Epaper_23-05-23 LHR

DIGITAL CENSUS: PAKISTAN REGISTERS RECORD 249.5 MILLION POPULATION

g POPULATION SEES SIGNIFICANT RISE OF 49 MILLION IN OVERALL HEADCOUNT

ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

INa groundbreaking announcement, the Chief Census Commissioner and Chief Statistician of the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS), Naeemuz Zafar, revealed the initial results of the seventh national and first-ever digital population census. During a press conference, the Census Commissioner unveiled that Pakistan’s total population has now reached an impressive 249,566,743 individuals, which translates to approximately 249.5 million or around 25 Crore people.

Breaking down the population figures by province, it was found that Punjab remains the most populous province with a staggering population exceeding 127,474,000 individuals, equivalent to approximately 127.4 million or around 12.7 Crore people. Following closely behind is Sindh, with a population surpassing

57,931,000 individuals, approximately

57.9 million or around 5.7 Crore people.

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, on the other hand, recorded a population of over

39,823,000 individuals, approximately

39.7 million or around 3.9 Crore people.

Balochistan, the largest province in terms of area, registered a population of over 21,977,000 individuals, approximately

21.9 million or around 2.1 Crore people.

Meanwhile, the federal capital, Islamabad, reported a population of 2,359,422 individuals, approximately 2.3 million or around 23 lac people.

The Census Commissioner also highlighted that Pakistan’s population has experienced a significant increase of

49 million individuals (4.9 Crore) since the last census, indicating a substantial growth rate.

Regarding the cost of conducting the first-ever digital census, the Census Commissioner disclosed that it required a substantial investment of over Rs. 34 billion from the national exchequer.

The PBS expressed deep appreciation to the field staff, citizens, and stakeholders, including provincial governments, the Government of Gilgit Baltistan, the Azad State of Jammu and Kashmir, the Pakistani Army, NADRA, SUPARCO, NTISB, and NTC, for their unwavering support and facilitation throughout the census process.

While the census field operations officially concluded on May 15th, access to tablets remained open for specified districts until May 22nd, 2023, to ensure complete coverage as per the decision of the Chief

Minister’s Committee (CMC). However, all services provided at the province, district, and tehsil levels, such as monitoring dashboards and tablet data entry, were closed by midnight on May 22nd, 2023.

In accordance with the directions of the Prime Minister of Pakistan, the verification process will be carried out by the Deputy Commissioners (DCs) and Assistant Commissioners (ACs) until May 30th, 2023. They will manually collect data on any non-coverage areas, if applicable.

Complaints regarding non-coverage can be lodged at the Census Support Center (CSC) by the DCs/ACs and PBS Call Centers, subject to providing the National Identity Card (NIC) number. Such complaints will be addressed and resolved by May 30th, 2023.

The retrieval of tablets at the Census Support Center (CSC) will commence on May 24th, 2023, after the synchronization

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has said that there was no vendetta in his heart but contended that those involved in the May 9 rioters would be taken to the court of law and held accountable.

“If leniency is done in this, this country won’t last,” the premier said while addressing a session of the National Assembly.

“This is an incident which is out of our control and is the mandate of the public. Day and night lies on lies were said and the fallacy of a conspiracy by the US was sown in the minds of people.”

“But today, phone calls are being made to the same country. But, our foreign relations were destroyed,” PM Shehbaz decried, referring to PTI chief Imran Khan’s “baseless accusations against the US”.

DIDN’T KNOW NAB ISSUED ARREST WAR-

RANTS FOR IMRAN: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed that he was not aware of the arrest warrants issued by the National Accountability Bureau for PTI Chairman Imran Khan.

“But as the result of it, the destruction that ensued in the country, we have never seen such incidents before.”

“But is Rs60 billion a normal thing? Here, the entire opposition was pushed against the wall because of fake cases but not even a single pot was broken,” the premier said.

“This Rs60 billion didn’t come to the national exchequer but went to some account in the Supreme Court […] this is straight corruption and the cabinet of at the time approved a sealed envelope.”

‘FORMER DG-ISI TRANSFERRED FOR HIGHLIGHTING CORRUPTION OF IMRAN’S

WIFE’: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has claimed

that incumbent army chief General Asim Munir was transferred from the post of DG ISI in 2019 because he had highlighted the corruption of PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s wife.

“I say this with full responsibility that incumbent army chief Gen Syed Asim Munir when he was DG ISI, he told PM Imran that his wife was involved in corruption. He said this on the basis of facts.

“But obviously Imran got furious over it and did not like it. And the rest is history,” the premier said.

“Today I would like to say that Imran Khan has betrayed the nation by sprouting a lie. This is the reason why the former DG ISI was transferred … it was because he confronted the then-PM that his family members were involved in corruption.”

NO NEW LAWS BEING INTRODUCED TO TRY MAY 9 ACCUSED: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has clarified that the rioters of the May 9 events will be tried under the existing laws, asserting that “no new laws are being introduced”.

“In Mianwali, military planes were bought from the hard earnings of the nation to fight the enemy … but a crowd went there to set fire to it.

“Aren’t they enemies of the state? Hence all the cases of the attacks on military installations will be filed under the army laws.”

IMRAN’S PEOPLE IN MIANWALI

LAUNCHED ATTACK ON PAKISTAN: ASIF: Defence Minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif has said that it was the responsibility of every parliamentarian to defend the Pakistan Army, even in the absence of an event such as the May 9 riots.

In an address at the National Assembly, he strongly condemned the violent protests on the day PTI Chairman Imran Khan was arrested and took exception to the

of any remaining data. The headcount data of restricted areas and collective residences will be incorporated into the population counts of the respective blocks.

All Census District Officers will provide completion certificates, and payments to the census field staff will be made by the DCs/ACs upon the provision of the completion certificate.

A Demographers Committee will meticulously analyze the census data using demographic techniques and subsequently finalize its recommendations for the consideration of the Chief Minister’s Committee (CMC).

The respective governments have been requested to indicate appropriate times for field census operations in snow-bound areas, which include 129 blocks of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), 80 blocks of Gilgit Baltistan (GB), and 16 blocks of Mansehra, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP).

Furthermore, the provincial governments have been asked to indicate suitable times for census field operations in 57 blocks of Rojhan, Punjab, and 11 blocks of Ghotki, Sindh, which have been affected by law and order issues.

Lastly, the Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has been urged to indicate an appropriate time for census field operations in Kohistan after formulating a comprehensive strategy.

The results of Pakistan’s first-ever digital population census mark a significant milestone in the country’s demographic record. This comprehensive data will play a vital role in shaping policies, resource allocation, and development plans for years to come.

Political polarisation and IMF bailout speculations trigger stock market slide

On Monday, the stock market experienced a decline attributed to political divisions and speculation surrounding the Staff Level Agreement (SLA) between Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding a long-awaited bailout tranche. The Pakistan Stock Exchange’s benchmark KSE-100 index opened on a positive note but quickly turned bearish, sustaining a steady decline throughout the day. Ultimately, it dropped by 404.12 points, or 0.97 percent, closing at 41,195.06 points. Market experts attributed the downturn to expectations of new taxes in the upcoming budget and Imran Khan’s statement about an 80 percent chance of his impending arrest on Tuesday. Despite attractive rates, a lack of buying interest and reduced trading volumes was observed.

COAS terms recent attacks on military installations ‘intolerable’

RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

attack on military installations. “It was not an attack on the military installations, but it was an attack on the country … on Pakistan.”

He stated that India has been regularly attacking bases in Pakistan, but contended that for the first time, an attack was launched into the country “from Mianwali and by the people of a former prime minister who singularly identified military sites”.

“The nations that don’t respect their martyrs are erased,” Asif said. “Are these Pakistanis? The people who attacked our martyrs, their faces should be identified.”

‘Authorities to tackle social media propaganda against Pakistan’s institutions’

The National Assembly has passed a resolution stating that relevant authorities will be empowered to tackle social media propaganda against Pakistan’s institutions, both within and outside the country.

Moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, the resolution said: “Those involved in such propaganda campaigns should strictly be dealt with as per the law.”

The resolution, according to Asif, was a way of condemning the incidents of May 9 by the Parliament.

NA PASSES RESOLUTION TO TRY MAY 9 RIOTERS UNDER ARMY, ANTI-TERRORISM LAWS: The National Assembly has passed a resolution vowing to try May 9 rioters, who were involved in attacks on military and state installations, under the existing laws including the Army Act and the Anti-Terrorism Act.

The resolution, which was moved by Defence Minister Khawaja Asif, has been adopted by the House after a major of lawmakers voted in favour of it.

Reading out loud the resolution, Asif said that “heartless and heart-wrenching incidents took place on May 9” and the day should be “reckoned as a Black Day”.

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir asserted on Monday that the recent attacks on military installations and memorials were “intolerable” as he announced that May 25 would be observed across the country as “Pakistan Martyrs Day”.

The army chief passed these remarks in a ceremony held at the General Headquarters, Rawalpindi, to honour the martyrs, a press release issued by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said.

During the ceremony — which was attended by a large number of senior military officers and families of martyrs — Gen Munir awarded military honours to the officers and men of the Pakistan Army for their “bravery and outstanding service to the nation during operations”. The military’s media wing quoted the COAS as saying: “Undoubtedly, we are living in a free atmosphere due to the martyrs’ sense of duty and great sacrifices”. “The sacrifices of martyrs and services of ghazis are our valuable asset and pride.” Pakistan Army, Gen Munir stated, was an institution that always remembered every person associated with it and their families, “and our relationship as a family is a proud and exemplary one”.

He added that every soldier and officer of the Pakistan Army put their duties and responsibilities first, “regardless of regional, linguistic, and political prejudices and distinctions”.

“A strong army guarantees the security and unity of the country,” the COAS stressed. He also expressed grief at the recent attacks on military installations and memorials — during the violence on May 9 — and termed such actions “intolerable”.

The ISPR added that 51 kins of martyrs received Sitara-e-Imtiaz (military) while 22 officers and jawans were awarded Tamgha-e-Basalat. Two officers were awarded the United Nations Special Medal.

Commission probing audio leaks announces public proceedings

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

A high-powered judicial commission, which has been tasked with investigating the audio leaks concerning the judiciary, declared on Monday it will conduct its inquiry in a transparent manner accessible to the public.

Last week, the government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) notified a three-member commission to investigate within a month the secretly-recorded conversations that it claimed have raised questions about the “independence, impartiality and uprightness” of superior court judges in administering justice.

Headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the panel also includes Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday declared that several leaked conversations over the past year have eroded public trust and raised “serious concerns” about the impartiality of judges.

“Under the Constitution […] the independence, integrity and character of chief justices/judges is of utmost importance for keeping the public trust and confidence in the administration of justice,” it said.

The communiqué, however, showed scant interest in uncovering the government agency responsible for the illegal recordings of conversations, which spared not even the family members of the top judges.

The commission held its first hearing today in courtroom number 7 of the Supreme Court. Attorney General Mansoor Usman Awan also appeared before the panel.

Members of the commission said it was in the interest of the public to address the apprehensions surrounding the independence of the judiciary after the government invoked Section 3 of the Pakistan Commissions of the Inquiry Act, 2017, to commission the inquiry.

During the proceedings, Justice Isa formally requested the complete names and addresses of all individuals implicated in the recordings. He clarified that the commission’s primary objective is to gather factual information and not to pursue punitive action against anyone.

It is important to note that this commission should not be confused with the Supreme Judicial Council, as all proceedings will take place within the premises of the top court in Islamabad.

During the session, Attorney General Awan highlighted that the establishment of the commission falls under the Inquiry Commission

Act. Justice Isa said that in-camera proceedings could be considered upon request from witnesses or parties involved, and he mentioned the possibility of visiting Lahore to record statements from a “few elderly women.”

The selection of the commission’s secretary will be finalized soon, and Justice Isa assured that efforts would be made to conduct proceedings in accordance with the

commission’s mandate.

He reiterated that the commission would not take action against any judge and emphasized that the jurisdiction of the Supreme Judicial Council would not be interfered with.

Justice Isa made it clear that the commission possesses the authority to issue summons to uncooperative individuals, although they prefer to issue notices first. Further-

more, he suggested publishing advertisements in both English and Urdu newspapers to gather information from the public.

To ensure the authenticity of the audio recordings, Justice Isa suggested consulting the Punjab Forensic Agency. If individuals claim that their voices were either manipulated or not their own, verification should be conducted prior to the proceedings.

Imran challenges judicial panel probing secret recordings

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The chairman of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Monday petitioned the Supreme Court against the formation by the government of a judicial commission to probe recently leaked audio tapes that plunged the pugnacious judiciary into controversy.

The development came days after the government of Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) notified a three-member commission to investigate the secretly-recorded conversations that it claimed have raised questions about the “independence, impartiality and uprightness” of superior court judges in administering justice.

Headed by Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the panel also includes Chief Justice Naeem Akhtar Afghan of the Balochistan High Court (BHC) and Chief Justice Aamer Farooq of the Islamabad High Court (IHC). A notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Friday declared that several leaked conversations over the past year have eroded public trust and raised “serious concerns” about the

impartiality of judges.

“Under the Constitution […] the independence, integrity and character of chief justices/judges is of utmost importance for keeping the public trust and confidence in the administration of justice,” it said.

The communiqué, however, showed scant interest in uncovering the government agency responsible for the illegal recordings of conversations, which spared not even the family members of the top judges.

The opposition party of former prime minister Imran Khan filed a constitutional petition, nominating the state and the ministry of interior, which is headed by a confidante of deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif, as respondents.

The primary objective of the commission is to scrutinise leaked tape apparently involving present and former members of the superior courts, as well as their family members. The investigation aims to determine the authenticity of these recordings and assess any potential impact on the independence of the judiciary.

g PUNJAB REMAINS MOST POPULOUS PROVINCE, FOLLOWED BY SINDH, KP & BALOCHISTAN

‘No vendetta’: May 9 rioters to be held accountable: PM Shehbaz

ELAHI VOWS TO STAND FIRM WITH IMRAN, DIFFERS ON ARMY NARRATIVE

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

AS a number of party leaders parted ways with the Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) following the government crackdown in wake of May 9 incidents, party President Chaudhry Pervez Elahi Monday reaffirmed his commitment to the party, saying that he would stand by former prime minister Imran Khan and his party “like a wall”.

“We will continue to stand with him,” asserted Elahi in a video message. “Moonis and me are standing with Imran Khan together, but that doesn’t mean we support his narrative,” he added.

Elahi emphasized that maintaining good relations with the army has always been a priority for him. He acknowledged the importance of a strong bond between the PTI and the armed forces, recognising the institution as a vital pillar of the nation.

During the video message, Elahi reiterated his duty to support Imran Khan during challenging times. He clarified that he held no anger towards Chaudhry Wajahat and expressed no regrets regarding his decision to leave the PTI.

GHQ to host main ceremony of Youm-e-Takreem Shuhada-e-Pakistan on May 25

RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

Elahi’s focus remained on his commitment to standing alongside Imran Khan and the PTI, regardless of any differences that may arise.

The former Punjab CM further emphasised that the army is an integral part of Pakistan, highlighting the PTI’s efforts to foster cordial relations with both the army and the establishment. He commended Imran Khan for fullfiling the promises

made to him and his party, reinforcing his loyalty and unwavering support. In his concluding remarks, Elahi likened power to something transient, highlighting its fleeting nature. His statement suggested that his loyalty lies not in personal gain but in his dedication to the PTI’s vision and principles. Moonis Elahi also reaffirmed his allegiance to the party leader earlier in the day.

“Chaudhary Pervaiz Elahi and I are very much part of the PTI and we stand by Imran Khan,” he told a private news channel. This development comes at a critical time when former prime minister Imran Khan’s PTI is facing significant challenges due to the fallout from the party chairman’s arrest in a corruption case and the subsequent violent protests.

Earlier today, Chaudhary Wajahat Hussain, the younger brother of Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) chief Chaudhary Shujaat Hussain, announced his departure from the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf and return to PML-Q.

In a press conference in Lahore, Chaudhary Wajahat said that he and his son, Chaudhary Hussain Elahi, have opted to return to their home party after their stint with the PTI.

The former PML-Q president did not go into detail on the specific reasons for his departure, but hinted that intra-family differences might have been mended. Wajahat, who last year had backed Punjab’s then-chief minister Pervez Elahi when the latter had left PML-Q for PTI, clarified that he was never officially associated with Imran Khan’s party.

Dr Mazari, Amir Dogar rearrested shortly after release

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leaders

Dr Shireen Mazari and Amir Dogar were rearrested on Sunday shortly after their respective release from Adyala and Jhang prsions respectively. This was fourth successive arrest of Dr Mazari despite clear orders of Islamabad High Court (IHC) while Dogar was rearrested for the first time, the PTI leaders claimed.

Speaking on the occasion, the PTI leader said that he was released for 12 days but rearrested by Multan police.

Youm-e-Takreem Shuhada-e-Pakistan will be marked on May 25 with the main ceremony to be held at Pakistan Army General Headquarters (GHQ). A number of ceremonies of Quran recitation and prayers for fallen heroes will be arranged across the country. People will pay tribute to the eternal sacrifices of the martyrs of the Pakistan Army, Rangers, Frontier Constabulary (FC), Police, and other law enforcement agencies who laid down their lives for the peace and order of the homeland to end terrorism. A number of commemorative ceremonies will be held at martyrs memorial at Pakistan Air Force (PAF), Pakistan Naval Headquarters (PN), and Police Yadgar-eSuhuda including Azad Jammu Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) and all provincial capitals.

PTI pleads SHC to restrain Karachi mayor’s election

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

The Sindh High Court on Monday while hearing a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) petition seeking restraining order against holding Mayor’s election in Karachi, issued notices to the election commission and others. The Election Commission of Pakistan and others have been made party in the petition. The next date for hearing the case will be fixed later. UC Chairman, Zeeshan Zaib of PTI, has filed petition in the high court against Karachi’s mayoral election. “Now UC chairmen are taking oath, while the mayor’s election is away,” court observed. “How could a UC chairman represent whole party,” the bench asked the petitioner’s lawyer. “The party’s authority letter has not been annexed with the petition,” court remarked. “Petitioner union committee chairman has also been detained after filing the petition,” lawyer replied. “A crackdown has been unleashed against the PTI after May 09,” counsel further said. “Several PTI leaders have been arrested while some of them went into hiding,” he said. “In such circumstances the mayor’s election has been announced. The election commission has released the schedule of mayor’s election from May 22,” PTI lawyer told the court. “Around 40 council members of PTI could not participate in the election in current situation,” he said pleading restraining order against the election.

Expressing his bewilderment at the arrest, Barrister Ahsan J Pirzada revealed that the PTI leader’s current whereabouts are unknown to her family.

“72 year old Dr. Shireen Mazari arrested by Punjab Police for the fourth time in 10 days. We have no idea where they have taken her. This is the second time she has been arrested from outside Adiala Jail as soon as the Court ordered her release,” the lawyer said in a tweet reshared by Mazari’s daughter, Imaan

Zainab Mazari-Hazir. Earlier on Monday, the Rawalpindi Bench of the Lahore High Court (LHC) issued an order to release the former human rights minister.

Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz presided over the hearing of the petition filed against the detention of the former minister where Mazari’s lawyers Barrister Shoaib Razak and Aneeq Khatana appeared in court, while her daughter Imaan Mazari was also present. The court had ordered not to rear-

rest Mazari if she is not named in any case and directed the senior politician to submit an affidavit to the deputy commissioner, stating that she will not be involved in any such activity in the future.

Speaking to the media, Imaan said that her mother had already been arrested three times in a week but today the court annulled the second MPO order for her mother. “The government should think and not destroy homes like this,” she added.

The ex-minister’s daughter further said that she has nothing to do with PTI but “it is a pity that party chief Imran Khan has forgotten the workers and leadership”.

Meanwhile, Amir Dogar said that arrests can’t weaken their determination for a national cause and Imran Khan was their ‘Redline’.

He said that we strongly condemned the May 09, vandalism but it all occurred in reaction of arrest of chairman PTI.

Dogar claimed that the future belongs to Imran Khan and he will surely take the slot of prime minister again.

Govt committed for development, prosperity of Balochistan: PM

QUETTA Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif has said that the federal government is committed for development and prosperity of Balochistan.

Talking to Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leadership during his day-long visit to Quetta on Monday, the prime minister assured of providing equal job and development opportunities to the people of the province. Premier Shehbaz Sharif said that he was making all out efforts to minimize deprivations of the people of the province.

He said this was his second visit to Balochistan in a week was aimed for the same purpose. During the devastating floods last summer, the federal government ensured the restoration of the flood hit areas of Balochistan on priority, he reminded.

He said during the last year’s floods, the PML-N’s Balochistan members actively participated in the relief measures. “The central leadership of the party including myself pay tributes to the whole provincial leadership for relieving suffering of the flood victims,” the prime minister added. He also conveyed the best wishes

PTI criticises govt policies for ‘neckdeep’ economic crisis, rearrests of party leaders

ISLAMABAD

RepoRt

Staff

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader

Hammad Azhar said that imported government plunged the country neck-deep in crisis, as the economic recession in the country was getting worse due to incumbent government’s flawed polices and incompetence. In a statement on Monday, PTI senior leader stated that the current government ruined the well-performing Pakistan’s economy by ousting PTI government through conspiracy to impose these incompetent crooks on the nation. Hammad stated that the economic recession in Pakistan was getting worse, as the GDP contraction was happening at a much faster pace than was expected. He stated that the numbers were shaping up uglier than what many analysts had predicted earlier, adding that the picture was getting bleaker with every passing month because the current regime had no plan and policy to get the country out of the prevailing economic quagmire.

Meanwhile, Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Central Secretary Information Farrukh Habib blasted at the fascist government for rearresting PTI parliamentarian Malik Amir Dogar under MPO shortly after being released from Jhang jail, who was illegally detained in jails for 12 days. In a strong reaction to the rearrest of Amir Dogar on Monday, PTI CSI said that Malik Aamir Dogar was released after 12 days. However, he said that PTI leader was arrested again under MPO despite having all bails from High Court Multan Bench. Farrukh lashed out the imported government that the PTI parliamentarians, workers and supporters were being put in jails through the worst use of state power. However, he made it clear that Inshallah, they stood stand and would continue to stand with Imran Khan for the betterment of Pakistan come what may.

Dr Yasmin Rashid remanded into police custody for three days

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Monday handed over Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader Dr Yasmin Rashid to police on three-day physical remand in a case lodged under the Anti-Terrorism Act for carrying out an attack on the Jinnah House (the corps commander’s house) Lahore, during May 9 riots. Earlier, Dr Yasmin was produced before ATC Judge Abher Gul Khan at the start of the proceedings. AMS Services Hospital Lahore Dr Ehtasham submitted a report and apprised the court that the PTI leader had been discharged from the hospital on improving his blood pressure issue. At this stage, the investigation officer requested the court to grant physical remand of the PTI leader for investigation. He submitted that her physical custody was required for photo grammatic test and voice matching test. However, Dr Yasmin Rashid’s counsel opposed the remand plea on medical grounds. The court, after hearing arguments of the parties, handed over Dr Yasmin Rashid to police on three-day physical remand and ordered for producing her on expiry of the remand term on May 25. The Sarwar Road police had registered a case against the PTI leaders and workers for carrying out an attack on the Jinnah House Lahore.

leadership.

Shahbaz-led PDM govt badly failed on all fronts: Rasheed

RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

Awami Muslim League chief and former interior minister

Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has viewed that central government led by Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif has badly failed on all fronts.

“Government failures on economic front; standoff with the IMF, budget crisis, ruined economic and widening distance with friendly countries’ he expressed this in tweet.

He questioned the ruling alliance the PDM (Pakistan Democratic Movement) that with whom it would

contest elections by disqualifying or removing [minus]

Imran Khan.

In a series of tweets on Monday, he wrote that the system of oppression cannot continue. The PML-N, which always violates sanctity of chaddar aur chaar deewari will be buried and the PDM will be the shroud. Divine order will prevail sooner or later.

He said the nation rues May 9. Innocent people are being arrested and their mothers curse.

Hatred and anxiety is growing but it must end. He called the “wrong” impression that the gap between masses and institution has widened a ploy.

Nawaz Sharif cannot step out of his house, that’s why

overseas Pakistanis are being intimidated, he added.

Rashid said that the police are raiding places to arrest him and his nephew Sheikh Rashid Shafiq.

My staff has been whisked away. “Until police arrest me, I will keep in touch with the nation through Twitter.”

The former minister said the poor are dying. The rupee-dollar disparity is increasing and now the government has hiked the price of medicines by 20%.

The poor man is forced to eat soiled flour. Rashid said that the corrupt government should not be supported. Only the Supreme Court can pull the country out of the political crisis, he concluded.

NDMA warns provinces of impending rain-thunderstorm forecast

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has issued an advisory alert to federal and provincial departments, urging them to take necessary measures for disaster preparedness.

This action comes in response to a rainthunderstorm forecast issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) from May 22 to 26.

According to the advisory report, a westerly wave is expected to enter the western and upper regions of the country on May 22, persisting throughout the week until May 26. This weather system is likely to result in intermittent precipitation, including wind-dust,

thunderstorms, rain, and the possibility of hailstorms with isolated heavy falls.

The affected regions include Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK), Gilgit-Baltistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab, Sargodha, Mianwali, Layyah, Khushab, Bhakkar, Faisalabad, Jhang, Toba Tek Singh, Sheikhupura, Nankana, Gujranwala, Mandi Bahauddin, Narowal, Sialkot, Kasur, Pakpattan, Okara, Sahiwal, Lahore, Rahim Yar Khan, Bahawalnagar, Multan, Dera Ghazi Khan, Rajanpur, Islamabad, Balochistan, and Sindh. The advisory highlights several potential impacts, including heavy hailstorms, thunderstorms, and strong winds that may pose risks to human and livestock lives as well as properties. Loose structures such as under-construc-

tion buildings, hoardings, and tall trees are also susceptible to damage from dust storms and windstorms.

Furthermore, the advisory warns of potential crop damage in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Kashmir between May 23 and 25 due to strong winds. The wet spell is expected to bring relief from high temperatures. The advisory recommends that tourists plan their activities with caution, as heavy rainfall may trigger landslides, avalanches, and disruptions to traffic flow. The general public is advised to seek shelter in safe areas during dust storms, windstorms, and thunderstorms.

To ensure preparedness, all provincial, Gilgit Baltistan, and state disaster management authorities, as well as relevant line de-

partments, ministries, and federal agencies, are urged to undertake necessary measures as per their respective mandates.

Additionally, the advisory specifies several actions that should be taken by all concerned parties to mitigate potential risks and ensure public safety. These actions include assessing and deploying additional resources at vulnerable locations, securing loose infrastructure, engaging local communities for monitoring and early warning systems, coordinating with district administrations for landslide and flood preparedness, and providing awareness to farmers and livestock herders about the potential impacts and necessary precautions. Travelers on provincial and national highways in at-risk or affected areas should

be informed of adverse conditions and guided towards safe waiting areas under the supervision of respective disaster management authorities, local authorities, and law enforcement agencies.

In anticipation of increased water flow in seasonal nullahs, law enforcement agencies are advised to regulate level crossing points and divert traffic in coordination with local administrations, district disaster management authorities, and the National Highway Authority (NHA) and Frontier Works Organisation (FWO).

The NDMA emphasises the importance of proactive measures and collective efforts to minimise the potential impact of the forecasted weather conditions and safeguard lives and property.

from Mian Muhammad Nawaz Sharif, Maryam Nawaz, Hamza Shehbaz and the senior leadership of the party to the provincial party

INDIA HOSTS G20 TOURISM MEET IN OCCUPIED KASHMIR UNDER HEAVY SECURITY

NEW

DELHI afp

AG20 tourism meeting was set to begin on Monday amid high security in Indian-occupied Kashmir, with China, Turkey and Pakistan condemning holding the event in the disputed territory.

Muslim-majority Kashmir has been disputed between New Delhi and Islamabad, both of which claim it in full, since their independence 75 years ago.

The Indian-occupied portion has been roiled for decades by an insurgency seeking independence or a merger with Pakistan, with tens of thousands of civilians, soldiers and freedom fighters killed in the conflict.

Police said last week that security had been beefed up “to avoid any chance of terrorist attack during the G20” meeting, the first diplomatic event in the territory since New Delhi unilaterally revoked its limited autonomy and took direct control in 2019.

The three-day gathering will take place at a sprawling, well-guarded venue on the shores of Dal Lake in Srinagar.

Roads leading to the location have been freshly black-topped, and electricity poles lit up in the colours of India’s national flag to show what officials say is

OGDCL to fuel Pakistan’s energy needs with new gas and oil production

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

OGDCL, already a market leader in gas production, is currently producing over 1,025 MMSCF/d of gas from its own and operated joint ventures fields. Major gasproducing fields for the company include Uch Gas Field, Qadirpur Gas Field, Kunnar Pasakhi Deep-Tando Allah Yar Gas Condensate Field, Nashpa Oil Field, and Sinjhoro Gas Condensate Field.

The sustainable and affordable supply of energy is crucial for the socio-economic development of Pakistan. OGDCL aims to prioritize development plans and expedite the monetization of discovered assets to meet the country’s energy needs and generate early cash flows for the company. In its efforts to address the decline in gas production, OGDCL is implementing various measures such as drilling new wells, workovers, well interventions, and the installation of front-end compression.

The company is also exploring price revisions and potential buyers for stranded fields. These initiatives align with OGDCL’s mission to introduce the latest technology and innovation for sustainable growth. The addition of new development and exploratory wells, along with workovers, has enabled OGDCL to inject 1,628 MMSCF of gas into the production stream during the first nine months of the current fiscal year. The company’s exploratory efforts have resulted in three oil and gas discoveries, with an expected cumulative daily production potential of 3,007 barrels of oil and 2.7 MMscf of gas.

Furthermore, OGDCL has recently installed its fifth Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) at the Sono-7 well, contributing 2,000 BPD of oil and significantly enhancing the company’s hydrocarbon profile. It is pertinent to mention here that OGDCL’s relentless efforts to address the decline in gas production and enhance national energy security reflect its commitment to the socioeconomic development of Pakistan. Through a combination of strategic planning, technological advancements, and sustained investment, OGDCL strives to bolster the country’s energy sector and pave the way for sustainable growth and prosperity.

Bilawal

MUZAFFARABAD

Staff RepoRt

“normalcy and peace returning” to the region. India has been promoting tourism in Kashmir and more than a million of its citizens visited last year.

No Chinese delegates will be attending the event. India and its northern neighbour are locked in a military standoff along their mostly undemarcated border in the Ladakh region. Beijing also claims the Indian state of Arunachal Pradesh in full as part of Tibet, and it considers Kashmir a disputed territory.

“China firmly opposes holding any form of G20 meeting in disputed territory

and will not attend such meetings,” foreign ministry spokesman Wang Wenbin told reporters Friday. Turkey, Saudi Arabia and Indonesia are reportedly also unlikely to join. India holds the G20 presidency for 2023 and has planned more than 100 meetings across the country. China has already stayed away from events in both Ladakh and Arunachal Pradesh.

HUNDREDS DETAINED: Non-G20 member Pakistan controls a smaller part of Kashmir and said holding the tourism meeting in the territory violated interna-

tional law, UN Security Council resolutions and bilateral agreements.

Foreign Minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari said last week that India was displaying its “arrogance to the world” and that “it shows their pettiness”, triggering a sharp retort from New Delhi.

India accuses Pakistan of training and supporting freedom fighters in Kashmir, which Islamabad denies. Since India’s 2019 constitutional changes, freedom fighters in Kashmir have largely been crushed — although young men continue to join the insurgency.

But dissent has been criminalised, media freedoms curbed and public protests limited, in what critics say is a drastic curtailment of civil liberties by India.

Last week, the UN Special Rapporteur on Minority Issues, Fernand de Varennes, said New Delhi was seeking to use the G20 meeting to “portray an international seal of approval” on a situation that “should be decried and condemned”. India rejected those comments.

Residents have chafed under the stepped-up security measures, hundreds have been detained in police stations and thousands including shopkeepers have received calls from officials warning them against any “signs of protest or trouble”.

Imran challenges judicial panel probing secret recordings

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The petition moved by the party questions the government’s authority to bypass the chief justice of the Supreme Court and unilaterally appoint a judge from a superior court to serve on a judicial commission without the prior consent and approval of the chief justice.

It also raises concerns about the implications of forming such a commission without considering the provisions outlined in Article 175(3) and the judicial precedent set in the Sharaf Faridi v Federation of Pakistan (1994) wherein the judiciary was established as separate from the executive in all aspects.

Furthermore, the petition challenges the commission’s ability to examine the

telephone tapping, particularly in light of a previous ruling by the Supreme Court that declared tapping as a violation of fundamental rights in a case involving slain prime minister Benazir Bhutto.

“Whereas under the Supreme Court judgment, the only thing left for determination is, that under what authority of law a telephone conversation of a judge of a superior court, a prime minister or their families, parliamentarians and political workers of a party duly registered with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) can be tapped and what are the consequence of such unconstitutional and illegal phone tapping,” it questioned. It questioned whether the act of creating the commission did not “amount to a confession by a sitting regime that under their nose by telephone tapping,

Cabinet approves MoU with Saudi Arabia to help boost IT

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

The terms of the MoU were carefully negotiated and mutually agreed upon by the respective ministries, receiving the stamp of approval from the relevant authorities in Saudi Arabia. Additionally, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has issued a “No Objection Certificate” to facilitate the signing of the MoU. While the Ministry of Law & Justice proposed a few changes to the draft, the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication considered them to be minor in nature, ultimately opting to proceed with the original draft approved by Saudi authorities. It is pertinent to mention that this landmark initiative between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the realm of information technology is poised to open up new horizons for technological advancements, knowledge sharing, and innovation. By pooling their strengths and expertise, the two nations aim to create a conducive environment for the growth of the digital ecosystem, paving the way for enhanced economic opportunities and sustainable development. The MoU will act as a catalyst for harnessing the potential of emerging technologies, facilitating the exchange of ideas, and nurturing a vibrant digital landscape in both countries. As the world witnesses an era of rapid digital transformation, this strategic partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia holds immense promise for unlocking the vast potential of information technology and driving inclusive growth in the digital age.

fundamental rights as given under Article 4, 9 and 19 are not violated”.

The plea continued that the “selfstyled terms of reference framed” by the government were “politically motivated [and] aimed at effecting the independence of the judiciary and the institution.” It was “an outright effort to circumvent and jeopardise the independence of judicator in the country and circumvent the enforcement of different laws of the land […] and the notification is ultra vires to the Constitution and [the] law”. Khan requested the top court to declare the notification as “ultra vires to the Constitution”. It further requested that “a judicial commission may kindly be constituted in the light of judgment passed” by the top court regarding the “illegal phone tapping […] to meet the interest of justice.”

Two cops martyred as police mobile attacked with rocket launcher

KANDHKOT: Two cops were martyred and three others injured when robbers attacked a police mobile with rocket launcher late on Sunday night. According to details, robbers targeted a police mobile with rocket launcher while it was on routine patrolling on Indus Highway. The vehicle was adversely damaged in the attack resulting in martyrdom of two cops and leaving three others injured. The bodies and injured were shifted to hospital for medico-legal formalities. The police cordoned off the area after the attack and conducted search operation for the attackers but no arrest could be made till filing of the report. Staff RepoRt

Former JPMC chief Dr Seemin Jamali in critical condition

KARACHI: Dr Seemin Jamali — former executive director of the Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Centre (JPMC) — is said to be in critical condition after her health severely deteriorated on Monday. The medic, who is one of the most successful and renowned doctors in Pakistan, is reportedly being treated in the intensive care unit (ICU) at a private hospital and doctors are making all-out efforts to “save her life”. Reports regarding Dr Jamali’s purported death emerged on Saturday, however, official sources refuted these rumours the same day. Former Karachi administrator Murtaza Wahab clarified in a tweet that Jamali was alive and undergoing treatment. He requested the people to avoid spreading any news without confirmation and pray for the good health of the doctor. Jamali, who is also known as an iron lady or bullet lady, had been diagnosed with colon cancer in 2020. As per the report, she has been put on a BiPAP machine after her oxygen levels dropped. Dr Jamali’s husband told the publication that she was admitted to the hospital after her condition worsened on Friday. Staff RepoRt

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari strongly criticised the international community Monday for “turning a blind eye” to India’s savagery in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK), saying it was “not wise to sacrifice timeless principles for shortterm interests”.

“Today, I ask the world if a country can be allowed to renege on its solemn commitments to the United Nations, break its own promises and blatantly violate international law just because they want to,” he said in an address to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Legislative Assembly. “I must emphasise here that the commitments under the UN Security Council resolutions are sacrosanct. They are neither surveilled to the whims of a jingoistic political party, nor diluted by the passage of time.” The foreign minister’s comments come as a G20 tourism working group meets in IIOJK in the first international event in the region since its annexation by India on August 5, 2019.

He said India was “misusing” its position as the G20 chair by hosting the event in the occupied territory, which was recognised as disputed under international law. “This is yet another display of India’s arrogance on the world stage.” He noted that IIOJK had become an open-air prison with thousands of Kashmiri Muslims killed, disappeared or blinded while their lands were confiscated and properties bulldozed, and their culture disintegrated. The mayhem was continuing under India’s dra-

conian laws, he said, which allowed the occupying forces’ officials impunity for their crimes. “This wretched perpetual and systemic Indian barbarism not just violates international law, it makes a mockery of the accepted norms of fundamental human rights.

“One cannot wax lyrical about international law and the United Nations Security Council resolutions in Europe in the European context, and then turn a blind eye to the violation of the same international law in the Kashmiri context,” he iterated. The foreign minister emphasised that for Pakistan, resolving the Kashmir dispute was not a matter of choice but of duty.

“My presence here today is a testimony of our nation’s intergenerational support and lasting commitment to the Kashmir cause,” Bilawal told the assembly. He said that while Pakistan wanted good relations with all its neighbours including India, they could not be achieved through “dispute denialism”. Saying that India remained hostile, he called on the neighbouring country to take steps conducive to dialogue.

G20 meet:

blasts world powers for ‘turning a blind eye’ to Indian savagery in IIOJK

Missing

Whisked away without consequence

IT’S been more than ten days since television anchor and political YouTuber Imran Riaz Khan has been arrested and his whereabouts are unknown. An exasperated Lahore High Court, following up on lapsed deadlines on the matter, asked the Punjab police chief himself about the matter, only to be informed by the latter that the anchor isn’t in any police facility, not just in the Punjab, but anywhere else in the country.

Those following such matters in our unfortunate republic know how to put two and two together. We can surmise where he will be, specially given the current political climate and his personal political leanings.

This is also a litmus test for those citizens of the country that are opposed to Imran Riaz’s views. They are well within their rights to disagree with the man; they are well within their rights to not even think of him as a journalist, but a polemicist, and a base one at that. But he is still a public commentator and, what is much more important than that, he is a citizen of our country. What makes matters even more complicated is that, were the shoe on the other foot (and it was, till very recently) he himself would have endorsed someone being picked up and kept under detention indefinitely. In fact, past videos of him saying the exact same thing are circulating social media as you read this.

That, we know, is a very big ask. But the fact of the matter is that citizens good and bad both have rights. Even those opposed to civil rights have those very same civil rights.

Imran Riaz Khan’s case serves as a deterrent. It strikes fear in the hearts and minds of citizens throughout the country. If Pakistan’s biggest political YouTuber can be whisked away without consequences, what hope does the humble Baloch blogger documenting local injustices have?

Tribalization of political culture

The implosion of Pakistan

BELOW the radar of international media, Pakistan, a country of 230 million people, has been imploding slowly. Now its crisis has burst upon the international scene.

Imran Khan, the popular leader of Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI)) and the former prime minister was arrested, released and expected to be put away again. He has been charged in more than 100 cases, ranging from corruption, terrorism to dishonouring military. His followers have rioted and burned many military and civilian properties. An air of uncertainty prevails in the country.

Khan’s rule of a little more than three years was a break from the musical chairs of alternating Sharifs’ Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N-N) and Bhutto’s Peoples Party of Pakistan (PPP) governments. His has been a new face with little baggage of corruption that carries a lot of appeal for the young. His popularity combined with brashness have posed a threat to the established parties.

Yet Khan’s rule was not free of revenge politics.

The PML-N-N and PPP leaders were imprisoned on various charges. He has continued to call them thieves of the national wealth.

Now Shehbaz Sharif of PML-N as the prime minister is using the same public agencies for revenge prosecution. The politics of personal vendettas, hatred and wild accusations is playing out on the national stage. Secretly taped audios of each other’s personal and families’ conversations are being played out .A new low in the morality of political behaviours is on display.

Political parties are essentially tribes assembled by enterprising leaders. Loyalties are to the person rather than to any ideology. Most parties are run as family enterprises. The Sharif brothers have dominated the national stage; Shahbaz’s son and Nawaz’s daughter are running the PML-N’s provincial branches. Benazir Bhutto’s inexperienced son is the foreign minister in the present government. Imran Khan’s party is non-dynastic, though his is the only and the last word.

Widely known but so far not openly discussed is that the role of military in political management. Its intelligence agencies have manipulated politicians and journalists by threats as well as promises. Pakistan has had a pattern of the ’disappearances’ of political/ethnic critics, many of whom could not be recovered despite court orders and relatives’ pleas. This is also suspected to be the work of the intelligence agencies.

M. A. Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Khan’s government is believed to have been patched together by the military command and its re-

Shame

Understanding

as Self-conscious Emotion

PSYCHOLOGICALLY, shame is an important emotion that has been extensively studied and explored and in general, it is recognised as a complex and multifaceted emotion with significant psychological and social implications. It is defined as a self-conscious emotion that arises when an individual believes they have violated social or personal standards and feels a sense of embarrassment, humiliation, or a diminished sense of self-worth. It emerges in life, often during childhood, as children begin to internalise societal and familial expectations. It took a shape and developed by socialization processes, cultural values, and experiences of praise, punishment, and social comparison. In many respects shame is distinguished from guilt. While guilt is focused on the evaluation of specific actions and their consequences, shame is a more global and self-oriented emotion that relates to the evaluation of the self as a whole. Secondly, guilt focuses on the behavior, whereas shame pertains to the individual’s identity or worth. In the context, some researchers also distinguish between adaptive and maladaptive forms of shame. Adaptive shame is seen as a normal and healthy response to violating social norms or ethical standards. It can serve as a motivating factor for self-correction and moral growth, while maladaptive shame, is characterised by chronic or excessive shame that is deeply ingrained, self-deprecating, and associated with feelings of unworthiness, selfhatred, and hopelessness. Further, it contributes to low self-esteem, negative self-perception, and self-criticism.

GENESIS OF SHAME: The experience of shame often begins with a perceived failure or a violation of personal or societal standards and it has various sources including external events, such as public humiliation or rejection, or internal factors, such as personal beliefs and expectations.

a. Standards and Expectations: Shame is closely tied to the standards and expectations we hold for ourselves or that society places upon us. When we believe we have fallen short of these standards or have failed to meet expectations, shame arises. Here, an important part is played by the perception of being evaluated or judged by others. When we perceive that others disapprove of us, find us lacking, or consider us inadequate, we normally, internalise these judgments and experience shame as a result.

c. Self-Awareness: Shame often requires a level of self-awareness or self-reflection. It arises when we become aware of our perceived flaws, mistakes, or

shortcomings. This self-awareness is triggered by introspection, feedback from others, or comparisons with societal ideals or expectations. d. Emotional Response: The experience of shame is accompanied by intense emotions, including embarrassment, humiliation, and a sense of worthlessness created by a specific event or situation. or it can emerge from deeply ingrained beliefs about ourselves and our inherent flaws. When we repeatedly experience shame, it shapes our beliefs about ourselves, leading to a persistent sense of unworthiness or defectiveness. This internalised shame have long-lasting effects on our self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being.

KINDS OF SHAME : Shame can manifest in various forms and contexts and kinds of shame include:

a. Social Shame: Social shame occurs when a person feels embarrassed or humiliated in social situations resulting in public criticism, ridicule, or rejection by others.

b. Body Shame: Body shame is the feeling of embarrassment or self-consciousness about one’s physical appearance. It often involves negative beliefs about one’s body shape, size, or specific features, which is largely influenced by societal beauty standards, media portrayals, and comparisons with others. c. Performance Shame: Performance shame is related to feelings of inadequacy or embarrassment about one’s abilities or performance in specific areas, such as academics, sports, or work. d. Moral Shame: Moral shame arises from the belief that one has violated their own moral principles or ethical standards. It involves a sense of guilt and self-condemnation for engaging in behaviour deemed immoral, unethical, or against personal values. e.

Cultural or Religious Shame: Cultural or religious shame is associated with feelings of disgrace or unworthiness resulting from not meeting cultural or religious expectations, rules, or traditions. f. Family Shame: Family shame is the sense of embarrassment or humiliation linked to actions or behaviours that are believed to reflect negatively on one’s family. It can be connected to family secrets, scandals, or unconventional behaviours that deviate from societal or cultural expectations. g. Internalised Shame: Internalised shame is a pervasive and deeply ingrained sense of unworthiness or defectiveness that becomes part of an individual’s self-identity. It involves an ongoing belief that one is fundamentally flawed, unlovable, or undeserving. Internalized shame can stem from

placement is attributed to his falling out with the commanders. Pakistan has had four spells of military rule, lasting 33 years, but it is a distinction of the country that all military rules were brought down by popular protests and resistance. That experience combined with the global powers’ reduced tolerance for military rules has kept Pakistan’s military operating from behind the façade of parliamentary governments. Despite being an open secret, it was a taboo to mention the military’s role. Khan has broken this taboo. This may turn out to be a silver lining of the present crisis. Yet the real problems of Pakistan have festered. It is teetering on the brink of bankruptcy, seeking the IMF’s loan and protection. Poverty has been endemic but now hunger may be stalking the country with a 48% annual inflation last year. The country’s foreign exchange reserves hover around 4-5 billion dollars, not enough to pay for a month’s imports and loans’ interests. Factories are closing. The galloping population growth, depleting agricultural land, energy and water resources are among the challenges that are seldom

mentioned in parliamentary discussions. Fast-approaching climate change is echoed from the international media but not given any policy attention. The politics of personalities is what takes up most of the public space.

Institutionally Pakistan is well organized. It has a constitution, elections, civil administration, universities, and more than 100 national and global TV networks, with an active social media. Pakistan’s Bureau of Statistics estimates that 93% of households have a cell phone. Yet altogether these institutions are proving to be ‘hollow ’, having the form but not functioning as expected. Corruption, nepotism and compromising of laws and regulations are so pervasive that distrust of the government is almost a national creed.

The present moment marks the fractionalization of institutions. The civil services have lost their neutrality; judges of the Supreme Court are openly accused of partisanship. Parliament overrules the Supreme Court’s decisions. The military has lost its lustre. There is a rebellion In Balochistan, there are daily fights with terrorists and bandits roam the Sindh countryside. If one pays attention to the media, the country appears to be in anarchy. Yet the malls are full, new restaurants are opening regularly, and roads are jam packed with shiny cars. A casual visitor comes out feeling that the crisis is all hype, but partisan loyalties are tearing Pakistan apart. The country’s institutions are breaking down.

PakistanÊs Bureau of Statistics estimates that 93% of households have a cell phone.

Mohammad Qadeer is professor emeritus, Geography and Planning, Queen’s university and the author of book, ‘Pakistan: social and cultural transformations in a Muslim nation’.

Editor’s mail

early experiences of neglect, abuse, or persistent criticism.

HOW TO AVOID SHAME? Avoiding shame entirely is unrealistic, as it is a natural human emotion that arises in certain situations, however, there are strategies essential to cope with and manage shame in a healthier way. They include: a. Practice Self-Compassion: Develop a compassionate and understanding attitude towards yourself recognising that making mistakes and experiencing failures are part of being human, and they do not define your worth. b. Challenge Negative Self-Beliefs: Become aware of negative self-talk and distorted beliefs that contribute to feelings of shame. focus on your strengths and achievements rather than dwelling on perceived short comings. c. Seek Support: Reach out to supportive individuals in your life, such as friends, family, or a therapist and share your experiences and feelings with someone you trust, as talking about shame which can help us in lessening intensity. d. Practice Mindfulness: Engage in mindfulness techniques to cultivate present-moment awareness. It can help us in case of observe and accept emotions without judgment, including feelings of shame. e. Reframe mistakes as assuming failures as valuable learning experiences rather than sources of shame. We should recognise that making errors is a natural part of growth and personal development. f. Set Realistic Expectations: Avoid setting unrealistic or perfectionistic expectations for yourself. Recognize that no one is perfect, and it is okay to have limitations and make mistakes. g. Challenge Societal Norms: Examine and challenge societal norms, beauty standards, or expectations that contribute to feelings of shame. Surround yourself with diverse perspectives and redefine success and worthiness based on our own values and aspirations. h. Seek Professional Help: If shame significantly impacts our wellbeing or persists despite our efforts, we should seek therapy or counseling. A mental health professional can help you explore underlying issues, develop coping strategies, and work towards building a healthier relationship with shame.

Dr Rajkumar Singh is a Youth Motivator, presently Professor of Political Science and Dean, Student’s Welfare (DSW), at B.N. Mandal University, Madhepura (Bihar), India. His 23 books published in addition to 900 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries.

Capital’s pavements

THIS is with reference to the report “CDA chief summoned to explain cracks in Islamabad’s newly-built Margalla Avenue” (Metro-North, May 4), which, among other things, highlighted the remarks of Wajiha Qamar, a member of National Assembly (MNA), asking the chairman of Capital Development Authority (CDA) to explain the increase in encroachments across Islamabad, especially in the capital’s markets.

After her observations, the Public Accounts Committee (PAC) wondered why seating arrangements in front of restaurants are removed only to reappear a few days later on sidewalks, blocking public access areas.

As a senior citizen, I greatly appreciate the MNA and the committee for taking up an issue that affects the life of the citizens on a routine basis. She is absolutely right that chairs and tables in front of eateries, once removed, reappear in a matter of days and block the pavements, forcing senior citizens, women and children to walk on busy roads.

The whole activity no doubt takes place in connivance with the staff of CDA and other civic agencies. This has been going on for years and the citizens seem to be helpless against the culprits.

Hopefully, now that the PAC and members have taken up the issue, they will also ensure the enforcement of the relevant law so that pavements across Islamabad may finally be used for the purpose for which they were initially planned and built. They were, and are, meant for pedestrians, and not for conducting any commercial activity.

AHMAD TASNIM ISLAMABAD

Hiring the right one

AMERICAN lawyer and social activist Bryan Stevenson says the opposite of poverty is not wealth; the opposite of poverty is justice. I wonder why we are too much left behind and rank 129th out of 140 on the World Justice Project (WJP) Rule of Law Index.

It is no wonder that Pakistan is lagging in all the fields because we see a top achiever of Legum Baccalaureus (LLB) programme serving as an inspector; a young, brilliant medical graduate working in bureaucracy, and a talented engineer offering his services abroad. Instead of blaming them, I would call it mismanagement of the system due to which we see this brain drain.

A police inspector is bound to investigate a crime scene and deal with criminals to mould their demeanour by considering crime a multidimensional phenomenon having social, religious, political, economic, ecological, psychological, biological, philosophical and other connotations. Who better could do this job other than a graduate of Criminology? One who merely studies various laws, or one who considers crime merely as an evil and the legal section relevant to that offence, or a person who studies how to proceed with civil or criminal cases in the courts?

Recently, the Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) announced several vacant positions, including those of inspectors and subinspectors for which the qualification required was a graduate degree in Law. We are producing hundreds of Criminology graduates every year for the last few years, but they are not considered eligible for a police job. It is not only an injustice to Criminology graduates, but also a mistreatment of the justice system.

The rising crime rate and recidivism in the country show a failed recruitment system for law-enforcement agencies. The countries where degrees in Criminology and Criminal Justice are prioritised over the LLB degree for law-enforcement elements, have witnessed a massive decline in recidivism, and have thus improved their position in Rule of Law Index.

The government should consider the matter seriously. It is not too late to make amendments to the recruitment system by deploying specialists in their fields of expertise.

Institutionally Pakistan is well organized. It has a constitution, elections, civil administration, universities, and more than 100 national and global TV networks, with an active social media.

mohammaD

Dr rajkumar Singh

When we repeatedly experience shame, it shapes our beliefs about ourselves, leading to a persistent sense of unworthiness or defectiveness. This internalised shame have long-lasting effects on our self-esteem, relationships, and overall well-being.

The occupation is destroying Israel’s democracy COMMENT 05

It is sad and bewildering, albeit not surprising, how many Israelis completely distort the nature and the ultimate objective of the Israeli occupation of the West Bank. The reactions to my article from April 30, “An Occupying Power Cannot Be a Beacon of Democracy,” by many well-versed individuals, reveal how misguided they are and how comfortable they feel about their distorted views about the occupation, which they have embraced for more than five decades. What is extremely disturbing is that these views are prevalent among Jews in and outside Israel, which has allowed successive Israeli governments to maintain the occupation for 56 years with near-impunity on the basis of several groundless arguments.

To demonstrate how absurd some of these arguments are, I selected six comments out of many which illuminate the irrationality and false equivalence they resort to in justifying their positions.

Before I provide counter arguments, I want first to briefly reestablish the premise on which my article was based. First, I argued that an occupying power—Israel—cannot be a beacon of democracy as long as it remains an occupying power. That successive rightwing Israeli governments have systematically been misleading and brainwashing the public to justify the occupation on the grounds of national security. That they have methodically been portraying the Palestinians as an irredeemable foe, while engaging in misleading public narratives to keep the Israeli public minimally informed about the ruthlessness of the occupation. That they are portraying the occupation as central to keeping the Palestinians at bay while stamping out their aspiration to establish an independent state of their own. That they have been promoting the notion that the Palestinians are bent on destroying Israel even if they establish their own state. And finally, that they have been normalizing the occupation of the West Bank as if it were simply an extension of Israel proper.

Given that the concept of democracy plays a significant role in these arguments, it is best to define it. Democracy, literally meaning “rule by the people,” empowers individuals to exercise political control over the form and functions of their government. While democracies may vary in form, they all share certain features in common, including competitive elections, freedom of expression, and protection of individual civil liberties and human rights. Ultimately, democracy is a system of government

Regardless of what kind of spin is put on it

based on the belief in freedom and equality between people. The concept of democracy derives its moral strength and legitimacy from two key principles. First is individual autonomy, the idea that no one should be subject to rules which have been imposed by others. People should be able to exercise self-determination and control over their own lives. As the philosopher Alain Badiou puts it, democracy is a political system that “does not prohibit or restrain, or not excessively.” The second principle is equality, the idea that everyone should be granted an equal opportunity to influence the decisions that affect people in society.

The following are the six contrarian arguments and my counterarguments, which I believe shed important light at the extent of the absurdities which much of the Israeli public and some diaspora Jews invoke in making their case in favor of continuing the occupation.

“Judaea and Samaria belong to Israel in accordance with the San Remo treaty. Israel is not an occupying power.”

The San Remo Conference, which was held April 19-26, 1920, between Great Britain, France, Italy, and Japan, with the United States as a neutral observer, established that Palestine would be placed under British Mandatory rule, specifically stating “The Mandatory will be responsible for…. the establishment in Palestine of a national home for the Jewish people…”

The critic, however conveniently ignored the second part of the sentence, which continues, “…it being clearly understood that nothing shall be done which may prejudice the civil and religious rights of existing non-Jewish communities in Palestine….”

Moreover, the critic also chose to disregard the fact that the UNSC passed Resolution 194 in 1947 (the Partition Plan) that called for the establishment of a Jewish state and a Palestinian state. The legitimacy that was accorded to the establishment of Israel by the UNSC is exactly the same that was accorded to the Palestinians. Dismissing Resolution 194 and selectively citing only a part of the San Remo agreement is gravely misleading and harmful as it does nothing but obscure the truth and help to prolong the conflict at a terrible political, economic, and psychological cost for both sides.

“I think we can all agree that peace will be good for Israeli democracy, but it’s simply not true that an occupying power can’t be a beacon of democracy. It can and often has been. Britain conquered and occupied many countries and not only remained a beacon of democracy. Its empire was instrumental in

its spreading of democracy. India and many other countries wouldn’t be democracies today except for this. Same with America’s occupation of Japan and Germany. Same probably with the democracy and empire of classical Athens. As I remember it, Lewis Samuel Feuer gave some solid analysis on this in his book on imperialism.”

An occupying power can indeed be a beacon of democracy, provided that such a power promulgates the principles of democracy in the country it occupies and subsequently leaves it to be governed by its own representative government. Unlike Israel, however, neither Britain nor the US are building settlements, annexing Indian, Japanese, or German territory, or applying two sets of rules—one for the US or British citizens with all the rights and privileges, and another set of rules akin to marshal laws to govern these countries’ respective citizens.

If Britain still occupied India, or if the US similarly still occupied Japan and Germany and treated them the way Israel is treating the Palestinians next door, neither the US nor Britain would be considered democracies. Citing these examples by this critic is a fundamentally false equivalence. Indeed, no country can be a democracy when it continues to occupy other people, especially when these people (the Palestinians) live on a contiguous land mass with Israel and even share the same territory, with hundreds of thousands of Israeli Jews living in their midst in the West Bank, enjoying all the rights and privileges of Israeli citizenship while the Palestinians are subjugated to harsh military rules as Israel imposes in the West Bank.

“An Occupying Power Cannot Be a Beacon of Democracy”? Nonsense. How about US occupying a hunk of Germany? US occupying Japan? US occupying Afghanistan?

US occupying Iraq? In each of those cases, US was a beacon of democracy. In some places it was followed by the occupied, in others it wasn’t — but the fact remains that what you say makes no sense… Sorry…”

To equate the American military presence in Germany, which is an integral part of NATO’s military installations in Europe, to Israel’s occupation of the West Bank, is baffling. Moreover, American troops in Germany are welcome in the country, and while the German people are split over the presence of US military bases, successive German governments want them to stay. The critic obviously did not do his homework. There are military bases and American troops ranging from tens

Why the dollar’s dominance is declining in the Middle East

DW CaThrin SChaer

ANYONE in Iraq who wanted to buy a car or a house this week got a nasty shock. Last Sunday, the Iraqi government announced a ban on doing personal or business deals in US dollars. Ordinary Iraqis usually make bigticket purchases using dollars. Because of the ongoing devaluation of their own dinar, they’d need several large rubbish bags filled with paper dinar notes to buy a car or house. So they usually use a wallet full of dollars instead.

For decades, the US dollar has been the best currency to have in the Middle East if you don’t have enough dirhams, dinars, riyals or pounds on hand. But that may be starting to change. Over the past few months, senior politicians in a number of Middle East nations have made statements that suggest the dollar’s dominance in the region may fade.

In Iraq, US authorities had been making it harder to get dollars into the country — they were apparently worried that too much American cash was being smuggled to the neighboring Iranian government, which is under sanctions, but is tacitly supported by many Iraqi politicians. This shortage of dollars has led to volatility in the value of the Iraqi dinar, which is pegged to the US currency. This volatility brought about last weekend’s ban. In February, also thanks partially to the US currency crunch, Iraq said it would do business with China using the yuan instead of dollars.

MIDDLE EAST NATIONS SEEKING

ALTERNATIVES: Earlier this year, Saudi Arabia’s finance minister said his country was also “open” to selling oil using different currencies, including the euro and the Chinese yuan. The United Arab Emirates has said it will work with India, using the Indian rupee. Last year, Egypt announced plans to issue bonds — financial securities that help governments raise money — in Chinese yuan. It had already issued bonds in Japanese yen.

Additionally, several Middle Eastern nations — Egypt, Saudi Arabia, the UAE, Algeria and Bahrain — have said they want to join the geopolitical bloc known as BRICS, an acronym for Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa. Russia has already said that at an upcoming June meeting, the alliance will discuss the creation of a new kind of currency for cross-border trade between members. Since 2021, the UAE has also been part of a pilot project run by the Switzerland-based

Bank for International Settlements, a kind of central bank for central banks. This project looks at digital, cross-border payments that might bypass the dollar. Other participants are Thailand, Hong Kong and China. IS THE US DOLLAR DONE? These alternatives to the US dollar have led to a recent raft of alarmed headlines. “Is the dollar’s dominance under threat?,” The New York Times asked in February. “Prepare for a multipolar currency world,” the Financial Times warned in March. “De-dollarization is happening at a ‘stunning’ pace,” Bloomberg wrote late last month. US dollars now make up about 58% of official foreign reserves globally, Bloomberg reported in its story, a fall from 73% in 2001. In the late 1970s, it was 85%.

However, most experts insist the move away from the dollar is going far more slowly than recent headlines suggest. And this is certainly true for the Middle East.

IN THE GULF, THE DOLLAR STILL

RULES: Since the 1970s, oil-producing Gulf states have had a partnership with the US, where America provides security and countries like Saudi Arabia and the UAE export oil. Most Gulf countries, with the exception of Kuwait, have pegged their own currencies to the US dollar. “One of the biggest indicators of a serious shift away from the dollar would be a de-pegging of those currencies,” noted Hasan Alhasan, a research fellow on Middle East policy for the London-based International Institute for Strategic Studies. “But as of now, we haven’t seen that.” “The key words here are ‘statements’ and ‘potentially’,” said Daniel McDowell, a political science professor at Syracuse University in New York, when asked whether assertions made by Arab leaders signal the dollar’s demise in the Middle East. “Statements are easy, action is more difficult,” he told DW. “For oil-producing states, like Saudi Arabia, these sorts of statements and agitations are also a way to get America’s attention. Flirting with the Chinese may make American policymakers focus more attention on the interests of the Gulf states.”

McDowell doesn’t rule out the possibility that the dollar’s dominance will one day fade. “All empires eventually collapse,” he quipped. But right now, “much of this talk is symbolic and political. Any change we see will be marginal and slow.”

MOTIVATED BY WAR IN UKRAINE:

The experts that DW spoke with all agreed there are likely two major reasons for Middle Easterners’ threats to use other currencies.

Firstly, they said, it has to do with Russia’s war in Ukraine. Sanctions are a very significant part of the debate, McDowell thinks. His new book, “Bucking the Buck: US Financial Sanctions and the International Backlash Against the Dollar,” says as much, arguing “that the more the US wields the dollar as a weapon of foreign policy, the more its adversaries will move their international economic activities into other currencies.”

“Currently, there’s a lot of Russian money going through countries in the Middle East and Asia,” Alhasan explained. “Essentially those are countries that have chosen not to comply with, or not to enforce, American or European sanc-

to tens of thousands in approximately 80 countries. Thus, according to the logic of this critic, the US currently occupies 80 different countries, which is of course the height of absurdity.

Furthermore, the US is not incarcerating thousands of foreign citizens in the countries where it maintains military bases. It is not conducting night raids, it is not restricting the movement of people in their own land, and it is not settling civilian communities throughout their territories, all of which Israel practices routinely in the West Bank. If, for example South Korea or Japan had a contiguous land mass with the US and if their people lived side-by-side US citizens but did not enjoy the same rights and privileges as US citizens, then the US would be considered undemocratic, an apartheid state at that. Simply put, no country can call itself a democracy while it simultaneously exercises authoritarianism over other countries and people that share the same land mass.

“How can a nation be an occupier of its own ancestral land? Or maybe you mean New Mexico, Colorado and Arizona? So, which is the occupier?”

I wonder if this critic will be willing to apply the same postulate to other people anywhere else in the world. If every indigenous peoples came back to reclaim the land of their ancestors from 2,000 years ago, the world’s map would not even remotely resemble the current borders that delineate nearly 200 countries. Moreover, I wonder how this critic will respond to the following hypothesis: suppose the Jews were living in Palestine for hundreds of years, yet the Palestinians occupied the same land more than 2,000 years before, and now have come back to reclaim it. Should the Israeli Jews concede that the land indeed belongs to the Palestinians, because it was their ancestral land two millennia ago? Indeed, for how many centuries do people need to live on any land to claim it as their own?

Instead of finding a formula whereby both people, Israelis and Palestinians, can coexist peacefully and negotiate a two-state solution, if for no other reason other than the fact that Israel simply cannot evict all three million Palestinians from the West Bank, instead, Israel is opting to maintain the occupation and conveniently claim that a nation cannot be an occupier of its own ancestral land, despite the passage of thousands of years and the peoples who have lived on the land in the intervening millennia. If this is not twisted logic, I don’t know what is.

“You are delusional. Either the IDF controls Judea/Samaria or Iran controls Judea/Samaria. Pick one. I guess you pick Iran. So, tell your readers that!”

Can this or any other critic tell us how and by what means Iran will be able to control Judea and Samaria, the West Bank? Any talk of a two-state solution that will put an end to the occupation will have to be based on categorical and unshakable security arrangements between Israel, Palestine, and Jordan This has been discussed time and again in the past, and the Palestinians want such security arrangements for their own sake just the same. Even at the present, Israel and the Palestinian Authority collaborate on all security matters.

The PA knows full well that Israel will not relinquish a single inch of territory unless there is an iron clad security arrangement in place to ensure its national security. Moreover, no country, including Iran, will ever be in a position to control the West Bank given Israel’s formidable military prowess that will crush any foreign power that challenges Israel’s military dominance now or at any time in the future, even if an independent Palestinian state has been established.

“I agree with every word you write. However, I think that before talking about a Palestinian state, Israel must improve the situation of its own Arab population. The Israeli Arabs can and must become the bridge between the Jewish Israelis and the Palestinians.”

There should be no doubt that Israel must address the discrimination against its own Arab citizens; however, it cannot ignore the urgent need to find a solution to the IsraeliPalestinian conflict. The two are not mutually exclusive and must be tackled simultaneously, as indeed one can complement the other.

In last week’s demonstration in Tel Aviv against the so-called judicial reforms, demonstrators also carried banners proclaiming that the occupation is incompatible with democracy. As they see it, the judicial reforms if enacted and the continuing occupation would destroy Israel’s democracy, and the public must now relentlessly fight against these two menaces to save Israel’s democracy.

To be sure, the Israeli occupation has no logical, political, or biblical justification or even national security implications. It not only adversely affects the Palestinians, instigating militancy and endless violence as we are witnessing day in and day out; the occupation is dangerously eroding Israel’s social fabric and moral standing, regardless of what kind of spins are put on it.

Admitting the truth about the occupation is the one bitter pill that none of its supporters wants to swallow. Should we now leave it to the demagogues who concoct utterly illogical scenarios to mislead the public about the true nature of the occupation, to which only fools would subscribe?

India looks to lock in long-term LNG deals

tions.” But should sanctions on Russia be toughened further, turning them into what are known as secondary sanctions, then those countries would have a much harder time avoiding them. Secondary sanctions also punish third parties — countries or businesses — that work with the sanctioned entity. Anybody who wants to do business with the US or European Union will find it hard to get around secondary sanctions. “So governments concerned about US sanctions are increasingly thinking about how they might get ahead of the curve, even if they are not yet ready or interested in making a radical shift away from the dollar,” McDowell reasoned. THREAT TO OIL BUSINESS: Alhasan offers a second reason why some Middle East states may wish to move away from the dollar. “I think there’s the sense that the US is trying to rewrite the rules of the global oil market — to target Russian interests — and that presents a strategic threat to Saudi Arabia,” he argued.

In March, Saudi Energy Minister Prince Abdulaziz bin Salman said that if any country tried to impose a price cap on Saudi oil exports, in the same way as had been done to Russia, his nation would no longer trade with it. A day later, Algeria’s energy minister, fearing a dangerous precedent, echoed that statement.

This is why the movement away from the US dollar looks likely to continue as long as sanctions do, argued Maria Demertzis, a professor of economic policy at the European University Institute in Florence, Italy, and a senior fellow at Bruegel, an economic think tank. But it won’t happen overnight. Even if some countries want to bypass the US dollar as a currency, it will be more difficult to replace the settlement infrastructure provided by the dollardriven system, Demertzis pointed out. BANKING AS A WEAPON: “If you’re India and you want to sell something to Chile, for example, you are likely to do it in dollars. But you don’t only do that because you can more easily price a product in dollars. You also do it because you use the US dollar infrastructure to settle the transaction,” Demertzis said, explaining that settlement is “the legal action of taking money from one account and putting it into another account.”

To do that, trusted infrastructure is needed, she said, something the US has been providing for decades. Any alternative to that has “huge legal and governance implications,” Demertzis explained. “For example, does Chile recognize the legal framework of India? Even to get to where two central banks settle bilaterally is a long journey.”

The fact that the US and Europe froze Russian central bank reserve assets held in their jurisdictions has also weaponized central banks and possibly damaged the international financial system, according to Demertzis.

In the Middle East, that has translated to “a genuine sense of concern about the US’, and even the EU’s, unprecedented weaponization of international trade and finance, in the context of war with Russia,” Alhasan concluded. This is why countries in the Middle East “are preparing for a more multipolar global world, where they will want to be best placed to act inside and outside of dollarized zones.”

OILPRICE.COM

TSveTana ParaSkova

MAJOR Indian natural gas importers are discussing long-term supply deals with the biggest LNG exporting countries to lock in future supply and avoid volatility and uncertainty in case of spot price spikes, traders and executives tell Bloomberg.

India plans to significantly increase its natural gas consumption as it looks to boost its share in the energy mix. But the country and its LNG importers are particularly sensitive to surging spot LNG prices and often retreat from the spot market when prices jump.

Such was the case last year when high spot LNG prices priced out many Asian buyers as Europe bid up for supply and became the primary destina-

tion of spot LNG cargoes. For most of 2022, India – alongside other countries in South Asia such as Bangladesh and Thailand – withdrew from the spot market due to the record high prices.

In India, LNG imports fell by 15.2% in 2022, but the total import costs soared by 44.5% due to high LNG prices, the Institute for Energy Economics & Financial Analysis said in a report in February.

This year, the slump in spot LNG prices has encouraged price-sensitive buyers India, Pakistan, and Bangladesh to return to the market looking for cargoes. But it looks like Indian buyers are not willing to take chances on the spot market for years to come.

According to Bloomberg’s sources, Petronet LNG, GAIL India, and Indian Oil Corporation are holding discussions with LNG exporters from the United States, Qatar, and the United Arab Emirates (UAE) for supply deals of 20 years. GAIL India, the biggest natural gas company in the country, is even reportedly looking to buy an interest in an LNG export project in the United States. Petronet LNG is in talks with Qatar to secure additional long-term volumes and is also in discussions with several other LNG suppliers, executives at the company told Bloomberg. Petronet LNG’s chief executive Akshay Kumar Singh, told Bloomberg earlier this month, “The lesson learned by the consumers is that they can’t run the business based on spot.”

Warmest years ahead

Rich world owes developing nations monetary aid

TRIBUNE

GOING by the forecast on cli-

mate change made by the World Meteorological Organisation (WMO), the world needs to brace itself for the hottest-ever five years. It has to gear up to tackle the consequences of the resultant weather events such as severe heatwaves, flooding and droughts. The prediction of an alarming rise of 1.5 °C over the pre-industrial era levels for some time during 2023-27 is based on the catastrophic twin effect of the naturally occurring El Nino and the trapping of heat emitted by man-made greenhouse gases that play havoc with the weather, leading to widespread destruction.

The saving grace is that this global temperature surge, as per the WMO, is temporary. But it is another dire warning that global warming is real. And that un-

less sincere efforts are made to honour the pledges made at the Conferences of the Parties held by the United Nations Framework Convention on Climate Change over the decades to control the temperature trajectory, the world is headed for a calamity.

Crucial to setting the order right — be it the shift to green energy or preparation to protect and rehabilitate people living in vulnerable areas — is funds. The rich nations owe the promised ‘climate finance’ of billions of dollars to the developing countries as compensation for the losses that they have caused through carbon emissions during their industrialisation processes over the past century. It is payback time for bringing the planet to this precarious position. It’s the turn of the developing world to claim its right to secure its people — to whom extreme weather can deal a devastating blow — and ecology and come on a par with the rich nations. It’s time to wrest climate justice from the wealthy West.

OIL SLIPS AS U.S. DEBT CAUTION OFFSET SUPPLY CONCERNS

timent this week, IG’s Sydney-based analyst Tony Sycamore said. The U.S. is the world’s biggest oil consumer. Investors were also concerned that China’s recovery is faltering after weak economic data reports in the past two weeks, he added.

“If the housing market continues to fall and policymakers fail to respond, the risk of a double-dip China slowdown increases, which spells bad news for crude oil consumption and demand,” Sycamore said. China is the world’s top crude importer and No. 2 oil consumer.

Last week, both oil benchmarks gained about 2%, their first weekly gain in five, after wildfires shut in large amounts of crude supply in Alberta, Canada.

The impact of voluntary production cuts by the Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and

its allies including Russia, known as OPEC+, is also being felt after going into effect this month, analysts from Goldman Sachs and JP Morgan said. Total exports of crude and oil products from the group plunged by 1.7 million barrels per day (bpd) by May 16, JP Morgan said, adding that Russian oil exports will likely fall by late May.

On Saturday, the Group of Seven (G7) nations pledged at its annual leaders’ meeting to enhance efforts to counter Russia’s evasion of the price caps on its oil and fuel exports “while avoiding spillover effects and maintaining global energy supply”, but did not provide details.

Such enhancements are not expected to change the supply situation for crude and oil products, the International Energy Agency’s (IEA) Executive Director Fatih Birol said, adding that the agency

was sticking to its analysis for now.

In its latest monthly report, the IEA warned of a looming shortage in the second half when demand is expected to eclipse supply by almost 2 million bpd.

“It remains to be seen if the new curbs will impact Russian oil production as the Russians have been very effective in finding ways around European and U.S. sanctions and the sanctions have proved difficult to enforce,” Sycamore said.

The U.S. oil rig count fell by 11 to 575 in the week to May 19, the biggest weekly drop since September 2021, energy services firm Baker Hughes Co (BKR.O) said.

“A slowdown in U.S. drilling activity is a concern for the oil market, which is expected to see a sizeable deficit over the second half of this year,” ING said.

How Wall Street is preparing for possible US debt default

PROFIT REUTERS

As talks over raising the U.S. government’s $31.4 trillion debt ceiling go down to the wire, Wall Street banks and asset managers have been preparing for the fallout from a potential default.

The financial industry has prepared for such a crisis before, most recently in September 2021. But this time, the relatively short time frame for reaching a compromise has bankers on edge, said one senior industry official.

Less than two weeks remain until June 1, when the Treasury Department has warned that the federal government might not be able to pay all its debts, a deadline U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen reaffirmed on Sunday.

Citigroup (C.N) CEO Jane Fraser said this debate on the debt ceiling is “more worrying” than previous ones. JPMorgan Chase & CO (JPM.N) CEO Jamie Dimon said the bank is convening weekly meetings on the implications.

WHAT WOULD HAPPEN IF THE U.S. DEFAULTED?

U.S. government bonds underpin the global financial system so it is difficult to fully gauge the damage a default would create, but executives expect massive volatility across equity, debt and other markets.

The ability to trade in and out of Treasury positions in the secondary market would be severely impaired. Wall Street executives who have advised the Treasury’s debt operations have warned that Treasury market dysfunction would quickly spread to the derivative, mortgage and commodity markets, as investors would question the validity of Treasuries widely used as collateral for securing trades and loans. Financial institutions could ask counterparties to replace the bonds affected by missed payments, said analysts. Even a short breach of the debt limit could lead to a spike in interest rates, a plunge in equity prices, and covenant breaches in loan documentation and leverage agreements.

Short-term funding markets would likely

freeze up as well, Moody’s Analytics said.

HOW ARE INSTITUTIONS PREPARING?

Banks, brokers and trading platforms are prepping for disruption to the Treasury market, as well as broader volatility.

This generally includes game-planning how payments on Treasury securities would be handled; how critical funding markets would react; ensuring sufficient technology, staffing capacity and cash to handle high trading volumes; and checking the potential impact on contracts with clients.

Big bond investors have cautioned that maintaining high levels of liquidity was important to withstand potential violent asset price moves, and to avoid having to sell at the worst possible time.

Bond trading platform Tradeweb said it was in discussions with clients, industry groups, and other market participants about contingency plans.

WHAT SCENARIOS ARE BEING CONSIDERED?

The Securities Industry and Financial Markets Association (SIFMA), a leading industry group, has a playbook detailing how Treasury market stakeholders – the Federal Reserve Bank of New York, the Fixed Income Clearing Corporation (FICC), clearing banks, and Treasuries dealers – would communicate ahead of and during the days of potential missed Treasuries payments. SIFMA has considered several scenarios. The more likely would see the Treasury buy time to pay back bondholders by announcing ahead of a payment that it would be rolling those maturing securities over, extending them one day at a time.

That would allow the market to continue functioning but interest would likely not accrue for the delayed payment.

In the most disruptive scenario, the Treasury fails to pay both principal and coupon, and does not extend maturities. The unpaid bonds could no longer trade and would no longer be transferable on the Fedwire Securities Service, which is used to hold, transfer and settle Treasuries.

Each scenario would likely lead to significant operational problems and require manual daily

adjustments in trading and settlement processes.

“It is difficult because this is unprecedented but all we’re trying to do is make sure we develop a plan with our members to help them navigate through what would be a disruptive situation,” said Rob Toomey, SIFMA’s managing director and associate general counsel for capital markets.

The Treasury Market Practices Group – an industry group sponsored by the New York Federal Reserve – also has a plan for trading in unpaid Treasuries, which it reviewed at the end of 2022, according to meeting minutes on its website dated Nov. 29. The New York Fed declined to comment further.

In addition, in past debt-ceiling standoffs –in 2011 and 2013 – Fed staff and policymakers developed a playbook that would likely provide a starting point, with the last and most sensitive step being to remove defaulted securities from the market altogether.

The Depository Trust & Clearing Corporation, which owns FICC, said it was monitoring the situation and has modeled a variety of scenarios based on SIFMA’s playbook.

“We are also working with our industry partners, regulators and participants to ensure activities are coordinated,” it said.

China refutes G7’s accusations on its nuclear policy

BEIJING

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

G7’s accusations against China’s nuclear policy are complete false narratives, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said on Monday during a regular press briefing.

Indian court summons BBC in defamation case over Modi documentary

NEW DELHI AGENCIES

India’s Delhi High Court issued a summons to British broadcaster BBC on Monday in a defamation case over its documentary on Prime Minister Narendra Modi that questioned his leadership during the 2002 Gujarat riots, according to reports in Indian media.

The defamation suit states the documentary “India: the Modi question” that aired earlier this year cast a slur on India’s reputation and that of its judiciary and the prime minister, the reports said.

The summons came months after Indian tax officials inspected the BBC’s offices in New Delhi and Mumbai in February following an angry response by the Indian government to the documentary.

The media reports said the suit was filed by a non-profit based in Gujarat, which is Modi’s home state. The BBC did not immediately respond to a request for comment. The documentary focused on Modi’s leadership as chief minister of the western state of Gujarat during riots in 2002 in which at least 1,000 people were killed, most of them Muslims. Activists put the toll at more than twice that number.

CORPORATE CORNER

CHINA TO PROVIDE NEW OPPORTUNITIES FOR DEVELOPMENT OF PAKISTAN IN LINE WITH CHINESE MODERNISATION: CHINESE DIPLOMAT

ISLAMABAD MIAN ABRAR

MS. Pang Chunxue, Charge d’Affaires of the Chinese Embassy, has said that China will provide new opportunities for the development of countries including Pakistan, with new accomplishments in Chinese modernisation. While addressing the participants of a reception held by Chinese Embassy in honour of Pakistani Diplomats to celebrate 72nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and Pakistan, Ms. Pang welcomed friends, old and new, to the Chinese Embassy, emphasizing that the China-Pakistan relationship has profound historical roots, solid public support and strong practical needs.

Mobilink Bank and Hashoo Foundation to drive financial inclusion initiatives for MsMEs

ISLAMABAD: Mobilink Bank and Hashoo

Foundation (HF) have signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to jointly enhance financial inclusion for Micro, Small and Medium Enterprises (MSMEs). This collaboration strives to empower MSMEs supported and trained by Hashoo Foundation, fostering their entrepreneurial journey. Mobilink Bank, through this partnership, is committed to enabling the growth and success of small businesses amidst a rapidly evolving economic landscape.Mobilink Bank is part of the VEON group, a global digital operator that provides converged connectivity and online services across seven countries. PR

GroupM and Kinetic bring Programmatic Digtial OOH to Pakistan

Dr. Asad Majeed Khan, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan, Mr. Mazhar Javed, Director General of Foreign Service Academy also spoke at the reception, which was attended by former Pakistani Ambassadors to China, officials from MFA and Pakistani young diplomats along with Chinese diplomats.

“Under the strong leadership of President Xi Jinping, China is steadfastly advancing the process of Chinese

modernization. China will provide new opportunities for the development of countries including Pakistan, with new accomplishments in Chinese modernization. As developing countries, both China and Pakistan are constantly exploring development paths that suit their own national conditions, and are actively committed to maintaining world peace and stability,” Ms Pang said.

She added that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative proposed by President Xi Jinping, and the 10th anniversary of the launch of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor. “With the joint efforts of both sides, CPEC has achieved fruitful out-

comes covering areas of industry, agriculture, IT, disaster prevention and mitigation, etc., which made significant contributions to promoting Pakistan’s economic and social development, upgrading Pakistan’s infrastructure, improving Pakistani people’s well-being, enhancing people to people contact and deepening regional connectivity. CPEC has become well-known hallmark of China-Pakistan cooperation,” she added.

Ms. Pang said that from 5th May to 6th May, Chinese State Councillor and Foreign Minister Qin Gang paid a successful visit to Pakistan, which is of tremendous significance in solidifying and deepening the China-Pakistan all-weather strategic partner-

PAF pays tribute to 1965 war hero squadron leader sarfraz Ahmed Rafiqui shaheed

While paying tribute to its Ghazis and Martyrs, Pakistan Air Force has released a special promo on 1965 War hero Squadron Leader Sarfraz Ahmed Rafiqui (Shaheed). Squadron Leader Sarfraz Ahmed Rafiqi, along with his fellow pilots shot down three of the four intruder aircraft of Indian Air Force, flying at an altitude of 20,000 feet on the eve of 01 September, 1965 at Chamb Sector. Later, he was ordered to attack the Indian Air Base, Halwara while defending Lahore on 06 September, 1965. In this mission, Sarfraz Ahmad Rafiqi

Shaheed led a formation of four PAF fighter jets. After shooting down an Indian plane, the machine gun of his plane got jammed. Instead of fleeing from the battlefield, he ordered his comrades to continue the attack and despite being defenceless, embraced martyrdom while protecting the formation from the rear. In recognition of his outstanding performance and courage, he was conferred with prestigious ‘Hilal-i-Juraat’ and ‘Sitara-i-Jurrat’ by the Government of Pakistan. PR

Governor sindh receives Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner

Groupm and Kinetic, the undisputed industry leaders in media, have announced yet another industry first - the launch of Programmatic Digital Out-Of-Home (DOOH) in Pakistan. This groundbreaking endeavor is set to revolutionize the media and advertising industry in Pakistan, bringing innovation and effectiveness to marketing strategies like never before.The event was held on May 9th in Lahore at Cue Cinemas to showcase the innovative peoplepowered marketing model. PR

Pesticide imports to be facilitated through Pakistan single Window

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Single Window has launched a new service to facilitate the import and clearance of pesticides in Pakistan. As part of the service PSW has also deployed the unified registration system enabling electronic registration of pesticide products and premises with the Department for Plant Protection. The URS enables real-time validation of pesticide products and premises at the time of customs clearance.Under Pakistan’s trade regulations, all imports of pesticides are subject to mandatory Pre-Shipment Inspection (PSI) by independent third parties, to ensure that imported pesticides conform to international and national requirements. PR

Askari Bank attains PCi Dss Certificate

ISLAMABAD: Askari Bank (AKBL), a leading commercial bank of Pakistan, attained the “Payment Card Industry Data Security Standard (PCI DSS v3.2.1)” compliance and certification, which is a leading payment card data security standard by Payment Card Industry Security Council (PCI SSC) via PCI QSA Firm Risk Associates, a premier global information technology company. This prestigious certification is another milestone for AKBL and signifies its unwavering dedication to safeguarding sensitive customer information and upholding the highest standards of data security within the financial industry. PR

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Bangladesh Deputy High Commissioner in Karachi, S. M. Mahbubul Alam had a call on the Governor Sindh H.E. Mr. Muham-

mad Kamran Khan Tessori at the Sindh Governor’s House in Karachi on 22 May 2023. During the meeting the Deputy High Commissioner expressing his profound thanks and gratitude for the meeting briefed the Governor

Sindh on various socio-economic achievements in Bangladesh. He mentioned that under the charismatic and dynamic leadership of Prime Minister Sheikh Hasina Bangladesh has become a ‘Role Model’ of socio-economic development in the world and Bangladesh is currently among the five fastest growing economies in the world, ranking the 35th in terms of GDP. He also shared the vision that the present government of Bangladesh has been striving hard to implement the “Vision2041” to turn Bangladesh into an upper middle-income country by 2031 and a developed country by 2041 and building a prosperous and climate-resilient delta by 2100.

Website launched to promote China, Pakistan bilateral tourism

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

To celebrate the China-Pakistan Year of Tourism Exchanges, Pakistan Tourism Website was launched here on Monday by the Pakistani Embassy.

The Chinese-language website, namely Discover Batie (also known as Discover Iron-clad Friend Pakistan), was launched to popularize Pakistan’s rich repertoire of culture and tourism resources across China, according to Gwadar Pro. Also recommended routes, visa processing instructions, and many other resources are provided on the website.

Speaking on the occasion, Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque pinpointed that Pakistan has rich potential of tourism due to its rich culture, geographical and biological diversity, and history, and that Pakistan as China’s friend has made a lot of preparation to welcome Chinese tourists.

“Pakistan welcomes Chinese tourists and has set

up relevant tourism organizations and committees, introduced favourable policies to facilitate visas and promote the development and rejuvenation of tourism,” he added.

According to United Nations World Tourism Organization, China was one of the world’s major outbound tourism contributors before the outbreak of the pandemic. China has resumed outbound tourism after downgrading COVID-19 management measures from Class A to B earlier this year.

China recently concluded its five-day May Day holiday that ended on May 3. After experiencing a solid recovery in consumption in the 1st quarter of the year, the country’s holiday spending mirrored vitality and resilience of the world’s second-largest economy.

Chinese people made 274 million domestic trips during the five-day break, soaring 70.83 percent from the same holiday of last year and up about 19 percent from 2019 before the COVID-19 outbreak, the Ministry of Culture and Tourism said.

KP LG dept proposes Rs5.34b development budget for FY 2023-24

KHYBER PAKHTUNKHWA AZIZ BUNERI

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) local government department has proposed a development budget of over Rs 5.34 billion for the first four months of the fiscal year 2023-24.

Under the proposed development program, a total of 139 projects will get funding, with 36 projects dedicated to rural development and 76 projects focused on

urban development. Additionally, 19 new projects have been added to the overall program. According to sources, Rs 42.9 million has been allocated for 49 projects in rural areas, while Rs 87.2 million has been allocated for 10 projects in suburban areas. Furthermore, four projects have been recommended to receive funding under the three-year accelerated development program. In terms of urban development,

Rs 1.63 billion has been allocated for 47 projects in urban areas, Rs 1.25 billion for seven projects in suburban areas, and Rs 1.16 billion for 22 projects under the accelerated development program.

It is worth mentioning that the KP government has decided to present a budget for the fourmonth proceeding general elections, and the estimated cost of the development program for this period is Rs 30 billion.

ship of cooperation. She conveyed great appreciation to successive generations of diplomats from the two countries for their painstaking efforts and contributions, and asserted that China will join hands with Pakistan to implement the consensus reached by the leaders of the two countries in real earnest and continuously promote the great cause of China-Pakistan friendship with great strides.

Pakistan Foreign Secretary Dr Asad Majeed Khan applauded the contribution of generations of the two countries’ diplomats to the achievements of China and Pakistan unbreakable friendship and cooperation. The change of the compound of Chinese Embassy in Pakistan itself is the witness of the development of friendship with its previous compound been handed over to Pakistan government and became the Foreign Service Academy and the new compound became the biggest one in all Chinese Embassies abroad.

He appreciated that Chinese friends always unswervingly provide generous help, give strong support to Pakistan’s sovereignty and independence, financial stability and infrastructure construction. China-Pakistan Economic Corridor has brought prosperity and progress to Pakistan’s economy and society, which Pakistan is deeply grateful of.

state Life to mitigate potential health risks for policy holders

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

On Friday, May 5th in Islamabad, State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC), the largest life and health insurer in the country, signed a Memorandum of Understanding with Dante Genomics, a global leader in genomics and precision medicine, to provide data-driven and genomics-based solutions to enhance the overall health of Pakistanis. The occasion was graced by the Honorable Minister for Commerce, Syed Naveed Qamar and the MOU was signed by SLIC’s senior representative, Muhammad Izqar Khan (Executive Director), and Co-founder/CEO of Dante Genomics, Andrea Riposati. The event was graced by Foreign Delegates from Italy including Generoso Ianniciello of Dante Genomics and Managing Director of Dante Genomics, Yasir Bajwa, along with representatives from SLIC.

Power suspension schedules for 23rd May 2023

According to Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO)’s spokesman, System Maintenance/Development Work is in process. Therefore power supply of below mentioned feeders/areas will be temporary suspended as per given schedule:

On Dated 23rd May 2023 From 09:00 AM to 02:00 PM, New Khangah, Hasnot, H-8, H-8/2, Shifa International, Allama Iqbal Open University, Kahuta City 2, Hanif Shaheed, RCCI-1,2,3,4&5, Chowk Pandori, Sihala, Sarpak, Islamia Chowk, Kalyal, Bhawan, KSM-2, Chakra, Sarkal, Dhoke Hasu, Major Masood, Gulshanabad, Industrial, Dhok Mangtal, Basharat, Farooq Azam Road Feeders, From 08:00 AM to 01:00 PM, Ghor Ghishti, Barazai, Maskinabad, Shahdir, Radio Pak 1&2, Larnpur, Qaziabad, GBHP Colony, Khanabad, Lalazar, Lalahrukh, Small Industrial, Purmiana, Ghari Afghana, Taxila 1&2, Feeders and surrounding areas will remain closed. PR

KAMOKA QUITS PTI, WAJAHAT WITHDRAWS SUPPORT TOO

ISLAMABAD AGENCIES

ASthe Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf

(PTI) leaders remain under huge pressure, two more party leaders and sympathisers from Punjab – Faizullah Kamoka and Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain – announced to part ways from the party.

PTI West Punjab President Faizullah Kamoka on Monday announced to part ways with the party over what he called “the violent protests that ensued across the country on May 9”, following the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan.

It is pertinent to mention here that Kamoka had claimed last week that his family and he himself was receiving threats from various quarters for quitting the party.

Addressing a press conference at Lahore Press Club, Kamoka said he has been a part of Pakistani politics for the last 30 years and loved his people with sincerity and honesty.

“I’ve been a member of the Punjab Assembly and represented the Faisalabad representatives of the party,” he said. “My soul is satisfied that I have spent my time in politics honestly.”

Kamoka emphasised that he fulfilled all his party responsibilities with honesty. “Have always tried to protect this coun-

try as much as I can,” he said. “Political struggles should always be peaceful.”

He cited there wasn’t a single FIR against him before the May 9 incidents, adding that he still has to decide if he wanted to continue his career in politics or not. “I made this decision myself and am not in contact with anyone,” Kamoka added.

Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain withdraws support for PTI’s Parvez Elahi

Ex-minister Chaudhry Wajahat Hus-

sain has announced that he is withdrawing support for PTI President Parvez Elahi over the May 9 riots.

Earlier this year, Hussain had sworn in his allegiance with Elahi, when the latter left the PML-Q and joined the PTI. Chaudhry Wajahat Hussain addresses a press conference in Lahore. — DawnNewsTV

Addressing a press conference in Lahore, Hussain condemned the violent

protests of May 9, saying that some people in his family took wrong decisions.

“They will soon realise their mistakes.”

“Chaudhry Shujaat will keep whoever wants to come back to PML-Q,” he said, adding that the upcoming time would unite the Chaudhry family. “It is possible that whoever created misunderstandings is the one fixing them.”

Wajahat Hussain also advised Moonis Elahi to return to the PML-Q.

Omar claims politicians leaving PTI under overwhelming pressure

ISLAMABAD: Former MP Omar Ayub Khan, in an interview with a TV channel, has made claims about the mounting pressure faced by politicians who are leaving the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI).

According to Khan, while PTI workers remain loyal to the party’s ideology, those who are departing are doing so under significant duress. He further highlighted that former prime minister Imran Khan has discouraged any criticism of these departing members. Several politicians and PTI leaders have decided to leave the party due to what they describe as “compulsion and pressure.” When asked about the timing of future elections in the country, Khan acknowledged the need for elections but stated that the exact schedule remains uncertain. He urged fellow political workers not to lose hope, emphasizing that the prevailing economic situation will likely result in a rejection of leaders from the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) during the upcoming general elections. Expressing his support for Chairman Imran Khan’s decision to dissolve the provincial assemblies, Khan argued that this move was necessary to ensure fair and timely elections in the country. He asserted that PTI’s decision to dissolve the assemblies was the correct course of action.

Regarding PTI’s aspirations to return to the National Assembly, Khan expressed concern over the government’s alleged ill intentions. He predicted that the government would create obstacles to prevent PTI’s successful re-entry into the assembly.

In a strong statement, Khan criticised the arrest of Imran Khan within the court premises, deeming it a blatant violation of the constitution and the law. He called for the resignation of the interior minister, interior secretary, and chairman of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), or their public apology to the nation. STAFF REPORT

Imran equates crackdown on PTI with Hitler’s use of arson to crush political opponents

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Former premier and Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday equated the government’s highhanded approach against the PTI workers with Hitler’s Nazi policies, saying that the way Hitler had used arson to crush his opponents, the communists, a similar frame up is going on in Pakistan.

“On February 27, 1933, the German Parliament (Reichstag) building burned down, resultantly the Nazi leadership and its coalition partners used the fire to claim that communists were planning a violent uprising. They claimed that emergency legislation was needed to prevent this. The resulting act, commonly knows as the Reichstag Fire Decree, abolished a number of protections and paved the ay for Nazi dictatorship,” he tweeted.

Imran Khan said that as a result, an emergency legislation was passed, which was commonly known as the Reichstag Fir Decree that abolished a number of constitutional protections and paved the way for Nazi dictatorship.

Moreover, he said that the decree permitted the Nazi regime to arrest and incarcerate political opponents without

specific charge to dissolve political organisations to confiscate private property.

PTI Chairman reminded that how arson was used by Hitler to crush his opponents, the communists. He said: “Similar frame up is going on in Pakistan”.

Interestingly, the National Assembly passed a resolution condemning events of May 9 on Monday.

IMRAN GETS TAX NOTICE

FROM PUNJAB EXCISE DEPT:

Excise and Taxation Department has issued a luxury house tax notice of PKR 14.4 million to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan on Monday. Excise and Taxation Section of Model Town has issued a notice to PTI chief Imran Khan, imposing a luxury

house tax of PKR 14.4 million. According to the Excise and Taxation Section, today is the last date for submitting the challan.

It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief and former premier Imran Khan is facing a number of cases including in National Accountability and is currently on bail from the relevant courts.

Imran Khan directs Zulfi Bukhari, other PTI leaders not to return from abroad Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan has stopped Zulfi Bukhari and other party leaders staying abroad from returning home.

In interaction with PTI leaders abroad on Monday, the party chief asked Makhdoom Tariq, Zulfi Bukhari, Shehbaz Gill and others to stay there for two weeks.

“You need to stay abroad till the party issues are normalized, otherwise you could be arrest,” he advised them. After directions from Imran Khan, the PTI leaders abroad delayed their program of returning home and will announce schedule of their return after asked by top party leadership to come back.

Imran Riaz missing, no record found in any police station, LHC told

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

The police informed the Lahore High Court (LHC) on Monday that the whereabouts of journalist Imran Riaz Khan, who was arrested from Sialkot airport on May 11, remains unknown as there is no record of his detention in any station across the country.

In the previous hearing, the high court had given Dr Usman Anwar, who heads the force of Punjab, an opportunity to present Khan before the judge on Monday, but he failed to comply with the order. Khan was among the individuals arrested in the wake of violent protests that erupted after the brief arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan in a land dispute on May 9.

A case concerning the disappearance of the anchorperson was regis-

tered at the Civil Lines police station, where unidentified persons and police officials were named as suspects in his “abduction.”

During the hearing on Monday, Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti inquired about the progress made in the case. Anwar said the journalist was not wanted by the police and that no traces of him were found in any police station across the country. He further mentioned that the agencies had requested a police van. In response, the judge suggested that he could summon the intelligence agencies to provide their response.

Anwar requested the court to seek a response from the secretaries of the interior and defence ministries, directing them to assist the police in this matter. He also said the police had reached out to the Ministry of Interior but had not yet received a reply.

Pakistan General Cosmetics Authority bill approved to regulate cosmetics industry ISLAMABAD GHULAM ABBAS

g GLOBAL COSMETIC MARKET CURRENTLY VALUED AT $341B

In an effort to address the challenges faced by the cosmetics industry in Pakistan and to regulate the import/export and business of general cosmetics, the government has approved the draft bill for the establishment of the first ever Pakistan General Cosmetics Authority under the Ministry of Science and Technology.

During a recent meeting of the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Science and Technology, the committee recommended approving “The Pakistan General Cosmetics Bill, 2023” moved by James Iqbal MNA, with certain amendments.

As per details, in the absence of a regulatory body there were problems in marketing, manufacturing, exporting, and importing general cosmetics products. There was a need for a separate authority to regulate the complex business of the cosmetics sector and to generate revenue to support the industry’s growth on a global scale. The global cosmetic market, currently valued at $341 billion, is expected to reach $560 billion by 2030, with a compound annual growth rate of 5.1 percent from 2021 to 2030.

As per officials the proposed Pakistan General Cosmetics Authority bill would be responsible for regulating the import/export, manufacture, storage, distribution, and sale of general cosmetics in Pakistan under the administrative control of the Ministry. The draft bill was of the view that the cosmetic industry is a rapidly growing global sector and legislation is crucial to generate revenue and promote the industry’s growth in Pakistan.

Currently, the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) oversees the standards of domestically produced cosmetic products. However, due to its possible implications on health and the nature of sourcing (import/export), the subject requires oversight by other ministries and departments. With the approval of the draft bill for the Pakistan General Cosmetics Authority, the government aims to enhance the regulation and growth of the cosmetics industry, ensuring consumer safety and boosting the industry’s contribution to the national economy.

According to a report, the skincare segment in Pakistan alone was valued at $ 709.70m in 2022 and is expected to grow by 2.58% annually. The majority of revenue share (70%) is of facial products, followed by body care solutions.

Pakistan Cosmetics Market includes major categories like Skin & Sun Care Products, Hair Care Products, Deodorants, Fragrances, Makeup/Color Cosmetics and others.

OGDCL to fuel Pakistan’s energy needs with new gas and oil production

OGDCL'S BETTANI FIELD PREPARES TO DELIVER ENERGY BOOST TO PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD

AHMADANI

AHMAD

Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) is gearing up efforts to commence gas production of 10 Million Standard Cubic Feet per Day of gas and 1,000 barrels per day of oil from Wali exploration block, also known as the Bettani field, located in F.R. Laki, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa from the next month of June 2023.

As per details, OGDCL, the leading Exploration and Production company in Pakistan, holds 100% working interest in the field and estimates the recoverable reserves to be approximately 13 million barrels of oil and 219 billion cubic feet of gas. This translates to an equivalent of 55 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOEs). The early production facilities at Bettani-1 have been developed by OGDCL to expedite the commencement of gas and oil production from the field. The facility is expected to produce 10 million standard cubic feet per day (MMscf/d) of gas and 1,000 barrels per day (BPD) of oil. Additional wells are being drilled in the area to fully tap into the field’s potential. According to sources in the petroleum division, the gas produced from Bettani field will be tied into the SNGPL network in June 2023. This connection will allow for additional development potential of up to 50 MMscf/d. OGDCL’s aggressive installation of processing and production infrastructure in Baluchistan and KPK, particularly in Jhal Magsi and Bettani, will further facilitate the development of future exploratory discoveries in these regions.

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Cabinet approves MoU with Saudi Arabia to help boost IT

g CABINET GREENLIGHTS GAME-CHANGING IT PARTNERSHIP WITH SAUDI ARABIA

ISLAMABAD AHMAD AHMADANI

The Federal Cabinet, through circulation of summary, has granted its approval for the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia to promote information technology and drive digital transformation. The Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication in Pakistan, in collaboration with the state agency responsible for foreign cooperation in the ICT sector in Saudi Arabia, is set to establish a strategic

partnership that will foster innovation, advance digital infrastructure, and boost the digital economies of both nations. According to sources, the federal cabinet’s approval on the summary of the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication was secured through circulation of the summary. According to the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication, the primary objective of the MoU is to enhance bilateral cooperation in the field of information and communication technology (ICT). Through this partnership, Pakistan and Saudi Arabia seek to accelerate the pace of digital transfor-

mation, empower digital innovation, and lay the foundation for robust digital infrastructure based on principles of equity and mutual benefit. The collaboration will encompass various areas of mutual interest, including the digital economy, connectivity, ICT capacity building, academia, startup ecosystem, venture capital, e-governance, and emerging technologies such as Artificial Intelligence, Internet of Things, Robotics, cloud computing, gaming, and blockchain. To bring this initiative to fruition, all necessary formalities outlined in the rules of Business 1973 have been duly completed.

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