Epaper_23-06-24 KHI

‘Misleading, unwarranted’ us-india stateMent has political overtones: Fo

g SAYS A SSERTIONS MADE

IN STATEMENT DESPITE PAK-US CLOSE COUNTERTERRORISM COOPERATION

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

tH E Foreign Office (FO) on Friday termed the joint US-India statement “misleading and unwarranted saying that the reference is contrary to diplomatic norms and has political overtones

The joint US-India statement was issued against Pakistan after Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi met President Joe Biden a day earlier

Responding to media queries regarding the statement on Friday FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: We consider the Pakistan-specific reference in the ‘Joint Statement from the United States and India’ issued on 22 June 2023 as unwarranted one-sided and misleading The reference is contrary to diplomatic norms and has political overtones We are surprised that it has been added despite Pakistan s close counterterrorism cooperation with the US ” Biden laid out a red carpet for Modi, who is on a trip to the US at the White House on Thursday where the two countries sealed major defence and technology deals as Washington bets big on India as a counterweight to China

In an apparent bid to use the visit to further India’s agenda against Islamabad, a joint statement issued by the two heads of state late on Thursday called on Pakistan to crack down on extremists that target New Delhi The statement called for action against extremist groups based in Pakistan such as the banned Lashkare-Taiba and Jaish-e-Mohammad

The FO spokesperson recalled that Pakistan had rendered unmatched sacrifices in the fight against terrorism and in

g DEFENCE MINISTER SAYS PRESIDENT BIDEN SHOULD ‘ CONSIDER FACTS BEFORE FETING BUTCHER OF GUJARAT ’

the issues of peace and security in South Asia and refrain from endorsing onesided positions, she added ‘Biden should consider facts before feting ‘butcher of Gujarat’ Earlier Defence Minister Khawaja

Asif also took exception to the statement saying that President Biden should consider facts the next time he fetes the butcher of Gujarat Asif said it was ironic that the statement was issued during the visit of “someone who was banned entry to the US for overseeing a pogrom of Muslims when he was CM Gujarat

china set to promote deeper cooperation with pakistan under Bri and cpec

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China is ready to promote continued development of the all-weather strategic cooperative partnership and build a closer China-Pakistan community of shared future in the new era, Chinese Premier Li Qiang said during his meeting with Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday

doing so the law enforcement agencies and armed forces had set an example

The people of Pakistan are the real heroes in this fight, the FO spokesperson highlighted, adding that the international community had time and again recognised Pakistan’s efforts and sacrifices in the fight against terrorism

It has long concluded that terrorism can be defeated through concerted and cooperative actions Today, we fail to see how the assertions made in the joint statement could strengthen the international resolve to fight terrorism The statement shows that the cooperative spirit so vitally needed to defeat the scourge of terrorism has been sacrificed at the altar of geopolitical considerations, she said

Ms Zahra noted, India, in addition to being a state-sponsor of terrorism, habitually uses terrorism bogey to deflect attention from its brutal repression of Kashmiri people in Indian Illegally Occupied

Jammu and Kashmir and maltreatment of its minorities

It is thus completely illplaced to cast any aspersions on Pakistan and its fight against terrorism

Ironically, the joint statement fails to address the key sources of tension and instability in the region and to take cognisance of the grave human rights situation in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu & Kashmir (IIOJK) This is tantamount to abdication of international responsibility, the spokesperson pointed out She added that Pakistan was deeply concerned over “the planned transfer of advanced military technologies to India” saying that such steps are accentuating military imbalance in the region and undermining strategic stability They remain unhelpful in achieving the objective of durable peace in South Asia, Zahra said “We urge our international partners to take a holistic and objective view of

He (Modi) leads yet another campaign of state-sponsored terrorism in [Indian-held] Kashmir, which includes routinely maiming and blinding the local population Across the rest of the country, Modi’s acolytes lynch Muslims Christians and other minorities with impunity Pakistan has lost countless lives and has been continuously at war with terrorism for decades now, owing to failed American interventions in the region,” the defence minister said “Perhaps President Biden should consider these facts the next time he fetes the Butcher of Gujarat he added

m s US officials had subsequently refused to meet Modi and in 2005 the country had denied him a visa after human rights groups had accused the Indian PM of not moving to halt the carnage

During a meeting with Sharif on the sidelines of the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact in Paris Li said that China stands ready to continue strengthening cooperation with Pakistan to jointly promote the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative Li also called on the two sides to jointly advance major projects under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) so as to promote high-quality development of the corridor and better contribute to the economic and social development of the two countries China and Pakistan have always treated each other sincerely, trusted each other and shared ups and downs, Li said He noted that China will continue to firmly support Pakistan in safeguarding the country’s sovereignty national independence and territorial integrity in pursuing a development path suited to its national conditions and in achieving its stability development and prosperity Li pointed out that this year marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) proposed by Chinese President Xi Jinping and the 10th anniversary of the launch of the CPEC China will as always support Pakistan in accelerating its economic development and enhancing its capacity for sustainable development Li said Li also noted that China hopes that the Pakistani side will resolutely and effectively crack down on all types of domestic terrorist organizations, and ensure the safety of the Chinese institutions and personnel in Pakistan Li said that the two sides should jointly uphold international fairness and justice and safeguard the common interests of China and Pakistan as well as other developing countries For his part, Sharif said that Pakistan and China are all-weather friends and iron-clad brothers, and that the friendship between the two countries remains unbreakable It is the consensus of various Pakistani political parties and all walks of life to consolidate the friendship between Pakistan and China Sharif said

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah on Friday provided an update on the Greek shipwreck incident, revealing that bodies of 82 Pakistani victims had been recovered with their specimens obtained and identification process being conducted through Nadra

The Interior Minister informed the National Assembly that around 350 Pakistani migrants were aboard the boat He said that 12 Pakistanis survived the tragedy

He said 82 bodies of those aboard the boat have so far been re-

covered and their identification process is underway with the help of the forensic and NADRA data The minister also warned that the toll in the incident may escalate dramatically Last week an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 people including hundreds of Pakistanis capsized off Greece Only 104 people are known to have survived and the chance of finding more survivors was seen as virtually nil Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah has assured to take a firm action against those involved in the illegal business of human trafficking

Sanaullah fears toll rise as bodies of 82 Pakistani Greece shipwreck victims recovered pakistan confirms vir tual par ticipation in sco india meeting

While speaking the recent boat capsizing incident near the coast of Greece wherein Pakistani migrants also lost lives he said a high level inquiry committee has been constituted which will suggest different recommendations including amendments in the legislation to ensure conviction of the human traffickers He said at present a crackdown is underway to nab those behind the tragic boat accident near the coast of Greece T h e I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r s a i d s p e c i a l d e s k s h a v e b e e n e s t a bl i s h e d t o c o n t a c t t h e a ff e c t e d f a mi l i e s s o f a r 2 8 1 f a m i l i e s h a v e c o n t a c t e d t h e s e d e s k s

ISLAMABAD

After India changed the Shanghai Cooperation Organisation (SCO) summit s format to a virtual meeting without providing any reasons, the Foreign Office confirmed that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will attend the meeting virtually The regional summit will be held in the Indian capital New Delhi on July 4 but will be virtually attended by member countries including Pakistan Russia and China The two latter nations would not have been able to attend the meeting in-person either We have received the official invitation from the Indian prime minister for our prime minister to attend the virtual meeting of the Heads of State of Shanghai Cooperation Organisation due to take place on July 4 Pakistan will be represented at the summit, said FO spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch in the weekly briefing She added that the FO would announce Pakistan s participation in the coming days

Moreover, the FO spokesperson also commented on the possibility of holding talks with the Afghan Taliban, who have once again proposed Pakistan enter into talks with Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) to take up issues of terrorist activities by the latter in the country We have responded to such questions in the past as well I would like to invite you to a statement made by our foreign minister in which he stated Pakistan will not negotiate with individuals who are responsible for killing of Pakistani civilians and law-enforcement officials the FO spokesperson remarked However, she said, Pakistan continues to engage with the Afghan interim government in Kabul, adding she would not go into the specifics of these talks She said the counter-terrorism threat remains high on the country’s agenda

LAHORE S h a h a b o m e R

THE Government Digital Services wing of the Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) has taken a step towards facilitating affordable housing schemes by launching an online portal for the approval process This new initiative in collaboration with the Punjab Housing and Town Planning Agency (PHATA) aims to streamline the application and documentation process, making it more convenient and efficient for citizens, Profit

learnt here on Friday According to the spokesperson of the digital service wing, the online portal allows users to register and submit all the necessary documents electronically eliminating the need for multiple visits to government offices

Wi t h t h i s d i g i t a l p l a t f o r m a p p l i c a n t s c a n c o n v e n i e n t l y a c c e s s t h e s e r v i c e s f r o m t h e i r h o m e s o r o ff i c e s , t h e r e b y s a v i n g v a l u a b l e t i m e a n d r e s o u r c e s T h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e o n l i n e p o r t a l i s e x p e c t e d t o h a v e a p o s i t i v e i m p a c t o n r e d u c i n g b u r e a u c r a t i c h u r d l e s a n d e l i m i n a t i n g c o r r u p t p r a c t i c e s , s h e s a i d

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Muhammad Waseem Bhatti, the Director General of the Government Digital Services wing at PITB, highlighted the advantages of this new service

He explained thatit not only offers convenience but also plays a crucial role in eradicating corruption from the housing sector Bhatti further revealed that PITB s Government Digital Services wing has already successfully implemented a similar service for the Lahore Development Authority (LDA) through e-Khidmat centers It is pertinent to mention here that PHATA is responsible for identifying state

‘PTI-deserter’ Mahmood Molvi made IPP Sindh president

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

Former Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader and former Member of the National Assembly (MNA) Mahmood Moulvi has been appointed president Istehkam-ePakistan Party (PPP) Sindh chapter IPP Secretary Aamer Mehmood Kiani issued a notification regarding the appointment of Mahmood Moulvi as the party’s Sindh president

The notification was issued after the consultation of IPP Patron in chief Jahangir Tareen and President Aleem Khan In May, Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) MNA from Karachi Mahmood Moulvi had announced parting ways with the party

The MNA had announced that he is resigning from the PTI in light of the attacks on military installations during violent protests on May 9 in the country after the arrest of the PTI chairman

US officials meet detained

Khadija Shah in jail

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

A delegation of United States officials met with Khadija Salman Shah, a prominent fashion designer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) activist who was arrested in connection with May 9 vandalism, at Kot Lakhpat Jail on Friday The meeting lasting approximately an hour focused on legal aspects related to Khadija Shah s release according to sources within the prison The Ministry of Interior had granted permission for the US Consul General Lahore to access Khadija Shah due to her dual citizenship This facilitated the meeting between the US officials and the detained PTI activist, allowing for a discussion surrounding her case and potential avenues for resolution Khadija Shah is suspected to have been among those leading the May 9 arson attack on the Jinnah House which is currently used as the residence of the Lahore Corps Commander, in the wake of PTI chief Imran Khan s arrest in a corruption case last month Shah, who is also the daughter-in-law of former COAS Gen (retd) Asif Nawaz Janjua turned herself in at Lahore’s Iqbal Town police station on May 23 and an anti-terrorism court (ATC) on May 24 remanded her in a seven-day judicial custody Earlier this month, the United States called on Pakistan to grant consular access to Shah

People in Punjab, KP faint due to blistering heat wave

PESHAWAR: Several women fainted on Friday in Muzaffargarh due to scorching heat as temperatures there reached 38 degrees Celsius while nine students of a Khyber Pakhtunkhwa school also lost consciousness due to high temperatures, officials said City Station House Officer (SHO) Sabir Klasra said that he was visiting various sites as per routine when he saw a few women had fainted at a distribution centre established at a government elementary school He added that subsequently, he called for medical aid to be provided to the women A video also showed the SHO fanning a woman who had collapsed The temperature in the city was recorded to be 38 degrees Celsius at around 11:45am

A press release issued by the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) a day ago warns that prevailing heat wave conditions are likely to subside from June 25 It states, Moist currents are penetrating in upper and central parts of the country from Arabian Sea and a westerly wave is likely to enter in upper parts of the country on June 25 ” S ta f f R e p o Rt

On Wednesday Moulvi said he will decide about joining Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (PPP) founded by Jahangir Tareen after istikhara prayers Mahmood Moulvi, while talking to the ARY News programme ‘11th Hour ’ , clarified that he has not yet decided to join Jahangir Tareen-led IPP He added that he will make the final decision regarding IPP in a few days I will decide about joining IPP after offering istikhara prayers I told people

and other lands for developing low-income and low-cost housing schemes and providing technical assistance to the District Governments The agency has a checklist of documents for private sponsors who want to apply for approval of housing schemes The application must be complete and legal to be considered for approval

However, according to various sources, the housing shortage in Punjab, Pakistan is estimated to be between 2 3 million and 5 5 million units The Government of Punjab estimates the housing shortage in the province to be 2 5 million units

Impor ted gov t experiment has made Pakistan irrelevant globally: Imran

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

that Imran Ismail and Ali Zaidi have not formally joined IPP Ismail and Zaidi can tell people by themselves regarding their formal joining in IPP

He said that Pervez Khattak is also forming his own political party and contacting several politicians Moulvi said that there is a difference in the politics of Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Moulvi predicted that IPP would be successful in Punjab and Pervez Khattak s party in KP

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan has said that the imported government experiment has made Pakistan irrelevant internationally and isolated which is evident from the joint statement of India and US reducing Pakistan to a promoter of cross-border terrorism in India and nothing more PTI Chairman in his reaction to the joint statement of India and the US said that no balancing statement about the gross human rights abuse in Kashmir or the appalling treatment of minorities especially of Muslims in India Imran Khan: The question we want to ask him and PDM is that after a year in government and countless trips of Pakistan’s FM to the US the joint India/US statement reduces Pakistan to a promoter of cross-border terrorism in India and nothing more He said: Gen Bajwa along with his PDM cronies claimed that I had isolated Pakistan internationally Imran Khan stated that so now the imported government experiment has not just made Pakistan irrelevant internationally but our democracy rule of law and the entire economic and institutional structure is also collapsing right in front of our eyes

Biden, Modi hail new era for US -India ties and tout deals

PR OFIT R e u t e R S

U S President Joe Biden and Narendra Modi hailed a new era in their countries’ relationship after the White House rolled out the red carpet for the Indian prime minister on Thursday touting deals on defense and commerce aimed at countering China s global influence

Two great nations, two great friends, and two great powers Cheers, Biden told Modi in a toast at a state dinner Modi said in reply: “You are soft spoken, but when it comes to action you are very strong ”

Though the countries are not formal treaty-bound allies and India has long relished its independence Washington wants Delhi to be a strategic counterweight to China While neither leader criticized Beijing directly in official statements, they alluded to the Xi Jinping-led government

“The dark clouds of coercion and confrontation are casting their shadow in the Indo Pacific ” Modi told Congress The stability of the region has become one of the central concerns of our partnership

After Biden and Modi spoke privately for more than two hours, a joint statement included a warning of rising tensions and destabilizing actions in the East and South China Sea and stressed the importance of international law and freedom of navigation

“The challenges and opportunities facing the world in this century require that India and the United States work and lead together and we are Biden said as he welcomed Modi to the White House

The state dinner, held in a large, elaborately erected tent on the White House South Lawn, featured a number of Silicon Valley executives on the guest list, including Apple’s Tim Cook 23andMe CEO Anne Wojcicki

Google CEO Sundar Pichai OpenAI CEO Sam Altman among others With the slightly Indian-accented dinner the Bidens followed a White House tradition of serving guests from abroad food that has faint echoes of home with a strong American bent Modi is seeking to raise the status that India, the world’s most populous country at 1 4 billion and fifthlargest economy has on the world stage as a

manufacturing and diplomatic powerhouse while navigating strained ties with China

His participation in a White House press conference itself was a reflection of contrasting political traditions, marking the first time Modi has taken questions in such a format in his nine-year tenure He took one question apiece from an American and an Indian journalist selected in advance and dismissed criticism about India s human rights record

Washington has been frustrated by India s close ties with Russia while Moscow wages war in Ukraine Modi avoided direct mention of Russia, but told lawmakers the conflict was “causing great pain in the region Since it involves major powers the outcomes are severe ” BOYCOTTS AND WELCOME CROWDS

Modi s visit was not without controversy The speech to Congress normally a bipartisan affirmation of a visiting leader from an allied nation, was boycotted by some liberal lawmakers, who cited the Modi government’s treatment of India’s Muslim minority

“I encourage my colleagues who stand for pluralism, tolerance and freedom of the press to join me in doing the same Representative Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

tweeted on Wednesday

U S President Joe Biden hosts an official state dinner for India s Prime Minister Narendra Modi at the White House

U S President Joe Biden and India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi raise a toast during an official state dinner at the White House in Washington U S June 22

2023 REUTERS/Elizabeth Frantz TPX IMAGES OF THE DAY

Modi s speech to the Congress also drew a crowd of on-lookers who chanted Modi, Modi at applause lines

As some 7,000 well-wishers gathered for a colorful opening ceremony at the White House, a far smaller group of demonstrators gathered blocks away to protest the Biden administration s coziness with Modi who leads the Hindu nationalist Bharatiya Janata Party

Asked by a U S reporter about what steps he would take to improve the rights of Muslims and other minorities, Modi said there s absolutely no space for discrimination” in India

Biden told reporters he and Modi had a straightforward discussion about democratic values NEW US-INDIA DEALS

The two countries announced agreements on semiconductors, critical minerals, technology, space cooperation and defense cooperation and sales

Some are aimed at diversifying supply chains to reduce dependence on China Others are aimed at cornering the market in advanced technologies that may feature on the battlefields of the future They also ended disputes at the World Trade Organization, and India removed some tariffs on U S goods

The United States is India’s largest trading partner but the U S has much larger trading relationships with China the EU and North American neighbors

Biden and Modi signed off on a deal to allow General Electric (GE N) to produce jet engines in India to power Indian military aircraft, through an agreement with Hindustan Aeronautics (HIAE NS)

U S Navy ships in the region will be able to stop in Indian shipyards for repairs under a maritime agreement, and India will procure U S -made armed MQ-9B SeaGuardian drones

U S chipmaker Micron Technology s (MU O) plans a $2 7 billion semiconductor testing and packaging unit to be built in Modi s home state of Gujarat The U S will also make it easier for skilled Indian workers to get and renew U S visas

India also agreed to join the U S -led Artemis Accords on space exploration and to work with NASA on a joint mission to the International Space Station in 2024

Indian Foreign Secretary Vinay Kwatra said the visit so far had been truly pathbreaking and New Delhi is confident it will help take the relationship with Washington to “higher reaches”

“The richness of form and substance of the visit clearly tells you that it s an exceptional landmark pathbreaking visit Kwatra told reporters

The decisions taken during the visit are truly transformative across a wide range of areas Naturally, it is something which is possible when the countries have deep trust in each other and are in it for long term ”

Lay yah land corruption c ase: PTI chief skips ACE summons for third time

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

PTI Chairman Imran Khan has ignored the summons sent by the Punjab AntiCorruption Establishment (ACE) for the third time in the Layyah land corruption case Two days ago an ACE team had posted the summons notice at Imran s

Zaman Park residence

The ACE spokesperson maintained that despite being summoned for the

PR OFIT

R e u t e R S

Asian stocks slumped toward their worst week of the year on Friday oil fell and the U S dollar surged as a string of hawkish central bank surprises made investors nervous about the economic cost of taming inflation

MSCI’s broadest index of AsiaPacific shares outside Japan ( MIAPJ0000PUS) lost 1 3% and is down 4 2% for the week its worst in nine months China was closed for a holiday but Hong Kong shares ( HSI) returned from a break with a 2% tumble

Japan’s Nikkei ( N225) fell 1 5% and was set to snap a 10-week winning streak with a 2 7% weekly drop S&P 500 futures unwound overnight gains and fell

third, the PTI chief did not appear before the body He said the former premier was summoned by ACE in the Layyah land corruption case on Thursday to know his version adding that the purpose of inquiry was not to harass anyone but to dig out the facts

Earlier, the PTI chief was summoned by ACE on June 19 In the first summons he was asked to appear on June 16

A C E h a d r e g i s t e r e d t h e L a y y a h l a n d c o r r u p t i o n c a s e a g a i n s t D r U z m a

K h a n , I m r a n ’s s i s t e r, a n d h e r h u s b a n d A h a d M a j e e d D r U z m a i s a c c u s e d o f a l l e g e d f r a u d i n p u r c h a s e o f 5 2 6 1k a n a l o f l a n d i n L a y y a h d i s t r i c t r e p o r t e d l y w o r t h b i l l i o n s o f r u p e e s f o r a m e r e R s 1 3 0 m i l l i o n

It was said that

r c e d t h e

strength to hold steady at 143 17 to the greenback but added to nerves everywhere else according to Wong Kok Hoong head of equity sales trading at Maybank in Singapore

going to be hiking more and it s going to take longer to cure this sticky inflation problem, said Damian Rooney, a dealer at Perth stockbroker Argonaut

He said the Bank of England’s bigger-than-expected 50-basis point rate hike was the straw that broke the camel s back Markets see British rates hitting 6% by year s end, but the outlook inspired only the briefest jump in sterling before it fell along with gilt yields on worry tightening brings economic pain With a lack of stimulus for China s sputtering recovery recent unexpected hikes in Australia and Canada and the Federal Reserve s forecast for two more rate hikes, the growth fears are global Growth proxies such as oil and the Aussie dollar each dropped about 1% on Friday Brent crude was last at $73 41 a barrel while the Aussie is looking shaky at $0 6698 Sterling fell 0 3% to $1 2709

The U S dollar index rose 0 3% to

102 65 on Friday and is eyeing a weekly gain for the first time in a month

The bottom line is that central banks around the globe are becoming more hawkish now than a few months ago ” said Nomura strategist Naka Matsuzawa in Tokyo

The market is starting to price in more hikes and later timing of rate cuts

That s the driving force

‘SENTIMENT’S WEAK’

The mood leaves markets fragile with British retail sales data and purchasing managers index figures due globally later in the trading day where even positive surprises could auger badly for the interest rate outlook Japan s core inflation hitting its fastest pace in more than four decades, as data showed on Friday seemed only to underscore the size and scale of central bankers problems

The data offered some reprieve for the yen , which defied the dollar s

With onshore markets closed, China’s offshore yuan slid to a fresh seven-month low of 7 2286 per dollar as markets started doubting promises of economic stimulus even after China cut benchmark interest rates this week

I believe market momentum will improve next Monday with return of Southbound money and continued speculation for more stimulus policies in July ” said Steven Leung executive director of institutional sales at UOB Kay Hian in Hong Kong

In bonds U S Treasuries were sold when Fed Chair Jerome Powell reiterated that further rate hikes are likely, and were steady in Asia

Two-year Treasury yields held at 4 79% and 10year yields at 3 78% Interest rate futures pricing implies about a 75% chance that the Fed hikes rates next month

The prospect of higher rates weighed on gold , which pays no income, and it slid to three-month lows at $1,910 an ounce

S t o c k s s e e wo r s t we e k o f 2 0 2 3 a s g r ow t h o u t l o o k d a r ke n s

PA K I S TA N E N V O Y H O L D S TA L K S W I T H U S C O N G R E S S M A N J I M C O S TA

PAKISTAN S Ambassador to the United States Masood Khan had a meeting Jim Costa, a Congressional leader who visited Pakistan several times, reported on Friday The US Congressman is keen to explore new avenues to build strong PakistanUS relations

They also agreed to continue

bilateral engagements

Meanwhile, Ambassador Masood Khan has said that Georgia-Sindh Sister State-Province Agreement has

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Referring to these events the minister said

It was acknowledged that terrorist activity happened there [in Gujarat] under Modi s endorsement

He added that the same was currently underway against India’s minorities and in occupied Kashmir

On the other hand Asif said Pakistan had supported the US in two wars in Afghanistan for the last 40 years and was part of a war that was never ours” The minister said Pakistan was still paying the price for becoming part of the US-led war on terror and yet “there is no acknowledgement adding that the US-India joint statement was a basis of dishonour for the nation

We sold our people to them and the result of that is the joint communique by President Biden and the Butcher of Gujarat [in which they have] accused Pakistan of terrorism ”

Asif further stressed that Pakistan should leverage its geographic location for its benefit instead of incurring losses

opened up vistas of opportunities not only for cementing business and investment ties but also brining the people of two sides closer to each other Masood Khan made these remarks at an event at Global Atlanta on Growing Trade and Investment with Georgia during his two-day visit to Atlanta

He said there are 30,000 Pakistani-Americans in Georgia and two-way trade between Pakistan and Georgia has reached almost $1 billion with over $600 million worth of Pakistani exports to Georgia Masood lauded instrumental role

played by Pakistani-American Georgia State Assembly member Farooq Mughal in cementing Pakistan-Georgia relations

Briefing the audience on Pakistan-U S relations he said Pakistan-US relations have seen an upward trajectory during recent months Both sides have held several high-level dialogues and meetings in last one year including in health, energy climate change trade and security

Masood Khan said that Pakistan was looking forward to concrete outcomes of Sister-Province agreement with greater business

linkages, people to people and student exchanges and strong cultural ties

The ambassador stressed on establishing robust linkages between universities and the academic institutes

Earlier Mayor of Atlanta Andre Dickens received the Ambassador at his office and discussed ways to further strengthen ties in trade and investment, people-to-people exchanges and cultural sphere

Masood Khan thanked Andre Dickens for his warm welcome and appreciated his leadership in transforming the metropolis into a smart city

JI chief demands ECP to withdraw Karachi mayor notification

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

because of it

Terrorism should not be made victim to geopolitics: FM Bilawal

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari decried that in the past 14 months the world had moved on from Afghanistan to Ukraine and was not paying attention to terrorism

It is very easy to write in a statement to focus on terrorism, but if that attention is not there then the issue would not be solved ” the foreign minister said

He added that neither the US nor Europe nor the world was focused on the issue of terrorism after the fall of Kabul

Their first attention is geopolitics and then other issues

We think terrorism is such an issue that major powers shouldn’t make it controversial or a victim of their geopolitics

If we have to correctly combat terrorism we will do it ourselves in our country and if we have to combat it together in the rest of the world, then we can only do so when our international partners take the issue as seriously and say: ‘Our other issues and conflicts in the

IHC stops police from arresting Shah Mehmood, Asad Umar

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday granted bail to Pakistan Tehreek e Insaf (PTI) leaders Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar in the case pertaining to vandalism and violence on May 9 A case was registered in Tarnol police station on the incidents of May 9 Grating bail to veteran politicians the court stopped the police from arresting Shah Mehmood Qureshi and Asad Umar and issued a notice to the police and sought the records till July 10 The duo were also ordered to submit a bond of Rs0 1 million each The development comes a day after the Peshawar High Court granted transit bail to former foreign minister Shah Mehmood Qureshi and former federal minister Asad Umar until June 23 in a case registered by the Islamabad police over the May 9 violent protests

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Justice Shah asked Siddiqi to answer the court s questions You tell us the process for when the Army Act is applicable

How is a decision reached in the army that a person is an accused under the Army Act? he asked “On what offences is the Official Secrets Act applicable?” Justice Ahsan asked

Justice Naqvi also pointed out that the lawyer had not yet informed the court when sections of the Official Secrets Act were included in the FIRs Also tell us the procedure for a commanding officer asking civilians to be handed over, he said

“First tell us how the army alleged that these suspects had committed a crime,” Justice Shah said “We are repeatedly asking you questions but you are not answering them he told the lawyer

Tell us how it is decided that a case will be registered under the Official Secrets Act or the Army Act, Justice Ayesha said

When a civil trial is ongoing, how does the army decide that the suspects should be handed over?” Justice Shah asked Justice Ahsan also asked the lawyer to inform the court about when the Army Act was applicable

If a person is being tried in a civil court can military authorities ask for him to be handed over?

Justice Akhtar asked “That is my argument, that the army can’t ask for suspects to be handed over,” Siddiqi responded

However Justice Shah asked the lawyer to show the court any documents in which the army had demanded the handing over of suspects

Justice Ahsan said that the law also stated that a reference was sent to the federal government when the army asked for suspects to be handed over He said that a final decision was taken after the federal government’s approval

“When did the government approve trials of civilians in military courts? Justice Naqvi asked

Siddiqi said that the matter at hand concerned deciding the forum where the trials would take place

How is the forum of the trial decided, that is exactly our question,” Justice Ayesha said

“It is common sense that the army will decide cases under the Official Secrets Act ” CJP Bandial said He further said that the army could file a request in an anti-

world aside, we will not do geopolitics on terrorism and the whole world will combat it as one ’

“Only then will we be able to uproot and eliminate it the foreign minister said Bilawal pointed out that Pakistan would take action against terrorism due to the aspirations of its people and its national security needs, not because the joint statement mentioned it “Why will we not want to eliminate terrorism? we want to combat terrorism he said adding that the issue was raised confronted and defeated previously as well Bilawal said Pakistan was pushed back and terrorism had again become an issue for the country due to the policies of the ex-prime minister This issue is ours today and God forbid can become some other country s problem tomorrow US-India statement against Pakistan

The US-India statement said: [The two leaders] strongly condemned crossborder terrorism the use of terrorist proxies and called on Pakistan to take

immediate action to ensure that no territory under its control is used for launching terrorist attacks ”

It also called on Pakistan to punish perpetrators of attacks including the 2008 Mumbai attacks A day earlier the Biden administration had assured Islamabad that Washington still wanted a stable and prosperous Pakistan “A stable secure and prosperous Pakistan is not just in the interests of the region but it s in the interests of the United States as well said State Department spokesperson Vedant Patel when asked about possible US support for Pakistan’s efforts to revive an International Monetary Fund aid package

We engage regularly with Pakistani officials and you ve heard me say this before Our engagement is critical to our ultimate goal, which is a stable, secure, and prosperous Pakistan, said Patel when asked about a meeting between the Pakistani finance minister and the US ambassador in Islamabad

Pakistan confirms vir tual par ticipation in SCO India meeting

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Pakistan regularly engages with the interim Afghan government in countering the menace of terrorism “And this is an ongoing process We hope and expect the commitments made in the trilateral outcome declaration between Pakistan Afghanistan and China will be fulfilled, so that Afghanistan is not a source of terrorism and instability faced by its neighbours, including Pakistan ” she said Furthermore commenting on the recent boat

tragedy off the coast of Greece, where several Pakistanis lost their lives the spokeswoman said: “We have been unable to verify [the] number and identity of Pakistani nationals among the deceased and missing Greek authorities have recovered 84 bodies Their identification will take place through DNA matching ” Relevant authorities have started collecting DNA samples from the families of those suspected to be aboard the ship and will share this with the Greek authorities, she said Meanwhile,

terrorism court to hand over suspects, adding that the request by the army in this regard did not have solid grounds “The AGP will be asked why the handing over of civilians was not requested on solid grounds ” the top judge said Justice Shah then asked about the process of how the army asked for a suspect to be handed over

There is no procedure for a complaint or FIR in the Army Act, Siddiqi said

“When a commanding officer goes to a magistrate, on what basis does he go and ask for a [suspect]?”

Justice Shah then asked Siddiqi said that the answer lay in Section 549 of the Code of Criminal Procedure

There should be an inquiry or an investigation for invoking the Official Secrets Act the CJP remarked He said that the suspects remand order did not state how and on the basis of what evidence they were handed over When the hearing resumed after a short break Siddiqi said that details about how a trial would commence under the Army Act were included in the Army Rules 1954 The process is detailed in Ruled 157 sub-section 13 he said

The events of May 9 and 10 happen and handing over of suspects is sought on May 25, he said The lawyer said that there was no reason to seek the handing over of suspects Justice Shah stated that the court would ask the AGP about the inquiry before the framing of charges You are trying to say that there are no apparent charges against the suspects the judge said

I am saying that a strict inquiry should take place before they are charged, Siddiqi said Apart from 1988, never has a civilian government allowed a civilian’s trial in military courts he said as he concluded his arguments

Ex-CJP Jawwad S Khawaja’s lawyer Ahmed Hussain then began his arguments Hussain said that the main question was whether civilians who were not related to the army, could be tried in military courts I am of the opinion that in the current situation, civilians can t be tried in military courts,” he said The lawyer said that his client was not opposing punishment for the accused “Our point concerns the forum that military courts are not the forum [for trying civilians] he said

He also said the other question was whether a civilian could be court-martialled under the Army Act He said that the Army Act was meant to maintain discipline in the armed forces as the hearing was

she added Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari will visit Japan on July 2-3 He will hold substantive talks with Japanese Foreign Minister Hayashi Yoshimasa in Tokyo during which they will discuss bilateral trade and investment, cooperation in science and technology, education, information technology, culture and human resource development Baloch said the two ministers would also deliberate over significant regional and global developments, cooperation, and multilateral dialogue

adjourned for Friday prayers

When the hearing resumed, Hussain said that every citizen had the right to fair trial, adding that they could not be deprived of this right He further contended that decisions for a court martial were also not easily available Who conducts court martial proceedings? asked Justice Shah

The lawyer said that there was a panel which conducts proceedings He further said that verdicts issued by military courts only stated whether the accused was guilty or not He said that the AGP could inform the court whether the reasons were included in the verdict or not T h e a r m y c h i e f i s t h e f i n a l a u t h o r i t y i n t h e w h o l e p r o c e s s t h e l a w y e r s a i d H e a l s o p o i n t e d o u t t h a t a s p e c i a l l a w w a s p r o m u l g a t e d t o g i v e I n d i a n s p y K u l b h u s h a n J a d h a v t h e r i g h t o f a p p e a l t o e n s u r e that his rights accorded under the Vienna Convention w e r e n o t b e i n g v i o l a t e d H e m a i n t a i n e d t h a t t h e A r m y A c t w a s d e s i g n e d t o m a i n t a i n d i s c i p l i n e i n t h e a r m e d f o r c e s a d d i n g t h a t t h e m i l i t a r y s s e n i o r c o m m a n d h a d r e a c h e d t w o c o n c l u s i o n s i n t h e p r e s s r e l e a s e i s s u e d o n M a y 1 5

It was stated in the press release that military installations were attacked on May 9 The press release [also] said that there was irrefutable evidence of the attack After drawing these conclusions they themselves can’t be the judge of the matter ” he contended

Which civilians can be tried under the Army Act?

CJP Bandial asked He also wondered about who would be defined as civilians , asking whether retired army officials would also fall in this category

Lawyer Hussain said the Army Act was not made keeping civilians in mind

Justice Shah then asked the lawyer whether trials of civilians were also conducted in other parts of the world Hussain responded that every country had its own laws adding that civilians could be tried in military courts in Britain Can an officer follow fair trial in a military court after the decision of the senior leadership?

Hussain asked “You can’t judge your own case,” he said adding that the top court could issue an order on parts of the Army Act related to civilians

He further said that Parliament did not have the power to legislate regarding the court martial of a civilian The court has to see whether court martial [of civilians] is legal or illegal, he said, adding that military courts could only function when civil courts were unable to do so

“Why does the government not have faith in civil courts? he asked saying that a large number of people were slated to be court-martialled if the current situation prevailed Hussain said that the government had not clarified why it had expressed no confidence in civil courts

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq has demanded the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to withdraw the notification issued for the successful Karachi mayor While addressing a protest before the ECP Islamabad office JI Ameer Sirajul Haq said that the election commission has committed injustice with the Jamaat-e-Islami in the Karachi mayor elections Criticising the commission, he said that everyone was surprised after witnessing the defeat of those who secured 900 000 votes and the victory of 300 000 votes He added that the political party having the support of 153 members was declared victorious over the political party having the support of 193 members Election commission failed to fulfil its responsibility despite receiving high salaries and perks We did not receive any reply of our letter to the ECP yet Institutions are usually failed to give due rights to the nationals The JI chief criticised that Pakistan People s Party (PPP) chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari announced to win the upcoming general polls just like Karachi mayoral elections He alleged that PPP is once again aiming to continue its corruption as it committed in past He said that the rule of corruption will not be accepted anymore and the rule of justice will be established in the country “Test tube leaders cannot compete with the JI Sirajul Haq also slammed the federal government and said Titanic of Islamabad will be sunken soon The 13-party alliance called Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) will not succeed anymore ”

CM Naqvi-led moot approves steps for improved facilities in Punjab prisons

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

A meeting held with Punjab caretaker Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi in the chair Friday took various decisions regarding jail reforms The meeting decided that the sentence of the prisoners gaining technical education would be reduced It also decided to increase the period of the sentence from two months to three months, and the reduction in the period of the sentence will be applicable twice a year It was also decided in the meeting to initiate a programme for improved facilities in the waiting rooms of eight jails The chief minister directed to complete the programme soon Mohsin Naqvi also directed to increase the number of PCOs in jails and also provide the facility of video and international calls The management of prison hospitals was handed over to the Health Department in the meeting It was also told in the meeting that LED TVs with cable had been provided in the barracks The meeting decided to end the obsolete system of jail canteen and proposed to open a physical canteen or the outlet of a large store or a utility store in every jail It was also decided in the meeting to install air coolers in all barracks and cells The power to release a prisoner on parole was given to the superintendent of jail in the meeting Adviser to Prime Minister Ahad Cheema attended the meeting through a video link on a special invitation

‘Misleading, unwarranted ’ US -India statement has politic al over tones: FO

Pleas against militar y trials: SC told 102 people in army ’s c ustody

c i n g P a c t

WHILE the most focus on Prime Minister

Shehbaz Sharif ’s visit abroad has been on his meeting with IMF MD Kristalina Georgieva it should obscure the fact that the meeting itself was on the sidelines of the New GlobaL Financing Summit being hosted by France

The IMF is one of those institutions which will play a crucial role in the new arrangement, whatever shape it might take The holding of the Summit is an acknowledgement that the present arrangement does not work, that the entire world order based on a financial hierarchy of rich states dominating poor states through the International Financial Institutions like the IMF, will no longer work, and is certainly not able to meet new challenges, like climate change I f t h e I M F r e p r e s e n t s o n e o f t h e I F I s , P a k i s t a n i s a lm o s t s y m b o l i c o f a c o u n t r y i n t h e d e b t t r a p , w h i c h m o u l d s i t s f o r e i g n p o l i c y a c c o r d i n g t o i t s p o c k e t A p a r t f r o m t h e c h a l l e n g e o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e t h e r e i s t h e t h r e a t t o t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l o r d e r p o s e d b y t h e R u s s i a n i n v a s i o n o f U k r a i n e T h e d e b t t r a p w a s a g o o d w a y f o r p o w e r f u l s t a t e s t o b e n d w e a k e r o n e s t o t h e i r w i l l b u t n o w t h a t t h e t h r e a t o f d e f a u l t i s h a v i n g t o b e r e a l i z e d t h e d e v e lo p e d c o u n t r i e s h a v e r e a l i z e d t h a t t h e y t o o m i g h t b e d r a g g e d d o w n

Perhaps the root of the problem was illustrated by Mr Sharif s speech to the Summit, when he spoke about the South learning from the North and replicating success in industry and agriculture The North s model of development was based on colonialism and neocolonialism The South, itself composed of ex-colonies, cannot follow it The development model is flawed Most importantly, in the nearly eight decades since the end of World War II, the world has tried the Northern model, and a pretty mess it has landed the world in Apart from the fact that it has committed environmental depredations on an unprecedented scale it has left the former colonies as poor as ever and as dependent on the mother country as ever Perhaps worse it has left the North environmentally insecure and realising that it cannot sustain its lavish lifestyle based on the unjust exploitation of the excolonies The South should realise that the Summit is not about proviiding justice but about finding a way for the North to remain at the top of the pile

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

PAKISTAN has finally recognized that economic challenges– sprouting from high expenditures and low earnings– are strong enough to penetrate the body politic On June 17, the Prime Minister ’s Office announced the formation of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) to attract investment from countries of the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) in the fields of Defence Agriculture Minerals, Information Technology and Energy

The announcement shows that Pakistan is back to the drawing board Except for the field of information technology, the rest are the same as those Pakistan struggled to develop in the 1960s Another difference could be that in earlier times Pakistan sought economic dividends through industrialization especially the agro-based industry (including the textile sector), but this time Pakistan has left the textile sector to its own devices

It is apparent that the selection of the sectors has not been done to reflect the need on the ground Instead the sectors have been chosen to match the needs of the GCC countries (Bahrain Kuwait Oman Qatar Saudi Arabia and United Arab Emirates) These are the Gulf countries with which Pakistan has already enjoyed friendly and brotherly relations Pakistan now intends to target them to be a supplier of their demand in the selected five fields

Pakistan may be thinking that it can invite investment in the defence sector to increase defence production of arms and other hardware required by the GCC countries Similarly, Pakistan may be planning to invite investment in the agriculture sector to grow crops required by the people inhabiting the GCC countries Nevertheless it is not known why investors from the GCC countries may be interested in investing in the rest of the fields (Minerals Information Technology and Energy)

On the list comprising five fields, the field of Information Technology (IT) is an odd addition Not any GCC country but Pakistan itself has to invest in this sector In the 1990s, the decade marred by political wrangling Pakistan remained distracted from the need to invest heavily in the IT field In the same decade India wholeheartedly invested in the IT field and that has been yielding dividends now It is the ITrelated earning which enhanced India s foreign ex-

A timely decision

pressures

Economically BRICS has continued to improve at least overall However among the BRICS members, China is the only country that has maintained sustained economic growth It also outperforms the G7 in terms of contribution to global GDP (based on purchasing power parity) On top of that bilateral trade between alliance members is growing rapidly However the coalition s larger ambitions are not showing much progress However the recent situation suggests that BRICS has turned around again Lately members have been talking about trading in 'dollar-alternative' currencies Some are also raising the possibility of a new interchangeable BRICS currency However this demand for dedollarization is not new

BANGLADESH is going to become a member of BRICS The foreign minister said that Bangladesh will become a member of BRICS next August The BRICS, that is, Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, have attempted to transform from a promising resource class into a real-world unifying diplomatic and financial catalyst Is that change finally going to happen?

The BRICS story began in November 2001

with a paper by Jim O'Neill, then head of global economic research at Goldman Sachs Asset Management It was called The World Needs a Better Economic Brick' (though there was no South Africa at the time) This was at a time when the world was dealing with the economic crisis that followed the 9/11 attacks O Neill highlighted the huge potential of BRICS, noting that GDP growth will not be as fast as it has been in the next few decades

At the time however China and India were experiencing rapid economic growth and Russia was recovering from the post-Soviet crisis of the 1990s through rising commodity prices

The growth of the BRICS was so significantly ahead of that of the advanced economies of the time that O Neill predicted in 2003 that their GDP could surpass that of the G6 by 2040

While the world hoped that BRICS would prosper economically it was less likely to form a cohesive alliance Because each member country of the alliance represents an unstable mixed regime of dictatorship and democracy and each of them has its own economic structure Again, China and India have a long-standing border dispute between them which has no sign of resolution But the BRICS saw their economic alliance as an opportunity to expand their influence globally by creating an alternative to Western-led international institutions And they seem to be improving quite a bit in the bear future The alliance was further strengthened by the accession of South Africa, Africa's largest economy in 2010 By 2014 this economic alliance established the New Development Bank as an alternative to the World Bank The following year BRICS created the Contingent Reserve System, so that members of the alliance do not have to face short-term balance of payment

Some experts believe that the BRICS currency system could replace the dollar If not, it could at least shake the dollar's single reign Above all BRICS appears to be becoming an effective platform for cooperation on issues including climate change global governance and development In fact 30 countries, including Argentina, Turkey and Saudi Arabia have expressed interest in joining BRICS - which will be discussed at the bloc s summit in South Africa next August Although the alliance s ins t i t u t i o n a l framework remains underdeveloped, the goals that served to form the alliance have not yet been exhausted and are not likely to be any time soon

change reserves

Despite all neglect, the IT field is not barren Dr Umar Saif, who served as Chairman of the Punjab Information Technology Board (2011– 2018) was one of those who served the country He became a victim of political squabbling In 2018 he was asked to stay away from the IT field functional in the public sector He had to resign from the position of the Vice Chancellor of Information Technology University

This is how Pakistan dishonours its indigenous talent and then begs for help from foreign investors

Dr Saif is one example There may be dozens more IT experts who left the country in disillusionment

They may come back if they are invited and incentives are given India does so enthusiastically to expand the IT field and earn more foreign exchange

For instance, Dr Saif may be engaged to head the IT field and invite more experts from across the world to transform the priorities of the youth in favour of learning artificial intelligence Instead of paying millions of rupees to travelling agents to reach the shores of Europe the unemployed youth may spend half of

Pakistan cannot achieve economic stability if its expenditures (especially non-developmental expenses) outclass its earnings The annual budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024 speaks volumes for the imbalance The point is simple: Pakistan detests reducing its expenditures but keeps on expecting speculative foreign investment, as is the case with the rationale for the constitution of the SIFC

that money in learning artificial intelligence which would make them self-employed to be qualified for living and earning in Europe

Dr Atta-ur-Rahman who is an Organic Chemist by profession and who served as Chairman Higher Education Commission of Pakistan (2002 – 2008) did wonders in inviting foreign qualified faculties to Pakistan and upgrading Pakistan s field of science and technology He established a mechanism of sending Pakistani students on scholarships to the renowned universities of the world He also became a victim of political bickering Dr Rahman still advocates for the

The West has also been reluctant to reform the international regime it wants to ease so that emerging economies like China and India can expand their global influence After all since the G20 was formed in 1999 such calls for reform have grown stronger over the past few decades After the Asian financial crisis in 19971998, the region's finance ministers and central bank governors began regular high-level meetings which were regularly sought after by representatives from outside the Western bloc As Western promises of reform failed possible alternative arrangements and monetary systems, became increasingly attractive As the BRICS attempts to build a new world order, China's multi-pronged plans are fueling growing intentions in the alliance among countries dissatisfied with Western hegemony If countries like Argentina or Saudi Arabia also join this project there is nothing surprising A worldview and institutional arrangements such as China's BRICS-plus can go a long way as a result China is moving towards its ambitious goals, such as the Belt and Road Initiative, or BRI

The growing influence of the BRICS has an important lesson for the West If the current world order is to remain relevant, Western organizations must change a number of aspects BRICS (Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa) has attempted to transform from a promising resource group into a real-world unified diplomatic and financial catalyst What is finally going to change that? BRICS holds considerable importance in the current global context And Bangladesh's membership is a timely decision

It is true the ambition of BRICS is far from reality No member of the Alliance shall compromise its national interests in priority And this is what has held the BRICS back for so long Even China s Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) has been compared to a new form of 'imperialism which is not the best way to build long-term friendships But the resurgence of BRICS is raising concerns not least because the alliance has never equated to real world leadership The coalition also does not support the principle of global gover-

knowledge economy Unfortunately the present government has not engaged him to let him contribute to the idea of enhancing Pakistan foreign exchange reserves through the means of knowledge economy

Unfortunately instead of relying on the ablest of minds the incumbent government is relying on the traditional centre of power the Army This is where in this hour of crisis Pakistan is taking a wrong turn The pronounced structure of the SIFC consists of three tiers In the first tier (the Apex committee headed by the Prime Minster), the Chief of Army Staff is a member– by special invitation In principle, this tier should be populated with people like Dr Saif Dr Rahman and the like There is no dearth of the brightest in the private sector In the second tier (the Executive Committee) the Army is included to act as national coordinator In principle, this tier should have civil servants who come through the country-wide competitive examination and who are far more able and more qualified than the Army officers After 2018 it was the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) that discouraged the civil servants from performing There is no reason the Prime Minister Office should discriminate against Pakistan’s talented minds working in the civil service In the last tier (the Implementation Committee) the Army would be an implementing force through a Director General This is the place which may be suitable for the Army officers They are trained to implement a decision, as an institutional routine

Apparently, the main limitation of the SIFC is that it is focused on one region the Gulf Another limitation is that in the name of reviving the economy the SIFC is trying to create another same page the forerunner of which worked well from 2018 to 2021, but got torn off in 2022

Nevertheless, Pakistan cannot achieve economic stability if its expenditures (especially nondevelopmental expenses) outclass its earnings The annual budget for the fiscal year 2023-2024 speaks volumes for the imbalance The point is simple: Pakistan detests reducing its expenditures but keeps on expecting speculative foreign investment as is the case with the rationale for the constitution of the SIFC If Pakistan cut its coat according to its cloth, Pakistan would earn honour in the world Not the Army but sound economic policies are a guarantee for the economic revival and survival of Pakistan 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

Selling the soul

I left Pakistan at the age of 18 to settle in the United States That was 50 years ago Prior to leaving Pakistan, I recall that many a time, returning to our residence in Islamabad late in the afternoons from the Gordon College in Rawalpindi, I used to find that there was no water and electricity in the house

It was a miserable existence even though we were relatively well off compared to the average Pakistani To see that nothing has changed even today is so utterly sad

At the end of the day a nation s social and economic conditions are a reflection of its moral and spiritual values Pakistan has the facade of being a religious nation, but the reality is far from it, and that is the reason behind the dire straits the country finds itself in

If you take a thousand Americans and drop them off in the middle of Pakistan and leave them alone for 25 years things would be different When you come back after those 25 years you will find Pakistan to be a prosperous country just as organised and efficient as any in the world Why is that? It is simply because they are better human beings with a better moral compass Pakistan has so many opportunities, but its leaders are mired in the morass of corruption When you sell your soul to the devil, there is no redemption

SYED A HUSSAINI CALIFORNIA, USA

Karachi deser ves a realistic deal

THOUGH not official yet census numbers are already controversial especially with respect to the population of Karachi the largest city which also happens to be the commercial financial and industrial capital of the country

What is the fault of millions of people of Karachi whose numbers would stand diminished and the subsequent financial allocations that would go down on the basis of flawed data? The much-trumpeted digital census has been a victim of the alleged machinations of influential and powerful political and bureaucratic elite and other related institutional mafias whose selfish and territorial interests would be greatly compromised if Karachi’s realistic population growth is highlighted

It is not the first time that the nearly 25 million hapless people of Karachi are facing injustice The pattern has been there all along in the chequered history of this forsaken city It all started after the death of Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and Liaquat Ali Khan when One Unit was imposed, and Karachi was deprived of the status that it had enjoyed thus far

An entirely new capital was planned close to the Margalla Hills alongside Rawalpindi to facilitate the functioning and working of our powerful masters It was a capital which interestingly remained without an airport a railway station and a central bus terminal for decades It was done with amazing haste

What was that haste all about?

As if all this was not enough in terms of ignoring Karachi, terror along ethnic and linguistic lines started visiting the city in the beginning of the 1980s It was unleashed at such a massive scale that the city which was once the transit point between East and West has still not been able to recover The political environment stands polluted The social fabric stands tattered

In fact applicants for accession to the BRICS are united and driven by one thing which is their plight Developing countries resent the harsh conditions imposed by Westerndominated institutions They are also annoyed by the ambivalence they show on important issues such as environmentally friendly development They are also unwilling to accept attempts to control their economy in various ways Most importantly, they are likely to be suspicious of the values and self-interested behavior of Western countries

Furthermore the locals continue to be deprived of proper employment opportunities as most high-level public-sector jobs have been handed over to people from other provinces A comprehensive survey should be undertaken by relevant institutions, like, say, the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics

This is not to suggest that people of other provinces are not professionals or are without talent and competence but it defies logic that locals are not accorded first preference especially considering the fact that two largest seaports of Pakistan and an assortment of industrial setups are located here

It would be a travesty of justice if the actual population data of Karachi is suppressed, and the city and its inhabitants are victimised on the basis of fudged and flawed numbers All political parties should actively raise their voice to pre-empt such an outcome

C P E C b l e e d i n g ?

damental nature

Ihave just arrived at my desk after a breakfast meeting with Mr Hidayatur Rehman the founder of the Gwadar ko haq do(Give Gwadar its rights) Movement and couldn t resist penning down my impressions We were more than 20 professionals on the table and probably I was the one with the maximum questions about his dissatisfaction with the development of Gwadar, contrary to repeated claims in the media by both Pakistani and Chinese officials about the advancing of fundamental facilities for local residents Usually there is a gap between narratives and ground realities, but in this case I found lack of coordination among relevant stakeholders and a bit of mismanagement that is causing real discomfort which needs elucidation

I was surprised to hear that for any medical complication people of Gwadar travel to Karachi with only ambulance charges Rs 15,000 for the round trip apart from other expenses of treatment, hospitalization and staying of attendants in the city coupled with the loss of income due to the absence from their fundamental source of earning which is fishing If we envision making Gwadar an international city and a hub of global trade then we need to start from the building of modern infrastructure for basic facilities including health, education, sanitation and water supply We heard so many times in the media about the establishment of schools and hospitals in the city of Gwadar but the fact remains that people of Gwadar travel to Karachi in June 2023 for treatments of fun-

Desalination of water in port cities is a common phenomenon around the world and even countries like Barbados and Algeria let alone Australia Germany and Israel are operating water desalination plants quite efficiently Conversely, in Gwadar the water desalination plant is lying abandoned even though it was installed at a cost of billions of rupees Initially there wasn t any supply line to the city of Gwadar from the desalination plant and now probably there is a problem of silting at the origin; in both cases it is sheer m i s m a n a g e m e n t and incompetence to be unable to operate the water desalination plant considering the value of providing clean drinking water to the people of Gwadar; those who are at the helm of affairs need to give it a top priority to ensure that water desalination plant starts working immediately and remains operational without any disruption

There is a strong need for coordination among all relevant stakeholders to appropriately implement the envisioned plan and immediately take corrective measure to stop bleeding out of such an important initiative of CPEC which promises growth and development of not only China and Pakistan but all nations across the One Belt One Road initiative

To the question that why don t people of Gwadar take benefit from the commercial aspect of CPEC by exporting agriculture goods, especially nuts, to China to get economic prosperity, he instantly replied, “Our mainstay

is fishery we export fish to eight countries but we are not allowed and importantly we are not being facilitated to export fish and its by-products to China We don t have any fish processing facility at Gwadar, therefore we can’t contribute to the expected economic gains of CPEC” It should be a matter of serious concern especially for those who envisioned CPEC and equally for those who are now implementing the project It is just a simple commonsense that promoting and facilitating fishery can contribute significantly to engage the people of Gwadar; policy makers and frontline managers of CPEC need to give immediate attention to develop modern fish processing infrastructure in the city Probably, one o f t h e m o s t s t r a t e g i c c o mm e n t s o f t h e g u e s t w a s We a r e d w e l l e r s o f sea waters but we are not being repr e s e n t e d i n t h e P a k i s t a n N a v y I t h i n k t h o s e w h o c a n e n d u r e t h e r i g o u r s o f w a t e r are much suitable f o r j o b s i n t h e navy, but none of us is employed in t h e P a k i s t a n Navy I rememb e r a d o o r- t odoor campaign of t h e P a k i s t a n A r m y i n t h e e nt i r e p r o v i n c e o f B a l u c h i s t a n t o r e c r u i t s o l d i e r s f r o m e v e r y t r i b e a n d c o r n e r o f t h e province In the same manner if the Pakistan Navy can employ young children of the local fishermen that can boost owner-

Modi visit part of a geopolitical Great Game

s h i p a n d c o n f i d e n c e o f i n h a b i t a n t s o f shores throughout the sea belt of Balochistan Responding to one of the questions Mr H i d a y a t u r R e h m a n s a i d t h a t t h e u rg e n t need of the people of Gwadar is a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts He said that every family in the city is a victim of narcotics parents especially mothers are terr i b l y f r i g h t e n e d f o r t h e f u t u r e o f t h e i r children due to the widespread prevalence o f n a r c o t i c s i n t h e c i t y T h e i n t e r e s t i n g t h i n g i s t h a t t h o s e a m o n g l o c a l r e s i d e n t s who are closely allied with the administrat i v e s e t u p a r e a c t u a l l y l i n k e d w i t h t h e b u s i n e s s o f n a r c o t i c s , t h u s b e t r a y i n g t h e c o n f i d e n c e o f a u t h o r i t i e s w h i l e s e l l i n g t h e m t h e i r f a l s e p a t r i o t i s m I n s t a n t l y a number of participants extended their interest in facilitating establishment of a rehabilitation centre for drug addicts in the city of Gwadar Establishment of “Gwadar Desk” was announced by the hosts Think Pakistan and Lahore Leads University to facilitate the people of Gwadar in particular and Baluchistan in general in meeting their existing economic and strategic challenges besides promoting their voice in rest of Pakistan and all possible international forums, integrating them in the national and global mainstream for the prosperity and success of relevant stakeholders When there was an emphasis on learning

Chinese language, the guest suggested educating Chinese counterparts to learn the Baluchi language to better understand the people of Gwadar and eliminate the existing communication gap because it is more than important for Chinese companies to be aware of the sentiments of local population while operating in this part of the world One of the participants added a hadith narrating the importance of learning languages to understand the deep-rooted dynamics of any society It was indeed a memorable meeting with sumptuous breakfast, insightful discussions and a selfie session at the end of the programme However, it left an impression that there is a strong need for coordination among all relevant stakeholders to appropriately implement the envisioned plan and immediately take corrective measure to stop bleeding out of such an important initiative of CPEC which promises growth and development of not only China and Pakistan but all nations across the One Belt One Road initiative

The writer is Adjunct Professor of the Pakistan Research Center HeBei Normal University China and Associate Professor of Management Sciences and Head, Center of Islamic Finance COMSATS University (CUI) Lahore Campus Pakistan He can be reached at drabdussattar@cuilahore edu pk and tweets @drabdussattar

I t i s o n e o f a n u m b e r o f s t r a t e g i c a l l y l o c a t e d “f r i e n d v e r s a r i e s ” –

h e I n d i a

r n m e n t h a s c r a c ke d d o w n o n p re s s d i s s e n t , i n f a c t , a n d s t o ke d v i o l e n c e a g a i n s t I n d i a n c i t i z e n s w h o h a p p e n t o b e M u s l i m s , e t h n i c a n d t r i b a l m i n o r i t i e s , a n d o p p re s s e d c a s t e s

decades been India s biggest supplier of arms Over the past decade the United States has sold over $4 billion in military equipment to India, and has run FBI-sponsored training in the militarized region of Kashmir A number of major technological and defense agreements have been unveiled during this visit, among them a partnership between General Electric and state-owned Ind i a n c o r p o r a t i o n H i n d u s t a n A e r o n a u t i c s t o p r o d u c e e n g i n e s f o r I n d i a n f i g h t e r j e t s a s w e l l a s t h e s a l e o f

American MQ-9B SeaGuardians which are high-precision armed drones

c o u n t r i e s w i t h t h e s h a re d i n t e re s t s t y p i c a l o f a l l i e s , b u t a l s o

a d v e r s a r i a l i n t e re s t s , p r i o r i t i e s , a n d e v e n v a l u e s

and partnership India and China sit side by side in the BRICS economic alliance, which also includes Russia, South Africa, and Brazil And while India prides itself on being the world’s largest democracy, Mr Modi’s brand of Hindu nationalism has led to discrimination and violence against members of the country’s 200million-strong Muslim minority – as well as restraints on the media and opposition political voices

AMERICAN PR OSPECT t i s ya M aV u r a M

OVER the past few months ahead of Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi s official state visit to Washington Biden administration officials have worked overtime to praise his leadership In April, Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Donald Lu applauded the state of India’s free press: “You have India as a democracy in part because you have a free press that really works ” During her trip to India in March Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo called Modi a visionary and his commitment to the people of India indescribable and deep and passionate and real and authentic

These warm sentiments don t bear any resemblance to the actions of the real Narendra Modi, whose regime h a s t u r n e d I n d i a a w a y f r o m i t s r o o t s a s t h e w o r l d ’s largest secular democracy and toward becoming a rightwing Hindu nationalist state During his tenure Modi and the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) have created the conditions for widespread democratic backsliding The government has cracked down on press dissent, in fact, and stoked violence against Indian citizens who happen t o b e M u s l i m s , e t h n i c a n d t r i b a l m i n o r i t i e s , a n d o ppressed castes

This is nothing new In 2005 while Modi was chief minister of the state of Gujarat and oversaw deadly riots against Muslims the Bush-era State Department denied Modi a visa to visit the United States, citing a 1998 law called the International Religious Freedom Act, which banned officials responsible for “severe violations of religious freedom ” He is the only person who has ever been denied a visa on those grounds

The Biden administration is clearly eager to put that past behind them Modi will give a speech to a joint session of Congress and will be the guest of honor at a state dinner at the White House

In an official statement released in May, White House Press Secretary Karine Jean-Pierre framed Modi’s visit as one that will “affirm the deep and close partnership between the United States and India and the warm bonds of friendship that link Americans and Indians together

This is a much more honest assessment of the relationship, as the Biden administration believes they have strategic cause to claim India as a strong ally India s presence as a military counterweight to China provides the U S additional leverage in the cold war they have created “This visit is not about China ” White House national security adviser Jake Sullivan stated in a recent interview But the question of China s role in the military domain the technology domain the economic domain will be on the agenda

The United States also sees an opportunity in India s changing relationship with Russia, which has for several

There is also a massive effort to make India s burgeoning semiconductor industry a real counterweight to China U S semiconductor manufacturer Micron Technology will be building a $2 75 billion chip facility in India with $800 million from Micron and the rest from India U S -based Applied Materials is set to start a collaborative engineering center in India focused on semiconductor development and commercialization, and Lam Research will launch a training program for tens of thousands of Indian engineers India has long been talked about as a potential manufacturing rival to China and dedicated American investment could finally make that happen Ahead of the 2024 presidential election there is also an electoral calculus to the White House s embrace of Modi, as Indian Americans are the second-largest immigrant group in the United States and broadly supportive of the PM They are also solidly Democratic voters with as many as 74 percent of Indian Americans estimated to have voted for Biden in 2020 despite Donald Trump s friendly relationship and overt pitch to Indian American voters Notably, studies showed U S -India relations had little salience in 2020 for Indian American voters, who were much more concerned about health care and the economy White House officials say Biden will raise concerns about human rights in India during the visit but will avoid lecturing Modi Ultimately the question of where politics and the question of democratic institutions go in India is going to be determined within India by Indians It s not going to be determined by the United States, Sullivan said of the visit I t i s c e r t a i n l y t r u e t h a t A m e r i c a n i n t e r v e n t i o n i n

Modi’s internal affairs would not produce any positive outcomes But this is an odd time for the United States to suddenly be interested in national sovereignty and the White House s insistence that they are voiceless in this situation is disingenuous The Biden administration, like all previous presidential administrations, has a selective memory on promoting human rights, based on its own self-interest This White House has decided that gaining some geopolitical advantage over China in the Indo-Pacific is worth the lives of millions of Muslims caste-oppressed Indians political dissidents and journalists The least they could do is to be honest about the stakes involved M o d i ’s v i s i t t o t h e W h i t e H o u s e , o n l y t h e t h i r d s t a t e d i n n e r s o f a r d u r i n g B i d e n ’s t e r m a n d t h e m o s t l a v i s h o n e y e t w i l l n o d o u b t b e h a i l e d b y A m e r i c a n s a n d I n d i a n s a c r o s s t h e p o l i t i c a l s p e c t r u m a s a t r i u m p h o f t h e w o r l d s o l d e s t a n d l a rg e s t d e m o c r a c i e s A sweeping narrative of historic partnership and progress h a s a l r e a d y b e e n c r e a t e d , d e s p i t e w i d e s p r e a d o p p o s it i o n b o t h i n t h e D e m o c r a t i c P a r t y a n d a m o n g t h e I nd i a n d i a s p o r a T h e W h i t e H o u s e w a n t s t h e p u b l i c t o b e l i e v e t h a t t h e i r w a r m e m b r a c e o f a d e s p o t i c f i g u r e w i l l p a y d i v i d e n d s f o r t h e A m e r i c a n a n d I n d i a n p e o p l e a l i k e b u t i t s n o t c l e a r t h a t a n y o n e b e s i d e s d e f e n s e c o n t r a c t o r s s t a n d s t o b e n e f i t

N e D t e M ko

THERE will be no shortage of pomp and circumstance, hugs and handshakes, as Washington lays on a lavish welcome for an increasingly key partner in Asia: India’s Prime Minister Narendra Modi Yet, the most important aspect of the visit which includes an address to Congress and a state dinner Thursday may get lost in the atmospherics It s that despite genuine enthusiasm on both sides for strengthening relations between the two democracies, U S policymakers know that India is never likely to become a full-scale ally and friend It’s always easier to deal with close allies But equally important to the U S is learning to better cooperate with key countries that share some interests while diverging on others

It is one of a number of strategically located friendversaries – countries with the shared interests typical of allies, but also adversarial interests, priorities, and even values Washington is keen to keep them as close as possible And that delicate task has taken on greater urgency as a result of Russia’s war against Ukraine and the escalating U S rivalry with China Among other friendversaries are states like South Africa and Saudi Arabia But India may be the most important to Washington s main long-term challenge: finding a way to compete with and, where necessary, constrain China without risking head-on conflict

India borders China a frontier that flared into violence as recently as several years ago It’s a member of the so-called Quad – the Quadrilateral Security Dialogue – alongside the United States Australia and Japan

Earlier this year, it overtook China as the world s most populous nation Its economy has become the world’s fifth-largest, and, though it is still far smaller than China’s it’s growing more rapidly Annual trade with the U S has increased to some $130 billion and America recently displaced China as India s main trading partner Talks also began this year on joint technology projects in areas including semiconductors, aerospace, and artificial intelligence But that s the friend part of friendversary THE “ADVERSARY” PIECE On the adversary side of the scales India’s main a r m s s u p p l i e r i s R u s s i a – a c a r r y - o v e r f r o m I n d i a s prominent often distinctly Moscow-friendly role in the nonaligned movement during the Cold War And w h i l e M r M o d i h a s v o i c e d d i s p l e a s u r e w i t h t h e U k r a i n e w a r, I n d i a h a s a b s t a i n e d f r o m U N v o t e s condemning the invasion Ignoring calls to sanction M o s c o w i t h a s b e e n e a g e r l y b u y i n g u p c u t - p r i c e R u s s i a n o i l Its relations with China too are a mix of rivalry

Still, Prime Minister Modi s state visit is evidence that Washington sees India as a rising counterweight to China’s regional dominance, and that the Biden administration is determined to find a way to build on shared interests with India while finessing the differences That s an especially tricky balance for a U S president who has made the contest between democracy and autocracy his central foreign policy theme Mr Modi s human rights record and response to the Ukraine war will surely come up during the visit – but only glancingly, if at all, in public

Still with bipartisan support for a firm stance on China and business enthusiasm for widening economic ties President Joe Biden s embrace of Mr Modi is unlikely to face major pushback That s not the case however, with two friendversaries in other areas of the globe where China and Russia have been expanding their influence: South Africa and Saudi Arabia

South Africa is deeply tied to the U S economically with nearly $11 billion in annual trade including $3 billion in tariff-free exports under Washington s African Growth and Opportunity Act (AGOA) initiative But South Africa too has resisted condemning the Ukraine invasion It recently held a joint military exercise with Russia and China And there have been reports, citing U S intelligence officials, that it’s been sending arms to Russia T h e B i d e n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n i s c l e a r l y c o n c e r n e d a m a j o r d i p l o m a t i c c l a s h w o u l d u n d e r m i n e e ff o r t s t o d e e p e n U S i n f l u e n c e i n A f r i c a : O ff i c i a l s s a y t h e y r e s t i l l a w a i t i n g t h e r e s u l t s o f a n i n v e s t i g a t i o n b y S o u t h A f r i c a n P r e s i d e n t C y r i l R a m a p h o s a i n t o t h e r e p o r t e d a r m s s h i p m e n t s B u t a b i p a r t i s a n g r o u p i n C o n g r e s s h a s n o w u rg e d t h e W h i t e H o u s e t o r e l o c a t e t h e a n n u a l m e e t i n g o f A G O A f r o m S o u t h A f r i c a t o e l s e w h e r e o n t h e c o n t i n e n t T h e r e s e v e n s t r o n g e r s e n t i m e n t t o w a r d S a u d i A r a b i a A k e y U S a l l y f o r d e c a d e s i t s t i l l r e l i e s o n A m e r i c a f o r s e c u r i t y a n d m i l i t a r y h a r d w a r e A r e a s o f f r i ct i o n h a v e b e e n g r o w i n g , h o w e v e r T h e s t a r k e s t o n e r e m a i n s t h e 2 0 1 8 m u r d e r o f U S - b a s e d S a u d i w r i t e r J a m a l K h a s h o g g i i n t h e S a u d i c o n s u l a t e i n I s t a n b u l B u t S a u d i A r a b i a h a s a l s o s t r e n g t h e n e d t i e s w i t h R u s s i a a n d C h i n a A n d w h e n p r e s s e d b y Wa s h i n g t o n t o i n c r e a s e o i l p r o d u c t i o n a f t e r t h e R u s s i a n i n v a s i o n , t h e S a u d i s r e d u c e d o u t p u t i ns t e a d A g a i n , M r B i d e n s e e m s r e l u c t a n t t o r i s k f u rt h e r f r a y i n g t i e s S a u d i A r a b i a ’s d e f a c t o l e a d e r, C r o w n P r i n c e M o h a m m e d b i n S a l m a n , h a s b e c o m e t h e l e a d i n g p o l i t i c a l v o i c e i n t h e A r a b w o r l d a n d t h e c o n c e r n i s t h a t a f u l l - s c a l e r i f t c o u l d s i m p l y e nc o u r a g e g r e a t e r C h i n e s e i n f l u e n c e F i n d i n g c o m m o n g r o u n d w i t h t h e S a u d i s w i l l b e e s p e c i a l l y c h a l l e n g i n g f o r M r B i d e n H e w a s a p p a l l e d b y t h e K h a s h o g g i m u r d e r, s a y i n g d u r i n g h i s p r e s i d e n t i a l c a m p a i g n t h a t i t h a d m a d e S a u d i A r a b i a a “ p a r i a h s t a t e ” S t i l l w i t h h i s w i d e r f o c u s o n R u s s i a a n d a b o v e a l l C h i n a A m e r i c a ’s m a i n i nt e r n a t i o n a l r i v a l s h e s e e m s t o h a v e c o n c l u d e d t h a t a c h a n g e i n a p p r o a c h i s n e c e s s a r y – t h a t Wa s h i n gt o n n e e d s t o v i e w S a u d i A r a b i a n o t a s t h e k e y a l l y i t w a s f o r m a n y d e c a d e s , b u t i n s t e a d , a s a k e y f r i e n d v e r s a r y

CHRISTIAN SCIENCE MONITOR

I n d i a , t h e U S , a n d ‘ f r i e n d v e r s a r i e s ’

MILLIONS OF FAITHFUL HEAD TO MECCA TO PERFORM HA JJ

sands of elderly will be among those contending with Saudi summer temperatures that are expected to reach 44 degrees Celsius

EN O R M O U S crowds of pilgrims thronged Mecca Islam’s holiest city on Friday for the biggest Hajj pilgrimage in years with more than two million expected to brave the scorching Saudi Arabian heat Pilgrims in white robes and sandals packed the ancient city now dotted with luxury hotels and air-conditioned shopping malls after flooding in on planes buses and trains for the annual rites

This year s Hajj one of the world s biggest annual religious gatherings could break attendance records, officials said

“As the Hajj draws near the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia prepares for the largest Islamic gathering in history

Minister of Hajj and Umrah Tawfiq AlRabiah said in a video published by the ministry this week

The faithful will circle the Holy Kaaba pray on Mount Arafat and stone the devil by throwing pebbles at three giant concrete walls representing Satan

More than two million people from more than 160 countries will attend, Rabiah said a dramatic increase on the 926,000 from last year, when numbers

DR TAHIRA TARIQ

were capped at one million post-pandemic

In 2019, about 2 5 million people took part Only 10,000 were allowed in 2020 at the height of the Covid-19 pandemic rising to nearly 59 000 a year later

The Hajj is among the five pillars of Islam and must be undertaken by all Muslims with the means at least once in their lives

‘UNBELIEVABLE FEELING’: Travellers from around the world have been pouring into Jeddah’s modernised airport some of them using streamlined visa services to disembark from planes straight onto buses to their accommodation

“And undoubtedly, in the cattle, there is a lesson for you We give you to drink of what is in their bellies and you have in them benefits and you have in them your food " Al-Mominoon: 21

Milk from cows is not just a simple drink; it is a nutritional powerhouse that offers advantages for both the physical and mental well-being of an individual Milk is one of the most consumed dairy products in the world It s a source of nutrition for millions and an essential ingredient in many foods from cheese to ice cream Milk is a natural blessing that provides our bodies with vital nutrients, fortifies our bones, and elevates our moods It accompanies us from infancy to old age, imparting a range of health advantages and enhancing our daily lives with its smooth and creamy texture People who consume more milk and milk products have a better IQ level health status memory strong bones good vision a boosted immune system a higher height and a faster growth rate as compared with people who don t consume milk Our forefathers always considered milk the most sacred drink & the best supplement Winston Churchill beautifully narrated the importance of milk consumption by saying: There is no finer investment for any community than putting milk into babies

Considering the benefits of milk it is called the biggest blessing, but under unhygienic conditions it becomes a curse by acting as a source of infection for the consumers, making them prone to various foodborne illnesses including vomiting diarrhea dehydration headaches abdominal pain nausea and fever In pregnant women children older adults and immunocompromised people contaminated milk may cause serious illness In addition, unclean milk may have high levels

Some 24,000 buses will be in service to ferry the pilgrims, as well as 17 trains capable of moving 72,000 people every hour officials said

It is an unbelievable feeling that is very emotional Souad bin Oueis a 60year-old Moroccan pilgrim told AFP after arriving on her first visit to Saudi Arabia along with her husband

This Hajj will be the biggest since the requirement for women to be accompanied by male guardians was dropped in 2021

This year the maximum age limit has also been scrapped, meaning thou-

of somatic cells pus and antibiotics that can result in allergies and other chronic health issues Therefore, it is crucial to prioritize the consumption of safe and highquality milk to prevent any adverse effects on health

To get benefited from this blessing it is pre-requisite to ensure the quality of milk from cow to cup

The quality of milk from the farm to the consumer can only be ensured through monitoring all stages of production, storage, transportation, and processing

Laps at any of these steps may render milk unwholesome and unfit for human consumption

Veterinarians working directly with the dairy cow at grass-roots level can ensure wholesomeness of milk by keeping multiple parameters in view The feed that is being consumed by dairy cow should be free from mycotoxins pesticides and other chemicals as they not only affect the milk quality but also compromises the health of consumers The milker s hands should be properly washed and dried before milking to avoid milk contamination The health status of the milkers should be accessed regularly as they may serve as a source of contamination to milk Milking utensils should have smooth surfaces with minimum joints and be dent free

They should be noncorrosive and washable Milking barns should be properly cleaned to make them manurefree thus avoid contamination of milk with feaces Fly movement should be controlled at the milking parlor Before milking udder of animal should be properly washed to make it free from manure dirt and other contaminants After milking milk should be cooled properly before delivery to the Milk Collection Center The milk storage area must be cleaned and tidy having hand washing and drying facility The milk storage equipment must be adequate to hold milk at the specific temperature & should washed properly after each milk storage Pasteurization & UHT (Ultra high temperature

Digital trucks flash message: Fascist Modi does not belong to White House

WASHINGTON:

circulated around the Capitol Hill and the White House, besides across other federal buildings and foreign embassies

The trucks exhibited message to Biden Administration that urgency must replace complacency in Kashmir Time for subterfuge is over

According to Kashmir Media Service the electronic screens on the mobile digital trucks carried messages such as: Fascist Modi Does Not Belong to White House ; Modi Guilty of Crimes Against Humanity in Kashmir ; Stop Modi Now: Free Kashmir ; Indian Democracy Dead in Kashmir ; Kashmiris Reject Indian

Occupation: UN Resolutions Only Solution ; Trade With India Is Not Fine: When Human Rights Are On Decline”; “Decolonize Kashmir”; “Kashmir At The Brink of Genocide (Genocide Watch)”; “Kashmir for Kashmiris”

“Digital advertising trucks have proved to be the most powerful way in the past to disseminate a message as the brightly lit words on the screens catch the attention of the spectators and observers said Dr Ghulam Nabi Fai Chairman World Forum for Peace & Justice

He cautioned that Narendra Modi will never tell President Biden what Dr Gregory Stanton, Chairman, ‘Genocide Watch’ has said that ‘Kashmir was at the brink of genocide,” and what ‘Committee to Protect Journalist’ has said, ‘News media in Kashmir is at the brink of extinction’; and what internationally acclaimed Indian human rights defender Arundhati Roy has said Kashmir is the largest militarized zone in the world

The Hajj begins late Sunday at the Grand Mosque in Mecca The worshippers will sleep in tents on Monday night and spend Tuesday at Mount Arafat the climax of the Hajj where the Holy Prophet (PBUH) delivered his final sermon

After casting pebbles in the stoning of the devil ritual on Wednesday, marking the start of the Eidul Azha holiday pilgrims return to Mecca to perform a farewell tawaf

HEAT RISKS: Mecca pilgrimages are a major source of income for Saudi Arabia, which is embarking on an ambitious plan to overhaul its largely oil-dependent economy The Hajj and year-round Umrah generate an estimated $12 billion annually

An expansion project that involves scaling up infrastructure and transport supporting Mecca and Medina where two of Islam s holiest sites are located, is a key part of the economic plan as the kingdom looks to increase visitor numbers

This year ’s summer timing for the Hajj which follows the lunar calendar will test the endurance of worshippers

More than 32 000 health workers will be on hand to help fend off heatstroke, dehydration and exhaustion

Cow t o Cu p

of milk as these allow the preservation and sterilization of milk thus aid in the reduction of food borne illnesses

At household level, milk should be boiled properly before use and keep it at cool place to avoid contamination during the storage and enhance the shelf life of milk

There is an excess of milk available at domestic level but local dodhis serve as a potential barrier in the provision of wholesome milk Adulteration of milk by toxic chemicals, water and antibiotics is done by local dodhis to enhance milk viscosity, quantity and shelf life

Antimicrobial resistance which is among the burning health issues of the world may be caused due to adulterated milk and milk products Our dairy farmers at the grass root level are not paid well by the dodhis in return for their efforts in milk production

Print electronic & social media can play an effective role to generate awareness among masses about the screening ,safe handling, and consumption of milk Punjab food authority and Islamabad food authority in collaboration with Veterinarians dairy farmers and stake holders should ensure the quality milk production from cow to cup At ground level provide training to dairy farmers so that they can learn and adopt modern dairy practices Government policies and programs can play a role in supporting dairy farmers and improving their economic situation This can include subsidies or other financial incentives, as well as initiatives to improve access to markets and technical assistance In this way farmers can play their positive role not only by ensuring the availability of the nutritious milk for human consumption but also by getting the deserved fruit of their efforts

The writer is M Phil Veterinary Medicine student at Department of Clinical Studies, Faculty of Veterinary and Animal Sciences, PMAS Arid Agriculture University Rawalpindi Email: tahiravet@gmail com

Chinese envoy calls for strengthening Africa’s counter terrorism effor ts

A Chinese envoy on Thursday called for action to strengthen African counter-terrorism efforts at the launch of the UN Joint Appeal for Counter-Terrorism in Africa China welcomes the launch of the Joint Appeal given that terrorism is a significant threat facing the African continent, said Dai Bing, China s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations China hopes the flagship initiative will promote synergy among UN agencies to help Africa deal with the challenge of terrorism he added Dai called for efforts to strengthen counter-terrorism capacity-building in Africa

Practices in many African countries have proven that establishing professional security institutions can fight terrorism and maintain stability In August last year, China promoted a Security Council open debate on strengthening Africa’s capacity-building The council adopted a presidential statement one of the crucial goals of which is to support Africa s security capacity-building said Dai We hope the Joint Appeal will promote the tilting of global counterterrorism resources to Africa, focusing on increasing support for capacity-building ” He also called for efforts to tackle the root causes of terrorism

In February this year the UN Development Programme released a report stating that poverty and unemployment constitute the main reasons for people in the Sahel region to join violent extremist organizations This also applies to other regions in Africa with terrorist activities Dai said he hoped that projects under the initiative would help improve the living conditions of people in poor areas and eliminate the root causes of conflicts

In addition Dai called for an objective look at the challenges facing Africa s counter-terrorism operations, including the issue of human rights

With regard to human rights issues, it should be noted that the AU (African Union) and African countries have made great efforts to strengthen the capacity-building of the troops and enhance the awareness of human rights protection he said

One cannot just assume that there is a problem with the protection of human rights every time the issue of counter-terrorism in Africa is mentioned This is a kind of prejudice Human rights cannot be used as an excuse to reduce counter-terrorism support to Africa

It is hoped that relevant projects of the Joint Appeal will pay attention to this issue The Global Security Initiative proposed by China takes support for Africa s counter-terrorism as essential It promotes strengthening the role of the United Nations in fighting terrorism In recent years, China has supported UN agencies such as the UN Office of Counter-Terrorism through the China-UN Peace and Development Fund Dai said that China would actively participate in the Joint Appeal deepen cooperation with UN agencies under the Forum on China-Africa Cooperation framework and the ChinaUN Peace and Development Fund, and provide more support for Africa’s counter-terrorism efforts The launch of the Joint Appeal was a side event during UN Counter-Terrorism Week

Shocked Scottish university mourns death of star student Suleman Dawood

SCOTLAND

A G E N C I E S

Reacting to the news of the Titan submersible tragedy, the University of Strathclyde in the Scottish city of Glasgow said Friday it was “shocked and profoundly saddened” by the death of its student Suleman Dawood who was aboard the fateful vessel with his father Shahzada Dawood

The entire Strathclyde community offers our deepest condolences to the Dawood family and all those affected by this terrible accident ” principal and vice-chancellor of the University of Strathclyde Jim McDonald wrote in a statement 19-year-old Dawood was on the submersible Titan with his father 48-year-old father Shahzada Dawood, vice chairman of one of Engro Corporation, to explore the centuryold wreck of the Titanic which lies more than 12 000 ft deep in the Atlantic Ocean

The remains of the deep-sea submersible were discovered Thursday the US Coast

Guard said after a catastrophic implosion that killed all five on board

The Titan submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions to explore the wreckage of the sunken Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland, dives Reuters/File

The Titan submersible operated by OceanGate Expeditions to explore the wreckage of the sunken Titanic off the coast of Newfoundland dives Reuters/File

The US Coast Guard also stated that the bodies of the crew may never be recovered from the “unforgiving” ocean where they perished

The announcement came after shattered pieces of the submersible were found 500 meters from the bow of the Titanic

The search for Titan operated by OceanGate Expeditions came to a devastating end when broken fragments of the submersible were located on the ocean floor

According to Rear Admiral John Mauger of the US Coast Guard “the crew members likely died before the detection of potential SOS sounds in the water

The implosion of Titan would have generated a significant sound picked up by sonar buoys It is believed that the crew members met an instant death, despite their hopes of seeing the famous shipwreck

The picture shows five victims of the Titan submersible tragedy that was announced by the US Coast Guard Thursday to have imploded AFP

The picture shows five victims of the Titan submersible tragedy that was announced by the US Coast Guard Thursday to have imploded AFP

Among other members were British billionaire Hamish Harding OceanGate CEO Stockton Rush and French Navy veteran PH Nargeolet Unfortunately experts have said that there is little hope of recovering any of their remains due to the harsh environment of the ocean floor OceanGate expressed its condolences to the families of the crew members acknowledging their dedication and passion for ocean exploration and protection

C h i n e s e p r e m i e r : C h i n a , F r a n c e s h a r e c o m m o n s t r a t e g i c , h o l i s t i c p e r s p e c t

PARIS

A G E N C I E S

Chinese Premier Li Qiang said on Thursday that China and France as permanent members of the UN Security Council and responsible major countries share a common strategic and holistic perspective Li made the remarks when he met with French President Emmanuel Macron in Paris Li said during the French president’s successful visit to China not long ago the two heads of state had in-depth exchanges and reached a series of strategic consensuses which have drawn a blueprint for the development of China-France relations

The Chinese premier said his visit to France aims to implement the important consensus reached by the two heads of state and have in-depth discussions with the French side on strengthening China-France cooperation

China France and Europe have their own strengths and need to further strengthen cooperation said Li stressing that they while deepening cooperation in such traditional areas as nuclear energy, space and aviation, should also tap the potential of cooperation in such emerging areas as environmental protection digital economy artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing so as to achieve mutual benefit and win-win results

The Chinese side encourages its enterprises to invest in France and French companies are welcomed to share China’s development opportunities said Li China stands ready to continue to strengthen communication and coordination with France on international affairs support each other s good initiatives jointly cope with global challenges, and promote world peace and stability, Li said

Macron welcomed Li’s visit to France and his attendance at the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact adding that France attaches great importance to relations with China and adheres to the one-China principle France is willing to work with China to enhance coordination through the FranceChina Strategic Dialogue High-Level Economic and Financial Dialogue and High-level Dialogue on People-to-people Exchanges and to deepen cooperation with China in such fields as aviation and space, nuclear energy, agriculture and food, he said Macron welcomed Chinese companies to invest in France and expand cooperation in emerging areas such as green and environmental protection and new energy

In a world full of challenges France and China should adhere to resultful multilateralism, promote international solidarity, improve global governance and promote

solutions to global issues Macron said The two sides also exchanged views on the Ukraine crisis and other international issues of common concern

CORPORATE CORNER

Mastercard, SimpliFi join forces to enable innovative B2B payment solutions across MENA and Pakistan

PRESIDENT FOR ENHANCING ECONOMIC, CULTURAL COOPERATION WITH KOREA , SRI L ANK A

PR E S I D E N T Dr Arif Alvi on Friday called for further promoting bilateral economic trade and cultural cooperation with the Republic of Korea and Sri Lanka to further cement bilateral ties

The president expressed these views while talking to the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea Suh Sangpyo and the outgoing High Commissioner of Sri Lanka Vice Admiral (r) Mohan Wijewickrama who made separate calls on him here at Aiwan-e-Sadr

Talking to the outgoing Ambassador of the Republic of Korea, the president said that Pakistan highly valued its multidimensional relationship with Korea which involved collaborations in various fields such as political economic scientific cultural and people-to-people relations

With demand for digital payments rapidly accelerating in the region along with the shift towards costeffective payment solutions this strategic partnership will empower businesses to bring to market Mastercard-enabled payment products and services in record time P R

MD reiterates SSGC’s customer-centric approach at open court in Karachi

open for business and investment for all its friends and partners and would especially welcome Korean investment in various sectors

He stated that Pakistan wanted to increase cooperation with Korea, particularly in the areas of Information Technology and Agriculture The presi-

He highlighted that Pakistan was

M

KARACHI

S TA F F R E P O R T Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi attended as chief guest of the Investiture Ceremony organized at Karachi on Friday to confer medals and awards to naval personnel

During the ceremony Cdre Shahzad Iqbal Cdre Tauqeer Ahmad Khawaja, Cdre Muham-

mad Ahsan Raza Mallhi and Cdre Syed Talat Hussain were awarded Sitara-i-lmtiaz (Military)

dent also called for further promoting cultural cooperation with Korea adding that Pakistan offered some of the most exotic mountaineering and religious tourism sites and would welcome tourists from Korea to visit Buddhist sites He remarked that Pakistan was home to the Gandhara Civilization and some of

Cdr Kabbir Yahya Khan, Cdr Muhammad Atif Khan and Lt Cdr Abdul Rehman Khan were awarded Tamgha-i-lmtiaz (Military) while Tamgha-i-Basalat was conferred to Cdr Syed Eusaf Viqar and Barkat Ali LCDT was awarded Imtiazi Sanad Meanwhile 14 Awards of Tamgha-iKhidmat (Military)-I 17 awards of Tamgha-i-Khidmat (Military)-II and 10 awards

the most sacred relics in Buddhism which could be a source of attraction for Korean tourists

Talking to the outgoing High Commissioner of Sri Lanka the President said that Pakistan attached great importance to its long-standing friendship and cooperative ties with Sri Lanka which was its second-largest trading partner in South Asia

He added that Pakistan wanted to further expand economic cooperation and trade relations with Sri Lanka under the Pak-Sri Lanka Free Trade Agreement

President Alvi stated that both countries should explore ways to rejuvenate SAARC and work together to fight poverty and promote peace, economic growth, and development for the benefit of the entire region

He also recalled Pakistan and Sri Lanka s support for each other at the UN and other international bodies and expressed the hope that this cooperation would continue at international fora

Imran Maniar, Managing Director, Sui Southern Gas Company SGC has reiterated Company’s commitment towards addressing the complaints and grievances of its customers in a swift manner even though the utility is faced with an uphill challenge of ensuring sustainable gas supplies in the backdrop of a widening demand and supply gap

He said this while chairing the physical / In-person

Khulli Kachehri (Ruburu) session at SSGC’s Head Office auditorium held on Friday June 23 2023 under the directives of Prime Minister s Delivery Unit (PMDU) Mr Maniar along with senior executives from concerned departments heard the gas-related queries and complains of pre-registered customers and ordered for their redressal in quickest possible time P R

Faysal Bank leading financial sec tor towards inclusive, diverse work

c ulture

l a h o r e: Faysal Bank in collaboration with ConnectHear launched Persons with Disabilities Model Branch in Johar Town Lahore The objective being to revolutionize the banking experience for individuals with hearing impairments Faysal Bank has partnered with ConnectHear to support its inclusivity drive in sync with its values of Khidmat and Jiddat The branch will offer assistance to the hearing-impaired community and ConnectHear will also provide training and sensitivity workshops to assist the bank staff in a better understanding of the Virtual Sign Language Interpretation

application The Chief Guest Dr Amjad Saqib, Founder, Akhuwat Foundation graced the occasion and reiterated that these DEI initiatives are tiny steps towards bigger achievements and that inclusion is the right of every individual He took a tour of the branch specially designed for people with disabilities and appreciated Faysal Bank s initiative to make financial services accessible for all P R

Caltex, BE Energy inaugurate first Caltex flagship fuel station

The first Caltex-branded service station was recently inaugurated in Lahore Caltex has an 80-year legacy in Pakistan and Chevron recently re-entered the retail fuels business through a trademark license agreement with Be Energy Limited (BE) Through this partnership with BE, we plan to build a network of more than 400 Caltex-branded fuel stations in the country With the growing network of Caltex fuel stations, we can ensure our customers are never far from the Caltex Star The newly inaugurated service station represents a fusion of cutting-edge technology and customer-centric services Together the two companies are committed to delivering a seamless fuelling experience to the customers in Pakistan Expressing his enthusiasm about the collaboration, Mr Ahmed Zahid Zaheer, Country Chairman and General Manager of Chevron Pakistan stated "We are thrilled to partner with Be Energy for the opening of our first service station in Lahore Together we aim to revolutionize the service station experience We are excited to expand our network with hundreds of service stations in Pakistan PR

Emirates to ramp up flights ahead of Hajj, Eidul A zha

Anjuman Auqaf of Jamia Masjid has said that it has been record 200th Fridays since the Mirwaiz of Kashmir has been barred by the authorities from the centuries old tradition of delivering the Friday sermons from the pulpit of the historic Jamia Masjid, Srinagar, which is a shame

According to Kashmir Media Service the Anjuman Auqaf in a statement issued in Srinagar said the pain and anguish this religious repression on the Muslims of the valley has caused them is extremely unfortunate Despite repeated appeals for his release from all sections and quarters of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and outside the authorities have denied it so far it added

It said that a protest was held on this in Jamia Masjid Srinagar today in which a large number of m e n a n d w o m e n p r e s e n t o n t h e o c c a s i o n s t r o n g l y urged the government to release the Mirwaiz immediately They said that since August 2019, the pulpit o f J a m i a M a s j i d h a s f a l l e n s i l e n t w h i c h w a s t h e s o u r c e o f r e l i g i o u s m o r a l e d u c a t i o n a n d s p i r i t u a l solace for them

On behalf of Anjuman, Imam Hai of Jamia Masjid Ahmed Syed Naqshbandi expressed deep dismay that despite repeated appeals to allow the Mirwaiz to come to Jamia Masjid to resume his responsibilities as the Mirwaiz the authorities are not paying any heed He said that before the commencement of Ramadan a delegation of prominent religious leaders and scholars as part of the Muthahida Majlis e Ulema (MMU), had sent a letter to the governor, requesting for an appointment with regard to discussing the release of the Mirwaiz and other issues but till date they have not received any reply despite reminders Imam Hai asked that while the authorities are thoughtful of the sentiments associated with the annual Amarnath yatra and provide all assistance to the pilgrims for its smooth conduct which is how it should be why are the sentiments of the Muslim community being ignored and hurt by keeping the Mirwaiz away from the Jamia Masjid? He said for decades it has been the tradition of the revered Mirwaizeen that they prayed for the safety of the pilgrims as they embarked on the difficult terrain of the yatra and asked people to assist them, and today it is the Mirwaz who is being barred from his fundamental rights as a human and his duties of the Mirwaz

I H R A s e a l s 1 1 h e a l t h c a r e

The Islamabad Healthcare Regulatory Authority (IHRA) has sealed 11 Healthcare Establishments (HCEs) for involvement in malpractices in different localities of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT)

According to details, during the past two weeks, the inspection teams of IHRA carried out inspections of 82 Healthcare Establishments in different areas of the federal capital

Due to malpractice including absence of qualified medical staff unhygienic conditions not getting registration with IHRA and functioning during the suspension, 11

HCEs including Huma Clinic Ismail Dental Clinic Rehman Clinic Al Eman Fatima Hospital Grow Hair Transplant and Aesthetic Clinic, National Hospital, Fauji Dental Clinic, Al Shifa Clinic, Ali Clinic Oxford Medical Centre and Wada Clinic were sealed

The Authority also suspended the services of two HCEs over different medical non-compliance including Abid Dental Clinic and Sidra Akhtar Foundation

Similarly 33 Healthcare Establishments were served notices for minor non-compliance and instructed to comply with the directions given by the inspections team As many as 30 HCEs were

i s l a m a b a d: With the commencement of the Hajj season and upcoming Eid Al Adha celebrations, Emirates is layering on additional flights to key regional destinations to meet significant travel demand during this special period Additional Flights for Hajj As the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia lifts all Hajj travel restrictions for the first time in three years Emirates has deployed additional flights for pilgrims to embark on their journey to and from the Holy City of Makkah Ten flights have been added to and from Jeddah All flights will be operated on Boeing 777 aircraft dedicated for Hajj pilgrims until 7 July

The Hajj flights to Jeddah will run in parallel to Emirates existing schedule to the Kingdom and are open to travellers holding a valid Hajj visa and, if above the age of 12, have been vaccinated against COVID-19 Medina will also be served with daily flights during this time P R

Zong 4G, PAGE team up to empower girls' educ ation

found closed upon arrival by inspection teams while five Healthcare Establishments (HCEs) were recommended for registration and revocation of suspension

The IHRA teams are also carrying out zone-wise mapping of healthcare establishments in Islamabad while mapping of 20 HCEs was also conducted over two weeks

The IHRA inspection teams visited government health establishments including BHU Bhimber Tarar, Capital Development Hospital Federal Government Polyclinic Hospital and Blood Bank and instructed to comply with the directions given by the inspection teams for improvements

i s l a m a b a d: Zong 4G Pakistan s leading telecommunications provider, is proud to announce a strategic partnership with PAGE (Pakistan Alliance for Girls Education), an esteemed organization dedicated to creating an enabling environment for gender equity in education employment rights and leadership The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) signing ceremony took place on Wednesday 21st June solidifying the commitment of both organizations to collaborate and empower girls education in Pakistan The ceremony was attended by representatives from both Zong 4G and PAGE Under this MoU, Zong 4G and PAGE will work together to achieve their shared goal of transforming the environment of girls education in Pakistan The cooperation will encompass a range of activities, including workshops conducted by trainers, the provision of internet devices in areas with limited access, career training initiatives, rehabilitation of flood-affected schools, and workshops in women’s vocational centers PR

Elec tricity complaints increased due to rise in temperature and humidity

IESCO distribution system is experiencing a surge in load of due to the higher power consumption resulting from the intensified weather conditions Due to which a load of more than 3000 MW has been recorded on IESCO distribution System This increase in load has led to a

R A N S I T G O O D S C L E A R A N C E

g CUSTOM CLEARING AGENTS DIRECTED TO FILE GDS THROUGH WEBOC

T

FR O N

I

E R Custom Agents Association (FCAA) has expressed its grave concern over decision of Customs Department regarding shifting of Afghan Transit goods from One Customs to Web-Based One Customs (WeBOC) that caused detention of containers and trucks at Karachi port and enforcement of hefty demurrages

In an hurriedly called meeting of

FCAA under chairmanship of its President Zia-ul-Haq Sarhadi the office bearers of Frontier Custom Agents Association said changes in system has created problems in de-sealing process at Karachi particularly for goods originating from Torkham and Chaman and bound for Karachi port entries

According to a press release issued here on Friday the meeting of FCAA was attended by its office bearers including SVP Kahlid Shezad VP Imtiaz Ahmad Ali and Secretary General, Mian Waheed Bacha

Federal gov t to provide dues to KP in special package to control financial crisis

PESHAWAR A Z I Z B U N E R I

Federal government has decided to provide a special financial package to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) to address its financial crisis and assist in managing current expenditures and resolving fund issues until the elections Sources of the Ministry of Finance have confirmed the federal government’s commitment to tackling the financial crisis through this special package with work already underway As part of the special package the federal government will allocate the remaining budgetary dues of 23 8bn rupees to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government Both the federal and provincial governments are actively working together to ensure the prompt payment of these dues

Although the Finance Department sources have indicated that the federal government is not fully prepared to make all the payments at once they will be paid to some extent and will provide assistance to the province in managing its expenses for at least the next four months

The inclusion of employee salaries, pensions, and other expenditures in the budget is expected to lead to an increase in the overall budgetary allocation With the province requiring more than 5bn rupees per month the timely payment of these dues holds significant importance for maintaining the province s financial stability

Justice Faez Isa’s note on civilians’ militar y trials removed from SC website

ISLAMABAD S

The judicial note of Justice Qazi Faez Isa, the incoming Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) regarding a recent court proceeding on petitions related to the military trials of those involved in vandalising army assets after the arrest of former premier Imran Khan has been removed from the Supreme Court s website Justice Isa, who is set to assume the position of CJP in three months, expressed his concern about the formation of a nine-member bench by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial He argued that the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act of 2023 passed by parliament outlines a procedure for the formation of benches in cases related to Article 184(3) of the Constitution

Under this law, the CJP is required to hold a meeting with senior Supreme Court judges if he wishes to exercise the court’s original jurisdiction under Article 184(3), which deals with matters of public importance involving the violation of citizens’ fundamental rights Justice Isa expressed surprise that he was included in a larger bench of eight judges without prior consultation Justice Isa further pointed out that an eight-member bench had already suspended the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act of 2023, even before it was enacted He noted that while the bench has held hearings on petitions filed against the law it has yet to decide its fate As a result he declared his decision to refrain from participating in any court bench or chamber work until the court determines the status of the law However, he clarified that he is not recusing himself from the bench hearing the case; rather, he believes that the court must first address the validity of the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) Act Justice Sardar Tariq Masood the third senior-most judge on the bench expressed agreement with Justice Isa s position and raised a pertinent question about the number of judges who would hear an appeal if the Supreme Court declares the Act valid Justice Isa highlighted previous instances where his rulings and orders were disregarded, including the issuance of a circular by the Supreme Court registrar that contradicted a majority judgment

Mar yam Nawaz decides to take par t in Balochistan’s politics

LAHORE

The participants of the meeting observed that due to sudden imposition of ban on filing of GD (Goods Documentation) under One Custom transit system, the custom clearing agents were directed to file GDs through WeBOC

The trading community and custom clearing agents were also assured that the WeBOC system contains all options for entries and every kind of consignment can be cleared under this system However they continued when Afghan Reverse cargo after getting loaded from Torkhem, Ghulam Khan

and Chaman cargo reaches Karachi port and faces problems in de-sealing of containers due to the non-functioning of the WeBOC system

Due to the delay in de-sealing because of the non-functioning of the WeBOC system, the containers and trucks are held for several days as a result of which huge demurrage and detention fines are charged on traders

The FCAA office-bearers said that they had raised this issue at several forums with requests for resolution, but no heed was given by the authorities concerned

ECC allows export of 32,000 MT sugar

g RS1238M IN TSG OKAYED TO FUND BALOCHISTAN MINERAL RESOURCES LTD’S CONTRIBUTION IN REKO-DIQ

The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the Cabinet has allowed export of 32,000 metric ton of sugar by Sugar mills in Sindh The Meeting of ECC was held under the chair of Finance Minister Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar

The Ministry of Commerce informed the ECC that the federal government had earlier approved export of 250 000 MT of sugar which was to be distributed among the sugar mills of Punjab Sindh and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The distribution of export quota for sugar mills in Sindh was put on a stay due to litigation in the Sindh High Court However the Sindh High Court in its order dated 9 03 2023 allowed allocation of 48 000 MT out of the total allocated quota of 80,000 MT, to 32 sugar mills declared by the Cane Commissioner Sindh Pakistan Sugar Mills Association (PSMA) had approached this Ministry for allowing the export of the remaining 2 861 MT This was to be done by sugar mills that had payments but could not export within the stipulated time

The ECC of the Cabinet in its meeting on 21 06 2023 approved the export of the remaining quantity of sugar quota up to 15 07 2023

The Sindh High Court has inter-alia held that the "Federal government SBP and all relevant authorities including but not limited to Customs and Port authorities shall also facilitate the expeditious export of sugar to be exported by sugar mills including condoning the expiration of any deadline previously set for the export of the entire allocated quantity of 80 000 MT and to be exported by thc sugar mills by virtue of either the order passed on the basis of this Joint Statement or the order dated 09 03 2023"

On receipt of the order of the SHC Ministry of Commerce vide

Letter dated 9 06 2023 requested Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) to convene a meeting of Sugar Advisory Board (SAB) to deliberate the matter, for allowing the export of 250 000 MT

The ECC considered and approved a Summary of the Ministry of Commerce regarding the extension of period for export of Sugar quota by sugar mills in Sindh and allowed them to ex-

port the remaining sugar quota of 32 000 MT within 60 days with effect from 12th June onwards in accordance with the Sindh High Court decision

The ECC also considered a Summary of the Ministry of Railways for Provision of additional funds in aid to Pakistan Railways for the discharge of pending liabilities including salaries and pensions of the staff

It was decided that an additional grant-in-aid of Rs 2 5 billion may be released to address the budget shortfall so that the continuation of operations without interruption is ensured

The ECC also approved a Rs 250 billion TSG in favor of Finance Division, Rs 3 628 billion TSG in favor of Ministry of Housing and Works Rs 172 001 million TSG in favor of Ministry of Housing and Works for ERE liabilities Rs 1200 million TSG in favor of Ministry of Housing and Works for execution of 16 development schemes and Rs 1238 million TSG in favor of Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) for fulfillment of GoP s commitment to fund Balochistan Mineral Resources Limited s obligatory contribution in the Reko-Diq Project for FY 2022-23

Unannounced power c uts aggravate public miseries amid scorching heat

As the scorching heat season intensifies across the country unannounced hours-long power cuts have become a source of severe distress for the citizens

With a shortfall exceeding 6000 megawatts load shedding durations have stretched up to 10 hours in various areas exacerbating the challenges faced by the public

The power situation in Pakistan has reached a critical point, leading to significant disruptions in the daily lives of people According to sources from the Power Division the current shortfall of electricity stands at a staggering 6 765 megawatts While the total electricity production capacity amounts to 20,235 megawatts, the demand across the country soars to 27,000 megawatts leaving a considerable gap between supply and demand

The sources further divulged that hydropower generation contributes around 8000 megawatts, while government thermal power plants generate a mere 520 megawatts The private sector power plants on the other hand manage to generate approximately 7000 megawatts Wind power plants add 1 225 megawatts to the national grid, while solar power plants contribute 120 megawatts Additionally, 100 megawatts are generated from bagasse a byprod-

uct of the sugar industry, and nuclear power plants provide 3,270 megawatts

Despite the worsening power crisis and the public s growing distress both the Minister for Power Division and the Secretary Power Division have remained silent, neglecting repeated attempts to secure an official stance on the matter This lack of response from the authorities leaves the affected citizens in a state of frustration and helplessness

The unannounced power cuts have disrupted the lives of people in various ways, with the scorching heat amplifying the misery As households and businesses suffer from extended power outages essential services including hospitals educational institutions and businesses, are severely affected The lack of electricity hampers the functioning of medical equipment, disrupts educational activities and disrupts economic productivity exacerbating the challenges already faced by the public due to the heatwave The public, already grappling with the sweltering heat, now faces the additional burden of enduring prolonged power cuts coupled with sky-rocketing power tariff The lack of a consistent and reliable power supply has led to discomfort, health issues, and financial burdens Citizens are forced to rely on alternative sources such as gen-

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Vice

President and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz is likely to join the political stage in Balochistan The

News reported As per the report the PML-N leader has decided to play a major role in Balochistan politics and expressed her commitment to addressing the sense of deprivation in the province

Sources said that Maryam had been invited to visit Balochistan in a meeting with former Balochistan chief minister Jam Kamal and Senator Anwarul Haq Kakar on Thursday Kamal and Kakar recognised the powerful political role of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and his daughter emphasising that people of Balochistan admire the former prime minister dearly, sources added They emphasised that Nawaz and Maryam s presence and engagement could significantly contribute to bringing about a transformative change in Balochistan

On the occasion the PML-N chief organiser highlighted the party is diligently implementing comprehensive and tangible measures to uplift the province and ensure the participation of its people in its development, the sources said

May 9 rioters don’t deser ve any leniency: FM Bilawal

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Reacting to trials of civilians in military courts

Foreign Minister (FM) Bilawal Bhutto on Friday said that May 9 rioters who attacked military installations and memorials of martyrs don t deserve any leniency’ Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) floor the foreign minister said that there were provisions in the law that those involved in such heinous acts be tried in military courts

It is responsibility of the parliament government and the judiciary to establish writ of the state FM Bilawal said, adding that those involved in attacking the military installations and the memorials of martyrs do not deserve any leniency

In apparent reference to former US president Donald Trump – whose Twitter account was suspended following the attack on Capitol Hill the PPP Chairman said that the incumbent government did not suspend the social media accounts of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman despite the latter violated the country’s constitution

Referring to joint statement issued after a meeting between the United States (US) President Joe Biden and India s Prime Minister Narendra Modi FM Bilawal said that the international community should take this menace seriously as it is only through collective efforts that the scourge can be eliminated from the face of the earth FM Bilawal also urged major powers not to make the war on terrorism controversial and a victim of their geopolitics He reiterated that Pakistan was the biggest victim of terrorism as it suffered more casualties than any other country of the world He said it is in the interest of Pakistan to eliminate terrorism and extremism for peace, stability and prosperity of its own people

erators and inverters, which are not affordable for everyone and add to the financial strain

The power crisis has also exposed the vulnerability of the country s infrastructure revealing the urgent need for comprehensive measures to address the underlying issues It is imperative for the government and relevant authorities to take immediate action to bridge the demand-supply gap upgrade the power transmission and distribution infrastructure and invest in alternative and renewable energy sources

The citizens, meanwhile, demand swift action from the government to alleviate their sufferings

They seek transparent communication about load shedding schedules to enable them to plan their activities accordingly Additionally they call for a long-term strategy to tackle the power crisis, ensuring a reliable and uninterrupted supply of electricity to meet the needs of the public especially during the scorching heat season

In conclusion as unannounced power cuts persist across the country, the public continues to endure immense hardships amid the sweltering heat The alarming shortfall in electricity coupled with the lack of an official response from the authorities highlights the urgent need for immediate action to alleviate the public s miseries and ensure a stable and reliable power supply system in the country

The Foreign Minister said they will have to present a roadmap for political and economic stability in the country by also involving the reconcilable opposition members We will have to agree on bare minimum agenda for the sake of the country he added Bilawal Bhutto also thanked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Finance Minister Ishaq Dar for including reconstruction and rehabilitation related projects of the flood affected areas in the budget

Lahore electricit y shor tfall surges to 1000MW

PR OFIT

I N P

The citizens of Lahore suffers major power outage, as the demand for electricity surpassed the production capacity of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO)

According to media reports the power demand in Lahore has soared past 6,000 megawatts (MW) causing numerous feeders to trip throughout the city, while the Kot Lakhpat power station is operating its maximum capacity near 5 000 megawatts Meanwhile the efforts are underway to address the situation and restore power to the affected areas as swiftly as possible with authorities working diligently to rectify the overloaded grid stations and ensure a stable supply of electricity to the affected communities Earlier this month, Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) has reported an increase in the demand of the electricity as temperature further rises in Lahore leading to the short fall up to 500 megawatts

PM urges int ’l community to operationalise Loss & Damage Fund on principle of equity

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday urged the international community to deliver the commitments made at COP 27 in Sharm al-Sheikh and also operationalise Loss and Damage Fund on the principle of equity

“The international community should deliver on the commitments they made at COP 27 in Sharm al-Sheikh including the operationalisation of Loss & Damage Fund on the principle of equity; provision of grants that don t increase indebtedness of developing countries; enabling climate-vulnerable countries to access the Fund on the basis of a climate vulnerability index ” he said in a tweet

The prime minister is currently visiting

Paris, France to attend the two-day Summit for New Global Financing Pact French President Emmanuel Macron is chairing the Summit which is attended by over 50 heads of states

Shehbaz Sharif said as part of his interactions during the Summit for a New Global Financing Pact, he drew world leaders attention to the exogenous shocks that created polycrisis for developing countries like Pakistan These shocks, he said resulted in stalling growth supply chain disruptions caused commodity prices to soar leading to backbreaking inflation and then extreme weather events precipitated unprecedented floods that cost Pakistan $30 billion in losses

The inability to bridge the financing gaps to achieve Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs) coupled with the cost of real-

ising climate goals is inflicting a heavy cost on the world, running into trillions of dollars annually ” he added

The prime minister said the world should use present economic and climate turbulence as an opportunity for course correction The starting point could be rethinking the global financial architecture where IFIs design their programs to be pro-growth and aligned with SDGs and climate justice goals

“The world faces a moment of truth Let us all vow to rise to the challenge hand in hand in a spirit of solidarity and compassion he added Pakistan, Germany agree to enhance cooperation in trade, investment Pakistan and Germany on Friday agreed to enhance bilateral cooperation in multiple

fields including trade, investment and energy

The bilateral ties were discussed in the meeting between Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and German Chancellor Olaf Scholz on the sidelines of New Global Financing Pact Summit held here

The prime minister thanked Germany for its support to the flood-hit people of Pakistan, besides providing an economic support of 163 million euros to the country

The prime minister said that the additional 27 million euros for Benazir Income Support Program were spent for the assistance to the flood victims and provision of food to them Lauding the development model of Germany, the prime minister said the progress achieved by the country was an inspiration

for the developing countries I am personally impressed by the development of Germany as a country and the hard work and resilience of the German nation he added

Prime Minister Shehbaz expressed the hope that Germany would raise the voice of developing world on the issues like climate change and financial stress

He said that releasing the economic burden from the developing states would help uplifting their people

The prime minister appreciated the services of German firms and NGOs operating in Pakistan

Expressing his pleasure to meet the prime minister, the German chancellor conveyed good wishes for the government and people of Pakistan