Epaper_23-06-29 LHR

B O

PR OFIT

S ta f f R e p o R t

STATE Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik, announced on Wednesday that the federal government has introduced a bonded bulk storage policy to address the issue of illegal fuel hoarding and ensure a seamless supply of petroleum products in the country

policy

Speaking at a press conference in Lahore, the minister highlighted how hoarders would stockpile fuel at unauthorised storage locations whenever there was an anticipated increase in petroleum prices I am presenting a solution today to put an end to the practice of hoarding, stated Musadik Malik The newly implemented bonded storage policy aims to guarantee a smooth supply of petroleum products while curbing illegal hoarding The minister emphasised that this policy would prevent the world s largest traders from illegally hoarding oil in the country

The announcement aligns with the approval of the “Bonded Bulk Storage Policy 2023” for petroleum products by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet as confirmed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar

Taking to Twitter, the finance minister had highlighted that the federal government has fulfilled another commitment made during the budget speech for the fiscal year 2023-24 delivered in

the National Assembly on June 9

With the implementation of the bonded bulk storage policy the government aims to tackle the issue of fuel hoarding and ensure a reliable supply of petroleum products in Pakistan This policy will help curtail illegal practices and establish a more efficient and transparent fuel market By preventing unauthorised hoarding and facilitating legitimate storage processes the government aims to create a balanced and uninterrupted supply chain The bonded bulk storage policy signifies a significant step towards ensuring the availability and affordability of petroleum products for the people of Pakistan

Furthermore the introduction of this policy will discourage hoarders from manipulating fuel prices and destabilising the market It is expected to bring transparency and fairness to the petroleum sector while creating a level playing field for all stakeholders The government s commitment to curbing illegal hoarding and ensuring a smooth supply reflects its dedication to the welfare and interests of the Pakistani people

In conclusion, the bonded bulk storage policy is a strategic move by the federal government to address fuel hoarding and promote a reliable supply of petroleum products By implementing this policy, the government aims to bring stability and transparency to the fuel market, putting an end to the illegal practice of hoarding This initiative reaffirms the government s commitment to fulfilling its promises and creating a conducive environment for economic growth and development

Amid criticism, chairman Senate says ready to ‘face accountabilit y’

M o n i to R n g R e p o R t

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday constituted a high-level committee to work out the restructuring reformation and revival of Pakistan International Airlines (PIA)

He was chairing a high-level meeting to discuss the matters pertaining to the PIA, according to PM Office

To be headed by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar the committee would present its proposals and recommendations to the federal cabinet after Eidul Azha

The committee would comprise Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, Railway and Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal Commerce Minister Syed Naveed Qamar Special Assistant to PM Jahanzeb Khan and federal secretary of Aviation

The body would deliberate on different options for the restructuring and revival of the PIA

The aviation minister briefed the prime minister about the proposed route map and reformative measures for the

uplift of the national flag carrier

The prime minister appreciated the efforts of the minister for the PIA s revival He viewed that the PIA had the capacity to overcome the losses

The meeting was told that the number of planes in the PIA fleet would have to be increased from current 27 to 49 in order to steer the airline out of the crisis Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the

president of the newlyfounded Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party (IPP) expressed his belief that not only himself but the entire nation has been deceived by the opposition Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) party In an interview with a news-TV station he declared the imminent end of PTI and announced IPP s intention to contest forthcoming elections against all parties Furthermore, Khan revealed that if IPP achieves victory in the general elections, former PTI secretary general Jahangir Tareen who was disqualified in 2017 by the Supreme Court under Article 62 (1)(f) of the Constitution will be their prime ministerial candidate He emphasised that the formation of IPP was a collective decision among friends who aimed to support former prime minister Imran Khan s mission to build Naya Pakistan While clarifying that he had no direct communication with Pervez Khattak and no conversations with PTI deputy chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi, Khan mentioned that he did have a meeting with former minister Asad Umar and extended an invitation for him to join their party He expressed that individuals possessing new ideas and a dedication to building a better Pakistan are welcome to join the IPP emphasising that the doors are open for anyone who was not involved in the protests against the unlawful arrest of the former prime minister on May 9 Khan highlighted that over 25 percent of those who left PTI have joined IPP, noting that those individuals inclined towards pursuing politics sought a platform to fulfil their aspirations

PIA had lost the Europe and US routes owing to irresponsible statements by the previous government, inflicting the loss of billions of rupees PM forms high-level committee for PIA s restructuring revival He recalled that the incompetent ministers of the previous government had victimised international investors, Chinese firms and Turkish businessmen

Calling the reformation process inevitable the prime minister told the meeting that the PIA could only progress if run by professional and administrative experts purely on a profit-and-loss basis

The prime minister said the government was heading toward a policy mechanism in which the government s role would be confined to the policy-making and facilitation of investors businessmen and companies

Federal ministers Khawaja Saad Rafiq, Azam Nazeer Tarar, Advisor Ahad Cheema and relevant authorities attended the meeting Federal ministers Syed Naveed Qamar Ishaq Dar Ahsan Iqbal SAPM Jahanzeb Khan and others joined via video link RANA TANVEER CALLS ON PRIME MINISTER Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Rana Tanveer Hussain on Wednesday called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif here In the meeting, they discussed the country s overall political situation as well as the matters pertaining to education and professional training

Senate Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani has offered to tender his resignation and present himself for accountability amid criticism regarding a bill aimed at enhancing the perks and privileges of past and future heads of the upper house of Parliament Earlier this month the Senate had adopted the controversial bill which proposed the provision of a lifetime full security detail of at least 10 persons to all former Senate chairmen It also proposed that the government bear travel expenses of their domestic staff as well as family members The proposed law is currently pending with the National Assembly Sanjrani had defended the bill saying that the law was meant to put things in order and address audit issues He claimed that it would not place any additional burden on the national exchequer while the PPP had stated that it could not lend its support given the country s economic situation The Public Accounts Committee (PAC) had also criticised the proposed law arguing that it would burden the already sinking economy In an interview on Dawn News programme Doosra Rukh which will air over the Eid holidays Sanjrani responded to concerns and questions surrounding the bill, stating that he had not sought even a penny s raise in his salary Sanjrani said that he had never claimed any travel allowances or daily allowances Furthermore he emphasised that he and his wife personally covered the expenses of their household I am ready for my accountability and an audit should be ordered If it proves [any wrongdoing] I will step down from my Senate position, he said He pointed out that the Senate chairman enjoyed a prestigious position but clarified that he did not receive any perks Sanjrani suggested that if the country’s situation improved the Senate chairman should be entitled to ten planes instead of just one It was suggested that the Senate chairman is purchasing planes but I firmly believe that when Pakistan achieves prosperity and effectively addresses the people s issues, then the chairman should get ten planes instead of just one,” he remarked “Give good perks to your representatives so that they can work Why are you forcing them to indulge in wrongdoings? he asked He said there were senators who relied only on their salaries

ISLAMABAD R e u t e R S

Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are discussing a $2 5-billion standby arrangement for six to nine months, newspapers said on Wednesday, with the current bailout programme set to expire on June 30

Pakistan rushed through a recent slew of policy adjustments including a revised budget sought by the IMF and an off-cycle hike in interest rates hoping to secure the pending funds under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) programme signed in 2019

With time running out, Finance Minister Ishaq Dar said on Tuesday the two sides were working on a “mechanism” to ensure that Pakistan got the entire amount and not just the close to $1 1 billion due under the current review Dar did not elaborate on what the mechanism was The ninth review is in order after recent adjustments but

TARAR: GOVERNMENT LEARNED TO RESPOND WITH ‘IRON HANDS’ AFTER PROTESTS

WASHINGTON

t h e a S S o c at e d p r e S S

TH E law minister says he expects a tougher armed response in the event of any repeat of political violence in the country, accusing followers of former prime minister Imran Khan of exploiting the initial “motherly” response to fiery rampages last month

In an interview with The Associated Press during a visit to Washington, Azam Nazeer Tarar issued some of the most extensive comments from the government on its response to the fiery protests last month against the detention of charismatic Khan

Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif s government and army are now defending their controversial actions in pursuing both civilian and military trials for at least 102 protesters

The state’s reaction was like a motherly reaction towards the citizens,” Tarar told the AP adding: “That is why the government has decided to deal with iron hands and to make it an example to ensure that no such incidents take place in the future

In the interview late last week, Tarar also defended law enforcement and military officials against criticism that they didn’t do enough at the time to stop the violence Any military response to restore law and order would have required prior authorisation from the civilian government, he said He described a military and

ADB appoints Fatima Yasmin as Vice-President for Sectors and Themes

ISLAMABAD: The Asian Development Bank

civilian leadership taken by surprise by the attacks on military installations and other sites The leaders opted to refrain from harming civilians, the minister said But now, the response is tougher “I would say we have learned a lesson ” from the incident he said “that if you don t exercise enough authority and force you may end up with these kinds of incidents, which [ ] was very painful

Tarar also said that legal authorities would not be deterred from prosecuting Khan if investigators determine he appeared to play a criminal role in the attacks despite concerns that could unleash a fresh wave of violence Khan and his followers have been working for his return to

political power alleging that Americans were behind the contentious 2022 no-confidence vote that cost him the premiership The demonstrations erupted among supporters of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party after authorities illegally arrested Khan dragging him from a courthouse in Islamabad Thousands of demonstrators attacked the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi, stormed an air base in Mianwali in Punjab and torched a building housing state-run Radio Pakistan in Peshawar

The violence subsided only after Khan was released on an order from Supreme Court At least 10 people were killed in clashes between Khan s supporters and po-

Judges’ conference in Srinagar another attempt to mislead int’l communit y, says Shabbir Shah

lice and since then, and police have arrested more than 5,000 people in connection with the riots Most have been freed on bail pending trial

The military said Monday that it has fired three senior army officers over their failure to prevent the attacks

In addition to prosecutions in civilian courts, the military says it has received cases of 102 civilians for their trials in the military courts over their involvement and the accused persons will get the right to a fair trial

Asked how many civilians he expects to ultimately be tried in military courts in connection with the May 9 violence Tarar said he did not expect the 102 figure to increase “manyfold ” When asked why the military didn’t do more to stop the attacks as they were happening Tarar said nobody in the military thought people would breach military installations because the military protect the homeland The same, he said, goes for the attacks on public monuments to national heroes, saying such a thing is “unheard of in our history ” Amnesty International has objected to the military’s plans observing that trying civilians in military courts is a violation of international law

The rights group said it had documented numerous rights violations in military courts’ past trials of civilians, including lack of due process and transparency coerced confessions and executions after grossly unfair proceedings

Punishing mastermind, facilitators of May 9 events imperative: Javed Latif

LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t

(ADB) has appointed Fatima Yasmin as VicePresident for Sectors and Themes for a period of 3 years According to ADB press statement received here Ms Yasmin is expected to join ADB in late August She will be responsible for management of the newly created Sectors Group and the Climate Change and Sustainable Development Department under ADB s new operating model Ms Yasmin is currently the Senior Secretary at the Finance Division of Bangladesh’s Ministry of Finance She has more than 32 years of broad development experience including in macroeconomic management, public sector and fiscal policy reform, and trade and poverty reduction in government and international organizations

Under its new operating model to be launched on 30 June 2023 ADB’s sector and thematic expertise will be consolidated in the two groups under Ms Yasmin to deliver integrated solutions to clients in accordance with country programs and strengthen ADB s position as a leader in development knowledge in the region The sector and thematic groups will launch and lead innovative initiatives to tackle the region s key development challenges with a focus on climate change Ms Yasmin holds a master in development economics from Australian National University and a master of business administration from the Institute of Business Administration, Dhaka University, in Bangladesh S ta f f r e p o rt

Federal Minister Mian Javed Latif said on Wednesday that it was inevitable to punish the masterminds of the May 9 incidents as the public was facing the consequences of the conspiracy to facilitate a person

Addressing a press conference here at Model Town he said that the facilitator and mastermind involved in the events of May 9 and 10 no matter how powerful they were must be punished because they had attacked not on an institution but on the state and its security

“From the day first, we have been saying that facilitation is happening which has now proved Our goal is not to punish people but to make a difference by making right decisions he argued

Mian Javed Latif said that destruction they had done to Pakistan in the guise of elections was now exposed, and nation would not tolerate any concession to the mastermind of May 9 and 10 He said that it was a good omen that a powerful institution started self-accountability process and set an example for other institutions which should also start selfaccountability process He hoped that institution providing justice would also go through this process and those who made wrong decisions to crown only

one person would be held accountable

Federal Minister was of view that God forbid an incident like May 9 might happen again, if those who launched this plot were not arrested and punished To a question, he said whether one was in the institution or outside Pakistan was a priority for everyone and the people sitting in institutions had been criticized in the past as well It was necessary to criticize such decisions which worsen the conditions of Pakistan

To another question he said that those who had brought a petition that there should be no punishment under the Army Act must be asked when the Army Act was made Those saying that Pakistan s law was in shambles, only wanted to save one person, and also, the people who aspired to become Green Card hold-

ers were supporting him he maintained Federal Minister said that evidences of facilitation had been found and Pakistan was being destroyed to save one person, asserting that voice should also be raised against the culture that came out in 2017 and this culture would be stopped with reference to the decisions of May 9 He said PML-N had secured two-thirds majority twice in the past without any electoral alliance Despite the majority in Punjab in 2018, the party was not allowed to form the government he mentioned In response to a question Mr Latif said that Muhammad Nawaz Sharif would return to Pakistan soon and decide about the party s electoral alliance It was a fact, he said, whenever Nawaz Sharif took over the government, there was development and prosperity in the country asserting that his political sagacity and global confidence could pull the country out of the quagmire He said that the country was ruined during PTI s tenure, citing that PIA had been suffering losses of Rs 67 billion annually due to a wrong decision of the previous government To a question he said that Nawaz Sharif believed that the party workers who had shown loyalty in difficult time of last four to five years would be given the party ticket and he also wanted to field 50 percent new candidates

ISLAMABAD: An incarcerated senior leader of All Parties Hurriyat Conference, Shabbir Ahmed Shah, has termed the Indian government’s move to host a conference of Indian judges in Srinagar yet another attempt to mislead the international community on the ground situation of illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir Shabbir Ahmed Shah in his message from New Delhi s Tihar jail said the Indian judiciary has always been biased against Kashmir and its people has no moral justification to hold such an event in the occupied territory reported Kashmir Media Service He said hosting the so-called national conference on Kashmir s soil is tantamount to rubbing salt on the wounds of Kashmiris He pointed out that the Indian judicial system has not only failed in providing justice to the Kashmiris but also to operate in accordance with international human rights standards The APHC leader said hundreds of cases relating to the involvement of Indian forces personnel in the incidents of violence including torture, rape, extrajudicial killing, and arbitrary detentions have been pending in courts but people at the helm of affairs refuse to participate in investigations and prosecutions Hundreds of magisterial probes have been ordered in Kashmir in the aftermath of violent incidents that shook the valley But none of those reports have been made public, and not a single army man has been convicted,” he said Shabbir Shah referred to Indian Supreme Court’s indifference towards hearing the petitions challenging Article 370 and said the pleas has been pending in the apex court but the judges who work on whims and fancies of the ruling party have been pushing it under the carpet “By failing to ensure effective remedies to the victims of human rights abuses in Kashmir India violates its international obligations ” he added The APHC leader also highlighted the plight of the Kashmiri prisoners saying that the ignoring of the rights of these detainees in IIOJK also depicts the failure of the Indian judiciary He said that hundreds of political activists booked under trumped-up charges continue to rot in Indian jails He said that JKLF Chairman Yasin Malik s conviction was yet another proof of how Indian courts were being used as a state instrument to suppress the Kashmiris He said that the judicial murder of Shaheed Maqbool Butt and Afzal Guru was a blot that the Indian judiciary cannot wipe off its face India’s judiciary Shabbir Shah said has been virtually unable to provide any recourse for the victims of human rights violations or relief for their families He said the judiciary, which has been hand-in-glove with the BJP government, was directly responsible for prevailing uncertainty and chaos in IIOJK Staff report

Admin finalizes all arrangements to facilitate tourists in Murree on Eid

LAHORE S ta f r e p o r t

RAWALPINDI: Awami Muslim League

(AML) chief Sheikh Rashid said on Wednesday it would be clear in the next 48 hours whether the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would revive the bailout package for cash-strapped Pakistan In a series of tweets the former interior minister said additional taxes to the tune of Rs300 billion would be imposed after the IMF deal Former finance minister Miftah Ismail had secured an IMF tranche but Ishaq Dar could not stop the rupee devaluation and put the economy on track he quipped Taking a dig at the ruling parties the AML chief said decisions about political fate of the country were taken in London and Dubai as they hold their assets there Calling the current rulers hypocrite, he said public hated them, adding that it was first time that the Hajj quota was underutilised The decisions about caretaker setup elections and seat adjustment were being taken in Dubai he said adding that Pakistan was just used for money laundering by them He said national assets were leased out while the poor were facing severe inflation, adding that the ruling coalition was not capable S ta f f r e p o r t

On the instructions of Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar, the Punjab Police has completed arrangements for the security of Eid congregations to be held in mosques, Imambargahs and open places across the province on the occasion of Eidul Azha Dr Usman Anwar said that 36 258 officers and officials will perform security duty for Eid congregations to be held held at 27 355 mosques and imambargahs 775 open places and more than 5,000 Eid prayer gatherings in the provincial capital Lahore Similarly, more than one thousand personnel and officers will be deployed while 2,973 police national volunteers, 1,468 special police, 268 QRF teams will also be deployed for security arrangements Furthermore 1 1967 metal dictators 263 walk-through gates and 4921 CCTV cameras will also be deployed for security of faithfuls

The IG Police said that a comprehensive strategy has been formulated for the protection of mosques, imambargahs, Eid gatherings and citizens across the province and additional personnel will be deployed for the security of parks and recreational places during Eid holidays IG Punjab Dr Usman

Anwar directed the supervisory officers to ensure strict implementation of the rules one-wheeling aerial firing kite flying and hurling will not be tolerated Ensure implementation of SOPs issued, monitoring of all proscribed organizations involved in illegal activities and Fourth Schedule persons

should be made more effective IG Punjab said that complete checking and clearance of all mosques, Imambargahs and Eidgahs should be ensured before Eid prayers snipers were deployed on the rooftops of A-category mosques and Imambargahs and commandos in plain clothes were deployed inside Eid gatherings IG Punjab directed that the DIG Traffic should monitor the traffic management plan to ensure the flow of traffic across the province on the occasion of Eid and prevent street crimes and robberies on the highways on the occasion of Eid Arrangements should be made under an effective strategy Dr Usman Anwar said that all resources should be used for the convenience and protection of tourists at Murree and other tourist places during the Eid al-Adha holidays IG Punjab said that the SOPs issued regarding the entry and exit of vehicles in Murree should be implemented so that the citizens do not have to face any problem

RAWALPINDI: The Rawalpindi District Administration on the special instruction of Caretaker Chief Minister Punjab Mohsin Naqvi has finalized all the arrangements to facilitate tourists in Murree during Eid ul Azha holidays According to a Commissioner s Office Spokesman, all-out efforts would be made to ensure the safety of the tourists and provide them with all possible facilities particularly during Eid ul Azha holidays Earlier Commissioner Rawalpindi Division Liaquat Ali Chatha had instructed the authorities concerned including the police to finalize all the arrangements by June 26 to facilitate tourists in Murree, he informed He said Murree is a centre of tourism and tourists from all over Pakistan come to enjoy the beauty of the Queen of Hills particularly during the summer season All possible facilities would be provided to the tourists coming to Murree to enjoy pleasant weather during the summer season, he said adding, Dr Jamal Nasir, the Caretaker Minister for Primary Health and Population Welfare along with Commissioner Rawalpindi Liaquat Ali Chatha and Regional Police Officer Syed Khurram Ali during a visit also reviewed arrangements The authorities were directed to finalize arrangements keeping in view the forecast of heavy rains during Eidul Azha holidays Seven facilitation centres had been established for tourists in Murree while a control room had been set up for monitoring For the convenience of tourists, pamphlets were also kept at the facilitation centres, which contain all the contact numbers required to deal with an emergency and there was also a map to guide the tourists S ta f f r e p o r t

Ex-SAARC boss: Pakistan’s climatic crisis linked to emissions from wealthy nations

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

Iftikhar Ali Malik former president of the SAARC Chamber of Commerce and Industry highlighted Pakistan s severe vulnerability to climate change and criticized the inadequate response from wealthy nations in a seminar titled Pakistan and Response of Leading Emitters ”

In his keynote address, Malik emphasized that 2022 witnessed a series of climate-related catastrophes worldwide including droughts floods fires and typhoons Pakistan s devastating flash floods and widespread destruction served as a global wake-up call, wiping out villages, displacing millions, and causing significant human suffering Malik expressed disappointment at the

limited assistance provided by developed countries stating that their support to Pakistan fell far short of what was needed He argued that global climate justice should be prioritized, and while progress has been made in raising awareness, the leading emitters have not taken sufficient action

He compared wealthy countries to polluting factories responsible for depriving Pakistan of the stable climate conditions it relied upon for economic development, livelihoods, and infrastructure He argued that if there were a global climate count, Pakistan would have a strong case against high-income countries for their failure to mitigate greenhouse gas emissions Malik called for accountability urging governments to allocate the costs of climate losses and damages to the countries histori-

cally responsible for them He emphasized that the costs of Pakistan s floods exceeded $30 billion and warned of increased hunger, disease, poverty, and social complications in the coming months He asserted that rich countries should bear their fair share of the costs associated with climate adaptation emergency response and recovery particularly in countries that have contributed minimally to the climate crisis Malik criticized the denial of historical responsibilities by powerful nations, whether it be for colonialism, slavery, or climate damage In response to a question Malik emphasized that developing countries will not forget the significant role played by wealthy nations in creating the current global climate disasters As climate-related losses escalate,

‘Decisions about political fate of countr y being taken in London, Dubai’

36,258 cops to guard Eid congregations as police fine -tune sec urity plan

L ADY POLICE OFFICERS TRAINED TO FACE HEINOUS CHARACTERS OF SOCIET Y WITH COURAGE: IGP

protection of women and children so that they come to the field and perform their duties with full diligence he pointed out

women police officers DSPs training senior officers including instructors and trainers and female recruits under training in the college participated in the ceremony

PU N J A B Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar has said that lady police officers passing out from Police Training College Chowhang Lahore are the reflection of best human resource development and the future of the nation

“Modern training has been given lady police officer to face multi-challenges encountered during the service and enable them to fight the heinous characters of society like criminals and miscreants with courage and bravery to help the victim

Punjab Inspector General of Police Dr Usman Anwar expressed the views while addressing the passing-out ceremony of 14th Recruit Course of lady police officers held at Police Training College Chowhang Lahore on Wednesday

The IG Police said that the lady police recruits were provided modern professional, career grooming training for 39 weeks, comprising of 03 semesters “Gaia, driving training first aid public speaking IT skills police roles anti-terrorism measures for the

‘PTI deser ter’ says May 9 rioters to be tried in militar y cour ts

RAWALPINDI: Istehkam-i-Pakistan Party

(IPP) leader Fiaz Chohan said Wednesday that the May 9 rioters will be tried in the military courts Talking to the media here in Rawalpindi on Wednesday the IPP leader said that the situation has become clear after the press conference of ISPR DG who categorically stated that those who attacked military installations, would have to stand the military trials He said what the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf did to the state of Pakistan even its enemies – Israel and India – could not have done that He said that the PTI social media team sitting in America has launched anti-Pakistan propaganda PTI dissident Chohan said that the public and ISPR DG have given a shut-up call to the false propaganda of the PTI He lamented that PTI Chairman Imran Khan is still instilling venom in the minds of people Talking about military trials, the IPP leader said that during the PTI tenure, 27 cases were tried in military courts He said that barrister Chaudhry Aitzaz Ahsan and advocate Latif Khosa are making false statements regarding military courts S ta f f r e p o rt

Karachi weather to remain hot and humid today

KARACHI: Karachi will remain hot and humid during the next 24 hours, the Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) said on Wednesday According to the Met Office, the minimum temperature in the port city will remain 29 C while the mercury will remain high with temperatures fluctuating between 34 C and 36 C Meanwhile the PMD forecast shows a chance of drizzle during the morning and night with a likeliness of light rain as well Humidity in the city’s air will be at 70%, with winds blowing at 10 kilometres per hour from the southwest Meanwhile rain/wind thundershower is expected at isolated places in upper Punjab Islamabad and Potohar region, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eastern Balochistan, Gilgit-Baltistan and Kashmir

The temperature recorded in Islamabad this morning was 27°C, Lahore 28°C, Karachi 30°C Peshawar 26°C Quetta 24°C Gilgit 22 C Murree 16 C and Muzaffarabad 23 C

A day earlier at least 22 people in Islamabad and Mardan died due to heatstroke amid extreme heat gripping the country Eighteen people died due to sunstroke in Mardan on June 24 (Saturday), Mardan Medical Complex chief Dr Tariq Mehmood said adding that most victims of heatstroke were women over 50 Moreover according to officials at least four people died of heatstroke in Islamabad in the same period

Several cities across the country experienced sweltering weather last week, with unannounced power outages compounding the miseries of the masses S ta f f r e p o r t

A total of two thousand women officers passed out at the ceremony, out of which

1,421 are part of the Punjab Police and the rest 294 are from the Punjab Highways Police (PHP)

The IG Police inspected the passing-out parade and the passing out officers presented salute to him The Punjab IG police, during the speech, said that after thousands of promotions, lying pending for years, had been completed including the promotions of all constables of the police force He informed that the scope of CIA has been expanded to districts and mini-safe cities have been created in all cities

Dr Usman Anwar also distributed shields and cash prizes to the best performing position-holder women recruits

Speaking on the occasion Commandant College Mehboob Aslam Lilla said that the passed out police officers will perform duty in various districts including Lahore Rawalpindi, Gujranwala, Faisalabad, Multan SP Admin & Security Dr Bushra Jameel administered the oath to the passed out

Meanwhile Punjab IG Police has ordered to release funds of more

million for the treatment of 27 policemen

Police Dr Usman Anwar announced awarding gallantry medal to brave soldiers of Police Force In a special message for the force and citizens on social media Dr Usman Anwar said that on the auspicious occasion of Eidul Azha, he is starting a special award for the jawans who have shown extraordinary performance against the criminals of

IIUI president chairs online meeting, issues impor tant direc tives

ISLAMABAD p r e S S r e l e a S e

Dr Hathal wished a blessed Eid to the IIUI community and gave directions on a number of important matters The meeting was attended by Vice President Female Campus, Provosts Male and Female, Students Advisors Male and Female Chief Security Officer Incharge administration Assistant Director Protocol Incharge Horticulture Incharge

Estate Management Incharge admissions and other relevant officials

The Worthy President said the most important point is exquisite arrangements for Eid celebrations of foreigner students and students of far flung areas who stay on campus on Eid day

He advised the Provost to offer eid prayer with the students at the hostels He directed both Provosts and Students Advisors to take care of special Eid arrangements for international students

The President IIUI directed that the hostel students must be served free meals with special dishes He directed the Male Students Advisor to arrange special Eid day activities and desired that same be observed at Female Campus by Students Advisor office Female

He said university Management must be on its toes as it has the responsibility of more than 30 thousand students and it also has the presence of international students from more than 30 countries

Discussing the Eid prayer arrangements at Faisal Masjid he directed that senior officials of the various important offices must be taken in loop by the of-

fice of Protocol and Public Relations to discuss arrangements of protocol and security and gave relevant directions to coordinate with those offices He desired that local administration traffic police and Islamabad Capital Territory police must be contacted for Eid prayer arrangements so that citizens of twin cities and dignitaries may not face any issue

Discussing the campus related matters H E Dr Hathal said that amid the heatwave horticulture department must remain alert along with security officials to avoid any fire eruption The Worthy President passed instructions to the estate management office to ensure cleanliness across the campus especially at hostels

Discussing the management’s vision to make IIUI a real international hub of learning he said students facilitation as per modern needs is a top priority The IIUI President was briefed about the facilitation center at the new academic block He directed that after Eid holidays its remaining work must be

expedited with double pace H E Dr Hathal also said that he will personally have a follow up meeting at the facilitation centre

In the meeting Vice President Female Campus Prof Dr Samina Malik extended warm felicitations to H E Dr Hathal Hamoud Alotaibi and Saudi brethren on the occasion of Eid ul Adha She particularly applauded and complemented the Custodian of Two Holy Mosques H E King Salman bin Abdul Aziz and His Royal Highness Crown Prince and Prime Minister of KSA, H E Mohammed bin Salman for making the best Hajj arrangements She added that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia is blessed with such altruistic leadership She opined that we are one nation living in two countries At the end, Worthy IIUI President once again wished advance a happy Ed to the IIUI community and prayed for the prosperity and progress of the university

Pakistani- Canadian shot dead in K arachi

KARACHI

S ta f f r e p o r t

As Karachi remains mired in the daunting challenge of street crime, a Pakistani-Canadian was shot dead by muggers for resisting a robbery bid in the Nazimabad area of the port city

As per details the victim identified as Amin Alvi, was out shopping with four street children when the robb e r s n e a r B o a r d O ff i c e e n c o u n t e r e d h i m P o l i c e s a i d t h a t t h e P a k i s t a n iC a n a d i a n c i t i z e n h a d v i s i t e d a b a n k and a money exchanger before taking the children shopping

As narrated by one of the children a c c o m p a n y i n g A l v i , t w o a r m e d m e n a r r i v e d o n a m o t o r c y c l e , a n d o n e o f them got off the two-wheeler He approached the car and asked the victim to hand over his cash and other valuables the child told the police He said that Alvi had agreed to

do as the mugger said but pushed him back as soon as he slid his hand into the victim s pocket

This motivated the mugger to pull the trigger and shoot Alvi before fleei n g w i t h h i s a c c o m p l i c e , t h e c h i l d added He said that none of the drivers who had stopped by helped Alvi who l a y o n t h e r o a d f o r s e v e r a l m i n u t e s H o w e v e r a r i c k s h a w d r i v e r e v e n t u a l l y t o o k h i m t o t h e h o s p i t a l w h e r e h e d i e d d u r i n g t r e a t m e n t , t h e child concluded Police said Alvi had retired from a foreign airline five years ago and visited Karachi twice or thrice a year

They said that his funeral prayers would be offered after his family reaches Karachi No case was registered to probe the case until the filing of this report Separately, a trader of potatoes and onions was killed by unidentified robbers in the Orangi Town locality over

Family of father, son who died in Titan submersible shares memories, gratitude

The family of two Pakistani men who died in the implosion of a submersible as it descended to the wreckage of the Titanic held a virtual memorial service Tuesday and thanked everyone who tried to rescue the father and son or sent condolences from around the world

The prayer service was arranged by the family of Engro Corp vice chairman Shahzada Dawood and his 19-year-old son Suleman days after authorities confirmed that everyone on the Titan died The submersible carrying five people imploded near the site of the shipwrecked Titanic and killed everyone on board Dawood’s widow Christina Dawood was in tears as she shared memories of her husband and son She was on board a support vessel on June 18 when she got word that communications with the Titan submersible had been lost

during its voyage to the ocean floor In her remarks she thanked those who had helped the family in its time of grief The service was broadcast on YouTube through the family’s charity, the Dawood Foundation Shahzada and Suleman Dawood were members of one of Pakistan’s most prominent business families The elder man s father Hussain Dawood said during Tuesday s service that his son and grandson were gifts of God that had been taken back by God

resisting an attempt to mug him Naseem 45 was a father of six daughters His family has demanded that the police arrest the killers immediately

The family said Naseem was a big businessman They said that he had left home early in the morning to go to the vegetable market when he was attacked by robbers P o l i c e s a i d t h a t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e e y e w i t n e s s e s t h e s u s p e c t s w e r e a lready waiting on the road, adding that t h e y k i l l e d t h e v i c t i m w h e n h e a pproached in his car with his driver and workers Officials said they were trying to get the CCTV camera footage of the incident According to them the k i l l e r s h a d m a d e o ff w i t h m o r e t h a n

Rs100,000 Police have failed to control street crime in Karachi, as the number of deaths due to firing during robberies in the city this year has reached 70 in almost six months

He also described the two as martyrs and said martyrs go straight to paradise

“What does the father say” when he faces such a tragedy he asked Hussain said Suleman and Shahzada were very excited about going to see the Titanic and before leaving for their voyage convinced him that we should go to Antarctica, too next winter

“I’m actually convinced they have enriched our lives beyond measure,” he said, vowing: “We will take forward their legacy ” Christina shared memories of when she first met her husband and their wedding in Lahore When Suleman was born, her husband was happy like other fathers but when he held his son for the first time, I just knew these two belong together,” the wife and mother said She sensed then that he had found a long-lost companion for his adventures to come

the force The officers and personnel will get the Gallantry Medal The IGP said that bravery medal will be given to the brave officers and personnel who performed their duties with sacrifice and cash award will also be given as reward along with bravery gold medal IG Punjab further said that only martyrs and wounded Ghazis are not entitled to medals it is not necessary to give medals only by the federal government

Aide announces

Tareen as prime ministerial candidate for ‘king’s par t y’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He anticipated that more friends would join the party after Eid ul-Adha, indicating a growing interest in joining IPP While discussing the leadership within PTI Khan revealed that he had expressed his concerns to Khattak about his actions He mentioned the implementation of a formula that resulted in the appointments as chief minister of Usman Buzdar in Punjab and Mehmood Khan in KP, saying his personal knowledge of the former ’s actions and their impact on Punjab However he admitted to being unfamiliar with the latter s performance Offering no evidence Khan alleged that Buzdar was involved in unethical practices, acting as a frontman for Imran’s wife Bushra Maneka and her friend Farah Khan collecting money on their behalf and personally benefiting from it He also claimed that a fixed rate for the recruitment of deputy commissioners and commissioners was established in Punjab, resulting in unprecedented occurrences The IPP president further asserted that Imran was aware of these activities and carried out all tasks as directed by the “murshid” (spiritual guide) implying external influence over decision-making

ECC approves bonded storage policy for petroleum products

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The new measures included Rs215 billion in additional taxes through amendments to the original bill, which was presented on June 9

The bill set a target of a 3 5% growth rate in gross domestic product (GDP)

The house passed the bill moved by Dar with a majority vote The house echoed with the thumping of the desks as the budget was approved After the approval of the president the Finance Act will take effect on July 1

The budget was approved a day after Dar announced fiscal adjustments worth Rs300 billion, including fiscal tightening measures as demanded by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) in a final push to clinch a much-delayed rescue package A day later acting President Sadiq Sanjrani approved Finance Bill 202324 The new measures announced by Dar, while winding up the budget debate included increasing the tax burden on the salaried class and withdrawing the $100 000 assetwhitening scheme suggesting that the government accepted a majority of the IMF demands According to the approved Finance Bill, the revenue collection target of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) had been revised upward to Rs9,415 billion in the wake of Rs215 billion new taxes

Have the ayes the money?

Bad optics as Senate Chairman and Speaker are voted pay raises

Th e Senate has passed its Chairman, and the Speaker of the National Assembly pay raises which would bring their salaries at par with that of judges of the Supreme Court The bill now only needs passage by the National Assembly to go to the President for assent The measure was rejected in 2020, when it also included a doubling of salaries for members from Rs 150 000 a month to Rs 300 000 The reason for rejection sounds familiar, and no one would say that the situation has changed: economic slowdown Now the raises are not for ordinary members, but only for the presiding officers The timing of the move seems a little odd for not only is there no sudden urgency, but the passage comes hot on the heels of the presentation of the Budget, which has seen a spell of belt-tightening (about Rs 80 billion worth) as well as the imposition of new taxes, all to get the IMF to restore its existing programme

There have been arguments advanced for these pay raises, and they may be correct But with the economy in the shape it is in it does not seem a very good idea After all, are elected officials in it for the money, or to serve people? If, as the PTI clamours, they are in it for corruption there seems something massively wrong not only to send someone to Parliament so that he can embezzle public money, and pay him handsomely into the bargain It should not be forgotten that even the existing packages enjoyed by the Speaker and the Chairman are nothing to sneeze at If, as the ruling coalitions they are paragons of honesty they would seem insensitive to vote themselves a pay raise at a time when Parliament is busy passing a lot of additional taxation

The measure is a bad one, and should be quietly dropped rather than rushed onto the legislative agenda for the National Assembly, whose last six weeks should be occupied by more substantial legislation than salary raises for presiding officers Insensitive legislators could at least begin to make a pretence of caring about the plight of the common man by treating public money as if it was meant to be spent on presiding officers

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

J u d i c i a r y u n d e r s i e g e

Vi o l a t o r s o f t h e s a n c t i t y o f t h e c o u r t s m u s t b e h e l d t o a c c o u n t

they were sent home by the usurper When Musharraf tried to arbitrarily get rid of his own appointed CJP the Lawyers Movement started in March 2007

It was called the Movement for Rule of Law The civil society also came on the streets which led to the weakening of power of the dictator and ultimately his exit together with the restoration of Mr Justice Iftikhar Chaudhry as CJP The judiciary not only gained independence it also restored its credibility at times even overstepping its domain

T“h e judiciary is under siege ” Maulana Fazal-ur-Rehman President of the ruling Pakistan Democratic Movement roared outside the Supreme Court of Pakistan on May 15, warning the judges to stay neutral The term ‘Ladla’ is being used for Imran Khan, the most popular political leader who is a threat to the decades-old corrupt leadership that has ruined the country

Being the party in power with Rana Sanaullah as its Interior Minister the Islamabad high Court came under attack on May 9 when around 100 Rangers violated the judicial sanctity to abduct IK who had come there for hearing of his bail plea in one of the 200 cases registered against him Nawaz Sharif and his party the Pakistan Muslim League (Nawaz) has an unpleasant track record with the highest court of the land On 30 November 1997 the party goons attacked SCP The judges had to flee from their courtrooms to save their lives Later a conspiracy was hatched to get rid of the sitting Chief Justice of Pakistan, Mr Justice Sajjad Ali Shah Brother Judge Mr Justice Rafiq Tarar, who led the inner revolt was later rewarded with the position of President of Pakistan Mr Justice Ajmal Mian was appointed the new CJP Nawza prevailed over the judiciary he then went after the President and finally the Army Chief While sponsored tours are conducted of the ransacked Jinnah house, the devastation at the IhC by the charging men in uniform is not shown on the electronic media The people of Pakistan support their national institutions which include the armed forces and the judiciary

The Sharif have a track record of institution bashing Nawaz was launched by the Zia-led establishment to neutralize the popularity of Bhutto s party and the democratic gains under the Constitution During this period most civilian institutions were weakened NeSPAK (National engineering Services of Pakistan) was spared as equivalent professional expertise did not exist in the country

With the judicial murder of Bhutto the judiciary lost its credibility The armed forces protected and expanded their domain while other vital organs of the state were allowed to collapse When the country came under the fourth Martial Law several senior judges including the CJP refused to take oath thus

The institutional collapse that Pakistan faces today is mind boggling There was a time when institutional heads stood up for their institutions quite like forces chiefs In the 1965 Presidential elections Ayub Khan wanted to organize a Jalsa in the University grounds near Chauburji Prof hamid Ahmed Khan the Vice Chancellor asked for a security deposit of Rs 400 000 the amount spent on preparing the cricket pitch in the ground The dictator was very angry with the defiance of the VC and denied him extension in service When the student protests started after the 1965 war Police entered the University premises without permission Prof U Karamat, the VC tendered his resignation in protest When Justice M R Kiani was the Chief Justice of the Lahore high Court a teargas shell landed inside the premises of the court The IGP was asked to appear in the court for contempt proceedings against him he was let go after a written apology When the SC was attacked by PML-N goons in 1997, Chaudhry Shujaat hussain was the long serving Interior Minister No one stopped the protestors from entering the premises of the highest court of the country After it was over no one was punished

Only two leaders of the party were crucified Comrade Tariq Aziz and Olympian Akhtar Rasool had to pay a price for this misadventure Their political careers ended I had the chance to talk to both of them They were duped and kept in the dark till the last moment When they led the protesters outside the gates of the court the hit squad came into action and raided the building A similar action was witnessed outside the Jinnah house on May 9

The attack caused a major upheaval in the court In the attack on the Islamabad high Court on May 9, when the Rangers entered the court premises the In-

terior Minister was Rana Sanaullah When Maulana Fazal-Ur-Rehman broke through the barriers of the Red Zone to reach outside the gate of the SC, Rana Sahib did not invoke Article 245 to call in the Army to protect the judges In 2014 during the PTI Dharna the then Interior Minister Chaudhry Nisar Ali Khan did call the Army for protection of vital state institutions on Constitution Avenue Vandalism in any form is condemnable, be it the Army Installations or the Courts of Law So far no action has been taken against the siege of the courts where people go to seek justice The courts are the custodians of the Constitution and the enshrined human rights I urge the Chief Justice of Islamabad high Court to call the DG Rangers and Chairman NAB for breach of the sanctity of the court

The CJP is also curious to know why the protesters came to the gates of the court to make loud speeches to be heard inside The PDM President and the Interior Minister must be summoned by the court to be heard for possible redressal of their grievances

Instead of Street and Media trials perhaps the courts provide a better forum to resolve and address the injustices and gross violations of the rule of law that the nation finds itself engulfed with today Inaction leads to anarchy, the Gullu Butts then take over which can lead to lethal and disastrous consquences Now that the judiciary has decided to side with the Constitution the people of Pakistan solidly stand behind it Qadam Barhao Munsifo (Doers of Justice Advance) a new dawn of freedom is on the horizon Together we shall prevail

The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail com

I n a c t i o n l e a d s t o a n a rc hy, t h e G u l l u B u t t s t h e n t a k e ov e r w h i c h c a n l e a d t o l e t h a l a n d d i s a s t ro u s c o n s q u e n c e s . N ow t h a t t h e j u d i c i a r y h a s d e c i d e d t o s i d e w i t h t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n , t h e p e o p l e o f Pa k i s t a n s o l i d ly s t a n d b e h i n d i t . Â Q a d a m B a r h a o M u n s i fo Ê ( D o e rs o f Ju s t i c e , A dva n c e ) , a n ew d aw n o f f r e e d o m i s o n t h e h o r i z o n .

C h i n a a n d E u r o p e : C o m i n g c l o s e r ?

L i ’s Eu ro p e a n v i s i t c r u c i a l to t h e wo r l d

France, China seeks to forge an enduring bond rooted in mutual economic benefit and shared prosperity This strategic manoeuvre presents an opportune moment for europe to seize as it offers the promise of enhanced trade opportunities and a deepening of bilateral cooperation As the world witnesses this historical chapter unfold, it is essential for europe to recognize the vast advantages that lie within its grasp embracing China’s outreach is not only pragmatic but also holds the potential to reshape the economic landscape in ways that can yield long-lasting rewards for both parties involved

To g e t h e r w e s h a l l p r eva i l .

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan

technology and supply chain realms “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, said Macron China is fervently advocating for enhanced collaboration with european nations, most notably France and Germany, encompassing both established sectors like nuclear energy space and aviation as well as emerging fields such as environmental protection digital economy artificial intelligence and advanced manufacturing

E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Southern Punjab and the issue of equalit y

DR IMRAN KHALID

Th e just-concluded six-day visit of Chinese Premier Li Qiang to Germany and France holds great significance for the intricate tapestry of political and economic relations between China and europe By intentionally selecting these two countries which are perhaps the most vocal for european neutrality and independence, as his inaugural diplomatic destinations after assuming office, Premier Li has stressed the significance of this symbolic gesture

This carefully orchestrated overture serves as a crucial component of Beijing s broader drive–or charm offensive inh the Western media s terminology - to address the misunderstandings and misinterpretations surrounding China within the Western world As the Premier proactively engaged with european leaders, it presented an invaluable opportunity to both sides to bridge the gap and foster a deeper understanding of China’s perspective By unravelling misconceptions this diplomatic endeavour was aimed to forge a path toward greater harmony and collaboration between China and the Western nations

The world should keenly observe and acknowledge the significance of this diplomatic undertaking recognizing the potential for a more balanced and informed dialogue that could reshape global relations in a positive direction

For many years Germany has stood as China s preeminent trading partner within the european Union In fact, China has maintained its status as Germany’s largest global trading partner for an impressive seven consecutive years In 2022 bilateral trade between the two nations soared to an impressive €300 billion ($327 billion) Additionally Germany holds the distinction of being europe s leading investor in the vast Chinese market This symbiotic relationship between two economic powerhouses exemplifies the immense potential for collaboration between China and europe Premier Li Qiang’s visit has served as a concrete manifestation of China s commitment to bolster this vital partnership Li Qiang s european voyage entailed three objectives: forging connections with political and business leaders in Berlin and Paris, co-chairing the seventh China-Germany inter-governmental consultation and participating in the New Global Financing Pact Summit in Paris

By fortifying ties with Germany and

It was a very hectic trip by Li Qiang, who had an unabated string of meetings, summits and then one-on-one meeting with German Chancellor Scholz and French President Macron as well The fact is that in all his personal interactions–particularly with Scholz and Macron– Premier Li received a very positive response Scholz emphasized Germany s staunch opposition to decoupling, making it clear that de-risking does not equate to de-sinicization It is clear from the Scholz’s meeting with Li that Germany remains fully committed to forging enduring ties with China fostering enhanced bilateral exchanges and cooperation thereby paving the way for stable and mutually beneficial relations

The current series of diplomatic engagement between German and China, which included Chancellor Scholz’s visit to Beijing in December last year, then Wang Yi, director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee visited europe and met German leadership in February followed by German Foreign Minister Annalena Baerbock s visit to China in April

- signifies a transformative phase of cooperation between the two countries, highlighting their commitment to deepening bilateral relations German investment in China has reached a stable point standing at approximately €90 billion nearly triple the amount recorded in 2010 While this marks a period of slower growth, these investments have proven to be highly lucrative Similarly, the French leg of Li’s visit was equally fruitful and successful French President Macron displayed a generous receptiveness towards China s aspirations for increased collaboration with europe particularly in the trade

I n a n e r a ch a r a c t e r i z e d by g e o p o l i t i c a l c o m p l ex i t i e s , i t

i s e s s e n t i a l fo r t h e E u ro p e a n

l e a d e rs h i p t o a d o p t a r a t i o n a l a n d b a l a n c e d a p p ro a ch

t ow a rd s C h i n a .

By embracing these emerging domains, both sides can unlock immense potential for mutual prosperity and achieve outcomes that benefit all involved In this spirit China actively encourages its enterprises to invest in France while warmly welcoming French companies to partake in China s ever-expanding realm of development opportunities

This vision of shared growth and cooperation holds the promise of forging stronger ties between China and europe, cementing a path towards collective success and harmonious collaboration in the modern global landscape Li s visit to the two most powerful economies of europe indicates the seriousness with which Beijing is trying to enhance its commercial and political ties with europe With its unrivalled manufacturing capabilities and cutting-edge technologies China stands poised to offer europe opportunities for investment and market access

Similarly europe s expertise in advanced manufacturing engineering and renewable energy provides China with a valuable source of knowledge and expertise however, the prevailing perception of China in europe is undeniably coloured by the overshadowing rivalry between the USA and China where the former ’s influence plays a significant role in shaping attitudes

This jealousy has inevitably skewed perspectives potentially blinding europeans to China s true intentions and obscuring the potential benefits of fruitful engagement and cooperation It is crucial to question the narrative dominated by US interests and consider a more nuanced understanding of China’s role in the global arena

By eschewing the misguided narratives of decoupling and de-risking european countries can forge ahead to build a foundation of trust and collaboration with China that can withstand the headwinds of geopolitical tensions and work for shared prosperity and shared development

In an era characterized by geopolitical complexities it is essential for the european leadership to adopt a rational and balanced approach towards China By embracing cooperation and dialogue both sides can work together to address global challenges, such as climate change and sustainable development, while nurturing an environment of trust and understanding China and europe possess the necessary acumen and resources to shape a future marked by shared prosperity heightened cooperation and harmonious coexistence Their success, however, hinges on their ability to withstand pressure from Washington Scholz and Macron, however, seem inclined to chart a distinct path for China, diverging from the USA

The writer is a freelance columnist

A few months ago, the government in Punjab had announced that the status of Mianwali district in southern Punjab was being raised to the division level, comprising the districts of Mianwali, Bhakkar and Talagang With decentralisation of power being the defining feature of democracy, the act was justified however it raised serious concerns among those living in far-flung areas of the province struggling hard to find a place in civil services through competitive examinations

To a great extent the concerns are rational and reasonable and are validated by the lack of facilities in those areas that enable one to compete with their counterparts in urban areas having an academic background that is not available in rural Pakistan The concerns are genuine because of the fact that the proposed province of South Punjab will comprise the divisions of Bahawalpur Multan and Dera Ghazi Khan as well as some adjoining areas of the current Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province In such a scheme of things there is no mention of Mianwali division and other areas that together represent what is typically called the Seraiki belt The backwardness prevailing across southern Punjab, owing to the neglect of political and civil administrations, has kept the area alienated from the rest of the province This divide is visible in the education sector, making it tougher for the local students to compete against a single quota of seats with those having studied in private elite schools To this end there was a specified quota for students coming from backward areas of southern Punjab that enabled them to have allocated seats in civil services and other public-sector employment opportunities But with the proposed exclusion of Mianwali division, or the districts of Mianwali, Bhakkar and Talagang, from the proposed province of southern Punjab, that opportunity seems to be slipping away If the Mianwali division is not part of southern Punjab it naturally becomes part of central Punjab which simply means uneven competition between two entirely different sets of students This in no way is what the concept of equality demands After all the students of remote areas are not academically inferior because of something they have done They are so because the government has failed to look after the citizenry fairly That being so, why should the people be made to pay the price, especially when it comes to government employment?

MUHAMMAD MUBASIR KHAN BHAKKAR

The OTT revolution

T h e current wave of entertainment set in motion by over-the-top (OTT) platforms has earned admiration and appreciation from around the world and rightly so The trend has truly revolutionised the way we consume and enjoy our screen time With seamless streaming services, we now have instant access to an extensive library of both entertainment, infotainment and even cerebral content at our fingertips Whether one is binge- watching an addictive series or discovering hidden gems from different parts of the world OTT platforms have made stuff more accessible and convenient than ever before They started off first as wonderful video libraries but once they started dealing in original content, things have gone crazy for the consumers They have done some groundbreaking work and have earned global appreciation for it From gripping stories to thought-provoking documentaries, the original content consistently pushes the boundaries of storytelling, often tackling social issues and exploring diverse narratives By catering to a wide range of international audiences with localised content OTT platforms have fostered a sense of cultural inclusivity Stories from different backgrounds and perspectives now find a global audience instantly breaking down barriers and promoting understanding in an increasingly interconnected world We, the consumers, are really living in an interesting world ANAMTA ALAIHIM LAHORE

PA K I S TA N faces a serious threat from India

Since its inception Pakistan has faced perpetual threats from the east Kashmir has been the major cause of the dispute between the two neighbouring countries There have been three major wars between Pakistan and India over Kashmir India is also responsible for the dismemberment of Pakistan in 1971 and the creation of Bangladesh The Kargil conflict in 1999 and the misadventure by India in February 2019, compel Pakistan to have a strong army to the deterrence of Indian threats

Afghanistan has also been hosting and facilitating the terrorists in the past who have been using their land to carry on their activities against Pakistan A strong military helps Pakistan to preserve its hard-earned independence and sovereignty Without a strong military Pakistan would have never been a free state Moreover Pakistan has been facing the threat of terrorism since the War on Terror was started by the USA in 2001 To deal with the menace of terrorism, the Pakistan Army had to launch large military operations in tribal areas and Swat

Despite meagre resources at its disposal the Pakistan Army defeated terrorism To cope with the threats of terrorism Pakistan requires a strong army to ensure the safety of its citizens and sovereignty The contemporary new wave of terrorism requires a strong army to deal with it with an iron hand

Furthermore, the Pakistan Army has always been at the front in times of natural disasters During the 2005 earthquake major relief operations were conducted by the Pakistan Army Likewise the Pakistan Army played an important role in evacuating people during the 2010 and 2022 floods There is no denying the fact that the army has played a major role in the time of national emergencies Indeed, the Pakistan Army has always safeguarded the nation in times of both man-made and natural crises These are just a few reasons among many others which show the need of having a well equipped and professional army for Pakistan

It is said by our enemies that since the past years, Pakistan s defence expenditure has always been on an increase and on the higher end Then these elements say that even though Pakistan’s fragile economy has been unable to support it the military spending in Pakistan has been at the cost of development expenditure While as mentioned above for Pakistan the reasons behind having a reasonable defence spending are the security threat from India, risk factor from Afghanistan, coping

D e f e n c e b u d g e t a t l o w e s t l e v e l

with natural disasters and domestic factors such as societal violence terrorism and sectarianism

Anti-state elements say that in Pakistan the military enjoys immense control over the decision-making process in Pakistan and, thus, the defence budget has been prioritized over the social sector According to these elements this is evident in the form of the retarded growth of the social sector in Pakistan They say that an increasing non-development budget has also entailed huge cuts in the development budget and this has badly affected Pakistan s economy Initially, the declining development budget was financed through debt Consequently, debt repayment and debt servicing increased the non-development budget With the progression of time, borrowing financed the non-development budget also Currently Pakistan is in a position where new loans are being acquired to repay the old ones These few elements claim that the defence expenditure has added to the miseries of Pakistan in a spiralling manner

The propaganda machine of our enemies says that a heavy debt burden, rising inflation and a nation starving for development mark the economy of Pakistan but it continues to focus on an ever-increasing defence expenditure They say that Pakistan has always accorded priority to territorial security as compared to social and economic security, using the argument that it is military strength and stability that can ensure the overall security of the country

This is baseless and false propaganda from the country’s enemies and anti-state elements Now come to the real picture The budget document showed that defence outlay for 2023-24 would be Rs 1 804 billion compared to the revised defence spending of Rs 1 591 billion ear-

What the Hajj means for Muslims

Through this ritual, they direc t their hear ts individually and collec tively towards the Ka’ba In doing so, they step out beyond time, linking the past and present in an unbroken covenant with God

CONVERSATION

A L H A M M o u D

MI L L I O N S of men, women and children have converged on Mecca this week for the hajj pilgrimage The Saudi government says it will be the largest crowd ever for the pilgrimage

The hajj pilgrimage is at its core a pilgrimage towards God This presents a paradox of sorts If God is beyond time and space, then what is the purpose of travelling to a particular place? Is God not present now, everywhere?

The celebrated author Gai eaton offers an elegant response: Our sense of the divine Presence is blunted We need to find it focused on a particular place and for the Muslim that place is the Ka ba at Mecca, which he has faced every time he prayed and to which he now journeys in pilgrimage

A TRANSFORMATIVE EXPERIENCE: Within the Islamic worldview then the Ka’ba functions as the locus of hearts I use the plural hearts here for the pilgrimage is not only an individual religious obligation It is a communal act that strengthens ties of kinship between Muslims in a way that resembles nothing else When the pilgrims prepare to don the hajj attire, they discard more than their clothes Nationality race and socio-economic status are tossed to the wayside prince and pauper unite as pilgrims All distinctions are left behind The experience can be transformative particularly for those embarking on the pilgrimage for the first time

The renowned activist and minister Malcolm X was compelled to re-evaluate his views on race in the wake of his hajj experience In his Letter From Mecca he wrote: There were tens of thousands of pilgrims from all over the world They were of all colours from blue-eyed blondes to black-skinned Africans But we were all participating in the same ritual, displaying a spirit of unity and brotherhood that my experiences in America had led me to believe never could exist between the white and non-white

Coupled with his societal reflections was an internal revolution one that stirred his heart In his autobiography he writes: In my thirty-nine years on this earth the holy City of Mecca had been the first time I had ever stood before the Creator of All and felt like a complete human being

ROAD TO MECCA FRAUGHT WITH CHAL-

LENGES: For Muslims then the return of hajj pilgrims to pre-pandemic numbers this year (or even surpassing them) represents another opportunity for this reorientation towards God Granted globalisation has drawn the world closer, denting the impact of encountering people from completely different walks of life Despite this, the hajj pilgrimage re-

mains unparalleled in its capacity to turn hearts both individually and collectively All this is not to say that the experience is one of ease and comfort

If the history of the hajj pilgrimage has demonstrated anything, it is the road to Mecca is often fraught with challenges The most recent challenges confronting potential pilgrims have been unforeseen drastically altering the hajj experience

The COVID pandemic saw pilgrimage to the holy sites halted for two years, with only a limited number of Saudi residents permitted to perform the pilgrimage As the pandemic slowly subsided, many Muslims in other countries who had waited with eager anticipation booked their travel plans But they were met with a new complication

THE STRUGGLE FOR GETTING A SPOT: In

2022, the Saudi government announced that all those intending to perform the pilgrimage from several Western countries, including the US, UK, Australia New Zealand and the european Union must register through the Motawif website Those who had already made bookings were advised to immediately cancel them and register through Motawif This would place the registrant into a lottery-type system, replacing the hajj travel tours that had operated locally in these countries for many years

The Saudi administration claimed it was trying to remove the middle man and make the hajj travel package process smoother and more affordable

Many testimonies however appear to confirm the contrary Registrants criticised the persistent technical failures of Motawif, and those who were lucky enough to make it to Mecca bemoaned the disorganised mess that greeted them upon their arrival

The Saudi claim of increased affordability was also contested Prices for a hajj package vary depending on the level of luxury that the pilgrim desires during their stay in the holy cities When factoring in all costs, however, the total price for the package hovered in the range of US$7,000 to $13,500 (A$10,000 to $20,000) per person

For many Muslims in the West a more affordable hajj package was viewed as desirable In reality though prices remained high the only difference being the Saudi government collected the profits

This year, the Saudi authorities have ditched the short-lived Motawif system Rather than operating on a lottery basis, it has now been replaced with a new first-come first-serve system Only time will tell whether this new system is feasible or whether it will go the way of Motawif Despite these challenges Muslims from around the world continue to flock to the hajj Through this ritual they direct their hearts individually and collectively towards the Ka ba In doing so, they step out beyond time, linking the past and present in an unbroken covenant with God

marked for the outgoing fiscal year Observers believe 15 7 percent increase is justified given a record inflation and devaluation of rupee against the dollar in the last year According to the budget document 2023-24, out of Rs 1,804 billion, Rs 705 billion have been allocated for employee-related expenses, Rs 442 billion for operating expenses Rs 461 billion for local purchases and import of arms and ammunition and Rs 195 billion for civil works Interestingly all three services the army navy and air force were given an equal increase in the budget, although the Army takes the major share, given its size and the role

Pakistan’s defence spending is now 1 7 percent of its GDP, showing a decline compared to last year The defence spending in 2022-23 was around 2 percent of the country s GDP the size of which has grown due to the rebasing of the economy

On an average Pakistan spends $13 400 per soldier India $42,000, Saudi Arabia $371,000, Iran $23,000 while the USA allocates $392,000 per soldier annually Pakistan spends less on defence in comparison to other regional states The archrival of Pakistan India spent $72 6 billion on its defence Likewise Saudi Arabia spends $55 billion on its defence China spends $293 billion and Iran $24 billion In comparison to all these countries, Pakistan spends only $11 billion Pakistan s defence budget as a percentage of GDP and total national budget has fallen to its lowest level in decades The defence budget for 2023-2024 has come down to 1 7 percent of GDP from 6 5 percent in the 1970s Pakistan s defence expenditure is 22 percent less than the global average India has allocated $72 billion annually for its defence compared to this; Pakistan has

T h e s u b s t a n t i a l r e d u c t i o n i n

P a k i s t a n Ês d e f e n c e b u d g e t i s a l a r m i n g , b u t d e s p i t e t h i s , P a k i s t a n Ês a r m e d f o r c e s a r e f a c i n g t h e b i g g e s t c h a l l e n g e , d e m o n s t r a t i n g t h e i r f u l l p o t e n t i a l w i t h l i m i t e d r e s o u r c e s . A l l p r o p a g a n d a a n d s p e c u l a t i o n s a b o u t a h u g e d e f e n c e b u d g e t i s b a s e l e s s

allocated $6 3 billion dollars If we look at the defence expenditure of the last six years, Pakistan’s defence budget has decreased from $10 2 billion to $6 3 billion in dollar terms while India’s has increased by 35 percent in the same time These facts and figures demonstrate that Pakistan spends very less on its military The difference however, between Pakistan and other countries is that the size of their economies is far bigger Defence spending has always been the subject of discussions with some seeking greater transparency and open debate about the military’s budget In recent years the government provides more details about the defence budget however there has never been open debate within Parliament on the subject due to its sensitivity

Observers believe that the increase in the defence budget is justified given the impending external and internal security challenges Despite the US troops withdrawal from neighbouring Afghanistan Pakistan still deploys thousands of troops along the western border as well as in the erstwhile tribal areas to deal with the threat of terrorism Similarly the tensions between Pakistan and India still persist, although restoration of ceasefire has brought some respite

The substantial reduction in Pakistan’s defence budget is alarming but despite this Pakistan’s armed forces are facing the biggest challenge demonstrating their full potential with limited resources All propaganda and speculations about a huge defence budget is baseless The Pakistan Army is tackling all internal and external threats Undoubtedly, our armed forces are providing the best and professional defence services to the country at nominal expenses

The writer can be reached at abdulbasitalvi@gmail com

The US can’t stop the rise of Iran, but it can make a truce

w i t h t h e s u p p o r t o f I s r a e l , h a s t h r e a t e n e d u n s p e c i f i e d military action if Tehran goes further, it seems clear that I r a n n o w h a s a l l o f t h e c a r d s a n d t h a t a t e m p o r a r y truce must therefore come at the expense of the US containment campaign

IN 2018 the Donald Trump administration ripped up the Joint Comprehensive Plan of Action (JCPOA), known as the “Iran nuclear deal,” which had been signed by his predecessor Barack Obama The decision to scrap the deal was thoroughly influenced by neoconservative members of his cabinet including National Security Advisor John Bolton and Secretary of State Mike Pompeo who not only saw the opportunity to take a swipe at Trump s predecessor, but argued that placing crippling unilateral sanctions on Tehran would bring the country to the negotiating table, and if not, bring the regime down altogether Thus began a five-year campaign of brutal pressure against Iran which sought to destroy its economy and attempted to coerce third-party countries away from doing business with it But the initiative didn t go according to plan Rather, the world changed The flagrant disregard of international law by Washington was a catalyst in the emergence of de-dollarization The global shake-ups that came next including the Covid-19 pandemic US competition with China and the war in Ukraine gave Tehran strategic space and leverage it had previously lacked Now Iran has substantially increased its uranium enrichment, has continued to build its drone and missile capabilities, has an enhanced military relationship with Russia, and thanks to Beijing, has been able to normalize its relationship with its regional arch-rival Saudi Arabia

In the process of doing so it has reduced the regional influence of the US and its partner Israel US foreign policy on Iran has revolved around exploiting regional tensions in order to justify its own security footprint, but Iran has seemingly been able to begin to supersede a campaign of US containment against it while not being overtly belligerent This has set alarm bells off in Washington The US has been desperate to try and reinforce its relationship with Saudi Arabia but has reportedly been engaging in secret negotiations with Tehran not to revive the JCPOA but to keep it away from further uranium enrichment and off the nuclear path, a move which of course will have to come with sanctions relief While the US, presumably

GANG CULTURE

Reining in crime net works a relentless task

EDITORIAL

IT took the killing of Punjabi rapper Sidhu Moosewala in May last year for the police to initiate a crackdown on hardened criminals who have organised themselves into trigger-happy gangs every now and then statements and interviews apparently from inside a jail in one case surface of notorious criminals giving their version of their gruesome deeds and even talking of their next targets Media reports have a significant impact on public perception about crime and criminals The advice to exercise restraint and desist from glamourising criminal elements is often ignored But how does one make sense of the persistence of the gang culture

Because of the regional dynamic shifting in its favor Tehran is highly unlikely to actually go down the path to developing a full-fledged nuclear bomb, given the opportunities it would provide to Washington Unlike a country like North Korea Iran doesn’t truly need nukes in order to establish a doctrine of deterrence for its own regime’s survival It is a large country with a population of over 80 million While the United States could hypothetically conduct air or missile strikes on key Iranian facilities to try and impede its nuclear program, what the US could not do, especially in this environment, is a full-scale invasion and occupation of the country It would cost trillions of dollars, and there would be no support for it

Rather Iran s deterrence ability is premised on its drone and missile programs which have grown in their capabilities over the years despite US sanctions The country recently claimed to have developed hypersonic missiles, which while some skepticism is warranted, is not completely fictional Tehran has, after all, in response to the assassination of Revolutionary Guards Corps commander Qasem Soleimani shown its ability to destroy US military bases within its range and therefore demonstrate what it could do to Israel if things turned nasty In doing so it is demonstrating that regardless of US sanctions, it is a significant regional player, and will continue to be US foreign policy towards adversaries has repeatedly attempted to seek maximum strategic gain, eschewing the idea of compromise be it China or Russia But when it comes to Iran Washington is stumped on what to do without taking the risk of provoking a wider conflict This is why the Biden administration is leaning towards giving in, knowing that the regional dynamic of the Middle east is shifting away from its favor, and taking punitive action which may provoke war is unwelcome In other words, Iran is winning The only question which remains is whether or not the US wants a truce or to keep pressuring Tehran until it snaps? even if the outcome ends in a sheer stalemate with no nuclear lines crossed it s still a loselose situation for Washington in the end as Iran re-establishes itself diplomatically

in a state like Punjab where militancy was wiped out? Is naivety inherent in the question about gangs getting a free run to spread fear about their ability to cause harm at will?

Organised crime thrives on creating images of power, money and ruthlessness In line with movies that end up romanticising the antihero, the gangster is eager to cultivate a persona of a self-made individual living life on his own terms For the youth especially the pull can be enticing Taking on the perpetrators of dreadful crimes and exposing them for who they really are is a relentless battle Despite being known for having its ears to the ground the Punjab Police have been found wanting in taming gangsters If political patronage is the reason for this, administrative indifference also cannot escape blame The proliferation of networks indulging in narco-terror arms smuggling murders kidnappings protection money rackets as well as illegal land deals hints at chinks in the law and order setup

A start has been made to rein in the frightful gun culture The task of curbing the gang culture demands an action-oriented strategy of constant vigil, informed liaison between governments and, most of all, political will

O V E R $ 2 0 0 B P O T E N T I A L LY S T O L E N F R O M U S C O V I D

R E L I E F P R O G R A M M E S , W AT C H D O G S AY S

OVER $200 billion from the US government s Covid-19 relief programmes were potentially stolen, a federal watchdog said adding that the US Small Business Administration (SBA) had weakened its controls in a rush to disburse the funds

At least 17 per cent of all funds related to the government s coronavirus Economic Injury Disaster Loan (EIDL) and Paycheck Protection Programme (PPP) schemes were disbursed to potentially fraudulent actors according to a report released Tuesday by the SBA s office of inspector general

Over the course of the pandemic the SBA disbursed about $1 2 trillion of EIDL and PPP funds

The SBA disputed the more than $200bn figure put forward by the watchdog and said the inspector general’s approach had significantly overestimated fraud

The agency said its experts put the potential fraud estimate at $36bn and added that over 86pc of that likely fraud took place in 2020, when the administration for former President Donald Trump was in office President Joe Biden took office in January 2021

The fraud estimate put forward by the inspector general for the EIDL programme stood at more than $136bn while the PPP fraud estimate was $64 billion

The United States is probing many fraud cases pegged to US government assistance programmes In May 2021 Attorney General Merrick Garland launched a Covid-19

Fraud Enforcement Task Force

Last year the US Justice Department

tapped federal prosecutor Kevin Chambers to lead its efforts to investigate alleged fraud schemes intending to bilk government pandemic assistance programmes

In September 2022 the inspector general for the US Labour Department said fraudsters likely stole $45 6bn from the United States’ unemployment insurance programme during the coronavirus outbreak by applying tactics like using Social Security numbers of deceased individuals

Also in September federal prosecutors charged dozens of defendants who were accused of stealing $250 million from a government aid programme that was supposed to feed children in need during the pandemic Earlier this year a separate watchdog report said the US government likely awarded about $5 4 billion in Covid-19 aid to people with questionable Social Security numbers

UN vote to end Mali peacekeeping mission delayed due

to ongoing talks

NEW YORK

A F P

A vote by the Security Council to end a UN peacekeeping mission in Mali, at Mali’s own request, was postponed to later this week due to ongoing talks

diplomatic sources said Tuesday Mali s Foreign Minister Abdoulaye Diop took the world by surprise on June 16 when he asked the UN to withdraw its Minusma peacekeeping force immediately

Trump heard discussing secret documents on tape

NEW YORK

AG E N C E S

month period another diplomatic source told AFP A shorter time would make the with- n g a l l t h e i r

AGENCIES

United States,

The

which said it

gretted the Malian decision, called for an “orderly and responsible withdrawal”

It has been criticized for its inability to protect civilians from jihadist attacks despite deploying a sizable force and having an annual budget of $1 26 billion

Mali has been under military rule since an August 2020 coup and has been battling a security crisis since jihadist and separatist insurgencies broke out in the north in 2012

The country s military rulers have increasingly imposed operational restrictions on peacekeepers and also broken Mali s longstanding alliance with former colonial power France

drawal more difficult “ A n y e ff o r t t o m o v e t h o u s a n d s o f p e a c e k e e p e r s i n c l u d i equipment all their facilities all their s u p p o r t i n g s t a ff t a k e s a p e r i o d o f time Farhan Haq deputy spokesman f o r t h e U N s e c r e t a r y - g e n e r a l s a i d o n M o n d a y, a s k i n g f o r a r e a s o n a b l e t i m e t a b l e

Former US president Donald Trump can be heard discussing secret documents he had apparently held on to after leaving the White House and acknowledging they had not been declassified in an audio recording aired by US media The two-minute clip played by CNN late Monday and later obtained by ABC and CBS comes from an interview Trump gave at his Bedminster, New Jersey golf club in July 2021 for people working on a memoir by his former chief of staff Mark Meadows Parts of the recording’s transcript were cited as evidence in special counsel Jack Smith’s 49-page indictment of Trump on charges he had mishandled classified documents after leaving office The audio file includes a moment when Trump seems to indicate he is holding a secret Pentagon document with plans to attack Iran These are the papers, Trump says in the recording, a quote that was not included in the indictment He also refers to something as “highly confidential” and “this is secret information” as he seems to be showing something to the others in the room This was done by the military and given to me Trump continues before noting that one would need to declassify it for it to be used in the book You see, as president I could have declassified it Now I can’t, you know,” he says “Now we have a problem,” one of other people responds “Isn’t that interesting? It’s so cool ” Trump says just before the recording ends with him calling for someone to bring in some Cokes Trump earlier this month denied 37 counts of wilfully mishandling US government secrets and conspiring to prevent their return, becoming the first US president to face federal criminal charges

World leaders wish Muslims on Eidul A zha

World leaders have sent their wishes and blessings to Muslims as the faithful celebrate Eidul Azha today (Wednesday) in several countries after the end of the Hajj pilgrimage in Makkah Muslims across the globe celebrate the holy festival every year on the 10th of Zilhaj by slaughtering animals such as goats sheep and cows The festival commemorates Prophet Ibrahim s (AS) willingness to sacrifice his son as an act of obedience to Allah

Taking to Twitter, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken extended well wishes to the Muslims celebrating the festival and who have offered the Hajj pilgrimage Wishing all Muslims a blessed Eid al-Adh filled with celebration, community, and service to others

We also extend well wishes to those participating in the Hajj pilgrimage Eid Mubarak and Hajj Mabroor ” the top United States diplomat wrote on Twitter United Nations (UN) Secretary-General Antonio Guterres gave his best wishes to the Muslims on the occasion \\

Best wishes to all celebrating #EidAlAdha At a time of division and conflict let’s draw inspiration from the values of compassion and solidarity that inspire this celebration Eid Mubarak the UN chief wrote on Twitter Scotland s First Minister Hamza Yousuf also wished the Mus-

lims in the country and around the world a happy Eid “For Muslims all over the globe it is an important time to reiterate the values of devotion thanksgiving and charity Eid Mubarak the Pakistani-origin Scottish leader wrote Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau wished the Muslims in his country and all over the world reassuring freedom for everyone to practice their faith without fear “As families and friends across the country come together to pray share meals and share food with those in need, we can all be inspired by the values of sacrifice, compassion, and charity demonstrated by Muslim communities in Canada each and every day

He also reiterated the pledge on the Canadian government’s behalf to stand against Islamophobia and hatred in all its forms supported by the ongoing efforts of the country s first Special Representative on Combatting Islamophobia Amira Elghawaby

CORPORATE CORNER

PAKISTAN WANTS TO BENEFIT MORE FROM TURKEY’S DEVELOPMENT IN SCIENCE, TECH: BALIGH

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

Jubilee Life Insurance honored with best social media campaign for Cricket at Pakistan Digital Awards Ceremony

KARACHI

Jubilee Life Insurance, Pakistan's largest private sector insurance company has once again aced at the esteemed Pakistan Digital Awards 2023 The insurance company was honored with the Best Social Media Campaign (Facebook) for Cricket making them recipient of Pakistan Digital Award for the fifth consecutive year This award celebrates Jubilee Life Insurance s remarkable achievements in digital marketing for its innovative and engaging Facebook campaign during HBLPSL 7 Leveraging the power of social media Jubilee Life Insurance has engaged cricket enthusiasts fans and the wider community The award was received by the brand and agency team of Jubilee Life Insurance Commenting on the recognition, Farhan Faridi, Group Head – Retail Operations, Marketing & Administration, stated, "We are immensely proud to be honoured once again at the Pakistan Digital Awards These awards are a testament to our commitment to revolutionize the insurance industry through our innovative products and creative marketing efforts We at Jubilee Life Insurance strive to deliver the best in everything we do, and our digital solutions play a crucial role in enhancing our customers' experience Winning these awards for five consecutive years is a testament to the dedication and passion of our team The Pakistan Digital Awards are renowned for identifying and honouring brands that demonstrate unique and out-of-the-box ideas Each nomination undergoes a rigorous evaluation process, guided by the strict and transparent criteria set by the Pakistan Digital Association The campaigns are carefully assessed to ensure that they effectively reach and engage with the intended audience

Aima Baig shines at Spotif y’s Times Square billboard as latest EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

A soulful and charming voice that has become a household name in the country, Aima Baig featured as EQUAL Pakistan s Ambassador for the month of June, and like other EQUAL Ambassadors before her, Aima is also shining bright on Spotify’s digital billboard in Times Square NYC Her track “Aey Zindagi has been highlighted on Spotify s EQUAL Pakistan playlist as part of the celebrations Aima Baig made her debut in 2016 and since then she has been on the roll, becoming one of the most celebrated playback singers in the country and receiving numerous accolades including the coveted Tamgha-e-Fakhre-Imtiaz from the government of Pakistan global recognition and a massive fandom Her magical voice soul-stirring compositions and efficacy for striking the right chords at the right time have catapulted her career to new heights She has also collaborated with leading musicians including the likes of Asim Azhar, Ali Zafar, Ali Sethi, and Sahir Ali Bagga’ Aima’s tracks have also been featured in numerous movies including Lahore Se Aagay Na Maloom Afraad 2 Teefa in Trouble and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

PUNJAB Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman said that Pakistan and Turkiye have deep fraternal and historical relations and both countries have always supported each other at all international forums

Pakistan wants to benefit more from Turkey s development in science and technology sector as there is a need for increasing bilateral trade between the two brotherly countries ” Punjab Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman stated while talking to Turkish Ambassador to Pakistan, Dr Mehmet Pachachi

Turkish Ambassador Dr Mehmet Pachachi called on Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman at Governor House La-

hore and ways to enhance bilateral cooperation between Turkiye and Pakistan Speaking on the occasion, the governor stressed there should be exchange of delegations of experts in different fields so that both the countries can benefit from each other s skills and experiences On this occasion, he congratulated Recep Tayyip Erdogan on his re-election as the President of Turkey and expressed his best wishes He said that the re-election of Recep Tayyip Erdogan is a proof of Turkish people s trust in his leadership Balighur Rehman along with the Turkiye Ambassador went around different parts of the historic building of the Governor’s House On this occasion the Ambassador of Turkiye specially thanked Pakistan for helping the earthquake victims He said that the Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif vis-

ited Turkey in this difficult time

The Turkish Ambassador said that Turkish companies are investing in Pakistan in the transport sector He said that investment in various sectors, especially education agriculture technology and tourism will be further enhanced in Pakistan He

said that the exchange program of students and teachers in the higher education sector is being improved Governor s Message on Eidul Azha

Meanwhile Governor Muhammad Balighur Rehman said in his message on the occa-

S indh introduces GPS tagging system for effec tive cleanliness on Eidul A zha

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Sindh Local Government (LG) Department has finalised its Eidul Azha plan for the disposal of offal of the sacrificial animals and decided to introduce a GPS tagging system, it emerged Wednesday

The Sindh LG department unveiled its Eidul Azha plan and introduced a GPS tagging system for ensuring the timely and proper timely disposal of offal of the sacrificial animals

A notification read that the transition officers will link the GPS system to the dumping points, whereas, the lists of the on-duty sanitary staff and supervisors at the collection points were declared mandatory Additionally the chief executive officer will be bound to present the performance report of each chairman of the concerned local council Holidays of all employees including the chief executive officer of the Sindh Local Government (LG) Department

The executive officers will be responsible for providing the necessary machinery for the disposal of the offal KMC, Eidul Azha plan, GPS tagging system, Sindh LG dept Earlier in the day Karachi Mayor Mur-

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Representative of the UN Food and Agriculture Organization (FAO) to Lao People's Democratic Republic Nasar Hayat on Monday received a Cross-of-Friendship Medal from the Lao government, for his contributions to the country’s development

The medal is the highest civil award of the Lao government that can be conferred on a foreign national according to a press release

The award marks the completion of Nasar Hayat s four-and-halfyear tenure as a UNFAO

Representative in Lao PDR, where he headed the FAO programme focused on the development of the agriculture sector food security and disaster resilience in the country Laos, which borders Thailand, China, Cambodia and Vietnam, and has a population of 7 million, is one of the least developed countries in the world

The award was presented by Phoxay Khaykhamphithoune

Vice-Minister of Foreign Affairs on behalf of the Prime Minister of Lao PDR

The ceremony was also attended by senior Lao officials from various ministries including the Ministry of Agriculture and

taza Wahab chaired a session to review arrangements for Eidul Azha which was also attended by the town chairmen of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Mayor Murtaza Wahab said that they want to work with all stakeholders to provide relief to the Karachi people He vowed that public issues in all towns will be addressed on a priority basis after consultations “We assure our maximum cooperation with the Sindh Solid Waste Management Board (SSWMB) The digging work has been completed at the landfill site and 18 trenches are finalised for burying the offal

Forestry the Ministry of Planning and Investment and the Ministry of Foreign Affairs along with the officials of the UN agencies

In his speech at the ceremony, he expressed his gratitude to the Government of Lao PDR for the honour “I am proud that through FAO s support the sector of agriculture has been recognized as a key driver of economic growth in Laos I am also pleased to have played a significant role in helping Lao communities to adapt to climate change ” he remarked

Prior to his tenure as FAO

Representative in Lao PDR Hayat served as Assistant FAO Representative in Pakistan He started his career in 1995 as a Pakistani Civil Servant His tenure with the Government of Pakistan included terms as Protocol Officer and then Section Officer in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Pakistan as well as Pakistan s Deputy High Commissioner to Maldives Nasar Hayat also worked at the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) at the United States Agency for International Development (USAID) and at the Asian Development Bank in Pakistan

Aima Baig shines at Spotify s Times Square billboard as the latest EQUAL Pakistan Ambassador

Islamabad June 28 2023 – A soulful and charming voice that has become a household name in the country, Aima Baig featured as EQUAL Pakistan s Ambassador for the month of June, and like other EQUAL Ambassadors before her Aima is also shining bright on Spotify s digital billboard in Times Square NYC Her track Aey Zindagi has been highlighted on Spotify s EQUAL Pakistan playlist as part of the celebrations Aima Baig made her debut in 2016 and since then she has been on the roll becoming one of the most celebrated playback singers in the country and receiving numerous accolades including the coveted Tamgha-e-Fakhre-Imtiaz from the government of Pakistan, global recognition and a massive fandom Her magical voice soulstirring compositions and efficacy for striking the right chords at the right time have catapulted her career to new heights She has also collaborated with leading musicians including the likes of Asim Azhar Ali Zafar Ali Sethi and Sahir Ali Bagga Aima s tracks have also been featured in numerous movies including Lahore Se Aagay, Na Maloom Afraad 2, Teefa in Trouble, and Jawani Phir Nahi Ani 2

sion of Eidul Azha that Sunnah Ibrahimi (AS) teaches us the importance of sacrifice and how to attain the pleasure of Allah through it Indeed, only with the help and will of Allah Almighty we can succeed in this world and the hereafter Sacrificing what is dear to one and to include one s family, neighbors, loved ones, needy and poor people in one’s happiness is the lesson of this day adding he said that it should be a daily routine not only on Eid Today we have to pledge that we will put aside our personal and regional differences and show collective thinking to make our country safer and stronger May Allah accept this good deed of every Muslim who sacrifices animals following Sunnah Ibrahimi (AS) and make us all like the one who shares happiness, shares love and obtains from hatred (Ameen)

PTI former minister, cit y mayor arrested from Swat

SWAT S ta f f R e p o R t

The authorities on Wednesday arrested PTI former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa minister Dr Amjad Ali and city mayor Shahid Ali Khan from Swat in connection with their role in May 9 incidents According to police sources, Shahid Ali Khan was arrested from his house Police were also shifting Dr Amjad to jail Both the PTI leaders were booked in May 9 violent incidents Meanwhile police also raided the house of PTI former federal minister Sheikh Waqas Akram in Jhang A large contingent of police reached former minister Sheikh Akram s house to arrest him But police did not confirm his arrest so far A case has been registered against him under Terrorism Act in Kotwali police station Meanwhile another PTI leader from Arifwala bid adieu to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf over May 9 incidents Mian Amjad Joya the PTI ticket holder from NA 140 Arifwala on Wednesday parted ways with his party In his media statement, he condemned the May 9 violence in strong words He demanded exemplary punishment for those involved in the May 9 riots

‘Angr y’ BNP considers withdrawal of suppor t for ruling coalition

QUETTA S ta f f R e p o R t

The Balochistan National Party (BNP) a main ally of the ruling coalition is reportedly upset with the government and has started considering withdrawing its support A consultative meeting of the party leadership was held in Khuzdar under the chairmanship of BNP chief Akhtar Mengal The meeting also expressed concern over the law and order situation of Balochistan During the meeting a proposal to consider withdrawing from the ruling coalition government was also mulled over It was decided that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other coalition party leaders will be informed about the BNP s reservations If the circumstances do not improve, the party will part ways with the government

China, Pak istan sign agreement for co -building workshop of modern chemic al engineering

n C h e m i c a l Vo c a t i o n a l Te c h n o l o g y C o l l e g e ( H C V T C ) a n d I nf i n i t y S c h o o l o f E n g i n e e r i n g , P a k i s t a n h a v e s i g n e d a n a g r e e m e n t f o r c o - e s t a bl i s h m e n t C h u y i Wo r k s h o p t o c r e a t e a p l a t f o r m f o r e x c h a n g e o f k n o w l e d g e a n d e x p e r t i s e i n t h e f i e l d o f m o d e r n c h e m i c a l e n g i n e e r i n g President of Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College, Ms Long Peng and President of Infinity School of Engineering Pakistan Abdul Razzaq Gauhar signed the agreement and also inaugurated the workshop in a ceremony held online

On the occasion, seven Pakistani graduates of Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College who witnessed the ceremony at Infinity School of Engineering in Pakistan were also conferred upon graduation diploma These Pakistani students had successfully completed their studies in

the college between the years 2019-2022

Speaking on the occasion Ms Long Ping extended her sincere greetings to the leaders of Infinity School of Engineering for the co-establishment of workshop and Pakistani students for successfully completing their studies

She said that in recent years, the college took active part in the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) and had long-term cooperation with schools and enterprises in Pakistan Ms Long Ping informed that the college had offered admissions to overseas students from countries along Belt and Road and provided skills training for local talents from enterprises and colleges

“We have taken the lead in setting up China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Talent Exchange Center for chemical and coating in Pakistan she added The president also briefed the audience about the ongoing cooperation between Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College and Infinity School of Engineer-

ing, Pakistan She expressed the confidence that the co-building of Chuyi Workshop would be another starting point for cooperation between the two educational institutions In his speech Vice President of the

College, Wei Yongjun said that the Chuyi Workshop would serve as a center of excellence where students faculty and researchers from both institutions would explore cutting-edge advancements in the field of engineering

The workshop would house state of the art facilities and equipment allowing students from both institutions gain hands-on experience and practical skills that are essential for their future carriers he added

President, Infinity School of Engineering, Pakistan, Abdula Razzaq Gauhar thanked the leadership of Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College for providing support and co-building Chuyi Workshop He also felicitated the Pakistani students for completing their diploma and receiving the certificates Atta Ur Rehman, a graduate of Hunan Chemical Vocational Technology College, speaking on behalf of his class-mates shared sweet memories of his stay in the college H e t h a n k e d a l l t h e t e a c h e r s a n d s t a ff f o r p r o v i d i n g a m p l e s u p p o r t t o t h e P a ki s t a n i s t u d e n t s d u r i n g t h e i r s t a y i n t h e c o l l e g e The ceremony was attended by the leadership, faculty members and students from China and Pakistan

F O O D M I N I S T R Y ’ S I N T E R V E N T I O N D A S H E S H O P E S F O R A D M I N I S T R AT I V E C O N T R O L O V E R M E D I C I N A L H E M P

ISLAMABAD

G h u l a m a b b a S

FIN a surprising turn of events the Ministry of Food s interference has halted the progress of both the Ministry of Narcotics and the Ministry of Science & Technology, who were vying for administrative control over the cultivation, harvest, processing, and sale of medicinal hemp This interference has significantly impacted the policy for licensing the production local sale and export of medicinal hemp introducing several obstacles in the process

The initiative to legalize the production of medicinal hemp was initially proposed by Fawad Chaudhry the former Minister for Science & Technology

In September 2020

Prime Minister Imran Khan s cabinet approved the proposal marking the first step toward legalizing the drug-based plant The Ministry of Science and Technology sought permission from the cabinet to cultivate industrial hemp after extensive deliberation with the Ministries of Commerce Narcotics Control and National Health Services

Hemp seeds are known for producing hemp oil, while the leaves have medicinal uses, and the stems can be transformed into fiber, offering a potential alternative to cotton in the textile industry However the change in government leadership in April 2022 saw Nawabzada Shahzain Bugti the Minister for Narcotics Control approaching Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif arguing that hemp is related to marijuana and should fall under the jurisdiction of the Ministry of Narcotics Control

As a result of this appeal the federal cabinet in December 2022 decided to transfer the mandate of the hemp issue from the Ministry of Science and Technology to the Ministry of Narcotics This decision led to a setback for the Ministry of Science and Technology’s plans for industrial hemp cultivation

In response to the directive from the Cabinet Division the Ministry of Science and Technology informed concerned authorities including the Ministry of Narcotics the Ministry of Commerce, and the Ministry of Food Security, that the draft of the National Industrial Hemp and Medicinal Cannabis

‘M atrimonial dispute’:

Policy had been shared This draft policy assesses the potential opportunities for cultivating, extracting, and developing products related to industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis within the country

The draft policy highlighted the unique advantages of this initiative such as promoting the indigenous development of hemp and cannabis seeds for crops, import substitution,

providing fiber for the textile and paper industry, and fostering the development of medicinal products

To address the conflicting interests and finalize the hemp policy the federal cabinet formed a committee chaired by Nawabzada Shazain Bugti the Minister for Narcotics Control, and co-chaired by Agha Hasan Baloch, the Federal Minister for Science and

Women, kids among

nine of same famil y shot dead in Batkhela

SWAT

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

Nine members of a family were gunned down over what seems to be a matrimonial dispute in Bagardara area of Batkhela Tehsil in Malakand, police said

Wednesday

All the family members were asleep when they were fired upon and killed by some unknown assailants after barging into the house the police informed after initial investigation

Among the dead are four women, two children and three men Local Levies officials rushed to the crime scene after receiving alert and shifted the bodies to Batkhela hospital for autopsy and medico-legal formalities

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

o f f i c i a l s , t h e s u s p e c t s b r o k e i n t o t h e h o u s e a t a r o u n d 2 a m a n d o p e n e d i nd i s c r i m i n a t e f i r e o n t h e s l e e p i n g f a mi l y, k i l l i n g m e n , w o m e n a n d c h i l d r e n o f t h e h o u s e a l l e g e d l y o v e r a m a r i t a l d i s p u t e

Based on information collected thus far officials of the Malakand Levies force suspect that the murders were committed by a son-in-law of the house

The suspect’s wife was reportedly staying in her maiden home after a dispute with him When the suspect failed to resolve the quarrel with his wife he barged into her home and murdered the family before fleeing

The police believe that the suspect hails from Swat

The deceased were identified as Hasan Shah Hazrat Ali Hazrat Bilal

Four terrorists, including commander, gunned down by securit y forces in KP

RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t

Security forces have gunned down four terrorists, including a commander, in two separate intelligencebased operations (IBOs) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa shared the military s media wing in a statement on

Wednesday According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) statement the operations were conducted on Tuesday in KP s Bajaur and Khyber districts In Bajaur, the operation was launched after the security forces received a tip-off about the presence of terrorists in the general area of Inayat Qilla

During the operation an intense fire exchange took place between security forces and terrorists that resulted in the killing of three militants including commander Shafi Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from the killed terrorists, who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces as well as killing of innocent citizens,” said the ISPR

It added that the forces were conducting sanitisation of the area to eliminate any terrorists found in the area The operation in the Khyber district was conducted in the general area of Tirah where a fire change took place between the security forces and terrorists

In the shootout, one terrorist was killed, while another three were injured The forces also recovered weapons and ammunition from the killed terrorist “Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism the ISPR added

Latif Khosa house attacker arrested; planned to hit Ait zaz Ahsan next

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Lahore police Wednesday said it apprehended the suspect who allegedly opened fire at the residence of former Punjab governor and senior lawyer Sardar Latif Khosa adding that he also intended to target Barrister Aitzaz Ahsan Punjab Police DIG Investigation Kamran Adil stated that the suspect was wanted in 14 other cases of firing He added that the suspect Mohsin, alias Lamba, is a resident of Samanabad, an area in Lahore’s Millat Park The suspect told the police that he was given money by Zubair Khan Niazi, after which he opened fire at Khosa’s house “The suspect was used to create tension in the ties between the lawyers and the government the DIG investigation said Earlier this month the politician s driver sustained injuries after a gun attack was launched by unidentified gunmen at his house in Lahore According to the politician, he remained safe in the attack, but the attackers fled the scene “I was listening to a client’s case at home My driver came in and said he had been shot Khosa said sharing details about the incident The veteran PPP politician said he saw holes in the house door when he stepped outside to check Kalashnikov was used to fire at my house Such tactics won’t work We stand with the chief justice ” Meanwhile, the PPP had abruptly suspended the basic membership of both Khosa and Ahsan reportedly for violating the party s discipline

Zohran, Zehran, Rabia, Ruqqaya Bibi and Habiba, wife of Hasan Shah

A case was registered against the killings and further investigation is underway claim officials Residents of the area and aggrieved family members staged a protest against the horrifying murders and called for justice Assistant Commissioner Batkhela Shakeel Ahmad Khan said that the incident appeared to be a matrimonial dispute The Malakand Levies has started investigation and arrested three suspects The suspects have confessed to the crime during investigation

KP CM TAKES NOTICE OF NINE

PEOPLE’S KILLING

Meanwhile, Caretaker Chief Minister (CM) of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), Muhammad Azam Khan on Wednesday

while taking notice of the killing of nine people inside a house in Batkhela tehsil of Malakand division, directed the police officers to immediately investigate the incident and take necessary action for arresting the culprits Muhammad Azam Khan in his condolence message expressed deep grief and sorrow over the loss of lives, prayed to Almighty Allah to rest the departed souls in peace and give their bereaved families strength to bear the loss with fortitude He said “The act is shameful brutal and condemnable The elements involved in the incident cannot escape from the grip of the law under any circumstances and all possible efforts will be made to provide complete justice to the victim’s family,” he added

Technology

This committee aimed to overcome the challenges and present a clear hemp policy to the federal cabinet

In a recent meeting held at the Ministry of Narcotics the committee concluded discussions on the hemp policy The committee s summary emphasized that the global industrial hemp and medicinal cannabis industry is projected to grow from the current $25 billion to approximately $100 billion by 2026 Recognizing the need for swift action to tap into this rapidly expanding industry and earn foreign exchange the committee emphasized the potential for creating thousands of jobs across various sectors through hemp cultivation

However, the Ministry of Food Security raised concerns, stating that a two-year research period is necessary to approve seeds for cultivation Additionally, factors such as soil and weather conditions need to be thoroughly documented before commercial cultivation of the crop can be permitted

Consequently the Ministry of Narcotics has deferred the presentation of the summary to the federal cabinet for the approval of the Hemp policy

PM Shehbaz , President Erdogan exchange Eid greetings

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t P r i m e M i n i s t e r M u h a m m a d S h e h b a z S h a r i f o n

We d n e s d a y s p o k e t o t h e P r e s i d e n t o f t h e R e p u bl i c o f Tu r k i y e R e c e p Ta y y i p E r d o g a n a n d f e l i c it a t e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d t h e p e o p l e o f Tu r k i y e o n t h e a u s p i c i o u s o c c a s i o n o f E i d u l A z h a R ec i p r o c a t i n g t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r s s e n t i m e n t s P r e s i d e n t E r d o g a n e x t e n d e d w a r m E i d g r e e t i n g s t o t h e p e o p l e o f P a k i s t a n P M O ff i c e M e d i a Wi n g s a i d i n a p r e s s r e l e a s e T h e t w o l e a d e r s a l s o r e v i e w e d b i l a t e r a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n P a ki s t a n a n d Tu r k i y e T h e y a g r e e d t h a t t h e 7 t h S e ss i o n o f t h e H i g h - L e v e l S t r a t e g i c C o o p e r a t i o n C o u n c i l ( H L S C C ) t o b e h e l d i n I s l a m a b a d w o u l d p r o v i d e a l e a d e r s h i p d r i v e n a n d f o r w a r d o r i e n t e d i m p e t u s t o f u r t h e r s t r e n g t h e n t h e c l o s e f r a t e r n a l r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s e sp e c i a l l y i n t h e e c o n o m i c d o m a i n P a k i s t a nTu r k i y e r e l a t i o n s h i p i s u n d e r p i n n e d b y a b i d i n g b o n d s o f r e l i g i o n , c u l t u r e a n d h i s t o r y

Pilgrims stone devils as Hajj winds down

MINA

S ta f f R e p o R t

Vast crowds of robed pilgrims hurled pebbles in the stoning of the devil ritual on Wednesday as the biggest Hajj pilgrimage since the start of the pandemic draws to a close in intense Saudi Arabian heat

From dawn in Mina hundreds of thousands of Muslim pilgrims began pelting three concrete monoliths representing Satan, and heading to Makkah for a final tawaf More than 1 8 million people are taking part in the first unrestricted Hajj since Covid struck in 2020 About 2 5 mil-

lion, the most on record, joined the pilgrimage in pre-pandemic 2019 As well as crowds at every turn the visitors have had to contend with ferocious temperatures at the Hajj which currently coincides with the Saudi summer Temperatures peaked at 48 degrees Celsius (118 Fahrenheit) on Tuesday when the pilgrims prayed for hours at Mount Arafat and were expected to hit 47 degrees on Wednesday in Mina As helicopters buzzed overhead, pilgrims flooded the streets around Mina In Makkah the Grand Mosque was packed from the early

morning with circling pilgrims, who loudly congratulated each other on completing the Hajj This year s attendance figure a n n o u n c e d b y S a u d i o ff i c i a l s on Tuesday falls well short of their predictions of beating the

2019 record, possibly because o f t h e h e a t o r t h e c o s t , a t around $5 000 per person just to attend

The overwhelming majority of the 1 8 million pilgrims more than 1 6 million are for-

eigners, coming from about 160 countries

The Hajj is a major revenue earner for Saudi Arabia which is trying to pivot its oil-reliant economy in new directions including tourism The kingdom makes an estimated $12 billion a year from the Hajj and yearround Umrah pilgrimages S a u d i A r a b i a s K i n g S a l m a n i s s u e d a m e s s a g e wishing wellbeing and prosperity on our country, on Musl i m s a n d t h e w o r l d a n d a n n o u n c e d h e w o u l d p a y f o r s a c r i f i c i a l a n i m a l s f o r n e a r l y 5 000 of the poorest pilgrims Wednesday s devil-stoning marks the start of the three-day Eidul Azha holiday celebrated by Muslims to commemorate Hazrat Ibrahim s (RA) willingness to sacrifice his son