Epaper_23-06-09 ISB

TION YEAR

G O V T S ET T O U N V E I L F E D E R A L

R S 1 4 T R O U T L AY T O D AY

allocated for development schemes to help Parliamentarians woo public ahead of polls

Pakistan’s economy grew only 0.29pc in F Y22-23

g Dar presents Economic Sur vey, painting bleak economic picture

ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a s & s h a h z a d Pa r ac h a One day before he presents perhaps the most important budget Pakistan has had in a decade finance minister Ishaq Dar unveiled the Economic Survey of Pakistan 2022-23 which presented a bleak picture of the year that was With depleting forex reserves, strict import restrictions that have crippled industry, a stalled IMF programme, and political chaos that has caused significant loss of confidence in the country Pakistan s economy grew by a paltry 0 29% in the outgoing year falling well short of the 5% targeted growth Addressing the dire state of the economy inherited by the current coalition government, Minister Dar emphasized that the previous administration left behind an economy plagued by severe macroeconomic imbalances and lacking credibility making it challenging to establish favorable international deals However through paying a political cost the coalition government managed to save the country from default

h P r o g r a m f o r S m a l l L o a n s P a k i s t a n E n d o w m e n t F u n d f o r E d u c a t i o n , P r i m e M i n i st e r s I n i t i a t i v e s S u p p o r t f o r I T S t a r t - u p s a n d Venture Capital, Prime Minister ’s Initiatives for Wo m e n E m p o w e r m e n t P r i m e M i n i s t e r ’s L a pt o p S c h e m e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s G r e e n R e v o l ut i o n 2 0 P r i m e M i n i s t e r s Yo u t h S k i l l D e v e l o p m e n t P r i m e M i n i s t e r s I n i t i a t i v e f o r S p o r t s , P r i m e M i n i s t e r s H e p a t i t i s - C C o n t r o l P r o g r a m , N a t i o n a l P r o g r a m f o r P r e v e n t i o n o f

Diabetes, National MultiSectoral Nutrition Program Establishment of Governance Innovation L a b Wo m e n o n W h e e l s E s t a b l i s h m e n t o f N at i o n a l F u n d f o r A d d r e s s i n g t h e C r i s i s o f O u t o f S c h o o l C h i l d r e n O n e S t o p S e r v i c e C e n t r e f o r S p e c i a l E c o n o m i c Z o n e , a n d C o n s t r u c t i o n o f F a i z A h m e d F a i z C o m p l e x F l o o d P r o t e c t i o n S e c t o r P r o g r a m ( F P S P - I I I )

Sources said that the government has also al-

located Rs90 billion development budget for parliamentarians in next year Sources said that the government may increase the government employees pay and pension upto 20 percent but the final decision will be taken by the PM today in the cabinet meeting

The Pakistan People Party (PPP) has already asked the PM to raise government employee salaries by 50percent Sources also said that the Finance Minister has given approval to set Rs9 2 trillion tax revenue target of the Federal Board of Revenue for next fiscal year The government may announce incentives for the IT, construction and

The Federal government is likely to impose withholding tax on above Rs50 000 banking transactions in next year s budget Sources said that the Federal Board of Revenue has proposed to impose 0 6percent WHT on non filers on banking transactions in next year s budget Whereas, there would be no tax on filers for cash withdrawal

Despite numerous constraints the gross domestic product (GDP) recorded a positive growth of 0 29% in the outgoing fiscal year Minister Dar commended the government s successful implementation of structural reforms in various sectors, including power and gas, fiscal policies, and education These reforms, pending for several years, had previously been neglected by the previous government Minister Dar highlighted the ongoing Research on Improving Systems of Education (RISE) program and announced significant financial support for Pakistan from the World Bank and the Asia Infrastructure Investment Bank once the International Monetary Fund (IMF) program resumed after necessary reforms were completed The finance minister highlighted significant improvements in the country s financial indicators The primary deficit of Rs 890 billion during the last year s ten months had transformed into a surplus of Rs 99 billion, while the current account deficit witnessed a substantial improvement of 76%, decreasing from $13 7 billion to $3 3 billion Minister Dar acknowledged the negative impact of the global economic scenario on Pakistan’s progress, with a decline in global GDP growth from 6 2% in 2021 to 2 8% and a rise in global inflation by 85% from 4 7% in 2021 to 8 7% in 2022 Global trade growth also declined by five times from 9 4% in 2021 to 1 7% in 2023 Highlighting the challenges faced by Pakistan due to the unprecedented floods that occurred last year Minister Dar mentioned efforts underway to rebuild the damaged infrastructure in the affected areas with the planning minister and ministry actively working towards that goal Regarding the exchange rate, Minister Dar suggested the presence of hidden forces artificially keeping the Pakistani rupee undervalued

HINA PERVAIZ BUTT ACCUSES

PPP OF RIGGING BY-ELECTION

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

PML-N lawmaker Hina Pervaiz Butt accused the PPP on Thursday of rigging in the by-election for the seat that was vacated following the disqualification of former Azad Jammu and Kashmir prime minister

Tanveer Ilyas by a high court in April

People from the PPP have been caught red-handed while rigging in Kashmir, she tweeted along with a video, shortly after the polling concluded

In the video, a man is heard saying that he was at a polling station where another man whom he did not identify had

PIA announces Islamabad-Gilgit direct flights

KARACHI

S ta f f R e p o R t

stamped ballot papers in a bid to rig the elections

“The entire polling station has been grabbed Zia Qamar ’s (PPP’s candidate) people first verbally abused the presiding

After Skardu Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has announced direct flights for Gilgit from Islamabad on Thursday According to the PIA spokesperson the national flag carrier will operate two flights daily from Islamabad Airport to Gilgit to facilitate the tourists The step has been taken after witnessing an increase in the number of tourists due to schools vacation Earlier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) started direct flights between Karachi and Skardu after launching direct flights from Lahore The first PIA flight between Karachi and the tourist destination Skardu, PK-454, was operated today with more than 150 passengers on board The national flag carrier ’s spokesperson said that the number of passengers increased on Skardu flights due to summer vacations in schools It added that the airline decides to initiate flights from Lahore and Karachi to Skardu

Farhat Shehzadi challenges NAB probe

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

Farhat Shehzadi, aka Farah Gogi and her husband Ahsan Jameel Gujjar have challenged the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) probe in a money laundering case Former first lady s close friend Farhat Shehzadi and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar were directed to appear before the graft-buster body today Responding to the call-up notice of NAB, the husband and wife duo challenged the ambit of the NAB in the case Advocate Azhar Siddique in his reply said his clients are currently abroad and cannot appear before the NAB today The bank accounts which were made base of the investigation, already declared by Farhat Shehzadi and Ahsan Jameel Gujjar, the reply read The lawyer demanded of the NAB to immediately take back the call-up notice to his clients According to the NAB 117 bank accounts including four foreign accounts of Farhat Shehzadi and her husband were also found during the investigation of money laundering and assets beyond known sources of income Huge turnover amounting to Rs847 million has been found in Farah’s account during last three years which does not commensurate with her stated account profile the anti-corruption body said in a press release

Masarrat Aalam appreciates decree issued by Muslims leaders in IIOJK

SRINAGAR

S ta f f R e p o R t

officer and occupied the polling station The Rangers here outside but not doing anything and Zia Qamar is sitting here,” he is heard saying Sharing another video on Twitter in which a man is counting ballot papers that he said were evidence Butt said The PPP has started stamping [ballot papers] in Kashmir as well Rigging is not acceptable Separately, another PML-N leader, Attaullah Tarar claimed that his party’s candidate had a “clear lead” in the by-election There are reports of rigging [but] God willing the PML-N will win It is not possible that polling is completed 80-90 percent at some stations and 30-39pc at others,” he tweeted

Meanwhile, PPP s Faisal Karim Kundi congratulated his party on Twitter, saying, “Unofficially, Zia ul Qamar of the PPP is winning with a big margin in the by-election in Bagh Kashmir

Official results of the by-election in AJK s Bagh-II constituency are yet to be released

The PPP and PML-N, which are allies in the Centre, are among several others vying for the seat that fell vacant after Ilyas was disqualified over contempt

While Ziaul Qamar is contesting the election on the PPP s ticket the PML-N has fielded Mushtaq Minhas, a former journalist who joined the Nawaz Sharif-led party in 2016

SC registrar returns plea seeking President ’s disqualification with objec tions

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Supreme Court’s Register on Thursday returned a petition seeking disqualification of President Arif Alvi raising objections that under Article 248 the President cannot be made a party

The SC s Registrar Office objected that the president could not be made party under Article 248 of the Constitution which states that the president a governor the prime minister a federal minister a minister of State the chief minister, and a provincial minister shall not be answerable to any court for the exercise of powers and performance of functions of their respective offices

The registrar further objected to the petition filed by a citizen named Imtiaz that he did not mention the question of public interest and fundamental rights mentioned in the plea

The registrar of the apex court objected that the name of the lawyer who wrote the petition has not been dis-

closed nor the plaintiff contacted the relevant forum while he did not give reasons for not contacting The points raised regarding the use of Article 184/3 are not satisfactory,” the registrar objected

Moreover it added that the points raised regarding the use of Article 184(3) of the Constitution were not satisfactory The article maintains that for the court to have original jurisdiction on an issue, it first needs to be of public importance Secondly that issue must involve a violation of fundamental rights

that are enshrined within the first chapter of the second part of the Pakistani Constitution

The petitioner did not contact any other relevant forum and did not provide reasoning for failing to do so The office added that the name of the lawyer who drafted the petition was also not disclosed

Earlier, the SC dismissed a petition filed seeking the disqualification of President Alvi

A two-member bench headed by Justice Ijazul Ahsan heard the case The petition filed by one Zahoor Mehdi had requested that the apex court to reject the nomination papers of President Alvi According to the petitioner, the scrutiny of the president’s nomination papers was not correct and Mehdi presented six objections regarding Alvi’s nomination papers

He added that at the time of the presidential election Alvi was an under-trial accused and was not eligible for the presidency

Incarcerated Chairman of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Masarrat Aalam Butt, has appreciated the recent fatwa (decree) unanimously issued by the Muslim religious leaders of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir The Muslim religious scholars mashaikh and muftis belonging to all schools of thought issued the unanimous fatwa, declaring that any kind of cooperation with India’s Hindutva organizations including Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) and Bajrang Dal is haram illegal and against the teachings of Islam The fatwa was issued at a joint meeting held at a secret location in Srinagar A Muslim, the decree said, who has a political affiliation with the aforementioned Hindu organizations, which are anti-Islam and Muslims has nothing to do with Islam as per the injunctions of the Quran and Sunnah Masarrat Aalam Butt in a message from New Delhi s infamous Tihar Jail termed the fatwa appropriate and timely, praising this move of the all religious scholars, Ulema and Mashaikh He said India is on the verge of becoming a Hindu Rashtra and Indian Muslims are being treated as second class citizens and their basic rights are being denied He said in order to continue its illegal occupation and tyrannical rule in IIOJK India has not only banned the religious organizations but is also confiscating their assets and locking their madaaris “Employees are being terminated from the service Freedom-loving Kashmiri youth and religious leaders have been put behind the bars while residential houses are either being seized or demolished, he deplored The APHC Chairman appealed to the people of Kashmir to act upon this decision of the Ulema, get united against these anti-Muslim forces and their agents and boycott them

Pakistan will continue to suppor t Kashmiris’ struggle: FO Spokesperson

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Continuing their support for the victims of the devastating 2022 floods in Pakistan, the people of China s Henan province generously donated 9,000 food packages to be distributed among the affected individuals in 25 districts of Balochistan

To commemorate this gesture a ceremony took place in Quetta attended by Balochistan s Home Minister, Meer Zia Ullah Langau, who is also in charge

of the Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA)

Dignitaries from China participated in the event via video link as reported by the PDMA Gwadar Pro reported PDMA has already initiated the distribution of the food packages which include essentials like wheat flour, ghee, sugar, and pulses, among the affected population

On June 5 PDMA announced that it had distributed ration packages provided by China in the remote district of Kohlu These packages were specifi-

cally given to the impoverished, disabled, destitute, and deserving individuals in flood-hit areas such as Kunal, Jeoni Manjhra and others according to the PDMA The food packages were donated by the people of Henan province as a heartfelt gesture to strengthen the sister provinces relationship, which was established in 2021 China’s aid to the flood-affected people of Pakistan has surpassed $90 million thus far showcasing their ongoing commitment to support those in need

Pakistani mangoes land in C hina via newly opened air c argo route

NANNING S ta f f R e p o R t

T h e s e c o n d b a t c h o f P a k i s t a n i m a ng o e s a r r i v e d i n N a n n i n g , c a p i t a l o f

China’s southwest autonomous region of Guangxi on the afternoon of June 8 Adnan Hafeez Director of Imperial Ve n t u r e s ( P v t ) L t d t o l d C h i n a E c onomic Net (CEN) in an interview

The shipment comprising one tonne of Sindhri variety was transported by YTO Express via a newly opened cargo flight between Lahore and Nanning the businessman told CEN reporter We have been working with this airline for the past four years so we feel comfortable continuing to work with them as the level of cooperation and understanding is high

Known for its large size, yellow colour and ample sweetness the Pakistani king of fruits will be shared with major Chinese B2B clients and outlets for sampling after custom clearance and necessary certifications by the relevant Chinese authorities, he noted H a v i n g b r o u g h t P a k i s t a n i m a ng o e s t o t h e C h i n e s e m a r k e t o v e r t h e past few years Adnan’s team has been working to enhance mango quality as w e l l a s p a c k a g i n g a n d s t o r a g e t e c hniques he shared with CEN

Recently, we have conducted mango bagging activity in collaboration with the Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) to improve quality at source He added more focus will be devoted to saving costs as air cargo is still

costly “We are trying to send the unripe and the bulk packing mangoes to save some cost ”

The first shipment of Pakistani mangoes reached Nanning on May 31 distributed directly to a major Chinese fruit outlet, Adnan revealed Another batch of Sindri mangoes weighing 3 5 tonnes will land in Nanning on June 10 which will be sold both online and offline a Guangzhoubased enterprise told CEN in an interview

It is pertinent to mention that Pakistani mangos will make their debut in C h i n a ’s X i n j i a n g t h i s y e a r a s a P a kistani logistics enterprise is prepared to transport the Pakistani king of fruits to Xinjiang via the land route as per a previous CEN report

The Foreign Office Spokesperson, Mumtaz Zahra Baloch, has said that Pakistan will continue to extend its moral political and diplomatic support to the Kashmiris in their just and peaceful struggle for settlement of the Kashmir dispute Addressing the weekly press briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, she expressed concern over the prevailing situation in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said “We are reminded of the plight of the Kashmiri children who continue to suffer because of continued siege and brutal oppression by the Indian forces She said an entire generation of Kashmiri children has grown up in a climate of fear, violence and repression She said Kashmiri orphans suffer in economic hardship, isolation and psychological trauma and scores of school children have been injured by pellets bullets and teargas shells fired by the Indian forces Many of them have lost their eyesight fully or partially, she added The Spokesperson also urged India to pay heed to the United Nations call to take preventive measures to protect the children by ending the use of pellets against them

Massive raid at Multan International Airpor t

MULTAN S ta f f R e p o R t

An Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) authorities on Thursday conducted a massive raid and seized 986 grams of hashish from a passenger ’s bag at Multan International Airport The accused a resident of North Waziristan was leaving for Dubai, ANF spokesperson said The ANF spokesperson said that in another raid the drug smuggling from Britain to Pakistan was foiled

The authorities recovered 50 grams of drugs from a parcel in a private courier office in Rawalpindi that was meant to send to Jhelum

The drugs were hiding in the bags

Two cops, bank guard mar tyred in Mingora ‘targeted killing’ incident

SWAT S y e d S h a h a b u d d i n

Two police personnel and security guard of a private bank embraced martyrdom on Thursday in a “targeted-killing” incident in Mingora the main town of Swat district

The police confirmed the incident that three unidentified armed men attacked the policemen when they were on routine patrol in MIngora City It is yet to be ascertained whether the killing took place due to enmity or it was a terrorism incident

Additional SP Swat Farmanullah and DSP Saidu Sharif circle Attaullah Khan told the media that two police personnel – Umara Khan and Ashraf Ali, of Mingora

cumbed

the incident relatives of the policemen staged a protest by placing the dead bodies on Saidu Sharif Road, demanding arrest of the accused However, later on the assurance by the police authorities and the administration, the protesters dispersed

The family members of the martyred police personnel and the local people started protest by placing the dead bodies on Saidu Sharif Road and later took the bodies to Courts Chowk and staged a sit-in

T h e p r o t e s t e r s r e a c t e d s t r o n g l y t o t h e d e t e r i o r a t i n g l a w a n d o r d e r s i t u a t i o n a n d d e m a n d e d i m m e d i a t e a r r e s t o f t h e a cc u s e d i n v o l v e d i n t h e t a rg e t k i l l i n g o f p ol i c e p e r s o n n e l

Police officials and administrative officers held talks with the protesters and assurance the protestors ended the protest

Police officials said that the CCTV footage of the accused firing on the police personnel and later escaping in Mingora city has been traced In the CCTV footage it can be seen that three suspects suddenly attacked the police party and after the incident, ran away towards the street in nearby market

to the police, investigation

t e a m s a r e c h a s i n g t h e a t t a c k e r s w i t h t h e help of CCTV footages at different places of the area

The two police personnel who were martyred by firing belong to the same area of Amankot 35-year-old Umara Khan and 34-year-old Ashraf Ali were recruited

China’s Henan province provides 9,000 food packages for flood-hit people of Balochistan

PA K I S TA N H O N O U R S I N T ’ L O B L I G AT I O N S : F O

D E F E N D S A C T I O N A G A I N S T M AY 9 P R O T E S T O R S

tionalities, is Pakistan also seeking their custody or any access to those who have fled this country

PA K I S TA N will follow its laws and its international obligations, in bringing to justice individuals responsible for the events of May 9, maintained the Foreign Office on Thursday during its weekly press briefing

Responding to a question about the US State Department s request about provision of consular access to the suspect of May9 vandalism, Khadija Shah, and requests considering other dual nationals who have been detained FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said that requests have been received and forwarded to the Ministry of Interior

The spokesperson was asked whether the government of Pakistan is willing to provide Consular Access to her and any other person because many dual nationals are involved in the unfortunate incidents of 9th May”

Tho FO was further asked that many suspects of May 9 had either fled the country or were hiding abroad as they hold dual na-

Peshawar teen’s hear t valve changed without open-hear t surger y

PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t

Peshawar Institute of Cardiology change a 17-year-old patient s heart valve without resorting to open-heart surgery authorities told media on Thursday The institute s spokesperson Riffat Anjum said that the operation on the 17-year-old patient had been the first of its kind in the hospital The patient had lost usage of the valve that carries blood to his lungs PEDS cardiologist said that the patient had already had three heart surgeries which made open-heart surgery significantly more risky Therefore, the decision was made to opt for a minimally invasive surgery which was a success In open heart surgery surgeons directly access the patient s heart by opening the chest cutting through the breastbone and spreading the ribs The recovery time of such a procedure is longer than less invasive procedures

Eid-ul-Adha will be celebrated on June 29 in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

There is all likelihood that the Zilhaj moon will be sighted in Pakistan easily on June 19 (Monday) and consequently Eid –ul-Adah (the feast of sacrifice) would be celebrated on June 29 (Thursday) in Pakistan

The new moon will be easily visible with naked eye on the evening of Monday 29th Dhul-Qadah i e 19th June, 2023 As such 1st Zilhaj will fall on Tuesday 20th June and EiduL Azha will be celebrated on Thursday 29th June 2023 in Pakistan

The new moon will born on June 18 (Sunday) at 9:37 am Pakistan time and it will be more than 33 hours old in all Pakistani areas after sunset on next day The moon can only be visible to naked eye if it is more than 19 hours old It may be mentioned here that the last two Islamic months of Ramazan and Shawwal were of 30 days

200 Afghans arrested in Islamabad in fresh crackdown

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

In view of the involvement of some Afghan nationals in May 9 riots, police and other lawenforcement agencies (LEAs) in Islamabad have rounded up 200 Afghans living in different parts of the federal capital in the last few days in a crackdown ordered by the interior ministry it was learnt on Thursday Sources in the police said that cases against Afghan nationals had been registered under the Foreign Act Moreover, they disclosed, audit of all Afghan settlements in the federal capital had begun and the report would be submitted to the interior ministry They explained that the LEAs had even approached the National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) in order to know the exact number of Afghanis living in different parts of the country

To this Baloch replied On both your questions I would like to underline that Pakistan will follow its laws and its international obligations, in bringing to justice individuals responsible for the events of 9th May We have received the requests that you have mentioned and those requests have been sent from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to the Ministry of Interior which takes final decision in such cases She reiterated her previous stance, stressing that the characters involved in the events of May 9 are being brought to justice according to the law”

“Pakistan is a country governed by Constitution and law Basic rights are available to all citizens in Pakistan she added the government of Pakistan is fulfilling all local laws and international commitments Baloch once again rejected baseless allegations of human rights violations in Pakistan” The US had called on Pakistan to grant consular access to Khadija Shah a

prominent fashion designer with dual citizenship who has been detained in the wave of arrests that happened in the aftermath of May 9 protests The US State Department had said its diplomats have not had access to Shah who was produced before an anti-terrorism court following her arrest We have asked Pakistani officials for

consular access to her, State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel had told reporters confirming Shah’s dual nationality Whenever a US citizen is arrested overseas we stand ready to provide all appropriate assistance and we expect Pakistani authorities to respect all fair-trial guarantees owed to these detainees, Patel had said During the media briefing, the spokesperson also revealed that Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari had completed his first visit to Iraq where he met government officials and members of the business community Pakistan has assured all possible support for reconstruction and peace in Iraq, said Baloch “Tripartite dialogue on counterterrorism are also underway between Pakistan China and Iran ” she said “a Pakistani delegation is being led by the DG CounterTerrorism in Beijing for the talks Meanwhile Minister of State for Foreign Affairs Hina Rabbani Khar is in Europe where she will be visiting Norway, Belgium and Sweden, the FO spokesperson said Additionally Senate Chairman Sadiq

Sanjrani is on an important visit to Russia

“The purpose of the Senate chairman’s visit is to improve Pakistan-Russia relations ” the spokesperson said Notably the Russia-Ukraine war has taken centre stage in conversations surrounding the G20 which groups 19 rich nations of the world plus the EU India holds the presidency of the grouping for 2023 and is holding a series of events in various parts of the country that would culminate in the G20 summit in New Delhi later this year Pakistan had protested the holding of May 22-24 conference on tourism in Srinagar where the friendly countries of China, Saudi Arabia, Turkey and others had joined in by shunning the gathering The FO spokesperson today said that the “persecution by Indian forces in Kashmir continues Incidents of firing on youths especially children are continuing in Kashmir Pakistan once again demands from the international community that the Kashmir issue should be resolved according to the UN resolutions ” said Baloch

Pakistan’s economy grew only 0.29pc in FY22-23

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He urged hoarders to bring back dollars to the market as the price was expected to decrease soon Minister Dar estimated that the PKR was undervalued by at least Rs 45 per dollar and called on the media to create awareness among the masses regarding this issue Minister Dar also discussed debt repayment noting that the government had repaid around $6 5 billion of public debts during the last year, including non-sovereign debts and bond payments He outlined the government’s efforts to support vulnerable sections of society, such as increasing the Benazir Income Support Programme

(BISP) stipend and introducing a Ramazan Relief Package for deserving families The government had also disbursed Rs 1 750 billion in agriculture credit out of the Rs

2,000 billion Kissan Package

In terms of trade, Minister Dar revealed that decisions had been made to engage in barter trade with Iran Afghanistan and Russia with the aim of improving Pakistan s current account balance However, he mentioned that flash floods in

2022 had negatively impacted the agriculture sector, resulting in a growth rate of 1 55% compared to 4 27% the previous year The Large Scale Manufacturing (LSM) sector also faced challenges witnessing a decline of 8 11% during Jul-Mar FY2023 in contrast to a growth rate of 10 6% in the same period last year

Despite the current economic challenges, Minister Dar emphasized the government’s commitment to achieving macroeconomic stability and establishing a resilient and inclusive growth trajectory that would foster investor confidence improve market sentiments and enhance perceptions about Pakistan s economy

F B R TA X C O L L E C T I O N:

As per the economic survey tax revenue increased by 16 1% during the period from July to April reaching Rs 5 637 9 billion compared to Rs 4 855 8 billion in the previous year However the collection fell short of the government s target of Rs 7,470 billion for the 12-month period

T R A D E D E F I C I T:

The survey documents show Pakistan’s

exports declined by 9 9% during the period from July to March, totaling $21 bill i o n c o m p a r e d t o $ 2 3 b i l l i o n i n t h e previous year Imports during the same period decreased by 25 7% to $43 7 billion The government implemented poli c y t i g h t e n i n g a n d a d m i n i s t r a t i v e measures to protect foreign exchange res e r v e s , r e s u l t i n g i n a s i g n i f i c a n t r e d u ction in the trade deficit

C U R R E N T A C C O U N T:

The current account deficit decreased by 74 1% during the period from July to March standing at $3 4 billion compared to $13 billion in the same period the previous year The improvement was primarily attributed to a substantial decline in import payments

F I S C A L D E F I C I T:

The fiscal deficit was contained at 3 6% of GDP during the first nine months of the fiscal year, compared to 3 9% in the corresponding period of the previous year The government’s prudent expenditure management and effective domestic resource mobilization strategy con-

KP caretaker ministers, bureaucrac y lock horns over new projec ts

PESHAWAR a z z B u n e R i

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Government and the bureaucracy have reportedly locked horns over the preparations for development budget as the former wants to include new projects in the upcoming budget According to details the caretaker ministers have strongly advocated for inclusion of new development projects f o r t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o n s t i t u e n c i e s i n t h e a n n u a l d e v e l o p m e n t p r o g r a m m e for fiscal year 2023-24 T h e b u r e a u c r a c y, h o w e v e r, h a s f i r m l y s t a t e d t h a t n o a d d i t i o n a l p r o jects will be added to the Annual Development Programme (ADP) due to

the prevailing financial crisis

A c c o r d i n g t o s o u r c e s , t h e K P c a r e t a k e r c a b i n e t m i n i s t e r s h a v e d irected their respective departments to p r o p o s e n e w d e v e l o p m e n t p r o j e c t s but the bureaucracy has expressed serious reservations over such inclusion T h e P l a n n i n g a n d D e v e l o p m e n t (P&D) Department has also expressed c o n c e r n s a b o u t t h e m a t t e r a s t h e r ecently released guidelines for the new fiscal year ’s ADP explicitly state that no new projects will be considered in the budget During a meeting held on June 6 at the P&D Department, officers reiterated to the ministers that no new projects could be added to the ADP All proposals for such projects will be re-

moved from every department, following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan

The KP caretaker government is tasked with presenting a budget for the next four months which will receive approval from the provincial cabinet after the federal budget presentation The mounting tensions between caretaker ministers and the bureaucracy over the inclusion of new projects in the new development program have raised concerns about the progress of the province Experts have stressed the need for resolution of these differences for the smooth implementation of development initiatives and the overall welfare of the province

PTI deser ters flock to ‘new nest ’ as Tareen announces ‘Istehk am- e -Pakistan Par ty ’

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

He said the PTI s manifesto was to improve the economy and relations with other countries and most importantly, ensure accountability “There were the slogans on the basis of which the party was formed and people voted for the PTI ” he said regretting that these objectives could not be achieved Tareen said the events of May had changed the politics of Pakistan I am saying this from the bottom of my heart that if the miscreants and planners of May 9 are not brought to justice attacks on houses of political rivals will also be considered acceptable And we will never let this happen,

Gilgit-Baltistan to expand

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Taking inspiration from the remarkable achievements of the ‘smart classrooms’ established in five high schools of GilgitBaltistan as part of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the regional government has decided to expand this concept to an additional 37 schools situated in the remote and distant areas of Pakistan s northern region

Furthermore they have plans to implement this technology-driven education sys-

tem in 130 more public-sector schools

A senior official from the education department of Gilgit-Baltistan (GB) told Gwadar Pro that in 2018 smart classrooms were established in five high schools located in Gilgit, Skardu, Sost, Altit, and Chilas as part of the CPEC initiative

These classrooms yielded remarkable results for the students attending those schools However students from other schools or those studying from home were unable to reap the benefits due to the unavailability of reliable internet services in the region

Therefore, in December 2022, the Chief

he vowed Tareen said May 9 vandalism was not just about a mob attacking public properties “This was setting an example of a mob attacking anyone s house and harassing our families No society could allow this he asserted We cannot let this situation escalate further He added, So we have gathered here today We will collectively try to steer Pakistan out of the quagmire Our country needs this today We will together heal the wounds inflicted on Pakistan Tareen said Pakistan presently needed a leadership that would end political and social divisions and promote unity and tolerance

This country needs a leadership that can give this nation a narrative of hope”

“At this time what our nation needs the most is the hope that its situation will improve and it will reach a new height he said adding that this was the reason the foundation of the new IPP party was being laid down today Our objective is very clear ” He said all those present alongside him wanted Pakistan to progress

We a l l r e a l i s e a n d a g r e e t h a t

o u r p o l i t i c s n e e d a n e w d i r e c t i o n

We a l s o r e a l i s e t h a t o u r d e m o -

c r a t i c s y s t e m c a n o n l y s t r e n g t h e n i f t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d o p p o s i t i o n b o t h u n d e r s t a n d a n d a b i d e b y t h e i r c o n s t it u t i o n a l r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s ”

tributed to this achievement

P S D P:

Expenditures for the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) declined by 1 8% during the nine-month period from July to March The allocated funds amounted to Rs 1 014 billion The next year s PSDP will focus on projects supporting the 5Es framework, post-flood recovery and rehabilitation, reconstruction efforts and the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

I N F L AT I O N:

Inflation reached 28 2% during the ninemonth period from July 2022 to March 2023, compared to 11% in the same per i o d t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r T h i s w a s t h e highest inflation rate ever recorded affecting all categories except for commun i c a t i o n s e r v i c e s R i s i n g g l o b a l o i l p r i c e s e x c h a n g e r a t e d e p r e c i a t i o n a n d adjustments in energy tariffs and petroleum levy contributed to the surge in domestic energy prices Food inflation was primarily driven by higher prices of perishable items

PML-N to contest elections in alliance with JKT group: Tarar

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) announced to contest the upcoming elections with the Jahangir Tareen (JKT) group an association of deserters of PTI comprising former lawmakers and ministers Talking to media person on Thursday, Ata Tarar spokesperson for Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, saluted the ‘PTI quitters’ and lauded their stance for standing firmly with the state of Pakistan instead of vandals who torched down the sensitive installation and attacked the state buildings Tarar said only five people left PML-N He hinted at adjusting former PTI lawmakers into PMLN as per the space available with the party, saying the party will definitely accommodate the lawmakers who preferred standing with Pakistan

The PM spokesperson said PML-N had ideal relation with the JKT and both will contest elections together in alliance On the other hand former confidant Jahangir Khan Tareen announced a new political party amid the changing political landscape A large number of electable who left PTI and announced to quit politics after May 9 riots joined the JKT’s Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) It should be noted that Jahangir Khan Tareen made significant headway when numerous important members of Imran Khan s team joined forces with the sugar baron on Wednesday According to Awn Chaudhry the name of the new party would be ‘Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP)’ Former PTI leaders Fawad Chaudhry Amir Kiyani Ali Zaidi Imran Ismail Mahmood Maulvi Firdous Ashiq Awan Ajmal Wazir Nauraiz Shakoor and Fayyazul Hasan Chohan embraced their new boss in a group hug in Lahore

CPEC ’s ‘smar t classrooms ’ concept

Secretary GB Mohyuddin Wani made the decision to replicate this concept in other government schools across the region Initially smart classrooms were set up in 37 additional high schools, catering to both boys and girls

The concept proved to be immensely beneficial as it not only addressed the issue of teacher shortages in government schools but also provided students from remote areas with access to world-class course content the official explained Muhammad Sajjad, the owner of GBeeTechive, the company responsible for

installing smart classrooms in the 37 schools shared with Gwadarpro that the basic idea was derived from CPEC s smart classrooms However they had to make modifications considering the constraints such as the unavailability of reliable internet and uninterrupted electricity in the remote areas Muhammad Ayub a Chinese language teacher who supervised the CPEC smart classroom in Government High School No 1 Gilgit from 2018 until a month ago expressed that the results were incredibly impressive The school experienced a sudden in-

crease in student enrolment along with heightened enthusiasm among the already enrolled students In this impoverished and underserved region the students had no prior exposure to computers However, CPEC provided them with an opportunity to not only learn advanced digital systems but also access high-quality content in various disciplines

In a recent tweet by the Chief Secretary GB on June 6 it was announced that smart classrooms would be established in an additional 130 schools in July, thanks to a grant from the federal government

TH E announcement by Jahangir Tareen that a new party the Pakistan Istehkam Party would be formed in the presence of a large number of those who had left the Pakistan Tehrik Insaf showed that they wanted a platform from which to continue their political journey It is possible to identify three strands of PTI dissidents at the announcement of the formation of the party Mr Tareen represents the oldest strand as well as the South Punjab group which had at one time switched to the PTI from the PML(N), but which has now left the han PTI Mr Abdul Aleem Khan is one of those who left the party after Mr Imran Khan was removed as Prime Minister being a disappointed candidate for Punjab Chief Minister Mr Imran Imail the former Sindh Governor, led a delegation from Karachi, which included former federal minister Ali Zaidi and former MNA Mahmood Maulvi, all of whom had left the PTI after May 9 whether in righteous outrage at the attacks or because of pressures by the establishment

One of those meeting Mr Tareen was former Punjab minister Murad Raas, who had announced his own Democrats Group His presence was perhaps symbolic of the confusion that afflicts PTI men who have left the party Indeed it probably affects those who have not yet left the party, but who have been becoming increasingly uncomfortable as the crusade against corruption became something else on May 9

The new party will enable them to concentrate their minds on the search for a new political platform one which will enable the ideology of the PTI to be carried forward, which sought to provide a voice to those who were not traditional politicians, and who were opposed to the perceived corruption and dynasticism of the other mainstream parties It will also provide a possibility for those who have remained loyal to the PTI

The new outfit will have many charges to answer, but the one that might cause the most problems will be that it is merely a King s Party Certainly, the faces gathering together are familiar not just because they were parachuted into the PTI but because they had been in previous parties However, the new party does not yet seem to have any ambitions beyond being a pressure group That strategy is obvious, and thus while enjoying the advantage of simplicity may have a limited appeal to the electorate

Nizami

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

A

M

The Spor t of Kings’ (Par ties)

The PTI’s implosion has left a lot of elec tables homeless

f a v o u r B u t i s f a v o u r t o b e h a d ?

Yousaf Nizami Editor

Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Beijing’s Grip

Aglobal order characterized by multiplexity entails a diverse array of state and non-state actors actively influencing the norms of governance according to their distinct cultural perspectives In stark contrast a hegemonic world order is marked by the dominance of a single power that propagates a uniform narrative China s ambitious pursuit of hegemony in the Indo-Pacific region, particularly Southeast Asia faces a formidable hurdle due to its unsophisticated and unsubtle approach to international relations Beijing s diplomatic economic and military initiatives over the past ten years and beyond have undeniably increased China’s influence throughout Asia Since the founding of the People’s Republic of China in 1949 China’s relations with Russia as well as those with developing nations of Central Asia India Southeast Asia South Korea and Japan have reached an all-time high This expansion of Beijing s influence and Asia s response to Chinese initiatives are inescapable in the long run Undoubtedly, China is the dominant nation in

IT was perhaps inevitable that the implosion of the Pakistan Tehreek Insaf should lead to the search for another King s Party but the fact that replacement King s Party is being sought indicates that the establishment has not gotten out of politics as is being claimed

The problem is that the PTI is not the only King s Party on the political landscape, and to an extent, virtually all the parties have been at one time or another King’s Parties Indeed critics of the current PDM coalition would argue that all of the parties currently in the ruling coalition are King s Parties and they would probably be right However, politicians are malleable, and today s King s Party may be tomorrow’s trenchant opposition

The PTI is a good example How did a party which is alleged to have come to power with agency support and which depended all along on the military for such mundane matters as getting votes end up not merely criticizing the Army and accusing the top military leadership of trying to murder party chief Imran Khan, but actually staging an insurrection against it?

There is no simple answer, but the followers wanted Imran Khan to rule and when the military apparently refused to back him they turned against it Imran actually managed to split loyalties for he first played the patriotic card and conflated patriotism with himself The opponents realize the thin-ness of the story of an attempted insurrection with their talk of an attempted rebellion within the armed forces It does seem that any rebellion which involved the trashing of military symbols was unlikely to win support from the cadres necessary for the success of a revolution

Whatever happened on May 9 it did lead to the implosion of the PTI

The party lost its chief spokesman, its secretarygeneral, and the presidents of the two provinces where it had formed governments It lost members of the federal cabinet In brief it has lost most of the organizational structure it needs to carry it into the next election However it is well worth examining what will be the fate of those who have left the party

It should be remembered that politicians have left Some have announced a retirement from politics, while some have announced a break, which implies the possibility of a comeback Also, these are electables What is the point of being an electable if one is not going to contest an election?

T h e r e h a s t o b e a p l a t f o r m O n e w a y w o u l d b e f o r t h e K i n g t o f o r m a n e w P a r t y T h e r e a r e s o m e s i g n s t h a t t h i s i s h a p p e n i n g I n d e e d , t h e r e s e e m s t o b e m o r e t h a n o n e h a t i n t h e r i n g J a h a n g i r Ta r e e n i s t h e a p p a r e n t f r o n t r u n n e r, a n d h e h a s

b e e n j o i n e d b y A l e e m K h a n B o t h e h a d b e e n k n o w n a s I m r a n ’s AT M s u n t i l t h e y f e l l o u t o f favour with him They have both got old links with t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t a n d a r e g o o d c a n d i d a t e s f o r

continental Asia and it has a thriving economy that, while competing with those of other Asian nations, also drives overall economic growth

However, to ostensibly stop China from becoming a regional hegemon the USA and its Asian allies seek to maintain a delicate balance of power in the Indo-Pacific They worry that Beijing will gradually persuade its neighbors to turn away from the USA, accept Chinese preeminence, and abide by Beijing s preferences in key foreign policy decisions Thus, a dominant power wielding its power in this way makes itself less vulnerable to blockades and other forms of coercion while also gaining the respect of weaker states within its sphere of influence even in the absence of direct rule The lack of local threats makes it easier for the regional hegemon, should the need or desire arise, to project power into other global domains Furthermore, despite being a key component of hegemonic ordering China’s increased economic and financial power in South Asia has not yet resulted in the creation of a regional structure that is in line with its own security, economic and ideological interests

In particular, India has surpassed China in both size and proportion of young people due to its rapidly growing economy and population

Significant increases in defense spending show that many of China s neighbouring countries are actively engaged in vigorous balance efforts In addition to the USA other nations such as Australia, India, and Japan, are working together These countries will probably respond with even more resolute measures as their worries about Chinese hegemony grow Despite that South Asia has historically rarely been a focus of American efforts to establish global hegemony However under Xi s leadership, China has increasingly manipulated its role as a regional benefactor, showing a tendency to use force and take sides, particularly in relation to India’s territorial disputes with its neighbouring states The goal of China’s

Less seeking for favour and more because of want of something to do, Murad Ras, a former Punjab minister, has announced the formation of a democratic group’ So far, the aspirations seem limited to the Punjab Chief Ministership None of the two seem likely to aspire to the Prime Ministersghip and Ras only recently emerged as a chief ministerial possibility However he had little chance in the PTI which seemed to have a plethora of candidates

However, it might be instructive to see how

King’s Parties have fared The first, meant as a vehicle for Ayub Khan, the one whose ticket he got to contest the 1965 election was the Pakistan Muslim LeagueConvention or Convention League as opposed to the PML-Council or Council League After Ayub s fall it remained around It is interesting the number of Convention Leaguers who went into the PPP

But did that make the PPP a King s Party? It is true that a onetime Secretary-General of the Convention League headed the PPP being none other than Zulfikar Ali Bhutto One of his successors was Ch Zahoor Elahi who began a career of supporting military rulers that has gone beyond his death his son Shujat heading the PML(Q), another King s Party

However, though Bhutto initially maintained contacts with Ayun’s successor Yahya Khan there was a strong left wing in the party Its leaders like Mairaj Muhammad Khan left the party, but the left-wing sensibiliity of the party remains, though now diluted to a sort of liberalism It took a military coup to remove the PPP and Bhutto was hanged but the replacement was the IJI, which went through a number of transformations until it became the PML(N) The PML(N) was a King’s Party in that it came to power with the approval of the establishment However if the PPP took over the left wing, the PML(N) took over the right wing

After the 1999 military coup, the establishment drew out people from the PML(N), and the PPP, forming the PML(Q) When the PPP had to have Patriots drawn out representing perhaps an even bigger desertion for that party since its ouster they were given a home in the PML(Q)

However, the break-up of the PML(Q) saw many switch over to the PTI, while the rump was left to Ch Shujat The PTI seemed ideal, for it was a new type of party in that it became the political wing of the establishment Interest groups establish political parties The most common type in the West are the social democratic parties which are basically political wings of the trades unions Pakistan has a number of

engagement policy is to maintain its strategic advantage over maritime communication routes This strategy has forced the region into a precarious balance in which economic cooperation and strategic implications must be carefully navigated The region has shown assertiveness on a few issues and has chosen to co-opt each other s interests despite China s materially inferior capabilities Due to its lack of cultural legitimacy as a superpower and its preference for extensive economic activism, China’s pretended win-win scenario for Asia as a whole has been called into question As they interact with the prevailing norms at various levels of state and society as well as state and non-state actors the sectors that support China s aspirations for hegemonic dominance are constantly contested, opposed, renegotiated, and reproduced Furthermore, China’s rise has unquestionably been imperative to maintain global economic growth with its market playing an important role In a world where their omnipotence in all fields is no longer absolute, Americans will face difficult adaptation challenges They can adapt to change, though, because they have a flexible and resilient nature Both the USA and China will continue to pursue their respective national interests as they see fit #

Since multiple countries not just the USA or China will participate in power sharing the future world will likely be more complex than the past and will be characterized by increased democratization ” There will be numerous opportunities for nations with reliable ties to both Beijing and Washington to control their level of involvement in international affairs There shall be no dominant force and there shall be no such thing as a G-2

The writer is a student of Strategic & Nuclear Studies at the National Defence University Islamabad He can be reached at hafiznadirali7@gmail com

sectarian parties as well as ethnic parties of which only the MQM has been successful It is worth noting that all religious parties are sectarian and though there may be some token representation of other sects, the bent of a particular party is clear Perhaps the PTI’s problem is that it does not find much space on the political spectrum The PPP has taken the left the PML(N) the right so what is left the centre? The centre is occupied by those parties who only enter power by forming a coalition with one of the other parties

The problem was that the PTI acted for a group that was not its electorate

The establishment saw the PTI as the answer to its problems a political party willing to act as its representative, much as the British Labour Party is the political arm of the Trades Union Congress, or the BJP of the RSS in India However the TUC and the RSS can both deliver a mass of votes on which the parties can base their electoral efforts While the establishment could deliver some votes, that would have to be surreptitious its main contributions were electables and grey votes

The establishment s much-touted withdrawal from politics, the munificent decision not to interfere, was prompted more by the realization that interference had not yielded the desired results of enhancing national power Yet now it is being forced to interfere once again The new King’s Parties being set up are not supposed to take power only share in it be coalition partners for the major parties They are also meant to stop the PTI raising its head again Most important they are to make sure that May 9 is never repeated

However, there is a price All of this brings the establishment back into politics There will be many who will want this because withdrawal will mean that they cannot play at politics as they once did

The writer is a member of staff

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

Political order

J U D I C I A L activism may have a negative effect on the minority provinces’ faith in the federation This means serious rethinking is required for the solidarity and unity of the federation Our constitutional history demands that wisdom and sincerity of purpose should not be thrown to the winds

Although we generally claim that 1973 Constitution was unanimously passed if memory serves me right two members of the National Assembly had abstained, including Noor Mohammed Hashmi from Rahim Yar Khan because at the time of creating One Unit, a pledge had been made with Bahawalpur state that if and when One Unit was dissolved, the original status of the state would be restored As a student of history and politics I salute the sagacity of the Legislative Assembly which felt the early currents of polarisation and got the Objectives Resolution passed in 1954 In today s situation one way out for parliament is to consider invoking the emergency clause provided in the Constitution to save the unity of the federation

There is no debate about the power of parliament to amend the Constitution and the remedial platform for any violation will not be judiciary, but the people of Pakistan who would express their will at the general elections by choosing their representatives Confusion is getting more confounded today

ALI ASHRAF KHAN KARACHI

Custodial tor ture

A C C O R D I N G to the country s constitution, no torture can be inflicted on anybody for extraction of evidence Police rules also restrict police officers from any kind of torture on citizens in police custody, and those indulging in such activities can be fined and even imprisoned for up to five years What happens on the ground however is no secret

There is a huge margin of improvement in police rules of 2002 for there is no definition of torture and the difference between mental and physical torture is indistinguishable The United Nations passed the Convention against Torture and Other Cruel, Inhuman or Degrading Treatment or Punishment, called the Torture Convention, in 1984 In 1987, the convention was enforced and for Pakistan it took 20 years to become a part of it in 2008 as a signatory However since then we have not been able to meet the basic requirements of the convention The Torture and Custodial Death (Prevention and Punishment) Act 2022 was passed by parliament under which torture by public officials became a cognizable noncompoundable and non-bailable offence Apparently, it is a progress, but the problem will stay if the law is not enforced in letter and in spirit

BUSHRA DEWAN KARACHI

A risky affair

T H E risky and illegal practice of one-wheeling has been on the rise in most urban areas for some time but it is a rather new phenomenon in Islamabad

One-wheeling poses a threat to the rider s safety as well as to the safety of pedestrians and other commuters It is a violation of traffic laws and may lead to serious accidents and negative perceptions of young people in the community It also puts a strain on the already overburdened emergency healthcare services in hospitals, as they are often called upon to treat injuries resulting from these accidents The government should address this problem This can include increasing enforcement of traffic laws and educating the public about the hazards of one-wheeling Besides parents should also take responsibility in this regard and should educate and guide the younger ones to make safe and legal choices Such efforts may include providing mentorship and discussing at home the hazards and fallouts of one-wheeling

Since multiple countries, not just the USA or China, will par ticipate in power sharing, the future world will likely be more complex than the past and will be characteriz ed by increased „democratization ‰

There will be numerous oppor tunities for nations with reliable ties to both Beijing and Washington to control their level of involvement in international affairs

However, there is a price All of this brings the establishment back into politics There will be many who will want this, because withdrawal will mean that they cannot play at politics as they once did

Why does Pakistan experience Military dominance?

to civilian officials the military has a strong tradition of independence as evidenced by its actions in preventing the government from acquiring nuclear weapons in the 1990s The military has also been known to intervene in political affairs, such as in August 2018, when it overthrew a democratically elected government through what was in effect a military coup This was in response to the elected leaders failure to control the country s economy and account for lost funds due to corruption

TH E military establishment in Pakistan has always played a dominant role in the country’s politics and has been the primary source of power since the country s inception But the question arises why military rulers have been able to gain power in Pakistan and how have they managed to maintain their grip on the country for so long

Going back almost half a century ago, Zia’s military regime in 1977 was marked by widespread human rights abuses including the suppression of political dissent and the imposition of strict Islamic laws but still was able to maintain its grip on power because it had the support of conservative forces in Pakistani society, including religious leaders, the military, and the judiciary Similarly, the military regime of General Pervez Musharraf, who came to power in a bloodless coup in 1999, was able to maintain its grip on power by using a combination of coercion and cooptation Musharraf s regime was marked by a series of constitutional amendments that strengthened the power of the military at the expense of civilian institutions During Pervez Musharraf s regime, which lasted from 1999 to 2008, the USA played a significant role in supporting his government, primarily due to Musharraf ’s perceived cooperation in the “war on terror” following the 9/11 attacks The US government considered Pakistan under Musharraf s leadership a key ally in countering terrorism in the region which led to a neglect of long-term democracy-building efforts and rise of extremist groups in the country

The Pakistani military is widely considered one of the most powerful in the world It has a rich history, dating back to its formation in 1947 when it was created from units of the Raj s British Indian Army While Pakistan does have a strong military tradition and culture there have been instances where the military s involvement in politics and governance has raised concerns about the country s democratic process Despite being subservient

The military s role in governance has also been criticized for undermining democratic institutions and processes The military has been accused of controlling the media and suppressing dissenting voices, as well as using its influence to shape public opinion in favor of its preferred political candidates Furthermore the military s involvement in the country s economic affairs has also raised concerns The military has significant business interests in several sectors, including real estate, construction, and agriculture Some critics argue that this puts the military in a conflict of interest and undermines the country’s eco-

In essence , the militar y has maintained its grip on power through its control of major institutions such as the bureaucracy, legislature , judiciar y, economy, and press.

Overall, PakistanÊs limited rule of law and weak state capacity have contributed to the militar yÊs continued dominance and its ability to hold sway over the countr yÊs affairs It is a situation that has persisted for far too long, and one that will require significant effor ts to rectify

nomic growth and development Therefore, to keep the respect intact, it is essential for the military to maintain its professionalism and remain neutral in matters of governance to ensure a healthy democratic system in Pakistan

It is with utmost irony that one must acknowledge Pakistan s prolonged struggle with feeble civilian leadership From the unfortunate assassinations of Liaqat Ali Khan, Zulfikar Ali Bhutto, and Benazir Bhutto, to the domination of the military in Parliament, the story of Pakistan’s executive branch has been nothing short of a tragicomedy As if the military’s takeover in the 1980s wasn’t enough military officers were appointed as governors in the provinces allowing them to exert their power with impunity

Meanwhile the bureaucracy largely controlled by military officers, operates outside the realm of accountability to elected officials One cannot help but marvel at the satirical nature of Pakistan’s political landscape, where the country’s supposed leaders are merely figureheads and the military is the true force to be reckoned with Indeed the situation in Pakistan is akin to a grand performance with the actors merely playing their parts in a script written and directed by the military How amusing it must be for those in power to see the citizens of Pakistan go about their daily lives, unaware of the farce that is their governance

Apart from that the institutional presence of intelligence agencies in Pakistan is nothing short of overwhelming From the humble beginnings of the Intelligence Bureau (IB) at independence to the creation of the InterServices Intelligence (ISI) in 1972, the number of intelligence agencies has only increased with time However, the actions of these intelligence agencies have often been called into question with accusations of promoting their own interests at the expense of the government The ISI

Ours is not a banana republic

T h e B l i n ke n t w e e t o n l y l e n d s c re d i b i l i t y t o S h e i k h H a s i n a’s p o i n t t h a t t h e A m e r i c a n s a re n o t w i l l i n g t o s e e h e r i n p o w e r S u d d e n l y t h o s e g r a i n y i m a g e s o f C h i l e 1 9 7 3 a n d B a n g l a d e s h 1 9 7 5 b e g i n t o f l y a ro u n d

But beyond that come issues of a more concerning kind A young rather articulate opposition politician made the surprising comment on a western Bangla media recently that if things go wrong with the elections complaints will not be made to the Election Commission but to the American embassy in Dhaka

That was not only bizarre but outrageous as well In other words, Bangladesh s citizens were being informed, to their shock and dismay, that everything related to our elections now depends on how the US embassy and by extension the State Department will deal with us or with the Sheikh Hasina government

Must that happen? And must we be beholden to foreigners to keep watch over our electoral process and on how the voting goes ahead?

relates to why electricity simply turned non-existent when for years we were informed that the entirety of Bangladesh had come under power coverage There are other areas, food prices being one where we expect the government to act seriously and firmly if popular support for it is not to erode The middle classes and the poor have been reduced to misery, if not yet to absolute penury, by rising prices

Families have by and large dispensed with meat and fish in their meals Their purchase and intake of vegetables have declined for with their limited income they are unable to fulfil their expectations to go back home from the market with bags brimming over with the ingredients which constitute lunch and dinner for their families

in particular, has been accused of manipulating elections and politics in Pakistan, leading to a loss of trust in these agencies among the general public To add to this already complicated situation the military has created several non-military organizations including the Frontier Corps (FC) and the National Logistics Cell (NLC) With so many intelligence agencies and non-military organizations in the mix, it s no wonder that the situation in Pakistan is often described as opaque and complex

When it comes to establishing the rule of law and enforcing it, Pakistan’s state capacity is unfortunately limited This is a crucial factor in the dominance of the military establishment in the country s politics Legislative capacity has been weak with a poor track record of passing laws regularly Administrative capacity is also lacking, with the government struggling to implement policies and provide services to the population Despite being subordinate to the elected government and civilian-controlled judiciary in theory the Pakistani military has consistently acquired more power and authority than what is formally given to it by the constitution and the law This is because the military has been able to control many of the most critical aspects of Pakistani political and social life It has dominated the political system, controlled foreign policy, the economy, and internal security

In essence, the military has maintained its grip on power through its control of major institutions such as the bureaucracy legislature judiciary economy and press Overall Pakistan s limited rule of law and weak state capacity have contributed to the military s continued dominance and its ability to hold sway over the country s affairs It is a situation that has persisted for far too long, and one that will require significant efforts to rectify

The writer is a freelance columnist

Th e a b i l i t y to u s e A I to co n d u c t c y b e rat t a c k s m ay b e i t s m o s t d a n g e ro u s at t r i b u te

KOREA HERALD J A M e s s tAv r I d I s

But recently when the prime minister averred that the United States did not wish to see her in power, there was good food for thought in that statement Again, when she told the Jatiya Sangsad that Washington had the power to remove foreign governments she was not wrong It was history she was referring to and one had no reason to not agree with her

In these past many weeks and months, we in Bangladesh have clearly run into problems where our dealings with Washington are concerned The recent tweet by Antony Blinken on visa restrictions for Bangladesh s politicians and others if and when the forthcoming general elections are impeded or voting is not gone through in a fair, free, and transparent manner has had passions aroused throughout the country

The political opposition is immensely happy that these restrictions are now the focus of Bangladesh policy in Washington For their part, the ruling circles, despite the embarrassment they have run into with this American move, have been going around informing people that this visa-related warning is directed at the Bangladesh Nationalist Party

How so? If the BNP boycotts the elections or creates conditions that might lead to the voting coming into question, that will be good enough reason for the Americans to conclude that visa restrictions will need to be in place for the opposition

Not so argues the opposition It has put forth the argument that the US move comes in light of the elections of 2014 and 2018 and that the Biden administration is now firm about a credible election taking place in Bangladesh

One will surely have noted the rise in confidence among the opposition with many of their spokespersons quite believing that a restoration of their glory days is at hand that the Awami League is in retreat It all depends on how one observes the situation

Of course it is imperative that we have good elections voting which is beyond question or doubt take place later this year or early next year And of course we expect the Election Commission to apply its full authority, without any political influence being exercised on it, between now and the voting We will certainly expect the government to ensure a level playing field for all parties as they campaign for popular support

The government would be well-advised to go out on a limb to explain its achievements in these past many years and its plans for the future to the electorate Likewise the opposition will be expected to spell out its programs for the future alongside an explanation of the reforms or policy changes it has gone through since it was last in office

That said, when that young politician stresses the importance of the US embassy rather than that of the Election Commission we understand the reasons behind his statement

But should those reasons be a reason for him to propagate the idea that if and when election-related complaints are made to American diplomats based in Dhaka, corrective measures will be taken by them and that a government will be in place in line with their preferences?

One does not quite feel like saying it but the fact remains that Bangladesh is not a banana republic

It is not Somalia

It is not Sudan Yes, Bangladesh has problems where human rights are the issue, where transparent politics is up against roadblocks

We in this country have kept up the argument that the rule of law must be in full play that draconian measures such as the Digital Security Act ought not to have been there at all given the laws which already exist and the constitutional provisions which are there for our political classes to uphold We have a good economy going; we have our people not going hungry

But yes we have issues with the ruling classes in such areas as guarantees of electricity throughout the country The minister of state for power has assured us that the power

These are the problems we encounter on a daily basis We would like the government to spell out the means through which food at affordable prices and supplies of electricity, gas and water can be ensured for citizens For the opposition, the desperate urge to see the back of this government through a movement on the streets must be replaced by coherent policies on what it means to do about such issues should it regain political authority Verbal jousting will not do, neither for the ruling party nor for the opposition

Statecraft has no space for hubris

More than a half century after liberation it is embarrassing to have foreign governments educate us on what governance is or should be Our self-esteem as a nation is not enhanced when our politicians, in government as well as opposition, are eager to impress foreign diplomats with their thoughts on circumstances prevailing in the country

It is quite acceptable when such diplomats raise issues which concern their governments with the government of the host country, but that is done beyond public knowledge and in line with protocol In Bangladesh, that convention was broken in the mid-1990s We are yet trapped in that condition

One last word Antony Blinken and the administration he is part of ought not to have gone for an announcement of the visa move on Twitter There was a lack of ethics here

One state does not have the moral authority to belittle another in a manner which eschews the norms of diplomacy

The Biden administration given the pressure it has been subjecting the Bangladesh government to, should have waited till the elections before making such a move

The Blinken tweet only lends credibility to Sheikh Hasina’s point that the Americans are not willing to see her in power Suddenly those grainy images of Chile 1973 and Bangladesh 1975 begin to fly around, to our discomfiture

ART I F I C I A L i n t e l l i g e n c e i s s u ddenly everywhere We are awash in ideas about how we can use AI productively from agriculture to clim a t e c h a n g e t o e n g i n e e r i n g t o software construction And, equally, there are plenty of cautionary notes being struck about u s i n g A I t o c o n t r o l s o c i e t i e s m a n i p u l a t e e c o n o m i e s d e f e a t c o m m e r c i a l o p p o n e n t s a n d g e n e r a l l y f u l f i l l A r t h u r C C l a r k e s v isions of machines dominating man in 2001:

A Space Odyssey T h u s f a r, h o w e v e r, r e l a t i v e l y l i t t l e h a s been written about the implications of AI on warfare and geopolitics For better and worse those arenas also lend themselves to a variety of ways in which new technologies can suddenly break apart paradigms Think of Agincourt in 1415, a medieval battle in which the flower of the French nobility sporting the k e y t e c h n o l o g y o f t h a t a g e , p l a t e a r m o r w e r e s l a u g h t e r e d a t l o n g r a n g e t h r o u g h a n e m e rg i n g t e c h n o l o g y E n g l i s h l o n g b o w m e n led by King Henry V Military technology submarines radar sonar nuclear weapons can change the global balance in an instant

Are we at such a moment with AI?

Perhaps A good point of comparison might be the advent of nuclear weapons, when the most experienced warrior of his age General Douglas MacArthur saw the atomic bombs used on Japan and said simply that warfare is changed forever Yet the hand-to-hand combat in Ukraine, the dug-in Russian forces in their extensive trenches awaiting the promised Ukrainian summer offensive, and the endless artillery duels between the two sides all seem oh-so-19th century frankly

HOW WILL AI COMPLETELY CHANGE

WARFARE? First and foremost AI will be a powerful tool for decision makers on the battlefield at every level I vividly remember when the Vincennes, a US Navy Aegis cruiser, mistakenly shot down an Iranian commercial airliner in 1988 The tactical action officer in the combat information center incorrectly assessed a hostile Iranian military jet Nearly 300 civilians paid with their lives Had an artificial intelligence advisor been available, capable of synthesizing millions of data points and comparing the radar picture to an infinite number of similar scenarios it al-

most certainly would have identified a civilian aircraft AI could dramatically reduce “collateral damage killings A I c o u l d a l s o i n s t a n t l y p r o v i d e h i g h l y detailed strategic targeting information giving a decision maker a road map to use precision weapons at the most vulnerable points of an enemy’s logistics chain In the Libyan campaign of 2011 which I commanded the North Atlantic Treaty Organization struggled w i t h b o t h a v o i d i n g c o l l a t e r a l d a m a g e a n d less-than-optimal target selection capabilities AI could easily have provided Another crucial capability of AI is the ability to control massive swarms of drones in synchronized attack formations, much as birds flock together to scare away predators This kind of mechanical murmuration can be directed with deadly results by low-cost disposable drones that swamp air defenses Using AI to direct drones in Ukraine, for example, could allow the Kyiv government to further deplete Russia s dwindling supply of armor, and also cause its forces to waste critical air-defense missiles AI could also be a powerful tool in psychological and information warfare Creating deepfakes for example videos purporting to show certain combat effects could cause mistaken reactions by enemy forces Consider the image of the Pentagon in flames that spooked markets last week as it went viral around the globe Ukraine could further the Russians sense of a failing war through a flood of AI-generated fake images false stories and shadow operations AI will be very helpful in defensive and back office activities in war Logistics, as we h a v e s e e n i n t h e R u s s i a n i n v a s i o n o f U k r a i n e c a n b e a n A c h i l l e s h e e l o f m i l it a r i e s Wi t h A I a n a l y z i n g m a i n t e n a n c e p a tterns suggesting preventative maintenance d e t a n g l i n g c o m b a t s u p p l y c h a i n s a n d p r ov i d i n g m i n u t e - t o - m i n u t e l o g i s t i c a l a d v i c e , commanders will have a deep advantage over opponents who have fallen behind in the race to develop and deploy these tools

Finally the ability to use AI to conduct cyberattacks may be its most dangerous attribute As militaries continue to run combat operations logistics targeting intelligence and all other aspects of modern warfare with the internet as the backbone, the ability to crack into an opponent’s cyber networks will be crucial Particularly with advances in quantum computing superior AI systems will allow overall mastery of the cyber battlefield

Even as we consider the immense benefits of AI to our societies, we need to have a cleareyed understanding of just how deep the impact will be on the conduct of war All the more reason for the Pentagon to continue to refine its understanding and implementation of AI in the Ukrainian campaign which will have benefits for decades to come J a m e s S t a v r i d i s i s a B l o o m b e rg O p i n i o n c o l u m n i s t A re t i re d U S N a v y a d m i r a l , f o r m e r s u p re m e a l l i e d c o m m a n d e r o f N ATO , a n d d e a n e m e r i t u s o f t h e F l e t c h e r S c h o o l o f L a w a n d D i p l o m a c y a t Tu f t s U n i v e r s i t y h e i s v i c e c h a i r m a n o f g l o b a l a f f a i r s a t t h e C a r l y l e G ro u p

H o w w i l l A I c h a n g e m o d e r n w a r f a r e ?

C H I N A , PA K I S TA N , I R A N H O L D F I R S T M E ET I N G O F

T R I L AT E R A L C O N S U LTAT I O N O N C O U N T E R - T E R R O R I S M

ISLAMABAD s ta f f C o R R e s p o n d e n t

PAKISTAN China and Iran have held a consultation meeting on counter-terrorism and security marking the first meeting of its kind

The meeting which was held in Beijing creates a more profound institutional mechanism for long-term counter-terrorism cooperation among the three countries and is likely to also establish a very important foundation for future cooperation in other security areas

While Pakistan s foreign office made a formal announcement of the meeting on Thursday Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the routine press conference on Thursday confirmed it too Terrorism is a common enemy of humanity China firmly opposes and strongly condemns terrorism in all its manifestations

We stand ready to work in close collaboration with Pakistan Iran and other regional countries to resolutely crack down on terrorist forces that endanger the interests of the three countries and regional security he said

During the first meeting of the ChinaPakistan-Iran Trilateral Consultation on counter-terrorism and security which was

held at Directors General level in-depth discussions were held on the regional anti-terrorism situation and joint crackdown on cross-border terrorists according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement on Wednesday night

Based on the outcome of the consultations the three sides decided to institutionalize the trilateral consultation on counter-terrorism and security

Bai Tian director-general of the Department of External Security Affairs of the Chinese Foreign Ministry Abdul Hameed director-general of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan and Seyed Rasoul Mosavi assistant to the foreign minister and director-general of the South Asia Department of the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Iran jointly held the meeting

On the same day Assistant Minister of Foreign Affairs of China Nong Rong met with Mosavi and Hameed China also held separate bilateral consultation and exchange on anti-terrorism with Pakistan and Iran

In China experts lauded the first of its kind meeting This trilateral meeting marks an expansion of China’s multinational security cooperation mechanisms in the neighboring region Zhu Yongbiao director of the Center for Afghanistan Studies at Lanzhou

University, said The participation of Iran in such mechanisms is greatly important for the continuation and further deepening of the mechanisms, he said

In May, China also held trilateral talks with Pakistan and Afghanistan in Islamabad on the 5th China-Afghanistan-Pakistan Foreign Ministers Dialogue, during which cooperation on counter-terrorism was also discussed

Zhu noted that the addition of Iran to the

cooperation mechanisms is significant from a geographical perspective, as the counterterrorism situation in Pakistan and Afghanistan could also affect Iran

For example, terrorists in Pakistan and Afghanistan have been crossing borders to hide in Iran, which also poses a threat to Iran itself, he said In the face of the current, more complex needs of fighting terrorism in South and Central Asia, it is natural for the three countries to strengthen cooperation

C hina’s biggest state banks c ut deposit rates

PR OFIT R e u t e R s

China s biggest banks on

is the second such cut within a year with previous action taken in September The deposit rate cuts will push savings into consumption and investment and ease the pressure on banks net interest margins (NIM) opening the door for further monetary stimulus said Gary Ng Asia Pacific senior economist of Natixis He expects a 50 basis points cut in the reserve requirement ratio (RRR) soon

NBP empowers women with attractive financing scheme

KARACHI s ta f f R e p o R t

National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) takes a pioneering step towards empowering women with its revolutionary financing scheme designed exclusively for current and aspiring women entrepreneurs The scheme offers a competitive interest rate of 5%, ensuring affordable and accessible funding for new and existing women-owned businesses With easy installment plans and a flexible repayment period of 5 years, this initiative aims to facilitate growth and sustainability NBP sets new standards in customer service, providing swift and hassle-free processing, coupled with minimal documentation requirements For further details, customers may contact UAN 111-627-627 or visit the nearby NBP branch

to support local government bond issuance But additional loan prime rate cuts will only come if economic data or financial risks deteriorate to a level that prevents China from meeting its 5% target said Ng China cut the RRR in March but has kept its benchmark lending rate unchanged this year as widening yield differentials with the United States limited the scope for substantial monetary easing Major state banks net interest margins have shrunk following pressure to lower borrowing cost for individuals and businesses to stimulate the economy and

as credit demand remains subdued China s economy rebounded faster than expected in the first quarter but lost momentum at the beginning of the second grappling with tumbling exports a sluggish housing market and a high unemployment ratio

A regulatory body overseen by the People s Bank of China has asked the lenders to also lower U S dollar deposit rates four people with direct knowledge of the matter said on Tuesday

The benchmark CSI Banks Index ( CSI399986) rose 0 35% in morning trading on Thursday

C hina builds world ’s largest ear thquake early warning system

CHINA s ta f f R e p o R t

The main construction task of China s earthquake early warning system has been completed and final completion and acceptance is expected to be completed by the end of this year according to Min Yiren head of the China Earthquake Administration (CEA) The country has carried out the c o n s t r u c t i o n o f a n e a r t h q u a k e

e a r l y w a r n i n g s y s t e m s i n c e t h e 1 9 9 0 s a n d s t a r t e d b u i l d i n g i t s ear th q u ak e ear ly w ar n in g an d ins t a n t s e i s m i c i n t e n s i t y r e p o r t i n g s y s t e m i n s e v e r a l h i g h - s t a k e s r eg i o n s i n 2 0 1 8 , a i m i n g t o i n f o r m t h e p u b l i c o f u p c o m i n g e a r t hq u a k e s w i t h a c o u n t d o w n i n s e co n d s a n d r e p o r t t h e s e i s m i c intensity of an earthquake within a minute of its occurrence Min said at a press conference on Thursday that the system is the world’s largest earthquake early warning system, making a leap in shortening the delivery of earthquake information from a minute to a few seconds after an earthquake starts According to research published by the N o r t h w e s t e r n S e i s m o l o g i c a l Journal in 2002, being aware of an earthquake three seconds ahead can save

14 percent of casualties, 10 seconds can save 39 percent of casualties and 20 seconds can save 63 percent of casualties

Expected to boost quake mitigation, the system can send alerts through various devices, including TVs, mobile phones, broadcasts and other warning terminals

The system now covers over 15,000 monitoring stations, three national centers, 31 provincial centers and 173 prefectural and municipal information release centers A trial operation for public early warning services has been available in some of its quake-prone areas, including southwest China’s Sichuan and Yunan provinces, north China’s Beijing and Tianjin municipalities and Hebei Province and east China’s Fujian Province according to Min He added that the system has overcome several technical problems such as multi-network integration and information release to massive users within one second

50 dead in suicide blast’ at ex-governor’s funeral in Afghanistan

AGENCIES

A devastating blast rocked a mosque in Afghanistan s Badakhshan province where funeral prayers of the province’s former deputy governor were being offered on Thursday According to local sources some 50 people died while 25 others sustained injuries during the blast at Nabawi mosque in the Hesa-e-Awal area of Faizabad Eyewitnesses revealed that the explosion was triggered by a suicide bomber who targeted the congregation directly Among the victims was Mulvi SaifUllah Samim the former police chief of Baghlan province “The locals estimate that the blast claimed the lives of around 50 people including senior officials and Samim the ex-police chief The wounded were promptly transported to Faizabad hospital for urgent medical treatment stated a local resident claiming that the blast was carried out by a suicide bomber The Islamic State Khorasan Province (ISKP) claimed responsibility for the attack and stated that it was a retaliatory measure for an operation in Kuner province

The agenda of Wednesday’s meeting is likely to have included issues regarding the security situation in and around Afghanistan which is of great regional and international concern and the situation on the Pak-Iran border in the Balochistan region observers noted

According to the Samarkand Declaration issued in April at the 4th Foreign Ministers’ Meeting of neighboring countries of Afghanistan in Samarkand the Republic of Uzbekistan all parties acknowledged that the security situation related to terrorism in Afghanistan remains grave pointing out that terrorist organizations in Afghanistan including “Islamic State ” the “East Turkestan Islamic Movement” and “Tehrike-Taliban Pakistan” continue to pose serious threats to regional and global security and agree that anti-terrorism security cooperation among neighboring countries of Afghanistan should be strengthened and that a united front against terrorism should be established

Zhu said that China Pakistan and Iran are likely to reach many common positions on counter-terrorism such as joint identification of some terrorist organizations and enhanced cooperation in combating crossborder terrorist operations

India’s C. bank holds rates but signals tight monetar y policy ahead

PR OFIT

R e u t e R s

India s central bank kept its key lending rate steady for a second straight policy meeting on Thursday as widely expected but signalled that monetary conditions will remain tight for some time as it looks to further curb inflationary pressures The monetary policy committee (MPC) which has three members from the Reserve Bank of India (RBI) and three external members kept the repo rate (INREPO ECI) steady at 6 50% in a unanimous decision All 64 economists in a Reuters poll taken between May 16 and 29 expected no change in rates and some had started pencilling in rate cuts early next year India s hold on rates contrasts with recent central bank actions elsewhere Two major central banks the Reserve Bank of Australia and the Bank of Canada have surprised markets this week by resuming rate hikes to combat stubbornly high inflation pushing up bond yields across developed markets Despite hitting an 18-month low of 4 70% in April analysts do not expect India s inflation to fall to the RBI s 4% medium-term target for at least another two years The RBI maintained its policy stance of withdrawal of accommodation to ensure inflation progressively aligns with the committee s target while remaining supportive of growth Governor Shaktikanta Das said while announcing the MPC s decision

CORPORATE CORNER

KP CARETAKER MINISTERS, BUREAUCRACY LOCK HORNS OVER NEW PROJECTS

PESHAWAR A z i z B u n E R

Pakistan Nav y obser ves World Oceans Day

S TA F F R E P O R T

T

According to details, the caretaker ministers have strongly advocated for inclusion of new development projects for

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

The Pakistan Post has issued Commemorative Postage Stamp of Rs 50/- denomination which can be purchased from all the main post offices across the country The postage Stamp was unveiled in a ceremony held on 8th June 2023 at PBS Head office Islamabad

The ceremony was attended by representatives from Pakistan Post, NADRA, NTC, SUPARCO and senior officers of PBS The stamp was unveiled by Chief Census Commissioner Dr Naeem uz Zafar

HE Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Caretaker Government and the bureaucracy have reportedly locked horns over the preparations for development budget as the former wants to include new projects in the upcoming budgettheir respective constituencies in the annual development programme for fiscal year 2023-24 The bureaucracy however has firmly stated that no additional projects will be added to the Annual Development Programme (ADP) due to the prevailing financial crisis

According to sources, the KP caretaker cabinet ministers have directed their respective departments to propose new development projects but the bureaucracy has expressed serious reservations over such inclusion The Planning and Develop-

ment (P&D) Department has also expressed concerns about the matter as the recently released guidelines for the new fiscal year s ADP explicitly state that no new projects will be considered in the budget

During a meeting held on June 6 at the P&D Department, officers reiterated to the ministers that no new projects could be added to the ADP All proposals for such projects will be removed from every department following the instructions issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan The KP caretaker govern-

ment is tasked with presenting a budget for the next four months which will receive approval from the provincial cabinet after the federal budget presentation

The mounting tensions between caretaker ministers and the bureaucracy over the inclusion of new projects in the new development program have raised concerns about the progress of the province Experts have stressed the need for resolution of these differences for the smooth implementation of development initiatives and the overall welfare of the province

RIP joins THE's Digital Universities Asia as a technology leader

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

In a heartfelt letter addressed to Prime Minister

Shabaz Shareef, Sajid Turi, the Federal Minister, highlights the devastating impact of skyrocketing prices and prevailing inflation on the labor class in recent years The employed and unemployed laborers have found themselves more vulnerable than ever before due to the continuous rise in prices and the fragile state of the economy While the provincial governments have taken measures to support the labor class, the current wages remain insufficient to meet the basic needs of the common people

Consequently urgent government initiatives to increase labor wages are necessary to alleviate these challenges The last increase in minimum wages occurred in 2022 and since then no further relief has been announced by the government, despite increases in pay and allowances for other provincial and federal government employees It is important to note that labor affairs have been devolved to the provinces making it the prerogative of the respective governments to decide on wage adjustments

Federal Minister of Health takes notice of negligence by doctors at Independent Universit y Hospital Faisalabad

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Federal Minister for Health

Mr Abdul Qadir Patel take notice on news floating on social media regarding Negligence of Doctors at Independent University Hospital Faisalabad and directed PM&DC to probe into the matter immediately Following the directions from the Federal Minister of Health Pakistan Medical & Dental Council has launched an investigation into an alleged case of negligence by doctors in the Independent University Hospital Faisalabad Upon receiving the complaint, President PM&DC promptly initiated an inquiry to investigate the reported incident thoroughly The objective of the investigation is to ascertain the facts surrounding the incidence evaluate the extent of negligence involved and take appropriate action in accordance with the law and regulations President directed the Acting Registrar to write letter to the concerned MS of the hospital Acting Registrar PM&DC emphasized the gravity of the situation and wrote to the Independent University Hospital Faisalabad to furnish a comprehensive report within 3 days regarding the wrong conduct of surgery of a patient suffering from gall bladder illness along with another patient due for surgery for her knee PM&DC intends to conduct an impartial investigation, considering all available evidence and testimony from involved

Dastagir reviews work on new grid stations, recover y of dues at IESCO head office ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan the Federal Minister for Energy (Power Division) paid a visit to the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) Head Office The visit was aimed at reviewing the progress of various projects and ensuring the timely collection of electricity dues from both private and government consumers During the visit Engineer Khurram Dastgir Khan was welcomed by the IESCO Board of Directors Chief Executive Officer Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan senior officers of IESCO, representatives from the IESCO Engineers Association (IEA), and the Pakistan WAPDA Hydroelectric Workers Union Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan, the Chief Executive of IESCO, provided a comprehensive briefing to the Federal Minister regarding the company s performance ongoing development projects collection of dues and other relevant matters

Collection of Data through tablets, Central monitoring and management system and Geo tagging of all structures has increased the transparency and credibility of Census results Chief Statistician Dr Naeem uz Zafar expresses its sincere gratitude to all the stakeholders including NADRA NTC SUPARCO, local government, enumerators, and the general public, for their unwavering support and participation throughout this monumental endeavor The implementation of the first-ever Digital Census in Pakistan marked a significant milestone in the country s history and set the stage for future advancements in data collection

and analysis Chairman / DG PPOD Hafiz Shak e e l A h m e d s h a r e d h i s t h o u g h t s o n t h e s i g n i f i c a n c e o f t h e d i g i t a l c e n s u s i n 2 0 2 3 H e

c o m m e n d e d t h e c o l l a b o r a t i v e e ff o r t s o f P O D a n d P B S i n i n t r od u c i n g t h e C o m m e m o r a t i v e P o s t a g e S t a m p s w h i c h s e r v e a s a s y m b o l o f p r i d e a n d r e c o g n it i o n f o r t h e r e m a r k a b l e a c h i e v em e n t o f t r a n s i t i o n i n g t o a d i g i t a l c e n s u s I t s t a n d s a s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e h a r d w o r k d e d i c a t i o n a n d c o m m i t m e n t o f a l l t h e i n d iv i d u a l s i n v o l v e d i n e n s u r i n g t h e s u c c e s s o f t h i s g r o u n d b r e a k i n g i n i t i a t i v e H e a l s o a p p r a i s e s t h e e ff o r t s o f P B S a s i t i s t h e p r em i e r s t a t i s t i c a l o rg a n i z a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y r e s p o n s i b l e f o r p r ov i d i n g r e l i a b l e a n d t i m e l y s t a t i st i c a l d a t a t o s u p p o r t evidence-based decis ion-making a t v a r i o u s l e v e l s

ACC A p r o p o s e s m e a s u r e s fo r t a x ye a r 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 to a d d r e s s e c o n o m i c c h a l l e n g e s

LAHORE

S TA F F R E P O R T

economic growth The budget proposals suggest a multi-faceted approach to improving the balance of payments, reducing imports, boosting local consumption lowering inflation and increasing exports ACCA underscores the importance of consistent economic policies leveraging indigenous resources and talent, and embracing a new economic model

In line with these objectives, ACCA recommends sustainable reduction of non-essential imports and identifying import substitutes to lower the import bill Efforts to promote eco-friendly energy sources, implement daylight savings, and reduce business hours and working days can help decrease reliance on oil and gas imports

E B M d a z z l e s by w i n n i n g e i g ht awa rd s at Ef f i e s G a l a Eve nt 2 0 2 3

KARACHI

S TA F F R E P O R T

English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt) Ltd (EBM) one of the leading FMCG companies in Pakistan won eight trophies across various categories at the Pakistan Effie Awards 2023 This solidifies EBM s strategic prowess as a marketing thought leader, with effective work garnering admiration across the marketing and advertising fraternity Effie Pakistan is part of the global Effie award which honours the most significant achievement in effective marketing communications

Three new product innovation campaigns won trophies; Gold for the Peek Freans Gluco Teddy Bronze for the Peek Freans Sooper Soft Bakes, and Silver for Peek Freans RIO s new offering, Double Chocolate EBM also went on to win a Bronze in Sustained Success for Peek

Freans Sooper and two Silver and Bronze trophies for the Gluco Kahani platform launch, which creates engaging content in Urdu for Pakistani children who are losing touch with the language Furthermore, this past year EBM has been building inclusive societal narratives to drive behaviour change with campaigns like ‘Reading the Rights - centered on educating girl children and enabling them to know their universal human rights - and Kaisi Ho Maa that urges society to be empathetic to mothers, for all their efforts and care Dr Zeelaf Munir, Managing Director and CEO of EBM, expressed her joy on the immense achievement; “At EBM our focus is always on building strong brands Our aim is to foster the best-in-class marketing practices that integrate consumer insights creativity and purpose and reflect the significant difference in our brand communication

Total PARCO Pak istan organizes University Day at Govt College University Lahore

Total PARCO Pakistan Limited one of the largest multinational energy company in Pakistan recently organized an event titled Transforming Lives with Positive Action in New Reality" at Government College University (GCU) in Lahore The event featured Mr Mehmet Celepoglu Chief Executive Officer of Total PARCO Pakistan Limited (TPPL) who delivered an inspiring speech to the young students and enthusiastic audience from various walks of life

own teams It provided a platform for all the youth to learn from such an inspiring leader as him from his vast knowledge and experiences He shared insights into his unique leadership and management style which has successfully guided TPPL through the challenges of the last three years During his speech, we got to know about

initiatives

Riphah International University participated in the prestigious event organized by the Times Higher Education (THE) under the title of Digital Universities Asia 2023

The event was organized in Hilton Kuala Lumpur, Malaysia Chancellor Mr Hassan Muhammad Khan, Deputy Vice-Chancellor- Academics Prof Dr Yawar Hayat Khan and Director IT Mr Sarfraz Ahmad Haroon joined the event as Higher Education Technology Leaders on behalf of Riphah International University It is important to mention that Riphah International University is ranked among the Top 4 Universities in Pakistan by THE and is considered a rising institution, especially in terms of adaptation of new technologies and upgraded teaching methodologies During the event more than 250 delegates policymakers higher education experts and digital leaders from across the globe gathered for two days of intense learning and discussion about the future of higher education Concepts such as Metaverse Campus, Sustainable development of lifelong education, Digital transformation in the context of AI & Chatgpt, and Cloud Campus development were discussed

easypaisa shines with four effies awards

LAHORE

LIPTON Teas & Infusions hosts Grand for 700 Children from HOPE Foundation

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

LIPTON Teas & Infusions the global leader in the tea industry believes in creating value for all stakeholders

Recently the organization reaffirmed its dedication to sustainable communities with hosting a breakfast for 700 children from underserved areas of Karachi, in collaboration with the HOPE Foundation The event aimed to provide nourishment, support, and a memorable experience for these young individuals As an organization deeply rooted in the belief of creating value for all LIPTON Teas & Infusions recognizes the integral importance of building and supporting sustainable communities The company's commitment extends beyond its consumers, farmers, shareholders, and even its own people, as it actively seeks to make a positive impact on the planet More than 20 volunteers from LIPTON also participated in the breakfast in Karachi who wholeheartedly engaged with the children providing them with nourishing meals and spreading joy through their warm interactions

A f t e r t h e s p e e c h , M r M e h m e t C e l e p o g l u i n a u g u r a t e d t h e M i y a w a k i F o r e s t a t G o v e r nment College University Lahore a l o n g w i t h P r o f e s s o r D r A s g h a r Z a i d i t h e Vi c e C h a n c e l l o r o f G C U L a h o r e

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T METRO the leading international wholesale company marked the World Environment Day in continuation of its Clean & Green Pakistan vision, with a tree

plantation

P T I D E S E R T E R S F LO C K T O ‘ N E W N E S T ’ A S TA R E E N

A N N O U N C E S ‘ I S T E H K A M - E - PA K I S TA N PA R T Y ’

LAHORE

S h a h a b o m e r

FORMER Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Jahangir Tareen has officially announced the formation of his new political party, Istehkam-ePakistan Party, during a press conference in Lahore on Thursday The party’s name was initially planned to be “Pakistan

Istehkam Party” (PIP) but it was later named as Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party Sources indicate that Tareen s new party consists mostly of PTI deserters who have joined his ranks Prior to the press conference, the party’s core group held a meeting chaired by Jahangir Tareen and Abdul Aleem Khan to discuss the party’s manifesto and key points

At a huddle in Lahore former PTI stalwarts Fawad Chaudhry Amir Kiyani Ali Zaidi, Imran Ismail, Mahmood Maulvi, Firdous Ashiq Awan, Ajmal Wazir, Nauraiz Shakoor and Fayyazul Hasan Chohan em-

PTI terms PDM’s rule as ‘darkest era’ in countr y’s economic histor y

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e P o r t

braced their new boss with smile on their faces, the report said

Moreover, former Punjab minister Murad Raas, who had formed the ‘Democrats’ group in league with another ex-minister Hashim Dogar a few days ago claiming the support of nearly three dozen ex-lawmakers also decided to side with Tareen on the promise of getting a good position in the new party the latter is going to launch shortly, the report said

During the press conference Tareen expressed that the party’s primary objective is to bring about reforms in Pakistan and establish a strong nation where the parliament judiciary and establishment are aligned He further mentioned that the party would unveil their reform agenda to the public in the coming days

T h e f o r m a t i o n o f t h i s n e w p a r t y f o llows a series of political upheavals in Pakistan with several PTI leaders leaving the party in recent days amid a state-launched crackdow n follow ing the ugly events un-

folded on May 9 and afterwards Jahangir Tareen, who was previously seen as Prime M i n i s t e r I m r a n K h a n ’s c l o s e s t a i d e , h a s managed to attract a number of PTI deserters to his new party

During the press conference Tareen stated Today we are forming a new party called Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party My sole objective behind entering politics has always been to contribute to the development of the country I am not a traditional politician; I entered politics late We worked day and night to make the Tehreek-e-Insaf a strong political force after the 2013 elections In the coming days the facts will reveal what we have done to strengthen the party Bringing reforms to Pakistan was our fundamental manifesto, but unfortunately, circumstances didn t allow us to prevent disillusionment If the projects planned for May 9th are not completed then attacks on the houses of political opponents may be considered justified

According to sources the party aims to include former MPA Zahiruddin Alizai,

Jawed Ansari Tariq Abdullah Fayaz

Chohan Nauman Langrial Norez Shakoor

Rafaqat Ali Gillani G G Jamal from FATA and Jamil Wazir from KP Additionally, the party plans to include Omar Ayub, Ali Zaidi, Fawad Chaudhry, Aamir Kiani, Mahmood Moulvi J Parkash Murad Raas and Firdous Ashiq Awan

The announcement of the new party has sparked debate within Pakistan s political circles, with many speculating that it could pose a challenge to the ruling PTI Jahangir Tareen, who was once considered a king-

maker within the PTI enjoys a significant following in Punjab which is considered the stronghold of PTI

The impact of the new party on Pakistan s political landscape will become evident in the days to come

Tareen said reforms were the PTI’s basic manifesto “due to which we all had come together But he added unfortunately matter did go the way we expected and people were disheartened

Tax exemptions cost govt over Rs2.239tr in 2022-23

ISLAMABAD S h a h z a d Pa r ac h a

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf s (PTI) Focal Person on Economic Affairs Muzamil Aslam threw down the gauntlet to Ishaq Dar of public debate on the country s economic performance of the PTI government and the imported regime In his reaction to the Pakistan Economic Survey Muzamil Aslam said that Ishaq Dar Ahsan Iqbal and their economic team posed in picture with the Prime Minister as if it was the best year in the history of Pakistan in term of economic performance

However, he revealed that the economic survey clearly showed this was the darkest year in the economic history of Pakistan, as the incumbent government itself admitted its incompetence in the survey Muzamil Aslam said that abysmal economic performance could be judged from the fact that Pakistan s GDP growth rate was dwindled to 0 3 percent this year from 6 percent last year during PTI government

The total tax exemptions concessions and special tax treatments to various businesses, sectors/industries, lobbies/ groups and investors have cost the government Rs2 239 trillion during the fiscal year 2022-23 against Rs 1 757 trillion in 2021-22 reflecting an increase of Rs482 63bn

The cost of tax exemptions registered a growth of 27 4 percent during 2022-23 as compared to tax expenditure in 202122 The Economic Survey 2022-23 released on Thursday disclosed that the single-largest contributor to the surge in sales tax exemptions was the exemption from sales tax on POL Products Through

The export-related exemptions cost revenue loss of Rs30 8 billion while exemptions under Chapter-99 caused a loss of Rs 22 bn to FBR in 2022-23

Overall, tax exemptions under customs act 1969 cost the government Rs521 7 bn in 2022-23

On the other hand, the cost of income tax exemptions was increased from Rs 399 662 bn in 2021-22 to Rs 423 8 bn in 2022-23

The income tax exemption from Part I of Second Schedule of ITO 2001 cost FBR Rs232 3 bn Exemption from Specific Provisions given in Part IV of Second Schedule of ITO 2001 Rs 68 8 bn, Exemptions and Tax Concessions given in Part VII of Chapter III of ITO 2001 Rs26 8 bn Tax Credits given in Part X of Chapter III of ITO 2001 Rs52 1 bn Deductible Allowances are given in Part IX of Chapter III of ITO, 2001 Rs14 5 bn and reduction in tax Liability given in Part III of Second Schedule of ITO, 2001 has caused a revenue loss of 4 738 bn in 2022-23