministry had expressed concerns about the proposed 20% tax on Business and First Class tickets, citing the variability of ticket fares. In response, the Senator suggested that a specific amount be set for each destination instead of imposing the tax.

Furthermore, he suggested that this would serve as an alternative approach to the proposed tax, which the Ministry deemed impractical due to the fluctuating nature of fares.

What is a club class?

One of the standout features is the introduction of the ‘club class’ as part of the fare categories which will have the FED levied upon them. The most basic definition of club class is that it is a fare category between economy class, and first class.

Amer J. Randhawa, a Lahore based travel consultant, explained the

MQM-P, PPP in unison to withdraw from Karachi by-polls

KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

category to Profit “It is simply business class. Different airlines have different terminologies. Club is a general term used,”.

Does this affect domestic travellers?

Randhawa explains to Profit that the FED is applicable only on customers travelling outside of Pakistan, and not internal flights.

What about outbound connecting flights?

In the odd situation that customers might want to pull off a jugaar and only have their flight from Pakistan to a connecting destination as economy, and the remaining journey as business or first class, that is not possible. “If the ticket is bought in Pakistan then the entirety of the tax levied on both tickets will be applicable,” Muhammad Nadeem Sharif, Former Chairman Travel Agents Association of Pakistan (TAAP) tells Profit.

Similarly, “You’re always charged on the higher category of fare,” Randhawa tells Profit.

What if you were to depart from Pakistan, and then purchase another ticket from your new departure port to another destination? “The laws of that country will be applied on you since your journey from Pakistan is over,” Sharif explains to Profit.

What are Traffic Conference Areas?

The process of fare construction is

contingent upon the regions which the customer intends to travel to, from, and via. To streamline the procedures associated with fare construction rules, routings, and fares, IATA has geographically classified the world into Eastern and Western hemispheres, and further categorised them into Traffic Conference Areas (TC Areas) and sub-areas.

The TC Areas encompass three cardinal regions, namely Traffic Conference Area 1 (TC1) encompassing the Western Hemisphere with sub-areas like North American, Central American, South American, and Caribbean sub-areas, while Traffic Conference Area 2 (TC2) and Traffic Conference Area 3 (TC3) embracing the Eastern Hemisphere encompass sub-areas such as European, African, Middle East, South Asian Subcontinent, South East Asian, and South West Pacific.

However, it should be noted that the sub-area divisions may not always align with the geographical location of countries. For instance, IATA deems certain North African countries, including Algeria, Morocco, and Tunisia, to be part of Europe.

Will the measure yield dividends?

Sharif estimates the total number of passengers that buy first and business class tickets to be 10-15% of the total passenger volume. How much the

Government estimates it will earn through this measure, or how many passengers will slip down to the economy to avoid the FED will be made evident in the months to come.

It is entirely also possible that, on the assumption that first and business class passengers have the means which this measure does assume, first and business class passengers might just break up their international journeys. They may only seek to travel the outbound flight from Pakistan on economy, and then later pause their journey at their new destination to obtain a new ticket to avoid paying the higher FED altogether.

What are the impacts on the industry as a result of all of this?

“The sector was already encumbered with a lot of problems, and the Government has gone and added to our problems,” Sharif tells Profit. “This will increase the cost of travelling for the passenger, and naturally this will lead to problems for the sector when there will be fewer passengers choosing to fly,” Sharif continues.

“We will have to just take it. The industry hasn’t fully recovered from the dual rates Emirates and Turkish stopping their local selling of tickets, and now this has been implemented, ” Randhawa tells Profit. “The funny thing is that flights are still full, and you cannot find an empty seat,” Randhawa continues.

Traders raise serious concerns over halt of Pak-Afghan bilateral trade

PESHAWAR aziz BuneRi

Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQMP) and Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) — the two major coalition partners in the PDM-led federal government — have decided not to take part in the upcoming by-elections to the National Assembly constituencies in the port city. The decision was taken keeping in view the current economic and political situation of the country. From the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P), Mustafa Kamal, Dr Farooq Sattar, Dr Sagheer Ahmed, Rauf Siddiqui and others have withdrawn their nomination papers. From the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), Shehla Raza, Shahida Rehmani, Khawaja Sohail and others have withdrawn nomination papers. As per the ECP schedule, candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till February 22. The nine constituencies whereby by-polls are scheduled include: NA241 Korangi Karachi-III; NA-242 Karachi East-I; NA-243 Karachi East-II; NA-244 Karachi East-III; NA-247 Karachi South-II; NA-250 Karachi West-III; NA-252 Karachi West-V; NA-254 Karachi Central-II; and NA256 Karachi Central-IV.

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) president Muhammad Ishaq expressed serious concerns over stuck up of a large number of export and transit trucks laden with essential food commodities and perishable items at Torkham owing to closure of the border on Afghanistan side.

He urged the Afghan government to review its decision and issue orders for the immediate opening of the border.

Talking to a delegation of traders and exporters here at the chamber on Wednesday, Ishaq said it was witnessing a long queue of 7,500 export and transit trucks loaded with sugar and other perishable items from Torkham to Hamza Baba Chowk.

He warned the truck queue will be stretched over to Peshawa r, if the border on the Afghanistan side was not opened immediately.

On the other hand, the SCCI chief said the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has allotted a quota for 45 day of sugar export, and 22 days so far have almost passed.

Whereas, he added, traders are bearing Rs45,000 per truck as demurrage charges and Rs6,000 as halting charges per vehicle on the daily basis.

He said the Pak-Afghan traders have been faced with a huge financial loss due to closure of the border.

Ishaq said when they have made contact with Pakistani authorities concerned and then the official told us that the border was closed on the Afghanistan side, which has caused piling up of a large number of export and transit trade trucks at the Torkham border.

Therefore, he urged the Afghan government to revisit its decision as the further closure of the border was not in the best interest of Pak-Afghan traders, bilateral trade between the

highlighting the return on investment in green projects is crucial to attract foreign investors and said that “Green energy is the future of Pakistan’s macro-economic policies.

Dr Hassan Daud, Senior Advisor SDPI said that Pakistan was the first to receive cash flow from China under BRI’s energy projects aimed at wind and solar energy generation. He said despite being the first, we have not explored the true potential of the sector so far. He emphasized that every cent spent on renewable energy technology guarantees long term energy and economic security for the country.

Christoph Nedopil, said that since 2022, there’s a much stronger willingness among Chinese companies to invest abroad in hitech sectors and is an area with immense potential which Pakistan can avail. He said that till 2019, China followed the host country’s environmental regulations in BRI construction and banking projects but that has changed significantly.

ahmed Hayat Lak assumes charge as MD ogDcL

ISLAMABAD ahmad ahmadani

On Wednesday the Board of Directors (BoD) of the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) appointed Ahmed Hayat Lak, General Manager (Legal Services) as new Managing Director (MD) and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) with immediate effect. According to an officer’s order, OGDCL board in its 255th meeting held on Wednesday resolved that Lak shall look after the office of MD and CEO with immediate effect until further orders and shall perform the duties and functions of the office accordingly. “We are confident that he will utilise his skill set and multi-dimensional corporate experience to serve in this position,” said Shahzad Safdar, Executive Director (HR and Admin), in an office order circulated within OGDCL. According to sources, Lak has officially assumed charge as the top man. Prior to this, Lak was working as Company Secretary/Spokesman of OGDCL. Additionally, he has also played an important role in the drafting of the Reko Diq agreement with the Canadian company Barrick Gold Corporation saving Pakistan from paying penalties worth billions of dollars, added sources.

imran ordered to appear before banking court on feb 28

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

both countries as well as transit trade.

The SCCI chief emphasized that Islamabad and Kabul should sort out solutions to all issues by holding a joint sitting and to prevent any damage to Pak-Afghan bilateral and transit trade. He also stressed the ending of an environment of trust-deficit between Pakistan and Afghanistan.

According to the Pakistani authorities, Ishaq said the government of Pakistan has issued clear instructions to utilize all possible resources to facilitate Pak-Afghan trade and transit trade.

As per directions, the SCCI chief said the Pakistan officials concerned told him that pragmatic steps are being taken for carrying out smooth and speedy bilateral trade between Pakistan and Afghanistan and trade to onward regional countries.

He added the Pakistan officials further informed that there was not creating hurdles in the way of bilateral trade.

The Islamabad high court (IHC) has ordered the former prime minister and PTI chairman Imran Khan to appear before court on February 28 in prohibited funding case. As per details, the banking court heard the plea of Imran Khan to appear before court via video link in the prohibited funding case. The PTI counsel told the court that Imran Khan couldn’t come to his Islamabad residence after Wazirabad attack incident. The prosecution’s case is why his health is not getting better but the medical reports have been submitted to the court, the counsel said. They further said that the medical reports were presented before Lahore high court (LHC) and they were satisfied with the reports. Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahingiri asked when will the PTI chief appear before the court. At this, the PTI counsel said that he will appear before March 3. The two member bench of IHC issued the orders and rejected PTI chairman Imran Khan’s plea to appear before court via video link in the prohibited funding case.

court serves notice on Sindh govt in appeal against Naqeebullah verdict

KARACHI: The Sindh High Court (SHC)

Wednesday directed the prosecutor general of Sindh, Faiz Shah, to respond to a petition challenging the acquittal of former Malir senior superintendent of police (SSP) Rao Anwar Ahmed and his subordinates in the murder of Naqeebullah Mehsud. Alam Sher, Mehsud’s younger brother, filed the petition challenging the acquittal of the accused. The court accepted the plea and directed the prosecutor general to submit a response within four weeks. Staff RepoRt

ExpErtS urgE Study on SoCIal rEmIttanCES’ ImpaCt on global mIgratIon

LAHORe Shahab omeR

tHeCentre on Migration, Remittances and Diaspora (CIMRAD), Lahore School of economics organized first of its kind international conference on ‘Social Remittances and Social Change: Links between Home and Host Countries” on February 21 and 22, 2023 at the Lahore School’s Burki Campus.

Doctor Peggy Levitt, renowned sociologist and pioneer of the term ‘social remittances’ was the keynote speaker

at the event whereas Dr. Ishrat Hussain, former Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan and Adviser to the Prime Minister on Institutional Reforms and Austerity shared his comments as the Chief Guest at the opening of the conference. Dr. Shahid Amjad Chahudhry, Rector, Lahore School of economics gave the welcome address.

The two-day event was organized into two sessions per day, where international participants presented their papers, followed by an in-depth discussion and feedback from renowned migration researchers and experts.

The conference proceedings offered an insight into and stimulated thoughts about how the global society is transforming, as nation-state geographical borders continue to blur overtime. It brought into discussion implications for home country politics, improvements in demographic variables and women empowerment. It also raised a key question for future considerations of social remittances in terms of climate induced migration. As a future line of research, it was proposed during a brainstorming session to conduct country comparative case studies in different

migration contexts to better understand the complex issue of social remittances.

Dr. Peggy Levitt, Chair of Sociology Department, Wellesley College, US, in her keynote address talked about cultural globalization and the role of technological advancements. Having studied migrant communities in Boston from Brazil, Ireland, Pakistan, and India, she reflected that for migrants over time, there is a growing disjuncture between how they perceive their home country and how it may have actually evolved. She termed it the “ossification effect”, where the home country is “frozen in time” in the migrants’ minds, while actually it has changed rapidly.

Dr. Ishrat Hussain in his comments emphasized that as a developing country, Pakistan based research in any field must link with the implications for poverty alleviation and human development. Weighing in on the recently re-emerged brain drain debate from Pakistan, he asserted it was an opportunity for Pakistani migrants to acquire new skills from host markets. Besides technical skills, social remit-

Instead of curbing smuggling, customs

tances in form of efficiency enhancing practices, principles and values can also contribute to increasing productivity of our local market and can even be exported to other migration destinations.

Dr. Philippe Fargues, Founding Director of the Migration Policy Centre at the european University Institute, Italy, argued that international migration and reduction in fertility are inseparable parts of social change and human development. Where country-level socio-economic indicators fail to establish this relationship, the non-tangible remittances in forms of ideas with family and friends in the home country can explain the phenomenon better. Pakistan’s population is growing at a worrisome rate of 2.4% annually and it has a current total fertility rate of 3.6, putting a strain on our limited economic resources. Implications of social remittances to bring down fertility rate are worth exploring from a policy point of view.

Dr. Anne White, Professor at University College London School, UK, discussed how social remittances impact the migration process itself. When migrants interact with other migrants in the host country, the exchange ideas have the potential to transform the ways migration takes places, such as an inclination towards personal networking instead of through employment agencies.

individual actions: SC ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court of Pakistan on Wednesday questioned the legal authority of customs officials’ operation within the country and emphasized on the need for a clear understanding of customs officers’ powers and jurisdiction to prevent illegal trade of goods, including dollars, wheat, and fertilizers trafficking to Afghanistan. The three-member SC bench, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ayesha Malik, and Justice Athar Minallah, heard a case against customs authority, prompting inquiries into the lawfulness of officials’ actions in city operations, market raids, and checkpoint setups. The bench observed that focus of customs officials is on seizing personal belongings of citizens instead of preventing smuggling at border crossings. During the hearing, Justice Ayesha noted that instead of stopping smuggling, the customs officials paid more attention to individual actions. She added that the attention of the customs officials was diverted towards apprehending the citizens’ vehicles and other belongings, rather than where these items were smuggled from. She asked what law authorised the customs officials to conduct raids at markets and set up checkpoints. She continued that the main question was about the powers and jurisdiction of the customs officers. Justice Athar asked from the customs officials whether the smuggling law applicable to an item caught in the city. He added that the Customs officials were not responding to the court’s queries properly and they needed to be more prepared. Justice Ayesha observed that the Customs officials operated in the cities every day, far from the borders.

Climate Change and its effects worldwide

Climate change is the long-term alteration of temperature and weather patterns in the world. It is caused by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere, primarily carbon dioxide, which trap heat and warm the planet. The effects of climate change are widespread and potentially catastrophic, affecting everything from the environment to human health and the economy.

One of the most visible effects of climate change is the rise in global temperatures. This warming has led to a number of consequences, including melting ice caps and glaciers, rising sea levels, and more frequent and severe heat waves. As sea levels rise, lowlying areas are at risk of flooding, and coastal communities may be forced to move inland.

Climate change also has a profound effect on the environment. As temperatures rise, many plant and animal species are forced to adapt to new conditions or risk extinction. Changes in precipitation patterns can also disrupt ecosystems, leading to declines in biodiversity.

The consequences of climate change are not limited to the natural world; they also affect human health. Heat waves can lead to heat stroke and other heat-related illnesses, and air pollution from burning fossil fuels can exacerbate respiratory problems. The spread of disease is also a concern, as warmer tem-

peratures and changing precipitation patterns can create the ideal conditions for certain pathogens to thrive.

Climate change also has the potential to cause significant economic damage. As temperatures rise and weather patterns change, crop yields may decline, and natural disasters such as floods and hurricanes may become more frequent and severe. This can lead to food shortages, higher food prices, and even famine.

The good news is that it is not too late to take action to slow the effects of climate change. By reducing our dependence on fossil fuels and increasing the use of renewable energy sources, we can slow the rate of greenhouse gas emissions and mitigate the effects of climate change. Planting trees and preserving natural habitats, along with reducing deforestation and land use changes, can also help to remove carbon dioxide from the atmosphere.

In conclusion, climate change is a global problem that affects the whole world. It is caused by the increasing levels of greenhouse gases in the atmosphere and has a wide range of effects, including rising temperatures, rising sea levels, changes in weather patterns, declines in biodiversity, and impacts on human health and the economy. We must take immediate action to reduce greenhouse gas emissions and slow the effects of climate change before it’s too late.

By Waleed Qasim Bashir

Plea against naB law amends

CJP says rule of law, access to justice also fundamental rights

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday observed that the rule of law and access to justice are also fundamental rights, saying that in two or three recent judgments, the Supreme Court maintained petitions under Article 184(3) on violations of other provisions of the constitution.

Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial made the observation while heading a three-judge bench of Supreme Court, comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, hearing a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan against amendments National Accountability Ordinance, 1999.

On Wednesday, Makhdoom Ali Khan, the counsel for the federation continued argument and adopted the stance before the Supreme Court that no fact has been pleaded in the petition by the former prime minister Imran Khan, while appeals against the amendments to NAB law are also pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

During the hearing, Justice Mansoor questioned is there NAB law or general or generic law in other countries particularly in India specifically for the elimination of the corruption.? Is there any report that harbouring impression that this is an exceptional law (NAB)? Is there any report by anyone or an agency on the trajectory and performance of the NAB that this body has been good

for the country, he further asked. Makhdoom Ali Khan, representing the federation said how the petitioner has locus standi to invoke the Article 184(3)?, while was the author of the law (amendments). The counsel said when the petitioner has not participated in the vote against the bill then how he could challenge it before the court. Why he had not opposed the bill in the parliament. The petitioner has not pointed out how these acts are exfacie discriminatory?

He added that the CMA filed by the petitioner contains 16 challenges, which includes that the law is made with retrospective affect, change of presumptions, reference being sent to the NAB chairman, standard of proof, displacement of presumption, shifting the burden on prosecution to help the accused to walk scot-free, and the change of evidence and reduction of punishment.

NewS DeSk

officials seem more focused on

‘Stop fooling puBlic’: imran aSkS rulerS to Bring looted money Back

LAHoRE Staff RepoRt

rEACTING‘angrily’ to austerity measures announced by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday, former prime minister Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan heaped scorn at the Pakistan Democratic Movement-led (PDM) government, asking rulers to bring back the country’s “looted money”.

“If you want to do something [for the country], then bring your [looted] money back from abroad,” Khan said on Wednesday live telecast via video link from his Zaman Park residence where he has been recuperating since he was injured in an assassination attempt in Wazirabad on November 3.

At the same time, the PTI chief paid a tribute to his party workers and supporters

anp to boycott national assembly by-elections in kp

PESHAWAR

Staff RepoRt

in Lahore for participating in the ‘Jail Bharo Tehreek’ — the court arrest movement which kick-started on Wednesday.

The incumbent government unveiled austerity measures to save Rs200 billion — aimed to keep the country afloat as the

nation buckles up to meet the International Monetary Fund’s (IMF) terms to unlock the next tranche worth $1.1 billion loan facility.

Two days ago, the lower house of parliament also unanimously approved

corporate corner

the government’s much-needed Rs170 billion ‘mini-budget’ — a move mandatory for seeking the global lender’s loan.

Coming down hard on the PDM, a group of eleven political parties, coalition government, Imran Khan said the rulers should “stop fooling people” by sharing plans to cut down the number of government vehicles and sell land. “I thought there would a big decision. [They must be] worried about the nation.”

He also reiterated the government’s promise to fix the country. “Even an enemy won’t do what has happened [in the country] in the last 10 months.” The coalition government came into power after overthrowing the Imran Khan-led PTI regime through a vote of no-confidence last April.

Lamenting the state of the economy, the deposed premier said: “Industries have shut down and people have become unemployed.

Sindh police ban use of smartphones during official duties

In response to the recent terror attack on the Karachi Police Office, the Sindh police have implemented a new policy prohibiting police personnel from using smartphones while on duty. The chief of provincial police made the decision after discovering that many officers were frequently using their phones during official assignments.

uneSco int’l mother language day observed at Bangladesh High commission in karachi

21 February is the International Mother Language, which is being observed by UNESCO and its 193 member countries across the globe every year since 2000. Bangladesh Deputy High Commission in Karachi also organized a program on the significance of the day at its Chancery in the evening on 21 February 2023.

The Awami National Party (ANP) has decided to boycott by-elections in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on National Assembly seats in protest against the decision of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) whose sole candidate will contest on multiple seats. ANP leader Aimal Wali Khan said on Wednesday his party would not take part in the elections as a certain party, without naming PTI, brings only one candidate, former prime minister Imran Khan, to contest on all the seats. “A socalled political party (PTI) has made a joke of the electoral system. They are wasting billions of rupees of public exchequer by nominating only one candidate for multiple seats and then there will be the repeat of the voting exercise in case one candidate wins these seats as he can retain only one seat,” Wali Khan rued. He claimed that a certain party was busy in creating an atmosphere of political intolerance and sullying the parliament’s prestige. Keeping in view the severe economic crisis the country was going through, it would be an injustice if billions would be spent on byelections when general polls were due after three months. Wali Khan said that the ANP had announced its candidates for the polls on 18 NA seats and the party was ready to contest the polls. “If general elections will be held tomorrow, the ANP is ready to contest polls with full force,” he asserted. He said that the request to boycott the by-elections came from the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). “The ANP has decided not to take part in the by-elections after holding consultations with all of its allies,” Wali Khan said, thanking party workers who ran a “vigorous” election campaign in a short period of time.

Effective immediately, police officials and officers are prohibited from using smartphones while performing their duties, particularly during field security duty. Those found violating the policy will be subject to disciplinary action, as ap-

proved by the competent authority. The order has been disseminated to all additional IGs in Sindh, as well as to DIGs, SSPs, and DIGs headquarters.

The police hope that this new policy will help ensure that officers remain focused on their official duties and maintain a high level of security awareness.

CJP takes suo motu notice of delay in Punjab, KP polls

continUEd fRoM PAgE 01

“Constitutional authorities appear to hold divergent, and perhaps even conflicting, views on the issue. Thus, several federal ministers appear to have contested the authority asserted by the president. Since ministers act under the constitutional rule of collective responsibility it appears, prima facie, that this is the view taken by the federal cabinet as a whole.

“There is, to put it shortly, a lack of clarity on a matter of high constitutional importance,” CJP Bandial said. He noted that statements attributed to the electoral watchdog showed that it was not being provided the “requisite assistance and support, in particular by the provision of necessary funds, personnel and security, as would enable it to hold the general elections in accordance with the Constitution”.

In light of the above, the CJP said: “I am of the view that the issues raised require immediate consideration and resolution by this court. Several provisions of the Constitution need to be considered, as

Spainish police detain father of two sisters slain in Pakistan

BARcELonA

the aSSociated pReSS

Police in Spain have detained the father of two sisters who were victims of so-called honour killings while visiting family in Pakistan, authorities said Wednesday.

Spain’s National Police confirmed media reports the father was taken into custody in the eastern town of Terrassa, near Barcelona. He is under investigation for his possible involvement in the murders

of his daughters, Urooj Abbas, 21, and Anisa Abbas, 23. They were killed last year in Pakistan for allegedly refusing to help their husbands come to Spain after the women had been forced to marry two of their cousins. The women were severely tortured and shot dead in the Gujrat district of Punjab.

According to Spanish media reports, the women, who had spent several years in Spain, had been forced into the marriages in 2021. When they traveled to Pakistan the

following year, their relatives wanted them to help their husbands emigrate to Spain with them. They reportedly refused and asked for divorce instead. In May, the police arrested six men for their suspected involvement in the murders. Pakistani officials said that murder charges were leveled against the victims’ brother, a paternal uncle, both husbands, a cousin, and both fathers-in-law.

Forced marriages are common in rural areas of Pakistan.

also the relevant sections of the Elections Act.

“In particular, the issues involve, prima facie, a consideration of Article 17 of the Constitution and enforcement, inter alia, of the fundamental right of political parties and the citizens who form the electorates in the Punjab and KP provinces to exercise their right to elect representatives of their choice to constitute fresh assemblies and provincial cabinets. This is necessary for [the] government in the two provinces to be carried on in accordance with the Constitution.

“These matters involve the performance of constitutional obligations of great public importance apart from calling for faithful constitutional enforcement,” the CJP said. The Punjab and KP assemblies — where the PTI had governments — were dissolved on January 14 and January 18, respectively, in an attempt to pave the way for snap polls.

On Jan 24, the ECP wrote letters to the principal secretaries of Punjab and KP governors, suggesting elections in Punjab between April 9 and 13, and in KP between April 15 and 17.

The United Nations specialized organization, the UNESCO observe the day every year in a befitting manner. International Mother Language Day was proclaimed by the General Conference of the United Nations Educational, Scientific and Cultural Organization (UNESCO) on 17 November 1999. The Member States of the UNESCO have been observing the 21 February as the ‘International Mother Language Day” since 2000. The UN General Assembly welcomed the proclamation of the day in its resolution of 2002. On 16 May 2007 the United Nations General Assembly in its resolution A/RES/61/266 called upon Member States "to promote the preservation and protection of all languages used by peoples of the world". pR

Baby burnt as hospital staff forgets to remove newborn from warmer

A newborn baby girl received severe burn wounds due to sheer negligence of the paramedic staff of BHU Hospital in Jhelum, source said on Wednesday. The hospital staff put a newborn baby on a warmer soon after her birth but forgot to remove her from there. As a result, the delicate body of the newborn baby was severely burnt.

Sources said that the baby was moved to the DHQ Hospital in critical condition.

The hospital administration suspended the lady health visitor and two midwives who were working in the labour room of the hospital.

Sources said that the body of the newborn baby was burnt as temperature of the warmer was high. Spokesperson for Jhelum health department said that CEO Health Dr Mian Mazhar has suspended all staff who was appointed in the labour room. The suspended staff included: LHV Nadia and two midwives Farzana and Samia.

KARAcHi Staff RepoRt

Director Wilson Center Michael Kugelman speaks on "Media Integrity in a Polarized Age" for Mass Communication students at NUST Islamabad Campus. pR

Ch Pervaiz’s political journey

CH Pervez Elahi’s joining the PTI was perhaps a foregone conclusion, after his failure to take over the PTI, and the PTI’s giving him the Presidency of the party, an office vacant since Javed Hashmi left the party, has not been confirmed. The is not the only issue. What is perhaps more pressing is what happens to the 10 outgoing PML(Q) MPAs that joined the PTI along with him. With the fight for PTI tickets likely to be fierce, these outgoing MPAs will face opposition for tickets, not least from the 2018 PTI ticket-holders they defeated. Ch Pervaiz will probably not be able to help them, and in any future dispensation, neither he nor his son Ch Moonis Elahi will be able to offer much support. Ch Pervaiz may find that his relationship with party chief Imran Khan shifting from that of coalition partner to subordinate.

Ch Pervaiz will also find that he will face much opposition within the PTI, especially from senior leaders who have their own ambitions. Assuming that the PTI wins in Punjab, which is not a certainty, he has no guarantee that he will get the office he so deeply covets, that of Punjab CM. Excluding the man he succeeded, Usman Buzdar, Fawad Chaudhry and Shah Mahmood Qureshi were also aspirants in 2018. While all parties have an element of jostling for the leader’s favou, this is a tendency particularly marked in the PTI. Ch Pervaiz will find that he will face the same sort of opposition within the party as he did when he was stigmatized as a mere ally, who was using nearly 200 PTI MnAs to become CM when he only had 100 MPAs of his own.

On the other hand, it could be argued that he had burnt all his other bridges, including to his cousin Ch Shujat, and had no choice but to accept whatever terms Mr Khan gave him. Apart from Ch Shujat, he has also lost his support within the establishment, with the result that he is facing arrest, while his close aide has been picked up. An immediate test for him is likely to lie in the PTI’s Jail Bharo Tehrik. With the PTI ranks anxious to curry favour with Mr Khan by courting arrest, will Ch Pervaiz be able to stay free?

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

Those who resisted tyranny

The strike ended, a life was saved but Pakistan lost track, tyranny survived and has continued since then. Till today the nation has the same demands. In 1959 only one elected PM was affected, in 2023 there are four (Liaquat Ali, Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto, Benazir Bhutto, Imran Khan). Intelligence operations continue unabated, those who should be in the barracks are found in the corridors of power while the nation continues to sink

For his defiance Dr Salim had to pay a heavy price. His movements were closely monitored by the agencies. The entire family fell on hard times, his wife with his two sons migrated back to Aligarh to stay with her parents. With his failing medical practice, Dr Sahib decided to try his luck in London. He landed a job with the BBC Urdu service.

On 27 October 1958 when Ayub Khan, the first Desi Sipah-e-Salar, took control of the country I was barely over five years old but, the memory of those dark days is etched in my mind. My late father nazir Ahmed Malik and maternal uncle Dr Salim Wahid Salim, both workers of the freedom movement were taken aback.

While my old man continued to struggle with his business, Dr Salim the progressive writer and poet, decided on direct intervention. The situation was tense, very few dared to stand up. While there were heated discussions in teashops (Pak Tea House, Coffee House, Cheney’s Lunch Home, nagina Bakery, Lords, Shezan and so on) street protests were limited. With excessive use of coercive state apparatus, it was clear that resistance carried serious consequences.

Hamid nizami was bold with his Nawai Waqt newspaper, poet Habib Jalib was also defiant but it was Dr Salim who decided on direct action. He decided to go on hunger strike. It was a one-man crusade for freedom, democracy and rule of law.

Nizami

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

In 1959, Dr Salim organized a hunger strike camp opposite the main gate of the Civil Secretariat. He had three demands: Return of the Army to the barracks, Investigation into the murder of the Prime Minister (PM), Withdrawal of intelligence monitoring of activists. The strike continued for 12 days, but no one seemed interested in negotiating with him. His vital signs started to slowly diminish. The family was seriously concerned. Everyday we walked to the camp to spend time with him. There was no electronic media, and only the newspapers covered the event. My mother wanted to save his life at all costs, so she kept pressurizing my father to intervene.

Being a man of action my old man organized fake negotiations with the striker who was close to death. A retired bureaucrat was requested to negotiate on behalf of the government. Under the watchful eyes of the press, Dr Salim was assured sympathetic consideration of his demands.

Only after a few months on the assignment he was let go. Cornered, with no source of income, he approached the Pakistan High Commission where he was told that he was under surveillance with no chance of settling down. Finally he was deported back to his motherland. Dejected and bruised, he had to put his life back together. He kept his intellectual crusade but was financially hurt. Finally my mother had to organize a family fund to keep him going.

Most of his work was published after his death including the poetic translation of the epic Omer Khayyam from Persian to Urdu. His two sons, now deceased (Khalid Salim, Muslim Salim) grew up in Bhopal. Muslim emerged as a renowned poet whose writings have been included in the standard text of Urdu language, both in Pakistan and India.

The first two Presidents of the new land (Iskander Mirza, Ayub Khan) both graduates of the famous Royal Military Academy Sandhurs,t changed the course of the nation. Those who resisted the stampede were made to suffer, Dr Salim was not alone in this crusade for democracy and rule of law.

The dungeons of the Lahore Fort were activated to torture those who dared to defy the tryanny. Hassan nisar, a Marxist activist was tortured to death. When his mother came to retrieve his dead body, it was badly mutilated and beyond recognition.

Khan Qayyum Khan, the leading Muslim League leader of his times, was also captured and kept in the Fort for a week. He decided to seek truce with the dictator and went home. Ayub Khan’s EBDO (Elected Bodies Disqualification Order) knocked out the entire political leadership of the country.

Hussain Shaheed Suharwardy challenged his disqualification in the Martial Law Tribunal and was exonerated by his strong defence, but had to leave the country for his safety. A few years later he was found dead in a Beirut Hotel. With the prevailing political vacuum, Mother of the nation Mohtrama Fatima Jinnah decided to challenge the dictator in the presidential elections in 1965. She was declared a traitor, and had to face vicious character assassination. Finally she too was removed from the arena in 1967.

The tyrannical state created by repeated Martial Law regimes continues to derail our freedom struggle. Those who defy tyranny are made to suffer. On 14 August 2023 the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan will be 50 years old but there is not

The balloon that blew over the USA

Can the USA be protected?

On February 2, a high-altitude Chinese balloon assumed to be loaded with sensitive surveillance gear traveled over Alaska, Canada, and the northern United States. It turns out to have been one of several over time and the Pentagon watched it travel over Montana, home of one the US military’s land-based, nuclear-tipped Minuteman III missile fields. The Pentagon has confirmed that the balloon is Chinese, and that China has asked for “calm” about the incident. In the aftermath of the spy balloon the tension has amplified between the USA and China, even as new revelations about the incident reveal the depth of the confusion about it.

The Chinese authorities did nothing about the bal-

loon as it passed over the continental United States, including nuclear missile silos in Montana, for several days after senior US diplomats visited the Chinese for the first time in private.

Pentagon spokesperson Brig Gen Pat Ryder said, “Instances of this activity have been observed over the past several years. We acted immediately to protect against the collection of sensitive information.”

But there three questions are arisen:

n If the USA knew about the balloons, why were they permitted to continue flight?

n What weight does China’s call for “calm” carry with the administration in light of a military violation of US borders?

n What if it wasn’t “surveillance equipment” at all?

The administration wants people to agree that a Chinese intrusion into US airspace is not a big deal. And a high-altitude balloon can, indeed, be used for surveillance. But it can also carry weapons– for example, a nuclear EMP (electromagnetic pulse) weapon intended to create a crisis over a US nuclear site.The Pentagon made three points of its own. First, that the balloon was operating well above the altitude of commercial aviation, but the incident only became public because it was, in fact, spotted by a passenger on a commercial flight.

Second, the military opposed shooting down the balloon because there might be debris that could injure civilians, but the population density of Montana undermines the point.

Third, the administration had determined that the balloon didn’t give China any additional surveillance capability beyond what it already had through spy satellites orbiting the Earth.

This leaves the EMP question aside. It also leaves aside the possibility that China wasn’t looking for additional surveillance information but was checking out how well America’s continental air defenses actually work. The answer would be, “not well, apparently.” That

is both a military and a strategic comment.

On the military side, the only air defense system the US has deployed in Alaska is the Ground Based Interceptor (GBI). The Pentagon says it was tracking the balloon over Alaska, Canada, and Montana, but how far beyond the USA’s land border was it first sighted? Could it have been destroyed over the Pacific before it transited Alaska?

America’s newest fighter, the F-35, has a service ceiling of only 50,000 feet (15,240 meters) so it probably would have no chance against the Chinese balloon perhaps operating at 75,000 feet (22,860 meters).

The Chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the USA has added to the growing tension between the two superpowers. After the USA shot down a Chinese spy balloon, Beijing has tried to downplay the balloon incident, but it’s becoming harder to do so as alarm bells and accusations mount. At home, China has tried to present the conflict as a sign of US decline

The will of the people has to prevail through free and fair elections which has been denied by those who belong to the barracks. The tyrannical state apparatus needs major overhaul for nation building to start

much to celebrate.

The document has been mutilated several times and remains un-implemented. There are around 20 clauses ensuring human rights but not one of them has been discussed, debated or implemented.The Victorian Acts prevail after over 75 years of so-called freedom.

Preventive detention is the order of the day. Even popular leaders like Imran Khan are not safe. There is a round-the- clock vigil to protect the former PM from fabricated cases. The courts are now awake after a long slumber and remain the only hope of relief for the masses and their genuine leadership.

The will of the people has to prevail through free and fair elections which has been denied by those who belong to the barracks. The tyrannical state apparatus needs major overhaul for nation building to start.

The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation. He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail.com.

But either the F-22 or the F-15 could potentially have been used to intercept it, depending on its operational altitude. The service ceiling of both planes is approximately 65,000 feet (19,810 meters).Firing at an upward angle an air launched missile might have been able to hit the intruder. An intercept is not a sure thing, but nothing is.

A US AEGIS warship in the Pacific, equipped with interceptor missiles, might also have taken out the balloon, but whether any AEGIS cruiser was in the right place at the right time isn’t known.

On the political side, the fact that the USA launched no weapons against the balloon suggests two things: first, maybe the GBI system doesn’t work against slowflying balloons, which would certainly be something China would want to know. Or that the administration made a decision to allow an adversarial and increasingly aggressive country to enter US airspace, which would also be something Beijing might find interesting.

The Pentagon apparently had not planned on having this discussion. The security establishment would have stayed mum had not a passenger on a civilian airliner exposed what is now understood to be one Chinese incursion among others. The Biden administration needs to explain the political rationale for keeping China’s intrusions secret as well as why there was no official US protest.

China has exposed massive security vulnerability over US territory, and whether that vulnerability is military or political or both, there should be better answers that the Biden Administration has given.

The Chinese surveillance balloon hovering over the USA has added to the growing tension between the two superpowers. After the USA shot down a Chinese spy balloon, Beijing has tried to downplay the balloon incident, but it’s becoming harder to do so as alarm bells and accusations mount. At home, China has tried to present the conflict as a sign of US decline.

As more unidentified objects are shot down in recent days, experts warn that there is an “endless” variety of potential targets crowding the skies over the USA. The globe has unleashed a wave of dismay and fear in Asia.

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

By joining the PTI, Ch Pervaiz Elahi has taken a bigger risk than he might have thought

Dr FariD a Malik

Dr MuhaMMaD akraM Zaheer

The demands Ayub refused to meet remain about the same

Let’s focus on what can still be done

IT was good to see Pakistan’s a sizeable entourage along with provincial representation at the International Conference on Climate Resilient, which it co-hosted with the United nations. The issues got properly highlighted and the outcome was positive.

In this context, a report titled, ‘Resilient Recovery, Rehabilitation, and Reconstruction Framework Pakistan (4RF)’ was prepared by the Ministry of Planning, Development and Special Initiatives in December last year.

Given the critical nature of the subject matter, however, it was not clear if professional experts in relevant fields were involved at some level. Such fields included climate change and disaster management, health and environmental impacts, public policy and policy outreach, computational methods, sensing systems, and risk management. There is no doubt that only individuals with professional competence in these fields have the ability to come up with climate resilience solutions.

It is with the right policy frameworks formulated by leading experts — rare, though they are — that Pakistan can attract private investment to build its resilience, particularly in sectors such as water and flood management, coastal protection, water resource management, agriculture, urban infrastructure, municipal services, housing, and asset management.

Refocus on Pur Aman Balochistan

CPEC makes necessary Baluchistan be peaceful

do not want.

The ink on Pak-China agreements related to the CPEC was barely dry when especially the USA’s CIA, Indian secret agency RAW and Israel’s Mossad had accelerated playing up the Baloch insurgency. Malicious propaganda against the CPEC coincided with the terror attacks in various regions of Pakistan, particularly in Balochistan.

However, Pakistan’s armed forces and primary intelligence agency ISI have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists. Peace has been restored in Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provinces, and in Karachi as well as in other vulnerable regions.

groups confirmed Pakistan’s dossier, and drew attention to the increasing cross-border terrorist threat to Pakistan.

Regarding various terror assaults, the then Foreign Minister Qureshi had remarked that if the international community had taken timely notice of Islamabad’s concerns over new Delhi’s involvement in terrorist activities across Pakistan, Lahore’s Johar Town blast and several terrorist incidents in Balochistan would not have taken place.

Under Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s command the fencing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border, which also entails Pak-Afghan border of Balochistan started in June 2017 by the Army to improve the security situation and the near-completion of the project in 2021, is praiseworthy.

The focus should be on looking beyond engineered flood defences, and considering innovative, nature-based solutions that support local biodiversity. The involvement of experts in power systems and smart grids who can tackle Pakistan’s energy challenges by enabling collaborative research, strategic partnerships, policy outreach, entrepreneurship, and education is necessary. Pakistan needs fundamental shift in its development path and policies, requiring substantial investments in people-centric climate adaptation and resilience that will require international support. If we want to tackle climate change, we need to prioritise investing in adaptation to help prepare Pakistan for future climate-related calamities, which are growing in frequency and intensity.

Only climate experts, both local and global, can help us understand the climate risk and then respond to the critical challenge of enabling Pakistan to adapt and thrive in a changing world. This is where our climate resilience journey begins with the aid of techno-logy, big data analysis, and domain expertise. The first step is understanding, quantifying and explaining the climate risk. Then, regardless of the task, like preventing flooding and erosion, protecting assets and infrastructure, and creating new policies and systems, we can plan and implement resilient solutions, and monitor their respective impacts to stay climate-resilient.

WHEn during Pervez Musharraf’s regime in March 2002, Pakistan initiated the construction of Gwadar deep-seaport in Balochistan province with Chinese assistance, sirens went off in the capitals of some European countries, as well as those of the USA, India and Israel, which took it as a threat to their global and regional plans.

Afterwards, the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) which is part of China’s One Belt, One Road (OBOR) or China’s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), has been rapidly developing. CPEC will prove to be a gateway to prosperity for both countries as well as the region. Under the project, China is investing as much as $62 billion in various sectors in Pakistan in a phased manner.

The Executive Committee of the national Economic Council (ECnEC) on August 5, 2020 approved the project for the upgradation of he 1872 km of the existing railway Mainline-1 (ML-1) from Peshawar to Karachi.

Besides energy projects, CPEC will open new doors of development relating to various fields, as the national economy of the country will grow fast, leading to creation of new job opportunities, poverty reduction, and development of the transportation sector, as well as boost agricultural and industrial growth, including exports.

notably, India was openly opposing the CPEC and China’s OBOR or BRI; and the USA has also joined new Delhi.

In May, 2020, the outgoing US Principal Deputy Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Alice Wells, who tried to spoil China-Pakistan relations, had once again criticized BRI and CPEC by saying that the USA was concerned about CPEC projects due to the unfair rates of profits which are guaranteed to Chinese firms. The Chinese Embassy called her statement totally baseless by stating: “We take Pakistan as an equal partner and never asked Pakistan to do more.”

Taking cognizance of foreign entities’ hostile propaganda, Islamabad and Beijing have, repeatedly, dismissed the criticism as Western propaganda and the latter also insisted that the CPEC will equally benefit Pakistan.

In fact, the Gwadar seaport project, which is the backbone of the CPEC, will uplift the impoverished people of Balochistan, including developments in other backward areas by redressing their grievances, which the hostile elements, supported by the USA, India and Israel

But, in the recent past, terrorist attacks in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and particularly Balochistan which is a central point of the CPEC, show that the CIA-led RAW and Mossad are destabilizing Pakistan and want to damage the CPEC project which is part of China’s OBOR or BRI. RAW is also using some terrorist outfits such as ISIS and the Balochistan Liberation Army (BLA)-linked Majeed Brigade which claimed responsibility for a number of terrorist assaults on workers and labourers, working on the CPEC projects in Balochistan. These terror entities also abducted and killed many Chinese nationals. RAW as well as some foreign secret agencies have been arranging the subversive activities in Balochistan, promoting acrimonious sense of dissent, sectarian violence and arousing sentiments of separatism.

The Pakistan Army also contributed a lot to the socio-economic development of Balochistan besides giving military training to the youth, while protecting mega-projects and the CPEC staff.

It is notable that presiding over an apex committee meeting in Quetta, the then Prime Minister nawaz Sharif had approved the plan Pur Aman (Peaceful) Balochistan on 6 August 2015—for the return of the angry Baloch to the national mainstream.

PM Nawaz Sharif had stated that Balochistan would be a major beneficiary of CPEC and the project would open new avenues of development and prosperity for Pakistan. He elaborated “Gwadar’s deep-sea port would link the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world— and will attract massive amounts of local and foreign investment.”

It is mentionable that the Taliban fighters on 15 August 2021 entered the Afghan capital Kabul and seized power, taking control of Afghanistan. The Taliban-led government clarified that Afghan soil would not be used for any terrorist groups like Al-Qaeda, ISIS and the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) for terror attacks against neighbouring countries, including Pakistan. But, regarding some recent terror attacks which also include Balochistan, sources suggested that some militants of the TTP, which is based in Afghanistan, have entered Pakistan from Afghanistan. Hence, the military leadership has warned Kabul to check this infiltration.

It is noteworthy that in november, 2020 at a joint press conference, DG ISPR Maj Gen (now |Lt Gen) Babar Iftikhar and then Foreign Minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi unveiled a dossier containing “irrefutable evidence” of India’s sponsorship of terrorism in Pakistan, also targeting the CPEC.

Pakistan’s Ambassador to the Un Munir Akram had handed over the dossier to the Un Secretary General Antonio Guterres.

In its 27th report, dated 3 February 2021 and 28th report, recently published, the Un Security Council’s monitoring team for tracking terrorist

In this respect, the apex committee meeting reviewed the overall security situation in the insurgency-hit province and progress on the national Action Plan.The then Army Chief Gen Raheel Sharif, Federal Interior Minister Chaudhry nisar Ali Khan, Lt Gen (retd) Abdul Qadir Baloch Minister for States, Governor Balochistan

Muhammad Khan Achakzai and BalochistanChief MinisterDr Abdul Malik Baloch were among those attending the meeting.

Earlier that day, Prime Minister Sharif also performed the ground-breaking of three important development projects, namely Mangi Dam, Balochistan Agriculture University and Flyover on Samungli Road, Quetta. The PM also inaugurated Sariab Road Flyover in Quetta, which has been completed at a cost of Rs 1581 million.

PM nawaz Sharif had stated that Balochistan would be a major beneficiary of CPEC and the project would open new avenues of development and prosperity for Pakistan. He elaborated “Gwadar’s deep-sea port would link the landlocked Central Asian states with the rest of the world— and will attract massive amounts of local and foreign investment.”

The PM further stated: “We will provide fool proof security to CPEC projects and we will ensure that maximum benefits reach the common people.”

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

The combined risks of extreme climate-related events, environmental degradation and air pollution are projected to reduce Pakistan’s gross domestic product (GDP) by at least 18-20 per cent by 2050. Pakistan is currently ranked among the countries most vulnerable to the widespread and cross-sectoral impacts of climate change. Six priority sectors have been identified namely agriculture and food security, forest and biodiversity, disaster risk reduction, water sanitation and hygiene, integrated coastal management, and energy and transport. We need to develop local expertise in collaboration with global experts and organisations to drive this urgent change. Even if Pakistan’s carbon emissions are near 0.5 today, the climate will continue to change for at least a century.

FAISAL HABIB KARACHI

A tale of proven land-grabbing

BACK in 2009, with all my hard-earned savings and a heavy loan, I purchased a residential plot of land in the Pakistan Industrial Development Corporation (PIDC) Multipurpose Cooperative Housing Society in Scheme 33 area of Karachi. It is hard to describe how intensely I regret the day I had done that. Being a residential society established in the early 1980s by the federal government for providing low-cost housing to the governmentowned PIDC employees, the genuineness of the legal status of the said society was and remains beyond doubt. All the original allottees, or subsequent buyers, have already paid all purchase and entitlement charges, and do possess legal and lease documents. In fact, many had also started getting formal approvals for floor plans and construction by 2009. However, for reasons known only to the authorities, the Sindh government in 2011 abolished society’s representative association, and appointed an administrator while putting a freeze on the society’s bank accounts. Later, the appointed administrator was also granted the authority to operate the said accounts. Besides, on the directives of the Singh government, a Rangers contingent seized all property and legal records from the office of the society. Finding all these actions illegal, PIDC Society representatives initiated litigation. The matter remained in Sindh High Court (SHC) for years and then moved to the Supreme Court. It also attracted the attention of the national Accountability Bureau (nAB). While the battle was being fought in the courts, property records of the society were tampered with, scores of illegal plots of land were carved out by illegally altering the approved site plan, and millions of rupees were withdrawn from the bank accounts. All these activities were taken note of by the relevant authorities, leading to arrest and conviction of the administrator.

All this while, the original allottees paid legal expenses through personal contributions with great difficulties. However, despite successive court rulings in favour of the society, the actual administration and lawful landowners are still unable to even enter the premises due to the presence of land mafia agents at the entry gate of the walled society. Despite court orders, police personnel have been unable to remove the encroachers and secure the society’s possession for its real owners. A huge number of landowners are elderly, retired PIDC employees. As PIDC was a federal government organisation, the owners are spread across the country, and cannot visit Karachi every now and then to follow the proceedings in the matter. There is a complete standstill as there is no official setup in place, and the society’s elections and members’ general meetings are impossible.

The society’s president is an octogenarian with no succession plan. In short, all things are in favour of the land-grabbers who can afford to wait patiently for all landowners to pass away, leaving no challenge for them to ultimately occupy the land completely. On their part, thousands of victims are losing hope of ever owning a home of their own. All landowners, like myself, are directionless and confused what to do and how to go about either selling our plots of land or to get permission to build our houses. Despite the involvement of the courts and nAB, there is complete hopelessness. The darkness is utter and absolute.

ASLAM QURESHI KARACHI

SajjaD Shaukat

ArAb News

FAISAL J. ABBAS

In July 2006, a very distressing story in Arabic was being shared across what was then known as the Electronic Muntadayat (Arabic for “web forums,” the ancestor of modern social media). The story went as follows: Someone is deliberately mocking Islam by building another Kaaba in new York, only the cube-shaped building will not be for God-fearing worshippers, but a 24/7 nightclub which — according to the poorly translated stories — would be “Makkah” for new York visitors.

Of course, it was down to me as a young reporter at Asharq Al-Awsat, our sister publication, to get to the bottom of this story. It soon became clear that the building was neither a nightclub nor a replica of the Kaaba. It was, however, the iconic cube-shaped flagship Apple store on new York’s 5th Avenue.

The shop’s entrance, as it later became clear, is made of glass. But because earlier images showed the glass sides of the cube-shaped shop covered with a protective black layer had resulted in the absolutely false story spreading like wildfire, due to the color resemblance to the actual Kaaba.

needless to say, at that time — only a few years after 9/11 — emotions ran high and religious extremists issued horrendous fatwas against the West every

CuBe - shAped ConspIrACIes won’T sTop sAudI reforms

day. These kinds of fake news stories were often used to fit the agenda, and incite hatred against the West.

Seventeen years later, it is amazing to see that while technology and our ability to access information has advanced by leaps and bounds, such incitement and such extremist ideas persist. Indeed, those who followed any of the social media reaction to the recent announcement by the Saudi Public Investment Fund of a new downtown area in Riyadh will have noticed the similarities.

In particular, it was “The Mukaab” — a huge cubeshaped structure at the heart of the new development — that raised eyebrows and set Twitter on fire. According to some extremists and conspiracy theorists, the cube being built in the heart of the Saudi capital bears too great a resemblance to the Kaaba. Furthermore, it was secretly designed to overshadow the prominence of Islam’s holiest shrine in nearby Makkah by offering a much bigger cube building, purpose-made for entertainment, dining and commerce.

now, there is surely no need for me to unpack how ridiculous such claims are. First of all, Islam does not hold a monopoly on cube-shaped items. In fact, I am quite sure the creators of Star Trek were not exactly thinking of Makkah when they designed the Borg Cube, nor was Hungarian inventor Erno Rubik when he created his famous 3-D puzzle. Secondly, and more importantly, to even think that such an intention was the inspiration for the design of this landmark is ludi-

Govt high officials’ routine disregard for court orders

THE High Court’s anger at government high officials for not complying with its orders, as well as its decision to refuse to hear a contempt of court petition against a secretary, are well-justified. A High Court bench on Sunday said they were “fed up” with the fact that many of the court’s orders remained unimplemented, despite the court passing them for the welfare of the country. The bench further stated that government high officials do not pay heed to the court’s orders and, ultimately, without their proper implementation, these orders will end up in the trash bin. The High Court bench also rightly observed that government officials display a degree of annoyance if they are summoned to appear before the court in connection with contempt of court petitions, despite being bound as per the constitution to comply with the court’s orders – something that another High Court bench had previously observed.

The High Court bench made the remarks after the placing of a contempt of court petition against the secretary of environment, forest and climate change. In 2019, 23 individuals submitted an application to the environment ministry secretary to reinstate them to their jobs at a ministry project. As the secretary did not respond to their application, the Apex court in 2019 directed the secretary to dispose of the application within a month, following a writ petition. As the application was still not disposed of, despite the court ruling, a contempt of court petition was filed with the HC last year.

This is the second time this month that the Hight Court has expressed its frustration with officials at the environment ministry. On February 5, a High Court bench rebuked and expressed severe annoyance at the Department of Environment under the environment ministry for failing to take any effective steps to curb air pollution in Dhaka, despite repeated directives. And it observed that citizens were literally being “killed” by such inaction.

However, it is not just the environment ministry that is at fault here. Over the years, we have seen a tendency developing among government authorities to disobey orders of the Supreme Court, as no punishment was handed down for non-compliance with its orders. The government and other authorities are bound to implement every directive of the Supreme Court, as it is binding on all, according to Article 111 of the Constitution. Article 112 of the Constitution also says that, “All authorities, executive and judicial, in the Republic shall act in aid of the Supreme Court.”

A clear message should be sent to all government officials –particularly of the executive branch – that they are not above the law, as they seem to think. This idea that public servants are a “different class of people”, as argued by the Attorney General back in november 2022, must be shunned for any substantive change to occur. Such display of clear disobedience to court orders needs to be followed up with severe punishments. The court could, perhaps, suo motu ask the relevant authorities to submit a report of how many court directives in total have been disregarded over the years, and go for harsher measures.

crous in the extreme.

Saudi Arabia, whose king’s official title is Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, needs no testimony nor acknowledgement from social media trolls when it comes to its commitment to serving this great religion. The Kingdom’s enormous efforts in serving millions of pilgrims, building and restoring mosques in addition to the billions spent on humanitarian aid to Muslim countries, speak for themselves.

At the same time, there is a fascinating plot twist when you compare the two stories — the Apple store versus The Mukaab. In the second, the land of this alleged diabolical plot is no longer “the infidel” United States of America, but the Kingdom which is the cradle of Islam.

The reasons for these allegations are of course an attempt to discredit, and shed doubt upon, the massive and impressive reforms Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman has brought into being. The truth remains that extremists in Saudi Arabia and beyond are unwilling to accept the fact that women can drive, that they have been liberated from the previous guardianship laws and that they now serve as ambassadors, lawyers and doctors. These extremists want a Taliban-like Saudi Arabia, where women are oppressed, forbidden both education and employment, and exist only as second-class citizens who must remain for the most part at home.

The extremists do not want music or concerts, and they seem to forget that Prophet Muhammad himself,

peace be upon him, was greeted with singing and drums when he went on the Hijra from Makkah to Madinah. The extremists do not even want a foreign name such as “Downtown” to be given to the new project, using the name as an excuse for railing against what is alleged “creeping Westernization.”

As petty as this is, the extremists seem to forget that many “Western ideas” have their origins in Arabic. Take the word “algorithm,” for example. It actually originates from the name “Al-Khwarizmi.” He was a scientist who is responsible for influential works in mathematics, astronomy, and geography. He served as the astronomer and chief librarian of the famed House of Wisdom in Abbasid Baghdad. Can you imagine the state of the world had the West been so blind as to forbid their scientists from studying and benefiting from Arab research and Arab knowledge? For sure, these petty people would not be able to use social media — which they have wholeheartedly embraced — without an algorithm.

What the Kingdom ought to do is carry on with its reforms, with progressive changes and ambitious development projects. After all, the biggest threat to Islam is not a closed, cube-shaped building. A far more dangerous threat is a closed mind that refuses to acknowledge that Islam only achieved its golden age when it was inclusive of all cultures, and encouraged research, philosophy, and architecture — all of which it used and transmitted to the West.

Faisal J. Abbas is the editor-in-chief of Arab News.

Anti-Bollywood novel ‘Age of vice’ lifts lid on corruption, inequality and organized crime in India

CUlTURAl codes can determine how things are read. Already described as a publishing phenomenon, the novel Age of Vice will not be read the same way in the Indian state of Uttar Pradesh – where its author, Deepti Kapoor, was born – as in los Angeles, where producers are rushing to turn it into a television series.

While Indians navigate the different tensions within their society – from the old caste segregation to the more contemporary income-based divide –Americans can be entertained by the legal mafias and forbidden passions that dominate Age of Vice, in the style of The Godfather.

The novel – published in early January – has also drawn comparisons to Stieg larsson’s Millennium crime saga. like the deceased Swedish author, Kapoor X-rays the darkest side of her country, examining sexual violence, abuse of power, collusion between politicians and organized crime, as well as the alcohol and drug addictions of her protagonists. However, the most unexpected literary reference was offered up by the writer herself at the end of an interview with El PAÍS at a lisbon café. Kapoor settled in the Portuguese capital four years ago with her English husband. On a cold winter morning in midJanuary – before posing for photos in the Praça das Flores, a famous square – Kapoor shared her enthusiasm for Rafael Chirbes. A prominent Spanish author who died in 2015, Chirbes published several novels about the post-war state of his country. “I read Crematorium [and was] totally fascinated, because I saw my story reflected in that world of corruption and speculation that he tells.”

Age of Vice is a 600-page novel. It will be followed by two more installments, which will complete a trilogy that will total nearly 2,000 pages. In 2019, it was the most sought-after work at the Frankfurt Book Fair. It has everything that attracts readers: crime, corruption, tyranny, conspiracy, debauchery and – in small doses – love, admiration and loyalty. There are also three main characters handcuffed by a tragic fate that rarely appears in Bollywood musicals.

Unsurprisingly, the book sparked a bidding war between 20 television production companies, who are all fighting to gain the audiovisual rights to a novel that will be distributed in 16 countries. The author is still digesting the success of her work.

“I’ve never experienced anything like this before.

My first novel [A Bad Character] was short, with few reviews… let’s just say it died out early. This is a trilogy that will have a series on television: it’s a kind of product. I’m still trying to figure out how to fit all of this together. It’s a strange feeling.”

Kapoor’s second book had an even tougher

road to publication than her first. Set in the world of yoga – an activity she knew well from her time as an instructor – it didn’t arouse editorial interest.

“My agent at the time encouraged me to write about wealthy people that I knew who had crazy stories – sort of like the Delhi Gatsby, with very rich people who cause a lot of pain because they have power and hide behind their wealth.”

Contempt for the suffering of others drives Age of Vice. It begins with the imprisonment of the false culprit of a hit-and-run, which leaves five “pavement dwellers” – who were sleeping on the side of the road – dead. According to Kapoor, this is a very common occurrence in her country. “There are traffic accidents in which, suddenly, the person who was behind the wheel stops being behind the wheel. A poor driver goes to jail in his place.” Kapoor composes a literary puzzle with three basic pieces: Ajay, the outcast, Sunny Wadia, the heir to a mafia family and neda Kapur, a disbelieving journalist. She was content to leave behind the novel about an Indian Gatsby and instead showcase the social complexity of the country.

“India was never perfect and it was always a poor country. But in the 1990s, there was a financial crisis and reforms were introduced. We slowly moved from a semi-socialist economy to a capitalist one. Suddenly, money started flowing in many cities.”

Out of these freedoms and economic opportunities, a new middle class was born. This benefited people like Kapoor, who studied journalism in new Delhi. However, all this urbanization and economic expansion – with the arrival of multinational cor-

porations attracted by opportunities and the world’s largest English-speaking population – generated new social gaps. The suburbs grew quickly, thanks to executive salaries. “The foundation of this world was built on extreme inequality and suffering,” the author notes. “I wanted to show the glamor, the opulence and the privilege, but also draw back the curtain to show the rot behind it.”

The new rot is superimposed on the old social segregation of Hinduism – India’s principal religion – where the Dalit caste has no rights. Despite the political advances made since the 1940s, with positive actions to favor their integration, discrimination is commonplace. “I think there is more knowledge about the atrocities committed against Dalits, but the violence, the inequality and the pain remain. Every day, you can read a story about some Dalit being beaten or killed. In rural India, ancient customs are maintained, although in the cities, [these individuals] can find a space to have an anonymous life.” On her last trip to India, Kapoor met with a young couple for her research.

“They’ve gone to university and they work, but no one in the boy’s office knows he’s a Dalit, because if he says so, he thinks they’ll start treating him differently. There are still a lot of painful stories.”

In the novel, the falsely accused driver is Ajay, a Dalit who, when he was a child, was sold by his mother to settle a debt. He grows up to become the assistant to Sunny Wadia – the son of an all-powerful mafia boss. Sunny dreams of being greater than his father, all the while abusing drugs, alcohol, food and sex – something typical of the nouveau riche.

Western readers – and los Angeles producers – love Ajay. “He’s the heart of my novel. I got the inspiration when I was in the mountains, traveling through the Himalayas. I met a boy who had been sent by his family to work. He lived alone, like an orphan, but he was full of hope and optimism. I decided to combine his story with that of the young people who worked in the mansions of the rich.

“When I was a journalist, I attended many parties where these young men were servants or chauffeurs. They were always somewhat withdrawn and always watching to make sure you didn’t need anything. I wondered about their lives and their origins.” It’s easier for an individual to break traditions than for an entire country to do the same. Kapoor broke some codes in her conservative family, which was impacted after the death of her father when she was only 19. That loss was followed by that of her first boyfriend.

In addition to burying idealized dreams about college life, she became the official rebel of the family. She burned the pain and rage by stepping on the accelerator of her car, racing through the streets of Delhi, then a city rushing full speed towards furious capitalism, with all of its opportunities and drawbacks. This fire burns in Age of Vice. The pain and rage have formed her as a writer.

THESE EXTREMISTS WANT A TALIBAN-LIKE SAUDI ARABIA, WHERE WOMEN ARE OPPRESSED, FORBIDDEN BOTH EDUCATION AND EMPLOYMENT, AND EXIST ONLY AS SECOND-CLASS CITIZENS WHO MUST REMAIN FOR THE MOST PART AT HOME

IT IS A CLEAR BREACH OF OUR CONSTITUTION, AND SHOULD BE PUNISHED

corporate corner

NOT-BY- PROFIT

PAkisTAN urges us To reNew gsP ProgrAM To BeNefiT DeveloPiNg couNTries

Islamabad news desk

PAKISTANhas joined forces with 26 other nations to urge US lawmakers to renew the Generalized System of Preference (GSP) program for developing countries.

The program, which was instituted in 1971 with the support of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development, is a tariff waiver program on nearly 5,000 products from over 120 countries.

The GSP program is designed to promote economic development by eliminating duties on thousands of products when imported from one of the designated beneficiary countries and territories. The US Trade Representative's office has called it the largest and oldest US trade preference program. The program's legal authorization, however, expired on Decem-

Mastercard becomes preferred payments partner of cBDA

ber 31, 2020, leaving US firms exposed to heightened tariffs and discouraging them from doing business with developing nations.

In a letter distributed on Monday, the alliance of GSP countries urged the US Senate and the House of Representatives to provide bipartisan support for the program and expedite legislation for its renewal. Pakistan's US Ambassador Masood Khan co-signed the letter with other ambassadors.

"With the 118th Congress in place, we hope there is a window of opportunity for bipartisan legislation renewing the Generalised System of Preference," stated the letter sent to the Chair and Ranking Members of leading legislative committees of the US Congress.

Pakistan is a member of the 27nation Alliance of GSP Countries and is also on a US list of nations that benefit from tariff reliefs under the program. The program's renewal is

critical to enhanced market access for developing countries in the United States, said Ambassador Khan. "The program is a conduit to ensuring robust ties with the United States bearing the hallmark of strong economic sinews and currency," he said.

The GSP program has served both beneficiary countries and the US economy and businesses, said Ambassador Khan. "Both small and large US companies benefit from it by importing products, including raw material, and maintaining comparative advantage."

Covid-19 and the war in Ukraine have impacted supply chains and resulted in food and energy shortages and consequent hyper-inflation across the globe, said Ambassador Khan. "The renewal of the program would help in spurring growth in multiple sectors of the economy and thus lessen the severity of ongoing challenges," he said.

After last year's devastating

floods, Pakistan too was hoping that the United States would increase market access for its textiles and other products whose trade was directly dependent on agriculture, said Ambassador Khan. Many other climate-vulnerable countries are also facing similar challenges because of food and energy hyper-inflation, providing compelling justification for the revival of the GSP program, he said.

"Urgent reauthorization of the GSP program has become a central piece of the trade agenda of the Alliance," he said in an appeal to the US Congress.

The US remains the largest export market for Pakistani products, with a bilateral trade volume of $12 billion. Pakistan was among the top ten beneficiaries of the program, and approximately 6-8% of US imports from Pakistan were being made under the GSP arrangement.

To read the full article visit www.dawn.com

SBP stresses need for fiscal policy to work with monetary

policy during high-inflation

Mastercard has signed a strategic MOU with Pakistan’s Punjab Central Business District Development Authority (PCBDDA) to turn the community into a cashless economic zone and drive digital transformation in the country. The collaboration will see Mastercard deploy its innovative smart city solutions in the Central Business District as the Preferred Payments Partner to enable investors, businesses, residents, and authorities to connect simply and seamlessly through digital channels. Citizens will be able to make everyday payments as well as pay for bills and utility services through automated portals. pr

Nestlé, Telenor join forces to address iron deficiency among schoolchildren

• According to School Age Children Health and Nutrition Survey (SCANS) Punjab & Sindh 2020, 9 out of 10 children in Pakistan have inadequate iron in their diet, which could lead to iron deficiency.

• Therefore, Nestlé and Telenor Pakistan have joined forces to address the issue of iron deficiency. On 20th February, 2023, both companies signed a contract to work together to ensure that children in Pakistan do not suffer from iron deficiency.

• To achieve this, Nestlé will be providing extensive information on balanced diets, nutritional requirements, symptoms of iron deficiency, and how to prevent it with iron-rich foods. Telenor will be amplifying this information through live shows on their platform, Khushaal Watan. pr

Islamabad news desk

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has acknowledged the short-term impact of monetary tightening on economic activity but stated that controlling inflation is crucial for sustainable growth. Fida Hus-

sain, Director Monetary Policy Department, SBP, emphasized that the bank's primary objective is to achieve price stability, which is essential for creating a predictable environment for consumers and investors to plan their savings and make investment decisions, which would affect growth prospects. The SBP recently raised its policy rate by 100 basis

OGDCLannounces financial results for half year ended Dec 31, 2022

Islamabad pr

The Board of Directors of Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) in its meeting held on 22nd February, 2023 at OGDCL Head Office, Islamabad announced the financial results for the half quarter ended 31st December, 2022 of fiscal year 2022-23. Net sales revenue clocked at Rs.203.235 billion translating to Profit after tax of Rs. 95.011 billion and earnings per share of Rs. 22.09.

The Board of Directors announced an interim cash dividend for the quarter ended December 31, 2022 @ Rs. 2.25 per share i.e. 22.50 percent. This is in addition to interim dividend already paid @ Rs.1.75 per share i.e. 17.50 percent to its shareholders. The dividend will be paid to the shareholders whose names will appear in the Register of Mem-

bers on March 07, 2023.

During the period under review, the Company paid Rs. 57.835 billion on account of Taxation. On the exploration and development side company recorded significant enhancement in seismic efforts and drilling activities.

The Share Transfer Books of the Company will be closed from March 08, 2023 to March 10, 2023 (both days inclusive). Transfers received at the CDC Share Registrar Services Limited, CDC House, 99B, Block “B”, S.M.C.H.S., Main Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi 74400 at the close of business on March 07, 2023 will be treated in time for the purpose of above entitlement to the transferees.

The Board of Directors appreciated the efforts of the management for taking effective steps for the implementation of company’s aggressive exploration program.

iescooperations circle holds live e-court via facebook today

In continuation of the customer friendly policies, in-charges of all operations circles of IESCO will conduct E-Kachery via facebook live and telephonically on 23rd February 2023 (Thursday) From 09:30 AM to 11:30 AM to ensure immediate resolution of consumer complaints and issues. IESCO consumers can participates in face book live E-Kachary by using face book ID SE IESCO Islamabad E-Kachery Phone No. 051-9260194,For Rawalpindi City Circle, SE IESCO Rawalpindi-City E-Kachery Phone No. 051-9292675, For Rawalpindi Cantt Circle, SE IESCO Rawalpindi-Cantt E-Kachery Phone No. 0519293048, For Attock Circle, SE IESCO Attock E-Kachery Phone No. 051-4950343, For Chakwal Circle, SE IESCO Chakwal E-Kachery Phone No. 0543-668500, For Jhelum Circle, SE IESCO Jhelum E-Kachery Phone No. 0544-9270377. Valuable customers are requested to mention their name, bill reference No, Contact No and complete address while launching the compliant. pr

ACCA hosts high-level conference in Karachi

KarachI pr

The Karachi session of ACCA Pakistan Leadership Conversation (PLC) 2023 provided opportunity to country’s senior business leaders and influencers to engage in future-focused discussions and offer businesses and the government with a forward-thinking action plan on how to weather the current economic headwinds and leverage new opportunities in emerging sectors.

Consistent with this year’s event theme ‘Shaping the future in uncertain times: Learn. Adapt. Thrive.’, the session focused on key policy reforms and business initiatives to create a conducive environment for the emerging sectors to thrive, help the country deal with its current economic challenges and embark on a journey to sustainable, inclusive growth.

Focusing on the central role of accountancy profession, ACCA’s global president, Joseph Owolabi, in his keynote address emphasised:

‘As society’s expectations shift with speed and intensity, the challenges that lie ahead for business, governments and policymakers are complex. But with skills, knowledge, and experience that transcend sectors and borders, the accountancy profession is uniquely placed to help drive the change people want to see.’

Syed Faisal Ali Subzwari, Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs, in his address focused on environment, climate change and green growth.

Sima Kamil, Deputy Governor, State Bank of Pakistan, also spoke at the event and delivered an insightful talk on the topic ‘Building economic resilience in uncertain times’.

Muhammad Aurangzeb, President and CEO, HBL, delivered an insightful keynote presenting a business case for the adoption of ESG framework and explained how it enables businesses to achieve sustainable growth: attract investments, earn customer trust, drive financial performance and make business operations more efficient.

points to 17% due to elevated inflation levels, uncertain global economic conditions, and increased challenges to Pakistan's external sector outlook. Fida also highlighted the need for fiscal policy to work in tandem with monetary policy to curtail demand-side pressures during high-inflation periods. To read the full article visit www.brecorder.com

Housing Ministry convens DsB meeting

A meeting of Departmental Selection Board (DSB) was held at the Ministry of Housing and Works under the Chairmanship of Secretary (Housing and Works). The meeting was attended by senior officials of Ministry of Housing and Works, representatives of Establishment Division, Law and Justice Division and Pakistan Public Works Department. The Board recommended following BS-18 officers of Pakistan Public Works Department (Pak. PWD) for promotion to BS-19: -

1. Mr. Rafaqat Iqbal, Executive Engineer (Civil)

2. Mr. Rashid Zia, Executive Engineer (Civil)

3.Mr. Muhammad Sohail Iqbal, Executive Engineer (E/M)

4. Mr. Khurshid-ul-Hassan, Architect. pr

NePrA hosts webinar on ‘incident investigation’

As part of its “Power with Safety” drive, National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) organized a webinar on “Incident Investigation” in collaboration with Syed Azhar Moin, Consultant HSE, MA’ADEN (Saudi Arabian Mining Company).

Chairman NEPRA, Mr. Tauseef H. Farooqi in his opening remarks spoke about ultimate NEPRA’s goal of zero-incidents in Pakistan Power Sector and therefore will keep on protecting precious human lives through such informative awareness sessions and application of effective control measures. The webinar was attended by HSE Professionals from the entire power sector of Pakistan besides NEPRA’s officials. The main objective of the webinar was to learn about the requirements of the Power Safety Code, how to investigate work-related incidents, to categorize and classify the incident, to find the incident facts, immediate cause(s) and its root causes as well as to establish corrective. pr

LAHORE: All Pakistan Women's Association (APWA) Chairperson Ruhi Sayid addresses foundation day ceremony while Samia Zahid, Miss Nighat, Zubaida Saleem and others sit on stage. staff photo

At Karachi Expo Center, career-fair organized by Hamdard University, which was inaugurated by both Chancellor, Sadia Rashid and Vice Chancellor Dr Shabeebul Hassan. pr

UN to coNveNe as UkraINe, allIes seek votes for ‘Peace’ resolUtIoN

uNiteD NatioNs agencies

tHeUN General Assembly meets

Wednesday, two days ahead of the anniversary of Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, with Kyiv and its allies hoping to garner broad support for a resolution calling for a “just and lasting peace.”

The draft resolution, sponsored by some 60 countries, is to be voted on after the close of debate — not expected until at least Thursday.

The text “underscores the need to reach, as soon as possible, a comprehensive, just and lasting peace in Ukraine in line with the principles of the Charter of the United Nations.”

Like previous resolutions, it reaffirms the UN’s “commitment to the sovereignty, independence, unity and territorial integrity of Ukraine” and calls for an immediate cessation of hostilities.

The text, which unlike a Security Council resolution would not create a binding law, demands Russia “immediately, completely and unconditionally withdraw all of its military forces from the territory of Ukraine.”

Kyiv hopes to garner the support of at least as many nations as in October, when 143 countries voted for a resolution condemning the annexation of several Ukrainian territories by Russia.

To that end, Ukraine stopped pushing for the immediate inclusion of President

Volodymyr Zelensky’s 10-point peace plan which he presented in November, according to diplomatic sources.

“I think we have come up with a text which really tries to gather the international community, tries to be as cohesive and as positive as possible,” said one european diplomat.

A year after the invasion of Ukraine, it will also be a message to Russia that “it cannot achieve its objectives through force”, the diplomat added, hoping that if Moscow “feels isolated, at a certain point the pressure will be too strong to be resisted.”

The days-long debate on the resolution, which will feature a host of ministers visiting New York, including US Secre-

tary of State Antony Blinken, is set to begin Wednesday at 3:00 pm local time (2000 GMT). On Tuesday, Russian President Vladimir Putin vowed to “systematically” continue his offensive in Ukraine, in an anti-Western speech reminiscent of the Cold War.

As some countries in the global South express weariness that the North is overly focused on the conflict, US ambassador Linda Thomas-Greenfield argued that supporting peace in Ukraine “is not somehow about choosing between the United States and Russia,” but “defending the charter” of the UN.

China is also growing worried that the conflict may spiral out of control, and

10 Palestinians killed, dozens shot in Israel West Bank raid

Nablus, PalestiNiaN territories

agencies

has indicated that it wants to present a proposal soon to find a “political solution” to the war.

China and others, notably India, have abstained during the series of UN votes on Ukraine.

“If Kyiv won’t talk about peace, there is a risk that the BRICS countries will start to say Ukraine is the real obstacle to peace,” said International Crisis Group analyst Richard Gowan, referring to Brazil, India, China and South Africa.

“That is why the US and eU were keen to get references to a cessation of hostilities in this week’s text,” he told rep[orters. That “cessation of hostiles” is accompanied by a stipulation that Russia withdraw its troops, since a simple ceasefire could be just a lull allowing Russia to regroup, diplomats noted.

If the resolution is mainly “symbolic,” Gowan said, it will have the merit of underlining Russia’s isolation, and “undermines Putin’s pretensions to be leading some grand anti-Western coalition.”

The General Assembly has voted on three resolutions voicing opposition to the Russian invasion over the past year, with each receiving between 140 and 143 votes in favor. Five countries have systematically voting against — Russia, Belarus, Syria, North Korea and eritrea, with fewer than 40 abstaining.

A fourth resolution in April sought to suspend Russia from the UN Human Rights Council, and while successful, it received less support.

Xi stresses sci-tech self-reliance, greater international cooperation

islaMabaD Mian abrar

Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, has stressed the efforts towards self-reliance in science and technology, adding that international cooperation and sharing are needed “more than ever.”

Xi made the remarks when attending the third group study session of the Political Bureau of the 20th CPC Central Committee on Tuesday afternoon. The session was focused on boosting basic research.

In the world of science, basic research is widely seen as the opposite of applied research, with the former focused on theories of how nature works, and the latter on technologies that we use in actual work. Breakthroughs in basic research can lead to new industries with countless new jobs. An example would be quantum physics, which laid the foundation of modern computers. working across thE bordEr: Xi stressed that humanity needs international cooperation and sharing more than ever to achieve development for all, adding that China should build platforms for such cooperation

and fund researchers around the world.

National-level sci-tech programs should open up further to cross-border cooperation, especially on fields of climate change, energy security, biological security and space exploration, Xi said.

An existing example of such corporation can be found in the world’s largest “artificial sun” project named International Thermonuclear experimental Reactor (ITeR), which involves more than 60 countries and regions to find a future energy source. China has delivered many key parts for the fusion machine.

China has established sci-tech cooperation relations with over 160 countries and regions, and is involved in about 60 global scientific projects. In 2021 alone, Chinese researchers wrote over 183,000 papers with their international counterparts from 169 countries and regions, official statistics showed. invEst morE: Xi has also called for more efforts to strengthen the forward-looking, strategic and systematic layout of basic research.

China’s annual investment in R&D reached three trillion yuan ($440 billion) for the first time in 2022, achieving an increase of 10.4 percent compared to the year before.

The huge investment brought about rich results. China has been climbing on the list of world’s most innovative countries and reached number 11 in 2022.

What’s more, data from World Intellectual Property Organization showed that China was the world’s top patent filer from 2019 to 2021.

talEnts mattEr: Xi pointed out that strengthening basic research ultimately depends on talents. So, efforts must be made to build an institutionalized high-level platform to cultivate talents for basic research.

China has established a series of talent cultivation projects targeting future scientists and provided facilities for existing sci-tech personnel to do a better job.

Moreover, the country is working hard on science popularization. Along with the construction of the China Space Station, a series of space classes have been aired to curious students in many countries, encouraging them to join human space exploration.

All in all, strengthening basic research is an urgent requirement for achieving greater self-reliance and strength in science and technology, according to Xi, and it is the only way to build a world leader in science and technology.

Israeli troops killed 10 Palestinians Wednesday in a raid on the occupied West Bank city of Nablus, while more than 80 suffered gunshot wounds, the Palestinian health ministry said.

The Israeli army said the raid targeted suspects “in a hideout apartment” accused of shootings in the West Bank.

Top Palestinian official Hussein Al Sheikh decried the incursion as a “massacre” and called for “international protection for our people”.

The death toll is equal to that of an Israeli army raid last month in Jenin, further north, which was the deadliest West Bank operation since at least 2005.

spaceX Dragon crewed flight to Iss pushed back 24 hours

WashiNgtoN aFP

US space agency NASA and SpaceX on Tuesday pushed back by 24 hours the launch of a Falcon 9 rocket that is to carry four astronauts to the International Space Station.

NASA’s Stephen Bowen and Warren Hoburg, Russia’s Andrey Fedyaev and Sultan al-Neyadi of the United Arab emirates had been scheduled to blast off for the ISS at 2:07 am (0707 GMT)

Sunday. Liftoff of the SpaceX Dragon Crew-6 from the Kennedy Space Center in Florida has now been rescheduled for 1:45 am Monday, NASA officials said.

The four astronauts are scheduled to spend six months on the orbiting space station. They arrived in Florida on Tuesday to begin their final preparations for the mission.

“When we looked at the work remaining to go, primarily on the vehicle, getting Dragon and Falcon 9 ready to go, we were a little bit behind,” said Steve Stich, manager of NASA’s commercial crew program. “And so we need a little bit more time,” said Stich, speaking to reporters after the agency and SpaceX completed what is known as a flight readiness review of the Falcon 9 rocket and Dragon crew capsule.

Stich said several issues needed to be addressed including additional analysis concerning the thermal performance of some of the pods that cover the exterior of the Dragon spacecraft. NASA officials said they expect the members of SpaceX Dragon Crew-6 to have a five-day handover with the four members of Dragon Crew5, who have been on the ISS since October.

ExtEndEd stay for soyuz crEw:

Also currently aboard the ISS are three astronauts whose return vehicle, a Soyuz MS-22 crew capsule, was damaged while docked with the ISS. Russia’s space agency Roscosmos said Tuesday that the trio — Russian cosmonauts Dmitry Petelin and Sergei Prokopyev and NASA astronaut Frank Rubio — were now expected to return to earth in September.

Global Security Initiative for a peaceful, united world

Ms PaNg ChuNxue news desk

Changes of the world, of our times and of history are unfolding today in ways like never before, the global peace deficit, security deficit, trust deficit and governance deficit are growing more and more, posing challenges that must be taken seriously by humanity.

In this context, President Xi Jinping last year put forward the Global Security Initiative based on the common interests of mankind, stressing that we should stay committed to the vision of common, comprehensive, cooperative and sustainable security; stay committed to respecting the sovereignty and territorial integrity of all countries; stay committed to abiding by the purposes and principles of the UN Charter; stay committed to taking the legitimate security concerns of all countries seriously; stay committed to peacefully resolving differences and disputes between countries through dialogue and consultation; stay committed to maintaining security in both traditional and non-traditional domains.

The Global Security Initiative is another international public product provided by China on global governance. It is a vivid practice of the concept of a community with a shared future for mankind in the field of security. It has received wide attention and positive response from the international community.

More than 80 countries and regional organizations have expressed their apprecia-

tion and support for GSI. On February 21, Chinese Foreign Minister Qin Gang delivered a keynote speech themed “Implementing the Global Security Initiative to Solve the Security Challenges Facing Humanity”, officially released the Global Security Initiative Concept Paper, which elaborates the core ideas and principles of the GSI and lays out 20 priorities of cooperation.

The Concept Paper fully demonstrates China’s commitment to the future and destiny of the world. The world today is far from peaceful. Hegemony and power politics are on the rise. Security issues are more interlinked, transnational and diverse, with new vulnerabilities, poverty areas and sources of instability keep emerging.

“What kind of security concept does the world need and how can all countries achieve common security?” has become the task of the times for everyone.

“Small boats may not survive a storm, but a giant ship is strong enough to brave a storm”. The Concept Paper is an effort to stand up to the changes of the world and answer the questions of the times. Rooted in true multilateralism, the Concept Paper advocates the win-win mindset to address the complex and intertwined security challenges.

It represents a coordinated approach to safeguarding traditional and non-traditional security and seeks to promote the establishment of a balanced, effective and sustainable security architecture. It thus offers a new ap-

proach to eliminating the root causes of international conflicts and achieving durable stability and security in the world, provides a new approach for improving global security governance.

The Concept Paper transcends the outdated western geopolitical security theory, under which the “zero-sum” and “cold war” mentality persist, and the bullying hegemonism and power politics prevail. In pursuit of their own absolute security, some countries are obsessed with building exclusive, small circles and blocs. They pursue

unilateralism in the name of multilateralism, use double standards while touting their own rules, and practice hegemony under the guise of democracy.

These acts have seriously undermined the international security order and aggravated the deficit in global security governance. Security is a right of all countries. It is not a prerogative of some, still less should it be decided by any individual country. For the sake of common well-being of mankind, the Concept Paper replaces zero-sum games with dialogue and cooperation, isolation and exclusivity with openness and inclusiveness, and exclusivity with exchange and mutual learning.

It links the future and destiny of all countries with common interests, challenges and responsibilities, and strive to share dignity, development benefits and security.

The Concept Paper is highly action-oriented. First, upholding the UN’s central role in security governance. Second, promoting coordination and sound interactions among major countries. Major countries should take the lead in upholding equality, cooperation and the rule of law.

Hegemonic, bullying and domineering practices should be rejected, and joint efforts should be made to build a framework of major-country relations featuring peaceful coexistence, overall stability and balanced development.

Third, facilitating peaceful settlement of hotspot issues through dialogue. Support

should be extended to the parties involved to settle their disputes and differences through dialogue and consultation. The international community should speak up for justice, cool down hotspots and deflate tensions.

Fourth, tackling traditional and non-traditional security challenges. It is important to promote global strategic stability, oppose arms race, and defuse nuclear war risks. Combined efforts are needed to counter terrorism, and safeguard data security, bio-security and the stability of supply and scientific and technological chains. Fifth, strengthening the system and capacity for global security governance.

A security governance architecture featuring coordination among governments and international organizations and participation of non-governmental organizations should be developed.

As the Chinese old saying goes “The way to benefit is to keep pace with the times”. Facing a turbulent and changing world, China is willing to make in-depth exchanges and mutual inspiration with all parties on the Concept Paper through the UN platform as well as multilateral and bilateral channels, and to make joint efforts to find the political solution of hotspots security issues, and protect the peace and tranquility of the world by contributing Chinese wisdom and input.

The author is charge d’affaires/acting ambassador of China to Pakistan.

ViNcE blitZ, imad’s hEroics fail to powEr KiNgs to Victory agaiNst sultaNs

MULTAn

Staff RepoRt

JAMESVince’s blistering 75 and skipper Imad Wasim’s crucial 46-run knock went in vain as Multan Sultans held their nerves calm to edge Karachi Kings by three runs in the high-scoring Pakistan Super League (PSL) eight thriller on Wednesday.

Set to chase 197, the Kings fell just three runs short as the side could finish at 194/5 despite a heroic knock by their captain Imad.

Earlier, the Kings openers gave their side a flying start as they added brisk 72 runs in just six overs with Vince leading the charge as he struck the fastest half-century of the ongoing edition in just 20 deliveries.

Usama Mir then broke the shackles for

the Sultans soon after the powerplay as he dismissed Matthew Wade on the first delivery of his spell to script his side’s comeback in the run chase. Wade could score 20 off 14 deliveries.

Meanwhile, Vince carried on to charge on the Sultans’ bowlers amid his 33-run partnership with Haider Ali before a mixup between the wickets brought curtains on his great knock. The right-handed batter topscored for the Kings with a 34-ball 75 that featured seven boundaries and six sixes.

The Kings then endured another setback in the run chase when Khushdil Shah removed Haider in the 12th over and the visitors consequently slipped to 113/3.

Following the slump, veteran batter Shoaib Malik and skipper Imad attempted to anchor the run chase as the pair added 35

india pledge all-out attack to break australia grip at t20 world cup

CApE TOwn agencieS

Australia and England are hot favourites to reach Sunday’s final of the Women’s T20 World Cup, but India captain Harmanpreet Kaur believes there is a factor which can alter the odds. “Pressure,” she said, looking ahead to Thursday’s semi-final against Australia at Newlands in Cape Town. “In World Cup games both teams are under pressure.” England play South Africa in the second semi-final on Friday Australia and England were unbeaten in the group stages and prevailed with attacking cricket when their superiority was challenged. “They attack a lot,” said 19-year-old India wicketkeeper Richa Ghosh. “So, whatever happens to them, even if the batter is out, they don’t stop attacking. We also have good batting depth, so will be playing an attacking game.” The odds, however, are against India. Defending champions Australia have won nine of the pair’s last 10 meetings with the other game ending in a tie. When they met in the 2020 final in Melbourne, Australia cantered to an 85-run win after bowling out India for just 99. However, skipper Meg Lanning said Wednesday that there will be no complacency in her team.

‘GrEaT dEpTh’ “I think that India have shown that they’re not relying on one or two players. They’ve got some great depthas well,” she said. “We both start at the same level tomorrow. It doesn’t matter what’s happened previously in this tournament or previous games. It’s about what happens on the park tomorrow. And yeah, we feel like if we play our best cricket, that will give us a really good chance to win.” Australia are expected to triumph and are largely impervious to the pressures that Kaur spoke about as winners of five out of seven T20 World Cups and seven 50-over World Cups. Australia will be appearing at Newlands for the first time in the tournament after playing their group matches in Paarl and Gqeberha. If anything the extra bounce and pace at Newlands should suit their stroke-playing batters as well as exciting fast bowler Darcie Brown and leg-spinner Georgia Wareham.

They have a bowling attack which has yet to concede more than the 124 runs scored by South Africa. India have a strong batting line-up in which Jemima Rodrigues, Smriti Mandhana and hard-hitting Ghosh have been in the runs.

runs for the fourth wicket before the latter fell in the 17th over after scoring 13 off 19. Skipper Imad, however, kept the game alive with belligerent hitting as he took Mohammad Ilyas to the cleaners in the 19th over but Abbas Afridi held his composure in the tense final over and successfully defended 22 runs to steer his side to glory. Imad remained unbeaten with a brisk 47-run knock in just 26 balls, laced with five sixes.

Abbas led the bowling attack for the Sultans with 2/55 while Usama and Khushdil could pick up a wicket.

Put into bat first by the Kings, the Sultans piled up a mammoth 196/1 in their set of 20 overs with their skipper Mohammad Rizwan leading the charge with a magnificent century.

Liverpool rebuild begins now after Real Madrid humiliation

LIVERpOOL afp

A night that began with a Liverpool rebellion on and off the field ended with a chorus of “Oles” from the visiting support as Real Madrid ran riot to win the first leg of their Champions League last 16 tie 5-2.

A repeat of last season’s final offered the Reds the chance for revenge and to save a season to forget.

Instead, Liverpool’s frailties were brutally exposed by the Spanish giants despite conceding twice inside the first 15 minutes.

There was an extra edge to Anfield’s normal noise on a big European night.

An independent investigation into the chaotic scenes surrounding the Champions League final in Paris last May has laid the blame clearly at UEFA’s door for endangering the safety of supporters.

The Liverpool fans were in no mood to forgive European football’s governing body as the competition’s anthem was booed and banners aimed at UEFA and the French authorities sprinkled over the Kop.

Jurgen Klopp’s players were charged by the elec-

tric atmosphere that rocked Madrid back on their heels.

The decision to invest the vast majority of Liverpool’s summer transfer budget in Darwin Nunez rather than refreshing a tired midfield has been consistently questioned as the Reds have rapidly gone backwards this season.

But the £67 million ($80 million) striker showed a flash of what he is capable of with a brilliant backheel to open the scoring before Mohamed Salah pounced on an uncharacteristic error from Thibaut Courtois to make it 2-0.

There was a time when a 2-0 deficit to Klopp’s Liverpool would have seemed insurmountable to even the European champions.

But in 2023 alone they have shipped three goals to Brighton, Brentford and Wolves and suffered even greater punishment when faced with the razor-sharp quality of Madrid in the final third.

SELf-INfLIcTEd damaGE: Vincius Junior’s strike to bring Real back into the tie and Karim Benzema’s cool finish to round off the scoring were moments of individual and collective brilliance from the Spanish champions.

New Zealand primed to ‘throw some punches’ at confident England

WELLINGTON: New Zealand will “throw some punches” when they face an attacking England in the second Test starting on Friday in Wellington, as the hosts bid to rescue the two-match series. Bowling greats James Anderson and Stuart Broad, combined with some aggressive batting, propelled England to a thumping 267-run first Test win in a day-night encounter in Mount Maunganui. It was England’s 10th win in 11 Tests under head coach Brendon McCullum and further evidence of the success of the New Zealander’s “Bazball” attacking cricket revolution. In contrast, New Zealand are struggling for form and confidence going into the clash at Wellington’s Basin Reserve, where rain could play a part on the first two days. The hosts are winless in their last seven Tests since beating South Africa a year ago in Christchurch, including suffering a 3-0 whitewash in England last June. “I don’t think it’s unfair to say we are lacking a bit of that confidence at the moment,” said head coach Gary Stead, whose side were dismissed for 126 in their second innings of the first Test to lose in a little over three days. “But I can assure you the faith is still with this group of guys. “We’re going to put everything behind them to make sure we go out there in Wellington and really throw some punches back at England.” afp

FG Polo, MP register victories as 2nd President Polo Cup continues

LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

FG Polo and Master Paints (MP) registered victories on the second day of the 2nd President of Pakistan Polo Cup 2023 sponsored by Takmeel Square here at the Jinnah Polo Fields on Wednesday.

Raul Laplacette shone in FG Polo’s 6-4 triumph over Diamond Paints in the first match of the day. Raul Laplacette was in sublime form and amused the spectators with his excellent polo skills and techniques as he fired in five fabulous goals. Mian Abbas Mukhtar also played well and converted one goal in FG Polo’s tally. Chulo Corti banged in a brace while Nico Roberts and Mir Huzaifa Ahmed struck one goal each for Diamond Paints.

FG Polo started the match with two back-toback goals to earn a 2-0 lead but Diamond Paints

bounced back with a conversion of a 40-yard penalty to reduce the margin to 1-2. Diamond Paints dominated the second chukker by thrashing in two back-to-back goals to gain a slight 32 lead but FG Polo scored an equalizer to level the score at 3-3. In the third and fourth chukkers, FG Polo team turned the tables by converting three goals against one by Diamond Paints to win the match by 6-4. Manuel Crispo excelled in Master Paints’ 8½-6 triumph over DS Polo in the second match. In-form Manuel Crispo did the magic with mallet and polo pony and fired in four fantastic goals while Pelagio Balazaldi and Agha Musa Ali Khan thrashed in two goals each for Master Paints. Hissam Ali Hyder though played extremely well as he converted five impressive goals and Bilal Haye struck one, yet their efforts couldn’t yield fruit for DS Polo.

President urges women’s football team to make country proud with performance

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan’s National Football Teams of Men and Women, Normalisation Committee Chairman Haroon Malik and NC members met with President Dr Arif Alvi at Aiwan-eSadr in Islamabad. President Arif Alvi, while appreciating the performance of the national women’s team, who remained runner-up in the Four-Nations Tournament in Saudi Arabia, said that the players should work very hard to make the country proud with their performances.

“Football is very popular in Pakistan. There is a need to adopt international standards for the promotion of this game in the

country so that encouragement of footballers should be continued. Links with international partners and public-private partnerships are very important for the uplift of the game in the country.

“Unfortunately, the internal politics of the Pakistan Football Federation affected the performance of the national teams. The FIFA’s designated Normalization Committee should step up its efforts to resolve issues related to football matters in the country and I hope that with the help of the Normalization Committee, there will be a clear improvement in the performance of the federation,” the President added.

On the occasion, Chairman Normalization Committee Haroon Ahmed Malik said that

more than seven million people play football in Pakistan. “Efforts are being made to improve the system of the federation, and so far about 4600 clubs have been registered from 163 districts of the country.

“The process of document verification and physical scrutiny will be completed in a due course of time. Pakistan Women’s team participated in their first international event after 8 years while Men’s team played their first international match after 4 years,” Haroon added.

Talking about the upcoming assignments of the team, the NC Chairman said that the men’s team will participate in the FIFA World Cup 2026 Qualifiers and the Women’s team will participate in the qualifiers for the 2024 Paris Olympics.

JusTIce Isa declInes PTI requesT To Probe cablegaTe

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

THESupreme Court has turned down a set of petitions for an investigation into a cipher presented by former prime minister Imran Khan as evidence of a “foreign conspiracy” to overthrow his government.

The verdict was pronounced by Justice Qazi Faez Isa after conducting an in-chamber hearing on petitions filed by Barrister Zulfiqar Ahmed Bhutta, Syed Tariq Badar, and Naeem ul-Hasan last year.

The petitions sought the formation of a “high-powered commission” to probe the alleged foreign conspiracy against the government of Khan. The respondents in the case were named as the federation through the law and justice secretary, the prime minister, and the cabinet secretary.

The applications were returned earlier over objections by the Registrar’s Office, but the petitioners filed fresh pleas against these objections.

It is a common practice for the court

office to sometimes return petitions by raising objections such as questioning why the petitioner has approached the apex court directly without exhausting other available forums first.

Such rejections are usually challenged by the petitioners and taken up by a judge nominated by the chief justice in

Pakistani officials in Kabul for crucial talks on combating militancy

ISLAMABAD/KABUL

Staff RepoRt

A high-level delegation, headed by Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif, arrived in Kabul on Wednesday to meet officials of the Taliban government for discussions on security-related matters, including counter-terrorism measures, the Foreign Office said.

In addition to Asif, the delegation included Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) Director General Nadeem Anjum, Foreign Secretary Asad Majeed Khan, Chargé d’Affaires to Afghanistan Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, and Pakistan’s Special Representative for Afghanistan Mohammad Sadiq. The delegation met with Afghanistan’s Acting Deputy Prime Minister Mullah Abdul Ghani Baradar, as per photos released by the Afghan Prime Minister’s office. According to a statement from the Afghan Council of Ministers, both sides also discussed bilateral relations, trade, economic cooperation, and regional connectivity.

The government of Taliban said Pakistan and Afghanistan are adjacent countries and should be cultivating strong ties. “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan desires increased commercial and economic relations with Pakistan, as such collaboration is beneficial to both nations,” it added. “Political issues should not have an effect on trade matters between the two countries and must be kept apart from security problems.” The Afghan deputy prime minister requested the delegation to release Afghans jailed in Pakistan. Additionally, they implored Pakistan to provide amenities for Afghan passengers at Torkham and Chaman–Spin Boldak borders, with special attention to emergency patients. Islamabad promised Kabul to resolve the issues and said that the relevant ministries and committees will be asked to intensify their efforts for solutions.

Recently, the Torkham border — the primary trading and border crossing point between the two countries — was shut for the third consecutive day due to a deadlock over initiating a conversation between border officials.

The closure came after the Taliban accused Pakistan of not fulfilling its commitments.

The Afghan Taliban commissioner for Torkham also confirmed the closure, citing the lack of compliance on Pakistan’s part. Furthermore, unconfirmed media reports mention that the interim Afghan government was displeased with an unexpected ban on Afghan patients visiting Pakistan for medical purposes. Recently, the Torkham border experienced a clash between Pakistan and Afghanistan in which a security guard was wounded. It is hoped that the two countries will work together to develop a peaceful resolution to the current situation.

High-profile ‘detentions’ as PTI launches court arrest drive

LAHORE/ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

made any decision to investigate the matter.

He pointed out that Khan had the power to order an investigation and that all authorities were under the prime minister. Justice Isa also asked what impact the cipher had on the petitioners’ or his own life, adding there was no matter of fundamental rights in this case.

He questioned whether the Supreme Court should be sent all ciphers from around the world and if they would announce war in case of an attack in the future.

He also suggested that if the government wanted, they could make the ciphers public, but if someone else did it, it would be a violation of the Officials’ Secret Act.

his chamber. Justice Sardar Tariq Masood had recused himself from a hearing scheduled for January 24 and had sent the pleas back to the top judge.

During the hearing, Justice Isa questioned whether dealing with foreign affairs was the responsibility of the court and whether Khan, as the prime minister, had

Furthermore, Justice Isa said if the prime minister wanted, he could use his authority to end relations with the world. He emphasised that whoever’s job it was, they should do it and that the judiciary could not interfere in the executive’s matters.

When the petitioner’s lawyer suggested the court had to monitor who was doing what, the judge claimed the “elders”, an apparent reference to the military, had forbidden him from seeing anything.

a complete guide to new taxes on airlines tickets and travel destinations

LAHORE

Daniyal ahmaD

The Government of Pakistan has levied a new round of Federal Excise Duty (FED) on airline tickets. The new duties were approved by the National Assembly on February 20 as part of the amended Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 moved by Minister of Finance, Mohammad Ishaq Dar.

The new duties are applicable to customers who purchase club class, business class, and first class tickets. The rate of the duty levied upon passengers will depend on their respective destination. The Government of Pakistan has currently levied four different duty amounts that passengers will have to pay for different destinations. They have utilised the International Air Transport Association’s (IATA) Traffic Conference Areas to delineate between the different duties that are to be paid.

The duties to be paid in accordance with the Government of Pakistan’s utilisation of the IATA Traffic Conference Areas

are as follows:

The duties have been levied as part of the Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 to enhance the Government’s tax collection, and enable it to raise Rs 170 billion in tax revenue. The purpose of the new fiscal measures is to unlock $1.1 billion from the International Monetary Fund.

Does this affect customers travelling in Economy Class?

Addressing the elephant in the room, the FED in its current iteration is not applicable to customers travelling on economy class fares.

What even is a Federal Excise Duty?

A Federal Excise Duty is a federally administered duty levied on goods and services in Pakistan at varying rates. FED can be rendered on the following: Goods produced or manufac-

tured in Pakistan; Goods imported into Pakistan Goods produced in the non-tariff areas, and then brought into the tariff area for sale Services provided or rendered in Pakistan

The scope of the tax on services is limited to the Islamabad Capital Territory. According to the constitution, sales tax on services, which replaces Federal excise duty (FED), must be imposed and collected by the provinces or Islamabad on services provided within their respective territories.

How did the FED on airline tickets come about?

The imposition of a FED on airline tickets is originally part of the original Finance (Supplementary) Bill 2023 approved by the Cabinet on February 15.

Leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI), including deputy chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and secretary general Asad Umar, gave themselves up for arrest on Wednesday as the opposition party launched the much-touted court arrest drive from Lahore to protest what it views as an “attack” on the fundamental rights and the economic decline under the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government.

Fawad Chaudhry, senior vice president of the party, said in a video message that around 500-700 workers surrendered themselves for arrest, while the police arrived with prison vans but were “worried after seeing the thousands of people and contemplating what they should do.”

Pakistan Today was able to verify the PTI leaders forced themselves into the prison van, and there were no reports of arrests so far by the police. Separately, the party said the campaign would carry on and extend to multiple cities throughout Pakistan, pending the government’s announcement of the general election date.

In his statement, Chaudhry expressed gratitude towards party supporters and workers for their response and declared the movement would move forward. It will be launched in Peshawar on Thursday, followed by Rawalpindi, Multan, Gujranwala, Sargodha, and Sahiwal.

The industrial and distribution centre of Faisalabad will join the movement on March 1.

Chaudhry added the protest would be limited to Lahore on Wednesday and would continue until the evening before moving to Peshawar.

In a series of tweets, former prime minister Imran Khan said the Jail Bharo campaign for Haqeeqi Azaadi (real freedom) is a non-violent protest aimed at countering alleged constitutional violations. He also cited “sham FIRs and NAB cases, custodial torture, attacks on journalists and social media people” as reasons for the campaign.

The chairman of the PTI party additionally emphasised that the campaign was targeted at those responsible for the economic downturn, declaring that a “cabal of crooks” had “money laundered billions in looted wealth” while burdening the poor and middle class with “spiralling inflation and rising unemployment.”

The campaign comes amid a wider political turmoil in Pakistan and represents a challenge to the ruling coalition. Separately, in a video message shared on the party’s Twitter account, Khan urged citizens to participate in the campaign, which he described as “the name of jihad”.

He believes the movement is the key to achieving a “sovereign and prosperous Pakistan” by protecting citizens’ fundamental rights. Khan is urging more people to join the movement, as he believes it will expedite the country’s path towards “true freedom.”

Earlier in the day, Qureshi, while speaking to the press, said he has decided to “defy” Khan’s suggestion to not turn himself in, in order to set a tradition for the party leaders to give arrest before the workers.

The former foreign minister also expressed his concerns regarding the PML-N’s campaign against the judiciary and called on the legal fraternity to not remain silent and take responsibility. He criticised its leadership for insulting respected judges and creating obstacles in their paths.

Balochistan minister arrested amid growing anger at Barkhan murders

QUETTA

Staff RepoRt

Balochistan Minister for Construction and Communications Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran was arrested Wednesday over his alleged connection with the gruesome murder of three people while heirs of Barkhan incident’ victims continued their sit-in in Quetta for the second consecutive day, demanding justice.

The police said that Provincial Minister Sardar Abdul Rehman Khetran was arrested as he was accused

of murdering three people – a woman and her two sons. Khan Muhammad Marri, the man whose three family members were murdered, has accused Khetran of keeping his five other family members in a “private jail”.

Late Tuesday night, the police had also raided the minister’s residence to recover Marri’s five children and sealed roads leading to Khetran’s house in Quetta’s Patel Bagh.

When the pressure grew on the police, they registered a case against unknown persons under Sections 34

(doing any act with intention of causing harm to any person), 202 (Causing disappearance of evidence of offence, or giving false information to screen offender), and 302 (qatl-i-amd) of the Pakistan Penal Code.

‘Victim families continue sit-in’

On the other hand, the heirs of victims of Barkhan incident continued their sit-in in Quetta on Wednesday.

The heirs of the deceased appealed to the government that a case should be registered against Balochistan Minister for Communication and Works Sardar

Abdul Rehman Khetran.

They also demanded the government that five missing persons should be recovered immediately. They threatened to continue their sit-in till acceptance of their demand.

It was the second day of their protest sin-in wherein the protesters unveiled their six-point demands. They demanded suspension of provincial minister, besides his arrest. They further said a case should be registered against Abdul Rehman Khetran and the five missing persons should also be recovered.

ukraine’s Zelenskyy phones president alvi to seek support over conflict with Russia

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

President of Ukraine Volodymyr Zelenskyy on Wednesday telephoned President Dr Arif Alvi and sought Pakistan’s support for the draft resolution being tabled in the United Nations General Assembly (UNGA) to bring about an end to the ongoing Ukraine-Russia conflict.

During the conversation, President Zelensky referred to his ten-point peace for-

mula and sought support for the draft resolution being tabled in the United Nations General Assembly for ending the UkraineRussia conflict.

On the occasion, President Dr Alvi conveyed that Pakistan remained deeply concerned over the conflict in Ukraine. He said that Pakistan supported a peaceful solution to the conflict in accordance with the UN Charter.

Dr Alvi said that the contents of the draft resolution were being evaluated by the gov-

ernment of Pakistan.

The two leaders discussed PakistanUkraine political and economic ties, including energy and food security issues facing the developing world in the wake of the ongoing Russia-Ukraine conflict.

Both sides emphasised the need for enhancing economic and trade relations for the mutual benefit of the two countries.

President Zelenskyy also extended an invitation to the president to visit Ukraine.

Pakistan has maintained a delicate bal-

ance since Russia invaded Ukraine a year ago.

Despite pressure from the US and its western allies, Islamabad has not publicly denounced Russia, though it does raise concerns over the humanitarian situation in Ukraine. Islamabad also twice abstained from voting on a resolution at the UN General Assembly session against Russia.

Earlier this month, Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari once again emphasized for the early resolution of the Russia-Ukraine conflict through dialogue

and diplomacy.

He made the remarks during a meeting with his Ukrainian counterpart Dmytro Kuleba on the sidelines of the Munich Security Conference in Germany and further conveyed his concerns over the conflict.

FM Bilawal took to his Twitter handle to share details of the meeting and said the two leaders “had an in-depth exchange of views on a range of issues and resolved to further enhance bilateral cooperation for benefit of their peoples”.