Epaper_23-06-03 ISB

APCC THUMBS UP TO RS2.6TR DEVELOPMENT OUTL AY FOR F Y24

The Meeting of the Annual Plan Coordination Committee (APCC) was held under the chairmanship of the Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives/Deputy Chairman (Chair), Planning Commission on Friday Officials of Provincial Governments State Bank of Pakistan and Federal Ministries/Divisions attended the meeting The Chair informed the participants that APCC is a forum that is indicative of the government s development and public investment plan for the prospective fiscal year

Afterwards the Minister for Planning, Development and Special Initiatives highlighted that the government inherited an economy facing a number of challenges on external and internal fronts causing massive fiscal constraints

Imran Khan, wife summoned by NAB in £190 million scam

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

about economic performance achieved during fiscal year 2022-23 and growth projections for fiscal year 2023-24 He informed that the economy is expected to grow at 3 5% with sectoral growth of 3 5% in agriculture, 3 4% in industries and 3 6% in services

As per the next year s Annual Development Plan, the inflation rate would be brought down from 29 2 per cent to 21 per cent; the national savings to be increased from

In a significant development the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has summoned former Prime Minister Imran Ahmed Khan Niazi and his wife Bushra Imran Khan for questioning in a highprofile £190 million transfer scam case

The summons issued by NAB dated 1st June 2023 directed both former premier and former first lady to appear in person on June 7 2023 to join the investigation regarding the alleged financial irregularities The case revolves around freezing approximately £20 million by the United Kingdom s National Crime Agency (NCA) on December 14, 2018, from the bank accounts of two Pakistani nationals Ahmad Riaz Malik and Mubashra Ali Malik who is the wife of Ahmad Ali Ali Riaz The frozen funds were seized under the UK s Proceeds of Crime Act 2002

momentum Ministries/Divisions initially demanded over Rs 2 6 trillion for projects, but due to fiscal constraints, the essential requirement of funds was taken up with Finance However the provisional size of the PSDP was indicated at Rs 700 billion with an additional Rs 200 billion through the PPP mode Challenges faced during the formulation of the PSDP include rising throw-forward, additional demands, burden of provincial projects of devolved nature, SDGs and austerity measures

Ministries/divisions were guided to prioritize core national projects adhere to approved projects fund projects with high expenditure for timely completion prioritize federal projects over provincial projects propose foreign-funded projects with adequate rupee cover, clear pending liabilities, and follow approved procedures for project financing

After adjustments and pre-APCC meetings the proposed PSDP for 2023-24 was slightly adjusted with allocations specified for different sectors

The sector-wise summary of the proposed PSDP includes allocations for infrastructure social sectors special areas, merged districts, science & IT, governance, production sectors, ERRA, and others The sectoral strategy and priorities for the PSDP include aligning with development frameworks, prioritizing the power sector, promoting industrial linkages and infrastructure modernization conserving and augmenting water resources focusing on social sectors fostering innovation and research, balanced regional development, and launching development initiatives for backward/poor districts

New initiatives for PSDP 2023-24 include projects related to floods, governance, social sectors, innovation, artificial intelligence youth initiatives/internships and regional balanced development The proposed allocations for ministries/divisions Pakistan Development Fund and VGF for PPP/BOT projects are provided, along with the allocation for provincial ADPs The Ministry of PD&SI has made efforts to accommodate ongoing and new development projects for timely completion and benefit to the people of Pakistan

Panama Papers probe: SC fixes JI’s 2016 plea for hearing on June 9

ISLAMABAD

A two-member bench of the Supreme Court will take up a petition filed by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Ameer Sirajul

Haq on

Therefore he advised Provincial Governments and Federal Ministries/Divisions to use caution and efficiency in devising their development projects He also informed participants that the Ministry of Planning, Development & Special Initiatives has worked out a 5Es strategy (Exports E-Pakistan Environment Energy Equity) which should serve as a guiding post for designing our development program He added that Annual Plan 2023-24 and PSDP 2023-24 shall focus on prioritizing projects at advanced stage and token allocation should also be avoided

Later the Chief Economist apprised participants

for revival of growth during 2023-24

The Chief Economist presented an economic outlook for 2023-24 which he said shall result in orderly rebalancing between economic growth current and fiscal account balances However he also raised cautions about global slowdown increased interests in developed countries, and elevated commodity prices may hinder our economic plans

Budget FY 2023-24 must be expor ts’ boosting, youth welfare- oriented: PM

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday directed that projects which ensure import substitutions expanding export volume and bringing innovation in various sectors should be included in the upcoming development budget

He also directed to allocate special funds in the development programme for the welfare and development of the country’s youth Chairing a meeting review the budget proposals with respect to the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) 2023-24 here he said that in the upcoming budget projects relating to higher education professional training and job creation for the youth must be added in the programme Premier Shehbaz Sharif also asked for the establishment of Pakistan Endowment Fund to provide higher education to the youth The laptop pro-

gramme should also be included in the upcoming PSDP to distribute free laptops among the top performing students to equip them with the modern technology skills, he added

He said through the endowment fund, the youth should be given professional and higher education besides skilled based training in IT sector Special importance should be given to merit and transparency while providing scholarships and education to the youth, he stressed

The prime minister directed to continue the projects initiated under the Kissan Package while renewable energy projects should also be made part of the development budget He also directed to allocate special funds in the upcoming budget for projects to bring innovation in the energy sector He said all the slow moving ongoing projects under the PSDP that had lost their importance should be removed from the development budget

IMF programme strays far ther as fund rejects Pakistan’s request to lower loan requirements

NO OPTION OTHER

Ever since the IMF mission completed its field visit to Pakistan in March the country awaits the next tranche by the fund In the follow up Pakistan has fulfilled a number of conditions by the fund, however, the country still seems to have remained noncompliant on the conditions set by the fund

the internal politics of Pakistan

Subsequently, on August 12, 2019, the NCA froze an additional £199 7 million held in the bank accounts of Malik Riaz, along with a property located at 1 Hyde Park Place under the same act According to NAB these frozen funds were intended to be repatriated to the national exchequer of Pakistan as specified in a note dated December 2 2019 However, instead of transferring the funds to the state, they were allegedly dishonestly and maliciously adjusted against the liability of Bahria Town Ltd Karachi (BTLK) The funds were transferred to a designated account meant for depositing the liability of BTLK

Further investigation revealed that on November 25 2019, foreign inward remittances amounting to PKR 23,337,618,717 were received from the UK, followed by £20,006,895 on November 26, 2019, and £34,498,795 on May 11 2022 These funds were reportedly deposited into the designated account for BTLK subsequently used for adjusting the liability of the company The NAB notice alleges that Imran Khan as the Prime Minister at the time, chaired a cabinet meeting on December 3, 2019, where the note and a deed of confidentiality were presented and approved without addressing the concerns raised by some cabinet members The approval was given to extend undue benefits to Bahria Town Ltd allowing them to become the beneficiary of the funds instead of transferring them to the State of Pakistan

Elahi arrested again despite getting bail in graft case

LAHORE

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The Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) rearrested PTI President Pervez Elahi from outside a Lahore court moments after he got discharged in the graft case sources said on Friday Sources said the anti-corruption watchdog would shift the PTI leader to Gujranwala directorate as he had been wanted in another case lodged in the city

party in the petition

In its petition Jamaat-e-Islami has prayed to the top court to direct the federation to initiate an inquiry into the Panama Leaks under Article 184(3) of the Constitution without mentioning the name of any politician or businessman, alleged to be involved in establishing offshore companies

The JI ameer submitted that: “A large number of persons many of them holders of public offices were also allegedly involved in the commission of said offences and had not mentioned in the details of their assets about their investments through offshore companies, so all such holders of public offices were liable to be disqualified from their offices and also be punished accordingly ”

Pakistan

Talking about the said conditions the state minister for finance and revenue Dr Ayesha Ghous Pasha, said that the only option that Pakistan had was resuming its IMF program She said this in a policy statement to the National Assembly s Standing Committee on Finance

When asked about an alternative to the IMF program, in case it does not come through, Dr Pasha said that Pakistan has no Plan B other than the IMF

It is important to note that despite what Dr Aisha Ghous says, the finance minister Ishaq

Dar claimed earlier this week that Pakistan will make do with or without the IMF program

While talking to businessmen, Ishaq Dar was of the opinion that Pakistan’s external financing is in order In fact a few days earlier it was the Minister of State on Finance and Revenue, Dr Pasha herself who said that the IMF should not be meddling in

Dr Aisha Ghous Pasha in her statement revealed that due to the current account deficit numbers, the fund had asked Pakistan to provide assurance for $6 billion from bilateral sources Pakistan has been pushing for giving an assurance of $3 billion (that it has already done), before the staff level agreement and the remaining $3 billion after However, as revealed by media sources the fund is firm on its stance and has rejected this proposal

Dr Pasha has also stated that Pakistan has shared a version of the upcoming budget, broadly in line with IMF guidelines with the fund This shows Pakistan s willingness to play the long game with the IMF The end of the current IMF program is near; however, no development on the 9th review has been made public Whether Pakistan is able to secure an IMF bailout for the upcoming years remains strongly contingent upon the current IMF programme

Meanwhile, ACE Director General Suhail Zafar Chatha said the department would move the court against the verdict announced by the Lahore court “The verdict has been announced in contrast to the merit ” he added Earlier the court had ordered the release of the PTI leader if he had not been wanted in any other case Judicial magistrate Ghulam Murtaza Virk announced the verdict which was reserved earlier Mr Elahi was brought to court in an armoured vehicle amid tight security while his family members, including son Rasikh Elahi were present in the court

The anti-corruption team has sought 14-day physical remand of the senior politician in order to interrogate him in the case The judge announced the decision after hearing arguments from both sides

Speaking to media outside the court, the former Punjab chief minister said he was innocent and a “supporter of Pakistan Army” In a message to the party workers, he asked them to stand firm and did not lose courage

Earlier a Lahore district court has reserved its verdict on the Anti-Corruption Establishment s (ACE) plea seeking a 14-day physical remand of Elahi in a corruption case

During the hearing presided by Judicial Magistrate Ghulam Murtaza government counsel Ghulam Salahuddin asserted that the remand was required as further investigation was needed to be conducted from Elahi

Meanwhile Elahi s counsel Advocate Rana Intizar argued that none of the fake and bogus documents that his client had allegedly prepared were presented to the court Meanwhile talking informally to reporters at a Lahore district court, PTI President Chaudhry Parvez Elahi has reiterated that he is in the party and will remain in it

He said “I will not hold any conference The root of all this disturbance is Mohsin Naqvi I did not make any political cases against anyone The one having this atrocity done to me is Mohsin Naqvi God-willing I am in the PTI and will remain in it They (the government) are doing evil and will suffer the same,” he added

to begin bar ter trade with Afghanistan, Iran and Russia

A significant development happened today in terms of Pakistan’s trade relations Making substantial progress in trade alliances with Iran and Syria the government of Pakistan has announced the implementation of barter trade agreements

The Ministry of Commerce has introduced Business to Business (B2B) Barter Trade Mechanism 2023 This will enable Pakistan to engage in mutually beneficial exchanges with these countries Under the new rules Pakistan will be

able to export a wide range of goods to Afghanistan Iran and Russia Pakistan s agricultural sector will largely benefit from this With the export of meat, fruits, vegetables, and rice to these countries Pakistan will be able to demonstrate the quality and variety of its produce to the international market Additionally Pakistan s textile industry will gain a competitive edge by exporting textile products Pakistan will also import other items such as perfumes, cosmetics, surgical instruments and cutlery to these lucrative markets Furthermore Pakistan will export

sports equipment to Iran and Afghanistan as a result of this agreement The ability to export this will facilitate the growth of the national sports equipment industry at large It will also strengthen sports-related trade ties and foster sporting collaborations among the countries

In return Pakistan will import essential commodities from Iran Russia and Afghanistan, including crude oil, LNG, and LPG- fulfilling its energy requirements This strategic barter system will not only ensure a steady supply of energy resources but also contribute to reducing the country’s dependence on traditional trading methods

Pakistan can also import other items from Iran such as chemical products fertilisers, fruits, vegetables, and spices This will broaden the country s market access Russia’s inclusion in the barter trade framework opens up more opportunities for Pakistan The country will import crude oil LNG LPG wheat pulses and industrial machinery from Russia This diversified import spectrum will support Pakistan s industrial growth, meet agricultural demands, and enhance the overall economic landscape The Ministry of Commerce’s Special Revenue Order (SRO) also highlighted the inclusion of minerals metals coal fruits

vegetables pulses and oil seeds in the barter system with Afghanistan These imports will supplement Pakistan s domestic requirements and foster regional trade cooperation

It is pertinent to mention that this breakthrough in barter trade regulations among Pakistan Iran Afghanistan and Russia marks a significant milestone in economic cooperation It is expected to boost bilateral relations, strengthen trade ties, and create new opportunities for growth in multiple sectors The move aligns with Pakistan’s vision for enhanced regional connectivity and economic development signalling a promising future for trade between these nations

g UNDER NEW RULES, PAKISTAN WILL BE ABLE TO EXPORT A WIDE RANGE OF GOODS TO AFGHANISTAN, IRAN, AND RUSSIA

g

THAN IMF, SAYS DR AISHA PA SHA

P M L E AV E S F O R T U R K I Y E T O AT T E N D I N A U G U R AT I O N

C E R E M O N Y O F P R E S I D E N T E R D O G A N

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

PRIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday evening left for Turkiye to attend the oath-taking ceremony of President Recep Tayyip Erdogan for a third term, scheduled to be held in Ankara on Saturday (tomorrow)

PM Shehbaz Sharif is paying the twoday visit on the invitation extended by President Recep Tayyip Erdogan Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan Dr Mehmet Paçaci bade farewell to the prime minister upon his departure for Turkiye

Last Sunday, Turkish President Recep

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin

Naqvi Friday sought a plan to improve health facilities in major hospitals of Punjab

During a special meeting, he directed the health secretary to submit the plan for providing healthcare services within seven days A comprehensive plan will be made to provide all the necessary facilities at hospitals and carry out constructions and repairs, it was briefed during the meeting

“Hospitals will be shifted from old buildings to new ones Biomedical machines medical equipment and other facilities will also be provided in major hospitals it was stated during the briefing

The meeting agreed on the proposal

Tayyip Erdogan won a historic runoff election that extended two decades of his transformative rule until 2028

“Leaving for Türkiye today at the invitation of my brother, H E President

Recep Tayyip Erdogan to attend his inauguration ceremony the premier said in a tweet on Friday

I w i l l c o n v e y o u r w a r m e s t g r e e t i n g s t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o n b e h a l f o f t h e government and people of Pakistan on his r e - e l e c t i o n T h e f r a t e r n a l t i e s b e t w e e n P a k i s t a n a n d T ü r k i y e a r e s e t t o d e e p e n further in line with our shared resolve and common destiny he said T h e P M w e n t o n t o a d d t h a t t h e

upcoming council meeting would provide the right avenue to take the momentum of the two countries strategic partnership forward

“We have yet to unlock the potential of our multifaceted relationship and efforts are being made in that direction

The Foreign Office spokesperson in a statement said the Prime Minister will convey warm felicitations on behalf of the government and people of Pakistan to President Erdogan

He will also extend an invitation to Turkish President to attend the 7th Meeting of the High-Level Strategic Cooperation Council in Islamabad

CM Naqvi directs for improved health facilities in major Punjab hospitals

s f u r t h e r stated during the briefing Officers concerned attended the meeting Provincial Minister for Specialised Healthcare and Medical Education Dr Javed Akram participated in the meeting through a video link CM CALLS LDA GOVERNING BODY MEETING Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi has called a meeting of the governing body of the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) today The officers concerned will attend the meeting

Fawad Ch working on ‘minus-one formula’: Zubair

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) leader Muhammad Zubair stated that former federal minister Fawad Chaudhry and his associates are working on the minus-one – minus PTI chief from politics – formula ” During conversation with a private Tv news channel, Muhammad Zubair –referring to the May 9 riots – said that PTI workers were not prepared to go to that extent They were not supporting Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief s statements He said that the political situation has drastically changed after May 9 riots, adding that, PTI leaders understand that PTI chief have to steps back, so the party will move forward ” He said that the former PTI leader Jahangir Tareen group is also active he claimed that the PTI is now divided into factions some joined Pakistan People s Party (PPP) while some politicians want to form a separate party While responding to a question, he said that, If we give tickets to PTI members again, it will cause loss to the PML-N Previously, 20 tickets were allotted to PTI members, 16 of them lost giving tickets to the politicians leaving PTI will also affect the PML-N s vote bank

SC judges plant saplings on cour t premises to dismiss

‘division in judiciar y’

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t Judges of the Supreme Court, including Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial and senior puisne judge Qazi Faez Isa participated in a plantation ceremony on court premises on Friday to dismiss the impression of division in judiciary and show solidarity A pleasant conversation between the CJP and Justice Isa also reportedly took place during the plantation In addition to the two, Justice Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Athar Minallah were also in attendance The judges prayed after planting flowers together CJP Bandial prayed May Allah bless everyone and [in particular] our institution

Earlier, the CJP had lamented that efforts were being made from outside to divide the judiciary

However, little had been done to combat the atmosphere of mistrust among the SC judges Isa issues clarification denies creating ‘separate group’ Later in the evening Justice Isa issued a clarification to reject some reports in the media that he did not greet the chief justice or shake his hand at the ceremony Mr Justice Iqbal Hameed Ur Rahman took oath as the Chief Justice of the Federal Shariat Court yesterday (1 June 2023)

Immediately after the conclusion of the ceremony I went first to greet and congratulate his wife where I met Mr Justice Umar Ata Bandial and greeted him

Then I proceeded to greet Justice Rahman he wrote Later, I went to talk to Dr Syed Muhammad Anwer, a former Aalim Judge of the FSC, when Mr Justice Bandial came to greet him too Someone recorded this moment, and incorrectly added that I had not greeted Justice Bandial even though just a few minutes earlier I had done so Justice Rahman s wife wanted to introduce me to some of her family members which was the reason I turned, he added The judge of the top court said that some eroneous interpretations have appeared in the media of the events at the ceremony “I request that factually incorrect stories should not be propagated as they cause unnecessary and avoidable misgivings and harm My family and I can attest to the pain of being the brunt of sponsored false stories in the recent past, he wrote, quoting a verse from the Holy Quran, “Ascertain its truthfulness carefully (before you spread it) lest you harm people through your own ignorance’ (Al-Qur ’an 49:6)” Justice Isa further shrugged off the impression of divisions in the top judiciary It is also factually incorrect to add in the same breath that I have intentionally created a separate group within the Supreme Court

O mar condemns raids on Mushtaq Ghani, Momina, Haji S aleh’s residences

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Secretary General Omar

Ayub Khan strongly condemned the police raids on the homes of Speaker Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly

Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani former PTI MPA Momina Basit and of PTI President Hazara Region Haji Saleh

Mohammad adding that such fascism would have not happened ever in Hitler Nazi Germany

In a statement on Friday, Omar Ayub Khan said that the police raided the residence of Mushtaq Ahmad Ghani for the third time in Abbottabad

He said that police questioned his personal employees adding that PTI workers and leaders were being targeted all over the country

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Islamabad police on Friday submitted its report to Anti-Terrorism Court in case regarding the supardari of the vehicle of PTI s head Imran Khan in matter pertaining to riot and vandalizing in the Judicial Complex Islamabad

The report said that the accused

Omar stated that the government did not care about sanctity of the constitutional post of the Speaker at fascism was at its peak

Similarly he said that police raided former MPA Momina Basit s residence in Abbottabad and questioned her personal employees Omar stated that police violated sanctity of the four walls

PTI Secretary General went on to say that the police also raid on the house of PTI President Hazara Region Haji Saleh Mohammad at 1o clock last night adding that the police took away his younger son who was later released with the message that Haji Saleh Muhammad should have to appear in two days or else the police would arrest his brothers and children

Omar stated that such fascism would not have happened even in Hitler ’s Nazi Germany

i n v o l v e d i n r i o t a n d v i o l e n c e w e r e s i t t i n g o n t h e v e h i c l e o f P T I s chairman The Shalimar police had taken the vehicle into its custody Imran Khan’s lawyer Mirza Asim said that the vehicle of his client went out of order on the last hearing and he departed on another vehicle H e s a i d t h a t t h e a u t h o r i t y l e t t e r o f t h e o w n e r o f t h e v e h i c l e w a s

a v a i l a b l e a n d p r a y e d t h e c o u r t t o issue directives for the release of the vehicle AT C J u d g e R a j a J a w a d A b b a s , h e a r i n g t h e c a s e r e m a r k e d t h a t t h e vehicle couldn’t be returned until the a p p e a r a n c e o f t h e o w n e r o f t h e vehicle The court summoned the investigation officer of the case along with the record tomorrow

C JP Bandial constitutes arbitration law review body

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Chief Justice of Pakistan Umar Ata Bandial on Friday formed an Arbitration Law Review Committee taking into account the gaps in the existing legal framework on mediation of cases that were domestic in nature, absence of adjudication friendly rules and time-consuming procedures

According to an SC statement the project is an initiative of the Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan

The committee is mandated to analyse the existing legislation on the arbitration in Pakistan and recommend suitable measures including holistic laws aligned with international and regional best practices on the subject Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah, an SC judge, who is the chairman of the Arbitration Law Review Committee convened its first meeting on Thursday at the top court

Other members of the body senior SC lawyer Muhammad Makhdoom Ali Khan; another top court advocate

Feisal Hussain Naqvi; Law and Justice Commission of Pakistan

Secretary Riffat Inam Butt; Board of Investment Islamabad Executive Director General and Additional Secretary Muhammad Khashih-urRehman; and of law and justice ministry s Senior Legislative Adviser Ambreen Abbasi; also participated in the huddle The committee examined the gaps in the prevailing legal framework Considering the international best practices and regional experiences it expressed the need to update and modernise the existing laws with the

BoK’s IT system failure disrupts gov t employees’ salar y payment

PESHAWAR a z z B u n e R i

Government employees in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa are facing difficulties as the IT system failure at the Bank of Khyber (BoK) has disrupted salary payments This marks the third instance in the past three months where the IT system failure has inconvenienced customers, including government employees and private institutions relying on the bank for financial transactions Despite the bank’s expenditure of over 800 million rupees on the system system crashes persist causing significant inconvenience to account holders The continuous failures have led to the transfer of many significant account holders to other banks, impacting the bank s profits over the past fiscal year The bank also incurred additional expenses by relocating its IT system to Islamabad The poor performance of the bank and its failure to provide satisfactory services to account holders have raised concerns among three independent directors on the BoK s Board of Directors: Asad Ali Shah, Tahir Javed, and Javed Hashmat They have attributed the crisis to the Managing Director of the bank and expressed their objections regarding the bank’s underperformance governance issues and management concerns In a letter addressed to KP Chief Minister the three directors representing the majority of shareholders, have raised their concerns and urged immediate attention from other significant shareholders They emphasized that the issues at hand cannot be resolved solely at the board level necessitating the involvement of major shareholders Despite previous concerns raised by the board members in August no action was taken by the previous PTI government The financial performance of the BoK in the industry has been disappointing, with a 62% decline in profits amounting to 420 million rupees compared to the approved budget for the fiscal year 2021 Efforts to contact the Managing Director Muhammad Ali Gul Afridi for comments on the matter have been unsuccessful

Haleem Adil appointed PTI Sindh President ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t S e n i o r l e a d e r P a k i s t a n Te h r e e k - e - I n s a f ( P T I ) H a l e e m A d i l S h e i k h h a s b e e n a p p o i n t e d a s P r e s i d e n t o f P T I S i n d h w i t h i m m e d i a t e e ff e c t S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l P T I O m a r Ay u b K h a n o n F r i d a y i s s u e d t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n o f H a l e e m A d i l S h e i k h s a p p o i n t m e n t a s P T I S i n d h P r e s i d e n t T h e S e c r e t a r y G e n e r a l o f P T I h a s i s s u e d t h e n o t i f i c a t i o n w i t h t h e a p p r o v a l o f C h a i r m a n P T I I m r a n K h a n

Another prime suspect involved in May 9 riots identified

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

contemporary international legal framework on arbitration and mediation

The body resolved to meet the specific timelines to meet its mandate and for that purpose adopt a holistic approach for drafting a new legislation which would cater for the domestic and international arbitration requirements The new legislation would also be shared with the stakeholders including the government private sector academia and legal fraternity The committee emphasised the need for training of judges legal practitioners subject experts, members of the chambers of commerce, etc The body also c o n s i

To encourage foreign investment as well as to inspire the confidence of the corporate and commercial sector the committee also recommended the establishment of an arbitral center with ownership of the State for providing services to the parties for amicable settlements of their disputes

Thid initiative the committee observed would enhance investors confidence and generate a conducive environment for economic activity in Pakistan

Additionally, it would also help the general public to resolve their disputes swiftly eventually reducing the case load on courts The meeting concluded with the resolve to complete the project by the end of the year

The investigators identified another prime suspect involved in the Jinnah House attack case on Friday According to the details, a video came to light in which the suspect identified as Nazim Abbas can be seen vandalizing the government and military property as well as played a key role in the May 9 riots Nazim Abbas is a political representative of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) from PP-95 of Chiniot and resides in Nisar Colony, Lahore The suspect actively participated in the violent protests during the May 9 events in an aggressive and provocative manner while remaining at the forefront in vandalism and attacks government installations Nazim Abbas, played a significant role in the May 9 incidents by inciting anti-army slogans and leading other miscreants His actions fueled their aggression and contributed to the overall unrest during that time It is crucial to note that efforts are currently underway to identify all other individuals involved in the May 9 incident The authorities are diligently working towards bringing those responsible to justice and ensuring that such acts of violence and disturbance are properly addressed

Police submit repor t in Imran Khan’s vehicle ‘supardari ’ c ase

L H C , AT C E X T E N D B A I L T O P T I C H I E F I N Z I L L E

S

H A H M U R D E R , M AY 9 R I O T S C A S E S

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

THE Lahore High Court (LHC) on Friday extended bail of PTI chief Imran Khan in Zille Shah murder case till June 6 as the former prime minister joined the probe and recorded his statement with the police

The order was issued by Justice Anwarul Haq Pannun as the court took up the former prime minister s bail petition in the case linked to concealing facts and evidence about the death of a PTI worker, Zille Shah, in a road accident

Earlier, the LHC had granted Imran bail in the case till June 2

During the brief hearing the judge asked the investigating officer (IO) if Imran had been made part of the investigations into the

murder to which the latter replied that the PTI chief had not yet joined the probe

The court then ordered the IO to record Imran’s statement after the hearing “Ask him whatever questions you want to ”

Justice Pannun said Here, the government s counsel said that the statement could not be recorded in the presence of the petitioner ’s lawyers “Will you answer the questions they ask

C h i n e s e g i a n t s t r i ve s t o e a s e

Pa k i s t a n ’s p o we r c h a l l e n g e s

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Chinese giant will continue to strives easing Pakistan’s power challenges China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Friday China Electric Power Equipment and Technology Co Ltd (CET) has made many viable plans in terms of CPEC and other issues to make the energy crisis in Pakistan a thing of the past through the implementation of them When it comes to energy crisis, until 2017 it was believed that Pakistan’s economy would be included in the twenty largest economies of the world in a few years However this has not happened yet-energy crisis in Pakistan as the crucial factor This crisis occurs again and again which causes severe damage especially to the power sector Now the question arises: why this energy crisis occurs in Pakistan which particularly disturbs the power sector?

Minor girl raped in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

An 8-year-old Afghan girl was sexually assaulted by a man in broad daylight in Shahzad Town area, police said on Friday The suspect managed to escape even in the presence of Mohallah Diprian residents The minor victim was shifted to a hospital where the medico-legal official confirmed the rape A case was registered against the unidentified rapist under sections 376 and 377/B of the Pakistan Penal Code on the complaint of the victim s father The girl told the family that she was playing near her house when she was dragged by the stranger into an under-construction house and assaulted her Police constituted teams to get a clue about the suspect

Budget F Y 2023-24 must be expor ts’ boosting, youth welfare-oriented: PM

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All stakeholders of the relevant sectors and the allied parties should be consulted before including any development project in the budget and their proposals should also be considered the prime minister directed Earlier the meeting was briefed in detail about the proposals for adding new projects in the upcoming fiscal year and progress on the ongoing projects It was informed that as per the direction of the prime minister, projects related to the agriculture sector, renewable energy higher education for youth professional training and job raising schemes would be important part of the development budget The meeting was further told that the IT sector development and export boosting projects would also be part of the development budget Shehbaz Sharif was informed that the Prime Minister Kissan Package and Youth Empowerment Programme that were included in the budget 2022-23 were yielding fruits now as over 60 000 youth were being provided internship in various government development projects whereas the production of wheat broke the 10-year record this year The meeting was attended by federal ministers Ishaq Dar, Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, Rana Sanaullah, Rana Tanvir Hussain, Advisor Ahad Khan Cheema, Special Assistants to Prime Minister Malik Ahmad Khan Ataullah Tarrar Jehanzeb Khan and other relevant officials

Sindh tells ECP Karachi mayor to be elected through show of hands

KARACHI

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Sindh government on Friday informed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) that the mayor of Karachi will be elected through a show of hands The clarification from Sindh government comes after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had asked the Sindh Local Bodies Department to inform the electoral watchdog about the process to be adopted for the election of Karachi mayor The provincial government further said that mayor election will take place through a show of hands method in as per Sindh Local Govt Amendment Act Earlier the Election Commission of Pakistan announced the schedule for the mayor and deputy mayor election in Sindh The election of the mayor and deputy mayor will take place on June 15 while the nomination paper can be submitted by June 9-10 The ECP schedule stated that the Returning Officer will check the nomination papers on June 11 and the finalized list of candidates will be released on June 14

Among a series of reasons the most important point is that our power generation system does not match the electricity demand, and this mismatch keeps the electricity price high In addition, Pakistan’s transmission lines are very old and dilapidated due to disrepair making smooth power transmission impossible In this process a lot of electricity has been wasted

Although our systems generate electricity the people cannot get it in time

As a result the people in Pakistan have to suffer the punishment of load shedding while along with the same load shedding, they also have to pay heavy electricity bills Thus when the CPEC project was contemplated the problems of the power sector were kept at the forefront In this context a series of big projects have been started one of which has been completed by CET the Matiari Lahore Transmission Project Through this project, it has been ensured that safety and reliability

you? the judge asked Imran The PTI chief responded by saying: Yes, I am absolutely ready Subsequently, the court extended Imran’s bail till June 6

Following the proceedings the former premier joined the probe and recorded his statement with the police

Earlier Imran arrived at the court amid tight security A video posted on PTI s official Twitter account showed his vehicle surrounded by a huge contingent of security personnel outside the LHC PTI CHIEF APPEARS BEFORE ATC

Prior to the LHC hearing Imran also appeared before a Lahore anti-terrorism case for bail in cases linked to May 9 violence

On May 19, Judge Ijaz Ahmad Buttar had granted bail to the former prime minister in the three cases till June 2, subject to furnishing surety bonds of Rs100 000 each

optimized energy distribution is an important factor in power transmission Capacity of the project to transmit electricity is 35 billion KW hours per annum The most important thing about this project is that it is the first high voltage direct current project in the history of Pakistan, as well as the first project of this kind of private sector in Pakistan, which is built on the principle of boot i e build own operate and transfer This project will be handed over to National Transmission and Dispatch Company Pakistan after 25 years Thanks to this project Southern and Northern grids have been connected to each other It has two convert stations at Matiari and Lahore The convert station at Lahore connects it to the substation at New Lahore which connects this power to the national grid The contract for the construction of the project was signed in May 2018 and the work was started in December 2018 while now the entire maintenance exercise has been carried out since its inception Seven thousand new jobs have been created during this time and the completion of this project in record time has made it clear that Pakistan’s power sector problems can be overcome and resolved very quickly if there is a will After the launch of China’s CPEC China s investment in Pakistan s power sector has reached 21 billion dollars and in this investment

India-trained dacoits using American weapons in Katcha areas of Punjab, NA body told

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The National Assembly Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges on Friday was informed that dacoits in Katcha areas of South Punjab were equipped with modern American weapons and have received training from India”

The Punjab Police officials made the revelations during a meeting of the NA Standing Committee on Rules of Procedure and Privileges chaired by MNA Rana Muhammad Qasim Noon here

The committee’s members were brief about the ongoing operation in the riverine and Katcha areas of Punjab It is to be noted MNA Sardar Riaz Mehmood Khan Mazari had raised a question of privilege against Punjab s top police officials for not handling the deteriorating law and order situation in Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan districts Briefing the committee the Punjab police officials claimed

that over 58 000 acres of land have been successfully cleared from the clutches of dacoits since the commencement of the operation on April 9 this year

However during the briefing concerns were raised about the superior weaponry possessed by the criminals as compared to the Punjab police MNA Noon asked whether the dacoits had acquired the weapons left behind by the the US military in Afghanistan, which police officials confirmed stating that the Punjab police did not possess the same level of weaponry as the dacoits who have access to more advanced and modern firearms

“These dacoits target our personnel from a distance of up to two kilometres and we remain unaware of their exact locations the officials revealed DPO Rajanpur, while addressing the committee, stated, We don t have the same weapons as the dacoits, which is why our casualties are higher ” He requested to be

provided with the same level of advanced weaponry used by the army for at least the Kacha area However, he added that an NOC is required to get possession of such weapons The committee chairman highlighted that the arms abandoned by the Americans in Afghanistan have fallen into the hands of dacoits, the TTP, and anti-state elements The committee directed the secretaries of the Ministries of Defence Production and Interior and the Chairman Wah Cantt to attend the next meeting of the Committee to resolve the police department s and for manufacturing and providing Armed Personnel Carriers (APCs) for the ongoing operaton against dacoits in the katcha areas of Rajanpur and Rahim Yar Khan The Committee also directed the Ministry of Interior and the Ministry of Defence Production to ensure the provision of suitable weaponry to the police, and ensuring that the matter be taken on priority with a report submitted to the Committee within 15 days

Imran K han, wife summoned by NAB in £190 million sc am

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The notice also suggests that Imran Khan obtained material and monetary benefits from BTL under the guise of donations to the Al Qadir University Project Trust, in which he and his wife are trustees Imran Khan had previously been issued a call-up notice on March 2 2023 but failed to appear for the i n q u i r y H e a l s o d i d n o t p r o v i d e t h e r e q u e s t e d d o c u m e n t s a n d i n f o r m a t i o n r a i s i n g f r i v o l o u s objections in his written response Consequently the i n q u i r y w a s c o n v e r t e d i n t o a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n , a n d Imran Khan was served with another call-up notice on May 16, 2023 Despite an interim bail granting order f r o m t h e I s l a m a b a d H i g h C o u r t , d i r e c t i n g h i m t o participate in the investigation Imran Khan did not comply with the notice NAB has now issued a fresh call-up notice to Imran Khan directing him to appear on June 7 2023 to join the investigation, provide the requested documents, and

and other relevant information Non-compliance by Bushra Imran Khan may result in actions under the NAB Ordinance of 1999

The investigation into the £190 million transfer scam case and the alleged involvement of Imran Khan and Bushra Imran Khan is expected to shed light on the complex financial transactions and their connection to Bahria Town Ltd and the Al Qadir University Project Trust The outcome of the investigation will have significant implications for the individuals involved and the political landscape of Pakistan

At hearing began on Friday the judge directed Imran to come to the rostrum I was told the reasons why you are not joining the probe but now you have to become part of the investigation ” he stressed For his part Imran told the judge that there were threats to his life

At that PTI chief s lawyer Salman Safdar said that Imran was ready to join the probe but requested that all the cases should be fixed for hearing on the same day “I will complete the arguments in all three cases,” he assured the court Safdar further requested that all the cases be fixed for hearing on June 20 promising that Imran would join the probe the day court issued the order

Subsequently, Judge Buttar allowed Imran to leave and said that the order will be issued later today

Ex-PTI MNA Jawad Hussain joins PPP

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Ex- MNA of PTI Jawad Hussain has announced to join Pakistan People s Party He made this announcement while addressing a news conference along with Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Faisal Karim Kundi and Special Assistant on Water Resources Mohammad Ali Shah Bacha Islamabad Jawad Hussain said PTI government could not bring any developmental project for erstwhile FATA

Speaking on the occasion Special Assistant on Poverty Alleviation Faisal Karim Kundi said a delegation of PPP visited Radio Pakistan Peshawar He said this is the oldest radio station of Pakistan He said necessary equipment and parts of vehicles were stolen from Radio Pakistan Peshawar on 9th May He said the attack was pre-planned The Special Assistant said PPP has a clear stance of zero tolerance against the perpetrators of 9th May incidents

Consumers face uphill battle against skyrocketing milk prices

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t T h e d a i r y f a r m e r s i n K a r a c h i h a v e r e c e n t l y a n n o u n c e d a n a r b i t r a r y i n c r e a s e i n t h e p r i c e o f m i l k , c a u s i n g c o n c e r n a m o n g t h e r e s i d e n t s o f t h e c i t y T h e p r i c e h i k e , s e t a t R s 1 0 r u p e e s p e r l i t e r, h a s b e e n i m p l e m e n t e d b y t h e d a i r y m a f i a w i t h o u t a n y o ff i c i a l a p p r o v a l T h i s s u d d e n i n c r e a s e i n m i l k p r i c e s h a s l e f t m a n y c i t i z e n s f r u s t r a t e d a n d s t r u g g l i n g t o c o p e w i t h t h e r i s i n g c o s t o f l i v i n g I n v a r i o u s a r e a s o f K a r a c h i , m i l k i s n o w b e i n g s o l d a t a s t a g g e r i n g R s 2 2 0 p e r / l i t e r, w h i c h i s f o r t y r u p e e s h i g h e r t h a n t h e o ff i c i a l l y f i x e d p r i c e o f R s 1 8 0 p e r / l i t e r R e t a i l e r s c a u g h t i n t h e m i d d l e o f t h i s p r i c e s u rg e h a v e s h i f t e d t h e b l a m e o n t o t h e w h o l e s a l e r s c l a i m i n g t h a t t h e y a r e m e r e l y p a s s i n g o n t h e i n c r e a s e d c o s t s H o w e v e r t h e c i t i z e n s a rg u e t h a t w i t h i n f l a t i o n a l r e a d y o n t h e r i s e , t h i s a d d i t i o n a l b u r d e n w i l l m a k e i t e v e n m o r e c h a l l e n g i n g f o r t h e m t o m a k e e n d s m e e t T h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y f o r e n f o r c i n g t h e o ff i c i a l p r i c e o f m i l k l i e s w i t h t h e C o m m i s s i o n e r K a r a c h i a n d h i s t e a m H o w e v e r w h e n c o n t a c t e d f o r a r e s p o n s e r e g a r d i n g t h e p r i c e h i k e t h e c o m m i s s i o n e r s o ff i c e r e m a i n e d u n r e s p o n s i v e w i t h n o o n e s t e p p i n g f o r w a r d t o a d d r e s s t h e c o n c e r n s o f t h e p u b l i c M a n y p e o p l e a r e n o w d e m a n d i n g i m m e d i a t e a c t i o n t o c u r b t h e e x p l o i t a t i v e p r a c t i c e s o f t h e d a i r y m a f i a a n d e n s u r e t h a t m i l k p r i c e s a r e r e g u l a t e d a c c o r d i n g t o t h e o ff i c i a l g u i d e l i n e s

C o u r t s e r v e s n o t i c e s t o

I G P r e g a r d i n g r a i d o n S h e i k h R a s h e e d ’ s h o u s e

I S L A M A B A D S ta f f R e p o Rt

A l o w e r c o u r t o n F r i d a y s e r v e d n o t i c e s t o I G P I s l a m a b a d a n d o t h e r s i n a p e t i t i o n a g a i n s t t h e p o l i c e a n d r a n g e r s ’ r a i d a t t h e h o u s e o f f o r m e r i n t e r i o r m i n i s t e r S h e i k h R a s h e e d A h m e d A d d i t i o n a l S e s s i o n J u d g e Ta h i r S a p r a h e a r d t h e c a s e a n d s o u g h t c o m m e n t s f r o m I G P S S P o p e r a t i o n s a n d S H O o f t h e c o n c e r n p o l i c e s t a t i o n w i t h i n o n e w e e k P e t i t i o n e r s l a w y e r S a r d a r A b d u l R a z z a q s a i d t h a t S H O K o h s a r p o l i c e s t a t i o n a l o n g w i t h p o l i c e p e r s o n n e l e n t e r e d h o u s e o f p e t i t i o n e r a n d i n q u i r e d a b o u t h i m T h e p o l i c e a l s o t o r t u r e d s e r v a n t s o f t h e h o u s e d u r i n g t h e r a i d h e a l l e g e d T h e p o l i c e a l s o t a k e n c u s t o d y o f t w o b u l l e t p r o o f v e h i c l e s g u n a n d o t h e r i t e m s T h e c o u r t s e r v e d n o t i c e s t o t h e r e s p o n d e n t s a f t e r h e a r i n g a rg u m e n t s

I H C s t o p s s h i f t i n g o f d i s t r i c t k a c h e h r i t o n e w c o m p l e x

I S L A M A B A D S ta f f R e p o Rt T h e I s l a m a b a d H i g h C o u r t ( I H C ) o n F r i d a y s t o p p e d t h e s h i f t i n g o f d i s t r i c t c o u r t s t o n e w c o m p l e x t i l l t h e p r o v i s i o n o n b a s i c f a c i l i t i e s i n n e w b u i l d i n g T h e r e g i s t r a r o ff i c e I H C w r o t e a l e t t e r t o t h e s e s s i o n j u d g e s o f t h e l o w e r j u d i c i a r y i n t h i s r e g a r d I s l a m a b a d B a r A s s o c i a t i o n ( I B A ) h a d w r i t t e n a l e t t e r t o t h e r e g i s t r a r a n d e x p r e s s e d r e s e r v a t i o n s o n s h i f t i n g o f l o w e r c o u r t s i n n e w b u i l d i n g T h e b a r h i g h l i g h t e d t h e p r o b l e m s o f p a r k i n g a n d p u b l i c w a s h r o o m s i n n e w b u i l d i n g

D i s a p p e a r a n c e o f a n a c t i v i s t

The police failure to recover ac tivist Jibran Nasir raises many awkward questions

TH E forced disappearance of the human rights activist and lawyer on Thursday, when he was taken away from outside his home in Karachi by men in a telltale white Vigo was made even worse on Friday when the Karachi police denied all knowledge of him and though he returned on Friday evening it was no thanks to the police His abductors vehicle and the way he was returned raised suspicions that he had been picked up by the proverbial agencies However, there seems no reason for them to do so, because while there is a lot of activity because of the May 9 attacks on military installations, he was not involved in any of the attacks He has said that the attackers should not be tried in military courts, but that is hardly a criticism that has not been made by countless others The detention seemed to be a settling of scores of some kind

Someone more closely linked to the PTI TV anchor Imran Riaz Khan, who is actually accused of inciting protests on May 9, has also been missing since his disappearance after May 11 when he was arrested by the Sialkot Police while trying to leave the country The Lahore High Court has repeatedly directed the Punjab Police to produce him, to no avail It is damaging to the reputation of the police to be unable to locate a person Producing a free citizen might cause problems, but learning where anyone is located should be no problem for any SHO who is not monumentally incompetent

The only conclusion possible in both cases is that the concerned police forces were trying to avoid embarrassment, either for themselves or some other organization These unexplained disappearances are being given considerable play abroad, and are thus becoming reasons for the country s being labelled as a violator of human rights in the comity of nations Organizations trying to avoid embarrassment are thus bringing the country into disrepute Worse they are laying the country open to attack from its hostile neighbour to the East The Punjab and Sindh governments should not allow these disappearances to go unexplained, and must ensure that the families of both men at least know where these men are, and that the law is properly followed If either man is required to answer for any crime, he should be made to do so but only in open court and by following due process

the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

N e w P T I

T h e P T I n a m e i s u p f o r g r a b s

HI S TO RY is repeating itself as a new party comes out of the PTI– a new party because a horde of defectors is forging connections with each other to construct a political platform for venting a common expression Whether pre-fix or post-fix, titles being bandied about such as “haqeeqi” (real), “nazriati” (ideological), and so on

Of a new version of the PTI Jahangir Tareen is a bugle (a big brass trumpet aka Tanbay Ka Baja ) to publicize the meeting point: Get assembled for kickstarting a new political excursion Funds are galore and political experience is immense Relive a new version of political life

Any new version may render the old version fight for its sovereign identity The old version may recede to a title such as Imran Khan’s PTI or the PTI-Imran to get itself discerned from the new version which could be the PTI-Tareen– an odd collection of the like-minded, who were victims of the post-May 9 crackdown launched by the state The grievances of the like-minded are two: first, though they were not part of the decision making, they bore the brunt of decisions taken first in Bani Gala and then in Zaman Park; second the PTI Chairman left them in the lurch

E x c e s s i v e s u m m e r h e a t i n a n o v e r- c r o w d e d k o t h r i ( c e l l ) o f j a i l m a d e t h e v a u n t e d e t h e r e a l

i n s a f (justice) spirit fade away Unpurified and u n - c o l d d r i n k i n g w a t e r, u n h y g i e n i c a n d u n - s p i c y f o o d a n d u n c l e a n a n d u n s a n i t a r y t o i l e t s w e r e enough to dissipate the spirit of revolution: making a Sri Lanka in Pakistan

Uncontrolled and unrestrained air attacks of mosquitoes reinforced the lurch Stoicism burst into pieces The refuge was sought in arranging cyclostyled press conferences to declare public dissociation from the PTI-Imran – and graduate to be defectors Post-press conference is the restart of the five-star luxury lifestyle shutting up the factory of churning out dreams of revolts– bringing about retributive revolutions The retreat of retired army generals-turned-political commentators, in the guise of defence analysts, is conspicuous Most have fled from talk shows and have ensconced themselves in the confines of their

extravagant ship-like villas in gated barbed communities Those who dare to appear are laden with the tools of “ifs and buts” before someone shame them for provoking the youth into indecency and disorder which culminated in arson and anarchy on May 9 They wanted civilians to fight against civilians They tried their best to keep on encouraging the insaf ideologues to undercut the incumbent government into collapse Nevertheless, their problem was that they had never seen an emotionally charged mob resorting to frenzied acts and frantic vandalism which eventually engulfed symbols of their own institution Now refuge has been sought in the sanctity of institutional symbols What about the sanctity of the constitution? It was the Government of India Act 1935, which made the argument for a separate homeland, Pakistan possible It has been the constitution first In any emerging political format what the Tareen group has to do is not to repeat the mistakes of the PTI-Imran which had acted as a mother institution to make and train politicians of insaf ideology In fact, the division of the PTI would be the division of insaf ideology The PTI-Tareen has to come up with a cogent palatable understanding of “insaf” to convince the workers who remained motivated to transform society by heating the streets Foul mouthing was the main instrument Burgeoning fake news was another Post-May 9 calm on both electronic and social media is a hiatus of soothing for the otherwise restless nerves

The PTI-Tareen may adopt the motto of making a new Pakistan with a new PTI a PTI which learnt from the mistakes of the PTIImran and which would distance itself from undemocratic and unconstitutional stances Further the PTI-Tareen would be shorn of any obsession of bringing any kind of Arab Spring to Pakistan, which is a democratic constitutional country open to reforms through Parliament and Constitution Post-formation the first expected effort of the PTITareen would be to send its members back to Parliament, from where they had resigned at the behest of their former association, now called the PTI-Imran Though Tareen is yet to get a certificate of legitimacy from the court of law to contest future elections, he is all set to spearhead the movement of normalcy If not all, most def e c t o r s - t u r n e d - d e m o c r a t s would try to establish their democratic credentials by cashing in on the offered political platform

bow to prospects more They will not disappoint an onlooker this time too

As obvious the PTI-Imran is bound to be reduced to the chairman himself followed by the exmembers of the Jamaat-i-Islami, who are mostly relatives of each other, fighting for a shared cause: political eminence They have made the PTI-Imran their own fiefdom Nevertheless the PTI-Imran would get substantial political support from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where the youth abhor the imperious and officious posture of the Army

Even in the public domain, the Army has to establish the relationship between the desecration of symbols and the justification for constituting or running Army cour ts to punish civilians It is a matter of law and not of the ArmyÊs sweet will Listen to the people who say that the Army runs on the taxpayersÊ money: A salaried class cannot rule over the benefactors

Abdul Aleem Khan may also be a founder supported by Chaudhry Mohammad Sarwar This combination must be a temptation for Ch Pervaiz Elahi to join ranks to recover the dream of being the Chief Minister of Punjab and save the skin of his son, Moonis Elahi from corruption charges Politicians are great opportunists They respect principles less and

T h e K h a n P a r a d o x : N a r c i s s i s m , E x c l u s i o n i s m , a n d S h a r e d P s y c h o s i s

How a l e a d e r u s e d h i s p ro b l e m s to b e co m e a l e a d i n g p o l i t i c a l f i g u re

promises are delusions considering his governance as ill-prepared and naive

Recent political dynamics paint a complex picture of Imran Khan s leadership, particularly highlighting his allegedly narcissistic politics and an exclusionist approach that have been sources of contention in Pakistan’s current political climate

PTI chief Imran Khan s transition from a cricketer to a leading political figure was a significant turn With the PTI’s core tenets revolving around anti-corruption and socio-economic justice Khan effectively portrayed himself as an agent of change His populist approach attracted a massive following especially among the youth who saw in him the promise of a Naya Pakistan , or a new Pakistan His brand of politics is characterized by staunch nationalism, progressive socio-economic policies and a pledge to combat corruption

Dr Abid Qaiyum Suleri’s article in the press presents a thought-provoking analysis of protests and their underlying dynamics In response to it, this aims to provide a comprehensive review and analysis, especially on shared psychosis theory ’

Shared psychosis theory, also known as folie à deux posits that individuals can adopt delusions or irrational beliefs through close association with someone who already has a psychotic disorder In the context of politics this theory suggests that political leaders such as Imran Khan can influence the beliefs and perceptions of their followers, potentially leading to shared delusions or distorted views

The shared psychosis theory becomes particularly interesting when applied to the context of Imran Khan s political career Khan s promise of radical change has created an impassioned and devoted following His anti-corruption narrative, commitment to justice, and dream of a ‘Naya Pakistan’ have become deeply ingrained in the psyche of his followers

His rhetoric is powerful and infectious causing his followers to identify closely with his values and vision His narrative has become their narrative; his vision, their vision This phenomenon can be closely compared to the concept of shared psychosis The shared psychosis theory could also potentially explain the polarizing views of Imran Khan among the Pakistani populace His followers passionately defend his policies and decisions attributing any failure to external elements or the corrupt system he is trying to reform Conversely, his view is that

Narcissism at its core is characterized by an excessive self-focus a grandiose view of one s own abilities, and a persistent need for admiration These traits appear to manifest in Khan’s political practices, and such a style of leadership often leads to an echo chamber where dissent is silenced and only those agreeing with the leader s perspective find favor Alongside narcissism Khan has been accused of an exclusionist political approach Exclusionism in politics refers to a strategy or practice that purposely sidelines certain groups or individuals from political processes or decision-making This in essence goes against the principle of inclusive politics

Moreover Khan s alleged propensity to publicly call out leaders by name could be seen as a manifestation of both his reported narcissism and exclusionism By doing so, he potentially belittles and marginalizes those with differing perspectives while promoting his own viewpoint as superior Such behavior might reflect an aspect of militant politics given the confrontational and combative nature of such tactics

In the wake of Imran Khan s arrest on May

9, Pakistan witnessed an outpouring of support for the embattled politician, culminating in protests and attacks orchestrated by his fervent

W h i l e I m r a n K h a n ro s e t o p ow e r w i t h a p ro m i s i n g

ag e n d a , h i s p o l i t i c a l j o u r n ey s t i r r e d c o n s i d e r a bl e c o n t rov e rs y H i s a l l e g e d

n a rc i s s i s t i c t e n d e n c i e s a n d ex cl u s i o n i s t p r a c t i c e s , a s w e l l a s h i s p u r p o r t e d ly

m i l i t a n t a p p ro a ch o f d i r e c t ly n a m i n g a n d c r i t i c i z i n g l e a d e rs , h av e d r aw n b o t h a t t e n t i o n a n d c r i t i c i s m

supporters The dramatic rise in unrest from Khan’s backers particularly the supporters of his political party presents a striking example of how Khan s militant politics has left a profound impact on the nation s political landscape

Following Khan s arrest on corruption charges, thousands of PTI supporters took to the streets in protest The demonstrations, in some cases, devolved into violent confrontations, resulting in attacks on military installations This surge in violence points to a disturbing trend among Khan s supporters who appear to be mirroring his confrontational political style

This is precisely where the concerns about Khan s militant politics come into focus Imran Khan’s speeches often reveal a distinct narrative that showcases a clear ‘Us versus Them’ schema which he skillfully employs in his anti-Islamophobia arguments However a closer look suggests that Khan could be using this serious issue not just as a means to fight for justice but also as a tool for political maneuvering and personal benefit In the world of politics, the ability to construct and communicate a compelling narrative can be a powerful weapon Khan seems to be adept at this using strategies such as generalization victimization polarization and counterfactuality, to accentuate the divide between Muslims and the rest of the world This deliberate framing not only raises awareness about the very real issue of Islamophobia but also galvanizes his supporters and strengthens his political standing While Imran Khan rose to power with a promising agenda, his political journey stirred considerable controversy His alleged narcissistic tendencies and exclusionist practices, as well as his purportedly militant approach of directly naming and criticizing leaders have drawn both attention and criticism

The

The reaction of civilians to the trial of fellow civilians by the Army courts is bound to decide the immediate future of politics The trial would be a blot on the face of democracy and constitutionalism The Army is not entitled to run such courts because its own institution (and associated intelligence agencies) was instrumental in the rise of the PTI (the original version) assemblage of electables (who are today s defectors) and the brainwashing of the youth The unflinching desire for exacting “positive reporting” suppressed the voice of reason and elevated the voice of prejudice and thus made this country come to such an ugly pass Nevertheless, there is no dictionary available to define the term army “installations” the way the term is being defined by the Army Even the notorious Black s Law Dictionary defies the interpretation Secondly, even in the public domain, the Army has to establish the relationship between the desecration of symbols and the justification for constituting or running Army courts to punish civilians It is a matter of law and not of the Army s sweet will Listen to the people who say that the Army runs on the taxpayers money: A salaried class cannot rule over the benefactors The Army has to justify legally and publicly its intent or act of punishing civilians

The writer can be reached at qaisarrashid@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

S e n d y o u r l e t t e r s t o : L e t t e r s t o E d i t o r Pakistan Today 4 - S h a a re y F a t i m a J i n n a h L a h o re P a k i s t a n E - m a i l : l e t t e r s @ p a k i s t a n t o d a y c o m p k L e t t e r s s h o u l d b e a d d re s s e d t o Pakistan Today e x c l u s i v e l y

E I D U L A Z H A is a few weeks away and herds of sacrificial animals would soon start appearing in urban areas, polluting the atmosphere with stink and filth that will go in the lungs along with billions of viruses and bacteria Once the sacrifice is over the leftovers would continue to trouble lives for several weeks thereafter It happens every year, and there is no reason to expect that this year it will be any different It is therefore suggested that the selling and slaughtering of sacrificial animals on city roads, streets, pavements and even keeping them in houses should be prohibited once and for all

Nowhere in the world Eidul Azha is celebrated in such unhygienic manner as we celebrate it in Pakistan All these activities should be strictly prohibited I would suggest buying, selling and slaugh- tering of sacrificial animals should be entrusted entirely to welfare organisations in urban areas Some mosques also arrange mass slaughter of animals and distribute meat for the convenience of the people That should be banned as well After all there is no logic in keeping the animals close to the prayer area and causing disturbance to the faithfuls

It would be more appropriate if this task is assigned to organisations at the district level They should arrange open spaces away from the cities Over there the animals of choice shall be purchased and relevant facilities should be made available for people offering sacrifice

All the work should be done there and people can then take meat home just as it happens elsewhere like say Saudi Arabia This would also help us keep diseases and viruses away For all this to happen, we need laws to be enacted and then implemented That is the only way to keep the country clean and disease-free

DR M QUDRAT-E-KHUDA KARACHI

Let us prepare for monsoons now

P U B L I C memory is said to be short, but one hopes it is not so short as to forget the ravages caused by monsoon rains last year With the risk of extreme weather conditions and heavy rains increasing with time people in Pakistan, and, indeed, the officials of Pakistan have to learn to live with the reality of the climate change phenomenon

Karachi being a coastal city is particularly prone to intense weather patterns, like the current heatwave and the feared monsoon ahead In recent years we have seen an increase in the frequency and severity of extreme weather events that had a devastating impact on the city its infrastructure and its inhabitants

With the monsoon season fast approaching it is important to take proactive measures to mitigate the risks of extreme weather and heavy rain We need to move now rather than waiting for the monsoon to first arrive And this applies to areas and regions across the country

In recent years we have seen the consequences of inaction in the face of extreme weather events, with lives lost, homes destroyed, and communities devastated We cannot afford to let this happen again As society we must come together and take the necessary steps to mitigate the risks and protect our country and its inhabitants

The authorities must take steps to improve drainage system and infrastructure that have been found inadequate in the past Additionally there should be a concerted effort to educate and inform the public about the risks and how to prepare for them

The authorities and the general public need to get ready with the seriousness the matter deserves Let us act now before it gets too late

We cannot afford to wait until disaster strikes before we take action Let us work together to build a more resilient and sustainable future for ourselves

Dr SahibzaDa MuhaMMaD uSMan

Social stratification: A major cause of economic crisis

ing they receive while selling their commodities

The absence of economic prospects for the poor is one of the most serious repercussions of social stratification Unfortunately the wealthy elite dominate the country s economy; in this case landlords rule the economy by owning approximately 31 7 percent of agricultural land They not only exploit it to their advantage, but they also track pricing accordingly They have a significant voice in economic policies since they control the market Regrettably because of their elite alliances in other departments they are also exempted from income taxes creating a void in checks and balances against them

For example the top powerful groups within the state enjoyed tax exemption of about Rs 860 billion in 2019, which particularly includes 25 percent of regulatory duty over imports alone However, according to former finance minister Dr Hafiz Pasha the income tax exemption for trusts and agriculture are two instances; nonetheless it is publicly known who owns these trusts

PA K I S TA N is divided into several socioeconomic classes, with a few rich elites at the top and the great bulk of the people living below the poverty line The country is ruled by many types of elites as rudimentary parts of the government institutions They control wealth resources and power while the poor struggle to make ends meet Because of the elite s control over society and the system Pakistan is unable to implement state-oriented policies that benefit the state and its people; instead, policies are crafted to benefit the elite Resultantly, the gap between the affluent and the poor is widening Unfortunately, this elite domination over institutions has damaged public institutions resulting in increased corruption and damage to government institutions notably law and order of the country

It can be argued that social stratification leads to economic stratification Inequality is a major contributor to the country s economic woes The purpose of this piece is to emphasize social disparity as a cause of Pakistan’s economic catastrophe

The three Ps of Inequality: Power People and Policy published by the United Nations Development Program (UNDP) in Pakistan s National Human Development Report of 2020 describes elite methods of controlling the system The report claims that during the 2017–2018 fiscal year, the productive elites caused economic losses totaling Rs 528 billion, in the industrial sector alone

A total of between Rs 196 billion (banks) and Rs 528 billion (industry) in extractions were attributed to each category of the elite Each was accountable for a Rs 332 billion loss on average In total the groups caused losses of approximately Rs 2 7 trillion in 2017-2018, representing nearly 8 percent of GDP, a staggering amount

Other examples of the pro-elite policy tilt include the imposition of only a 25 percent regulatory duty on imports and the case of money laundering in the real estate industry which is also controlled by the elite Overall this sum could have been generated as tax revenues but was instead foregone because of the low level of taxation placed on their activities and incomes, as well as the favorable pric-

Another effect of social stratification is inequitable resource allocation Rather than investing in sectors that benefit the entire country, the rich elite frequently invest in enterprises and industries that appeal to their interests

As a result there are few development initiatives and a plethora of enterprises that inflate labour capital keeping the impoverished class under the authority of the wealthy Empirical data from the finance division show that the labour force has grown significantly since 2017-2018, rising from 65 5 million to 71 76 million in 2020-21, while the number of employed people increased from 61 71 million to 67 25 million during the same period This leads to a lack of investment in infrastructure healthcare education and other critical services for economic progress

Evidently, 8 6 percent of illiterate teenagers are in the labour force whereas 8 7 percent of children indulged in child labour Unfortunately the concentration of wealth and power in the hands of a few creates an uneven playing field in which the poor have little opportunity for upward mobility

There have been several occasions in the last year where the elites were caught redhanded by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB), but the bulk of them went undiscovered, even while they were engaged in severe corrupt activities like tax evasion and money laundering

tional economy As a result they have access to cheap workers and control over the industrial sector The overabundance of poverty demonstrates that the labour force the lower class is being used for the advantage of the rich

Similarly, a lack of investment in vital sectors of the economy adds to high levels of unemployment and poverty Businesses cannot thrive and the economy cannot expand without proper investment in infrastructure and other key services leaving many people without employment or money This cycle of poverty and unemployment reinforces Pakistan’s economic crises making it impossible for the country to achieve sustainable economic progress

u n t r y ; t h i s w i l l b o o s t e c o n o m i c g row t h a n d h e l p r e d u c e t h e p ov e r t y r a t e , a s m o r e i n d u s t r i e s w i l l b r i n g m o r e e m p l oy m e n t

On the contrary, the lawand-order situation has been substantially harmed because of the elite’s stranglehold over the law Similarly the absence of checks and balances makes it easier for the privileged to continue their corrupt activities This deepens social stratification since the wealthy have better access to the legal system than the lower-status masses Nonetheless, this misfortune results in an indifferent justice system based on class or status

Not only that but they frequently utilize their elite alliances to gain government contracts and other lucrative economic opportunities leaving little opportunity for small enterprises or people to compete and contribute to the na-

As a result of higher levels of inequality in rural settings elites have more influence over community choices and a stronger potential to co-opt prominent

G7 should be shut down

members of the community and in economic terms

whether it be pricing management or border commerce

The example of Abdul Rehman Khetran s private jail and his illegal capture of the people in it is instructive However, this is only a sliver of what has been going on under the elite umbrella

In conclusion, all the above-mentioned roles of the elite, work together to ally and capture the system which ultimately affects the economy It will be absurd to call a single actor responsible for the economic crisis but the elites mentioned have a major contribution in the downfall of the economy of Pakistan On the other hand social stratification is a significant cause of the economic crisis in Pakistan If Pakistan is to overcome its economic crisis, it must address this issue by promoting economic equality and investing in sectors that benefit the entire population and the state Only then can the country achieve sustained economic growth and improve the standard of living for all its citizens The state must enhance accountability departments as Gen Pervez Musharraf did during his tenure to counter corruption, which is the major contributor to economic downfall

Furthermore the government should promote small businesses to end the elite monopoly in the country; this will boost economic growth and help reduce the poverty rate as more industries will bring more employment

Not only this but the federal and provincial governments should undertake stringent measures by training the youth, particularly the working class, with the technical skills so that this becomes useful and productive for the thriving youth of Pakistan

The writer ia a Research Fellow at the Balochistan

Think Tank Network (BTTN) Quetta

COW VIGIL ANTISM

TRICONTINENTAL: INSTITUTE FOR SOCIAL RESEARCH V i j ay P r a S h a D

DU R I N G t h e M a y 2 0 2 3 G r o u p o f S e v e n ( G 7 ) s u m m i t t h e l e a d e r s o f C a n a d a , F r a n c e , G e r m a n y, I t a l y, J a p a n , t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m a n d t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s v i s i t e d t h e H i r o s h i m a P e a c e M e m o r i a l M u s e u m n e a r w h e r e t h e m e e t i n g w a s h e l d N o t d o i n g s o w o u l d h a v e b e e n a n a c t o f i m m e n s e d i sc o u r t e s y

Despite many calls for an apology from the U S for dropping an atomic bomb on a civilian population in 1945, U S President Joe Biden has demurred Instead, he wrote in the Peace Memorial guest book: “May the stories of this museum remind us all of our obligations to build a future of peace

Apologies amplified by the tensions of our time, take on interesting sociological and political roles An apology would suggest that the 1945 bombings of Hiroshima and Nagasaki were wrong and that the U S did not end their war against Japan by taking the moral high ground A n a p o l o g y w o u l d a l s o c o n t r a d i c t t h e U S decision, backed fully by other Western powers over 70 years later, to maintain a m i l i t a r y p r e s e n c e a l o n g t h e A s i a n c o a s tl i n e o f t h e P a c i f i c O c e a n ( a p r e s e n c e b u i l t on the back of the 1945 atomic bombings) a n d t o u s e t h a t m i l i t a r y f o r c e t o t h r e a t e n C h i n a w i t h w e a p o n s o f m a s s d e s t r u c t i o n amassed in bases and ships close to China s territorial waters

It is impossible to imagine a future of peace” if the U S continues to maintain its aggressive military structure that runs from Japan to Australia with the express intent of disciplining China

U K Prime Minister Rishi Sunak was given the errand to warn China about its economic coercion as he unveiled the G7 Coordination Platform on Economic Coercion to track Chinese commercial activities “The platform will address the growing and pernicious use of coercive economic measures to interfere in the sovereign affairs of other states Sunak said

This bizarre language displayed neither self-awareness of the West s long history of brutal colonialism nor an acknowledgement of neocolonial structures including the permanent state of indebtedness enforced by the International Monetary Fund that are coercive by definition

Nonetheless, Sunak, Biden and the others preened with self-righteous certainty that their moral standing remains intact and that

Th i s i s a n u n d e m o c rat i c b o d y t h at u s e s i t s h i s to r i c a l p owe r to i m p o s e i t s n a r row i nte re s t s o n a wo r l d t h at i s i n t h e g r i p o f a ra n g e o f m o re p re s s i n g d i l e m m a s

t h e y h o l d t h e r i g h t t o a t t a c k C h i n a f o r i t s

trade agreements

These leaders suggest that it is perfectly acceptable for the IMF on behalf of the G7 states to demand conditionalities from debt-ridden countries while forbidding China from negotiating when it lends money Interestingly the final statement from the G7 did not mention China by name but merely echoed the concern about economic coercion The phrase all countries and not China, specifically, signals a lack of unity within the group European Commission President Ursula von der Leyen for instance used her speech at the G7 to put the U S on notice for its use of industrial subsidies: We need to provide a clear predictable business environment to our clean tech industries The starting point is transparency among the G7 on how we support manufacturing ”

One complaint from Western governments and think tanks alike has been that Chinese development loans contain no Paris Club clauses The Paris Club is a body of official bilateral creditors that was set up in 1956 to provide financing to poor countries who have been vetted by IMF processes, stipulating that they must pledge to conduct a range of political and economic reforms in order to secure any funds

In recent years the amount of loans given through the Paris Club has declined although the body s influence and the esteem its strict rules garner remain Many Chinese loans particularly through the Belt and Road Initiative refuse to adopt Paris Club clauses, since as Professor Huang Meibo and Niu Dongfang argue it would sneak IMF-Paris Club conditionalities into loan agreements

All countries they write should respect the right of other countries to make their own choices, instead of taking the rules of the Paris Club as universal norms that must be observed by all ” The allegation of “economic coercion” does not hold if the evidence points to Chinese lenders refusing to impose Paris Club clauses

G7 leaders stand before the cameras pretending to be world representatives whose views are the views of all of humanity Remarkably, G7 countries only contain 10 percent of the world’s population while their combined Gross Domestic Product is merely 27 per cent of global GDP

These are demographically and increasingly economically marginalised states that want to use their authority, partly derived from their military power, to control the world order Such a small section of the human population should not be allowed to speak for all of us since their experiences and interests are neither universal nor can they be trusted to set aside their own parochial goals in favour of humanity s needs

Indeed, the agenda of the G7 was plainly laid out at its origin, first as the Library Group in March 1973 and then at the first G7 summit

France (Valéry Giscard d’Estaing) West Germany (Helmut Schmidt) and the U K (Anthony Barber) to hold private consultations among the Atlantic allies

At the Château de Rambouillet in 1975, the G7 met in the context of the “oil weapon” wielded by the Organisation for Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) in 1973 and the passage of the New International Economic Order (NIEO) in the United Nations in 1974 S c h m i d t w h o w a s a p p o i n t e d G e r m a n chancellor a year after the Library Group s formation, reflected on these developments: “It is desirable to explicitly state, for public opinion that the present world recession is n o t a p a r t i c u l a r l y f a v o u r a b l e o c c a s i o n t o w o r k o u t a n e w e c o n o m i c o r d e r a l o n g t h e lines of certain U N documents Schmidt wanted to end international dirigisme and s t a t e s a b i l i t y t o e x e r c i s e t h e i r e c o n o m i c sovereignty The NIEO had to be stopped in its tracks, Schmidt said because to leave decisions about the world economy to officials somewhere in Africa or some Asian capital is not a good idea

Rather than allow African and Asian leaders a say in important global matters, U K Prime Minister Harold Wilson suggested that it would be better for serious decisions to be made by “the sort of people sitting around this table The private attitudes displayed by Schmidt and Wilson continue to this day despite dramatic changes in the world order

In the first decade of the 2000s, the U S which had begun to see itself as an unrivalled world power overreached militarily in its War on Terror and economically with its unregulated banking system T h e w a r o n I r a q ( 2 0 0 3 ) a n d t h e c r e d i t c r u n c h ( 2 0 0 7 ) t h r e a t e n e d t h e v i t a l i t y o f t h e U S - m a n a g e d w o r l d o r d e r D u r i n g t h e d a r k e s t d a y s o f t h e c r e d i t c r i s i s , G 8 s t a t e s , w h i c h t h e n i n c l u d e d R u s s i a , a s k e d s u r p l u sh o l d i n g c o u n t r i e s o f t h e G l o b a l S o u t h ( p a rt i c u l a r l y C h i n a I n d i a a n d I n d o n e s i a ) t o c o m e t o t h e i r a i d I n J a n u a r y 2 0 0 8 a t a m e e t i n g i n N e w D e l h i F r e n c h P r e s i d e n t N i c o l a s S a r k o z y t o l d b u s i n e s s l e a d e r s , A t t h e G 8 s u m m i t , e i g h t c o u n t r i e s m e e t f o r t w o a n d a h a l f d a y s a n d o n t h e t h i r d d a y i nv i t e f i v e d e v e l o p i n g n a t i o n s B r a z i l , C h i n a I n d i a M e x i c o a n d S o u t h A f r i c a f o r d i s c u s s i o n s o v e r l u n c h T h i s i s [ a n ] i nj u s t i c e t o [ t h e ] 2 5 b i l l i o n i n h a b i t a n t s o f t h e s e n a t i o n s W h y t h i s t h i r d - g r a d e t r e a tm e n t t o t h e m ? I w a n t t h a t t h e n e x t G 8 s u mm i t b e c o n v e r t e d i n t o a G 1 3 s u m m i t

There was talk during this period of weakness in the West that the G7 would be shut down and that the G20 which held its first summit in 2008 in Washington D C would become its successor Sarkozy s statements in Delhi made headlines, but not policy In a more private and truthful assessment in October 2010, former French Prime Minister Michel Rocard told U S Ambassador to France Craig R Stapleton We need a vehicle where we can find solutions for these challenges [the growth of China and India] together so when these monsters arrive in 10 years, we will be able to

Seven-year jail term for four can ac t a s deterrent

deal with them ”

The monsters are now at the gate and the U S has assembled its available economic diplomatic, and military arsenals, including the G7, to suffocate them The G7 is an undemocratic body that uses its historical power to impose its narrow interests on a world that is in the grip of a range of more pressing dilemmas It is time to shut down the G7 or at least prevent it from enforcing its will on the international order

In his radio address on August 9, 1945,

U S President Harry Truman said: The world will note that the first atomic bomb was dropped on Hiroshima a military base That was because we wished in this first attack to avoid insofar as possible the killing of civilians In reality, Hiroshima was not a military base It was what U S Secretary of War Henry Stimson called a “virgin target,” a place that had escaped the U S firebombing of Japan so that it could be a worthwhile testing ground for the atomic bomb In his diary Stimson recorded a conversation with Truman in June about the reasoning behind targeting this city When he told Truman that he was a little fearful that before we could get ready the Air Force might have Japan so thoroughly bombed out that t h e n e w w e a p o n [ t h e a t o m i c b o m b ] w o u l d n o t h a v e a f a i r b a c k g r o u n d t o s h o w i t s strength the president laughed and said he understood

Two-year-old Sadako Sasaki was one of 350,000 people living in Hiroshima at the time of the bombings She died 10 years later from cancers associated with radiation exposure from the bomb

The Turkish poet Nazim Hikmet was moved by her story and wrote a poem against war and confrontation Hikmet s words should be a warning even now to Biden against laughing at the possibility of renewed military conflict against China:

I come and stand at every door

But none can hear my silent tread

I knock and yet remain unseen

For I am dead for I am dead

I m only seven though I died

In Hiroshima long ago

I m seven now as I was then

When children die they do not grow

My hair was scorched by swirling flame

My eyes grew dim my eyes grew blind

Death came and turned my bones to dust

And that was scattered by the wind

I need no fruit I need no rice

I need no sweets nor even bread

I ask for nothing for myself

For I am dead for I am dead

All that I need is that for peace

You fight today you fight today

So that the children of this world

Can live and grow and laugh and play Vijay Prashad is an Indian historian editor and journalist He is a writing fellow and chief correspondent at Globetrotter

TRIBUNE

Five years after Rakbar Khan a resident of Haryana s Nuh district was lynched in Rajasthan on the suspicion of cow smuggling, Alwar s Additional District and Sessions Court has sentenced four cow vigilantes to seven years’ imprisonment Having purchased the cows from Alwar Rakbar and his friend Aslam Khan were taking them to Haryana when they were accosted and thrashed by local residents on the intervening night of July 20-21 2018 While Aslam had managed to flee Rakbar had succumbed to his injuries Alwar district had witnessed a similar incident in 2017 Rajasthan dairy farmer Pehlu Khan was attacked by a mob when he and others were transporting cattle from a weekly market in Jaipur to their village in Nuh Unfortunately, justice has not been done in that case as the six persons accused of the crime were acquitted in 2019 by a sessions court which gave them the benefit of the doubt on the basis of the police probe The court, however, had pointed out serious shortcomings’ in the investigation

The Rakbar case verdict comes days after the Rajasthan police named 21 persons including Bajrang Dal member Monu Manesar, in the FIR pertaining to the abduction and murder of two Muslim men, Junaid and Nasir whose charred bodies were found in Haryana s Bhiwani district in February It is suspected that lapses on the part of cops led to the gruesome crime There is no denying that cow vigilantes have become a law unto themselves due to political patronage and police laxity Cow protection is being used as a pretext to victimise members of a minority community The onus is on the law enforcers to crack the whip on groups which resort to extortion and violence against law-abiding dairy farmers and cattle traders Those involved in cow smuggling must be dealt with by the police, not by bloodthirsty mobs It s imperative to expose not only the criminals masquerading as gau rakshaks but also the cops who are in league with them

C H I N A W A R N S U S A G A I N S T ‘ A L L C O N S E Q U E N C E S ’ O V E R S I G N I N G ‘ T R A D E ’ D E A L W I T H TA I W A N

CHINA

M i A n A b r A r

CHINA S Foreign Ministry on Friday once again slammed the US over its signing of the first part of the Initiative on 21st Century Trade” with the secessionist Democratic Progressive Party (DPP) authorities on the island of Taiwan and warned that all the consequences will be borne by Washington

The US and DPP authorities on Thursday (ET) signed an initial agreement under the Initiative on 21st Century Trade with talks on the agreement initially beginning in August 2022

It does not cover tariff reductions or exemptions during the first stage agreement but covers customs and trade facilitation regulatory practices domestic regulation of services, anti-corruption practices, and small and medium-sized enterprises, according to Taiwan-based media

In response Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said that China strongly opposes official interactions of any form between China s Taiwan region and countries that have diplomatic relations with

China That includes negotiating or signing any agreement that implies sovereignty and has an official nature The US government has deliberately pushed forward negotiations with the DPP authorities in Taiwan on the so-called Initiative on 21st Century Trade and signed the agreement This gravely violates the oneChina principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, and contravenes the US’s own commitment of maintaining only unofficial relations with Taiwan Mao said China strongly deplores this and has made serious démarches to the US side the spokesperson added According to Mao, the initiative is just a US tool to rip Taiwan off The DPP authorities, driven by the selfish separatist agenda have no scruples to betray Taiwan compatriots and businesses’ interests or sell

Taiwan away By signing the agreement they are offering Taiwan to the US on a plate This is the latest example of the US trying to fudge and hollow out the one-China principle,” Mao said “We once again urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the three China-

US joint communiqués, immediately change course and stop official interactions of any form with Taiwan, stop pushing forward and revoke at once the so-called “Initiative” and agreement and stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence separatist forces otherwise all consequences shall be borne by the US side, Mao noted T h i s i s t h e s e c o n d c o n s e c u t i v e d a y

t h a t M a o h a s r e s p o n d e d t o t h e i s s u e S o m e o b s e r v e r s o n t h e i s l a n d s a y t h e a g r e e m e n t i s s i m p l y a h o l l o w p o l i t i c a l s t a t e m e n t t h e e m p t y c o n t e n t d o e s n o t r eally benefit the island especially at a time w h e n Ta i w a n r e g i o n s e x p o r t s h a v e b e e n i n n e g a t i v e t e r r i t o r y f o r s e v e n c o n s e c ut i v e m o n t h s E x p e r t s f r o m C h i n e s e m a i nl a n d s a i d t h e d e a l h a s f a r m o r e p o l i t i c a l

Investment more than consumption leading India’s economic growth, economists say

PR OFIT r e u t e r s

A surge in investments that offset sluggish consumption to boost India’s growth in 2022-23 is expected to power the economy in the current financial year as the government pushes ahead with massive capital expenditure plans economists said

This, in turn, could reflect across sectors like construction, which have a multiplier effect on the economy by creating employment eventually generating consumption demand they said

The investment demand is the only component that has held fort Soumya

Kanti Ghosh, chief economist at State Bank of India, wrote in a note

Gross fixed capital formation, which reflects investment rose 8 9% in the January-March quarter and 11 4% for the full financial year data released on Wednesday showed

The central government’s capex push has been “unrelenting ” Sajjid Chinoy JP Morgan s chief India economist said noting that states that were sluggish in spending earlier in the year also pushed up expenditure by 24% in the January-March quarter

The central government has budgeted 10 trillion rupees in capex for this fiscal year

The turn comes after a decade when balance sheet stress in the economy kept investment in check While government investment has picked up, a modest crowding-in” of private investment is likely in 2023/24 economists at ICICI

Securities said in note

CONSTRUCTION MANUFAC-

TURING BUMP

The capex push over the last three years has driven growth in the construction sector closer to pre-pandemic levels, JP Morgan’s Chinoy said

The sector grew 10 4% in the fourth

BoK , Saudi company sign

MOU to suppor t businesses through supply chain finance platform

PESHAWAR s tA f f r e p o r t

In a significant move towards promoting SME financing and economic development in Pakistan the Bank of Khyber (BOK) has joined hands with Fauree Tech Pvt Ltd to establish a collaboration through a supply chain financing agreement The Memorandum of Understanding (MOU) was signed in a small ceremony held at the BOK Head Office in Peshawar BOK was represented by Mr Muhammad Ali Gulfaraz, MD & CEO, Mr Sher Muhammad Group Head of Conventional Banking Mr Nahman Qayum Head of Corporate and Commercial Lending and other senior executives of the bank Fauree on the other hand was represented by Dr Saleh Alamr, the Group CEO of Jawa Investments (based in Saudi Arabia) and Co-founder/Board Member of Fauree, via a video conference from Saudi Arabia Additionally, Mr Nadeem Hussain a Board Member and Mr Azhar Tasadduq Co-Founder & CEO along with their team members Mr Moiz Mehta and Mr Sohaib Dar were present on the occasion Fauree a renowned technology firm with a strong presence in the Middle East, Pakistan, and Africa has been successfully providing cutting-edge solutions across various industries With its extensive reach and expertise Fauree is uniquely positioned to contribute to the growth and development of SMEs in Pakistan through this collaboration

quarter and at 10% over the full financial year The construction sector indirectly helps to absorb excess rural labour and create a multiplier effect on the overall economy in the medium term, said QuantEco Research economists Yuvika Singhal and Vivek Kumar

Economists are more sceptical about the 4 5% growth spurt seen in gross value added (GVA) in the manufacturing sector We believe higher manufacturing GVA likely reflects the benefit to profits from lower input costs, said Nomura economists Sonal Varma and Aurodeep Nandi The surprising strength in growth is also partly being attributed by economists to a statistical quirk

The government computes real GDP by adjusting nominal GDP growth with an inflation deflator closely tied to wholesale prices instead of retail prices

At a time when wholesale inflation has turned negative this could provide

US Ag e n c e s

The Regional Comprehensive Economic Partnership (RCEP) entered into force in the Philippines on Friday signifying that the pact is now effective for all 15 members, a new stage of full implementation for the free trade area with the largest population, largest economic and trade volume in the world

Experts said the open and inclusive pact will inject renewed momentum into regional economic integration and contribute to the long-term regional and global economic stability and development In contrast, the US-led discriminatory and exclusive IndoPacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF), which is based on the principle of “America first,” serves as a political tool for the US to encircle China

“The full entry into force of RCEP fully demonstrates that the 15 member countries have taken practical actions to support an open free fair inclusive and rules-based multilateral trading system, and they are committed to continuously promoting a comprehensive, mutually beneficial and high-level economic partnership,” a spokesperson from the Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Friday

The 15 countries commitment to open goods services and investment markets along with the high-level rules in various sectors will greatly promote the free flow of production elements in the region, including raw materials, products, technology, talent, capital, information and data, the spokesperson said, noting that a more prosperous and integrated regional market will be gradually formed for in-depth cooperation among member countries at a larger scale and higher level

Signed on November 15 2020 the 15-member R C E P i s t h e w o r l d s l a rg e s t f r e e t r a d e a g r e e m e n t covering about 30 percent of the world s population, and also accounting for 30 percent of global trade T h e a g r e e m e n t e n t e r e d i n t o f o r c e o n J a n u a r y 1 , 2 0 2 2 f o r C h i n a a n d n i n e o t h e r c o u n t r i e s w i t h t h e Philippines the last country to ratify the free trade agreement (FTA) deal

The RCEP entering into force for the Philippines underscores that the fruitful results linked to regional economic integration under the RCEP over the past year have been recognized by the Southeast Asian country, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Friday

The RCEP has delivered substantial benefits and dividends to member countries through lowering trade costs facilitating the integration of supply chains, and benefiting economies in the region, Da said, noting that the pact has helped the recov-

a statistical boost to manufacturing and overall GDP growth “Therefore the manufacturing and GDP data for the current quarter will need to be carefully interpreted, said JP Morgan s Chinoy Other indicators, however, reflect strength in demand as well The S&P Global India Manufacturing PMI rose to 58 7 in May – the strongest since October 2022 Demand conditions demonstrated remarkable strength with factory orders rising at the fastest pace since January 2021, per a statement disclosing the PMI data CONSUMPTION WEAKNESS

In contrast private consumption grew at a sluggish 2 8% in the fourth quarter Sequentially consumption grew just 0 5% in the January-March period after contracting 2% in the previous three months Higher inflation may be a key reason behind the sluggish performance in private consumption,” said Nomura’s Varma and Nandi

t h a n e c o n o m i c m e a n i n g

Wang Jianmin, a senior cross-Straits expert at Minnan Normal University in East China’s Fujian Province told the Global Times on Friday that regarding the content of the agreement it mainly deals with the aspects of interest to the US The opening of the services market, tariff reductions or exemptions, which are key concerns of Taiwan, were not covered

The agreement is mainly about US asking the DPP authorities to cooperate with its economic and trade system to contain the Chinese mainland Wang said The benefits to Taiwan s economic development, trade and investment are extremely limited, so it has more political significance than economics ”

According to Taiwan-based media DPP authorities described the deal as the most comprehensive trade agreement with Washington since 1979

The DPP will fully use this agreement to trumpet the “warming relations” with the US, but it is actually a kind of “economic colonization” by the US Wang noted

A spokesperson of the Chinese Ministry of Commerce also expressed strong opposition to the US over the Initiative on 21st Century Trade on Friday

Taiwan is an inalienable part of China s territory We urge the US side to abide by the one-China principle prudently handle its economic and trade relations with Taiwan region and stop any form of official exchanges with Taiwan the spokesperson said

Hashoo Foundation committed to strengthening academia-industr y linkages

ISLAMABAD s tA f f r e p o r t

To foster academia-industry linkages and strengthen the concept of using knowledge as resource, Hashoo Foundation has signed an MoU with Iqra National University Through this partnership both organizations will be working closely to benefit students enhancing their professional skills and knowledge Ms Ayesha Khan Country Director Hashoo Foundation and Prof Dr Shah Jahan, Vice Chancellor Iqra National University signed the agreement in the presence of senior officials from both organizations Ms Ayesha Khan, Country Director Hashoo Foundation said that we believe in the power of learning and using knowledge to produce actionable input for the betterment of individuals and communities Hashoo Foundation has always impacted the lives of youth by providing them with opportunities of capacity building, career development, and education

The more organizations collaborate for youth development the greater outreach and impact for national sustainable development priorities can be achieved Prof Dr Shah Jahan Vice Chancellor Iqra National University said that this partnership will help students in capacity building hands-on trainings and capacity building

ery of the Asia-Pacific economy, offsetting strong headwinds caused by sluggish global demand, the Russia-Ukraine conflict and aggressive US interest rate hikes, according to Da Data from the MOFCOM showed that the foreign trade volume between China and other RCEP members hit 12 95 trillion yuan ($1 83 trillion) in 2022 a yearon-year increase of 7 5 percent accounting for 30 8 percent of China s total foreign trade Last year, China s actual use of foreign capital from other RCEP members was $23 53 billion, up 23 1 percent year-on-year

As the world’s largest FTA takes effect for all members the US is further stepping up containment of China to expand its presence in the Asia-Pacific region through the discriminatory and exclusive IndoPacific Economic Framework for Prosperity (IPEF)

However, experts said the US-led IPEF is a unilateral arrangement that the US dominates to serve an “America First” agenda, and the US’ purpose of containing China with the framework will be doomed UNILATERAL IPEF

A ministerial meeting for the IPEF that concluded in Detroit Michigan on May 27 agreed to a deal to strengthen supply chain cooperation for critical materials and products in order to reduce reliance on China

US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo told a n e w s c o n f e r e n c e a f t e r t h e m e e t i n g t h a t t h e U S f i r m l y o p p o s e s C h i n a s a c t i o n s a g a i n s t M i c r o n Reuters reported

It s the US that has committed economic coercion instead of China, and the IPEF itself is one such example, Li Yong, deputy chairman of the Expert Committee of the China Association of International Trade, told the Global Times on Friday

Joe Biden trips and falls during graduation ceremony

WASHINGTON

Ag e n c e s

President Joe Biden tripped and fell after handing out the last diploma at a graduation ceremony at the US Air Force Academy in Colorado on Thursday, but got up quickly and walked back to his seat The 80-year-old US president fell forward caught himself with his hands then got up on one knee while helped by three people He walked back to his seat unassisted After Biden was helped up, he pointed behind him, seeming to indicate that he had tripped over a sandbag used to hold the teleprompter in place He mingled with other officials afterward smiling and giving a “thumbs up” sign Upon returning to the White House Joe Biden joked to reporters I got sandbagged The fall came after a commencement address Biden delivered to a flag-waving audience, warning graduates they will enter service in an increasingly unstable world, citing challenges from Russia and China Joe Biden, the oldest person to hold the Oval Office, is running for reelection in 2024 His leading Republican opponent Donald Trump turns 77 this month Trump asked about Biden s fall during an Iowa rally said He actually fell down? Well I hope he wasn t hurt Trump added, You gotta be careful about that, even if you have to tip-toe down a ramp

RCEP enters into force for all members; injec ts vitality to regional integration, world economy

CORPORATE CORNER

S indh C hief S ecretar y reviews public-private par tnership projec ts

market based on its ranking of sixth on the Global Crypto

NBP CEO honored as CEO of Year by CEO C lub Pakistan

Adoption Index by Chainalysis in 2022

The motivations driving Pakistani crypto investors vary including future aspirations, wealth accumulation, conv e n i e n c e , a n d v a l u e s t o r a g e a g a i n s t c u r r e n c y d e p r e c i a t i o n T h e s u r v e y h i g h l i g h t e d d i ff e r e n t u s e c a s e s f o r

c r y p t o c u r r e n c i e s i n P a k i s t a n w i t h t r a d i n g b e i n g t h e m o s t c o m m o n f o ll o w e d b y H O D L i n g p e e r- t o - p e e r money transfers, and buying non-fungible tokens (NFTs) The survey s findings suggest the potential for mainstream adoption of cryptocurrencies in Pakistan and demonstrate the diverse ways in which crypto assets are being

a t a c o n s i d e r a b l e n u m b e r o f c r y p t o i nvestors in Pakistan have made smaller

President urges insurance companies to expand ser vices in health, agriculture sec tors

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T President Dr Arif Alvi, on Friday urged insurance companies to expand their services in health and agriculture sectors and utilise modern technologies for enhancing outreach to masses

The quantum of insurance sector in national economy was much less than its potential and in comparison to other countries of the region he noted and stressed upon all the stakeholders to work hard for creating their good will among the public besides imparting awareness to masses for achieving exponential growth

The president was addressing

K a r a c h i: Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie President and CEO (A) of National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) has been recognized as the CEO of the Year by the CEO Club Pakistan The prestigious award was presented to Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie by Mr Muhammad Baligh Ur Rehman, Governor Punjab during a grand ceremony held at the Governor House in Lahore on 31st May 2023 Mr Ijaz Nisar President and Founder of CEO Club Pakistan was also present at the occasion With over 25 years of diversified experience in economics research, capital markets, investment banking, treasury, and credit markets, Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie has been an instrumental figure within the banking sector in Pakistan Since assuming the role of President and CEO (A) NBP in May 2022 he has exhibited exceptional leadership and strategic vision propelling NBP to new heights to become Pakistan s largest bank in terms of balance sheet The growth of the bank s balance sheet has also been coupled with marked growth in the various profitability indicators and at the same time the continued efforts of the bank to serve the

HBL opens Islamic Prestige Lounge in Dolmen Mall Karachi

a seminar titled Role of ombudsman in development of insurance sector organised by Federal Insurance Ombudsman secretariat here here at Sindh Governor House Dr Arif Alvi said that government was providing social safety and assistance through its social safety net public health services and in shape of compensation in case of natural calamities and accidents but more initiatives were required to cover the entire population of the country

He said that health expenditure was a major concern for people particularly the lower income group and there was a vast potential of health insurance services in the country as those services could not only bridge the existing gapes but also be of

great value in time of need

Emphasizing the need of insurance services for agriculture sector the president observed that agriculture was another important sector of economy that was under served in lieu of insurance services and products while progress with regard to provision of agriculture insurance services was sluggish

Rapidly developing information and communication technologies should be utilised to expand the outreach and ensuring the access of masses to the services while doors must be kept open for receiving the complaints and feed back of the public he advised and suggested that creating good will of insurance companies

r e c t o r CO M S AT S c a l l s o n D e f e n c e M i n i s t e r K h A s i f

The Executive Director COMSATS, Ambassador Dr Mohammad Nafees Zakaria, called on the Minister for Defense, H E Khawaja Muhammad Asif During the meeting the Executive Director presented an overview of COMSATS an intergovernmental international organization comprising 27 member countries and 24 Centers of Excellence He briefed the Defence Minister on the latest initiatives including the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) with Syndesis Health Inc USA for the Genomic Sequencing, which will enable better and cost effective healthcare, development of new drugs and scientific interventions in related fields He also men-

K a r a c h i: HBL inaugurated its 5th Islamic Prestige Lounge located in Dolmen Mall, Karachi This is the 39th Prestige Lounge including an international lounge in Jumeirah, Dubai The Prestige footprint is now spread across 17 cities, with plans to expand further The inauguration of the lounge was done by Dr Najeeb Samie member of the Board of Directors – HBL Muhammad Aurangzeb President & CEO –HBL accompanied by Dr Mufti Muhammad Zubair

Usmani, Chairman Shariah Board - HBL Nadeem

Riaz, Chairman & CEO - Dolmen Group along with valued clients and senior leaders of the Bank were also present at the inauguration HBL Prestige provides a

tioned the Telehealth program, steps taken towards promotion of modern agricultural techniques his vision for Research and Development (R&D) and alignment with the industrial sector Expressing his appreciation, the Defence Minister Khawaja Asif recognized the importance of the

COMSATS platform and its potential in promoting Science Technology and Innovation Minister Asif assured his support to COMSATS activities and undertook to pay a visit to COMSATS Secretariat soon He endorsed the idea of R&D and expressed interest in the identified areas for R&D projects

Sino -Pak collaboration in PV sec tor moves ahead successfully for sustainable development

BEIJING

S TA F F R E P O R T

China s leading solar solutions provider LONGi officially released here the sixth annual corporate sustainability report providing an elaborate summary of its practices and achievements in the field of environment society and governance (ESG) in the past year

Pakistan, as an indispensable international

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan and Germany have agreed on bilateral cooperation in the fields of film art and culture The agreement was reached in a meeting of German Ambassador to Pakistan Alfred Grannas with Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb, said a press release issued here on Friday

During the meeting a discussion was also held on a proposal for cooperation with the University of Babelsberg and the University of Television and Film Munich Marriyum Aurangzeb apprised the German Ambassador about the Film and Culture Policy of the Government of Pakistan and the incentives given under the policy

She said that the government was desirous of showing the beauty, culture and civilization of Pakistan to the whole world through screen tourism Foreign filmmakers should benefit from special concessions given for filmmaking in Pakistan she said The minister sought support from German institutions for technical training in film art and culture for Pakistani students Film, art and culture can be promoted by cooperation between German and Pakistani private educational institutions,” she said The minister appreciated the services of German NGOs GIZ and Hans Seidel Foundation in Pakistan She also expressed her gratitude for the German assistance of 18 4 million Euros to the flood victims in Pakistan Germany s promise to provide 84 million euros in aid to the International Confer-

ence on Climate Change was another proof of Germany s friendship with Pakistan, the minister maintained The volume of bilateral trade is 4 billion dollars which needs to be increased, said the minister She opined and Allama Iqbal and Goethe were common assets between the two countries and with the establishment of IqbalGoethe Art and Culture Center in Berlin the people of the two countries will come closer to each other She appreciated the German media for reporting the situation in Pakistan in an objective and impartial manner which was commendable A delegation of the German Journalists Association was expected to visit Pakistan next month the minister told the German Ambassador I n t h e m e e t i n g , m a t t e r s o f m u t u a l i nt e r e s t s a n d i n c r e a s i n g b i l a t e r a l c o o p e r a -

i n v e s t m e n t s w i t h 4 0 % i n v e s t i n g l e s s than Rs 30 000 or $100 This trend is p a r t i c u l a r l y n o t i c e a b l e a m o n g G e n Z investors, indicating that younger gene r a t i o n s a r e s t a r t i n g w i t h s m a l l e r i nv e s t m e n t s , p o s s i b l y d u e t o l i m i t e d f i n a n c i a l r e s o u r c e s o r a c a u t i o u s a pproach to cryptocurrency D e s p i t e t h e S t a t e B a n k o f P a ki s t a n n o t r e c o g n i z i n g c r y p t o a s s e t s a s d i g i t a l c u r r e n c i e s , r o u g h e s t i m a t e s b y s t a k e h o l d e r s s u g g e s t t h a t t h e a n n u a l t r a d i n g v o l u m e o f t h e s e d i g i t a l a s s e t s

IDA with support of stakeholders committed to Capital’s development: Yasir Ilyas

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

President Islamabad Developers Association (IDA)

Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan has said that the IDA is a community led organization comprising of developers and stakeholders involved in the development of Islamabad

He stated this while addressing a conference organized by IDA with the builders and developers of the capital to discuss proposals for the upcoming budget in addition to working on a policy framework with CDA with a primary focus on issues related to bylaws Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan said that IDA is dedicated to promote sustainable and efficient development practices that contribute to the growth and prosperity of the Federal Capital It was highlighted that 236K related to withholding tax on sale and purchase of property has had a detrimental impact on property transactions due to the additional cost levied on nonfilers For sellers it has doubled to 4% and for non-filer purchasers it has gone up to 7% He said “Capital gain tax period should also be reduced to 4 years from 6 Policy related to section 7E which applies taxes on deemed income on additional property has further led to a reduction in the purchase of properties due to the additional tax burden

Hajj flight operation to Makkah to commence from June 5

The hajj flight operation to transport intending hujjaj directly to Makkah will commence on June 5, following the successful completion of bringing pilgrims to Madinah Munawara The operation of flights to Makkah will commence from 10 cities in Pakistan with the last flight departing for Makkah on June 21 The inaugural flight from Rahim Yar Khan is set to depart for Jeddah on June 6, followed by another flight from Sukkur on June 7 However, the post-hajj flight operation will commence on July 4 After completing their Hajj pilgrimage the pilgrims will travel to Madinah to fulfill their eight-day stay before directly returning to Pakistan from Madinah A dedicated team of over 137 doctors and paramedics will be available round-the-clock for providing medical facilities to the pilgrims

LCCI, OGRA to promote safe practices in LPG Industry

Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) acknowledges the utmost value of every life and is committed to ensuring safe practices in the rapidly growing Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) industry In line with this objective OGRA has initiated campaigns to raise awareness among the masses about the safe use and handling of LPG To further accelerate these efforts and foster collaboration, the Chairman and Members of OGRA are scheduled to visit the Lahore Chamber of Commerce and Industry (LCCI) on June 5th, 2023 (Monday) During this visit, they will engage with all stakeholders of the LPG industry to enhance their participation and encourage them to collaborate with OGRA in promoting awareness campaigns on the safe use of LPG by consumers and ensuring the implementation of safe practices throughout the LPG industry

t i o n w e r e d i s c u s s e d T h e G e r m a n A m b a ss a d o r a p p r e c i a t e d t h e e ff o r t s o f t h e I n f o rm a t i o n M i n i s t e r f o r t h e p r o m o t i o n o f f i l m a n d c u l t u r e

E xe c u t i ve d i

HIGHS AND LOWS: TOYOTA SHUTS DOWN PL ANT SAME WEEK IT UNVEILS HEV

PR OFIT D A N I YA L A H M A D

I

The Toyota delegation, led by Vice Chairman Shinji Yanagi and Chief Executive Ali Asghar Jamali presented the first locally-manufactured Toyota Corolla Cross Hybrid Electric Vehicle (HEV) to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif The Prime Minister extolled Toyota’s initiative and underscored the significance of intensifying localisation

efforts and concentrating on exports He also pledged to uphold the incentives for HEVs as outlined in the Auto Industry Development and Export Policy (AIDEP) 2021-26

The meeting was also attended by Yoshiki Konishi President of Toyota Asia and Chief Engineer of the Corolla Cross as well as Mitsuhiro Wada Ambassador of Japan to Pakistan Members of the Cabinet, including Federal Minister of Finance Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister of Industries & Production Makhdoom Murtaza Mehmood were also present

One might wonder why such a high-ranking group of individuals met to discuss the introduction of a vehicle Perhaps to discuss the benefits of the Corolla Cross for Pakistan? Toyota did address this topic

The Prime Minister, and all of Toyota’s menAccording to Toyota Asia’s President Yoshiki Konishi HEV technology will become a scalable solution for accessible electrification in Pakistan The technology utilises a relatively small battery and requires no additional infrastructure He stated that research by external agencies in several countries has shown that it can

Scheduled NSC huddle delayed owing to PM’s Turkiye visit

A meeting of the National Security Committee (NSC) was postponed due to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s visit to Turkiye to attend the oath-taking of Recep Tayyip Erdogan as President for third consecutive term The meeting was scheduled for Friday and it was to be attended by all services chiefs, federal ministers and other officials concerned to discuss matters of national importance The new date for the top civilmilitary leadership s huddle would be announced later

In previous NSC meeting on May 17 the participant had decided to observe May 9 as black day nationally The forum also decided to lay hands within 72 hours on all those involved in the violent attacks their facilitators and leaders on whose instigation these people had committed vandalism

During the meeting heartfelt tributes were paid to the martyrs who bravely sacrificed their lives for the nation Additionally, the security forces were commended for their successful anti-terrorism efforts and covert operations across the country

The meeting focused on a briefing provided by intelligence agencies regarding the recent events that unfolded on May 9 It was revealed that acts of vandalism had taken place resulting in damage to public and private properties Disturbingly photographs of martyrs were desecrated, memorials were defaced, historical buildings were set ablaze, and military installations were subjected to vandalism The briefing also indicated a deliberate plan to orchestrate arsons The government security forces and intelligence agencies were determined to take swift action against the perpetrators responsible for these acts and maintain law and order in the country, the forum had said in a statement

May 9 riots: Khadija

Shah, 7 other PTI women produced in ATC

LAHORE

S TA F F R E P O R T

Following the identification parade seven other women accused associated with the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI), including prominent fashion designer Khadija Shah, were presented before the AntiTerrorism Court (ATC) Friday

The arrested PTI women after their appearance in court expressed their dismay over their detention

They strongly asserted that they have not faced any form of abuse during their time in jail They added that their continued detention without any concrete evidence against them is a clear act of abuse

In a separate development, the Lahore High Court witnessed the production of Khadija Shah, the daughter of former finance minister Salman Shah and a well-known fashion designer

reduce carbon emissions and improve fuel consumption by 30-50%

g C O M PA N Y U N V E I L E D N E W H E V I N A S TA R-S T U D D E D A S S E M B LY W H I L S T A N N O U N C I N G I T W I L L B E S U S P E N D I N G P R O D U C T I O N V E R Y N E X T D AY PR OFIT D A N I YA L A H M A D

The thing is, this is not Pakistan s first locally assembled HEV Perhaps the team at Sazgar simply did not know they could hold such an important meeting when launching their vehicle? However in the absence of an official statement from Toyota regarding why so many important individuals had to discuss this one vehicle, Profit broadened its scope Specifically to August 17, 2022, when Yanagi and Jamali met with Maryam Nawaz then Vice President of PML-N Profit had inquired with Jamali about the nature of the meeting to which he responded that it was a courtesy meeting Profit speculated then that it was a meeting pertaining to import restrictions on automotive raw material imports, and Profit assumes that to be the case again If for nothing else then due to the shutdown announcement on Friday Will there be an end to these shutdowns?

Toyota has declared that it will be suspending production from June 3 to

PR OFIT

G H U L A M A B B A S

Pakistan is reeling from a staggering loss of Rs 240 billion annually due to rampant tax evasion by illicit cigarette traders according to a comprehensive report published by IPSOS, a globally renowned market research company

The study, which involved a survey of 1000 shops across ten major districts, sheds light on the prevalence of locally manufactured tax-evaded brands and smuggled cigarettes illuminating the dire consequences for the country s economy

Pakistan is facing a significant economic setback caused by rampant tax evasion in the cigarette market, resulting in an annual loss of Rs 240 billion IPSOS, a respected market research company, has published a comprehensive report revealing the extent of tax evasion by illicit cigarette traders The study which surveyed 1000 shops across ten major districts highlights the prevalence of locally manufactured tax-evaded brands and smuggled cigarettes bringing attention to the severe consequences for Pakistan s economy

The research was conducted in response to a substantial increase in Federal Excise duty earlier this year implemented as part of the Finance Supplementary Act The goal was to generate additional revenue and fulfill IMF conditions resulting in a remarkable surge of 154% in tier one and 146% in tier two excise rates Unfortunately, this drastic measure unintentionally triggered a chain reaction, propelling the illicit cigarette market to new heights and undermining the government’s efforts to enforce tax compliance

The IPSOS report uncovers a multitude of violations committed by locally manufactured taxevaded brands and smuggled cigarettes These illicit products fail to meet the stipulated requirements set by the Government of Pakistan, such as the inclusion

June 8 The decision was ascribed to the scarcity of raw materials which had hindered its ability to sustain production This marks the fourth instance of a plant shutdown this year due to the State Bank of Pakistan’s policy to curtail imports with previous ones spanning from February 1 to February 14 March 24 to March 27 and finally from May 2 to May 3 This raises the pressing question as to whether Toyota can actually manufacture the Corolla Cross and, if so, can it do so at scale?

Innovating amidst a supply chain crisis Globally the Corolla Cross Hybrid occupies a position above Toyota s Corolla Though the difference between the vehicles is insignificant globally, it is likely to be pronounced in our local market While Toyota’s Corolla and Corolla Cross have a small difference in terms of price this comparison does not account for the fact that the comparison globally is made between the twelfth generation of the Corolla and the Corolla Cross

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

annually

of Graphic Health Warnings underage warnings retail prices and manufacturer s names Moreover they disregard the brand licensing regime of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and lack the mandated track and trace stamp, constituting clear violations of the Federal Excise Act and the Sales Tax Act Disturbingly the findings reveal that legal cigarette brands now hold only 52% of the overall market share with Pakistan Tobacco Company (PTC) accounting for 40% and Philip Morris International (PMI) capturing 12% Illicit cigarette brands dominate the remaining 48% of the market, with locally manufactured tax-evaded brands accounting for 38% and smuggled brands making up 10% of the illegal market Notably the report highlights that over 83% of the sampled brands were found to be sold without the government-mandated Track and Trace stamp exacerbating the issue of tax evasion Furthermore, more than two-thirds of cigarette brands are being sold below the government’s Minimum Legal Price (MLP), indicating a failure of authorities to effectively enforce tax laws The survey exposes vast price disparities among legally taxed brands locally manufactured tax-evaded brands and smuggled brands with the latter two being sold at significantly lower prices flagrantly disregarding the MLP of PKR 127 4

As a consequence of the recent excise increase, the legitimate industry experienced a significant decline in market share by over 10% as consumers resorted to downtrading due to the availability of cheaper illicit brands Consequently the illicit market share surged by 33% soaring from 36% in 2022 to an alarming 48% in 2023 The IPSOS report also highlights the alarming inability of law enforcement agencies to effectively control the production, smuggling, and sale of illegal tobacco products An estimated 2 billion cigarette packs equivalent to 48% of the total tobacco sector s

FBR nabs fraudsters involved in registration of dummy business companies

ISLAMABAD S H A H Z A D PA R A C H A

of Commerce for Gilgit Baltistan, Syed

g COMPANY CLAIMS IT WILL REVOLUTIONIZE PAKISTAN’S AUTO CARE INDUSTRY

Not much has evolved since my father pioneered the importation of auto components for right-hand drive Japanese vehicles back in the 1960s, he remarks Most workshops and auto parts retailers still rely on archaic pen and paper methods as they did 40 years ago ”

The Okayker solution

Okayker aims to address the challenges faced by small workshops and part retailers operated by skilled technicians The company claims that there are over 500,000 such businesses that often suffer from low utilisation and limited access to customers They also lack the acumen or expertise to modernise their operations As a result vehicle owners expend an average of 40 hours per annum searching for mechanics electricians and spare parts for their vehicles according to Okayker Okayker s platform encompasses a mobile application for customers to schedule appointments and OkayCore, a comprehensive ERP system for workshops This enables workshops to document transactions attract new customers source spare parts and access business tools such as payment gateways and financial services According to Okayker s assertions the company has already resolved over 27,500 car issues and served more than 7,500 car owners Workshops utilising Okayker have witnessed a 110% increase in their take-home revenue through improved utilisation

The journey

The founding team of Okayker consists of Nashit

Iqbal Hasnain Akber Asjad Amin and Anusha Shahid The company commenced operations in January 2021 with three technicians providing rudimentary maintenance services at customers’ doorsteps Starting with a mere three orders per day, Okayker claims to have successfully repaired more than 10 000 cars in the last 26 months The company has forged partnerships with over 250 vendors to supply more than 30 000 SKUs across Karachi to a network of 850 workshops, according to Okayker

The team identified three major challenges faced by existing roadside workshops: low utilisation, logistical impediments in procuring parts and the absence of digital systems to record transactions or customer details This precipitated a shift in Okayker s business model Rather than reinventing the wheel, the focus became to elevate existing roadside workshops by augmenting their utilisation and enhancing their quality standards through technology Presently, a workshop owner can document customer orders delegate tasks to technicians source auto parts from a network of vendors and provide customers with the convenience of online payments using OkayCore Looking ahead Okayker s goal for the forthcoming years is to expand across Pakistan while launching the country’s inaugural automotive emergency service through their network of workshops The company is also collaborating with lubricant brands such as Mobil to counteract the issue of counterfeit products in the market

LHC allows Qureshi’s law yer to meet his client in jail

c o u n t o f t h e p u r c h a s e o f h o r s e s asses mules and hinnies live (HS Code: 0101) at a purchase value o f R s 5 0 b i l l i o n a g a i n s t a n i nv o i c e i s s u Return as the due date for filing of Annexure-C is 10th of the month succeeding the tax period to which it pertains whereas due date for filing of sales tax return is 18th of the month succeeding the tax period to which it pertains This act of tax fraud has resulted in the introduction of a fake sales tax input of Rs 8 5 billion in the system without ever being actually paid which has been subsequently transferred to various dummy and genuine registered businesses operating mainly in the ghee and packaging material manufacturing sector who have adjusted such fake input tax against output tax to defraud national exchequer by reducing sales tax liability

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court Rawalpindi bench on Friday granted permission to the lawyer of Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) vice chairman and former foreign minister to meet his client Justice Chaudhry Abdul Aziz heard the petition challenging the detention of Shah Mahmood Qureshi During the hearing Shah Mahmood s lawyer, Barrister Taimur Malik, appeared before the court He requested the court to allow him to meet his client, who is currently held in Adiala Jail The court accepted the plea of Shah Mahmood’s lawyer granting him permission to meet his client in jail Furthermore the court issued notices to the Chief Secretary Inspector General of Punjab Chief Police Officer of Rawalpindi, Regional Police Officer, and Deputy Commissioner of Rawalpindi The hearing was adjourned until June 6 S TA F F R E P O R T

Kazakhstan

In a significant milestone for trade relations Pakistan has successfully sent its first transit consignment to Kazakhstan via the historic Silk Route, marking a new era of trade between the two countries This achievement comes as a result of the operationalisation of the Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) signed between Pakistan China Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan

The momentous occasion was celebrated at the Silk Route Dry Port (SRDP) in Sost, located at the China-Pakistan (Khunjerab) border Present to witness this historic event were His Excellency Mr Yerzhan Kistafin the Ambassador of Kazakhstan to Pakistan along with esteemed dignitaries including Col (R) Ubaidullah- the Minister

Fawad Ali Shah- the Collector Customs for Gilgit-Baltistan Mr Rana Muhammad Saleem Afzal- the Secretary Home for Gilgit-Baltistan and representatives from the business community

The first-ever transit consignment embarked on its journey from SRDP, Sost in Pakistan, and will traverse through China to reach its final destination in Almaty Kazakhstan This newly established transit route holds great promise as it is expected to significantly reduce trade time and costs between Pakistan and Kazakhstan Moreover, it opens up diverse avenues for regional trade among Pakistan, China, and the Central Asian Republics (CARs) Pakistan Customs played a pivotal role in making this transit trade a reality and showcased its unwavering commitment to

facilitate and develop trade, particularly in the realm of transit trade The efforts and keen interest of Chairman FBR- Mr Asim Ahmed Member Customs (Operations)Mr Mukarram Jah Ansari Director General Transit Trade- Mr Wajid Ali, and Chief Collector Customs (North)- Mr Imran Mohmand, have paved the way for this landmark achievement The commencement of transit trade to the CARs is not only a testament to the dedication of Pakistan Customs but it also highlights the potential transformation of the Pakistan-China land border at Sost, Khunjerab, into an international hub for cross-border and transit trade This development holds immense opportunities for economic growth and regional connectivity

Officials believe that the breakthrough in transit trade will not only strengthen trade

relations between Pakistan and Kazakhstan, but also enhance economic cooperation with China and the CARs By leveraging the strategic location of the Silk Route and the QTTA Pakistan aims to tap into the untapped potential of Central Asian markets, opening up new avenues for exports and economic development in the region

Currently, the trade volume between Pakistan and Kazakhstan stands at $219 million which is below its true potential Pakistan has traditionally relied on export markets in the Middle East the United States, and the European Union (EU), but the Central Asian states offer a significant untapped market for Pakistani exports

The Quadrilateral Traffic in Transit Agreement (QTTA) is a transit trade deal that facilitates transit traffic and trade between China Pakistan Kyrgyzstan and

This agreement, which is also part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) provides an excellent communication route between Central Asia and the Gwadar Port in the Arabian Sea

Following the development of the Gwadar Port in Balochistan province, this route has become more lucrative, particularly for Kyrgyzstan and Kazakhstan Additionally the recent frequent border closures with Afghanistan have further underscored the importance of this transit route for Pakistan

The inclusion of Tajikistan in the QTTA was expressed in February 2017, and Uzbekistan also expressed a desire to join the agreement in May 2020 The initial work on this road project was initiated in 1995 emphasizing the long-standing efforts to establish a robust and efficient transit trade network in the region