Epaper_23-05-20 LHR

IDEOLOGY OF PAKISTAN MORE SACRED, POWERFUL THAN ‘WICKED INTENT’ OF IMRAN NIAZI: PM

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

PRIMEMinister Shehbaz Sharif Friday said the ideology of Pakistan was more sacred and powerful than the ‘wicked and selfish intent’ of Imran Niazi.

In a tweet on social media platform Twitter, he said he was thinking about the negative effects and consequences of the shameful, tragic and unfortunate incidents of May 9. “The more I think about this dark day, the more my grief and anger grow as we ourselves have become the enemy of the ideology of Pakistan.”

After dividing the public, Imran Niazi was busy in ridiculing the state institutions, the prime minister said adding when all his efforts to get the government failed then Imran Niazi attacked the state of Pakistan with his hateful narrative and gangs of rioters.

“Maybe he (Imran) did not realize that the ideology of Pakistan is more sacred and powerful than his wicked and selfish intent. With the will of Allah he will face defeat,” he added.

PAKISTAN TO FURTHER

BROTHERLY TIES WITH UAE:

Earlier, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday assured that the government would extend every possible support to the investors from the United Arab Emirates.

The prime minister, in a meeting with a delegation from the UAE, welcomed their keen interest to invest in the

ports and shipping industry of Pakistan.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum, a member of the UAE’s ruling family, headed the delegation. Referring to the fraternal ties between the two countries, the prime minister said Pakistan attached great importance to further expanding brotherly ties with the UAE in diverse fields, particularly in trade and investment.

Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook al Maktoum said he was visiting Pakistan in less than two months again with the objective to give further momentum to the UAE’s investment in Pakistan.

The Private Office of Sheikh Ahmed Dalmook Al Maktoum has a portfolio of privately held group of companies with

‘Firmly opposed’: China pulls out

G20 summit in Indian-occupied Kashmir

ISLAMABAD

MIAN ABRAR

China became the first country on Friday to formally boycott the upcoming G20 Tourism meetings and events being held next week in the disputed territory of Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK).

Chinese foreign ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin told a press briefing in Chinese capital Beijing that China is opposed to a G20 tourism meeting next week in disputed territory of Jammu and Kashmir and will not attend.

“China is firmly opposed to holding any kind of G20 meetings in disputed territory, and will not attend such meetings,” Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson

Wang Wenbin said. Media reports say that Turkiye is likely to follow the Chinese boycott of the G20 moot while others are considering to follow the suit. India, which holds the chair of G20 this year, has organised a series of meetings across the country in the run-up to the summit in New Delhi in September. The Chinese move can be seen in protest to India’s illegal annexation of the Muslim-majority state of IIOJK to illegally create the two federal territories of Jammu and Kashmir, and Ladakh on August 5, 2019.

Ties between New Delhi and Beijing have been strained since a military clash in Ladakh in 2020 in which 24 soldiers were killed. Srinagar, the summer capital of IIOJK, will host a meeting of the tourism working group for G20 members on May 22-24. Pakistan has also opposed India’s decision to hold a G20 meeting in occupied Kashmir.

China firmly opposes US’ ‘trade initiative’ with Taiwan island: FM

China expressed strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the US’ move of reaching a so-called agreement on the first part of “21st century trade initiative” with Taiwan island, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at Friday’s press briefing. China firmly opposes any form of official interaction between countries that have diplomatic relations with China, and the Taiwan island, including negotiations and signing of any agreement of a sovereign and official nature, Wang said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

a focus on infrastructure, energy and agriculture.

Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Maritime Affairs Syed Faisal Ali Sabzwari, SAPM Dr Jehanzeb Khan, SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi and senior officials attended the meeting. UAE Ambassador to Pakistan Hammad Obaid Ibrahim Salem Al Zaabi was also present in the meeting.

PRICES OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS, TRANSPORT FARES BE REDUCED FOLLOWING POL

PRICE CUT: Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif directed relevant authorities to ensure that the benefits of this

decrease are passed on to the general public through lower transport fares and reduced prices of essential items.

In this regard, the PM chaired a federal cabinet meeting on Friday wherein he emphasised the need for ministries and district administrations across the country to implement these price reductions.

He stressed the need for strict action against profiteers and called for proportional reductions in transportation fares and the prices of consumables, aligning with the 11% decrease in petroleum prices announced by the government.

On May 15, the federal government, led by the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM), announced a reduction of Rs12 per litre in petrol prices, bringing it down to Rs270 per litre following a decrease in international oil rates.

During the cabinet meeting, PM Shehbaz updated attendees on his recent visit to Iran, expressing Pakistan’s desire to enhance cooperation with its neighboring country across various sectors.

One significant development highlighted by the premier was the import of low-cost electricity from Iran, which would contribute to the upliftment of remote areas in Balochistan.

The prime minister shared that President Raisi expressed special interest in enhancing bilateral trade and exploring cooperation in other fields. To further discuss these projects, a high-level delegation led by Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto will visit Iran whereas President Raisi is also expected to visit Pakistan.

Suspending ECP’s de-notification, LHC restores 72 PTI MNAs

Lahore High Court (LHC)’s Justice Shahid Karim on Friday restored 72 MNAs of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf de-notified by the Election Commissioner of Pakistan (ECP) and directed them to appear before the Speaker National Assembly to formally withdraw their resignations.

After hearing extensive arguments, Justice Shahid Karim reserved the decision and subsequently announced suspension of the ECP de-notification.

The Justice instructed the NA speaker to reconsider the matter after hearing the petitioners once again, taking into account their arguments and concerns. The decision comes as a result of multiple petitions filed by the 72 MNAs, urging the court to nullify the notifications issued by Speaker Pervaiz Ashraf, who accepted their resignations, and subsequently the ECP de-notified them, declaring their seats as vacant.

During the court proceedings,

Barrister Ali Zafar, the counsel for the petitioners, argued that the resignations had been retracted before their acceptance. He questioned how the speaker could accept the resignations under such circumstances. “Acceptance of resignations without adhering to the legal framework will undermine the rules”, the counsel argued, sug-

gesting it will be “malicious intent” on the part of the speaker.

The petitioner’s counsel further highlighted that the speaker failed to individually summon the MNAs to ascertain their voluntary decision to tender resignations.

According to the counsel, the speaker had initially promised to call each MNA individually to determine their stance. However, when the time came, he accepted the resignations without following through on this commitment.

Barrister Ali Zafar urged the court that the collective resignations of 123 MNAs, including the petitioners, were solely aimed at reaching an agreement with opposition parties to facilitate fresh elections. The objective was to establish a new government with the true mandate of the people of Pakistan and resolve the current impasse, he added.

The petitioner argued that the then acting speaker, former

deputy speaker of the National Assembly Qasim Suri, initially accepted the resignations. However, the new speaker, Pervaiz Ashraf, after assuming office, reversed the decision and instructed the secretariat to resubmit the resignations for verification, in accordance with the judgments of superior courts.

The speaker subsequently decided to conduct an inquiry and verify each resignation by individually contacting and confirming the willingness of each MNA to resign. However, when the MNAs were called for verification, they did not appear, resulting in the non-acceptance of their resignations.

As a result, neither did the MNAs approach the speaker for verification nor did he call them again, leading to the continuation of the status quo. Consequently, the original resignations became irrelevant in the context of the petitioners’ claims.

Trans people can’t get their gender changed, rules Shariat court

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Federal Shariat Court (FSC) on Friday pronounced the reserved verdict on the pleas against Transgender Act and ruled that transgender persons cannot get their gender changed, declaring certain sections of the Transgender Persons (Protection of Rights) Act, 2018 against Sharia. “Islam provides all human rights to transgender persons,” it added and declared that Sections 2, 3 and 7 of the Transgender Act were un-Islamic. The FSC in its ruling said that transgender persons cannot have themselves called man or woman, adding that the government is bound to provide all rights to transgender persons.

The two-member FSC bench, comprising Acting Chief Justice Syed Muhammad Anwar and Justice Khadim Hussain pronounced the verdict. The court had reserved the verdict on May 11 last after the arguments of the parties in the case were completed. The court after pronouncing the verdict disposed of the pleas. The National Assembly had enacted the Transgender Persons (Protection of Right) Act in 2018 to provide legal recognition to transgender persons and ensure that discrimination against transgender persons in various walks of life shall be punishable.

In September 2022, the FSC had taken up petitions challenging the legislation — making Jamaat-i-Islami Senator Mushtaq Ahmed and TV anchor Orya Maqbool Jan asparties in them along with transgender persons Almaas Boby and Bubbly Malik. Simultaneously, amendments to the law have also been sought under the Intersex Persons (Protection of Rights) (Amendment) Bill, 2022, which called for the deletion of all those sections deemed against the injunctions of Islam and the Constitution.

During the hearing on Friday, the court declared Sections 2(f) (definition of ‘gender identity’) and 2(n)(iii) (definition of ‘Transgender Person’) of the act to be against Sharia.

The FSC also ruled Sections 3 (recognition of identity of transgender person) and 7 (right to inherit) of the Transgenders Act 2018 to be against Sharia.

In a written order issued later, the court said that it had heard the arguments of the parties and experts at length, and reviewed research and other material provided by the parties.

“We have come to the conclusion to first declare that according to Islamic injunctions as laid down in the Quran and Sunnah, the gender of a person is subject to the biological sex of a person, therefore, the gender of a person must conform to the biological sex of a person.”

Elaborating on the declaration, the order stated that there were many rulings or “Ahkamat and Ibadaat of Islam which are subject to the biological sex of a person and not the gender of a person”.

“Such Ahkamat include the performance of salat, keeping of Som, the performance of Haj, and distribution of inheritance, etc,” it highlighted.

“We have noticed that in section 2(n) and of the Impugned Act five different terms; namely (i) intersex, (ii) eunuch, (iii) transgender man, (iv) transgender woman and (v) khawajasira are included in one definition of ‘transgender person’. “Whereas, the terms Intersex, eunuch and khawajasira refer to biological variations in sex characteristics of a person that do not fit into male or female classification, while ‘transgender man’ and ‘transgender woman’, refer to individuals whose self-perceived gender identity differs from the sex they were assigned at birth or from the sex they have biologically,” the court said.

It noted that the inclusion of all the different terms in one single term “is the main cause of confusion and conflation about the impugned Act because not only all those persons who fall within the category of any of the five categories of persons used in section 2(n) are different physically but the ruling of Islamic injunctions according to Quran and Sunnah about them are also different on the basis of their biological sex”. The court said that Islamic law and jurisprudence provided intersex persons with all the rights mentioned in the law.

Financial bloodbath: PIA hemorrhages Rs97b in losses in 2022

LAHORE DANIYAL

The consolidated earnings report for PIA encompasses earnings from its subsidiary PIA Investments Limited (PIAIL) and its associate company Minhal Incorpo-

billion to Rs 179.3 billion. PIA demonstrated operational improvements as the cost of services as a percentage of revenue fell from 109.61% to 100.42%.

YoY from Rs 28.5 billion to Rs 51.7 billion.

Earnings before taxation came in at a loss of Rs 100.58 billion, a massive 85% YoY increase from last year’s Rs 54.35 billion.

PIA’s tax rebate increased by 287% YoY from Rs 867 million to Rs 3.35 billion, while the effective tax rate increased (ETR) from 2% to 3%. Net consolidated losses for the year clocked in at Rs 97.23 billion against last year’s Rs 53.48 billion, representing an 82% YoY increase. The net loss margin (NLM), however, improved YoY from -61% to -54%.

Unconsolidated earnings for 2022

The unconsolidated earnings report for PIA encompasses just the earnings of the airline itself.

PIA’s revenue increased by a substantial 100% YoY from Rs 86.18 billion to Rs 172 billion, while the cost of services rose by 86% YoY from Rs 94.6 billion to Rs 176.17 billion. Similar to its consolidated earnings, PIA demonstrated relative operational effi-

ciency in its unconsolidated earnings as well, with gross losses decreasing from Rs 8.46 billion to Rs 4.13 billion. Costs as a percentage of revenue improved from 109% to 102%, which is reflected in PIA’s GLM improving from -10% to -2.4%.

Distribution costs increased by 20% YoY from Rs 5.1 billion to Rs 6.14 billion, administrative expenses rose by 12% YoY from Rs 5.67 billion to Rs 6.35 billion, while other income decreased by 4% YoY from Rs 6.548 billion to Rs 6.275 billion.

Despite the increases in expenditure and reduction in other income, operating losses decreased by 25% YoY from Rs 15 billion to Rs 11.3 billion. This is reflected in PIA’s OLM improving from -17% to -7%. Interest expense increased by a significant 82% YoY from Rs 27.39 billion to Rs 49.9 billion, with earnings before taxation coming in at a loss of Rs 86.5 billion. This represented a 74% YoY increase in its loss before taxation compared to the previous year’s

loss of Rs 49.7 billion. The tax rebate surged by 342% YoY from Rs 337.7 million to Rs 1.49 billion. ETR increased from -1% to -2% Final earnings for the year came in at a loss of Rs 88 billion against the previous year’s Rs 50.1 billion, a substantial 58% YoY increase.

What do these numbers mean?

Mustafa Mustansir, Director of Research and Business Development at Taurus Securities, reports: “The company has exhibited a marked improvement in its performance.” He adds: “The gross loss margin has decreased and the revenue has doubled impressively.” However, he cautions: “The issue remains with the net income. These losses impose a significant burden on the state.” Mustansir also warns of escalating finance costs: “They have nearly doubled as a result of increased interest rates.” He anticipates: “We may observe an even larger figure in 2023 due to the delay in repricing loans.”

g SAYS PAKISTAN KEEN TO FURTHER BROTHERLY TIES WITH UAE, PARTICULARLY IN TRADE AND INVESTMENT

g DIRECTS AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE REDUCTION IN PRICES OF ESSENTIAL ITEMS, TRANSPORT FARES FOLLOWING POL PRICE CUT

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PPP’S CEC CONDEMNS ATTACKS ON ARMY INSTALLATIONS, CALLS FOR BRINGING CULPRITS TO JUSTICE

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

TOPdecision-making body of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) on Friday condemned the May 9 attacks and vandalism on military installations and demanded those responsible should be brought to justice and punished, accordingly.

President PPP-P Asif Ali Zardari and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari cochaired the hybrid meeting of the Central Executive Committee (CEC) of Pakistan People’s Party in Bilawal House, Karachi. The meeting passed a resolution condemning the events of May 9.

“The PPP strongly condemns the incidents that happened in different cities of the country on May 9, the damage to the martyrs’ memorial in Sargodha, the burning of Jinnah House, the vandalism at FC Fort in Dir, Mardan, breaking the statue of Shaheed Colonel Sher Khan, burning the Swat Motorway Toll Plaza, burning the Rawalpindi Metro Station and the

Peshawar Radio Station to ashes, destroying the Chagai Model and Edhi Ambulance in Peshawar, and burning passenger buses in Karachi,” reads the resolution, a copy of which is available with daily Pakistan Today.

The resolution described the attacks on private, public and military properties and sensitive installations as “defying the writ of the state of Pakistan”. The resolution further said that PPP leadership suffered political victimsation

for decades but following the instructions of leadership, its leaders and workers never took the path of violence.

“Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto was judicially martyred, Mir Shahnawaz Bhutto and Mir Murtaza Bhutto were martyred too, Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto was martyred, but PPP raised the slogan of Pakistan Khappay, which is a bright example for the political workers of all parties,” the resolution added.

“Former President Asif Ali Zardari was imprisoned for over a decade during different regimes including PTI’s government while Ms Faryal Talpur, the Central President of PPP Women’s Wing was arrested in the midnight and transferred from hospital to prison on the eve of Eid, but despite worst political oppression, the PPP never staged a rally against the country and its institutions,” the resolution reads.

The resolution demanded those responsible should be brought to justice and punished, accordingly.

IHC issues notice to Islamabad IG on PTI leaders’ contempt pleas over re-arrest

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday issued a notice to the Islamabad Inspector-General of Police Dr Akbar Nasir Khan seeking an explanation on the reason behind re-arrests of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders defying court orders. The IG has been asked to submit his response to the notice by Monday (May 22). The court, on the other hand, also issued a notice to the Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan in the matter. The notices were issued during the hearing of multiple pleas seeking contempt of court proceedings against police

officials following the re-arrest of the PTI leaders including PTI Senior VicePresident Dr Shireen Mazari, Ali Muhammad Khan and Maleeka Bukhari after they were granted bail.

Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb heard the pleas.

The three politicians were re-arrested after being granted relief by the IHC which asked authorities not to arrest them again. However, they were apprehended by the Punjab Police.

Mazari was taken into custody on Wednesday night — the same day when she was released by a local court; while Khan and Bukhari, too, were re-arrested and have been kept in the Adiala Jail.

‘Govt trying to defeat the court’s writ’

Trying civilians in military courts clear violation of int’l law: Amnesty

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Amnesty International on Friday raised concerns over Pakistan’s decision to try May 9 rioters under the Army Act, saying using military courts to try civilians is a clear violation of international law”. In a tweet, the NGO stated that “there are several provisions under ordinary criminal laws that can be used to prosecute vandalism and destruction of public property”. “The right to a fair trial, guaranteed by Pakistan’s Constitution, is severely undermined by this move and cannot be justified. It must be struck down immediately,” the statement added. The statement by the human rights NGO comes as the top military brass resolved earlier this week that those involved in attacks on military installations and personnel following the arrest of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan would be brought to justice through trials under the relevant laws of the country, including the Pakistan Army Act and the Official Secret Act.

Cop martyred in Mastung polio team attack

MASTUNG: A police officer has been martyred in an attack on a polio team by armed men on Friday in the rural area of Kali Kariz, a suburb of Mastung district of Balochistan. The armed men, who opened fire on a group of female workers, killed the police officer assigned to protect the anti-polio team. The polio team had embarked on their routine vaccination campaign. Staff RepoRt

During the hearing of Shireen Mazari’s plea, Justice Aurangzeb expressed concern over the cases being registered and came down hard on the government for trying to “defeat the court’s writ”.

“Why was Shireen Mazari handed over to the Punjab Police, despite court orders,” the judge questioned the politician’s re-arrest in contravention of orders issued by the court. Commenting on the matter, the AGP said: “This should not have happened.”

Justice Aurangzeb asked the IG if the Punjab Police was called in deliberately knowing very well that they themselves have been ordered by the court not to arrest the PTI politician.

“The Punjab Police cannot arrest

anyone directly from Islamabad. In hindsight, the Islamabad Police cannot separate itself from it,” the judge observed. He then turned to AGP Awan and instructed him to bring the matter of the police’s disregard of the court order before the country’s highest authorities.

“Our power lies with you. Place the matter before the highest authority,” the judge told AGP Awan. Justice Aurangzeb added: “The writ of the court is the dignity of this country, and no one is justifying the violent incidents.”

In response, the attorney general said: “This country has to be run according to the Constitution. The courts and all constitutional bodies have to work within the [framework of the] Constitution.”

China gears up to host largest sports event in Asia

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

China is gearing up to host the largest sports event in Asia, the Asian Games 2022, in Hangzhou later this year.

Originally scheduled for September 2022, the Games faced an unfortunate postponement due to the unprecedented challenges posed by the COVID-19 pandemic.

However, China’s unwavering determination and resolute measures in combating the virus have instilled confidence in athletes and spectators, setting the stage for an extraordinary sports extravaganza.

This grand event provides China with a strategic opportunity to harness its soft power and engage in public diplomacy, effectively bolstering its international reputation and expanding its sphere of influence on the global stage.

The Asian Games, a prestigious and highly anticipated multi-sport extravaganza exclusively dedicated to the participating nations of Asia, operates on a quadrennial basis, similar to the renowned Olympic Games. Overseeing the event’s intricate operational and administrative facets is the esteemed Asian Games Federation, while China, with immense pride, assumes the role of host for the third time since its inaugural venture in 1990.

China’s remarkable track record

in successfully hosting international sports events shines brightly through its recent triumphant execution of the Winter Olympics in Beijing 2022.

This invaluable experience has bolstered China’s prowess in organizing and orchestrating grandscale athletic spectacles, solidifying its position as a formidable host.

China has showcased its expertise in hosting large sporting events within its borders and has incorporated approximately 61 sports programs for the Asian Games. China renovated existing sports arenas and built new ones in Beijing for the Winter Olympics, leaving no stone unturned in creating a world-class experience for athletes, administrators, and audiences alike.

The General Assembly of the Olympic Council of Asia predicted in 2018 that the Asian Games would likely create a new industrial cluster in China and transform its host city Hangzhou into a modern city.

Subsequently, the Asian Games in China play a crucial role in shaping China’s image. Chinese sports are deeply rooted in Chinese culture, and this cultural influence is projected through the games. While sportsmanship is a universal value, the Chinese people have their own distinctive athletic and national attitude.

This inherent characteristic of the Chinese people has a magnetic effect

on global communities, drawing them towards China to immerse themselves in the Chinese sports world.

As part of efforts to promote their cultural heritage, China recently organized a two-day seminar in collaboration with the National Olympics Committee, where they taught basic Chinese greetings to the guests. They shared phrases like “Nihao” (Hello) and “Xiexie” (Thank You), showcasing the linguistic customs of China. This event exemplifies how sports and public diplomacy intertwine, allowing China to foster deeper connections with the international community.

China’s sports diplomacy strategy during the Asian Games serves as a valuable opportunity to foster connections and promote public diplomacy. To capitalize on these initiatives, China has established guidelines for both athletes and visitors.

These guidelines emphasize the importance of respecting public spaces by adhering to designated NoSmoking zones, protecting the environment, and refraining from cheek kisses and hugs during social gatherings.

The Hangzhou Asian Games Organizing Committee (HAGOC) encourages visitors to embrace the cultural experience by using chopsticks when enjoying Chinese cuisine.

PCJCCI celebrates anniversary of Pak- China diplomatic relations

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan China Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry (PCJCCI) and All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises Association (APCEA) organized an event for the celebration of Pakistan and China diplomatic relations on Friday.

The chief guest of the event was Ibrahim Hassan Murad, Minister of Local Government and Community Development. Various keynote speakers participated in the event, Zhao Shiren, Consul General People’s Republic of China, Sunny Yang, Chairperson All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises Association, Dr. Saad Khan, Director General Law and Human Rights (KPK), Moazzam Ali Ghurki

President PCJCCI, Shakeel Ahmad Mian, Additional Chief Secretary Home Department (Punjab), Syed Hasan Javed, Dr. Muhammad Shoaib Pervez, Azam Chaudhry, President Lahore Press Club, Abdul Basit, Nadeem Qureshi, Kashif Anwar, President LCCI, Noor Ullah, Hamza Khalid and many more.

The event was also attended by top notch business leaders from both Pakistan and China. Moazzam Ali Ghurki, President PCJCCI said during his welcome address that Pakistan and China established these relations on 21 May 1951; this bond has been developed on the strength of its successive achievements, and has become formidable with each passing day and year.

Ibrahim Hassan Murad, Minister, Department of Local Government and Community Development, Punjab said while sharing his views on this auspicious occasion that I

believe the bilateral relationship between the two neighbouring countries is characterized by feelings of mutual trust, respect and goodwill towards each other; PCJCCI and APCEA has set a remarkable example of this goodwill.

Zhao Shiren, Consul General People’s Republic of China stated that the combination of Chinese technological advancements and Pakistan’s natural and human resources can bring revolutionary changes in the region. It is quite clear that (CPEC) is the strongest pillar of economic, commercial and cultural connectivity between Pakistan and China. Sunny Yang, Chairperson, All Pakistan Chinese Enterprises’ Association, shared that our friendship started almost 70 years ago and it has been further strengthened with every passing decade.

The rising of China as an International Economic Power is proving beneficial for Pakistan with every passing day. Along with the Governments of both the countries, the business leaderships of private sectors are also playing an important role in strengthening economic relations.

Hamza Khalid, Vice President PCJCCI and Salahuddin Hanif, Secretary General PCJCCI thanked the worthy speakers and said that while highlighting the importance of CPEC in the ongoing scenario, PCJCCI facilitated this development regime by overcoming the communication barriers by imparting Chinese language to every discipline of society in order to prepare professionals from all walks of life having proficiency in Chinese language. I regard Economic corridor; not only the road to economic prosperity of Pakistan, but the future of whole world.

PTI’s Imran Ismail arrested in Karachi KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former governor Sindh Imran Ismail was arrested on Friday, reported his colleagues. Imran Ismail’s brother Adnan Ismail stated that police officials along with personnel of law enforcement agencies raided the PTI leader’s residence located in DHA phase 8 and arrested him. “SSP Keamari and some officials in plain clothes who happened to be law enforcement agencies personnel have shifted him to an undisclosed location,” he alleged. According to PTI leaders, police have shifted him to the Darakhshan Police Station in connection with an ongoing crackdown against the party leadership in the aftermath of the violent protests that erupted after PTI chief Imran Khan’s arrest. The PTI has called for its leadership and thousands of party workers and supporters to be released. On the other hand, the PTI has filed a petition in sessions court Jacoababd against the torture of another PTI leader Ali Zaidi, former federal minister, who was shifted to a district jail yesterday. Subsequently, the court issued notices to jail district authorities and has summoned them on Saturday (tomorrow). Notably, the Sindh government had previously issued an order to detain him for one month but granted him the luxury of house arrest. However, two days ago, a notification was issued cancelling the relief. He was shifted to district jail Jacobabad. PTI chief Imran Khan strongly condemned the ‘illegal arrests and abduction’ of his party’s workers and leaders. Taking to his official Twitter handle, the former premier had two days ago highlighted that PTI vice chairperson Shah Mehmood Qureshi and secretary general Asad Umar were still incarcerated “for more than a week now”.

Terrorist killed, 18 injured as attackers hurl grenade at, open fire on police in Tank

TANK Staff RepoRt

One person has been killed and 18 others, including two police personnel, seriously injured after unidentified armed men attacked a police van with a hand grenade in Tank on Friday morning. The injured were shifted to the district headquarters hospital. Unidentified armed men first hurled a hand grenade at a police van near Damaan plaza in the main bazaar on Tank’s Bannu Road. Policemen Jameel and Abdul Ghaffar were among the 18 people injured seriously in the attack. Later, the police retaliated with firing on the assailants. After the attack, an emergency was declared in the DHQ hospital where the injured are being treated. Some of the injured are being shifted the Dera Ismail Khan Teaching Hospital owing to their critical condition and a lack of facilities at the DHQ hospital. The hospital is being provided a strict security cover by the police, while the bomb disposal squad is collecting evidence at the crime scene.

NAB decides to investigate allegations of irregularities in Punjab free flour scheme

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB)

Friday decided to investigate the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the Punjab Free Flour Scheme. The decision was taken at the request of Caretaker Chief Minister of Punjab Mohsin Naqvi. The caretaker Chief Minister, through a letter addressed to the Chairman of NAB requested the anti-corruption watchdog to probe the allegations of corruption and irregularities in the scheme. The NAB Chairman directed the bureau’s Lahore office to ensure a transparent inquiry into the matter.

Nimra Kazmi moves court for ‘khula’

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Nimra Kazmi who entered in love marriage last year moved the court on Friday for divorce. In her petition, she was of the view that her husband Najeeb Shahrukh used to torture her without any reason. Nimra pleaded the court that her husband has not yet paid the Rs5000 ‘Haq Mehr’ settled at the time of wedding. Therefore, she wants to stay with parents instead of living with her husband. It should be mentioned here that Nimra Kazmi entered in marriage of choice with Najeeb Shahrukh on April 18, 2022.

Pakistan, Ireland agree to further strengthen bilateral relations

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan and Ireland in the fourth session of the Bilateral Political Consultations (BPC) discussed promoting ties in diverse areas including trade, culture and sports, the Foreign Office said Friday. The Pakistan delegation was led by Ambassador Muhammad Saleem, Additional Foreign Secretary (Europe) while the Irish delegation was led by Sonja Hyland, Deputy Secretary General at Department of Foreign Affairs, Ireland, in the meeting held here. Ambassador of Ireland to Pakistan Sonya McGuiness, Resident in Ankara, was also part of the Irish delegation. The two sides reviewed the entire spectrum of bilateral relations.

‘HARASSMENT CASE’: PRESIDENT ALVI SUSPENDS PIDE’S COMPULSORILY RETIREMENT ORDER

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

PRESIDENTDr Arif Alvi Thursday suspended the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) compulsorily retirement order from service for lodging a workplace harassment complaint against the ViceChancellor (VC) and Pro-Vice-Chancellor (Pro-VC) of the institute.

He was of the view that PIDE had violated the spirit of the Protection against Harassment of Women at the Workplace Act, 2010 by compulsorily retiring the woman complainant while the proceedings of the inquiry into the alleged harassment against VC and Pro-VC were still sub-judice before FOSPAH.

These remarks were given by the President while rejecting a representation filed by the VC and Pro-VC of PIDE against the order of the Federal Ombudsman for Protection against Harassment of Women at Workplace (FOSPAH) wherein FOSPAH had suspended the order of the compulsory retirement of the complainant and held it in abeyance till the disposal of the complaint on its merits.

As per details, a female Research Economist at PIDE (the complainant) had filed a workplace harassment complaint before FOSPAH on 09.01.2023 against VC and Pro-VC of PIDE (the accused). The inquiry proceedings were initiated by FOSPAH, but while the matter was still subjudice, a major penalty of compulsory retirement from service was imposed upon the

complainant by PIDE through a notification dated 20.03.2023.

FOSPAH suspended the order of PIDE till the disposal of the case and restored the complainant to her position. The accused, then, filed a representation against FOSPAH’s decision with the President.

The President rejected the stance of the accused that the complainant was retired due to disciplinary issues and that the imposition of a major penalty did not pertain to workplace harassment. He observed that FOSPAH Act 2010 provided that no adverse action should be taken against a complainant or witnesses during the inquiry proceedings but PIDE had retired the complainant in violation of the spirit of the Act, which was a special law having overriding effect.

Imran’s political career about to meet miserable fate soon: Aimal Wali

PESHAWAR

Staff RepoRt

Awami National Party (ANP) provincial president

Aimal Wali on Friday said that the so-called 22-year political struggle of Imran Khan is about to meet its’ miserable fate soon.

In a statement issued here, he said that the nation has realized that PTI leader Imran Khan wanted to achieve his personal interests in the name of so-called change and “Naya Pakistan” and his self-centred politics

Saeed Ghani invites quitters of PTI to join PPP

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

Sindh Minister for Labour and Information, Saeed Ghani has invited those leaving Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) to join Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP). Talking to media in Karachi on Friday, he said that PPP will welcome those quitting PTI for their differences with party and agenda of its leadership. Saeed Ghani said that all members and voters of PTI are not enemies of country. The provincial minister said that PPP will be best option for those who have separate their ways with antiPakistan elements.

President phones heirs of martyrs of May 12 terrorist attack of Balochistan

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

President Dr. Arif Alvi on Friday telephoned the heirs of the martyrs of terrorist attack on May 12 in Muslim Bagh area of Balochistan. The President during the telephonic conversation with the families of Havaldar Abdul Rahim, Muhammad Irfan and Nadeem Iqbal, paid glowing tribute to the martyrs and saluted their services to the nation. He also spoke to the steno typist Ghulam Fareed and the heirs of sanitary workers Sabar Masih, Shaan Masih, relatives of Lance Naik Faheem Mushtaq and Sepoy Saeed Aslam and Talha Jami. Dr Arif Alvi said martyrs are the asset of the nation and it will not forget their sacrifices.

had brought the country to the verge of collapse.

He deplored that innocent Pakhtun youth was manipulated by the so-called political leader of PTI and indulged them in violent activities and abusing state institutions, adding that over 1400 PTI workers were now in jails and those who instigated them were not even own them.

He said that PTI only destroyed the federal and provincial economies during its four-year government in the federation and nine-year in the province and kept the Pakhtuns deprived of their basic rights.

Aimal said that Pakhtuns still have time to part their ways with PTI and try to differentiate between their friends and foes, adding that ANP is always ready to wholeheartedly welcome anyone in the party indiscriminate of his/her past party affiliation.

He also urged the party elders and office bearers to hold meetings with those who were misled in the name of change or “Naya Pakistan” and play their imperative role in educating the people about the party’s ideology and manifesto.

ATC, LHC grant interim bail to Imran Khan in May 9 riots, Zille Shah murder cases

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Friday granted interim bail to Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan in three different cases related to May-9 riots, including Corps Commander House attack case, till June 2. The court ordered the PTI chairman to furnish surety bonds of Rs100,000 in each case and join the investigations.

ATC Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar conducted proceedings on the bail petitions of the PTI chairman.

Earlier, Imran Khan, along with his counsel appeared before the court during the proceedings.

The Sarwar Road police, Gulberg police and Shadman Town police had registered three different cases against the PTI leaders and workers in connection with May 9 riots after the

arrest of the party chairman from Islamabad High Court by Rangers.

The cases had been registered under sections of Pakistan Penal Code and Section 7 of the Anti-Terrorism Act, 1997.

Meanwhile, the court also reserved verdict on bail petitions of PTI Chairman Imran Khan till June 2 in another two cases, lodged against the PTI leaders and workers over Zaman Park vandalism. The court held that it would announce the verdict on June 2 after hearing arguments of the prosecution.

It is pertinent to mention here that the court had granted the interim bail to PTI chairman in the said two cases.

LHC grants interim bail to Imran in Zille murder case

On the other hand, the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday granted interim bail to former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Chairman Imran Khan till June 2 in a case, lodged for hiding facts and evidence in connection with the death of Ali Bilal alias Zille Shah, a PTI worker. The court ordered the PTI chairman to furnish surety bonds of Rs 100,000 for availing the relief. The court also sought the case record from the police, on the next date of hearing.

The single bench comprising Justice Anwaarul Haq Pannun heard the bail petition filed by the PTI chairman. Imran’s counsel advanced arguments during the proceedings.

Earlier, Justice Ali Zia Bajwa excused from hearing the bail petition of the PTI chief due to personal reasons, in the morning, and sent the matter to LHC chief justice to fix it before another bench. The Sarwar Road Police had registered a case against the PTI leaders for hiding facts in Zille Shah death case.

PEF honors high-performing students at laptop distribution ceremony

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

A laptop distribution ceremony was held under the leadership of Manzar Javed Ali, the managing director of the Punjab Education Foundation (PEF). The event was organised to recognize and honour the outstanding academic achievements of students who excelled in the 2022 matriculation examinations.

During the ceremony, laptops were awarded to five exceptional students: Khadija Fatima, Saeed Afnan Haider, Iqra Ilyas, Muhammad Fahad, and Samna Zainab. The regional director, Mazhar Abbas Khan, meticulously coordinated and supervised all the

arrangements for this significant occasion.

The ceremony saw the active participation of PEF officers, school owners, dedicated teachers, and proud parents, who gathered to celebrate and acknowledge the accomplishments of these exceptional students.

Ali, the managing director, expressed his sincere wishes for the future success of the talented students and offered heartfelt prayers during the ceremony. He congratulated all the students for their exceptional performance, recognising their dedication and hard work.

Ali also extended his appreciation to the school owners associated with

PEF, acknowledging their relentless efforts in providing quality education. He paid tribute to the dedicated teachers, emphasizing their pivotal role in shaping the academic journey of students. Emphasising the purpose of the ceremony, MD PEF expressed the intent to inspire and encourage all students to continue excelling in their education. He highlighted the active engagement of the PEF team in collaborating with various institutions as part of their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR) initiatives, aiming to further enhance the quality of education for students enrolled in PEF schools.

We need to learn from Chinese leadership, peoples’ dedication for homeland: Minister

PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Higher Education, Law, Parliamentary Affairs, Human Rights, Archives & Libraries, Justice (Retd.) Irshad Qaiser has said that Pakistan-China relations are exemplary and we should learn from the China’s Leadership and Peoples dedication and devotion for their loving home land and their vital role in China’s stand on international stage with pride. She said the recent past China’s global positive role for peace and economic development is a guideline for us.

This was stated by her while speaking at cake cutting and Friendship Awards distribution ceremony organized by Pakistan China Friendship Association (PCFA) Khyber Pakhtunkhwa-Pakistan and China Study Centre (CSC) University of Peshawar jointly.

Irshad Qaiser said, “This is high time to learn from China’s experience in our fields of life and this learning will be greatly helpful for our social economic development and to counter the

challenges we are facing. She mentioned that today, while celebrating the 72 anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China, we should think about what we have learned from China, as we know that Pakistan and China are very close neighbors connecting mountains, rivers, and islands. A large number of Pakistani students are learning at various reputed Chinese Universities. They are bringing new knowledge in their respective fields and contributing to the social and economic prosperity of the countries.”

The minister said that we should understand the importance rather significance of these relations in the best interest of the homeland. Once again, I appreciate China Study Center, UoP, and Pakistan China Friendship Association, KP for working with dedication and devotion and for the promotion of higher education between the two countries, she added. The event was graced by apart from Chief Guest, Prof. Dr. Muhammad Idress Vice Chancellor University of Peshawar, Mr. Ahmad Hassan Chairman Governor Inspection Team, Prof. Dr. Shah Jehan Vice Chancellor Iqra University, Mr.

Furruk Saqlian Chairman KP Text Book Board, Dr. Zahid Anwar, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani Secretary-General PCFA and Prof. Dr. Kausar Takreem Coordinator CSC apart from large number of Friends of China various walks of life and UoP. Madam Bao Zhong Counselor from the Embassy of People’s Republic of China joined the event as Key Note Speaker on video link from Embassy.

Coordinator CSC, Prof. Dr. Kausar Takreem said that China and Pakistan have a friendly relationship. Both countries supported each other through thick and thin. She mentioned that CSC is thankful to both Federal and Provincial Governments, HEC, Vice Chancellor, UoP, and Chinese Embassy Islamabad for its wholehearted support to the CSC.

Secretary General PCFA KP, Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani in his speech said that Sino-Pakistan Relations have strengthened over time. Traditionally the relations with China are very old. Peshawar- Urumqi and AbbottabadKashgar are sisters cities since 1985 and 2007 respectively. The relations between Pakistan and China today are at a high peak and we expect that both the

countries will continue supporting each other and will work for the progress of the people. The vital role of CPC in promoting and strengthening through Political interaction all level also give new heights.

Madam Bao Zhang Political Councilor China Embassy, Islamabad thanked the organizers for arranging a seminar to celebrate the occasion in a befitting manner. She appreciated the efforts of the former Director CSC Prof. Dr. Zahid Anwar who has facilitated the establishment of the relationship between the two countries through the CCS UoP. She also extended her best wishes to the new coordinator China Study Center, UoP Prof. Dr. Kausar Takreem, and ensured her full support. She said the world is undergoing some dramatic changes, the collective rise of China, Pakistan, and other developing countries has had a profound impact on the international landscape.

Madam Bao Zhog mentioned that during recent visit of Chinese Foreign Minister advocates that all countries should stick to independence and follow the development paths.

SC issues notices in ECP’s review petition

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court on Friday issued notices to all the parties in the review petition of the Election Commission Pakistan (ECP) in connection with the decision of the Punjab election case and asked for written submissions. The SC, in its written order of the first hearing of the case, noted that the Attorney General for Pakistan represented the Federation in the case while Ali Zafar, the lawyer of Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf, received the court’s notice in the court room. The next hearing on the review application will be held on May 23.

Federal govt again extends field operation of digital census

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The federal government on Friday extended the field operation of digital census once again after withdrawing its previous decision to not make any extension. The field operation of the digital census was extended till May 22 in provinces other than Balochistan. The verification process of the population census will be continued till May 31. Earlier in the month, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) had stated that the census will be completed in Punjab and Sindh divisions by May 15.

‘Firmly opposed’: China pulls out of G20 summit in Indianoccupied Kashmir

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The US’ move has gravely violated the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, as well as its commitment to maintain only non-official relations with the island, said Wang. The US should abide by the one-China principle and the three China-US Joint Communiqués, stop all forms of official interaction with Taiwan island. The US must not negotiate and sign any agreement with the island that has sovereignty implications and official nature, and must not send any wrong signal to the “Taiwan independence” forces in the name of business and trade, Wang said.

Terrorism is not stopping

THE May 9 violence shook the soul of the entire nation, not so much because of the damage done, but because of the targeting, which was of Army installations and monuments. Perhaps more reprehensible was the fact that the violence, the first ever against the armed forces, was committed by cadres of a political party protesting the arrest of their leader in a criminal case.

The Army authorities decided on a zero-tolerance policy, and to punish all the perpetrators under the Army Act, which meant by field general court martials. For this, the authorities would need first to identify the perpetrators, and then to find evidence for their offences. That means that the intelligence agencies would be busy with this task, and may be neglectful of their duty to gather intelligence about suspected terror attacks.

It is probably not entirely A coincidence that there was a suicide blast in Tank, while there was also a suicide attack on the motorcade of Jamaat Islami Amir Sirajul Haq in Zhob. While the attack in Tank had no particular target, the attack on Mr Haq must have had some sectarian element. Mr Haq, himself from Phyber Pakhtoonkhwa, was passing through a majority-Pashtun area. It should also be kept in mind that one of his party members, Maulana Hidayatu Rehman, the leader of the Gwadar Rights Movement, had only just been released by the Supreme Court’s orders. It may be that some elements, either sectarian or nationalist, did not like the Gwadar issue being adopted by the Jamaat Islami, or may not have appreciated the increased Chinese presence in the area ifs there is a settlement.

These incidents have shown that while the threat from the street may have emerged, the old threats have by no means disappeared. There is the threat of the agencies losing sight of these threats in the midst of the seemingly bigger task that they also face. Without detracting from that task, it should not be forgotten that there is evidence indicating that sectarian terrorism is being carried out by the same elements engaging the armed forces in recent attacks. It should not be forgotten that previous attacks on the armed forces were carried out by sectarian terrorists. It is not inevitable that sectarian terrorists are behind these attacks, but the possibility deserves exploring. And that can only be done if the agencies keep themselves focused on all tasks.

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

Why is PTI popular?

Going according to merit is the root cause of the PTI’s popularity

wards the status of the VC UHS and offered the Governor an invitation card to chair a convention in the university. This was the turning point. Later on, to the utter dismay of the complainant, Governor (Chancellor) Rajwana dishonoured his own word by declaring in writing that he was not entitled to decide on the matter.

Nevertheless, the case lingered on. Associated with the PTI, Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar became the next Governor of Punjab (September 2018 – April 2022). The same case was presented before him. Governor Sarwar invited the complainant for a personal hearing on 23 September 2019 at 1200 hours at the Governor House, Lahore. From the UHS, a team of the Registrar office attended the meeting.

Dr Qaisar rashiD

CURRENTLY, a flurry of news is heard that there will be zero tolerance for the May 9 miscreants, May 9 would be observed as Black Day, and May 9 violence was planned and orchestrated. Similarly, opinions are bandied about trying miscreants under this or that Army Act. Nevertheless, there is another side of the story. On May 9, people (as malefactors) vented their grievances against the State for oppression and for following colonial policies. People hate high offices making decisions and imposing the same on them. Just have a look at the following example.

Associated with the PML(N), Malik Muhammad Rafique Rajwana remained Governor of Punjab (May 2015 – August 2018). As the Governor, Rajwana was also the Chancellor of the government-run universities, including the University of Health Sciences (UHS), Lahore. A (prospective) PhD student had grievances against the quality standards and research practices produced at the UHS and he had filed a written complaint. On 6 February 2017 at 1330 hours, Governor (or Chancellor) Rajwana invited the complainant for personal hearing, as per the law, at the Governor House Lahore. To hear the version of the UHS, Governor Rajwana also invited a representative of the then Vice Chancellor Professor General (retd) Mohammad Aslam. In the meeting, the University’s Registrar, Asad Zaheer, represented the VC UHS.

Right at the outset of the meeting with the complainant, Governor Rajwana said that he had read the whole case and there was no need for any further discussion. The Governor further said that he was ready to adopt all the points mentioned by the complainant and that he was ready to implement the suggestions in order to reform the system. The Governor also said that any system needed its flaws to be pointed out for improvement and someone had to do this job. The Governor expressed gratitude to the complainant for doing the job at the cost of his own time and money. The Governor also said that, though he had grown old, he was ready to improve himself by listening to a person younger to him and that there was no harm that a prospective PhD student was demanding improvement in the system before he started research as a PhD scholar.

When the Governor closed the meeting, Registrar Asad Zaheer invited the attention of the Governor to-

Governor Sarwar said that he had read the case thoroughly and that he would decide the case on merit after seeking the opinion of a third party, which could be the Higher Education Commission Punjab or the King Edward Medical University. Hearing this point, the team from the UHS Registrar office raised a hue and cry and laid emphasis on the status of the VC UHS– to pressurize the Governor to reject the complaint straightaway. Governor Sarwar refused to budge and said, “Look! I am here to serve the people. Though I am also a representative of a political party, I should not be forced to offer favour to the powerful. I am not afraid of any consequences. I should not be forced to violate any merit or law. I am not a part of any clique, and I don’t want to be. I want to work by my conscience.”

With that, the meeting ended. Governor Sarwar honoured his word and did not submit to the force exerted by the UHS.

The stance of Governor Sarwar was admired by PhD students, who saw in him a person of integrity who did not submit to any pressure or enticement, and who followed merit strictly, irrespective of the consequences. Students saw a huge difference between the approach of a Governor associated with the PML(N) and a Governor associated with the PTI. By implication, there had been many more incidents where Governor Rajwana might have acquiesced but where Governor Sarwar did not yield to pressure or enticement.

Apparently, such incidents take place in the confines of high-walled offices, but they get narrated in society to help its members think about the viability of one political party or the other. People make up their minds accordingly. The youth get impressed by political representatives who respect merit and law.

Will eastern order surface?

The USA will always loom large

tion. On the exterior, the USA has profited from its landscape and its extraordinary trajectory of political expansion. It is located in such a position where oceans separate it from the other international powers, its landmass encompasses both Asia and Europe, and it accrues leverage by playing an extraordinary position as a global power balancer. Considering this, the USA had critical opportunities in the 20th century to form blocs of like-minded states that contour and embed global statutes and organizations.

Wajahat sultan

IN 1945, the world transitioned into a new form of war and competition. The world experienced the bipolarity of the international system. From 1945 to 1990, the American Order captured hegemony through the soft power and excellence of values that characterized the Washington-based order. After the disintegration of the USSR, the world entered a new phase of US hegemony. With the advent of authoritarian capitalism, China emerged as a potent power to counter American hegemony and cultural capital in the 21st century. There is not an iota of doubt about the potentiality of the Chinese order in the last few years, but the persistent norms and appeal of society are still based on the American order. This century is the war of the Cultural Revolution rather than the economic system because China has already accepted the capitalist form of economic growth in the international order.

Quoting from Foreign Affairs, the American order is like the layers of an onion. The US-led international order has multiple layers. On the outside are its liberal internationalist notions and tasks, through which the USA has delivered the globe a “third way” between the anarchy of nations furiously contending with each other toe to toe and the arrogant ranking of imperial systems— an arrangement that has provided more profits for more people than any preliminary op-

As the contemporary emergency in Ukraine exhibits, this capacity to muster unions of democracies stays one of the USA’s most important assets. Under the kingdom of administration and diplomacy, the US domestic civil set up— enhanced by its multiracial and multicultural settler base— integrates the nation to the globe in webs of influence elusive to China, Russia, and other countries. Ultimately, at the nucleus, one of the sources of the USA’s incredible resilience is its capability to flunk; as a liberal society, it can recognize its openness and mistakes and pursue ways to enhance them, giving it a specific advantage over its illiberal opponents in engaging emergencies and lapses. No other nation on the face of the earth has appreciated such an extensive set of benefits from bargaining with other nations. This is the explanation why the USA has had such staying power for such an extended period, despite occasional losses and dissatisfactions.

This wrangle between liberal and illiberal world orders is an echo of the incredible competition of the 20th century. In key premature moments· after the decisions of the two world wars and the Cold War· the USA progressed toward a developed schedule for world order.

two opposite logics of world order. The USA protects a multinational edict it has directed for three-quarters of a century— one that is open, multilateral, and anchored in security agreements and cooperation with another liberal democratic countries. China and Russia pursue an international declaration that dethrones Western liberal norms— one that is more gracious to regional unions, globes of influence, and dictatorships. The USA maintains a transnational order that defends and increases the attraction of liberal democracy. China and Russia, each in its own way, wish to create an international order that safeguards autocratic rule from the ominous leverages of liberal modernity. This wrangle between liberal and illiberal world orders is an echo of the incredible competition of the 20th century. In key premature moments— after the decisions of the two world wars and the Cold War— the USA progressed toward a developed schedule for world order. Its conquest rested fairly on the candid validity of US power and the country’s unrivaled financial, technical, and military abilities. The USA will hang around at the depths of the world system in part because of these worldly capacities and its position as a pivot in the international equilibrium of power. The military, technological and soft power of the USA allocate it an upper-hand in the 21st century.

The basis of unflinching loyalty of the youth (and people at large) with the PTI lies such incidents of following merit. No one from the public can hold Governor Rajwana answerable to his dishonouring his uttered words and this was the strength of the Governor owing to which he disrespected his words without any fear. Inaccessibility to the public to the state officers and vulnerability of the public to the same high offices engender resentment which is vented by tearing apart and burning down any symbol of authority, as happened on May 9. The point is this: the Army Act of any kind may put some people behind bars, but it cannot address the root cause. Can the Army Act of any kind hold people like Governor Rajwana accountable or appreciate Governor Sarwar for his deeds. The answer is in the negative. Deceiving the public and siding with the powerful is a norm in society. People, especially the youth, abhor this nexus. Cheating the public is a crime; cheating the public with impunity is a bigger crime. Is there any law to correct this wrong?

In society, malaise is not superficial to be dealt with any Army Act; instead, malaise runs deep in society. Radical changes are required in the high offices which are notorious for being not answerable to the public. If the State wants to avert any next May 9, it has to make laws through which people could hold high offices answerable.

In short, the PTI is popular because its representatives took care of the sentiments of the youth and of those who wanted a change in society to challenge the high offices which were out of their access. Any effort to ban this party will be otiose.

The writer can be contacted at qaisarrashid@yahoo.com

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Census is a waste of precious resources

THIS is with reference to the reports ‘Census extended till May 15’ and ‘Sindh refuses to accept census results unless correct numbers reported’ as well as the editorial ‘Census controversy’ all of which appeared on the same day (April 29). For the last few months, I have been in search of someone who will help me understand the need for holding the census in the country. All the controversies related to the ongoing census made me throw the question into the larger pool through these lines in the hope that someone somewhere across the country, or maybe abroad, might bring my search to an end.

The initial cost of the census was said to be Rs34 billion, which is a huge sum by any means, but particularly so in the current times of financial crunch. Besides, it is common knowledge that the country has a comprehensive database managed by the National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra). In fact, many over the years have claimed that it is one of the best in the world. In the presence of that database with complete current and permanent addresses as well as the number of adults and minors in a household, what is the point of collecting the same information all over again?

If the census is about bringing into the loop those who are still not registered with Nadra, let me point out that the census teams visiting homes across the country first of all ask for the CNICs before seeking any other detail. To me, a physical census is nothing but a waste of human and financial resources. With updated data available just a one click away at Nadra, the census, in fact, is a clear tussle with logic and common sense. Please correct me if my understanding is flawed. Anyone? SOHAIB KAMIL KARACHI

AJK healthcare

THE lingering lack of proper medical facilities and resources in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is a serious public health concern. The long distances and travel time to reach Islamabad for medical treatment naturally result in healthcare delays with all its inherent consequences.

The effort between the USA and its adversaries, China and Russia, is a contest between

The writer is a transportation engineer with postgraduations in English literature and political science

To address health issues, it is important for the government to prioritise the development of healthcare infra-structure in AJK, including the provision of trained medical staff, equipment and medications. This can help improve access to healthcare services and reduce the need for patients to travel long distances for treatment.

There are opportunities to leverage technology and telemedicine to improve access to medical care in remote AJK areas. Telemedicine can enable patients to receive remote medical consultations and monitoring. By working together to address the challenge, we can help improve the health and wellbeing of the people. In this regard, public-private partnerships (PPPs) can be an effective way to leverage the strengths and resources of both sectors to improve access to healthcare services.

By partnering with private healthcare providers and investors, the government can gather additional resources and expertise while also promoting innovation and efficiency in service delivery.

At the same time, PPPs must be carefully structured and managed to ensure that they deliver high-quality, accessible and affordable healthcare to all citizens regardless of their ability to pay. This may require strong regulatory frameworks, transparent governance structures, and effective monitoring and evaluation mechanisms to ensure that private-sector partners adhere to the highest standards of quality and accountability.

Overall, PPPs have the potential to play a critical role in addressing the healthcare challenges that the AJK people are facing for as long as they remember which is a pity.

Latest terrorist attacks indicate agencies may be over-focused on May 9

The basis of unflinching loyalty of the youth (and people at large) with the PTI lies such incidents of following merit. No one from the public can hold Governor Rajwana answerable to his dishonouring his uttered words and this was the strength of the Governor owing to which he disrespected his words without any fear.

Dr FaQir hussain

ONCE upon a time, the Supreme Court enjoyed high esteem and prestige. It was both revered and feared: revered by the general public for its orders and verdicts, passed against the mighty and powerful institutions and authorities for their abuse of power and misuse of authority. The corrupt and incompetent in the Executive, ranging from the Prime Minister down to the cabinet members and heads of divisions, departments or corporations, were fearful of the Court summons for malgovernance or any complaint of corruption or embezzlement of funds. And in the process, some landmark judgments were delivered. Such judgments include, declaring the NRO illegal and the appointment of PCO judges unconstitutional; ordering criminal prosecution of the former COAS and DG ISI for their role in providing illegal funding (in the 1990 General Elections) to politicians; preventing the sale of Karachi Steel Mills to a business group for peanuts; trial and conviction of the Minister for Religious Affairs for his involvement in the Hajj scam; directing NAB to initiate criminal proceedings against the Minister for Water and Power for his involvement in corruption in the Rental Power Plants; disqualification of the Prime Minister for disobeying the Court order in recovering $60 million, stashed by the country’s President in a Swiss Bank account and ordering the Government to proceed against General Musharraf for committing the offence of “high treason” for his 3 November 2007 action against the judges of the superior courts. These verdicts were mostly given by the Full Court (comprising 17 judges) and being strictly in accordance with the law and Constitution, were quickly implemented. The Court thus built a positive image of the country and was leading the nation towards establishing a system of governance, based on strict adherence to law and Constitution and following the principles of “rule of law” and “due process”. The verdicts were widely reported and commented upon by the print and electronic media and remained the subject of discourse and discussions among experts and analysts on the TV channels. The role of the Supreme Court was generally appreciated and applauded.

These verdicts came after the “Judges Restoration Movement” in 2009. It was a long and arduous struggle, led by the bar and supported by civil society and

Fall from Grace?  COMMENT

The Supreme Court has lost its hard-won repute

political parties. After Restoration, the judges were transformed into a different breed: fiercely independent and impartial in conduct and rigidly and rigorously standing by the law and Constitution. So high was the respect and esteem of the Court that when the PM showed reluctance to implement the Court order in the Swiss Bank Accounts case, he was ordered to appear and answer the charge of “contempt of court”. Requests from his Office to let the PM enter the Court through the judges’ gate or the lawyers’ entrance, were turned down; not out of disrespect for the supreme executive authority, but to adhere to the constitutional principle of “equality before law’. Thus, coming as an ordinary accused, he queued up along with other litigant parties and entered through the public gate.

During the period 2009-2013, besides such high-profile cases, the Court also granted relief and remedy to hundreds of thousands of members of the poor and downtrodden sections of society, who approached it against injustices, unfair treatment and discriminatory actions at the hands of administrative authorities. Thus, approximately 25-300 letters or complaints were daily received from aggrieved persons for maladministration.

It is a manifestation of the level of abuse of authority, misuse of power and discriminatory actions in the governance system! Alternatively, it was a reflection of public trust and confidence in the apex Court. All such complaints were processed by the “Human Rights Cell” of the Supreme Court, headed by a former judge of the High Court. The Cell called for reports from the head of the government department or agency. In bulk of the cases, the complaint or grievance was resolved at the administrative level and compliance report submitted to the Court. The Court would then share the report with the complainant, and if he was satisfied, the complaint was filed. Almost 90- 95 percent of complaints were resolved through this mechanism. The rest of the complaints were resolved through “chamber hearings” by the Chief Justice. Hardly a few went for regular hearing by a bench.

Side by side, the “National Judicial Policy 2009” was launched for quick disposal of pending cases at all levels of the judicial hierarchy. The judges were tasked to decide a specified number of cases and their performance was monitored. Periodic meetings of all the Chief Justices were convened and performance of the Subordinate Courts as well as Special Courts monitored. The courts extended working hours and lawyers were disciplined to be punctual, so as to facilitate the quick disposal of cases.

The results were astounding! In Balochistan, the time span for disposal of civil/criminal cases was reduced to just one year in the lower courts and less than one year in the High Court. This was performance at par with the advanced countries, where civil/criminal cases

get resolved in a maximum of one year. Similarly, such time span in the lower courts of KP came down to a year and a half. In the provinces of Sindh and Punjab, the results were not so good, but there was considerable reduction in pendency. In the Supreme Court, the Bench No 1, headed by the Chief Justice, sat till late in the evening to exhaust the cause list. Thus, the pendency in this Court came down and remained around 20,000, which was manageable. Roughly, some 16000-17000 cases were annually registered and the same number disposed of. It was in this backdrop that the judiciary attained greater public confidence and higher prestige. It may be noted that bulk of the cases (almost 90 percent) are filed and decided by the Subordinate Courts and merely 10 percent go before the Supreme Court and High Courts for resolution.

Notwithstanding such stunning results, the momentum was not maintained, after the retirement of Chief Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry in 2013. The National Judicial Policy was abandoned, resulting in bulging dockets and rising pendency. Thus, pendency now stands around 60,000 in the Supreme Court and much higher in the High Courts and Subordinate Courts. Litigants have a hard time: cases take years- nay decades- to be decided by the Trial Court, followed by similar timeframes at the appellate stage, each in the High Court and the Supreme Court. There is a near collapse of the administration of justice in the lower courts. Once suffering the ordeal of litigation, no one will in his or her wildest dreams conceive of

No judge may oppose the timeframe, given by Article 224 of the Constitution. Nothing –not even Article 254 of the Constitution - authorizes the Court to extend it beyond 90 days. It will be a travesty of justice and subversion of the Constitution to resort again to the notorious „doctrine of necessity‰.

Cricket has always been about sex and money as much as skill

skipper needed to be a ‘public relations officer, agricultural consultant, psychiatrist, accountant, nursemaid and diplomat, as well as selector and tactician, while also having some ferociously hostile bowlers trying to knock your block off’.

Wilde opens the bowling with a riveting chapter called Staying Sane, which gives the lie to the idea that touring is one long jolly in the sunshine for the cricketers, who are miles away from home and cocooned in the company of people they may not always get along with.

another senior player and later Bishop of Liverpool). Dexter fined Truman £50 for not contributing to team spirit. He was incensed and vowed never to play for England again, though public opinion was massively on his side. He did play again, though never again went on a major tour.

DAILY MAIL roGer alton

IT’S funny to think that if Britain hadn’t been a small island nation, cricket might never have broken the bonds of being a quirky ball game virtually unheard of by the rest of the world. An island nation maybe, but with its long maritime tradition it achieved a reach way out of proportion to its size. And of all the evidence of Britain’s loitering in foreign parts, cricket has to be one of the few things it left behind that is both highly visible and distinctive and, even to the most woke, hard to knock.

No other sport has tours like cricket tours — long, action-packed and often gossipfilled, too — which is why Simon Wilde’s comprehensive history of the English cricket team abroad is so packed with interest.

England’s first major overseas tour to Australia and New Zealand in 1876 lasted 254 days; their most recent triumphant visit to Pakistan was just 30. Grand tours have morphed into package holidays. Wilde is the veteran cricket correspondent of The Sunday Times, and this is a companion volume to his biography of the England cricket team.

As you would expect, all your favourite anecdotes are here — a well-lubricated Andrew Flintoff being rescued by St Lucia police from his late night pedalo, David Gower in flying gear buzzing his team-mates in Australia in a Tiger Moth, Geoff Boycott nipping off for a round of golf rather than watch his colleagues play in a Test match and, of course, the first blows to apartheidera South Africa when they refused to accept Basil D’Oliveira because he was mixed race.

Brits might not be so popular overseas these days, but our cricketers abroad are like a goldmine for the hosting country. The very first match played by an England team in Australia in 1862 was such a pull that all the costs of the tour were covered by one fixture alone.

When England first toured India in 1933-34, the Delhi government closed its offices, and Bombay declared a public holiday: unsurprisingly the average gate for that Test match was 100,000. A seven-month tour of Australia in the 1880s would have turned a profit but for the £3,000 offered by the sponsor to W. G. Grace, then the most famous cricketer in the world, to skipper the team. That’s the equivalent of half a million today, proving that the vast sums offered by the Indian Premier League have always been around in one form or another.

The pressure on the captains can be immense. Doug Insole, a former Essex captain and Peter May’s deputy on tour, said the

Some players sail through any number of tours seemingly unscarred: unflappable Alastair Cook notched up centuries all over the world, while others cracked — Marcus Trescothick famously, as well as Jonathan Trott. Graeme Fowler and Steve Harmison in the modern era also struggled.

Graeme Swann, the great off-spinner, once said: ‘Touring before you’ve got kids is the best thing you’ll ever do. You spend time with some of your best mates, [in] fivestar hotels, playing cricket for your country. It’s amazing.’ The flipside is, of course, once you’ve got kids it isn’t so much fun.

It’s true to say that English cricketing authorities — and indeed much of the game’s more traditional support — have not, until very recently, been especially sympathetic to partners and families. The thought of wives, girlfriends and even children sharing breakfast with the team would have been enough to induce apoplexy in many of the residents of the Lord’s Long Room.

Women were only admitted to the MCC in 1998.The class structure of the game was like an open sore. In 1962-63, the men running the team on the Ashes tour of Australia couldn’t have been more old-school. The manager was the Duke of Norfolk and, while the old amateur status had been abolished, the captain and vice-captain, Ted Dexter and Colin Cowdrey, were both public school and Oxbridge. Dexter’s wife, Susan, took the chance to join the tour and do some modelling work.

This didn’t go down too well with Fred Truman, a hugely illustrious — if combative — Test player and cricket professional. He told an Aussie journalist he wasn’t sure ‘whether we were supposed to be playing under Jockey Club rules for Dexter Enterprises, or engaged on a missionary hunt’ (a spiky reference to the Rev David Sheppard,

Even Ray Illingworth, later a successful captain of England and influential figure within the game, couldn’t stand it. ‘None of the professionals were ever invited to dinner . . . not that we would want to go anyway, but all the amateurs dined with the Duke of Norfolk and that created divisions. I never felt at ease in the set-up.’

Thank heavens, you feel, for ‘Bazball’, the aggressive, high-octane batting style of the England team after the appointment of current coach Brendon ‘Baz’ McCullum and captain Ben Stokes, all tatts and shades, and not much to do with the Duke of Norfolk. It was Truman’s first wife, Enid, who articulated the misery of the life of the touring widow. ‘When you’re married to a famous person, everyone expects it to be marvellous.

You can also be very lonely on your own while your husband is thousands of miles away. ‘And you won’t miss me half as much as I miss you because you have got all the contacts, the parties, the dinners. I just have the telephone, the reporters and the menace.’ So no fun then being stuck at home and, within weeks, they had separated. There were huge opportunities for womanising and, er, infidelity, which Wilde tactfully skates over in his accounts of modern tours. England’s first overseas cricketing visit was to Canada and the U.S. in 1859. The manager, Fred Lillywhite, was much taken with the ladies of Philadelphia: ‘If any additional incentive had been required to induce the English XI to exhibit their skill to the greatest advantage, it was afforded by the presence of so large and beautiful an assemblage of the fair sex.’ An incentive which it is fair to say has probably had the same effect on many touring cricketers through the years. The great batsman and England captain Wally Hammond, described by his biographer as ‘a philanderer on the grand scale’, was well known for his enthusiastic pursuit of women at home and abroad.

More recently, Frances Edmonds, wife of the England spinner Phil, didn’t mince her words: ‘It is pointless to pretend that three and four month tours are not going to involve a fair amount of hanky-panky,’ she wrote. Someone who knew a lot about that was Denis Compton, a hugely glamorous figure, dazzling cricketer and an impossibly handsome man, who received many approaches. ‘My first two marriages did not really have a chance,’ he reflected. ‘Test cricketers have the hardest job of all to hold their marriages together because of all the touring.’ Still there were compensations. ‘The temptations were always there. When a beautiful blonde [on the ship to Australia] asked me to autograph her menu, she pushed her napkin into my hands. ‘Written in lipstick was the number of her cabin.’

The Tour: The Story of the England Cricket Team Overseas 1877-2023 by Simon Wilde (Simon & Schuster £25, 580pp)

knocking again at the door of the citadel of justice.

In short, the institution of judiciary has failed to deliver. The litigants are cursing their fate for approaching the courts. They are at the mercy of the bar, for whom strikes and boycotts are a normal routine. Leaving aside the lower courts, even the superior courts do accommodate the striking counsel by granting them liberal adjournments. There is hardly any concern about the ordeal and suffering of litigant parties and perennial delays in the dispensation of justice.

The situation got further deteriorated by the split among judges in the apex court. There is a dearth of courtesy among brother judges, resulting in daily media reports of bickering among them. With poor performance and perennial delays, public confidence is shattered in the Court and its prestige has nosedived. And now it is under onslaught from the incumbent Government and Parliament. The bar is divided on political lines and the opportunistic senior counsel are standing with their respective PDM/PTI platform, disregarding the Court verdicts and clear and categorical provisions of the Constitution. Thus, even the convicts and undertrial politicians are pointing fingers at the Court. The Court has undoubtedly fallen from grace! The way and manner the Suo Motu case of holding elections in Punjab is handled is far from satisfactory. Despite the Court order and elapse of the fixed 90-day period, implementation is withheld by lingering on proceedings. Quite obviously, the pressure from Parliament and PDM Dharna have paid off! The Orders of the Supreme Court in holding elections as per the constitutional mandate are laughed at and the High Courts’ orders of release of detenus are brazenly violated. This is a worrisome development. Time to forego egos and unite for the sake of saving the institution. Better for the Court to correct its course. Let it reconstitute itself as Full Court, more so, because it is an important matter involving the interpretation of the Constitution and asked for by the parties to the case. No judge may oppose the timeframe, given by Article 224 of the Constitution. Nothing – not even Article 254 of the Constitution - authorizes the Court to extend it beyond 90 days. It will be a travesty of justice and subversion of the Constitution to resort again to the notorious “doctrine of necessity”. It will make a bad precedent and further erode public trust in the ability of the Court to stand by and “preserve, protect and defend the Constitution”.

The author served as Registrar, Supreme Court and Secretary, Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan.

The electric vehicle market in Asia is booming

China still dominates the Asian – and world – EV production and sales markets

OILPRICE.COM

Felicity BraDstock

UNTIL now, China has dominated the Asian electric vehicle (EV) market but there are some other fast-growing EV markets now emerging across the region. Several Asian countries are beginning to develop their EV consumer markets and manufacturing capabilities in line with the shift to green. Over the next decade, we can expect EV markets in Indonesia, Thailand, and India to expand significantly as demand for non-fossil fuel-powered vehicles continues to grow.

Passenger EV sales in Southeast Asia increased by 35% year on year in quarter three of 2022, with Thailand registering the highest EV sales volume. This was followed by Indonesia and Singapore. Battery EVs held a 61% share of these sales, with hybrid EVs making up the rest. EVs accounted for 2% of the total new car sales across the region.

Indonesia is the largest economy in Southeast Asia, and it is steadily developing its EV production capabilities in line with increasing demand. The government hopes to be producing 13 million electric motorcycles and 2.2 million electric cars by the end of the decade. This is supported by the country’s well-established metals and minerals industry, with huge nickel reserves – around 52% of the global total. Nickel, alongside other metals and minerals, is a vital component of EV battery production and sourcing it locally can help cut manufacturing costs.

Indonesia aims to achieve net-zero carbon emissions by 2060, supported by the electrification of its transportation sector. Its transport accounts for around 40% of the country’s total energy consumption, as well as contributes 13% of Indonesia’s air pollution. The government included the shift to EVs in its National Masterplan for Industry (RIPIN) 2015-2035 and EV production has been steadily increasing ever since. Under its National Medium-Term Plan 2020-2024, the state also plans to develop the supporting infrastructure required for the rollout of EVs across the country.

Meanwhile, in Thailand, another Southeast Asian economic giant, the government’s subsidy policies are helping to rapidly grow the country’s EV market. In addition, several Chinese companies are looking to launch production activities in Thailand, including Great Wall Motor (GWM), SAIC Motor, and BYD. The Thai government offers subsidies of between $2,000 and $4,350 for qualifying EVs, as

well as tariff and sales tax reductions, to encourage the uptake of EVs. In the first two months of the year, a study showed that battery EVs accounted for 6.2% of all new car sales. At present, the top-selling EV models come from Chinese automakers, offering consumers cheaper alternatives to European and North American competitors. And now auto giants are looking to India to develop their EV markets, following significant growth in recent years and a strong willingness from the government to undergo a green transition. It’s no wonder that automakers are hoping to reach the Indian consumer market with a population of over 1.4 billion. In addition, India is set to be the second-fastest growing economy in the G20 in the financial year 2022 to 2023. However, India has fallen behind the world’s major EV markets, including China, the U.S., and Europe.

The International Energy Agency’s Global EV Outlook 2023 stated that India’s EV sales hit almost 50,000 in 2022, a fourfold increase from the previous year. But this is still far below China’s EV sales of 4.4 million. This suggests there is significant potential to grow the Indian EV consumer market in line with the steady development of the country’s EV and component manufacturing industries. The Indian government is offering a $3.2 billion incentive program, which has attracted $8.2 billion investment, to help develop the country’s EV market.

Several major automakers have taken notice of India’s EV potential. For example, the CEO of Citroën, Thierry Koskas, stated that although the Indian EV market is “just starting”, the company has “great hope for this market because a lot of car usage in India is urban or suburban, and that can be absolutely perfect for electric vehicles.” Citroën India launched its fully electric ë-C3 in February 2023, as several other major automakers also enter the Indian market, including Volvo and Audi.

Several Indian companies are also looking to solidify their position in the market, including Mahindra and Mahindra and Ola Electric. Ola’s CEO, Bhavish Aggarwal, said that the company plans to launch an all-electric vehicle that can go from zero to 100 kph in four seconds by 2024. Although, despite the strong potential for EV manufacturing and sales, the government will have to rapidly develop the country’s EV infrastructure to encourage uptake.

While China still dominates the Asian –and world – EV production and sales markets, there is optimism around the rapid growth of other regional EV markets. Indonesia and India show significant potential for EV manufacturing, while Thailand and India could develop huge consumer markets. With greater foreign investment and support from government policies, several countries in Asia could quickly rise to compete with North American and European EV markets.

Felicity Bradstock is a freelance writer specialising in Energy and Finance. She has a Master’s in International Development from the University of Birmingham, UK.

How cricket bowls maidens over!

CHINA’S XI UNVEILS GRAND DEVELOPMENT PLAN WITH CENTRAL ASIAN ALLIES

PROFIT reuters

CHINA’SPresident Xi Jinping on Friday unveiled an ambitious plan to help elevate Central Asia to the next level of its development – from building infrastructure networks to boosting trade – while shunning “external interference” at the same time.

China stands ready to synergise development strategies with the five Central Asian nations of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan, and make joint efforts to promote the modernisation of all six countries, said Xi in an address at the China-Central Asia Summit in northwest China. “The world needs a Central Asia that is stable, prosperous, harmonious, and well-connected,” Xi said.

At the same time, the six countries should oppose “external interference” in the internal affairs of regional countries

and attempts to instigate “colour revolutions”, and maintain a zero-tolerance stance against terrorism, separatism and extremism, Xi warned.“China is ready to help Central Asian countries improve their law enforcement, security, and defense capability construction,” Xi said.

The two-day summit in the historic Silk Road city of Xian has been portrayed by Chinese state media as a triumph of China’s regional diplomacy, with the leaders of Kazakhstan, Kyrgyzstan, Tajikistan, Turkmenistan and Uzbekistan earlier pledging support for Beijing and vowing deeper bilateral cooperation.

The display of solidarity from China’s Central Asian neighbours is expected to contrast sharply with the “negative” image of Beijing to be presented at the summit of Group of Seven leaders in Hiroshima over the weekend.

The high-profile expression of trust by China’s neighbours will serve to counter U.S. accusations of Beijing’s coercive

Rally held at IIUI to express solidarity with Pakistan Army

ISLAMABAD stAff report

The students and Academic and non-academic employees of International Islamic university (IIU) on Friday took out a rally at new campus to express support for the armed forces. The young students who participated in large numbers were carrying banners and placards inscribed with slogans in favour of the armed forces. They condemned rioters for ransacking the private, government and defense installations on May 9 last. The rally was also joined by the differently abled students of the university. They maintained that the rioters who attacked monuments of the martyrs of the forces, they did hurt the sentiments of the patriot Pakistanis. The participants paid tributes to the armed forces and said they stood by the army which had always defended the country. A good number of the participants were carrying the national flags. They also raised slogans in support of the armed forces. The participants prayed for the homeland and said that armed forces are the pride of Pakistan and lifeline of the nation.

diplomacy. Xi’s gathering of five heads of state on Chinese soil without Russian President Vladimir Putin also ostensibly pulls Central Asia closer to the Chinese sphere of influence as Moscow’s focus remains locked on the war in Ukraine. China and Central Asian countries

should deepen strategic mutual trust, and always offer “clear and strong support” for each other on issues of core interests such as those involving sovereignty, independence, national dignity and long-term development, Xi said, without mentioning war-torn Ukraine, which like the Central

Asian nations, was a former Soviet state.

TRADE AND INVESTMENT

China will upgrade bilateral investment agreements with Central Asian countries, and raise cross-border freight volume with the region in an all-round way, Xi said.

Beijing will encourage Chinese-funded businesses in Central Asia to create more local jobs, build overseas warehouses in the region, and launch a special train service aimed at promoting cultural tourism with Central Asia, he added.

Two-way trade between China and Central Asia hit a record $70 billion last year, with Kazakhstan leading with $31 billion, as China seeks deeper economic links in its quest for greater food and energy security. Xi said the building of Line D of the China-Central Asia natural gas pipeline should be accelerated.

He also called on China and Central Asia to increase oil and gas trade, develop energy cooperation across industrial chains, and boost cooperation in new energy and the peaceful use of nuclear energy.

Further out, China supports the construction of a cross-Caspian Sea international transport corridor, and China will strengthen the construction of transportation hubs of China-Europe freight train services, Xi said.

BT to cut 55,000 jobs with up to a fifth replaced by AI

PROFIT Agencies

Telecoms giant BT is to shed up to 55,000 jobs by the end of the decade, mostly in the UK, as it cuts costs. Up to a fifth of those cuts will come in customer services as staff are replaced by technologies including artificial intelligence.

The headcount reduction from the current workforce of 130,000 includes staff and contractors.

“Whenever you get new technologies you can get big changes,” said chief executive Philip Jansen.

He said “generative AI” tools such as ChatGPT – which can write essays, scripts, poems, and solve computer coding in a human-like way – “gives us confidence we can go even further”.

Mr Jansen said AI would make services faster, better and more seamless, adding that the changes would not mean customers will “feel like they are dealing with robots”.

“We are multi-channel, we are on-

line, we have 450 stores and that’s not changing at all,” he said.

There are plenty of opportunities for our customers to deal with people at BT, plenty of people to speak to.”

Mr Jansen added that “new technologies drive new jobs”, although BT has said it will have a” much smaller workforce” by the end of the 2020s.

BT, which is the UK’s largest broadband and mobile provider, is currently continuing to expand its fibre network as it moves away from copper. The company said that once the work was completed it would not need as many staff to build and maintain its networks.

In addition, newer, more efficient technology, including artificial intelligence, means fewer people will be needed to serve customers in future, it said. The move comes shortly after Vodafone said it would axe a tenth of its staff over the next three years, equating to 11,000 jobs.

UK HIT

Mr Jansen said BT would become “a leaner business with a brighter future”,

China, Central Asia vow to build a closer community with a shared future at milestone Xi’an summit

BEIJING stAff correspondent

It is no coincidence that Xi’an has been chosen to host the first inperson gathering among heads of state of China and five Central Asian countries since their diplomatic ties were established 31 years ago.

Over 2,100 years ago, Zhang Qian, a Han Dynasty envoy, made his journey to the West from Chang’an, now the northwestern Chinese city of Xi’an, opening the door to friendship and exchanges between China and Central Asia.

Delivering a keynote speech at the China-Central Asia Summit held at the starting point of the ancient Silk Road on Friday, Chinese President Xi Jinping recalled the millennia-old friendship and hailed the relations as

brimming with vigor and vitality in the new era.

In expounding on how to build a China-Central Asia community with a shared future, Xi stressed the need for mutual support, common development, and upholding universal security and everlasting friendship.

The summit from Thursday to Friday was attended by Kazakh President Kassym-Jomart Tokayev, Kyrgyz President Sadyr Japarov, Tajik President Emomali Rahmon, Turkmen President Serdar Berdimuhamedov and Uzbek President Shavkat Mirziyoyev.

During their meetings or talks with Xi, the leaders expressed confidence and determination to boost cooperation with China, voicing their support for the China-proposed initiatives on

global development, security and civilization.

SETTING PACE FOR BRI

COOPERATION

Central Asia is where the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) began, as in a speech delivered at Kazakhstan’s Nazarbayev University in September 2013, Xi for the first time proposed building the Silk Road Economic Belt. A month later, in Indonesia, he proposed the building of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road.

“Over the past decade, China and Central Asian countries have worked closely together to fully revive the Silk Road and actively deepen future-oriented cooperation, steering our relations into a new era,” Xi said in his speech. He continued to hail the China-Kyrgyzstan-Uzbekistan highway, the China-Tajikistan

expressway, the China-Kazakhstan crude oil pipeline and the China-Central Asia Gas Pipeline as the present-day Silk Road, and the China-Europe freight trains, freight trucks and flights the present-day camel caravans.

In addition to traditional areas of cooperation, China and Central Asia should also forge new drivers of growth in finance, agriculture, poverty reduction, green and lowcarbon development, medical service, health and digital innovation, said Xi.

China’s trade with the five countries reached $70 billion in 2022, up by over 100 times since diplomatic ties were established. As of the end of March, China’s direct investment stock in Central Asia stood at over $15 billion, according to the Chinese Ministry of Commerce.

with the firm planning to get rid of between 40,000 and 55,000 jobs by 2030.

The firm has about 80,000 employees in the UK, and this is where the bulk of the cuts will come. It has about 20,000 staff abroad.

It also has 30,000 contractors, mainly abroad. Many of those roles will go.

The cuts break down as:

More than 15,000 cuts as BT completes building fibre networks in the UK

More than 10,000 as new UK networks require less maintenance

More than 10,000 from using new tech including AI

About 5,000 from restructuring

The Communications and Workers Union (CWU) said the BT announcement was “no surprise”.

“The introduction of new technologies across the company, along with the completion of the fibre infrastructure build replacing the copper network, was always going to result in less labour costs for the company in the coming years,” a CWU spokesperson said.

But the union said it wants BT to

keep as many of its core employees as possible, with job cuts coming from subcontractors “in the first instance”, and through roles not being replaced as people leave the business.

The BT announcement was made as it reported a 12% drop in profits of £1.7bn for the year to April.

Its shares fell more than 7% after its results fell short of analysts’ expectations. James Barford, head of telecoms research at Enders Analysis, said the BT job cuts were mostly about fewer people being needed in building networks, whereas the Vodafone cuts were “more general efficiency savings”.

He said that in both cases plans were “already broadly in place, with savings previously described in monetary terms rather than headcount reduction”.

Possibly, the firms are now talking about job cuts “to help convince skeptical investors that they will actually deliver the promised savings”, Mr Barford added.

Ukraine’s Zelenskiy visits Saudia; seeks Arab League support

DUBAI Agencies

Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskiy attended a summit of the Arab League in Saudi Arabia on Friday to canvas support for his people, while Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman expressed his readiness to mediate in the war between Moscow and Kyiv. Also at the Jeddah gathering, Arab leaders warmly welcomed back into their fold Syria’s President Bashar al-Assad — who has received heavy support from Russia in his country’s civil war — following a decade of isolation. “We reaffirm the kingdom’s readiness to continue mediating efforts between Russia and Ukraine, and to support all international efforts aimed at resolving the crisis politically in a way that contributes to achieving security,” the Saudi Crown Prince said in his opening speech. Prince Mohammed has mediated in the conflict before. Zelenskiy, who was also due to attend a summit of the G7 leaders in the Japanese city of Hiroshima this weekend, thanked Saudi Arabia for its past help and said delegates would each receive the text of his 10-point peace plan. He asked them to work with Ukraine directly without intermediaries. Gulf states have tried to remain neutral in the Ukraine conflict despite Western pressure on Gulf oil producers to help isolate Russia, a fellow OPEC+ member.

SAVING PEOPLE

In his address to the summit, Zelenskiy said some countries including members of the Arab League preferred to “turn a blind eye” to Russia’s illegal annexation of Ukrainian land and to its jailing of some Ukrainians during the 15-month war. “I am sure we can all be united in saving people from the cages of Russian prisons,” he said, speaking in English. Last year, in a diplomatic coup, Crown Prince Mohammed secured the release of 10 foreigners captured by Russia in Ukraine.

Saudi Arabia welcomes Syria’s Assad in Arab summit after years of ban

JEDDAH

Agencies

Years after the deadly civil war which led to the expulsion of Syria from the Arab League, President Bashar al-Assad received a warm welcome from Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman (MBS) Friday at the summit in Jeddah.

“We are pleased today by the attendance of Syrian President Bashar alAssad in this summit,” Prince MBS, the Saudi ruler, said in a speech, adding “he hoped the return would lead to stability.”

The Arab League huddle was expected to discuss the issues regarding Yemen and the deadly conflict underway in Sudan between the two powerful factions.

Syrian President Assad became the first to participate in the Arab summit after the civil war that started in 2011, devastating the country and forcing millions to flee to the neighbouring countries, leaving another 6 million internally displaced.

After reaching Jeddah Thursday, Syrian Foreign Minister Faisal Mekdad said: “We express our happiness and pleasure

to be on the kingdom’s soil. This summit is very important. The Syrian delegation was here to make this summit a success.”

This picture shows Deputy Emir of Mecca Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz (C) welcoming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) in Jeddah. — AFP

This picture shows Deputy Emir of Mecca Prince Badr bin Sultan bin Abdulaziz (C) welcoming Syrian President Bashar al-Assad (L) in Jeddah. — AFP

The summit came as the world’s largest oil exporter Saudi Arabia has become diplomatically active in the Middle East and beyond.

The streets of the Saudi city displayed the flags of the Arab League states including Syria, as Al-Riyadh newspaper declared Friday it would be “the summit of all summits”.

The high-level meeting also took place months after China mediated a deal

between Iran and Saudi Arabia in March that established the diplomatic relations between the two arch-rivals.

Since the normalisation between Riyad and Tehran, the kingdom also resumed its ties with Damascus, increasing its efforts to seek peace in Yemen.

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (c), Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (right), and national security adviser of Saudi Arabia Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban in Beijing, China March 10, 2023.

Wang Yi, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee (c), Ali Shamkhani, the secretary of Iran’s Supreme National Security Council (right), and national security adviser of Saudi Arabia Musaad bin Mohammed Al Aiban in Beijing, China March 10, 2023. The kingdom also played a constructive role in civilian evacuation operations from Sudan when the fighting erupted in April and hosted the warring parties of the North African country to engage in talks and launch a ceasefire.

CORPORATE CORNER

foodpanda Pakistan, Costa Coffee partner to offer home delivery services

foodpanda Pakistan and Costa Coffee have announced a new partnership to bring convenience to customers in Karachi and Lahore. The partnership will expand Costa Coffee's presence on the foodpanda platform, allowing customers to order their favourite Costa Coffee beverages and food products from the comfort of their homes.

The MoU signing ceremony was held at the foodpanda headquarters in Karachi and attended by representatives from both companies. The collaboration between Costa Coffee and foodpanda aims to offer customers an unparalleled experience by combining the best of both brands. PR

thinkPVC Making waves in construction industry with innovative products

karachi: thinkPVC, a unique concept store and one-stop solution for sustainable construction products in Pakistan, is creating momentum in the industry with its innovative and eco-friendly products. The Company recently participated as a Conference Sponsor of the 18th International IAPEX Exhibition 2023 in Karachi, where it showcased latest products and solutions for the construction sector. PR

Nadeem Khan nominated as member of ICAP AsB

karachi: Group Chief Financial Officer (GCFO), PTCL & Ufone 4G, Nadeem Khan has been nominated as a member of the Institute of Chartered Accountants of Pakistan (ICAP) on its prestigious Accounting Standards Board (ASB). The ASB is responsible for overseeing the adoption, development, and implementation of accounting standards in the country, as well as providing guidance and recommending the adoption of new International Financial Reporting Standards (IFRS).Nadeem Khan is one of the three prominent business and industry leaders nominated to serve on the board, which includes prominent professionals from private and public sector. He has been appointed for a 4 year term. Nadeem Khan is a widely recognized business leader with nearly 3 decades of professional experience in key decisionmaking positions. He has been associated with the PTCL Group for the past 20 years, PR

NOT-BY- PROFIT

WEAK AGRICULTURAL MARKETING SYSTEM: EXPLOITATION OF FARMERS AND BUYERS

FARMERS IN PAKISTAN HAVE NO CONTROL OVER PRICES OF THEIR PRODUCE ISLAMABAD

NEWS DESK

WRITINGfor Dawn, authors Khalid Wattoo and Rehema Hasan explain that agricultural farming is an inherently risky business due to its dependence on weather conditions and fluctuating crop prices influenced by national and international factors.

In Pakistan these risks are intensified by a weak agricultural marketing system, where farmers have little pricing power and face exploitation by intermediaries. Farmers in Pakistan have no control over the prices of their produce and often sell immediately after harvest to

settle debts and purchase inputs for the next crop. This leads to oversupply and a drastic decrease in market prices. Many countries have improved their crop-marketing systems to enhance farmers' market power. By learning from their experiences, Pakistan can adopt a three-pronged strategy to empower farmers: reduce crop price risk, increase financial liquidity, and decrease the role of middlemen. To reduce price risk, countries implement mechanisms like a minimum support price (MSP) that guarantees a viable price for crops. Pakistan should announce MSP for crops where it has a comparative advantage and substantial local production but still imports, such as garlic, onion, oilseeds, chickpeas, and mung beans.

Contract farming is another effective measure to mitigate price risk. Private companies provide farmers with seeds, inputs, credit, and buy-back arrangements at predetermined prices. Contract farming boosts technology transfer and capital infusion into Pakistan's agriculture sector. Improving farmers' financial liquidity requires better access to formal and informal agricultural credit. Commercial and microfinance banks now offer loans to farmers, but collateral requirements need to be eased. Implementing a warehouse receipt system (WHR) can solve collateral issues. Farmers can store their crops in authorized warehouses and use them as collateral for bank loans, improving liquidity and stabilizing market prices.

TDAP hosts curtain-raiser event to announce upcoming 4th TEXPO to be held from May 26th

ing 4th International Textile and Leather Exhibition, TEXPO, to be held from May 26th to 28th at the Expo Centre in Karachi. The event, held at the Coconut Grove in Karachi, was attended by prominent figures from the fashion, leather, and textile industry of Pakistan. Chief Executive TDAP Zubair Motiwala, and Secretary Fareed Iqbal Qureshi graced the occasion as chief guests.

Farmers often face exploitation from intermediaries like arthis (commission agents) in grain and produce markets. High commission rates and delayed payments erode farmers' profits. Government regulatory control over markets should be improved, and technology-based solutions should be promoted to directly link buyers and sellers, reducing the need for intermediaries.

Enhancing farmers' market power will provide implicit financial support to the agriculture sector, enabling farmers to earn more and compete globally. This approach can help address the challenges faced by the agriculture sector in Pakistan.

To read the full article visit www.dawn.com

CAssseminar on ‘Harnessing Potential Of Young Population: A Path To Economic security’

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) organized a curtain-raiser event to announce the upcom-

TEXPO 2023 theme 'Weaving the way to Sustainability' pays tribute to Pakistan's textile and leather industries' resilience to the impact of climate change.. The event highlights TDAP's commitment to provide sustainable textile solutions while celebrating the Pakistani textile industry's remarkable journey. The devastating floods of 2022 highlighted the urgent need for sustainable textile solutions, and TEXPO aims to address this need.

‘sanity must prevail despite political turmoil’

karachi: ‘In the time of unprecedented crisis when even the most revered military institutions of the country have not been spared from both rhetorical and violent attacks, it’s high time for the government, the mainstream political forces, the judiciary, the civil-military bureaucracy and all the state stakeholders and public institutions to stick together, set their political grievances and vested interests aside, and act in unison for the sake of the country.’This was said by Syed Jawaid Iqbal, Chairman of the Society for Global Moderation (SGM), in a special statement released today. PR

Syntax Communications hosts dialogue session on political branding and narrative building in Pakistan

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Syntax Communications, a leading strategic communications and PR company, organized Pakistan’s first discussion session of its kind in this election year on how political parties should brand and capitalize their election campaigns,

build narratives for voters, and communicate with stakeholders. “Not

So Round Table” is the latest forum by Syntax Communications that gathers experts and analysts from different industries and talks in-depth on specific issues. This event's participants included leading

journalists. Social media personalities and political commentators such as Mazhar Abbas, Asfhan Subohi, Maria Memon, Nadia Naqi, Muzamil Shah, Shehzad Ghias, Sidra Iqbal, and Rehman Azhar. The participants talked about the evolution of political campaigns throughout the decades and their future in the digital era.

Ahmed Kapadia, Chairman and CEO of Synergy Group, and Faheem Ahmed, COO of Synergy Group, also attended the event.

NEPRA to conduct public hearing on KE’s petition for April’s FCA, QA for January-March

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

NEPRA to conduct a public hearing on 31st May 2023 over the petition submitted by K-Electric on account of Fuel Charges Adjustments (FCA) for April 2023 and Quarterly Adjustments for January to March 2023.

For the month of April, K-Electric has requested a positive FCA at a rate of PKR 0.489/kWh. As per prevailing laws and regulations, these are one-time charges which are expected to apply on only one monthly bill.

On the other hand, K-Electric has re-

quested PKR 5.170 / kWh rupees on account of Quarterly Adjustments for January -March. The impact of quarterly adjustments is usually not passed to consumers under the uniform tariff policy applicable across the country. Fuel Charge Adjustments (FCA) are incurred by utilities due to global variation in fuel prices used to generate electricity and change in the generation mix. Under the policies governing the power sector, these costs are passed through to the customers for one month only, following NEPRA's scrutiny and approval. Consumers also receive a benefit when the cost of fuel decreases.

Punjab’s Industries Minister to take regional CCIs on board for industrial estate

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

S.M.Tanveer, Minister of Industry and Commerce of Punjab said that Islamabad, Rawalpindi and Chakwal Chambers of Commerce and Industry would be taken on board to set up a new industrial estate in the region to promote industrialization and provide employment opportunities to the youth. He said that the Punjab government has already identified four sites for setting up a new industrial estate in the re-

gion on the demand of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry, so the three Chambers should soon reach a consensus on site to execute this important project. He said this while addressing a reception organized by Chakwal Chamber of Commerce

and Industry in Kallar Kahar. Bilal Afzal, Punjab’s Excise and Communications Minister said that 10 km Bhawan Road has been completed in Chakwal district while Kallar Kahar Chowah Saidan Shah Road will be completed soon.

The Centre for Aerospace and Security Studies (CASS), Lahore, conducted a seminar on harnessing the vast untapped potential of Pakistan’s young population. The event featured a diverse panel of speakers with substantial experience across the public, private, development, and corporate sectors. Dr Salman Shah, a prominent economist and former Finance Minister, emphasised on harnessing human potential through enhancing productivity and competitiveness. Nadir Salar Qureshi, Chief Information Officer of Engro Corp, shed light on nurturing young talent. PR

DISCOS, KE SEEK POWER TARIFF HIKE FOR APRIL UNDER FCA AND QUARTERLY ADJUSTMENTS

ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

POWERDistribution Companies (DISCOs) have requested a Rs 2.01 per unit increase in electricity tariff for April 2023, while KElectric has sought a Rs 5.659 per unit hike in power tariff for the same period and quarterly adjustments for January to March 2023.

National Electric Power Regulatory (NEPRA) will conduct separate hearings on May 31, 2023, to review the proposed tariff adjustments for DISCOs

and K-Electric. The Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), acting on behalf of DISCOs, has applied to NEPRA for the approval of a Rs 2.0100 per kilowatt hour (kWh) increase in power tariff. According to CPPA’s application, a total of 10,010.30 giga watt hour (GWh) of energy was generated in April at a cost of Rs 10.2384/kWh. Out of this, 9,734.91 GWh was delivered to DISCOs at a cost of Rs 10.3975/kWh. The CPPA report provides detailed information on the energy production from various sources during April, including hydel, coal, RFO, gas, RLNG,

Punjab notifies JIT to probe May 9 riots

LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The Punjab government on Friday constituted 10 joint investigation teams (JITs) to probe the May 9 violence riots and ransacking of military installations including Lahore Corps Commander’s House.

The Punjab Home Department issued a notifications of joint investigation teams (JITs), constituted on the request of Punjab Inspector General (IG) Dr Usman Anwar.

The JITs have been constituted to ‘conduct and finalise investigation’ into first information reports (FIRs) registered at Sarwar Road Police Station, Gulberg, Model Town, Shadman, Naseerabad, and Race Course police stations.

The JIT – constituted to probe the attack at Corps Commander’s House – is comprised of Lahore DIG Security Kamran Adil, SSP Operation Sohaib Ashraf, DSP-SP Raza Zahid, ASP Taimoor Khan and Investigation Incharge Muhammad Sarwar.

Six injured: Sirajul Haq survives ‘suicide attack’ unscathed in Zhob

ZHOB

STAFF REPORT

At least six persons were injured and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) Pakistan Ameer Sirajul Haq survived unscathed a “suicide attack”, targeting his convoy in Zhob area of Balochistan on Friday, the police confirmed.

Zhob City Police Station House Officer (SHO) Sher Ali Mandokhail informed the media that the JI chief’s remained unhurt in the attack while his vehicle was partly damaged. He said all of the injured were being treated at Civil Hospital Zhob and one of them was in critical condition. The official added that a body found at the site of the blast was of the “suicide attacker”.

In a tweet, the party said that Sirajul Haq was safe and that the attacker had been killed. “Sirajul Haq was present in the area to address a gathering,” the party said.

“JI Ameer Siraj reached Quetta today and had to go further to Zhob where he has a political gathering today. When he was entering Zhob and people were welcoming him, a person came and blew himself up,” party spokesperson Qaisar Sharif said in a video message.

JI spokesperson Qaiser Sharif said a few vehicles had also been damaged in the attack. He said that the party chief had reached Quetta earlier today to address a rally in Zhob, adding that a large number of people had gathered to welcome Haq as he entered Zhob. “The suicide attacker was also part of the crowd,’ he added.

According to SHO Mandokhail, Haq insisted on going to the venue of his political gathering after the blast. “He was given a clearance after additional police and law enforcement personal were deployed.”

nuclear, import from Iran, mixed sources, wind, bagasse, and solar.

K-Electric, on the other hand, has requested a positive fuel charge adjustment (FCA) of Rs 0.489/kWh for the month of April, along with a separate request for a quarterly adjustment amounting to Rs 5.170/kWh for the period of January till March. These adjustments, if approved, will be applied to customers’ monthly bills. The FCAs are necessary due to global variations in fuel prices used for electricity generation and changes in the generation mix. As per the power sector’s policies, these costs are passed on

to customers for a single month, subject to NEPRA’s scrutiny and approval. It is worth noting that consumers also benefit when fuel costs decrease. NEPRA has issued public hearing notices, inviting all interested and affected parties to raise any written or oral objections they may have during the hearings. Power consumers across the country should prepare for the potential additional burden, as NEPRA is likely to grant approval for the proposed adjustments in power prices for both DISCOs and K-Electric under the FCA for April 2023 and the quarterly adjustments.

SBP releases half yearly report on country’s economy

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Friday released its half yearly report on the country’s state of economy, encompassing economic performance and challenges faced on both internal and external sectors.

The analysis in the report based on data out-turns for July-December 2022-23 indicated that Pakistan’s macroeconomic conditions weakened during H1FY23 despite policy induced improvement in external current account and primary fiscal balance, an SBP news release said.

The report noted that adverse global economic conditions, uncertainty surrounding the completion of IMF (International Monetary Fund) programme’s 9th review, insufficient external financing and low level of foreign exchange reserves remained major concerns during H1-FY23 which were exacerbated by the fallout of flash floods and political instability.

“Specifically, both agriculture production and large scale manufacturing (LSM) contracted; whereas, headline inflation rose to multi-decade high level,” it added.

To address the challenges, the SBP raised the policy rate by a further 225 bps in the first half of FY23, on top of the 675 bps increase during FY22 while the government resorted to curtail federal expenditures on grants, subsidies and development, the report mentioned.

For containing pressures on external account the government and the SBP also introduced various regulatory measures to restrict imports.

Despite visible contraction in domestic demand inflation out-turns remained stubbornly persistent since second half of FY22 as high global commodity prices along with elevated inflation expectations and a range of domestic factors pushed the national consumer price index (NCPI) inflation to 25.0 percent during H1-FY23 in comparison to 9.8 percent in the corresponding period last year, the report stated.

Higher food prices, on account of flood induced supply shortages, mainly drove overall inflation followed by non-food and non-energy (NFNE) and energy groups while Pak Rupee depreciation along with the increase in power tariffs and energy prices provided further impetus to inflationary pressures, the SBP noted, adding the second round effect of those supply shocks to broader prices and wages along with rising inflation expectations pushed up core inflation.

Covering the fiscal sector, the report highlighted the contraction in major non-interest current expenditure, particularly subsidies, grants, and development spending, which contributed to improvement in primary surplus during H1-FY23.

However, it observed, that the fiscal deficit remained at the last year’s level, in terms of GDP (gross domestic product), because of a sharp expan-

sion in interest payments.

On the revenues side, tax administration efforts, inflation and higher return on deposits led to an expansion in FBR (Federal Board of Revenue) taxes, however a sharp contraction in imports and an overall dip in economic activity constrained tax collection below the target for the first half of FY23.

The SBP indicated that in the absence of sufficient external inflows, the government mainly relied on domestic bank and non-bank sources to meet its borrowing requirements, mostly through medium term floating rate instruments.

The private sector credit (PSC) decelerated during H1-FY23 amid economic slowdown and growth in working capital loans within PSC weakened while fixed investment remained around the last year’s level.

Uncertainty regarding the resumption of IMF programme, along with tight global financial conditions affected the external sector, in general, and external financing, in particular, during the period under review.

Meanwhile, supply chain disruptions resulting from Russia-Ukraine conflict and China’s zero –Covid policy, hampered global demand, which also weighed on Pakistan’s export performance.

On the supply side, the report identified floodrelated disruptions as a cause of lower crop out-turns, which not only dented the food exports but also deteriorated the commodity import outlook.

Though global economic slowdown and increased use of informal channels affected flow of remittances to the country and workers’ remittances declined during H1-FY23, the report noted and added that decline in exports and remittances was more than offset by a much larger fall in imports leading to a notable decline in current account deficit (CAD).

Despite the improvement in CAD, the report noted that the dearth of financial inflows led to decline in foreign exchange reserves during H1-FY23.

In addition to the delays in the disbursements of the IMF tranches and the political uncertainty in the country, higher net FX outflows on account of scheduled debt repayments and disinvestments added to external account pressures.

The combined effect of the developments, in the backdrop of US dollar’s appreciation against a basket of global currencies, led to PKR depreciation during H1-FY23.

The report also featured a special section on the opportunities and challenges in Pakistan’s softwareled IT exports and technology start-ups.

While highlighting the country’s small share in global IT (information technology) exports and negligible domestic software usage, the report shed light on the enabling policies that had facilitated growth in that space and some of the critical gaps that were to be addressed, if recent growth in the sector was to be sustained.

Info Minister asks Imran to accept responsibility for May 9 riots

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Federal Minister of Information Maryam Aurangzeb on Friday lambasted the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan, said that he stained the country’s reputation and continued to do so even after leaving office.

Federal Minister of Information Maryam Aurangzeb while responding to Imran Khan’s statement, stating that the former primer Imran Khan stained the country’s reputation when he was in power as well as after leaving the office. She accused him of selling Toshakhana clock while lying about the cipher letter further damage the country’s image.

Maryam Aurangzeb blamed PTI Chief Imran Khan for tarnishing the reputation of national institutions and triggering the nation to vandalize the sculptures of martyred officers.

“Condemning the May 9 incident is not enough. Confess your crimes, accept responsibility. Merely condemning won’t hide the crime of May 9. It must be acknowledged that you were the mastermind behind these events,” she said.

Maryam Aurangzeb urged Imran Khan to admit his plans of burning hospitals, schools, mosques, ambulances, and the Commander House. She emphasized that mere condemnation is not enough; the hidden terrorists in Zaman Park should be handed over to the security personnel.

Cyclone Mocha leaves at least 145 dead in Myanmar

BANGKOK AGENCIES

The official death toll from the powerful cyclone that struck Myanmar has burgeoned to at least 145, including 117 members of the Muslim Rohingya minority, state television reported Friday.

It said the figure applied to the western state of Rakhine, where Cyclone Mocha did the most damage, but did not say how many storm-related deaths there have been in other parts of the country. The accounting of casualties from the cyclone has been slow, in part due to communication difficulties in the affected areas and the military government’s tight control over information. The military government has said that unofficial death tolls surpassing 400 are false, but in the absence of independent confirmation, uncertainly remains about the actual extent of casualties and destruction. Mocha made landfall near Sittwe township in Rakhine state on Sunday afternoon with winds of up to 209 kilometers (130 miles) per hour before weakening inland. The cyclone, the nation’s most destructive in at least a decade, brought widespread flash floods and power outages, while high winds tore roofs off buildings and crumpled cellphone towers.

“Millions of people live in the path of the cyclone and a massive effort is now underway to clear debris and provide shelter to those whose homes have been damaged or destroyed,” the United Nations Office for the Coordination of Humanitarian Affairs said Thursday. “Coastal Rakhine took the heaviest hit from the cyclone with severe impacts across the northwest and some damage in Kachin (state) also reported.” Friday’s report on MRTV state television said four soldiers and 24 local residents in Rakhine, in addition to the 117 Rohingya, had been killed, blaming the deaths on people refusing to evacuate their homes despite warnings from the authorities before the storm hit. The authorities evacuated 63,302 of the 125,789 Rohingya sheltering in 17 camps in 17 townships including Sittwe, starting last Friday, MRTV said. Its reports identified the Rohingya as “Bengali,” the official designation used for the minority group to suggest they immigrated to Myanmar illegally. Rohingya have lived in Myanmar for generations, but they are not recognized as an official minority there and are denied citizenship and other basic rights. The Rohingyas caught in the storm lived mostly in crowded displacement camps, to which they were moved after losing their homes in a brutal 2017 counterinsurgency campaign led by Myanmar security forces.

General elections to be held in Oct: Kh Asif

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Ruling out the impression of delaying elections, Defense Minister Khawaja Asif on Friday declared that general elections will be held well on time, saying the ongoing law and order situation will normalise in a few days. “Elections in Pakistan will be held in October,” Khawaja Asif said in an exclusive interview with Al-Jazeera.

The minister said several political leaders including former prime ministers Nawaz Sharif, Benazir Bhutto and others were arrested in Pakistan but no one attacked military installations.

“Armed groups of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf vandalized and arson military installations and other properties on May 9, following the arrest of Imran Khan in the AlQadir Trust case, Khawaja Asif alleged.

“Those who attacked military installations are ‘enemies of the state’ and will face trial under military law,” Khawaja Asif reiterated.

Responding to a question, the defense minister said they are not making new laws but will try the suspects under the existing laws.

He said Pakistan is passing through a political crisis but the situation will normalise soon, he added. The Pakistan Army Act, which was brought into force in 1952, is used to put military personnel on trial under the military’s own legal code. In some provisions and cases, this law is also applicable to civilians. The act was meant to prosecute army personnel and civilians attached with the military in some capacity.

Civilians accused of sharing official state secrets with the enemy may also be tried in a military court as well as those civilians who are accused of targeting and attacking military installations.