NOT-BY- PROFIT US bl ackliStS PakiStani comPanieS over alleged involvement in nUclear activitieS

Islamabad

N E W S D E S K tH E US Commerce Department s Bureau of Industry and Security has added several Pakistani companies to a list of 14 entities on a trade blacklist for their alleged involvement in missile and nuclear activities

The move is part of a wider list of 37 entities added to the Entity List for allegedly contributing to Russia’s military and/or defense industrial base supporting China s military modernisation and engaging in human rights abuses in Myanmar and China

The Entity List is a blacklist of foreign entities including companies organizations, and individuals, that the US government believes pose a threat to national security or foreign policy interests

Being added to the list restricts these entities access to US technology and goods, effectively blocking them from doing business with US companies

The US Commerce Department’s statement added that “fourteen entities based in China and Pakistan are being added to the Entity List for contributing to ballistic missile programs of concern including Pakistan s missile program and for involvement in unsafeguarded nuclear activities

The list however does not identify the entities but links to a site that does not open, apparently because it s not available to the public The move is expected to make it harder for targeted companies to receive shipments of US goods from American and other suppliers

The wider list includes three entities in Russia Belarus and Taiwan 18 entities based in China and six entities based in China and Myanmar Eighteen entities based in China were added to the list for acquiring and attempting to acquire US origin items in support of China s military modernization efforts and for supplying or attempting to supply a sanctioned entity in Iran Six enti- ties based in China and Myanmar were added for violations of human rights

The statement claimed that Chinese entities had engaged in the collection and analysis of genetic data which posed a significant risk of contributing to monitoring and surveillance by the Chinese government including the targeting detainment and repression of ethnic minorities in China as well as diversion of such information to the Chinese military programmes

Myanmar s entities provided surveillance equipment and services to Myanmar ’s military regime, enabling it to carry out human rights abuses through the trafficking and identification of individuals and the military’s continued repression of Myanmar s people including through surveillance and imprisonment

The list includes units of Chinese genetics company BGI and Chinese cloud computing firm Inspur BGI Research and BGI Tech Solutions (Hong Kong) were added over allegations that the units pose a “significant risk” to contributing to Chinese government surveillance BGI’s forensics subsidiary Forensics Genomics International was also listed Inspur was marked for allegedly acquiring and attempting to acquire US goods to support China s military modernization efforts

The move is expected to further escalate tensions between the US and China, who have been engaged in a technology war for years The US media, while reporting the listings, noted that the move would make it hard for targeted companies to receive shipments of US goods from American and other suppliers

Tensions between the US and China have been especially high since the Biden administration last month shot down a suspected Chinese spy balloon that had crossed a broad swath of the United States according to media reports

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Brain- drain depriving Pakistan of its brightest minds

A rising number of young educated Pakistanis are emigrating from the country, citing political instability and economic uncertainty In 2022, over 765,000 people, mostly highly qualified doctors, engineers, and IT experts, left the country, the highest number since 2019

Despite young graduates often wanting to serve their country political parties do little to bring in stability Pakistan produces a large number of graduates each year but the country is deprived of its brightest minds due to the lack of opportunities leading to an inability to bring about change

The situation is particularly difficult for young women, who seek basic freedoms that are often de-

‘Her Hunnar ’ celebrates women entrepreneurship

ISLAMABAD

A P P

Her Hunnar an exhibition of eye-catching products to celebrate women entrepreneurship kicked off here Saturday at Pak China Friendship Center attracting a large number of families and visitors

Organized by the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) during the 2-day event women entrepreneurs from Northern Areas, Azad Jammu and Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Chitral, Swat and Rawalpindi Islamabad are exhibiting a range of highquality and unique products

Besides handicraft products representing Pakistan, sideline activities of the event include live cultural performances, seminars, kids arena and food court featuring traditional cuisines from Gilgit Baltistan Chitral Swat etc

According to the organizers Her Hunnar is more than just an exhibition tapping the potential of women entrepreneurs It is offering exciting sideline activities for the people of all ages to enjoy and make memories It is an event for people of twin cities and adjoining areas who must visit Her Hunnar with their friends and families

H e r H u n n a r i s t h e p l a t f o r m t o s t r e n g t h e n a n d e n c o u r a g e w o m e n e n t r e p r e n e u r s , r e p r e s e n t i n g a l l parts of Pakistan

It focuses on the significance of women entrepreneurship or women-led businesses in economic growth and development which is unquestionable Her Hunnar provides a platform for women entrepreneurs to exhibit their skills and talent and showcase their businesses in a productive competitive environment TDAP is organizing this exhibition for Women Entrepreneurs representing all walks of life to strengthen and enhance their efforts with aim to bring them to mainstream for the world to know their potential

Power-hungr y Imran anxious to enter power corridors, says S hazia Marri

KHANGARH A P P

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety and Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Shazia Marri termed PTI government responsible for worsening of economic situation of the country saying that even then power-hungry Imran Khan was anxious to enter power corridors again Talking to media persons after inaugurating the Dynamic Registry Center under the BISP at Khangarh Shazia Marri said that the PTI chairman contested from six constituencies of National Assembly in by-elections but not willing to be part of the

Parliament She recalled that IK used to say that he would commit suicide rather going to IMF but his previous government inked numerous agreements with the Fund She said that the inflation crossed all the limits due to poor policies of PTI government adding that Mr Niazi should think for the country The minister said that the incumbent government extended relief even in hard times the country was undergoing, adding that the BISP beneficiaries would get 25 percent extra in quarterly installment She informed that the government had provided Rs 70 billions for flood victims The government was trying to prevent the country from default she expressed nied them Many are seeking to move to the UAE the Middle East or other countries such as Turkey and Romania for greater opportunities and stability

The lack of jobs and opportunities in Pakistan holds back talented young graduates and the country risks losing its brightest minds

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L angu welcomes appointment of Wali K ak ar as Governor Balochistan

QUeTTA

A P P

Provincial Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langu on Saturday has welcomed the appointment of Malik Abdul Wali Kakar as Governor of Balochistan He expressed the hope that he would support the provincial government for the development of Balochistan Mir Ziaullah further said that Malik Abdul Wali Kakar and his family had played a key role in the politics of Balochistan Besides he also played an important role in the promotion of brotherhood in the province he added He expressed that after his appointment Malik Wali Kakar would utilize all his abilities for the people of Balochistan while fulfilling his constitutional responsibilities for the interest of the country and province Mir Ziuallah Langu also expressed his good wishes for him on this occasion and prayed that he would be able to fulfil the right of this position

Levies Force playing key role in maintaining law & order: Zahid

QUeTTA

A P P

Additional Chief Secretary Home Zahid Saleem on Saturday said that Levies Force was playing a key role in maintaining law and order situation in the respective areas of the province He expressed these views while addressing a passing out parade of the fifth batch of SSG Light Commando training given to the Levies Force by the Pakistan Army in Quetta Cantt Zahid Saleem said that all resources would be utilized for the improvement of the Levies Force adding that the recruits receiving training have the responsibility of protecting the lives and property of the people DG Levies Balochistan Naseebullah Kakar and Commandant Khuzdar Levies Training Center Colonel Muhammad Anwar Baloch were present in the passing out ceremony

BOOK RE VIE W: A compendium of mystic poetr y and spiritual adages

biography and spiritual adages or aphorisms separately titled Cobbler of the Soul and Gohar-i Kanzan on its obverse and reverse The work is related to Baba Sufi

SyeD AfSAR SAjID

A compendium of mystic poetry and spiritual adages

Syed Afsar Sajid

Titles: ‘Cobbler of the Soul’ ; ‘Gohar-i

Kanzan’

Compiler: Dr Shahzad Qaiser

Published by: Sohail Academy Lahore

Renowned scholar philosopher mystic poet and prose writer and a well-reputed exbureaucrat Dr Shahzad Qaiser who has authored several books on metaphysics, religion, philosophy, and literature besides a number of light essays ( inhsaiyas ) in Urdu and numerous works of Punjabi verse in the genre of ‘kafi’, has now come out with a consolidated volume of mystic poetry, auto-

Muhammad Tufayl Dr Shahzad Qaiser s Murshid and spiritual mentor The latter is also a recipient of a host of national/international literary, academic, and cultural awards, in recognition of his multi-faceted talent The obverse of the book bears the title ‘Cobbler of the Soul’ with a subtitle ‘Silsilai Faqr – Beholding God here and now’ The book is in two volumes Volume 1 is comprised of three parts The First Part is a collection of mystic poetry of Baba Sufi

Muhammad Tufayl ( Kanzan Makhfi – Hidden Treasure) rendered into English prose by the compiler/author Dr Shahzad Qaiser incidentally discovered the reverend Baba Sufi in the year 1987 through his brother-in-law He was an unlettered person who mended shoes of the needy on payment, on a roadside pavement in Lahore Instantly Dr Shahzad felt enamoured of him and became his disciple by vowing spiritual allegiance to him and his Silsila-e Faqr In this context the present book is a devotional homage to his Murshid and friend Baba Sufi Muhammad Tufayl The Second Part viz ‘Dars: Doctrinal Sittings of Baba Sufi

Muhammad Tufayl s Tradition of Faqr (Recollections Reminiscences sand Recapitulations) deals with Baba Sufi s traditional poetry It also includes the compiler s/author s excerpts on Baba Sufi published in English Urdu and Punjabi as Appendices, and contains proceedings of his frequent doctrinal sittings with Baba Sufi, and his acts and sayings in different situations alongwith mystic tales of wisdom and pieces of traditional mystic poetry quoted by him occasionally

The Third Part titled on the reverse of the book as ‘Gohar-i Kanzan’ comprises Urdu and Punjabi sections; the Urdu version is juxtaposed with the Punjabi version Extracts from the compiler s/author s interview and preface to his own book Gal wich payum preet Mohar have been added as Appendices

The Second Volume as espoused by the compiler/author is next on the cards intended to incorporate Doctrinal Sittings: Baba Sufi s Anecdotes, Mystic Tales of Wisdom and Reflecting Back The compiler/author is of the view that the book in hand ‘may attract readers who are interested in the path of mystic knowledge, love and wisdom’ Eminent philosopher and academic Dr Abdul Khaliq has contributed an elucidatory prologue to the book highlighting its characteristic features with an insightful concluding remark:

Through preservation (in print) of the modes of his Murshid s responsiveness to various day-to-day cognitive and behavioural situations and also through the mystical treasures of the latter s poetic thought, he has made him very generously accessible for guidance to the seekers of Truth even now and for all times to come ’ As for the prosodic aspect of Baba Sufi’s Kalam which seems to be a spontaneous overflow of his mystical outpourings, he has himself disclaimed at the very outset that ‘It is not poetry but doctrinal composition Do read it reflectively God has formed the heart of Sufi bursting with fortune In fact his words woven into a quasi-harmonious verbal phraseology tend to indemnify his couplets against any formative inadequacy The epigrammatic structure of Baba Sufi s Kalam seems to reinvest it with an aura of transcendental truths that might not be easily comprehensible to the average, uninitiated mind Examples: Sufi lives in the Unity of God He remains in the state of realisation God has said so clearly: I have made him happy There was nothing before ‘’Be’’, but only the Essence (God Himself) When He said: ‘’Be’’ all manifestation took place I have not seen anything meaningful if I have seen my destiny If I have seen His Graciousness then I have seen something so great

The world has constrained me to remain alive It kept me so near that it distanced me (Rendered in English from Urdu)

Someone said to the lost one Do not weep in wilderness Your face is shining You are rare The one, whom you are searching is yourself If you had spent your time in remembrance of the Lord, you might have gone to the courtyard of the Sufi Whatever Faqr sees it does not disclose Whatever is seen is made by God from clay

(Rendered in English from Punjabi)

Baba Sufi s entire discourse was grounded in contemplative tawhid ; Oneness of Being was the quintessence of his discourses spanning a period of over fifty years He endeavoured to evoke the love of God and His Prophet in the circle of his followers and listeners attending his doctrinal sittings Thus he conceives that love leads to gnosis and union and enables its votary to do good and shun evil The saint’s own averment would seem to further authenticate the notion: ‘I have cobbled shoes for forty years at the side of the road I have got the lesson of love for the creation of God and service of them with core of my heart from the spiritually enlightened ones ’