Epaper_23-06-10 ISB

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s i s i s a r e s u l t o f t h e m i s m a n a g e m e n t o f t h e e c o n o m y b y t h e P T I g o v e r n m e n t i n i t s t e n u r e , h e s a i d H e a l s o s a i d t h a t n o n e w t a x e s h a v e b e e n i m p o s e d i n t h i s b u d g e t T h e t a rg e t f o r r e v e n u e s a n d e x p e n d it u r e s i n t h e b u d g e t f o r F Y 2 4 a r e a s f o l l o w s : E x p e n d i t u re T h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s a l l o c a t e d a total current expenditure of Rs13,320 b i l l i o n f o r F Y 2 4 w h i c h r e p r e s e n t s a 5 3 % i n c r e a s e c o m p a r e d t o t h e b u dg e t e d f i g u r e o f t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r F o r t h e s a m e f i s c a l y e a r t h e b u d g e t f o r d e f e n c e e x p e n d i t u r e i s s e t at Rs1,804 billion, reflecting a 15 4% i n c r e a s e c o m p a r e d t o t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r ’s b u d g e t T h i s a m o u n t c o n s t it u t e s 1 7 % o f t h e c o u n t r y ’s G D P I n F Y 2 4 i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t s o r d e b t s e r v i c i n g h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d a s i g n i f i c a n t r i s e o f 8 5 % f r o m t h e p r ev i o u s y e a r, r e a c h i n g R s 7 , 3 0 3 b i l l i o n T h i s a m o u n t a c c o u n t s f o r 5 5 % o f t h e t o t a l c u r r e n t e x p e n d i t u r e m a k i n g i t t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s l a rg e s t e x p e n d i t u r e c a t e g o r y A p a r t f r o m t h a t t h e m a j o r e x p e nd i t u r e s i n t h e b u d g e t a r e P e n s i o n s

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Govt proposes Rs 1.074tr subsidies

Govt introduces projects for women, children

In an attempt to introduce some popular initiatives for women and children ahead of the next election

the government has proposed the following programs during the next financial year

Prime Minister’s Initiative for Women’s Mobility:

As per the budget books this initiative aims to address mobility issues faced by women It focuses on increasing accessibility and mobility for working women by providing Scooties (scooters) at a 50% subsidized price The project will benefit women in Islamabad Capital Territory, Punjab, Sindh, Balochistan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, AJK, and GilgitBaltistan The government will provide a capital subsidy to successful applicants and the remaining cost of the Scooty can be paid in installments with markup through the National Bank of Pakistan or other participating banks Initially Rs 500 million has been specifically earmarked for the Prime Minister s Initiative for Women s Mobility Women on Wheels” project, to be executed by the National Commission on the Status of Women under the Ministry of Human Rights

Shehbaz optimistic about IMF deal amid economic hardship

R e v e n u e : T h e t o t a l r e v e n u e b u d g e t e d f o r F Y 2 3 s t a n d s a t R s 1 2 1 6 3 b n S u bt r a c t i n g p r o v i n c i a l t r a n s f e r o f R s 5 2 7 6 b n n e t r e v e n u e c o m e s o u t a t R s 6 , 8 8 7 b n , w h i c h i s 3 6 9 % h i g h e r t h a n l a s t y e a r Ta x r e v e n u e f o r F Y 2 4 i s e s t im a t e d a t 9 2 t r i l l i o n w h i c h i s 2 1 % h i g h e r t h a n t h e p r e v i o u s y e a r O t h e r t h a n t h a t t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s e s t im a t e d a h e f t y a m o u n t i n f o r e i g n l o a n s a n d g r a n t s f o r t h e u p c o m i n g y e a r Ta r g e t s : A s p e r I s h a q D a r, t h e g r o w t h t a rg e t s s e t i n n e x t y e a r a r e “ m o d e s t ” a n d h a v e b e e n p u t i n p l a c e b y k e e pi n g i n m i n d t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n T h e G D P g r o w t h i s e s t i m a t e d a t 3 5 % w h e r e a s t h e i n f l a t i o n t a rg e t i s s e t a t 2 1 % T h e g o v e r n m e n t i s h o p ef u l f o r a d e c l i n e i n t h e c u r r e n t a cc o u n t d e f i c i t l e a v i n g i t a t $ 6 b i l l i o n b y t h e e n d o f t h i s y e a r

S i m i l a r l y t h e

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday expressed his optimism regarding Pakistan s chances of striking a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) He assured that all prior conditions set by the IMF have been met and he anticipates the resumption of the stalled bailout programme During his address to the federal cabinet ahead of the fiscal year 2023-24 budget revelation, the Prime Minister emphasized the importance of political stability for sound economic growth He acknowledged the impact of climate change-induced floods which inflicted losses exceeding $30 billion on the economy Additionally the Ukraine crisis has escalated commodity prices in the global market PM Shehbaz highlighted the government s awareness of the inflation-related struggles faced by the common man, emphasizing the need to support the salaried class and pensioners to meet their basic requirements Despite the challenges faced in the last 14 months the government has been actively dealing with the IMF post-flood recovery efforts and global inflation The Prime Minister expressed satisfaction with the reduction of the current deficit to $3 3 billion in the past 10 months and expressed hope for growth in the agriculture sector

To promote transparency in foreign currency transactions the government has taken steps to curtail undesirable outflows of foreign currency from Pakistan According to a report by Bloomberg which cited Fitch Ratings, further devaluation of the Pakistani rupee is not expected due to subsiding pressure and stable reserves Collaboration between the IMF and Pakistani authorities is underway to address concerns regarding the currency market and other matters before resuming the ongoing bailout program However, time is limited, with the program originally set to expire in June and significant progress unlikely before the upcoming general elections scheduled for October

The successful conclusion of the IMF program review is crucial for Pakistan to secure funds prop up the economy and meet impending debt payments The government s commitment to meeting IMF conditions and the hope for a favorable agreement underline the Prime Minister ’s confidence in Pakistan’s economic prospects

For Inter-Discos tariff differential, an amount of Rs 150 billion has been allocated in the budget for 2023-24, which is lower than the Rs 225 billion allocated for the fiscal year 2022-23

Independent Power Producers (IPPs)

The government has earmarked Rs 310 billion for payment to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the fiscal year 2023-24 an increase from the Rs 180 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year Notably, no specific amount has been set aside for FCA Spillover, Kissan Package, flood water management, industrial support package, and zero-rated industrial subsidy AJ&K TDS

For AJ&K TDS (Tariff Differential Surcharge) the government has allocated Rs 55 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24

Mother and Child Support Program (MCSP):

The Mother and Child Support Program aims to improve maternal and child health outcomes, including mortality rates and nutrition indicators

The program focuses on increasing the utilization of public services and enhancing nutritional intake for mothers and children

Establishment of Rehabilitation/Life Skills

Development Centers for Persons with Disabilities (PWDs) in Gilgit Baltistan:

Under the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs in collaboration with the Social Welfare Department of Gilgit Baltistan, the government is working on establishing Rehabilitation and Life Skills

Development Centers for Persons with Disabilities

S C C I R E J E C T S B U D G ET F Y 2 0 2 3 - 24 ,

T E R M S I T ‘ D I S A P P O I N T I N G ’

PESHAWAR a z i z B u n e R

TH E S a r h a d C h a m b e r o f C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r y ( S C C I ) o n F r i d a y c a t e g o r i c a l l y r e j e c t e d t h e b u d g e t f o r f i n a n c i a l y e a r

2 0 2 3 - 2 4 p r e s e n t e d b y t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t t e r m i n g i t a s d i s a p p o i n t i n g a n d n o t g r o w t h o r i e n t e d a n d c a t e g o r i c a l l y r e j e c t i t

The federal government didn t taken relief measures for business community while keeping in view the depressing economic conditions says Ijaz Khan Afridi acting president of the Sarhad Chamber of

Commerce and Industry while talking to media persons after presentation of federal budget for FY 2023-24 by federal minister for finance Senator Ishaq Dar on the floor of the national assembly here on Friday

Ijaz Khan Afridi termed the budget for financial year 2023-24 as jugglery of words and miscalculation of figures, in which no relief was given to the business community

He lamented that the SCCI proposals were not incorporated in the budget Former FPCCI president Ghazanfar Bilour, former presidents Zahidullah Shinwari, Malik Niaz Ahmad, Riaz Arshad, Faiz Muhammad Faizi, Hasnain Khurshid, Sherbaz Bilour industrialist Association

Peshawar president Malik Imran Ishaq former vice presidents Naeem Butt Abidullah Yousafzai Faiz Rasool Saddar

Gul leaders of traders community importers and exporters were present during the press conference Ejaz Afridi said the business community has played a pivotal role in the economic development of the country by paving various taxes

He said it is in dire need of hour to provide relief to promote businesses and industries and revive the national economy but the government didn t give any such measures to remove the difficulties of the business community Afridi was of the view that the government had taken some steps in

the budget for newly merged districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa but they were not also sufficient to alleviate miseries of the tribal districts of the province

While responding to various queries of the media persons, the acting SCCI president said the government has set an ambitious tax collection target by increasing from Rs7 200 billion to Rs9 200billion for next fiscal year which was clear that it is not a tax-free budget He also criticized the government for not incorporating SCCI proposals in the FY budget 2023-24

Afridi replied to another question saying Pakistan is currently confronted with an economic crisis situation, which is historic

PIA slashes fares for Islamabad-Beijing ights again

and had never been seen ever so desperately needed to provide a special financial relief package to the business community

He, however, said the government has planned to impose an additional burden of taxes on the business community and people instead of providing any relief through the budget, which is highly condemnable and unacceptable to them

The acting president said the tax collection target set for the next financial year and initiatives had proved that the government has further burdened under debts on dictation of foreign financial lenders We completely reject the budget for next financial year, because we don t expect presentation of such kind of budget under the prevailing economic scenario , A f r i d i s a i d t h a t t h e b u s i n e s s c o m m u n i t y h a s a l w a y s p l a y e d a n i m p o r t a n t r o l e i n b r i n g i n g e c o n o m i c stability in the country but the government was appointed by the business community a l l t h e t i m e O n t h e o c c a s i o n , f o r m e r president Zahidullah Shinwari, Ghazanfar B i l o u r a n d o t h e r s a l s o r e s p o n d e d t o various questions of the reporters

Gov t introduces projects for women, children

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

In a bid to facilitate passengers travelling between Islamabad and Beijing the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) has further reduced fares with a free baggage allowance for Islamabad-Beijing flights from August 6

The national airline had announced a 30% reduction in the fare for the Islamabad-Beijing route earlier last month

As per the details the national flag carrier has offered new reduced fares with 50kg free baggage allowance for the economy and 60kg for executive economy class passengers respectively

An official of the PIA said that the r e d u c e d f a r e a n d f r e e b a g g a g e a l l o w a n c e w o u l d g r e a t l y f a c i l i t a t e t h e passengers who plan to travel to China f o r s t u d y, b u s i n e s s , w o r k o r t o m e e t their families

PIA operates a weekly passenger flight on Islamabad-Beijing-Islamabad

PR OFIT a h m a d a h m a da n i

In a bid to bolster the Information Technology (IT) sector and facilitate business growth, the Finance Minister Ishaq Dar unveiled significant tax relief measures in the federal budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 Under the new provisions Information Technology and IT-enabled service providers will be able to import software and hardware equal to one percent of their exports without incurring any taxes The import limit for these items has been set at $50,000 annually Additionally, the government will automate the exemption certificate process for IT exporters, streamlining their operations and reducing bureaucratic hurdles Addressing the National Assembly the Finance Minister expressed optimism about the IT sector s potential to become an engine of economic growth in the coming years He highlighted the existing 0 25 percent income tax concession for promoting IT exports, which will be extended until June 2026, providing stability and support to the industry Recognizing the challenges faced by freelancers the government has exempted them from sales tax registration and returns for annual exports worth up to $24,000 Furthermore, a simplified onepage income tax returns form will be introduced to ease the filing process for freelancers While the budget lacked significant announcements for the tech and telecom sectors there was welcome news for gadget lovers and freelancers alike The budget document revealed that laptops personal computers notebooks computer parts and related devices would be exempt from sales tax

Additionally, certain parts of lithium batteries used in various electronic devices, including smartphones laptops and appliances will also be exempt from sales tax To further support software exporters registered with the Pakistan Software Export Board a concession on the assessed value of imported goods equivalent to 1% of their export proceeds from the previous financial year will be granted This concession, subject to specific conditions aims to reduce costs and enhance competitiveness for software exporters The tax relief measures outlined in the budget reflect the government s commitment to fostering the growth of the IT sector and creating a favorable business environment for freelancers and tech enthusiasts

These steps are expected to drive innovation, encourage investment, and pave the way for a thriving digital economy in Pakistan

Four graft references against Zardari, others sent back to NAB

ISLAMABAD: An accountability court of Islamabad on Friday sent four references including money laundering case, against former president Asif Ali Zardari and others back to the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) The verdict was announced by Accountability Judge Muhammad Bashir after hearing the arguments from Mr Zardari s lawyer Farooq Naek and the NAB prosecutors Farooq Naek was of the view that the NAB court had no jurisdiction to proceed in such matters after after the amendment to the National Accountability Ordinance Following the arguments the judge returned the money laundering references against Asif Zardari Faryal Talpur Hussain Lawai and others to the anti-graft watchdog S ta f f R e p o R t

every Sunday Talking to APP Ali Imran

a Pakistani scholar based in Hangzhou city in China s Zhejiang province welcomed the offer and said, “The new fare with free baggage allowance will greatly facilitate Pakistani and Chinese travellers He said that a number of Pakistani students would join their educational institutions after summer vacations and many others would start their new academic year and could take advantage of the new offer

PESHAWAR

An Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Mardan on Friday discharged Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf leader Ali Muhammad Khan in May 9 violence case Ali Muhammad Khan, who was rearrested by Mardan police on Thursday was presented before the court of ATC Judge Syed Ubaidullah Shah Nadeem Shah advocate appeared before the court to represent the PTI leader The court after hearing arguments in the case, discharged Ali Muhammad Khan from the case and ordered to release him, if he is not wanted in any other case

Later, Police again arrested the PTI leader once he

The Chinese employees of projects being completed under the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) could also avail of this facility, Imran added Ghulam Shifa a Pakistani tour operator said that Pakistan and China were celebrating this year as The Year of Tourism to promote cultural and peopleto-people exchanges He maintained that this offer would attract Chinese tourists who wish to visit Pakistan’s scenic, historic and cultural places

was allowed to leave court premises

Former state minister Ali Muhammad Khan was first arrested from Rawalpindi then from Islamabad and last arrest was from Peshawar and was shifted to Mardan

Earlier the Peshawar High Court (PHC) ordered to release the former PTI MNA who was arrested following May 9 attack on military installations

Violent clashes broke out across Pakistan after the former prime minister and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan were arrested at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday The protests were held in remote and major cities as the party workers are agitated due to their chairman s arrest with Balochistan Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad summoning the armed forces to ensure law and order

Govt proposes Rs 1.074tr subsidies in 2023-24

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

INDEPENDENT POWER PRODUCERS (IPPS)

The government has earmarked Rs 310 billion for payment to Independent Power Producers (IPPs) in the fiscal year 2023-24, an increase from the Rs 180 billion allocated in the outgoing fiscal year Notably, no specific amount has been set aside for FCA Spillover Kissan Package flood water management industrial support package and zero-rated industrial subsidy AJ&K TDS For AJ&K TDS (Tariff Differential Surcharge), the government has allocated Rs 55 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24

K-ELECTRIC SUBSIDY

The government has allocated Rs 315 billion for K-Electric in the fiscal year 2023-24, marking a 38 percent increase compared to the revised Rs 193 billion allocated in the previous fiscal year Of this

amount Rs 127 billion is allocated for TDS Rs 10 billion for the tariff differential for agriculture tube wells in Balochistan, and Rs 7 billion for ISP (Industrial Support Package) PETROLEUM

The government has allocated Rs 53 6 billion as a subsidy for petroleum in the fiscal year 202324 indicating a reduction of 47 4 percent from the revised allocation of Rs 102 billion in 2022-23 Within this allocation, Rs 12 6 billion has been set aside for Pakistan State Oil (PSO) and APL abilities Rs 30 billion for domestic consumers through Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) while no amount has been allocated for the LNG sector to provide lower gas to the industry and PDC (Petroleum Development Corporation) claims PASSCO For the Pakistan Agricultural Storage and Services Corporation (Passco), Rs 10 billion has been

N AT I O N A L A I R L I N E H A D A N N O U N C E D A 30% R E D U C T I O N I N FA R E F O R T H E R O U T E L A S T M O N T H CONTINUED FROM

allocated as a subsidy for wheat operations and wheat reserve stocks

UTILITY STORES CORPORATION (USC)

The government has allocated Rs 35 billion for the Utility Stores Corporation (USC) in the fiscal year 2023-24 representing a 14 percent increase from the revised allocation of Rs 30 billion in 2022-23 Of this amount, Rs 5 billion will be dedicated to the Ramazan package, while Rs 30 billion will be allocated for the Prime Minister ’s package OTHER BUDGETED SUBSIDIES

There are several other subsidies proposed in the budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 These include Rs 10 5 billion for wheat subsidy in Gilgit-Baltistan, Rs 2 billion for the Metro Bus project Rs 12 2 billion for the Mera Pakistan Mera Ghar Housing Scheme Rs 30 billion for fertilizer plants subsidy and Rs 6 billion for the subsidy on the import of urea

Decoding the budget: A simple question of revenue and expenditure

refers to

PAGE

It is important to note that these figures are theoretical projections based on current information available at this time; actual numbers can fluctuate in course of year due to various factors such as changes in economic conditions or unforeseen events While it is true that these are theoretical projections it is also important to remember that budgeting now does make it harder for things to change through the year as it sets a framework within which spending decisions are made The budget is a glimpse into the government s vision and priorities for the country It is a tool to achieve its goals and objectives It is also a statement of accountability and transparency to the public It is a document that deserves attention and scrutiny from all stakeholders

The centers will provide equal opportunities and create an enabling environment for PWDs in ten districts of Gilgit Baltistan Establishment of Mediation Human Rights Training Centre and ADR: With an allocation of Rs 114 0 million, this initiative aims to establish a Mediation, Human Rights Training Centre, and Alternative Dispute Resolution (ADR) mechanisms The project aims to promote human rights and provide training on mediation and ADR methods Purchase of Land and Construction of the Building for Child Protection Institute, Islamabad: With an allocated budget of Rs 88 90 million, this project focuses on the construction of a building for the Child Protection Institute in Islamabad The institute aims to facilitate the reporting of child abuse cases and support coordinated investigations and the provision of support services The government plans to conduct awareness campaigns to disseminate information about the availability of child protection services and encourage community members to report relevant cases to the institute ESTABLISHMENT OF CHILD PROTECTION INSTITUTE FOR GIRLS IN ISLAMABAD:

An amount of Rs 15 705 million has been allocated for the establishment of the Child Protection Institute for Girls in Islamabad This initiative aims to provide a safe and protective environment for girls and strengthen child protection mechanisms

HUMAN RIGHTS ALLOCATION:

The Human Rights sector has been allocated Rs 814 0 million Additionally Rs 500 million has been allocated for two poverty alleviation and social safety projects

Gov t sets ambitious target of Rs72b from 4G license sales

PR OFIT a h m a d a h m a da n i

N A B L A U N C H E S P R O B E I N T O G R A F T A L L E G AT I O N S

A G A I N S T P E R VA I Z E L A H I

LAHORE S h A h A b o m e R

The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) in Lahore has launched formal investigations into several high-profile graft allegations against including former Chief Minister of Punjab Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi former Provincial Minister Ali Afzal Sahi and Moonis Elahi

The inquiries follow allegations of corruption in construction contracts in Gujarat and Mandi Bahauddin with the accused reportedly receiving over one billion rupees in illicit kickbacks through intermediaries in

226 contracts Sources suggest that the entire group operated under the guidance of former Principal Secretary to the Chief Minister of Punjab Muhammad Khan Bhatti for the purpose of soliciting bribes

XEN Rana Iqbal is also implicated in the scandal, accused of accepting millions of rupees in exchange for facilitating transfers within the Punjab Highway Department The proceeds from these transfers were allegedly conveyed to senior officials through Muhammad Khan Bhatti

T h e a c c u s e d a r e b e l i e v e d t o h a v e s a n c t i o n e d a t o t a l o f 2 2 6 c o n t r a c t s i n G u j a r a t a n d M a n d i B a h a u d d i n t o b e n e f i t t h e i r p r e f e r r e d c o n t r a c t o r s D u r i n g 2 0 2 1 -

2 2 4 5 s c h e m e s w e r e a p p r o v e d i n t h e s e d i s t r i c t s w h i l e f o r t h e y e a r 2 0 2 2 - 2 3 a n additional 181 schemes were included all of which are now subject to allegations of c o r r u p t i o n D i r e c t i v e s w e r e a l s o i s s u e d f r o m t h e C h i e f M i n i s t e r s O ff i c e t o t h e M i n i s t r y o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s f o r t h e approval of 184 summaries I n r e s p o n s e t o t h e s e d e v e l o p m e n t s N A B L a h o r e h a s a s s e m b l e d a h i g h - l e v e l i n v e s t i g a t i v e t e a m t o c o n d u c t i n q u i r i e s a g a i n s t t h e D e p a r t m e n t o f C o m m u n i c a t i o n s a n d o t h e r s e n i o r o ff i c i a l s T h e r e i s a s t r o n g l i k e l i h o o d t h a t a l l a c c u s e d p a r t i e s w i l l b e s u m m o n e d b y t h e N A B t e a m i n t h e n e a r f u t u r e

Omar Ayub K han condemns arrest of Ali Muhammad, Akram Cheema

ISLAMABAD S tA f f R e P o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan strongly condemned the arrest of PTI

MNA Ali Muhammad Khan and PTI Karachi President Akram Cheema along with the police raid on Riaz Fatyanna s house PTI Secretary General said that Ali Muhammad Khan was arrested for the fifth time by this corrupt imported government despite being granted bail by the court “This is an abhorrent act by this imported government I salute Ali Muhammad Khan for his bravery and steadfastness he added Omar Ayub Khan stated that PTI MNA had always stood with Chairman Imran Khan and PTI This time too shall pass but the bravery of our brave

Ser vice sector expected to grow by 3.6 pc in F Y 2023-24

ISLAMABAD S tA f f R e P o R t

men and women colleagues who have stood with Chairman PTI shall always be remembered ” he added

Meanwhile PTI Secretary General strongly condemned the arrest of Akram Cheema MNA and President PTI Karachi by this imported government and its stooges in the shape of Sindh government “The Sindh government and PPP want to rig the Mayor ’s Election and bring a corrupt PPP Mayor instead of the PTI-JI joint mayor candidate Hafiz Naeem We demand the immediate release of Akram Cheema, he demanded Omar Ayub Khan also strongly condemned the police raid on Riaz Fatyanna’s house in the strongest words possible This illegal police raid on MNA Riaz Fatyanna s home at 3 00 am was led by DPO Police Toba Tek Singh

Finance Minister presents Finance Bill 2023 in Senate, seeks recommendations

Iqrar Shah,” he added He revealed that there were seven vehicles of police personnel who entered illegally and broke the door of Riaz Fatyana s bedroom and stole a CCTV recorder and other household items The Police vandalized the house as well Punjab Police is now simply a bunch of dacoits in uniform Law and Order has totally broken down in Pakistan he added About budget Omar Ayub termed the budget totally bogus and fabricated budget which was based on fudged figures, as no realism or accuracy in it H e s a i d : “ P u b l i c g e t s n o t h i n g b u t m o r e d e s p a i r a n d p a i n ” O m a r Ay u b stated that imported government rulers were happy because their wealth was outside but Pakistan suffered What a shame

ISLAMABAD

The government has allocated funds for various development projects, including the Metro Bus from Bharakahu to Faizabad and from Rawat to Faizabad, bringing good news to the residents of Islamabad

A sum of Rs 29 million has been earmarked in the Public Sector Development Program (PSDP) for the fiscal year 2023-24 to conduct feasibility studies for launching metro bus services at these two locations

According to the PSDP document the highest allocation within the Interior Division, amounting to Rs 2200 million, has been granted to the Islamabad Development Project, which encompasses numerous development schemes with potential benefits for the public

Moreover significant sums of funds have been allocated for ongoing and new development schemes in the Federal Capital These include Rs 400 million for the Construction of 10th Avenue, Rs 405 million for the Construction of Flyover and Approaches at Railway Line Sihala, Rs 350 million for the Construction of Korang Bridge and PWD underpass and Rs 66 million for the Design Cum construction of Bridge at Kuri River

Likewise allocations have been made for the Korang River and Rawal Lake Water Treatment (Rs 255 million), Roads and Street Pavement in ICT (Rs 6 7 million), Sewerage/Sanitation and Water Supply Scheme in ICT (Rs 78 million) Construction of Road from Darbar Sain Mircho to Shamas Colony (Rs 10 million) and Water Supply Scheme at Ujrri Kalan (Rs 49 million)

Furthermore, significant allocations have been made for the ongoing construction of the National Police Hospital in Islamabad (Rs 1198 million), Operation Management & Maintenance of Metro Bus to Islamabad Airport (Rs 268 million) and Rehabilitation and Improvement of Fish Seed hatchery

at Rawal Dam (Rs 23 million) in the PSDP for the fiscal year 2023-24

Overall a total of Rs 9950 million has been allocated for 29 ongoing and nine new development schemes under the Interior Division Among these Rs 9051 million has been earmarked for ongoing schemes, while Rs 899 million has been reserved for new schemes

The majority of the allocated funds within the Interior Division are oriented towards security and safety measures The project receiving the third highest allocation (Rs 817 million) is also related to security involving the raising of five additional wings for Frontier Corps Balochistan (South) to enhance Western Border management

Moreover, Rs 200 million has been allocated for the Integrated Border Management System, and Rs 100 million has been apportioned for the security of foreign nationals The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has also received an allocation of Rs 480 million for operational improvement and Rs 300 million for revamping its cybercrime wing

Additionally, a total of Rs 512 million has been allocated for the new construction schemes of two Wings Headquarters in South Waziristan and four blocks of soldier flats at Bajaur Scouts

Panama leaks: Where were you for last 7 years, SC asks JI law yer

ISLAMABAD S tA f f R e P o R t Supreme Court (SC) on Friday took up Jamaat-e-Islami plea seeking a probe against all Pakistanis named in Panama Papers leaks A two-member bench headed by Justice Sardar Tariq comprising Justice Ameenuddin took up the plea of JI chief Sirajul Haq who also attended the proceedings As the hearing began JI pleaded with the court to form a judicial commission to probe against Pakistanis named in the Panama leaks “Where were you for last seven years ” Justice Sardar Tariq asked the applicant’s lawyer He asked institutions like SBP NAB FIA and others are there has JI approached any of them for probe in the last 7 years? Why do you want to bypass the institutions?, Justice Tariq asked T h e S C b e n c h a l s o e x p r e s s e d r e s e n t m e n t o v e r s e p a r a t i n g f o r m e r prime minister Nawaz Sharif s case in Panama Papers Why the SC was not asked to hear the case against all Pakistanis at the same time SC bench head asked Targeting a particular family was the motive at that time, Justice Tariq questioned JI s lawyer J I i s n o t t a rg e t i n g a n y p a r t i c u l a r individual named in the Panama leaks, t h e l a w y e r r e p l i e d t o t h e S C b e n c h But you targeted in 2016 the bench head remarked “How can action be initiated against 436 Pakistanis without even serving notice to them Don t use the judiciary s shoulder in this matter, the SC told the applicant Later, the court while summoning arguments on the formation of a judicial commission on the matter adjourned the Panama leaks hearing for a month It may be noted that the Panama

leaks triggered the ouster of the then prime minister Nawaz Sharif in 2017, after the joint investigation team blamed the ex-PM and his family for concealing assets beyond known sources of income

The Panama Papers scandal unraveled to the world with shock and Pakistan was no exception especially when its ruling elite were discovered to have stashed their wealth offshore The leaked papers, comprising 11 5 million documents from Panama-based law firm Mossack Fonseca exposed how some of the world s most powerful people have secreted their money offshore, and also implicated Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif s sons Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz The revelations in a report released b y t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l C o n s o r t i u m o f I n v e s t i g a t i v e J o u r n a l i s t s ( I C I J ) d r o p p e d l i k e a b o m b s h e l l o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t o n A p r i l 4 2 0 1 6 p r o m p t i n g c o u n t r y w i d e d e b a t e a b o u t w h e t h e r t h e t h e n p r i m e m i n i s t e r N a w a z S h a r i f s h o u l d s t a y i n o ff i c e a f t e r s t a r t l i n g d i s c l o s u r e s c o n c e r n i n g s t a s h e d w e a l t h o f h i s f a m i l y

The services sector is expected to accelerate its growth to 3 6 percent in fiscal year 2023-24 according to the Annual Plan 2023-24 unveiled here on Friday The envisaged growth in the commodity producing sectors will complement the targeted growth in the services sector Uptick in the economic activity in agriculture and manufacturing sectors will translate into increased growth in wholesale and retail trade and transport storage and communications it added Moreover the tourism industry is expected to gain momentum and generate socio-economic dividends that will have trickle down the effect on retail trade, hotels and restaurants The commodity producing sectors during 2022-23 contracted by 0 5 percent, therefore the performance of dependent services sector posted a marginal growth of 0 9 percent with major contributions from education (10 4 percent) human health and social work activities (8 5 percent), information and communication (6 9 percent) and other private services (5 percent) Wholesale and retail trade with major share in services sector posted a contraction of 4 5 percent due to subdued economic activity and high inflation

Muqam hails exemption of erstwhile FATA /PATA from tax for next fiscal year

PESHAWAR A P P

Adviser to the Prime Minister Engineer Amir Muqam on Friday hailed the the federal government for exempting the erstwhile FATA and PATA/Malakand division from tax for the next financial year In a statement, Engineer Amir Muqam said that, "I thank ALLAH and then Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Federal Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for declaring the former FATA/PATA tax exempt for the next financial year On the special request of Adviser to the Prime Minister Engineer Amir Muqam federal government has exempted the erstwhile FATA and PATA/Malakand division from tax for the next financial year Keeping in view the problems of the people of ex FATA/PATA even in difficult circumstances tax was exempted for one more year He further said that this decision will boost business life in these regions and will directly benefit the people including the business community

Economic collapse proves Shehbaz-led clique unable to run countr y: Farrukh

FAISALABAD

S tA f f R e P o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) PTI West President Farrukh Habib said that the current inapt government led by incompetent Shahbaz Sharif crippled the wellperforming Pakistan’s economy, as the National Economic Survey for the financial year 2022-23 clearly showed that almost all important sectors remained negative in the outgoing year PTI West President on Friday said that that the cabal of thieves nosedived the fast thriving economy in one year, which was clearly indicating from the rapid and alarmingly declining GDP growth rate from the 6 1 percent to the current 0 29 percent He alarmed that these incompetent rulers pushed the country back several decades in the one year Farrukh Habib stated that the National Economic Survey for the financial year 2022-23 showed that important economic sectors including industry, remittances, exports, overall growth targets, per capita income, agriculture and services, investment remained negative He went on to say that it was the testimony that the gang of 13 parties including Shahbaz Sharif miserably failed to run the country together Farrukh Habib stressed the need that the country could not afford any further experiments; hence the much-needed elections should be held instantly, which was the only way forward to attain political and economic stability in the country

A budget made under painful constraints

THE Budget 2023-2024 was presented under constraints coming from all directions, and posed an almost insoluble problem for the Finance Minister The Budget had to avoid going beyond the IMF’s constraints, but it had to be an election year Budget, with something being given to everyone It also came against a background of abysmally low growth of 0 39 percent and abnormally high inflation 31 percent which meant that the country was in a stagflationary trough That the stagflation is to continue was clear from the National Economic Council’s setting of targets of 3 5 percent growth and 21 percent inflation for the coming year Senator Dar s blaming the PTI government for the situation is wearing thin, now that the current coalition presents its second Budget T h e f o c u s o n e l e c t i o n s p e n d i n g s h o w e d t h a t t h e r e w a s s t i l l s o m e h o p e t h a t e l e c t i o n s w o u l d t a k e p l a c e , t o a l l f o u r p r o v i n c i a l a n d n a t i o n a l a s s e m b l i e s , w i t h t h e f u n d s f o r p o l l s n o w a v a i l a b l e I t m i g h t b e r e m e m b e r e d t h a t e l e c t i o n s t o t h e P u n j a b a n d K P A s s e m b l i e s c o u l d n o t b e h e l d , a n d t h e E l e c t i o n C o m m i s s i o n m a d e m u c h o f t h e f a c t t h a t i t d i d n o t h a v e t h e m o n e y f o r t h e e x e r c i s e A p a r t f r o m t h e m e c h a n i c s o f f u n d i n g t h e e l e c t i o n t h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s a l r e a d y p l a c e d e m p h a s i s o n i t b y s p e n di n g o n t h e e l e c t o r a t e T h e r e i s t h e m o s t d i r e c t t r a n s f e r i s t o g r a n t a 3 0 p e r c e n t i n c r e a s e i n s a l a r i e s a n d p e n s i o n s , a n d t h e n t h e r e a r e t h e g o o d i e s t o b e d o l e d o u t u n d e r v a ri o u s s c h e m e s b e i n g l a u n c h e d i n t h e B u d g e t I t w o u l d p e r h a p s b e g o i n g t o o f a r t o s a y t h a t t h e e l e c t i o n s a r e i ne v i t a b l e , b u t s o m e o f t h e m o r e i m p o r t a n t b a r r i e r s s e e m t o h a v e b e e n r e m o v e d

The real question about the Budget is whether it is likely to take the country out of the stagflationary trap, and into the sort of high-growth trajectory that the country needs That is unlikely but blaming the rupee devaluation or the IMF< will not change the reality that Senator Dar whose sponsors expected much of him when he was brought in last year, is less than a signal success, and has not fulfilled the task he was assigned: preparing the PML(N) for a successful election campaign The Budget he has produced, his sixth, will probably not allow him to claim he has succeeded, as any election campaign by the PML(N) will take place in a gloomy economic atmosphere in which it will be trying to paper over the cracks Senator Dar has left, and rather than boasting of his performance, will be trying to draw attention from it

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

SYCOPHANCY is a norm in Pakistan If someone wants to seek an example what sycophancy looks like, one has to read the label the Istehkam-e Pakistan Party (IPP): the title denotes the stabilization of Pakistan in comparison with the destabilization of Pakistan as if connoted by its former self the Pakistan Tehreke Insaf (PTI) Almost all politicians who resorted to holding press conferences and denouncing the PTI on its May 9 act have gleefully joined Jahangir Tareen’s political group which has got transformed into the IPP Being dry-cleaned through acts of publicly decrying the PTI the hodgepodge of opportunists– more than 100 PTI deserters– would now work wholeheartedly for the stability of Pakistan

The IPP, the improved version of the Tareen group, is confident that it would woo voters in the next general elections which may be held in October Confidence is one thing but history is a different thing In the recent past the PML(Q) could not compete with the PML(N) and got reduced to a tonga party – for tonga is a light carriage drawn by a horse for transportation of around six passengers H i s t o r y i s r e p l e t e w i t h s u c h o t h e r w i s e i n f l a t e d

“

t o n g a p a r t i e s ” f o r m e d i n d r a w i n g r o o m s o r o n

g r a s s y l a w n s a s i s t h e c a s e w i t h t h e I P P H o w -

e v e r o n t h e p o l l i n g d a y t h e y f o u n d e r e d o n t h e i s s u e o f l e g i t i m a c y Vo t e r s s e e s u c h p a r t i e s a s o ffs h o o t s o f t h e m o t h e r p a r t i e s w i t h w h i c h t h e y h a d a s s o c i a t e d t h e m s e l v e s o r i g i n a l l y N e v e r t h e l e s s , t h e s t r e n g t h o f t h e t o n g a p a r t i e s l i e s i n t h e p l e nt i f u l s u p p l y o f m o n e y f l o w i n g f r o m i t s m e m b e r s w h o a r e m o s t l y l a n d l o r d s a n d i n d u s t r i a l i s t s e v e r r e a d y t o e a r n v i c t o r y t h r o u g h g e n e r o u s s p e n d i n g T h i s i s w h e r e t h e y b e c o m e a t t r a c t i v e o u t l e t s f o r u n e m p l o y e d a r t i s a n s w h o e a r n m o n e y i n o n e e l e c t i o n s e a s o n t o s u r v i v e a d e q u a t e l y f o r a t l e a s t o n e y e a r I n t h i s w a y, t h e p r e s e n c e o f a n y t n g a p a r t y ” i n i t s b l o a t e d p r o j e c t e d f o r m i s b e n e f i c i a l f o r t h e e c o n o m i c h e a l t h o f t h e c o u n t r y T h e p a ss e n g e r s b e c o m e a s o u r c e o f t h e c i r c u l a t i o n o f m o n e y i n s o c i e t y The phenomenon also means that politicians refuse to learn from history They are the willing prey of the experiments performed by the establishment

Democracy a flawed system?

EVERY now and then there emerges a debate about what the state’s governing system should look like Should it be a technocratic government comprising respective experts a democracy of the public will or a caliphate of the Islamic idea?

Since democracy is the most prevalent system at work worldwide, by default it becomes the system to be targeted by the critics who aim at revolutionising the governing system The essence of the debate over democracy as the legitimate form of government has some logical arguments to put forth which sometimes poses a question mark against the validity of democracy as the fundamental ingredient for prosperity

Expounding on a brief origin and the evolution of democracy is necessary before establishing the critical views regarding democracy The concept of democracy takes its roots from Athens Greece- the birthplace of most of the early philosophical thought Athens had three classes according to which people were classified The Aristocracy; the wealthiest and the ruling elite the Demos; which was the freemen class of working people, and the slaves who were the victims of serfdom and under the control of aristocracy Since the demos class of people had an influence in the all important Navy of Athens it was paid due importance It is evident by the fact that an alliance was created between the aristocracy and the demos to govern the politics of the city state It is where the word Democracy took its origin; ‘Demo’ from the demos and ‘cracy’ from the aristocracy Over time democracy evolved in its meaning and influence to the modern day term which by and large credits

democracy as a prerequisite of a peaceful society Nevertheless, critics remained, and to date still do skeptical about this notion Socrates the founding father of Western Philosophy is on record against the concept of democracy In Book 6 of 0 Plato describes Socrates in a hate relation with democracy Plato narrates that Socrates, while in argument with a character called Adeimantus, compares a society to a ship sailing in water He asks Adeimantus who would he offer to be in charge of the sailing ship: the sailors or any other passenger? The sailors of course, Adeimantus replies Then why is it so that a society is being led by some popular character irrespective of the qualification and wisdom? asks Socrates Adeimantus had no answer but silence

According to Socrates voting a cornerstone of democratic process, is a skill which needs to be taught systematically and then to be practised According to Socrates letting people vote without any prior voting skill is as sinful as letting a random passenger with no expertise in a seagoing vessel head a sailing boat Plato also advocated an authoritarian rule by the elites in The Republic He while reinforcing the anti-democratic form of government stressed upon the idea of a Philospher

his

As political guinea pigs– the experimental rodents–they are ever ready to be sacrificed at the altar of certain interests be they institutional or national

Ask Ch Pervaiz Elahi who is on the horns of a dilemma Elahi forsook the tonga party of the PML(Q) and jumped on the bandwagon of the PTI but now reeling under May 9, the PTI is approaching collapse Elahi is left with two choices: first, stay in the fast reducing PTI; and second, join the newly formed IPP Whereas further association with the PTI is fraught with troubles relationship with the IPP is unproductive as its fate would be no different from the PML(Q)

The challenge before the establishment– the emerged ultimate political mentor– is how to reduce the stature of Imran Khan, the PTI Chairman The incumbent political government has already registered dozens of cases against Khan to keep him busy with the exoneration process This is typical of Pakistan s political system Register as many cases as possible to defile the name of a politician and exhaust him into making a compromise Khan is also needed in at least two murder cases

To elaborate, he is accused of murdering two persons If Khan is blamed for making wrong political choices, the point is understandable However, if he is accused of murdering people (or harbouring a conspiracy to murder a person) no one is going to believe in the allegation This is the point where things go counterproductive The wise step would have been to register only genuine cases against him

the huddle the Formation Commanders Conference which has expressed a resolve to punish this person and that one qualifying the criterion of a conspirator, mastermind or perpetrator

The current year is 2023 and not 1923 The Conference has to admit first the failure of the Army’s intelligence and then the failure of the military police

Has the Conference announced to have removed the intelligence heads and authorities (from their positions) running military police?

It is yet to be seen how the Army-sponsored IPP entices PTI voters, besides general voters, to make its mark in the next general elections, though the chances are dim

Generally, PTI voters condemn May 9, but they do not consider the act a turning point of their association They are lying low, but they are observant They are not dissociated from Khan– and this is bad news for his opponents of any hue

The point is simple If arson and plunder on May 9 had been pre-planned it was also the intelligence failure– both military and civil– not to discover the wicked planning and preclude the malevolent acts Was the intelligence in place for getting wise after the event? What are they paid for?

Then it was the administrative failure– both military and civil– not to foresee the repercussions of Khan s arrest and that too by the Rangers despite the fact that the violent potential of PTI workers was known Moreover, raiders were given a free hand to move around unchecked and unhindered In cantonments, military police were simply absent or they offered no resistance Were they employed for being bystanders?

Now the Army s resolution is being expressed by

The answers are in the negative

The reason is that no step has been taken to do introspection but all measures are adopted to reduce the PTI to extinction Commentator Hasan Nisar is right in asking: Is May 9 an event bigger than 16 December 1971?

In 2014, the Army (and its intelligence agencies) had been leaving no stone unturned to raise the stature of the PTI In 2023 the Army is all set to dismember the PTI Has the Conference announced the Army s resolve not to plunge into politics again? The answer is in the negative

With all these noes in the pocket, the purpose of the Conference is nothing else but instilling fear in the hearts of civilians The Conference has overlooked that Pakistan is a parliamentary democracy where people rule the roost Human rights are neither a misnomer nor are they so-called claims Human rights concerns are genuine and relevant to this age In this regard, the dictate of the Conference is deplorable The point is simple: Civilians should be tried only in civilian courts under the civilian law In short it is yet to be seen how the Army-sponsored IPP entices PTI voters besides general voters to make its mark in the next general elections though the chances are dim

The writer may be reached at qaisarrashid@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

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

Medical ethics

BEING a practising pathologist I feel the need to highlight malpractices and lack of medical ethics at a so-called private, prestigious cancer hospital in Lahore My father is a known case of hepato-cellular carcinoma and has been currently getting treatment under the care of a leading oncologist at a private hospital in Karachi As the aforementioned hospital in Lahore claims to be Pakistan’s leading cancer hospital I wanted to have a second opinion on the treatment my father is getting

The hospital concerned has a rather lengthy email procedure for taking an appointment We followed that But to my astonishment every time I emailed them to get an appointment, I was told that the oncologists there had refused to give any opinion about my father s case

This is totally absurd and strange because seeking a second opinion is nothing but a patient’s right Medical ethics demand that doctors must give a valid reason for their refusal to give an opinion about a patient’s illness

minute conversation with an average voter” His cynical views regarding democracy are partially justified as he lost the elections after winning World War 2 He is on record stating that democracy is the worst form of government Likewise there is a long list of philosophers and statesman politicians who have serious reservations regarding the concept of democracy as a governing tool

Today in the era of technological innovation and media democracy has developed a vibrant yet chaotic form It takes minutes for a movement or a demand to get popular notice of the world which would have taken months for such a spread in a prior era This undermines the fundamental tools for better governance: formulating a working policy, which consumes time and triumph of emotional appeal over logical reasoning A leader irrespective of his policies and agendas who can strike a chord with the masses sentiments is victorious in a democratic country This is certainly the triumph of mood, as Henry Kissinger would call it, over policy Furthermore in the contemporary world of modern communication tools democracy has become a superlative version of winning the sentiments and leaving the policymaking a secondary or sometimes a tertiary preference In this form, the democracy at the expense of good governance is fatal for a nation’s progress

The silver lining still exists as it does in every chaos Democracy is us the people in power (at least by the definition) The voters need to understand the importance of policy in a state s path to progress The appealing tool should be better policies and not the sentiments of the masses

Only when masses embrace the ideological stances of a leader on the front seat and push the sentimental appeals to the back can democracy flourish in its true essence in pursuit of the ultimate goal- the betterment of the state and its people The

Furthermore the hospital concerned has this ridiculous policy of not forwarding a case to any other doctor if one doctor has refused to give his/her opinion even without a legitimate reason There is no response on repeated complaints; rather, now I have been advised to look for any other hospital My question is: if a cancer patient is supposed to look for a doctor somewhere else, what role does the cancer hospital in Lahore play in this country? What is it there for? Somebody needs to answer DR KIRAN JABEEN KARACHI

A loss on all counts

THE Askari housing colonies in Lahore are currently undergoing renovation and upgradation process to improve the standard of living However one unfortunate action is the cutting down of a large number of trees; several of them decades old T h i s u n n e c e s s a r y m e a s u r e h a s d e p r i v e d t h e r e s i d e n t s o f s h a d e a n d o x y g e n b u t t h e r e i s m o r e t o i t t h a n j u s t t h a t T h i s a c t i o n w i l l c o nt r i b u t e t o t h e h a r m f u l e ff e c t s o f g l o b a l w a r m i n g a n d c l i m a t e c h a n g e i n t h e n e a r a n d d i s t a n t f u t u r e M o s t i m p o r t a n t l y t h e a c t i o n o f c h o p p i n g d o w n t r e e s i s i n c o n t r a v e n t i o n o f t h e r e l e v a n t l a w t h a t e x p r e s s l y b a r s a l l s u c h a c t i v i t i e s T h e r e i s a n u n a m b i g u o u s L a h o r e H i g h C o u r t ( L H C ) v e r d i c t o n t h e m a t t e r

The question must be put to the authorities concerned as to why this act was condoned despite being blatantly violative of the law The provincial capital of Punjab has lost thousands of trees due to several infrastructure projects in the last few years Going by a number of media reports some 2 500 trees have been chopped down during the cons- truction of various housing schemes or development projects in the city This blatant violation of laws needs to stop And this needs to stop forthwith

Plastic waste

ACCORDING to recent media reports, Pakistan generates 250 million tonnes of garbage each year including about 3 9 million tonnes of plastic waste which makes the country one of the biggest plastic polluters in the region While neighbouring countries have either partially banned the use of plastic or adopted strategies for its reuse and recycling, Pakistan has seen plastic waste grow exponentially over the years without any effective checks It causes damage to the environment, and affects the health of people

Currently, we are recycling only three per cent of the total plastic waste against a potential of recycling up to 18pc waste The government therefore needs to formulate an effective and meaningful policy to restrict the use of plastic and to optimise the recycling of plastic waste

Only when masses embrace the ideological stances of a leader on the front seat and push the sentimental appeals to the back, can democracy flourish in its true essence in pursuit of the ultimate goal- the betterment of the state and its people

Democrac y ’s critics go back to Socrates

The road to regional stabilit y

C h i n e s e d i p l o m a c y i n t h e M i d d l e E a s t

r e h A n YA Q o o b

THE geopolitical landscape of the Middle East has been characterized by various conflicts throughout the past few decades Saudi Arabia and Iran are the two major drivers of geopolitical instability in the region Both have long been engaged in a vicious and ruthless power struggle The proxy conflict between Saudi Arabia and Iran has been ongoing for decades and has had significant implications for regional stability and harmony Both Saudi Arabia and Iran have played out the conflicts by supporting various opposing parties in various regional conflicts such as in Syria Yemen Iraq and Lebanon among others

In Yemen, for example, the Houthi rebels, who have been fighting against the internationally accepted government of President Abdrabbuh Mansour Hadi were supported by Iran while the Yemeni government was backed by Saudi Arabia

The conflict caused extensive destruction and an unprecedented humanitarian crisis in Yemen, with thousands of people butchered and forced to flee their homes

Similarly, in Syria, Iran has backed the Syrian government under Bashar al-Assad while Saudi Arabia has supported various Islamist and Jihadist groups that have exchanged blows with the government

In Iraq, both Iran and Saudi Arabia are embroiled in the conflict by supporting opposing sectarian groups Iran is supporting the Shia militias while Saudi Arabia is backing the Sunni Islamist groups This involvement of Saudi Arabia and Iran in Iraq has fueled sectarian tensions which have caused instability in the country Saudi Arabia and Iran have also been involved in Lebanon through various means, including political support, financial aid, and supporting various hostile factions within the country albeit with different objectives

Iran s involvement in Lebanon is primarily characterized by its support for the Shia military and political organization in Lebanon, Hezbollah Hezbollah enjoys strong ideological, political, and financial support from the

Iranian government On the other hand the Saudi government has sought to strengthen its relations with the Sunni community of Lebanon by providing financial aid to the Sunni political parties This pernicious involvement of both countries exacerbated the historical sectarian divisions within the country and resulted in social and political instability

Iran and Saudi rivalries also had an impact on the neighbouring region Pakistan and Afghanistan have experienced the devastating impacts of the proxy conflict played out by Saudi Arabia and Iran In both Afghanistan and Pakistan, there are different extremist and militant groups working for the interests of either Saudi Arabia or Iran These proxy conflicts have fueled sectarian tensions and further exacerbated the already unstable and fragile security situation in both Afghanistan and Pakistan China's role in the Middle East is characterized by its own interests China faces a complex diplomatic challenge regarding its stance in the Middle East On the one hand, China recognizes the importance of the region due to concerns over energy security terrorism economic interests and the significant role Middle Eastern security matters play in discussions related to sovereignty, intervention, and relations among major powers On the other hand, China's increasing competition with the USA compels it to prioritize its attention and efforts towards Asia

Chinese diplomatic involvement in the Middle East is not a new phenomenon but it has worked to contribute to peace and stability in the region and to settle the most hotspot issues for over 20 years in order to ensure its continuous access to the resources and markets of the region In 2002 China appointed a special envoy for Middle Eastern issues Before last year China was not interested in publicizing its activities in the Middle East in order to prevent the percep-

ongoing conflict had a significant potential to endanger its energy security Saudi Arabia is the largest oil supplier for China so any threat to Saudi Arabia is considered a direct threat to Chinese interests Similarly, the Chinese government was convinced that the success of their flagship project BRI was totally dependent on the security and stability of the concerned regions Ensuring a safe and stable environment along the BRI project is crucial both for the safety of Chinese companies and workers

A c c o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s , S a u d i A r a b i a a g r e e d t o c u r b i t s s u p p o r t f o r t h o s e m e d i a n e t w o r k s t h a t a r e a g i t a t i n g a g a i n s t t h e K h o m e i n i r e g i m e , w h i l e I r a n a g r e e d t o c u r t a i l i t s a r m s s u p p l y t o t h e H o u t h i r e b e l s i n Y e m e n

A f t e r t h e n o r m a l i z a t i o n o f t i e s b e t w e e n I r a n a n d S a u d i A r a b i a , a l l t h e o t h e r s m a l l e r G u l f s t a t e s t h a t w e r e p r e v i o u s l y r e l u c t a n t t o e n g a g e w i t h I r a n d u e t o S a u d i A r a b i a a r e n o w i n a p o s i t i o n t o e s t a b l i s h h e a l t h y d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h I r a n T h i s d e a l w i l l a l s o c o o l d o w n t h e s e c t a r i a n t e n s i o n s , w h i c h a r e o n e o f t h e m a j o r c a u s e s o f i n s t a b i l i t y i n t h e r e g i o n T h e m a i n c o n c l u s i o n i s t h a t d e c r e a s i n g t h e i n t e n s i t y o f t h e r i v a l r i e s w i l l h e l p t o a v e r t t h e p o l i t i c a l e n e r g i e s a n d f o c u s t h e m o n t h e m a j o r i n t e r n a l c o n f l i c t s .

tion that China was infringing upon the historically established role of the USA in the region, but because of the growing tensions in the past few years in the region amidst US strategic neglect of the region and bitter relations between Crown Prince Muhammad Bin Salman and President Joe Biden Beijing started to take centre stage in Middle East affairs After the attack on Saudi Aramco oil fields, China felt a chilling warning that the

A n e xc e r p t f ro m t h e I n t ro d u c t i o n t o t h e ‘ I n d i a n i d e a s o f f re e d o m’ b y D e n n i s D a l t o n

litical thinkers that achieved a renaissance of political theory and practice in the last century Gandhi’s way of thinking about freedom thus appeared early in his life and not only in his public pronouncements but in his personal correspondence as well So in 1910 he advised a nephew who was earnestly committed to India s independence: Please do not carry unnecessarily on your head the burden of emancipating India Emancipate your own self Even that burden is very great Nobility of soul consists in realising that you are yourself India In your emancipation is the emancipation of India ”

The Chinese mediation in conflicts in the Middle East is also part of President Xi s vision to make China a global power by 2049 and to build up an alternative to the USA s 0dominance in global governance by playing a more constructive role at the global level A d d i t i o n a l l y these efforts will also help China present itself as a responsible global actor working for the benefit of the wider global public and taking credit for successful conflict resolution

The recent major geopolitical shift in the Middle East in terms of the China-brokered deal between Saudi Arabia and Iran is a big diplomatic victory for China This shift has been in the making since January 2021, when Saudi Arabia and Iran started to engage with one another In the same month, the blockade of Qatar was ended as a result of the Al Ula Summit which was a major breakthrough to mend the rifts within the Gulf Cooperation Council The USA has long stressed the settlement of regional ri-

valries in the Middle East but has not orchestrated a successful deal

The Chinese diplomatic success in striking a deal was mainly due to these two reasons

The first reason is that Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries have been looking eastward economically since 2021 According to BP’s Statistical Review of World Energy Asia will receive around 78 percent of Saudi crude exports in 2021 Today China imports more than 50 percent of its crude oil from Saudi Arabia and other Gulf countries Similarly, Iran also exports more than half a million barrels of crude oil per day to China By providing a lucrative market to both Iran and Saudi Arabia China is enjoying the privilege of influencing the policies of both countries

Secondly both Saudi Arabia and Iran have a sense of respect and goodwill for China

This friendly attitude also enabled China to be a successful and influential mediator

The recent agreement saw both rivals agree to restore diplomatic relations by reopening embassies in each other s capitals After successful mediation Chinese officials asserted that they would provide continuous support to both sides in fostering good relations and urged the international community to help the Middle Eastern countries resolve their differences This deal has the potential to open the way for dialogue and wider discussions among the Gulf Arab states and Iran which will pave the way for addressing the security issues in the Middle East This deal will also have a salutary impact on the war in Yemen, as the major sponsors of that conflict have now agreed to stop their support for warring groups in the conflict

According to reports Saudi Arabia agreed to curb its support for those media networks that are agitating against the Khomeini regime, while Iran agreed to curtail its arms supply to the Houthi rebels in Yemen After the normalization of ties between Iran and Saudi Arabia all the other smaller Gulf states that were previously reluctant to engage with Iran due to Saudi Arabia are now in a position to establish healthy diplomatic relations with Iran This deal will also cool down the sectarian tensions, which are one of the major causes of instability in the region The main conclusion is that decreasing the intensity of the rivalries will help to avert the political energies and focus them on the major internal conflicts The litmus test for the success of the agreement will be whether the two sides uphold their promise of not interfering in the internal politics of the countries in the region or not

The writer is a freelance columnist

freedom aspects of a vital and enduring intellectual tradition This was aptly termed an Indian renaissance by Aurobindo and Roy

BR Ambedkar is a fascinating member of this ostensibly disparate group His harsh criticisms of Hinduism and Gandhi are well known Less studied is his interpretation and embrace of Buddhism in The Buddha and His Dhamma; so the following analysis of his thought here focuses entirely on it This singular work deserves to be called his magnum opus because it marks the end of his theoretical journey as the climax of his rich reconstruction of Buddhism

SCR OLL d e n n i s dA lto n

GANDHI is preeminent as India’s “drum major” national leader who put his ideas into practice In terms of the conceptual paradigm noted above Jawaharlal Nehru made no significant contribution to Indian ideas of freedom however important he indisputably remains as a central figure in his nation s history Like Franklin Delano Roosevelt, he ranks as a transformational leader, not an original thinker Yet, he conveyed astute and eloquent analyses of Gandhi’s message

The essence of his teaching Nehru wrote in The Discovery of India was fearlessness not merely bodily courage but the absence of fear from the mind Then after naming the myriad fears fostered by the Raj, he concluded that It was against this all-pervading fear that Gandhi’s quiet and determined voice was raised: Be not afraid ”

The consequence he claimed was that Gandhi’s leadership of the freedom struggle created “a psychological change almost as if some expert in psychoanalytical methods had probed deep into the patient s past found out the origins of his complexes exposed them to his view, and thus rid him of that burden

An apt complement to Nehru’s diagnosis comes from Ashis Nandy, who observed that “colonialism is first of all a matter of consciousness and needs to be defeated ultimately in the minds of men the liberation ultimately had to begin from the colonised and end with the colonisers As Gandhi was to so clearly formulate throughout his own life, freedom is indivisible, not only in the popular sense that the oppressed of the world are one but also in the unpopular sense that the oppressor too is caught in the culture of oppression ”

At the same time for all of the decisive context of colonialism the case argued in this book is that modern Indian thinking about freedom contains a distinctive quality moving into new theoretical territory Gandhi conceived a nexus of ideas that defined Indian meanings of freedom This started with his original thinking about freedom in Hind Swaraj (1909) He introduced here his classic distinction between “inner” and “outer” freedom the relationship of swaraj as self-rule to satyagraha soul-force or love-force Gandhi brought to the fore not only the correlation of inner and outer freedom, but also the conceptual correspondences among those ideas just mentioned that bear repetition: first, freedom as both internal and external liberation; second an imperative that means are preeminent taking priority over ends; third nonviolence as the right method of change; and finally ethics as being integral to politics

Therefore, in this short treatise, he created a remarkable synthesis, written in white heat during a sea voyage from England to South Africa, and composed by a lawyer-turned-activist, not a philosopher, at age forty This consequent set of conceptual correspondences appears as the brightest star in a constellation of Indian po-

This correlate of self and system became his signature theme and whatever inconsistencies or conceptual developments marked his subsequent public or private life, this idea of freedom, and the cluster of thought around it, never changed In 1931, following the Salt Satyagraha, the highest point of his leadership, he wrote: “The outward freedom that we shall attain will only be in exact proportion to the inward freedom to which we may have grown at a given moment This is the correct view of freedom Outward or external freedom meant Indian independence , necessarily joined by social reforms, that is, his repeated three pillars of swaraj : Hindu-Muslim unity, abolition of untouchability and economic equality The necessary correlation is an inward form of swaraj that demanded rigorous sometimes agonising reappraisal as when Gandhi called it a painful climb in life s arduous endless pilgrimage a search for truth through ceaseless experimentation subject to the theory and practice of nonviolence

Evidence of this intellectual renaissance comes from the striking fact that Aurobindo and Tagore both expounded this formulation of “internal” and “external” freedom coincident with Gandhi’s formulation Moreover there were other Indian thinkers not included in this group of seven like BC Pal and BG Tilak who used similar language for defining swaraj in 1907, before Gandhi s Hind Swaraj The conclusion here is that by this first part of the twentieth century, a fertile intellectual groundwork had been established in Indian thinking about the meaning of freedom

As we trace the roots of this modern Indian conceptualisation of freedom then its earliest expression occurs in Swami Vivekananda s thought initially formed in the late nineteenth century This had profoundly inspired others by the time of his death in July 1902

Vivekananda observed that freedom “does not mean [only] the absence of [external] obstacles” but correspondingly ‘spiritual freedom’; that “one should raise the self by the self Let each work out one s own salvation Freedom in all matters is the worthiest gain of man To advance oneself towards freedom – in its fullest sense, physical and spiritual, political and economic –and help others to do so, is the supreme prize of man Those social rules which stand in the way of the unfoldment of this freedom are injurious and steps should be taken to destroy them speedily Those institutions [and moral virtues] should be encouraged by which men advance in the path of freedom

It was Vivekananda s voice of freedom, as a process of political and spiritual evolution, personal and ethical transformation, that inspired Aurobindo in the twentieth century He systematised it philosophically when he wrote in as early as 1916: “Spiritual freedom is not the egoistic assertion of our separate mind and life but obedience to the Divine Truth in ourselves and our members all around us not only to seek one s own individual liberation or perfection, but also the political and moral freedom of others is the complete law of the spiritual being he who sees god in all will [give freely to everyone] the service of love; not only his own freedom but the freedom of all

may be superficially

interpreted as antithetical to Aurobindo s philosophy In fact, they mutually evolved towards common ground in their mature thought, to write original theories on freedom In Roy’s case, this is evidenced in his outstanding Problem of Freedom published in 1945 In accord with others in this group of seven Roy contended that positive or internal spiritual freedom of personal morality has the advantage of being built on solid ethical foundations, thus securing a firm base of community, supplying the individual with the new moorings of a cooperative collective existence’

It must be emphasised that as philosopher James

Tully an authority on John Locke has observed this Indian thinking about freedom is distinctive It should not be confused with Isaiah Berlin s famous two concepts of liberty formulation that represents a binary mode of thought As Gandhi recognised in 1931, and Roy concluded later, conceiving of freedom only as independence lacked emphasis on interpersonal connectedness

From self-liberation flowed collective emancipation as an evolution of ideas not a dichotomous conceptual construction of opposites

Therefore for Roy like Gandhi India s independence was necessary but decidedly insufficient Roy and Gandhi devoted their lifelong political careers to the attainment of “external freedom” or what Roy called “the absence of all obstacles to the pursuit of happiness” Yet this must correlate with freedom in its “positive” or internal form This is their distinctive contribution and it is very carefully reasoned in Roy s Problem of Freedom:

Positive freedom is the condition for the self-realisation of life only on that philosophical and psychological foundation can the structure of collective freedom be raised by the continuous efforts and collective work of spiritually liberated individuals ”

In his prolific writings on freedom after 1945 Roy explicitly identified positive with spiritual freedom thus explicitly relating his conception to fellow Bengali thinkers, specifically Vivekananda and Aurobindo The explicit invocation of spiritual freedom became a cornerstone of his Radical Humanism

Before turning to Ambedkar ’s contribution to the group of seven this should be stressed: among the seven members of this intellectual constellation the conceptual correspondences in thinking about freedom are striking Evident differences exist, but not when we focus on their ideas of freedom The point is that these leaders of the Indian national movement signify, through their ideas of

As presented briefly in this Introduction and developed at length in chapter 9 on his thought Ambedkar s idea of freedom in Buddha and His Dhamma ranks as his major contribution to the group of seven

In contrast to the six other Indian thinkers selected here, Ambedkar was an outstanding scholar with formidable academic credentials, as explained further in the later chapter This is shown in his scrupulous documentation throughout Buddha and His Dhamma with meticulous footnotes As only one textual example of his preoccupation with the idea of freedom at one point in the book he repeats the word free five times in a single paragraph, significantly identifying it with freedom from “fear” (all cited from Buddha’s Dhammapada with thirteen footnotes) In other places, he refers amply to freedom in a variety of contexts These are consistently employed to elucidate from a Buddhist perspective a pursuit and theory of spiritual freedom

There is a particularly dramatic instance of this in The Buddha and His Dhamma that merits special attention It occurs when Ambedkar relates what might be called the “allegory of the dungeon” (alluding to Plato’s famous allegory of the cave in The Republic) This passage from Buddha and His Dhamma reads as follows with the Buddha speaking to his disciples: You must realise that the world is a dungeon and man is a prisoner in the dungeon This dungeon is full of darkness; so dark that scarcely anything at all can rightly be seen by the prisoner The prisoner cannot even perceive that he is a prisoner Indeed he has not only become blind by living too long in the darkness but he very much doubts if any such strange thing as light can ever exist at all But the case of the prisoner is not as hopeless as it appears For there is in man a thing called will When the appropriate motives arise, the will can be awakened and set in motion With the coming of just enough light to see in what directions to guide the motions of the will, man may so guide them that they shall lead to liberty Thus though man is bound yet he may be free; he may at any moment begin to take the first steps that will ultimately bring him freedom This is because it is possible to train the mind in whatever directions one chooses It is mind that makes us to be prisoners in the house of life, and it is mind that keeps us so But what mind has done, that mind can undo If it has brought man to thralldom, it can also when rightly directed bring him to liberty [It only] requires a free mind and free thought The similarity with Plato s allegory of the cave in both language and thought is remarkable but there are also substantial differences First in Plato s cave allegory and philosophy, there is no concept of spiritual freedom Second, in contrast to Plato, Ambedkar asserts that Buddha is a “born democrat”, devoted to freedom and equality for all while at the same time serving as a guide to spiritual enlightenment This demonstrates Ambedkar s interpretation of Buddhism as a perfect synthesis of internal and external freedom Note that there is no binary thinking with Ambedkar, contrasted to Isaiah Berlin s theory of the irreconcilability or the essential opposition of negative to positive freedom Instead, Ambedkar describes Buddha’s allegory as a progressive cognitive journey out of the dungeon a steadfast pilgrimage culminating in spiritual freedom Dennis Dalton was the Professor Emeritus of Polit-

Science Barnard College Columbia University

From Gandhi to Ambedkar, from Tagore to MN Roy, what were the ideas of freedom?

UK , US SIGN NEW DEAL FOR TRANSATL ANTIC PARTNERSHIP, SUBSTANTIVE COOPERATION

WASHINGTON A G E N C I E S

TH E UK and the US unveiled on Thursday a deal for a transatlantic partnership aimed at bolstering economic security in response to threats from China and Russia a pathetic attempt that experts see as masking their lack of substantive cooperation through hollow, politically symbolic gestures The seemingly closer alliance however is mostly wishful thinking on the part of the UK as the US will not grant the concessions it desires but only further move Britain more firmly into its orbit

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak and US President Joe Biden announced on Thursday the “Atlantic Declaration” at a joint press conference at the White House brushing off Sunak s failure to deliver on the promise made in 2019 to land a free trade deal with the US Reaffirming Britain s special rela-

tionship with the US Sunak said Countries like China and Russia are willing to manipulate and exploit our openness, steal our intellectual property, use technology for authoritarian ends or withdraw crucial resources like energy They will not succeed The agreement is a series of mini

Palestinian President Abbas to visit China next week

Palestinian President Mahmoud Abbas will pay a state visit to China from June 13 to 16 the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Friday

The president of the State of Palestine will make the visit at the invitation of Chinese President Xi Jinping, said Hua Chunying, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry in a statement Abbas is the first head of state of an Arab country China is set to receive this year which showcases the high level of relations between China and Palestine Wang Wenbin, another spokesperson for the ministry, told a regular press briefing in Beijing on Friday afternoon

Calling Abbas “an old, good friend” of the Chinese people Wang highlighted the traditional friendship between the two sides saying that China was among the first countries to recognize the Palestine Liberation Organization and the State of Palestine He noted the solid political trust and deepened friendship between the two sides over the years and expressed readiness to take the relationship to a higher level

The Palestine question, which has always been the core issue in the Middle East concerns regional peace and stability and international fairness and justice said Wang China has always firmly supported the Palestinian people in their just cause to restore their legitimate national rights, he added

For ten consecutive years, President Xi has sent congratulatory messages to the special commemorative meeting in observance of the International Day of Solidarity with the Palestinian People said Wang

deals looking for cooperation in artificial intelligence, critical minerals, clean energy and security, CNBC reported

As the first steps in this new partnership the two countries will “take concrete and coordinated actions” across five pillars including critical and emerging technologies economic security and

PR OFIT

R E U T E R S

China s factory gate prices fell at the fastest pace in seven years in May and quicker than forecasts, as faltering demand weighed on a slowing manufacturing sector and cast a cloud over the fragile economic recovery

As rising interests rates and inflation squeeze demand in the United States and Europe China is in contrast battling a sharp decline in prices with factories receiving less for their products from key overseas markets

The producer price index (PPI) for May fell for an eighth consecutive month down 4 6% the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said on Friday

That was the fastest decline since February 2016 and bigger than the 4 3% fall in a Reuters poll

The risk of deflation is still weighing on the economy, said Zhiwei Zhang, chief economist at Pinpoint Asset Management, in a note Recent economic indicators send consistent signals that the economy is cooling ” he added China s economy grew faster than expected in the first quarter but recent indicators show demand is rapidly weakening with exports imports and factory activity falling in May

The consumer price index (CPI) rose 0 2% yearon-year, speeding up from a 0 1% rise in April but, missing a forecast for a 0 3% increase

Food price inflation a key driver of CPI slowed to 1 0% year-on-year from 2 4% in the previous month

On a month-on-month basis food prices fell 0 7%

The Australia dollar eased 0 2% to $0 6704 tracking a fall in the Chinese currency yuan after the

technology protection, defense, and space, according to a statement released by the White House Experts said the declaration is more of a cover-up aimed at concealing the fact that London is unable to secure its desired trade deal with Washington While failing to deliver [the trade deal] Britain still wants to revive its ties with the US Only aligning itself with the new economic strategies of the US will allow that,” Cui Hongjian, director of the Department of European Studies at the China Institute of International Studies told the Global Times on Friday Mentioning the threat from China and Russia is also driven by the UK s aim of appeasing its big brother and justifying its actions, Cui added Another point that Sunak wants to demonstrate through the declaration is that he is trying to give a positive spin to the Conservative Party and enhance his own reputation as the current administration is facing numerous challenges including the mess left by the Brexit

s

inflation data

The government has set a target for average consumer prices in 2023 to be about 3% Prices rose 2% year-on-year in 2022

We still think a tightening labour market will put some upward pressure on inflation later this year, but it will remain well within policymakers’ comfort zone,” said Julian Evans-Pritchard, head of China economics at Capital Economics in a note

The government s ceiling of around 3 0% for the headline rate is unlikely to be tested and we doubt inflation will become a barrier to increased policy support, he added UNDER PRESSURE

Policymakers have repeatedly signalled their intention to lean on China’s 1 4 billion consumers after the economy last year reported one of its slowest paces of growth in nearly half a century

So far monetary policy and fiscal policy have remained tight, along with lower income growth, so domestic demand is depressed, said Dan Wang, chief economist at Hang Seng Bank China

Some economists expect the People’s Bank of China (PBOC) to cut rates or release more liquidity into the financial system The bank cut lenders reserve requirements ratio in March China s biggest banks on Thursday said they had lowered interest rates on deposits, providing some relief for the financial sector and wider economy by easing pressure on profit margins and reducing lending costs

Analysts have been downgrading their forecasts for economic growth for the year amid continued signs of slowing The government has set a modest GDP growth target of around 5% for this year after badly missing the 2022 goal

Sino-US tensions: China urges U.S. to follow its commitment of not asking other states to pick sides

The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Friday urged the United States to follow its commitment of not demanding that other countries pick a side between Beijing and Washington Spokesperson Wang Wenbin told reporters that U S diplomatic missions around the globe should act on its Secretary of State Antony Blinken s remarks on Thursday that the U S is not asking anyone to choose between the United States and China ”

He urged the U S side to be “truly open-minded” about other countries’ growing ties with China

It should stop bludgeoning Huawei and other Chinese firms stop coercing allies into restricting chip exports to China stop baiting or forcing other countries into turning away from cooperation with China, and stop spreading disinformation about China such as the “debt trap” narrative, Wang emphasized Quoting George Washington the first U S president he said “actions not words are the true criterion of the attachment of friends We w i l l l i s t e n t o w h a t t

S s a y s b u t m o r e i m p o r t a n t l y w e w i l l b e

Analysts opine that

US should stop wasting China’s goodwill in being open to dialogue and should become sincere in improving relations instead of flip-flopping Li Haidong a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, said that Burns remarks also fully expose one of American political elites old problems – trying to open channels for dialogues via imposing pressure arrogantly For the US maintaining communication with China is intended to make it convenient for Washington to raise its demands and requests to China

The China-US relations are crucial and we need not only stable relations but also stable and mature diplomacy, said Li, noting that as the US ambassador to China, Burns’ understanding of China is neither enough nor objective and as an implementer of US government’s China policy Burns a veteran diplomat however has demonstrated less elasticity in handling bilateral relations Burns came to China in March 2022 to succeed Terry Branstad as US ambassador to China Before Burns arrival, the post was vacant since October 2020 and the bilateral relations were at the lowest ebb in decades The US has never been able to correct its prominent old problem of saying one thing and doing another which also makes it more challenging to remove obstacles to stabilize China-US relations said Li

Trump indic ted in classified doc uments probe

WASHINGTON

A G E N C I E S

Donald Trump said Thursday he has been indicted over his handling of classified documents after leaving office the US ex-president s most serious legal threat yet as a firestorm of criminal investigations imperil his bid for a second White House term

The corrupt Biden Administration has informed my attorneys that I have been Indicted, seemingly over the Boxes Hoax,” Trump wrote

on his Truth Social platform as he broke the bombshell news of a historic moment for the United States: the first time a sitting or former commander-in-chief has ever faced federal charges There was no immediate confirmation from the Justice Department regarding Trump’s assertion

A Trump attorney Jim Trusty told CNN his client has been indicted on seven charges including the willful retention of documents in violation of the Espionage Act, making false statements, obstruction of justice and a count

of conspiracy Though the precise details of the charges were not immediately clear people familiar with the matter told The New York Times the conspiracy charge was related to obstruction of justice

In his post Trump who is running for president again said he has been summoned to a federal courthouse in Miami next Tuesday the day before his 77th birthday

I never thought it possible that such a thing could happen to a former President of the United States,” he wrote

C hina to hold world ’s first supply chain-themed national expo

BEIJING

China is all set to hold the first China International Supply Chain Expo in Beijing from November 28 to December 2, the world’s first supply chain-themed national exhibition with the aim of providing an

international platform for advancing orderly and efficient industrial synergy across countries

Around 100 enterprises have signed up for the event to date with confirmed US companies forming the largest group among foreign multinationals, Chinese officials said on Friday

C h i n a ’s f a c t o r y d e f l at i o n s t e e p e n s a s d e m a n d wa n e

CORPORATE CORNER

PAFLA to host Pakistan’s first ever Future of Work Conference

I s l a m a b a d: As a representative of more than three million freelancers working in the country, the Pakistan Freelancers Association (PAFLA) is all set to host a conference titled The Future of Work (FoW): Collaborating with Freelancers Influencers and Entrepreneurs for Success in the Digital Age in Karachi on June 17, 2023 The event which is the first of its kind to take place in the country, aims to highlight the contributions of the local freelancer community to the national exchequer and the economy while calling for more conducive policies in the upcoming budget Pakistan s freelancing ecosystem is amongst the biggest in the world ranking amongst the top five nations in terms of the number of freelancers and the revenues they generate on a yearly basis In fiscal year 2022, these individuals generated close to $400 million for the national economy which was nearly 15% of total ICT exports of $2 62 billion from Pakistan during this period Making continuous efforts to groom, mentor and develop this community, PAFLA s latest endeavor, the highly anticipated Future of Work conference aims to serve as a platform to foster future growth for entrepreneurs, influencers, and freelancers To encourage greater participation of stakeholders the conference is free to register for P R

OGDCL embarks on transformative learning journey with LUMS

In a landmark partnership the Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has joined hands with the Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) Rausing Executive Development Centre (REDC) for the implementation of their revolutionary program, aptly named "The Learning Odyssey " This collaboration aims to empower OGDCL employees with enhanced skills and competencies through a series of customized interventions

The Learning Odyssey program designed to address OGDCL s management cadre training needs, marks a significant milestone for both organizations LUMS, renowned for its excellence in training and development, will play a pivotal role in refining the managerial and leadership capabilities of OGDCL employees ultimately fostering a lasting competitive advantage for the company With an emphasis on organizational development and transformative learning solutions, the partnership between OGDCL and LUMS' Rausing Executive Development Centre promises to unlock the full potential of OGDCL employees through a comprehensive and immersive learning experience P R

BISP, KfW ink MoU

wor th € 27 million

SECP REGISTERS 2,539 COMPANIES IN MAY 2023 TAKING TOTAL COMPANIES TO 194,466

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R

TH E Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) by registering 2 539 new companies in May 2023 has taken the total number of registered companies to 194 466

The total paid-up capital (capitalization) of the companies incorporated in February was Rs 2 7 billion

Approximately 57 percent of businesses were registered as private limited companies 40 percent as single-member businesses and 3% as limited liability partnerships not-for-profit organizations and unlisted public companies (LLP) Nearly 99 7% of businesses registered online The new registrations include 65 foreign applicants

The information technology sector took the lead with the incorporation of with 407 companies, followed by trading with 339 real estate development & construction sector with 331 and services with 287 companies Likewise 112 companies were incorporated in the food and beverage sector; 102 in the tourism sector; 81 in the education sector; and 66 in the e-commerce sector

Private sec tor committed to collaboration for qualit y, access to family planning in Sindh

KARACHI S TA F R E P O R T Impact Hub is a Private Sector Working Group led by Population Services International (PSI) Pakistan In partnership with the United States Agency for International Development (USAID)-funded Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Engage project PSI together with Chemonics International and Pathfinder International organized the first HMCoP event in Pakistan The secretariat of the USAID and UNFPA co-chaired Healthy Markets Community of Practice (HMCoP) The event marked a renewed commitment to collaboration in strengthening family planning (FP) services through the private sector in Sindh, Pakistan

The Impact Hub is an initiative that was established in 2019 as a Private Sector Working Group (PSWG) to foster collaboration and market shaping in the field of family planning Led by Population Services International (PSI) and in partnership with the Bill and Melinda Gates Foundation (BMGF), the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) and other private sector organizations the Im-

pact Hub serves as a platform for coordination, advocacy, and thought leadership Overall, the Impact Hub represents a collaborative effort among private sector partners to advance family planning drive market shaping initiatives and improve access to quality services

The HMCoP is a global networking initiative which brings together key stakeholders, experts, and organizations dedicated to driving progress in FP market development and private sector engagement The goal of the group is to develop healthy markets that are responsive equitable, resilient, led by local actors and driven by consumer needs

The agenda for this convention in Pakistan was designed to provide a comprehensive overview of

the country s current FP market landscape and highlight successful strategies for addressing FP challenges Dr Yasmeen Qazi, Senior Country Advisor on FP and maternal newborn and child health (MNCH) at the Bill & Melinda Gates Foundation and a renowned expert in the field delivered an informative presentation on FP market challenges in Sindh, shedding light on existing gaps and opportunities for improvement

Frontier Health Markets (FHM) Engage is a five-year cooperative agreement funded by USAID The project works to improve the market environment for greater private sector participation in the delivery of health products and services

Indian S ikh pilgrims arrive in Hassanabdal to offer religious rituals

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) and the Pakistan Sikh Gurdwara Perbandhak Committee (PSGPC), local administration well come them

814 companies were incorporated in other sectors

As a result of integration of SECP with FBR and various provincial departments, 2,439 companies were registered with FBR for registration of NTN, 63 companies with EOBI 46 companies with PESSI/SESSI and 57 companies with excise and taxation department

Foreign investment has been reported in 81 new companies having foreign investors from Afghanistan Australia, China, Indonesia, Ireland, Italy, the Netherlands, Nigeria, Norway, Romania, Russia, Singapore, Spain, Thailand, Turkey, UAE, UK and the US Major chunk of investment was received from China with 47 companies UK with 05 companies US with 04 companies Turkey and Afghanistan with 3 companies each Indonesia Russia UAE Thailand with 2 companies each, and in 11 companies from other countries

The SECP has also a dedicated WhatsApp facility for instant resolution of the queries pertaining to name availability and incorporation process and during this month around 1 290 queries were responded with 97% satisfaction rate

Major connectivit y projects under CPEC achieve success

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

The Pakistan Economic Survey (PES) 2022-23 released on Thursday noted that the transport infrastructure sector in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) had achieved remarkable success PES emphasized the importance of modern transportation infrastructure, CPEC offers Pakistan a unique opportunity to integrate with the regional markets

On the Eastern Alignment (roadway projects located in Sindh and Punjab) the groundbreaking of the Sukkar-Hyderabad (M-6) section of the motorway was done in December 2022, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday On the Western Alignment (projects located in Northwestern Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhaw and Baluchistan) the groundbreaking of the Dera Ismail Khan- Sagu section of N50 was also done during the same period said the budgetary document

Moreover, the construction on the 298 km Zhob to Kuchlak road project was in progress Also, other projects such as Khuzdar-Basima (110 km), NokundiMashkhel (103 km) and Hoshab-Awaran M-8 (146 km) were under implementation and expected to be completed as per timelines

Furthermore Sagu-Zhob Project N-50 was under discussion with the Chinese side and is expected to be started soon, said the PES document The concessional financing agreement for the landmark ML-1 project is expected to be finalized soon and subsequently arrangements will be made for the ground-breaking of the project

In addition to this the framework agreement of the Karachi Circular Railway (KCR) has been shared with the Chinese side to take up the project under CPEC framework, it added

Lastly, PES stated that the feasibility studies of the new projects Mirpur-Muzaffarabad-Mansehra

(MMM) M-9 Motorway and Babusar Tunnel have been proposed to be considered under CPEC framework in the forthcoming Joint Working Group meeting of transport infrastructure

I s l a m a b a d: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) and KfW, a German Development Bank, have forged a partnership aimed at strengthening their joint efforts to combat poverty and provide aid to flood victims in Pakistan

A significant milestone was achieved as both parties signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) valued at €27 million Euro The MoU signing ceremony took place in Islamabad on Friday, witnessed by Ms Shazia Marri, the Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation & Social Safety (PA&SS) and Chairperson of Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) along with Secretary PA&SS division and other officials from the Benazir Income Support Programme The MoU signifies the commitment of the German Bank to contribute a generous sum of 27 million euros, dedicated to supporting the rehabilitation and providing cash assistance to individuals affected by the floods in Pakistan

Federal Minister Shazia Marri emphasized the government s unwavering commitment to social protection programs and announced a new partnership with the German development bank

The minister praised the government's efforts in increasing allocations for social safety nets and addressing the challenges faced by vulnerable communities in Pakistan

She said that over the past year the government has demonstrated a clear priority for social protection by significantly increasing budget allocations by more than seventy percent Despite facing various challenges, including a devastating flood situation, the government swiftly provided relief to affected individuals Prime Minister of Pakistan authorized the immediate disbursement of Pakistani Rupees 70 billion to support floodaffected people, with each family receiving 25,000 rupees Minister Marri highlighted the government's proactive approach in extending assistance to pregnant women

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

A Chinese-Urdu calligraphy competition was held to promotes Sino-Pak cultural exchanges

It was arranged by the Karachi branch of the Industrial and Commercial Bank of China (ICBC) to celebrate the 72nd anniversary of China-Pakistan diplomatic relations

According to Gwadar Pro it was aimed promoting friendship and harmony among its staff members they organized a ChineseUrdu calligraphy competition and award ceremony centered around the theme of

Around 170 Sikh pilgrims arrived at Hassan Abdal to offer their religious rituals in connection to 174th death anniversary of Guru Arjan Dev also known as Jore

aimed strict security measures Upon their arrival officials of local administration

Speaking on the occasion the Party leader of Sikh yatrees Sardar Gurbachan Singh said that Pakistan was their second home for Sikhs living in all around the world

Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) deputy secretary Shrines Saif Ullah Khokar has said that the Sikh pilgrim would leave for Gurdwara Nanaka Sahib on June 10

He assured that the Sikh pilgrims would be provided with the best facilities during their 10-day stay in the country

He said that Pakistan remains committed to preserving sacred religious places as well as providing necessary facilitation to the visiting pilgrims

The pilgrims will also visit other holy sites including Gurdwara Nankana Sahib and Gurdwara Kartarpur Sahib

BISP to pay Rs2000 to newborn male, Rs25000 female child

Newly commissioned Naval ship PNS Shahjahan arrives in Karachi from China

KARACHI

S TA F F R E P O R T

The newly commissioned Pakistan Navy Ship (PNS) Shahjahan has arrived in Karachi that was commissioned on May 10 2023 in a graceful ceremony held in Shanghai China and attended by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi as chief guest

During her maiden voyage to Pakistan, PNS Shahjahan visited Malaysia and participated in Langkawi International Maritime and Aerospace Exhibition (LIMA) along with other 30 participating countries said a Pakistan Navy news release on Friday

During the stay at Langkawai the ship was visited by various dignitaries, delegates and locals Later, PNS Shahjahan visited Colombo, Sri Lanka The visit was aimed at strengthening bilateral ties, enhancing interoperability and exploring new vistas of cooperation between the two navies

Friendship and Harmony, aiming to spread the essence of friendship More than 40 Pakistani and Chinese employees enthusiastically participated in the competition During the competition the contestants learned the key points of Urdu calligraphy and Chinese calligraphy online and wrote down Harmony and friendship lasts forever , China-Pakistan friendship lasts forever”, “China-Pakistan friendship is higher than mountains and sweeter than honey” in each other ’s language

The strong friendship between China and Pakistan is fully integrated between the lines

The federal minister said that a significant increase will be made in the budget projects run under BISP

Multiple winners of the competition were selected through online mutual assessment of Chinese and Pakistani employees Senior management of the branch attended the ceremony to present awards on 30 May to the winners and jointly celebrate the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between Pakistan and China

The successful holding of this calligraphy competition has enriched the cultural life of the employees and promoted cross-cultural integration It also expressed the best wishes for the 72nd anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic ties between China and Pakistan

Upon arrival at Colombo Pakistan Navy Ship was warmly welcomed by officials of the Sri Lankan Navy At Colombo Sri Lankan Minister of Environment, Chief of Sri Lankan Navy and notables from the local community visited PN Ship During meetings with Sir Lankan Navy officials, the commanding officer discussed matters of mutual interest and conveyed well wishes from the Chief of the Naval Staff for the people of Sri Lanka in general and the host navy in particular The port visit concluded with a joint maritime exercise between PNS Shahjahan and SLNS Prakramabahu

GOVT SETS RS1.14TR DEVELOPMENT BUDGET WITH PRIORIT Y GIVEN TO ‘POPULIST’ PROJECTS

that is to be spent on development projects across different industries and sectors The amount is a significant increase from last year when the federal budget for development projects had just been Rs 727 billion

This means that the budget given to the Federal Public Sector Developm e n t P r o g r a m ( P S D P ) h a s i n c r e a s e d b y o v e r 3 0 p e r c e n t N o r m a l l y e l e ction years are a free for all in terms of development budgets as outgoing governments try to increase their popularity by spending money on projects that will provide relief to the public This year, however, the government is trying to play a dangerous game of bala n c i n g t h e p o l i t i c a l n e e d s o f a n election year budget and requirements o f t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o n e t a r y F u n d ( I M F ) w h i c h w a n t s P a k i s t a n t o c u t back on spending

The PSDP is an important part of public sector investment, which channels domestic and foreign resources to

implement development programmes and projects prepared by the federal provincial and local agencies Essentially it is the vehicle that the federal government has to spend on the people In the current budget, Rs 1 14 trillion has been allocated for the PSDP

What is the government planning to spend on?

A s p e r t h e b u d g e t d o c u m e n t s i n t h e b u d g e t o f f i s c a l y e a r 2 0 2 3 - 2 4 a t least Rs485 billion has been allocated for federal ministries and departments F o r c o r p o r a t i o n s i n c l u d i n g N H A , WAPDA etc the government has allocated Rs 215 billion in this budget as compared to Rs 176 billion in the outgoing financial year F o r p r o v i n c i a l p r o j e c t s u n d e r t h e federal government Rs 42 billion have been allocated Rs 61 billion are allocated for special areas including AJK a n d G B w h e r e a s R s 5 7 b i l l i o n a r e fixed for merged areas of KP

The government has allocated Rs 90 billion for SDGs achievement program making it Rs 950 billion under the federal development program The government has also allocated Rs 200 billion for projects to be executed or completed under PPP/BOT mode which

PM forms committee to remove BAP’s concerns

Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif constituted a committee on Friday to remove the concerns of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) regarding the development projects and issues faced by the province

The committee was formed after a BAP delegation headed by Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani called on prime minister and apprised him about their reservations regarding development projects of the province

Members of the committee included Senate

Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani, Khalid Hussain Magsi, Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haidari Agha Hassan

Baloch Ishaq Dar Ahsan Iqbal Dr Musaddiq Malik

Azam Nazeer Tarar and Manzoor Kakar

Premier Shehbaz Sharif assigned the committee with task to hold a detailed consultation and present him a report within a week

In the meeting, the BAP decided to take part in the budget session and extend its full support to the government

The prime minister said that being an important coalition partner the BAP played a key role in every decision making of the government

He said the Balochistan s development could not be carried out without BAP s input and that the country’s progress was linked with that of Balochistan province

The Senate chairman appreciated the prime minister for his keen interest and special measures for the uplift of Balochistan

Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar BAP

Parliamentary Leader Khalid Hussain Magsi and Senator Naseebullah Bazai also attended the meeting

PTI rejects Budget 2023-24, slams Dar for countr y’s catastrophic economic collapse

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) senior leader

Hammad Azhar slammed the so-called financial wizard Ishaq Dar for the country s catastrophic economic collapse Hammad Azhar came down hard on Dar for presenting the pre-budget Pakistan Economic Survey 2022-23 stating that he should have also presented his resignation alongside the survey

He said: The economic destruction that PDM caused in one year did not happen in any war or epidemic Lashing out at Shehbaz Sharif for taking credit to removing Pakistan from FATF grey list, Hammad claimed that he was sure that the said person would not even know the meaning of FATF

He said that Pakistan submitted its last report to FATF in April 2022 during the tenure of PTI and on the bases of that report FATF decided to remove Pakistan from the grey list in its next meeting

SBP to announce monetary policy on June 12

g POLICY RATE WA S RAISED BY 100 BA SIS POINTS TO 21% IN LA ST MEETING

added the total development portfolio of the center to Rs 1150 billion

Sectoral Strategy for PSDP 2023-24 A s p e r t h e b u d g e t b o o k p r i o r i t y h a s b e e n a s s i g n e d t o I n f r a s t r u c t u r e sector being the primary responsibility of the Federal Government with over 52% of the allocations of Rs 950 billion followed by Social Sector having 25 5% and balanced regional development (AJ&K GB and Merged districts of KP) with 12 5% A b o u t 1 0 % r e s o

e n t s t o b r i n g a t g r a s s r o o t s community based development Within Infrastructure, major chunk of the allocation has been earmarked t o ( a ) t r a n s p o r t a n d c o m m u n i c a t i o n s w i t h 2 8 % f o r o n g o i n g m e g a p r o j e c t s of NHA Railways Maritime Affairs Defence Production and CPEC related p r o j e c t s ( b ) w a t e

Budget in line with IMF demands: M if tah Ismail

The government had prepared “a responsible budget not an election budget” the finance minister said

According

that

by

basis points to 21 percent arguing that raising the policy rate was an important step towards anchoring inflation expectations around the medium-term target, which is critical for achieving the objective of price stability

Gov t employees to receive salar y, pension raises of up to 35%

Former finance minister Miftah Ismail has said the budget 2023-24 is in line with the International Monetary Fund s (IMF) demands and not very expansionary Ismail a vocal critic of incumbent Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said that the Washingtonbased lender demanded a primary surplus of 0 5% and the government has set it at 0 4% which is close to the lender s benchmark so we can say that is in line with the IMF’s expectation”

The former financial czar was speaking on Friday giving his response on an Rs14 46 trillion budget eyeing a deficit of 6 54% of economic output in the fiscal year starting on July

1

Dar announced the target during his budget speech to the National Assembly

The budget needs to satisfy the IMF to secure the release of stuck bailout money for the crisis-struck country, which is due to hold a general election by November

He reiterated that the government hoped to get an agreement with the Washington-based lender soon, echoing comments made earlier in the day by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif as he addressed his cabinet

Ismail also said that if the IMF thinks that your revenue and expenditure targets are practical then it is not a very expansionary budget

The IMF focuses on two things primary deficit and primary surplus and we are close to it as there’s only a difference of Rs125 billion ”

He said that the way the government is increasing taxes and giving money to the provinces, this budget is not sustainable

He also criticised authorities concerned for announcing a hefty increase in salaries “More than half of the expenses in civil government are salaries

He asked for increasing the allocation for the Benazir Income Support Program (BISP) and demanded a cut in funds for the lawmakers

Miftah, when asked if there will be a shortfall in the tax revenue this year replied that the government had to suffer huge losses due to the devastating floods this year in which over Rs100 billion were provided to the poor as subsidies as well as the money spent of infrastructure which shows there have been some major changes made in the budget

He said that keeping in view the interest rate and GDP tax the deficit target can be achieved The most worrying thing in this year s budget is that our revenue receipts are Rs6 800 billion and the interest it has to pay is Rs7 500 billion which means that the government is borrowing money just to pay interest and not to spend which is called death trap

Miftah said that a lot of restructuring in the budget is needed as it is not sustainable

Speaking about the increased salaries and pensions of the government employees the former finance minister said that it is due to rising inflation and increased expenses, however, reforms are needed

O ne billion alloc ated in budget for health insurance of journalists, media workers: M arriyum

said while talking to the media persons outside the Parliament House

In a move aimed at providing relief amidst soaring inflation, the federal cabinet has given its nod to budget proposals for the fiscal year 2023-2024 approving a substantial salary increase of up to 35% for government employees

The decision made in consultation with various stakeholders, recognises the hardships faced by the economically disadvantaged sections of society

Additionally, the government has sanctioned a 17 5% increment in pensions for the upcoming fiscal year

According to preliminary reports employees in grades 1-16 will witness a 35% raise while those above grade 17 will receive a 30% increment

Furthermore, the government has proposed setting the minimum wage at Rs32,000

The Pay and Pension Commission had recommended a 100% augmentation in medical and conveyance allowances for government employees along with a 10% increase in ad hoc allowances

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb on Friday said the Federal Government had allocated an amount of Rs 1 billion in the budget for fiscal year 2023-24 for health insurance of working journalists and media workers

Delighted to announce that an allocation has been made in the budget for health insurance of working journalists for the first time ever,” the minister said in a tweet

She extended gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for allocating funds for the very important measure

“As Information Minister, it was one of my goals to be able to arrange this facility for working journalists especially during these difficult times the minister remarked

She said the federal budget for fiscal year 2023-24 would restart the journey of progress and development in the country which had witnessed four years of economic destruction, joblessness, chaos and anarchy during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government’s tenure

“Four years of PTI ushered in destruction but now this budget will chart the country on a course of prosperity and development he

She said a Fitna anarchist and rioter had tried to push the country into an economic quagmire but he faced nothing but humiliation and disappointment

Marriyum said the government had been pursuing the same vision for the economy which was implemented in 2013 to bring development and prosperity

Now, the economic stability had returned due to prudent policies of the coalition government, she added

A mega relief package was being given for agriculture

IT sector and youth in the budget she said while reiterating that there was a good news for the government servants

To a query, she said four years of pervasive incompetence, widespread corruption and severe economic deterioration had deeply disappointed the nation

During the budget speech Finance Minister Ishaq Dar acknowledged the challenges faced by government employees and assured them that several measures were being taken to alleviate their burden Dar announced that the minimum pension would be raised to Rs12 000 and the EOBI (Employees’ OldAge Benefits Institution) pension would be increased to Rs10 000

Moreover the government plans to support widows by paying their debts through the House Building Finance Corporation (HBFC) up to one million rupees The deposit limit in national savings accounts for martyrs is also set to increase from Rs5 million to Rs7 5 million

In addition the allocation for the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) will be raised by Rs50 billion reaching a total of Rs450 billion

To further assist the public, the government proposes a targeted subsidy program of Rs25 billion to provide essential commodities through Utility Stores Corporation

The Finance Minister also announced the issuance of health insurance cards for working journalists and artists demonstrating the government s commitment to supporting various sectors of society

Despite ticking pension bomb, govt increases annuity for federal employees by 17.5%

g GOVT PROPOSES SETTING MINIMUM WAGE AT RS32,000