MiniStEr’S bluE-EyEd PoStEd on dEPutation GivEn CharGE of dG PSQCa

ISLAMABAD Ghulam abbaS aFTERrejecting summary for appointment for three years by establishment division, the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) has given look after charge of Director General (DG) of its attached department Pakistan Standard and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) to a blue-eyed who is serving in the ministry on deputation from Balochistan. As the federal minister of MoST apparently wants his man to hold the important post at any cost, the official by using his own authority, has given look after charge to a BS-20 officer of Government of Balochistan, who has joined the ministry recently on deputation basis for three months despite advertising the post (of DG PSQCA) as MP-1 scale for a second time.

According to a notification issued on Tuesday, the federal minister of MoST Agha Hassan Baloch has assigned look after charge of the post of DG PSQCA to Mir Ghulam Farooq Langov, joint secretary (Admin) MoST for a period of three months or till appointment of regular incumbent in MP-1 scale, whichever is earlier.

During look after charge, the officer will carry out such functions and exercise such powers that are covered under establishment Divisions conveyed in April 2021.

Interestingly, through a summary, the ministry, despite admitting the fact that the recruitment of DG PSQCA is under process after advertising the post for a second time, informed the Federal Cabinet that the Minister for MoST wanted to appoint a BS20 officer of Government of Balochistan against the said post despite himself serving on deputation basis for three years. Since there was no legal justification of appointing the officer for three years, the Establishment Division had reportedly rejected the summary, asking the ministry to expedite the due recruitment process of DG on MP-1 scale. The only justification given in the summary was, “the decision of appointment of DG PSQCA on deputation is being made as the Minister wishes to do the same”. Interestingly, there was no need to give the look after charge to the one on deputation as an officer of the ministry Mr Zainul Abedeen was already holding the charge in absence of a regular DG.

The federal minister has insisted on appointing Mr Langov, who holds a degree of MA International Relations (2nd Division) and LLB (1st Division) against a purely technical post of DG PSQCA. As per details, the process of appointment of DG PSQCA was initiated by the Ministry after conversion of post of DG PSQCA into MP-I Scale with the approval of MP and SPS Scale Conversion Committee in its meeting held on 26.08.2021. The Finance Division also allowed the conversion of post into MP-I Scale via its letter dated 15.11.2021. The post of DG PSQCA was advertised on 27-112022 and a total of 98 applications were received of which shortlisting of the applications is under process. It may be mentioned here that a case related to advertisement/process of recruitment of DG PSQCA is pending at Islamabad High Court. The Petitioner in the case Dr Shahzad Afzal, had prayed that appointment of head of PSQCA on acting basis was a breach of MP Scale Policy 2020 and no one can be appointed on acting basis for more than 90 days. It may be mentioned here that MoST has not been able to fill the post of DG PSQCA since

APTMA asks govt to take stakeholders into confidence before limiting retail business timings

LAHore Shahab omeR

Chairman All Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA) North Hamid Zaman has urged the government to take stakeholders into confidence before notifying new timing for retail business.

He expressed concerns that issuance of any such notification without consultation between stakeholders and the government, retail sales in the country would plummet and ultimately reduce demand for locally produced textile and other products.

He was addressing a press conference on Tuesday and said thousands of branded retail outlets operate in major markets and shopping malls of the country.

“Outlets owned by members of APTMA, Chainstore Association of Pakistan (CAP) and Retail Business Council are fully tax-compliant ‘Tier-1 retailers’. They are duly integrated with the FBR-POS system and contribute greatly to the formal economy of the Country. Retail employees constitute 14% of total workforce with over 10 million people directly or indirectly working on shopping malls, manufacturing, service providing, cottage industry, etc,” he added.

According to him, early closure of shops will have a serious negative impact on GDP, employment and tax collection and lead to closure of factories.

Speaking on the occasion, Vice Chairman APTMA Asad Shafi said the importance of retail business could be assessed from the fact that the retail sector comprises over 18% of Pakistan’s $376 billion GDP, or $64 billion of total GDP.

Shafi said the organized retailers pay up to 17% GST and 35% income tax, operate at a commercial tariff of Rs70 per unit (the highest in the country), and do not receive subsidies.

He added that the domestic retail sector plays a crucial role in supporting

information Minister accuses wounded imran of ‘dodging courts with lame excuses’

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The minister for information and broadcasting the textile export industry during a time of global recession, and curtailment in retail hours could result in more factory closures and significant economic losses for the country.

Tuesday criticised Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman Imran Khan, who is recovering after being shot during a rally last year, for “avoiding” court appearances in the Toshakhana case by citing “lame excuses.” The former prime minister, who is residing in Lahore since November, left for Islamabad in the morning and is expected to appear before multiple courts today. The cases include a prohibited funding case in a banking court, an anti-terrorism case, and two cases in local courts. But according to Marriyum Aurangzeb, Khan has been evading the court despite continued demands for his appearance. She further added the “foreign agent” was seeking bail in the case but refused to show up in court when charges were to be framed against him. Aurangzeb emphasised that if Khan failed to appear in court, he should be arrested.

The minister said: “If [deposed prime minister] Nawaz Sharif could appear in court with his daughter on a daily basis, why can’t Imran Khan appear with Bushra and Farah Gogi?” She pointed out that Khan’s wife and her friend, Farah Khan, left him alone to face the courts during his difficult time. Aurangzeb accused Khan of selling gifts from the Cabinet Division department and questioned why he sold the watch with an image of the Holy Kaaba. She also asked why Bushra Bibi sold Toshakhana’s diamond necklaces and why foreign agents used charity money in politics. Additionally, the minister also accused him of investing charity money meant for Shaukat Khanum Hospital in a housing society. Furthermore, Aurangzeb questioned why Khan took millions of dollars from the Wootton cricket club and why that money was invested in politics. She demanded that Khan should explain why foreign funding was used against the country. The minister also called for his arrest if he continued to evade the court. She also questioned the legitimacy of Khan’s actions related to the Toshakhana case, Shaukat Khanum Hospital charity money, and foreign funding used against the country.

“8 to 10 p.m. are considered to be peak hours for retail sales, as many consumers typically go shopping after work around 7 PM, especially when all other workplaces will continue to operate on normal timings. Reduced timing may curtail sales by 30%, costing $15 billion or Rs3.5 trillion in economic activity,” he apprehended, saying that it would erode hundreds of billions in sales tax and income tax collection, for a mere annual electricity savings of Rs 62 billion.

Chairman CPA Tariq Rana said early closure could result in job losses for 3-4 million people, or 35% of the workforce.

“The retail sector provides valueadded employment and absorbs 14% of the national workforce, with 10 million people employed in two shifts. Over 40% of annual retail sales occur during the 30 days of the Holy month of Ramadan, and early closure during this period would lead to a collapse of annual sales and tax revenues. Major malls and organized retailers already use energy-efficient lighting and cooling technologies for cost-effective energy usage. Wholesale and retail outlets in rural areas already close by 8 PM, and this restriction will impact retailers operating in urban and semi-urban areas, particularly organized tax-paying businesses,” he said.

The APTMA leadership has urged the government to implement daylight saving timings across the country to save approximately 1 percent of the annual energy costs, which translates to USD 230 million of the total fuel import bill of USD 23 billion.

Also, they said, the government should fix the retail sector closing time to 10 PM for the whole year (excluding festivals), with a 30% voluntary reduction in their electricity consumption during operating hours.

Non-bailable arrest warrants for Imran in Toshakhana case

FORMER PM SECURES BAIL IN THREE OF RECORD FOUR CASES HEARD SIMULTANEOUSLY

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

After securing bail in three cases involving prohibited funding, terrorism, and attempted murder, former prime minister Imran Khan faced a legal setback as a fourth court issued non-bailable arrest warrants for him in the Toshakhana case. The warrants were issued just hours after the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) chairman narrowly dodged arrest in two of over 70 complaints on various charges, including terrorism, registered against him across the country.

Khan, who is recovering in Lahore from gunshot wounds sustained during a rally last year, appeared before four different courts in Islamabad on Tuesday, accompanied by a large number of party workers and supporters.

He was scheduled to be indicted in the Toshakhana case but his lawyer requested that he be excused from the hearing due to prior commitments in other courts. The indictment has been postponed twice before.

According to Additional Sessions Judge Zafar Iqbal, the hearing has been adjourned until March 7.

MaratHon daY: In the first case of terrorism, the antiterrorism court (ATC) judge, Raja Jawad Abbas, approved Khan’s interim bail until March 9 in a case about violent protests outside the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP). Meanwhile, the banking court judge, Rakhshinda Shaheen, confirmed bail for the former prime minister in the prohibited funding case. Khan appeared before the two judges separately. The terrorism case was filed in October of last year at Islamabad’s Sangjani police station after supporters of the opposition party held demonstrations outside the tribunal’s offices across the country, following the disqualification of the former prime minister in the foreign gifts reference.

In the funding case, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) had booked Khan and a number of his aides in connection with their party allegedly receiving “prohibited funding” in October. The case was filed by the state through the corporate banking circle of the agency in Islamabad.

In September last year, the ECP issued its verdict in the case, which was previously referred to as the foreign funding case, against the party, declaring the party did indeed receive prohibited funding.

Following this development, Khan arrived at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) which granted him pre-arrest bail until March 9 in the attempted murder case. The foreign funding case was heard in a banking court, and the terrorism case in an anti-terrorism court located inside the judicial complex. While the Toshakhana and attempted murder cases were taken up at a sessions court in the F-8 sector.

17-year-old student subjected to brutal torture by fellow students

LAHore Shahab omeR the retirement of DG Abdul Aleem Memon on September 25, 2021. An official source of the ministry, who did not want to be named, informed that secretary MoST and others were not in favor of the minister’s decision. According to him, the minister has already deputed another officer from the education department of Balochistan in PSQCA as director on deputation basis giving him additional charge of secretary PSQCA. Now after the fresh decision the two non-technical and inexperienced officials from Balochistan (Mr Langov and Mureed Baloch) would be running affairs of the very important organization, which is the only standard body responsible for ensuring quality and standard of over 166 food and nonfood mandatory items. Secretary MoST Ghulam Memon could not be contacted for comments despite repeated attempts.

A gang of young boys subjected a 17-year-old student of Lahore Grammar School (Gulberg A Level Branch) Lahore to brutal torture and the video of the incident was put on social media.

A cousin of the victim, Hayat Sajjad, posted a video on social media, stating that his cousin had no personal issue but was severely tortured by twenty-five boys for no reason.

“My cousin, who had his exams going on, went to a café (which is also a snooker club) with his friends after the exams. My cousin’s friend had been involved in a school fight in which my cousin had no involvement whatsoever (even if he had, it doesn’t justify what happened). Once the guys saw my cousin and his friends, they called for ‘back up’ which happened to be 20-25 big boys, and just launched attack at them”.

“They beat him up so ruthlessly and also broke glass bottles on his head as well as snooker balls. The beating resulted in my cousin getting five stitches in his head and left a hand fractured. The perpetrators recorded the beating and posted it on social media with songs edited in the background. We’ve been feeling quite helpless,” he stated.

Similarly, Hayat’s father informed that Hayat did not know these boys at all.

“These boys have formed ‘Gang-102’ and have thousands of followers on social networks. The boys of this gang also seek money from people to fight and 30 to 35 boys in this gang attack together in whatever incident they are involved in. This is not the first incident of violence involving these boys but they have been involved in many such incidents even before,” he informed. In the viral video on social media, it can be seen that more than two dozen boys tortured Hayat, but the police named only one student in the FIR of the incident.

When contacted, an official of Gulberg Police Station confirmed the involvement of the gang and said that this gang of boys from private educational institutions in Lahore has 35 members and operates under the name of Gang 102.

According to the said official, this gang of students used to torture boys outside different schools and now a case has been registered against the gang for torturing Hayat Sajjad in Gulberg.

However, according to SP Amara Shirazi, a case has been registered and a student has been arrested.

“The accused had tortured a student in a snooker club and spread fear and panic by uploading videos of the torture on social media,” she added.

PnS naSr with 1000-tonne relief goods leaves for Syria, turkiye

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The National Disaster Management (NDMA) on Tuesday dispatched the first shipment through Naval Ship NASR from KTP West Wharf Karachi as part of continuous relief assistance being extended on Prime Minister’s instruction to the quake-affected people of Tukiye and Syria. Federal Minister for Maritime Affairs Faisal Subzwari, Turkish Consul General Jamal Sangu and Commander Pakistan Fleet

Rear Admiral Faisal Abbasi saw off the ship. This consignment contains large family-sized winterized tents & blankets as per the current need of quake affectees in Türkiye whereas generators, dry rations, medicines and clothing for the victims in Syria. The ship carrying 1,000 tonnes of relief goods for the people two brotherly countries, would reach the destination within 14 days. On the occasion, Federal Minister Faisal Subzwari expressed his sincere condolences over the loss of precious lives due to the earthquake in both the countries and assured that the government and the people of Pakistan would extend every possible assistance to their brethren in need.

‘love doesn’t exist’: children of Pakistan immigrants defy forced marriage abroad

guAStALLA the aSSociated pReSS

From the day of her birth in Pakistan, Iram Aslam was betrothed to a cousin 17 days older. But to the young woman, who emigrated as a teenager to this Italian farm town on the Po River plain, the cousin felt like a brother. So on a visit to her homeland, she played for time, telling her aunts she wasn’t ready for marriage. “They did everything possible to make me marry him,″ said Aslam, now 29. She said she told them: ”‘I don’t want to marry him and please don’t ask me anymore.’” Her family, in both Italy and Pakistan, kept scheming to have her wed a man of their choice — and their caste. Aslam dismissed around 30 potential husbands. “In the end, I made everyone angry, and no one talks to me anymore,” she said of her relatives in Pakistan. In two murder trials this month, Italian prosecutors are seeking justice for Pakistani immigrant women allegedly killed because they refused marriages imposed by their parents. The cases highlight differences, often misconstrued as religion-based, between centuriesold immigrants’ cultural traditions and Western values prizing individualism. “I liked another person, wanted another one,″ Aslam said of her own situation. “But they didn’t want it, because, among us, love doesn’t exist.” Love is viewed “as a sin,” she added, her thick, wavy brown hair covered by a multicoloured headscarf.

Businesses feeling the pinch

An economy built on unsustainable foundations

SInCE the removal of the peg against the dollar, the rupee slid rapidly to find a more realistic value in the currency market and has even regained some lost ground since. From a low of 276.50 last month, currently it is hovering in the 260-261 range. This relative strength however is temporary. after much dillydallying by the PMLn, the undeniable reality of needing the IMF’s help was accepted, much to the detriment of an already collapsing economy. While some of the more immediate measures such as energy and fuel price hikes have already been taken, the next step is likely to be the removal of the curbs on import.

The SBP in tandem with the Finance Ministry has been instructing banks to either refuse the opening of import LCs or delay their retirements to save foreign exchange reserves. This has led to the current account deficit shrinking significantly, down 90.2 percent year-on-year in January to just $0.24 billion.

This practice extended over to avoiding paying foreign companies their dues that have to be remitted outwards.

Major players such as Emirates and most recently DHL have resultantly scaled back their operations, something that is bound to impact individual and business customers alike. Once the Fund forces the government’s hand to allow regular trading activity to continue through banks, a sizeable volume of backlogged imports will be cleared very rapidly that will most certainly put pressure on the rupee. While there are no restrictions on exports, the fact that many exporters rely on imported raw material for their products, means they too have been unable to operate at capacity. additionally, an international economic recession has hit demand as well.

additionally, businesses, like households, have had to contend with record inflation as well. apart from high operating costs, long term financing costs have skyrocketed owing to aggressive monetary policy tightening. What is more, the SBP is set to announce another MPS tomorrow, two weeks in advance, with an expected hike of 200 basis points in the discount rate. an economic crisis of this magnitude has surely exposed a stark reality facing the economy; Pakistan does not really make anything. Most of our industry is based on conversion of raw material into products. This is exactly why even the smallest shocks to the economy hit businesses hard as the structure it is built upon is simply unsustainable.a combination of decades-old bad economic policies favoring a few select industries has led to a position where Pakistan consistently remains one of the worst performing economies and markets in the world. all stakeholders, but primarily policymakers, must first accept certain realities before and let those direct the measures they take when repairing the damage that has been done.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor