Epaper_23-07-10 ISB

PM SHEHBA Z DENOUNCES ‘VILE CAMPAIGN’ AGAINST ARMY CHIEF

g LIKENS ‘CONSPIRACY ’ TO VIOLENT PROTESTS AND ATTACKS ON ARMY INSTALLATIONS ON MAY 9

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif denounced what he called a social media campaign alleging a murder attempt on the army chief, emphasising the government s determination to thwart any conspiracy against Pakistan and its institutions

In a statement released by the PM Office the prime minister expressed his condemnation of the conspiracy which he likened to the protests triggered by the unlawful arrest on May 9 of former prime minister Imran Khan, suggesting a connection between the two events

Prime Minister Sharif has instructed the authorities to initiate legal action against both domestic and international entities involved in propagating such media campaigns within the country

“The message is clear to the planners facilitators and handlers of the 9th May conspiracy: any plot against Pakistan and its institutions will be crushed he asserted

He further characterised the malicious and violent nature of these media campaigns as a product of miscreants’ planning emphasising that the “conspirators” are once again seeking to disrupt the political and economic stability of the country

The current media campaign is an extension of the abhorrent campaign previously launched against the martyred of the military, the prime minister declared without offering any evidence Sharif emphasised the alleged media’s attacks on the army and Gen Asim Munir cannot be justified as freedom of expression Instead, he categorised it as a con-

spiracy asserting that it is the government s legal responsibility to eradicate such tendencies with full force

He expressed confidence that the nation would thwart these attempts just as it did on May 9 when it successfully prevented violence and vandalism from

Seven killed, 10 injured as cylinder blast flattens hotel building in Jhelum

g

DECLARES ANY PLOT AGAINST PAKISTAN, INSTITUTIONS WILL BE CRUSHED

gaining a foothold in the country

The prime minister reassured the nation that it stands firmly behind its military and its chief, vowing not to allow disillusioned elements to create new crises within the country Separately on his Twitter handle the

prime minister said that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf chief Imran Khan continued to engage in a vile, sinister and malicious campaign against COAS General Syed Asim Munir His trick of using the proxies to threaten the Army Chief of an assassination attempt has been badly exposed After his methodically planned attack on the State symbols failed, he is clearly desperate & wants to coerce his way back into power little knowing that the time of his politics of intimidation violence & hatred is over he added Through such highly condemnable antics, the prime minister said he (IK) was only exposing himself, the core of which was defined by putting his personal interest (power grab) over everything else The people of Pakistan and the political parties stood behind their Army Chief and the armed forces like a rock and would thwart any attempt and conspiracy at undermining their prestige, honour and integrity, he added

P M p a y s r e s p e c t s t o F a t i m a J i n n a h o n 5 6 t h d e a t h a n n i v e r s a r y

ISLAMABAD: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif honoured the mother of the nation Fatima Jinnah on the occasion of her 56th death anniversary on Sunday

According to a press statement from his office the prime minister described Jinnah as a benefactor of the nation and a source of strength for her brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah, the founding father

Despite her advanced age, she steadfastly resisted dictatorship and played a historic role in championing democracy and the nation the prime minister said

K h A s i f s e e s d i s s o l u t i o n

back to their allies

tional defense, he added

Highlighting Jinnah’s exceptional contributions to the Pakistan Movement and her sacrifices for the motherland Sharif emphasized that her personality continues to serve as a guiding light for young women and girls across the country He further expressed that the entire nation acknowledges and pays tribute to her remarkable contributions, remaining forever grateful for her services

The prime minister offered prayers for the elevation of her soul and called upon the nation to join him in praying for her eternal

District Police Officer (DPO) Nasir Mehmood Bajwa told Dawn com that the explosion did not occur in the building but in the cylinder shop which was located in the basement of the building Proceedings have been initiated for registration of a case,” he added

A statement from Jhelum Deputy Commissioner (DC) Samiullah Farooq said that there was no evidence of anyone else under the hotel s wreckage He added that the rescue operation was continuing while a search operation would begin in the morning

According to police, district administration and Rescue 1122, a three-storey building located on the Grand Trunk Road in Jhelum collapsed after a gas cylinder exploded in the kitchen on the ground floor

The rescue teams comprising police civil defense personnel and courageous civilians engaged to remove the debris from the building and evacuate the injured and dead bodies Samiullah Farooq, Deputy Commissioner of Jhelum, confirmed the death of seven people and said almost 10 others were recovered from the rubble and shifted to the District Headquarters (DHQ) Hospital

Two of the injured who were in critical condition have been transported to Rawalpindi, he added

There are reports that four to five people could be underneath the rubble,” the deputy commissioner said, adding that the rescue operation would continue till the last trapped person was reached and the whole site was cleared

Federal Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif on Sunday declared that assemblies will be dissolution in August upon completion of their constitutional tenure saying preparations for general election have commenced and distribution of tickets will be started soon

Speaking at a worker s convention in Sialkot on Sunday, Kh Asif said that Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) keeping in view dissolution of assemblies in August has started preparations for the general elections

The federal minister said that PMLN-led PMD coalition government had the choice to dissolve assemblies immediately but it would have deepened the economic crisis and Pakistan would have defaulted 14 months ago

He revealed that the reason behind the ouster of the former prime minister and PTI chief through noconfidence motion was their attitude toward allies – they turned their

The defence minister lambasted the PTI chairman saying that he dissolved the KP and Punjab assemblies despite disagreement among the party leaders The PTI chief planned the May 9 violence and it will be a black day in the history of Pakistan

The federal minister said that the PTI chief made so many mistakes that in his depression he made a plan for May 9, he said No one has ever thought in the history of the country of carrying out such attacks on the army installations It was a dark day in the national history that challenged the state he added

Kh Asif said the PTI played the role of the enemy by attacking martyrs memorials and risking lives of law enforcement personnel “This person (Imran Khan) challenged the defense institutions; he would have to pay for it so that if anyone had the misconception that our defense institutions could be challenged it should be removed The nation stands behind the guarantor of na-

The minister said the PDM took over the government in difficult circumstances He said the PDM-led government had the choice to dissolve assemblies immediately after gaining power, but it would have deepened the economic crisis and Pakistan would have defaulted 14 months ago “If the assembly was dissolved the flow of IMF funds and other aid would have stopped and the country would have defaulted, he added

He said after 14 months of struggle, “we saved the country from default and that is why the country is gradually improving

Kh Asif said: I have not seen any worker of any party absconding the way PTI leaders absconded But now all fugitives were sitting in the zoom meeting of the IMF,” he added He said that thousands of rupees of electricity gas and taxes were stolen If that theft had continued the country could never have become economically stable

$ 1 . 4 b a l l e g e d s c a m s h a ke s p r o s p e c t s o f C u s t o m o f f i c e r s f o r b e c o m i n g n ex t F B R c h i e f

A $1 4 billion Customs scam allegedly planned and executed at Karachi with connivance of high-level custom officers by allowing unlawful clearance of over 52 000 GDs of imported goods

uments was not found admissible and was denied there was no illegality on the part of importers to file their GDs without tagging the mandatory financial instruments

Sources said that, by taking such a position, Member custom had declared lawful any attempt on the part of importers to commit fiscal fraud, an offence which the custom punishes with imprisonment of 14 years under section 156(14A) of the Custom Act

Interestingly after the member custom took this position on the scam his field officers contradicted it by issuing a letter and holding those importers liable who claimed inadmissible concessions and filed GDs without tagging the mandatory financial instruments

and Automation had initially discovered the scam and had asked FBR to take action

Moreover after the discovery of the scam member custom had taken the position that if importers had filed

without tagging financial instruments claiming a concessionary tax regime which, after processing of their doc-

In another strange development after the scam sources revealed FBR has reportedly written to chief collector Quetta to prepare and furnish a charge sheet against director Reform and Automation who earlier served as Collector Quetta customs and who had now discovered the mega revenue loss scam in an apparent attempt to silence the whistle blower and bury the scam

Sources said that victimisation of whistleblowers by FBR has become the order of the day to shield the recurring custom scams in FBR s field offices from public view and accountability

o f a s s e m b l i e s i n A u g u s t

PAKISTAN UNDER BURDEN OF CHINESE DEBT IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT: REPORT

BEIJING

PA K I S TA N under the burden of Chinese debt is not a true statement as considering all the funds that China has provided to Pakistan, including the safe deposits, it amounts to approximately 20 percent “And as I mentioned most money came as a swap

They are reserves in Pakistani banks to avoid default The rest are concessional loans trying to help us create economic opportunities for more financial resources and revenue, which will help to avert our debt crisis says report carried by Xinhua

Our real problem is the foreign debt from the Western financial institutions Pakistan cannot pay them back because they are high-interest loans Some of them, like private debt, are even higher, said Ramay “Pakistan also sold bonds in the Western

Health experts encourage youth to promote blood donation and dispel myths

ISLAMABAD: Health experts are urging young people to actively participate in awareness campaigns for “Blood Donation” through social media platforms, particularly in underprivileged areas of the country They emphasize the need to debunk common myths and call on stakeholders to invest in improving the existing infrastructure District Health Officer Dr Zaeem stressed the importance of public education in dispelling unfounded myths surrounding blood donation He highlighted that people often only donate blood in emergency situations but emphasized that the availability of screened fresh blood is crucial in hospitals on a daily basis especially for critical patients undergoing major operations or childbirth Dr Zaeem further emphasized the collective responsibility of society to encourage rural residents and young people to embrace the noble act of blood donation as it is through joint efforts that lives can be saved Another senior medical officer Dr Amina affirmed that blood donation is a simple and safe procedure, emphasizing that donated blood can save the lives of those in need while also benefiting the overall health of the donor She encouraged all eligible individuals to consider making regular blood donations Expressing concern Dr Amina noted that in Pakistan people often come forward to donate blood only when unfortunate incidents occur, which sometimes proves to be too late to save lives Staff RepoRt

Jang repor ter in Karachi ‘taken away by police’: newspaper

KARACHI: Syed Muhammad Askari a reporter associated with the Urdu-language Jang newspaper, was arrested by police in Karachi, the publication said on Sunday Eyewitnesses, including a friend of Askari present during the incident, said he was apprehended by both police personnel and individuals in plain clothes on Saturday night near the KPT Interchange in the Qayyumabad suburb of Korangi Town The witnesses claimed that a police vehicle and a white car intercepted Askari s vehicle as he and his friend were returning from a wedding

According to the friend despite Askari identifying himself as a reporter and explaining his profession both the police and plain-clothed men detained them However the friend was later released He brought the vehicle to the Jang office and reported the incident Upon contacting the police helpline to report the abduction the person who answered the call instructed Askari’s friend to approach the relevant police station for assistance As of now the reporter s location remains unknown, and efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful Rao Rafiq, station house officer (SHO) of Zaman Town police station, claimed to be unaware of the incident when informed about it Tariq Nawaz senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Korangi said they are currently gathering information regarding the incident Askari s family has urged the authorities to take immediate action to locate and recover him S ta f f R e p o R t

market at a higher rate Those all are causing real problems for Pakistan

Ta k e t h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y I n i t s s t o r y,

A P s a i d “ I n P a k i s t a n m i l l i o n s o f t e x t i l e w o r k e r s h a v e b e e n l a i d o ff b e c a u s e t h e c o u n t r y h a s t o o m u c h f o r e i g n d e b t a n d can t afford to keep the electricity on and machines running For Shahid Sattar, secretary general of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, the sector was hit by a “perfect storm” of a liquidity shortage caused by the significant c h a n g e i n r u p e e - d o l l a r p a r i t y d e l a y s i n sales tax refunds and the cotton crop failure in Pakistan

But to blame it on China is completely absurd China has been working with Pakistan to resolve our economic issues sustain-

ably ” Shahid said Countries defaulting inflation soaring people losing jobs and their families facing starvation This is the bleak picture

painted by Western media of the world s poorest countries falling into a “debt trap ” China, again, became an easy target to blame A recent Associated Press (AP) story titled China s loans pushing world s poorest countries to the brink of collapse accused China of setting up the so-called debt trap and labeled it as the world s biggest and most unforgiving government lender But does this allegation hold water?

On-site investigations conducted by Xinhua on several countries including Pakistan

Kenya Zambia and Sri Lanka present a contrasting perspective to the AP report shedding new light on their debt impasse According to the National Treasury of Kenya, Kenya’s external debt stock stood at 36 66 billion U S dollars at the end of March 2023 The debt is owed to multilateral lenders (46 3 percent) and bilateral sources (24 7 percent) among others As of March 2023, Kenya owed Chinese entities, includ-

ing Chinese banks and companies, 6 31 billion dollars, but the largest chunk of Kenya’s debt 17 billion dollars is owed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)

Citing World Bank IDS data a Briefing

Paper titled Integrating China into Multilateral Debt Relief: Progress and Problems in the G20 DSSI, released by the Johns Hopkins University in April, showed that “China (Chinese entities) only holds 21 percent of Kenya’s public external debt with private creditors holding another 24 percent and multilateral institutions 45 percent

Data exclusively given to Xinhua by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) of Pakistan showed that as of April 2023, Pakistan’s total external debt was 125 702 billion dollars while the loan from Chinese entities was 20 375 billion dollars and some 4 billion dollars more from the Chinese side as safe deposits, making Chinese entities

Revolutionar y steps being taken to promote Pakistan’s image, narrative

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that revolutionary steps were being taken to implement the vision and directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promote the country s culture and heritage and its narrative through screen tourism

She said this while addressing a ceremony after performing ground breaking of the site for cinema and inauguration of Classical Musical Re-

serach Cell Digital Broadcast Training

Lab and Podcast Studio here at the Radio Pakiatan Marriyum Aurangzeb said that through using platforms like Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan, Lok Virsa and Pakistan National Council of Arts the people especially the youth could be connected with the country s heritage

She said that infotainment and entertainment were highly required for people especially the younger generation because during the last four years, hatred and intolerance had been pro-

moted in the country Marriyum said that it was a high time when people and especially youngsters should be provided an alternative through which they could engage themselves in positive activities

She said that in 2017 and 2018, a foundation of the country’s first culture policy and film policy was laid adding that implementation of the policy was started in the 2018 budget which was given by PML-N government She said that unfortunately during the last four years, all institutions were

ruined PTV sports was handed over to A-Sports just to deteriorate the department and auction it later

The minister said that for the first time, slogan was raised in the Parliament to auction PTV and Radio Pakistan buildings and these organizations She said that those behind such slogans did not know the significance of national brodcasters and the country s heritage The governments in the past had not patronized the filmmakers, artists, writers, producers, distributors and cinema owners, she added She said “Film policy is part of our legislation to promote the country’s narrative through screen tourism

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that tax incentives were available for filmmakers, producers, actors, distributors, cinemas and this would help in producing more films and promoting the country’s soft image She further said that culture and film policies were introduced when the country was fighting the war on terror adding that as it was the only tool through which the country s image could be improved globally

debt in Pakistan only 16 2 percent of its total (without adding the safe deposits)

This (AP s story) is not the first story

It is a series of stories (to defame China), Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan told Xinhua

According to WB statistics nearly threequarters of Africa s total external debt is held by multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors, making them the largest creditors in Africa, said Wang Zhan, member of the International Finance and Economics Research Expert Studio of China s Ministry of Finance In the article AP claimed Behind the scenes is China s reluctance to forgive debt portraying the country as an unforgiving lender

Responding to the AP story, Song Wei, professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy Beijing Foreign Studies University said that China s contribution to debt relief exemplifies the international obligations expected of a responsible major country In the 46 countries that participated in the DSSI, Chinese creditors accounted for 30 percent of all claims, and contributed 63 percent of debt service suspensions ” Song said she believes China is a genuine partner for developing countries needing capital to support nation-building projects

Theft in Paris: The ordeal of a Pakistani MONITORING

REPORT

In a world where technology plays an integral role in our lives losing valuable possessions can be a major setback, recently it been reported that Nomaan Sheikh went to attend a vivatech in Paris and he is representing Pakistan in that event VivaTech is an innovation accelerator that brings together startups, technology leaders, large companies and investors to address the world s biggest challenges It is the place where business meets innovation Sadly the event is not good for Nomaan Sheikh because his laptop and bag is stolen this morning that includes his Passport He is currently trying to recover everything with the help of police but it is very saddened to know that someone that enthusiastic about tech and motivated to bring knowledge back to his country has to go through all this It was an ordinary day when he parked his car on a busy street In a rush he left his laptop bag on the passenger seat mistakenly believing that it would be safe for a brief moment Little did he know that this lapse in judgment would lead to a significant loss Returning to his car, he was horrified to find his belongings are missing The theft not only resulted in the loss of my laptop which contained valuable personal and professional data but also my bag which held essential items like my wallet keys and most importantly, my passport

Iran depor ts 35 ‘illegal’ Pakistan immigrants

CHAGAI: Iranian border officials have deported an additional 35 immigrants from Pakistan who illegally entered the neighbouring country Pakistan s border authorities have handed over the deported individuals to the antihuman trafficking cell of the FIA According to the border officials, the deportees had planned to illegally immigrate to European countries through Iran Many individuals from Pakistan have been crossing into Iran with the aim of illegally migrating to Europe in search of better opportunities The issue of illegal immigration has gained global attention following a recent incident where a boat carrying several Pakistan nationals sank near the coast of Greece, resulting in reported deaths Staff RepoRt

Resc ue 1122 and WASA prepared for potential floods in L ai drain

informed that as per the government s instructions and in anticipation of above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season, a special campaign to clean sewerage lines had been completed Modern winch machines were employed for the comprehensive cleaning of the lines The spokesperson added that Chatha and Rawalpindi Deputy Commis-

Singin in the rain?

it is also dangerous However, this Eid, we had moved behind the arrival it seemed But life goes on We had a family dinner to attend with what seemed a large number of children in attendance Everyone got wet to the point where the host freely offered his children s clothes to anyone who got soaked, because of even a brief stint in the open I made my excuses, it was bad enough getting wet just by getting into and out of the car despite modelling my sprinting style on Fawad Chaudhry at the Islamabad High Court to have to force myself into someone else s clothes My younger boy accepted, with the result that his cousin’s t-shirt, or tracksuit bottom (they look the same) or both are still mixed in our laundry (The etiquette seems to be that even if a holey and grimy old t-shirt has been borrowed it must be returned

starched ironed and washed whiter than white One woman s way of showing another what her standard of housekeeping is One of the things I noticed was how prompt LESCO was at turning off the power Those places where it didn’t, were probably the ones where people venturing out in the floods were electrocuted And by

sioner Hasan Waqar Cheema inspected the progress of the sewage line cleaning during their visits to various areas To deter the illegal dumping of garbage and solid waste into Nullah Lai violating the district administration s orders Section-144 has been imposed in the vicinity Strict actions are being taken against those found in violation Furthermore, WASA has finalised the Monsoon 2023 plan, which includes the cleaning of sewerage lines the annual cleaning of Nullah Lai and the inspection of WASA machinery as done each year

A group photo after meeting with Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi of the delegation under the leadership of Khawaja Habibur Rahman, Convenor of Flour Mills Committee of Lahore Chamber of Commerce

PAKISTAN UNDER BURDEN OF CHINESE DEBT IS NOT A TRUE STATEMENT: REPORT

BEIJING

PA K I S TA N under the burden of Chinese debt is not a true statement as considering all the funds that China has provided to Pakistan, including the safe deposits, it amounts to approximately 20 percent “And as I mentioned most money came as a swap

They are reserves in Pakistani banks to avoid default The rest are concessional loans trying to help us create economic opportunities for more financial resources and revenue, which will help to avert our debt crisis says report carried by Xinhua

Our real problem is the foreign debt from the Western financial institutions Pakistan cannot pay them back because they are high-interest loans Some of them, like private debt, are even higher, said Ramay “Pakistan also sold bonds in the Western

Health experts encourage youth to promote blood donation and dispel myths

ISLAMABAD: Health experts are urging young people to actively participate in awareness campaigns for “Blood Donation” through social media platforms, particularly in underprivileged areas of the country They emphasize the need to debunk common myths and call on stakeholders to invest in improving the existing infrastructure District Health Officer Dr Zaeem stressed the importance of public education in dispelling unfounded myths surrounding blood donation He highlighted that people often only donate blood in emergency situations but emphasized that the availability of screened fresh blood is crucial in hospitals on a daily basis especially for critical patients undergoing major operations or childbirth Dr Zaeem further emphasized the collective responsibility of society to encourage rural residents and young people to embrace the noble act of blood donation as it is through joint efforts that lives can be saved Another senior medical officer Dr Amina affirmed that blood donation is a simple and safe procedure, emphasizing that donated blood can save the lives of those in need while also benefiting the overall health of the donor She encouraged all eligible individuals to consider making regular blood donations Expressing concern Dr Amina noted that in Pakistan people often come forward to donate blood only when unfortunate incidents occur, which sometimes proves to be too late to save lives Staff RepoRt

Jang repor ter in Karachi ‘taken away by police’: newspaper

KARACHI: Syed Muhammad Askari a reporter associated with the Urdu-language Jang newspaper, was arrested by police in Karachi, the publication said on Sunday Eyewitnesses, including a friend of Askari present during the incident, said he was apprehended by both police personnel and individuals in plain clothes on Saturday night near the KPT Interchange in the Qayyumabad suburb of Korangi Town The witnesses claimed that a police vehicle and a white car intercepted Askari s vehicle as he and his friend were returning from a wedding

According to the friend despite Askari identifying himself as a reporter and explaining his profession both the police and plain-clothed men detained them However the friend was later released He brought the vehicle to the Jang office and reported the incident Upon contacting the police helpline to report the abduction the person who answered the call instructed Askari’s friend to approach the relevant police station for assistance As of now the reporter s location remains unknown, and efforts to locate him have been unsuccessful Rao Rafiq, station house officer (SHO) of Zaman Town police station, claimed to be unaware of the incident when informed about it Tariq Nawaz senior superintendent of police (SSP) in Korangi said they are currently gathering information regarding the incident Askari s family has urged the authorities to take immediate action to locate and recover him S ta f f R e p o R t

market at a higher rate Those all are causing real problems for Pakistan

Ta k e t h e t e x t i l e i n d u s t r y I n i t s s t o r y,

A P s a i d “ I n P a k i s t a n m i l l i o n s o f t e x t i l e w o r k e r s h a v e b e e n l a i d o ff b e c a u s e t h e c o u n t r y h a s t o o m u c h f o r e i g n d e b t a n d can t afford to keep the electricity on and machines running For Shahid Sattar, secretary general of the All Pakistan Textile Mills Association, the sector was hit by a “perfect storm” of a liquidity shortage caused by the significant c h a n g e i n r u p e e - d o l l a r p a r i t y d e l a y s i n sales tax refunds and the cotton crop failure in Pakistan

But to blame it on China is completely absurd China has been working with Pakistan to resolve our economic issues sustain-

ably ” Shahid said Countries defaulting inflation soaring people losing jobs and their families facing starvation This is the bleak picture

painted by Western media of the world s poorest countries falling into a “debt trap ” China, again, became an easy target to blame A recent Associated Press (AP) story titled China s loans pushing world s poorest countries to the brink of collapse accused China of setting up the so-called debt trap and labeled it as the world s biggest and most unforgiving government lender But does this allegation hold water?

On-site investigations conducted by Xinhua on several countries including Pakistan

Kenya Zambia and Sri Lanka present a contrasting perspective to the AP report shedding new light on their debt impasse According to the National Treasury of Kenya, Kenya’s external debt stock stood at 36 66 billion U S dollars at the end of March 2023 The debt is owed to multilateral lenders (46 3 percent) and bilateral sources (24 7 percent) among others As of March 2023, Kenya owed Chinese entities, includ-

ing Chinese banks and companies, 6 31 billion dollars, but the largest chunk of Kenya’s debt 17 billion dollars is owed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank (WB)

Citing World Bank IDS data a Briefing

Paper titled Integrating China into Multilateral Debt Relief: Progress and Problems in the G20 DSSI, released by the Johns Hopkins University in April, showed that “China (Chinese entities) only holds 21 percent of Kenya’s public external debt with private creditors holding another 24 percent and multilateral institutions 45 percent

Data exclusively given to Xinhua by the Economic Affairs Division (EAD) of Pakistan showed that as of April 2023, Pakistan’s total external debt was 125 702 billion dollars while the loan from Chinese entities was 20 375 billion dollars and some 4 billion dollars more from the Chinese side as safe deposits, making Chinese entities

Revolutionar y steps being taken to promote Pakistan’s image, narrative

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said on Sunday that revolutionary steps were being taken to implement the vision and directive of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to promote the country s culture and heritage and its narrative through screen tourism

She said this while addressing a ceremony after performing ground breaking of the site for cinema and inauguration of Classical Musical Re-

serach Cell Digital Broadcast Training

Lab and Podcast Studio here at the Radio Pakiatan Marriyum Aurangzeb said that through using platforms like Pakistan Television, Radio Pakistan, Lok Virsa and Pakistan National Council of Arts the people especially the youth could be connected with the country s heritage

She said that infotainment and entertainment were highly required for people especially the younger generation because during the last four years, hatred and intolerance had been pro-

moted in the country Marriyum said that it was a high time when people and especially youngsters should be provided an alternative through which they could engage themselves in positive activities

She said that in 2017 and 2018, a foundation of the country’s first culture policy and film policy was laid adding that implementation of the policy was started in the 2018 budget which was given by PML-N government She said that unfortunately during the last four years, all institutions were

ruined PTV sports was handed over to A-Sports just to deteriorate the department and auction it later

The minister said that for the first time, slogan was raised in the Parliament to auction PTV and Radio Pakistan buildings and these organizations She said that those behind such slogans did not know the significance of national brodcasters and the country s heritage The governments in the past had not patronized the filmmakers, artists, writers, producers, distributors and cinema owners, she added She said “Film policy is part of our legislation to promote the country’s narrative through screen tourism

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that tax incentives were available for filmmakers, producers, actors, distributors, cinemas and this would help in producing more films and promoting the country’s soft image She further said that culture and film policies were introduced when the country was fighting the war on terror adding that as it was the only tool through which the country s image could be improved globally

debt in Pakistan only 16 2 percent of its total (without adding the safe deposits)

This (AP s story) is not the first story

It is a series of stories (to defame China), Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, CEO of the Asian Institute of Eco-civilization Research and Development in Pakistan told Xinhua

According to WB statistics nearly threequarters of Africa s total external debt is held by multilateral financial institutions and commercial creditors, making them the largest creditors in Africa, said Wang Zhan, member of the International Finance and Economics Research Expert Studio of China s Ministry of Finance In the article AP claimed Behind the scenes is China s reluctance to forgive debt portraying the country as an unforgiving lender

Responding to the AP story, Song Wei, professor at the School of International Relations and Diplomacy Beijing Foreign Studies University said that China s contribution to debt relief exemplifies the international obligations expected of a responsible major country In the 46 countries that participated in the DSSI, Chinese creditors accounted for 30 percent of all claims, and contributed 63 percent of debt service suspensions ” Song said she believes China is a genuine partner for developing countries needing capital to support nation-building projects

Theft in Paris: The ordeal of a Pakistani MONITORING

REPORT

In a world where technology plays an integral role in our lives losing valuable possessions can be a major setback, recently it been reported that Nomaan Sheikh went to attend a vivatech in Paris and he is representing Pakistan in that event VivaTech is an innovation accelerator that brings together startups, technology leaders, large companies and investors to address the world s biggest challenges It is the place where business meets innovation Sadly the event is not good for Nomaan Sheikh because his laptop and bag is stolen this morning that includes his Passport He is currently trying to recover everything with the help of police but it is very saddened to know that someone that enthusiastic about tech and motivated to bring knowledge back to his country has to go through all this It was an ordinary day when he parked his car on a busy street In a rush he left his laptop bag on the passenger seat mistakenly believing that it would be safe for a brief moment Little did he know that this lapse in judgment would lead to a significant loss Returning to his car, he was horrified to find his belongings are missing The theft not only resulted in the loss of my laptop which contained valuable personal and professional data but also my bag which held essential items like my wallet keys and most importantly, my passport

Iran depor ts 35 ‘illegal’ Pakistan immigrants

CHAGAI: Iranian border officials have deported an additional 35 immigrants from Pakistan who illegally entered the neighbouring country Pakistan s border authorities have handed over the deported individuals to the antihuman trafficking cell of the FIA According to the border officials, the deportees had planned to illegally immigrate to European countries through Iran Many individuals from Pakistan have been crossing into Iran with the aim of illegally migrating to Europe in search of better opportunities The issue of illegal immigration has gained global attention following a recent incident where a boat carrying several Pakistan nationals sank near the coast of Greece, resulting in reported deaths Staff RepoRt

Resc ue 1122 and WASA prepared for potential floods in L ai drain

informed that as per the government s instructions and in anticipation of above-normal rainfall during the monsoon season, a special campaign to clean sewerage lines had been completed Modern winch machines were employed for the comprehensive cleaning of the lines The spokesperson added that Chatha and Rawalpindi Deputy Commis-

Singin in the rain?

it is also dangerous However, this Eid, we had moved behind the arrival it seemed But life goes on We had a family dinner to attend with what seemed a large number of children in attendance Everyone got wet to the point where the host freely offered his children s clothes to anyone who got soaked, because of even a brief stint in the open I made my excuses, it was bad enough getting wet just by getting into and out of the car despite modelling my sprinting style on Fawad Chaudhry at the Islamabad High Court to have to force myself into someone else s clothes My younger boy accepted, with the result that his cousin’s t-shirt, or tracksuit bottom (they look the same) or both are still mixed in our laundry (The etiquette seems to be that even if a holey and grimy old t-shirt has been borrowed it must be returned

starched ironed and washed whiter than white One woman s way of showing another what her standard of housekeeping is One of the things I noticed was how prompt LESCO was at turning off the power Those places where it didn’t, were probably the ones where people venturing out in the floods were electrocuted And by

sioner Hasan Waqar Cheema inspected the progress of the sewage line cleaning during their visits to various areas To deter the illegal dumping of garbage and solid waste into Nullah Lai violating the district administration s orders Section-144 has been imposed in the vicinity Strict actions are being taken against those found in violation Furthermore, WASA has finalised the Monsoon 2023 plan, which includes the cleaning of sewerage lines the annual cleaning of Nullah Lai and the inspection of WASA machinery as done each year

A group photo after meeting with Caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi of the delegation under the leadership of Khawaja Habibur Rahman, Convenor of Flour Mills Committee of Lahore Chamber of Commerce

SWISS FM VOWS TO WORK FOR BRINGING PAKISTAN, SWITZERL AND

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Acultural reception was held at the Arts Council of Pakistan Karachi to honour the Swiss Foreign Minister Ignazio Cassis, who is on an official visit to Pakistan

The event was attended by various dignitaries including Sindh Minister for Education and Culture Syed Sardar Ali Shah Minister for Local Government Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Minister for Industries Jam Ikramullah Dharejo, Minister for Livestock and Fisheries Abdul Bari Pitafi, Minister for Universities and Boards Ismail Rahu Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh

Jawed Nayab Laghari among others

Swiss Foreign Minister s visit to Pakistan after 17 years has been warmly welcomed by the Sindh government, which

District admins spent Rs1.78 billion in May to resolve plaints referred by ombudsman

LAHORE: Following the orders of Punjab

organized a brief ceremony under the banner of Melodies of Sindh Minister Cassis and the parliamentary delegation from Switzerland were greeted with traditional Sindhi dance perform-

Ombudsman retired Maj Azam Suleman Khan all 36 district administrations across Punjab undertook various repair and maintenance tasks in May of this year to resolve public complaints These initiatives encompassed a wide range of activities, including repairing sewerage lines, restoring water supply lines, fixing street lights, covering manholes cleaning and repairing streets and roads and maintaining water filtration plants to ensure clean drinking water for the local population The total expenditure for these activities amounted to Rs1 78 billion, with 363 requests being successfully processed after the involvement of the ombudsman’s office In a statement on Sunday, a spokesman for the office highlighted the financial breakdown of the spent funds While giving details he said that this includes Rs227 million for 26 requests related to sewerage lines restoration Rs0 7 million for 84 demands regarding manhole covers, Rs0 43 million for 29 requests for garbage collection and cleaning areas in different districts Rs1 74 billion for 26 requests for roads repair and maintenance Rs4 27 million for 35 requests for water filtration plants repair and maintenance

Furthermore, Rs12 23 million was spent to resolve 11 complaints related to water supply lines repair, while 152 complaints regarding street lights repair and restoration were addressed by the concerned administration incurring an expenditure of Rs0 47 million the spokesman added The spokesman expressed contentment with the prompt resolution of public grievances facilitated by the intervention of the Office of the Ombudsman Staff RepoRt

PDM distances itself from decisions of Nawaz-Zardari meeting

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

PML-N [Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz] should have taken coalition parties into confidence before holding a meeting in Dubai,” the JUI-F chairman said while talking to journalists in Peshawar, expressing displeasure over the ‘ignorance’

Maulana Fazl pointed out that the PML-N has not yet taken the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) into confidence about the meeting with Pakistan People s Party (PPP) –the ruling coalition partner in the Centre

He said that the meeting was not sudden, but had been planned so everyone should have been taken into confidence

Fazlur Rehman added that PDM was formed to counter the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government and to ensure that the general elections were held on time At that time, every political party admitted that 2018 elections were rigged ” he added

He claimed that JUI-F was against bringing a no-confidence motion against the then prime minister Imran Khan JUI-F becomes part of the movement to maintain the unity among opposition parties, he added

It is pertinent to mention here that former prime minister Nawaz Sharif met with former President Asif Zardari in a hotel located along

Sheikh Zayed Road in Dubai

s response

Khaqan Abbasi

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) senior leader and former premier Shahid Khaqan Abbasi has responded to PDM head Maulana Fazlur Rehman’s concerns over Nawaz

Sharif-Asif Ali Zardari meeting in Dubai

Kh Asif sees dissolution of assemblies in August

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Earlier, Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) unveiled its strategy for upcoming general elections and political alliance PMLN leader and Federal Education Minister Rana

Tanveer Hussain said in a statement that his political party would not get into an alliance with any political

ances Sindh Minister for Culture Syed

Sardar Ali Shah welcomed the Swiss Minister of Foreign Affairs and the parliamentary delegates expressing gratitude and acknowledging their role as ambassadors of Pak-Swiss friendship and promoters of Sindhi culture

He expressed hope that the love and peace they experienced here will be shared in their own country Sardar Shah emphasized the need for collaboration in cultural exchange and promotion of tourism

Speaking on the occasion Ignazio Cassis described the reception ceremony as a splendid memory and expressed his gratitude He mentioned that he has cherished many delightful moments of his life in Pakistan and expressed his commitment to continue the series of meetings aimed at bringing Pakistan and Switzerland closer He affirmed his intention to visit Sindh

JI to ensure basic necessities to citizens if comes into power, says Siraj

DERA ISMAIL KHAN: Jamaat-e-Islami

again in the future

In his address, Mayor Karachi highlighted the unfortunate challenges faced by the country especially the so called negative impact of Karachi He emphasized that the delegates must have realized through their warm reception that the people here are peace-loving

He further emphasized the ample opportunities for Swiss companies and other organizations to work and invest the city

The Mayor expressed a desire to collaborate in tourism and cultural initiatives

The event also featured performances by renowned musicians and instrumentalists from the region Borendo player Faqir Zulfikar, Surando player Muhammad Hassan Mirbahar Murli player Sattar Jogi Algoze player Akbar Khamiso Khan Taj Mastani and other artists showcased their talents and received tremendous appreciation from the guests

President direc ts SLICP to improve polic y on pre-insurance medical tests

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

President Dr Arif Alvi has directed the State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLCIP) to improve its policy on medical tests before the issuance of Life Insurance policies to prospecting policyholders

He asked SLICP to constitute a panel of doctors which should suggest as to what were the most prevalent and common diseases in Pakistan and what tests should be conducted before the issuance of the policy

The president gave these orders in view of the fact that a number of representations were being filed with him by the insurance companies as well as citizens in cases where insurance companies were denying the payment of death insurance claims to family members of the insured policyholders on the ground that they had willfully hidden ailments at the time of obtaining the policy, President Secretariat Press Wing said in a press release on Sunday

The payments were being refused despite the fact that the policies had been issued after the policyholders had been declared medically fit by the authorized medical officers as well as the field officers of the insurance companies The president issued directives while rejecting two separate representations filed by SLICP against the decisions of the Wafaqi Mohtasib (WM) directing it to pay Rs 3 68 million to the family members of two policyholders to whom SLICP had denied payment on account of them hiding preinsurance ailments

As per details Muhammad Yousaf and Abida Bibi had obtained life insurance policies from SLICP for the sums assured of Rs 3,485,000 and Rs 200,000 respectively

After their deaths their family members approached SLICP for the payment of insurance claims but SLICP refused to pay them the respective amounts on the ground that they were patients of diseases, such as Hepatitis C, chronic kidney disease, heart condition and hypertension and they did not disclose the existence of these ailments before SLICP

Feeling aggrieved the family members separately filed complaints with the Wafaqi Mohtasib, that passed the orders in their favour SLICP, then filed representations with the President, which were rejected The president in his decision observed that the two policyholders were declared medically fit by the concerned medical officers as well as the field officers of SLICP who stated that they knew the policyholders for a number of years

He noted that pre-insurance ailments could easily be diagnosed and detected by the medical officers as the services of these officers were arranged to examine policyholders prior to the issuance of policies

He maintained that SLICP could not take the plea of pre-insurance ailments to deny payments as under Contracts Acts 1872 where the consent was caused by misrepresentation or fraudulent means, the contract was not voidable if the party whose consent was so caused had the means of discovering the truth with ordinary diligence

He said that SLICP had all the means of discovering the alleged ailments by exercising due diligence through its authorized medical officers

The president held that SLICP had committed maladministration by repudiating the insurance claims on such flimsy grounds adding that it could not produce any evidence establishing the existence of pre-insurance ailments

He, therefore, directed SLICP to pay Rs 3 68 million to the family members with the direction to improve its policy regarding medical tests He said that SLICP could devise a risk assessment method about different diseases decide and modify premiums for different diseases such as diabetes, hypertension etc and avoid litigation in future

PR adversely fails to follow schedule time

c ausing huge loss to national exchequer

(JI) chief Siraj ul Haq on Sunday claimed that if his party comes into power it would ensure the provision of basic necessities of citizens in the country He stated this while addressing a workers convention of his party as a chief guest which was organized here at a local marriage hall He said if his party would be given a mandate by the people it would ensure the provision of education to the children, allowance to the elder citizens and health facilities for all citizens He strongly condemned the incident of desecration of the Holy Quran in Sweden and demanded the government expel the Swedish ambassador from the country On this occasion, General Secretary (GS) of Jamaat-e-Islami Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Abdul Wasi said that Jamaat-e-Islami was an organization of brotherhood and love and always stands firm in front of oppressors District Ameer Manzar Masood Khattak thanked all the guests including party s chief Siraj ul Haq, saying, the large number of people participating in the ‘Workers Convention’ proved that the people were turning towards Jamaat-e-Islami He said the Al-Khidmat Foundation working under his party served the flood victims with Rs 40 million during the devastating floods of last year S ta f f R e p o R t

Seven killed, 10 injured as cylinder blast flattens hotel building in Jhelum

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

In the wake of the tragic incident the Deputy Commissioner (DC) and District Police Officer (DPO) have taken charge of the relief operations overseeing the process and ensuring effective coordination between the rescue teams Taking to Twitter, Jhelum District Police Officer Nasir Mehmood Bajwa said that all available resources were being utilised to rescue the lives of the people trapped under the debris of the building Sharing a video of the rescue operation, the DPO said that the building debris was being removed with the help of heavy machinery

Meanwhile, an “emergency” has been imposed in the District Headquarters Hospital and the entire staff and doctors have been called on duty The blast in Jhelum comes a day after death of seven people and injuries to 14 others when a gas cylinder exploded in passenger van in Bhalwal tehsil of Sargodha district Last month, at least five, including three children were killed and seven others were injured in three separate gas cylinder explosions across the country PM GRIEVED OVER LOSS OF LIVES IN JHELUM BUILDING COLLAPSE: Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Sunday expressed grief and sorrow over the loss of lives after the collapse of a building caused by a gas cylinder explosion in Jhelum In a statement he prayed for the people who died in the incident and for the grant of patience to the bereaved families He also prayed for the early recovery of the ten people who were injured in the tragedy He directed the authorities to make every possible effort for the medical treatment of the wounded

$1.4b alleged scam shakes prospects of Custom officers for becoming next FBR chief

stand at 18596 hours, resulting in consumption of thousands of litres additional fuel causing million of rupees loss to Pakistan Railways and national exchequers

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 S o u r c e s s a i d t h a t w h e r e a s v i c t i m i s a t i o n o f a n y c i v i l s e r v a n t h a s b e e n d e f i n e d a s m i s c o n d u c t u n d e r r u l e 2 7 o f t h e C o n d u c t R u l e s , 1 9 6 4 , m a k i n g t h e v i c t i m l i a b l e t o p u n i s h m e n t o f d i s m i s s a l f r o m s e r v i c e E a r l i e r t h e F B R h a d t r a n s f e r r e d a n d s i d e l i n e d o ff i c e r s f r o m p o s i t i o n s a f t e r t h e o ff i c e r s b l e w t h e w h i s t l e o n m a s s i v e c o r r u p t p r a c t i c e s S o u r c e s w o n d e r e d w h y t h e c u r r e n t c h a i r m a n F B R h a s b e e n a p p r o v i n g b l i n d l y a n d w i t h o u t a n y r e s e r v a t i o n t h e r e t a l i a t o r y a c t i o n s o f h i g h - u p s o f F B R a g a i n s t t h e w h i s t l e - b l o w e r s w h o a t t e m p t e d t o s a f e g u a r d p u b l i c r e v e n u e s f r o m t h e n e f a r i o u s d e s i g n s o f c o r r u p t m a f i a o f c u s t o m o ff i c e r s a n d i m p o r t e r s

will be bloodshed if transparent polls not held:

RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t

Awami Muslim League (AML) chief and former interior minister Sheikh Rashid

Ahmed warned on Sunday that there would be bloodshed if transparent elections were not held in the country

“Transparent elections are the only solution to all problems faced by the country ” he said on his Twitter handle Rashid said the masses should bear one more month of inflation and difficulties

The day the assemblies will be dissolved, the new politics will dawn in the country, he said The former interior minister said those who were proud of enjoying authority and power and violating sanctity of the home would be held accountable The innocent people will get freedom from prisons, added the AML chief He said the IMF had no trust in the incumbent government and its finance min-

ister that s why they [IMF officials ] were visiting other people s home [PTI chief] to seek guarantees

Criticising the current government, Rashid said that 100 million people had fallen below the poverty line and at least 20 million people had become jobless Lenders also need a loan repayment guarantee, otherwise, the default sword is hanging on Pakistan, he maintained

“This is the achievement of 15-monthold [PML-N] government Parties in the PDM will be at daggers drawn in a month There will be a tug-of-war there will be judo-karate (fight) within the alliance he said The AML chief further said that economic stability could not be achieved without political stability “Elections will be held in the country Zardari and Bilawal are absent from the political scene It isn’t clear whether they support the IMF agreement or not he said He said the laws passed in the parlia-

had

Attracting foreign investment

TH E federal Cabinet has approved a policy for attracting foreign investment which has basically removed any remaining restrictions on foreign investors not just allowing investors repatriation of profits in their own currency but opening up the real estate and agriculture sectors The policy also envisages the government reducing the cost of doing business streamlining business processes facilitating ease of doing business through the creation of industrial clusters and special economic zones and promoting greater convergence between trade industrial and monetary policies

It is expected to bring in $20 billion to $25 billion worth of foreign direct investment in the coming few years

However if the government at its end is supposed to reduce the cost of doing business, it may well need all parties which might form part of the government to agree to a Charter of the Economy All investors not just foreign need continuity of policy, and cannot be guaranteed by a government heading towards dissolution, as the present government is Reducing the cost of doing business also involves cleaning up the bureaucracy, so that investors are not constantly having to pay bureaucrats backhanders Strong accountability mechanisms must also be in place to prevent corruption by political decision-makers, and for that too, an intra-party agreement will be necessary

As bitter experience has shown with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor attacks on foreign projects may also be carried out by militants, often enough with the help of inimical powers Pakistan has not only had to try and satisfy Chinese investors about the state of security in the country, but has also had to scrabble to show other foreign investors that it is safe It is to be be assumed that the presence of the COAS on the Special Investment Facilitation Council, which played a significant role in the drafting of the policy is intended to show that security personnel will be made available where needed It is to be hoped that this policy will be implemented, and not consigned to files in a storeroom, because its success is essential if Pakistan is to escape the kind of debt trap it faces at present, and which makes it obliged to service its loans by borrowing afresh The creation of new industries, and thus both the provision of jobs to its burgeoning population and the generation of growth, will only be possible by earning more foreign exchange by exporting more This demands that the policy succeed which is only possible if there is dedication and commitment

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

Exam cheating destroys education

BA S E D on cultural background students have different concepts and definitions of academic cheating around the globe Although there is no universal definition of academic cheating, many researchers have agreed that cheating consists of actions that disrupt the rules for managing exams and involves any conduct that provides an unfair gain to the students

Cheating is considered to be wrong because a cheater receives undeserved high grades which is unfair to those who do not cheat This also gives them an unfair benefit over all other students In addition students who cheat would not learn what they are required to learn A university’s or college s basic aim is to transfer knowledge to students but cheating prevents students from acquiring the knowledge and skills for which the degrees and courses are designed Cheating also reduces the efficiency of educational institutions and human resources If the students at the campus cheat and can get away with it the educational institutions will produce graduates with good qualifications but less potential and if this continues to be prevalent and acceptable then assessment tests will not remain a measuring method of student s achievements and skills but would only serve as means of checking students cheating skills Cheating also stops students from engaging in moral and intellectual struggles for their personal growth and development

Besides that students graduating from educational institutions are the country s future leaders and studies have found that students who cheat in college and university go on to cheat in professional life and are found involved in unethical practices

It is not possible to present the exact data for the frequency of cheating in exams in different educational institutions due to the gaps during the investigation of such phenomena However many research studies have confirmed that academic cheating has been on the rise at universities, colleges, and schools in Balochistan in previous years Cheating in examinations across Balochistan is an issue of growing concern Students from school to college and even at the university level have become habitual in cheating to avoid failing courses especially in board exams Cheating in examinations has become a regular practice Some common cheating practices in Balochistan include leaking question papers, carrying copied material into exam halls, providing of cheating material by the helpers gathered outside the exam hall using mobile phones for cheating and hiring someone to take an exam in the place of the original candidate Another common practice being witnessed is that sometimes teachers themselves are

human rights issues, encompassing common interests in healthcare climate change education and technology Both countries also share concerns about China s influence making the strategic partnership crucial Nonetheless critics argued that addressing human rights concerns should have been an integral part of the dialogue between the two leaders

also found involved in providing cheating material to students during exams

The education department of Balochistan in the last few years is running a media campaign to curb academic cheating in exams The awareness slogans include cheating is the death of merit and cheating is the death of knowledge Although some institutions and the education department of Balochistan look concerned about cheating, no such steps have been taken to control it and the issue has not been managed effectively in the province One may argue that the culture of academic cheating in Balochistan has reduced the efficiency of human resources and has resulted in graduates with high qualifications but less potential in the province Therefore, it is very important to fight against the culture of academic cheating, and the educational administration in this regard should devote increased resources to deal with this issue and develop a mechanism to manage and curtail the level of academic cheating Controlling academic cheating is not a herculean task There are exams in the country such as CSS/PMS where cheating is almost impossible So it requires sincere and strong interventions from all stakeholders of the province to curb academic cheating In this regard not only should there be a focus on students who indulge in academic cheating but attention should be directed toward knowing the reasons behind the decision to cheat Personal factors that contribute to cheating are students’ desire to excel low GPAs and slow learning Institutional factors include the weak administrative role of institutions, poor academic policies, overload on students and weak performance of the teachers Situational factors include the poor management strategy of the examiner time pressure and technological tools instigating students towards cheating Faculty and administration should help students to do their work within the given framework of learning There is a need to focus on changing the values and attitudes of students so that they refrain from cheating Educational institutions should introduce strict administrative policies regarding academic cheating because the problem can be better managed through the formation of clear guidelines about aca-

between the USA and India in defence and semiconductor manufacturing is a significant outcome of the visit These deals aim to enhance the defence relationship and promote technological cooperation between the two countries

China has been closely observing the developments surrounding Modi s visit to the USA

demic cheating Only warnings the threat of failing the exam and routine punishments may not help in hindering academic cheating There is a need to set high penalties for those caught cheating in exams, like failing the exam

It is also very impor tant to ensure the presence and performance of teachers in class If teachers are missing in most of the classes and they donÊt complete teaching the courses on time, then their students will exploit and find excuses for cheating

Moreover, examiners should set the exam avoiding the same style of repeating questions every year and semester.

When those students who work hard and do their work honestly see the phenomenon that cheaters are not punished somehow they also convince themselves to take advantage of the opportunity and cheat in exams Thus the practice of less severe punishment and no punishment in educational institutions is one of the many factors that motivate students towards academic cheating in exams It is also very important to ensure the presence and performance of teachers in class If teachers are missing in most of the classes and they don t complete teaching the courses on time, then their students will exploit and find excuses for cheating Moreover examiners should set the exam avoiding the same style of repeating questions every year and semester Introducing conceptual tests and randomly presenting multiple choice questions so that every student gets a different answer sequence may also help in reducing academic cheating in the exam hall In addition to the aforementioned suggestions confident faculty supervision monitoring along with awareness strategies could also help in reducing academic cheating

The writer is Research Officer at Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) He can be reached at muneebnasar@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

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

Equalit y for all

LIKE any other citizen, transgenders have equal rights; the right to live freely, get quality education, healthcare and have equal employment opportunities

IN D I A N Prime Minister Narendra Modi s visit to the USA has sparked discussions and raised concerns about human rights issues in India This visit marks a significant shift in relations between the two countries as Modi once denied a visa due to religious freedom violations is now being warmly embraced by the White House While the visit aims to strengthen defence trade and technology ties, it also brings attention to the human rights situation in India and the Hindu nationalist politics of Modi’s ruling party Modi’s visit to the USA put the Biden Administration to the test as it raised concerns about human rights abuses in India Human rights organizations urged the White House to address these challenges during the visit However as expected, Biden raised these concerns privately rather than publicly lecturing Modi The relationship between the USA and India extends beyond

RussiaÊs response to ModiÊs visit to the USA is influenced by its complex dynamics with both India and the USA. While India has historically been a major buyer of Russian military equipment, ModiÊs effor ts to reduce IndiaÊs reliance on Russian weaponry raise concerns for Moscow

The US-India joint statement expressed concern over the conflict in Ukraine and pledged suppor t for post-conflict reconstruction

Several human rights concerns have been raised regarding India under Modi’s leadership Critics highlight issues such as religious freedom violence against minorities erosion of democratic principles and press freedoms The controversial amendments to India s citizenship laws have been a subject of criticism, as they are seen as discriminatory Advocacy groups have expressed concerns about the decline in press freedom internet shutdowns and the treatment of dissidents and journalists These concerns have triggered protests by US rights groups during Modi s visit Some US lawmakers and human rights advocates have called for a more robust stance on human rights, highlighting India’s record on religious freedom civil liberties and democratic principles The visit has also faced criticism from those who believe that the USA is prioritizing cooperation over addressing rights violations The outcomes of the visit may shape the perception of the Biden Administration’s commitment to promoting democracy and human rights globally

Despite human rights concerns the Biden Administration views India as a long-term partner in countering China s influence and tackling global challenges The Indo-Pacific strategy plays a crucial role in this approach, as India s strategic positioning allows it to maintain relations with both Russia and the West India’s shifting defence relationships with a move away from Russian military equipment have been noted The defence roadmap between India and the USA is a key aspect of Modi s visit, highlighting the robust and dynamic defence relationship between the two countries Modi’s visit, as expected, yielded trade and defence deals, with a focus on shared concerns over China’s military aggression Agreements on jet engine production the sale of armed drones and plans to bolster India s semiconductor industry have been announced The collaboration

The joint statement issued by President Biden and Prime Minister Modi emphasized the importance of a rules-based international order and expressed concerns about coercive actions and attempts to change the status quo by force

While the statement did not directly mention China, it implicitly conveyed a message against its assertive behaviour in the Indo-Pacific region China is likely to view the strengthening of the US-India partnership as a challenge to its regional influence The deepening defence cooperation and technology partnerships discussed during the visit indicate a growing alignment between the USA and India in countering China s economic and military advancements

As India diversifies its sources of defence equipment away from Russia this could further strain the China-Russia-India relationship Russia s response to Modi s visit to the USA is influenced by its complex dynamics with both India and the USA While India has historically been a major buyer of Russian military equipment, Modi’s efforts to reduce India’s reliance on Russian weaponry raise concerns for Moscow

The US-India joint statement expressed concern over the conflict in Ukraine and pledged support for post-conflict reconstruction This aligns with the US position and highlights Russia s actions in Ukraine as a point of contention The evolving defence cooperation between India and the USA, including the potential procurement of Sea Guardian drones signals India’s interest in diversifying its defence suppliers and technology partners These developments could impact Russia s defence industry and its relationship with India

However, it is important to note that India and Russia still maintain strong bilateral ties in various areas, including energy cooperation and space exploration

The writer holds a PhD in geopolitics and is the author of Different Approaches on Central Asia: Economic Security and Energy

They deserve the same respect kindness as well as the same avenues for personal and professional growth as any other citizen of the country

Unfortunately however the ground reality suggests otherwise

Transgenders in society are unable to exercise their rights and are mistreated and humiliated They face harassment, discrimination and even violence Many of them are abandoned in the early years of their life and are unable to complete their education It is important for society to end the stigma and treat them with dignity

The government must focus of creating a safe and inclusive environment for them and take action to protect the rights of the community This includes enacting laws that prohibit discrimination and violence against the community as well as providing access to healthcare education and employment It is also crucial for the national media to portray the community in a positive and respectful light rather than perpetuating derogatory and harmful stereotypes Only by working together can we create a society that values and celebrates diversity in all its forms AYUB HANIF KARACHI

Realit y mismatch

THE grander a government building is the more it inflates the egos occupying chairs in those buildings It is quite ironic that the grandeur of government buildings often seems to be a reflection of the false ego of those in power

Despite calling for frugality and restraint in public spending against the backdrop of national hyperinflation and global economic recession, many government officials seem to be more interested in building lavish offices and ivory interiors that exude an air of elitism It is time for the government to set a better example by adopting a minimalist approach to its official expenses and infrastructure Instead of basking in the glow of countless tube lights and lamps in their palaces while the masses are choked to death for a bag of flour, the officials should dim down their selfimportance This may cut down government expenses, but, more critically, it will give the people some relief in the knowledge that the government and its officials are trying to do something to address the reality of life in Pakistan In any case the lights and lamps of a building do not matter

It is the ability of the staff to serve the people in a fair and efficient manner that counts The government needs to prioritise these goals over status symbols Just as humans have the ability to turn a mere house into a warm and welcoming home, it is the human touch, the ability to empathise with those seeking justice and the commitment to serve the people that truly set institutions apart and make them great There is a strong ethical and moral imperative for doing so First excessive spending on grandiose buildings sends the wrong message to the citizens about the priorities and values of their government It creates a perception of wastefulness and extravagance, which undermines public trust in the government s ability to manage public resources prudently and professionally

A minimalist approach demonstrates the government’s commitment to responsible use of public funds Using fewer resources in construction and maintenance can also reduce the carbon footprint of government buildings and help mitigate the effects of climate change

Finally by redirecting resources towards essential public services and welfare programmes, the government can address the needs of marginalised communities and promote social justice This can help bridge the gap between the rich and the poor The colonial legacy of building opulent structures should be replaced with a minimalist approach to running the government and its institutions It is time to move forward into a world where minimalism and sustainability are the new norms of government infrastructure At least we can try that

T h e c h e a t i n g c u l t u r e i n e x a m i n a t i o n s i n B a l o c h i s t a n

G e o s t r a t e g i c c h e s s b o a r d

Dr SahibzaDa MuhaMMaD uSMan

Muneeb ur rahMan

G l o b a l e c o n o m i c o r d e r u n d e r g o i n g a m a j o r s h i f t ?

Being the most indebted country in the world, the USA’s economy is prone to upheavals in international trade and energy supply The dollar s legitimacy depends on the demand that it possesses in global trade

If that demand is lowered or worse removed countries holding US dollars as forex reserves would start selling their dollars in exchange for a new reserve currency or precious metals such as gold The overselling of the dollar will automatically lower its price relative to other currencies decreasing its value; as well as causing unprecedented inflation for dollar-dependent economies especially the US economy itself Even now ever since the establishment of the Federal Reserve, the USA s Central Bank, in 1913, the Dollar s purchasing power has lowered by 96 percent, that is, an item costing 4 cents in 1913 will cost $1 in today’s money

TH E global order is shifting For better or for worse the status quo powers (the USA and the West) are weakening and on the other hand the perceived revisionists (China and the East) are encroaching upon the West s former spheres of influence What, one may wonder, gives the custodians of the current world order their power? And as such, what is their biggest vulnerability? This single variable if it goes unchecked will spill the beans of disaster for Uncle Sam and its allies

The USA averted yet another threat of default on i t s s o v e r e i g n d e b t T h e U S A h a s b e e n t h e s t r o n g e s t economy in the world since the Second World War It p o s s e s s e d a l m o s t t w o t h i r d s o f t h e g l o b a l g o l d r eserves which gave it immense financial strength and c o n s e q u e n t l y l e g i t i m i z e d t h e U S D o l l a r a s a G l o b a l Reserve Currency

Yet by 1971 the USA had printed too much paper currency which threatened it with the inability to pay back the Dollars it had printed, in gold, which was the trend before US President Richard Nixon scrapped the Gold Standard This ushered in an era of Fiat currencies which were pegged to the US Dollar But the Dollar itself was not backed by any commodity which would act as a collateral Money was being printed out of thin air However the USA made sure to maintain the strength of the dDollar by signing a deal with Saudi Arabia and later with other oil producing countries, convincing them to sell their oil only in US dollars This was the Petrodollar and it ensured an artificial demand for the US currency As the famous slogan in economic terms goes: No Dollars no trade no energy This in turn allowed the US financial institutions especially the US Federal Reserve, to print as many dollars as they wished since every country in the world had a demand for them This came with its downsides, however

Therefore if the offshore US Dollars find their way back into the mainstream US economy that will cause extreme Dollar saturation and oversupply which has the capacity to crumble the entire US economy The Petrodollar is the backbone of the US economy as well as its biggest liability and an existential threat to the USA This explains the US war on Iraq and later on in Libya where the trend of de-dollarization was gaining traction on the state-policy level

The war in Ukraine manifested the multi-faceted vulnerabilities faced by nation-states The world that the USA helped create is slowly crumbling apart International Sanctions, one of the mainstays of the West s dominance over the world, have backfired Russia swiftly came under Western sanctions which, including other events hindered its ability to trade in dollars Russia’s exports are heavily dependent on fossil fuels with crude petroleum topping the list

Not only is Russia still able to sell its petroleum products, but it also is exporting it with an additional insult to injury to the West, by selling petroleum in return for the Russian ruble or the Chinese yuan The case with the Chinese yuan is interesting and is reminiscent of the interwar period when the US had become the largest producer and exporter in the World which gave its currency the dollar great confidence The same confidence is being shown by the yuan as Pakistan has reportedly paid yuan to Russia in return for crude oil

What might come as a surprise is the news circulating about India paying the Russians in yuan as well Even India which is considered a pivot for the USA in the Indo-Pacific region is prepared to ditch the dollar when and wherever suitable

The USA and its allies are certainly facing an existential crisis They may not be publicly talking about the decreasing strength of the dollar, yet that does not mean that the threat does not exist

C h i n a i s i n a h i g h l y f a v o u r a b l e p o s i t i o n t o i n -

America’s $100 billionplus intelligence budget

It is hard to analyze and debate the intelligence budget bec ause its details are classified

overall intelligence budget and its two main functional components have been made public But agency-by-agency detail, as well as any breakdowns by equipment theater of geographic focus or personnel remain hidden from view

But historical perspective can help Expressed in the government s estimate of 2024 dollars, the intelligence budget has hovered in the low-to-mid $90 billion range throughout the 2020s, fluctuating a bit as a function of the largesse of Congress and perhaps also the acquisition of certain big-ticket technical items

Relative to 2015 however when the war on terror, such as it was, was winding down, and the new era of greatpower rivalry was just heating up the intelligence community budget for 2024 would represent almost a 20% increase in real-dollar terms That is comparable to the growth in the overall defense budget over that same period But it is still a big increase

c r e a s e i t s r e l a t i v e p o w e r p o t e n t i a l v i s - à - v i s t h e U S A e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e l a rg e r s c h e m e o f t h e g l o b a l f i n a n -

c i a l s e t u p T h e y u a n i s b a c k e d b y t h e w o r l d s s e c o n d l a rg e s t e c o n o m y a n d t h e l a rg e s t e x p o r t e r i n t h e w o r l d D u e t o t h e d e m a n d f o r C h i n e s e p r o d u c t s a n d t h e v a s t n e t w o r k s o f t r a d e t h a t C h i n a h a s c r e a t e d f o r i t s e l f t h e y u a n w i l l a l w a y s b e i n d e m a n d i f C h i n a m a i n t a i n s i t s h e a v i l y e x p o r t - o r i e n t e d e c o n o m y T h e s e a r e a l l p r e r e q u i s i t e s f o r a c u r r e n c y t o a t t a i n g l o b a l r e s e r v e s t a t u s a n d C h i n a c e r t a i n l y p o s s e s s e s a l e v e r a g e i n t h a t r e g a r d Pakistan unfortunately is not able to be decisive about which side to pick It is true that on the one hand Pakistan has China which has stood by its commitments throughout the good and bad times It is also a direct neighbour and is the largest foreign investor in Pakistan It has lent military and economic support to Pakistan and has been its most reliable diplomatic partner as well, especially in the UN

However, owing to our history of indulgence with the USA our economy is designed in a subservient model Since Independence instead of empowering our own economy through focusing on mass production and exports we have relied mostly on the US Aid economic and military assistance, and loans by the International Financial Institutions – which are overtly controlled by the USA How will our relationship with the IMF World Bank and other financial institutions play out? Our military supplies are heavily reliant on Western technologies especially the USA If Pakistan

does so much as to hint towards a definite shift towards China in the global context, how will we deal with the issue of maintaining those supply chains?

Only economic self-sufficiency and self-reliance will allow us to steer our foreign policy in the direction we want In this highly interdependent world paradoxically it is wiser to be least dependent on others but to have others dependent on you Pakistan is not in such a position Exercising an independent foreign policy with a crumbling economy solely surviving on foreign loans and deposits is not even a good fictional plot for the most preposterous of the movies, let alone in the real world that we live in However in the long run we need to make our decision The West may be approaching relative weakening and the East will rise spearheaded by China; maybe not swiftly but in the coming 10 to 15 years In that context, fortunately, Pakistan still has time to gradually align itself more with the states in the region rather than suffering the compulsions thrown at it by the demands of the West which are less than often in line with its own local and regional compulsions

Therefore our foremost focus must be on establishing a strong and reliable economy based on indust r i a l p r o d u c t i o n , a d v a n c e m e n t s i n t h e r e a l m o f A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e , a n d p r i o r i t i z i n g t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y i n s u c h a w a y t h a t t h e r e s u l t c o m e s i n t h e shape of economic strength

The writer is a freelance columnist

W h y d o w e b e l i e v e f a k e n e w s ?

DEUTSCHE WELLE i n e S e i S e l e

Calif )

That budget will fund the 18 agencies that make up the U S intelligence community the CIA the Defense Intelligence Agency, the National Reconnaissance Office, the National Security Agency, the National Geospatial Intelligence Agency and smaller units within each of the military services as well as other Cabinet-level departments to include Homeland Security Justice Treasury, Energy and State It also resources the Office of the Director of National Intelligence, under Director Avril Haines, who oversees and supervises the entire U S intelligence ecosystem

Broken down differently that budget is composed of two major functional accounts: the National Intelligence Program and the more tactical Military Intelligence Program Under the request, funding for the former would be $72 4 billion, and for the latter $29 3 billion All these dollars buy satellites and the rockets that launch them advanced computers and the codes that run them and many other technical assets and pay the tens of thousands of military, civilian and contractor employees who work at the various agencies at home and abroad

How are we to make sense of the size and scale of these numbers? And do we need such growth in intelligence funding when given top-level defense budget constraints, any increase in intelligence funding could come at the expense of military capabilities?

It is hard to analyze and debate the intelligence budget because its details are classified For nearly two decades the

To be sure, today s world is demanding on U S intelligence agencies and personnel Beyond Russia China North Korea Iran al Qaeda and ISIS there is pandemic disease climate change human migratory patterns civil wars in Africa and the Middle East, nuclear proliferation in South Asia, transnational criminal organizations in Latin America and elsewhere, and a host of other challenges The intelligence community has also devoted considerable resources to improve cybersecurity build more dispersed and resilient fleets of smaller satellites and of course, help Ukraine survive the Russian onslaught of recent times, an endeavor in which its performance has been remarkable

All that said I would offer one modest suggestion: that intelligence not be spared the belt-tightening that the rest of the national defense budget may be expected to undergo in the next two years U S intelligence capabilities are extremely impressive, but that does not mean that the “IC” should get a blank check Even with robust funding intelligence failed to forecast that Russia might invade Ukraine until a few months before the 2022 invasion; wrongly predicted that the war, once it happened, would be over fast; and overestimated the Afghan government’s ability to survive the U S /NATO departure of 2021

None of these mistakes is cited as a condemnation of what is inherently a difficult business As Yogi Berra said prediction is hard, especially about the future But spending more money won t make intelligence infallible Maybe that $102 billion budget proposal can be ratcheted down a billion or two Michael E O Hanlon is the Philip H Knight Chair in Defense and Strategy at the Brookings Institution where he directs the Strobe Talbott Center on Security,

FA K E news have become a real threat to society How do psychological and social factors influence whether we fall for them or not? And what can we do against it? Whether it’s the war in Ukraine the coronavirus pandemic or gender issues more and more fake news have been circulating on the internet in recent years, especially on emotional and controversial topics Sometimes it can be difficult to distinguish fact from fiction Other times, they are easier to recognize But not for everyone: Some internet users are more likely to accept misinformation and fake news as true information than others In this DW fact check, we look at why that is

COGNITIVE DISTORTIONS FOOL US:

A term that comes up again and again in this context is “cognitive bias ” It describes faulty tendencies in human thinking from which we find it difficult to free ourselves Among other things our views and our preconceived worldview, also called partisanship or confirmation bias in some specialist articles, play a major role in why we fall for fake news Cognitive psychologist Stephan Lewandowsky from Bristol University explains the phenomenon: If I hear something I want to hear because it is in line with my political opinions, yes, then I ll believe it even more So we are always biased For example, those who are convinced that Germany is taking in too many refugees are more inclined to believe news stories that report on local authorities being overburdened or generally say negative things about this group

Another important cognitive bias is that we often simply trust our intuition It seems unnecessary to us and is probably too much of a nuisance to check something again before we internalize it comment on it and forward it Thus many users only read the headline of articles but not the actual text

The Science Post and NPR for example tested this by posting misleading headlines Readers only learned that the whole thing was an experiment if they clicked on the links which most of them did not do

NEGATIVE CONTENT TRIGGERS US

THE MOST: The bandwagon effect also misleads us: According to this phenomenon people have a tendency to follow the opinions or behaviors of others rather than forming their own opinion In relation to fake news this means that we are more likely to believe information if others do so as well

When we see a social media post with lots of shares and likes we tend to trust swarm intelligence just like everyone else As already mentioned most of them share and like without taking a closer look at the content

Our memory is also not very helpful when it comes to correctly storing what we have seen or read also described as persistence of inaccuracy We often do not recall whether something was true or false It is not uncommon for people to claim that a false piece of information was true, even if it was later corrected for example in the form of a fact check Apart from these biases fake news works so well because we are guided more by emotions than we realize The fact that false news spreads six times faster than true information is due precisely to this emotionality, Lewandowsky says “Fake news tends to create outrage in the receiver the recipient of the message And we know that people whether you like it or not are engaging with outrage provoking information That makes it more likely for them to go viral

THE QUESTION OF PERSONAL BENEFIT: A study conducted by the University of Würzburg last year in which 600 participants were asked to assess the truth of various statements also revealed that dark personality traits and so-called post-factual epistemic beliefs make us more susceptible to fake news To find out about respondents beliefs about knowledge and facts, we asked them: ‘Do you trust your intuition when you encounter information? How much value do you place on evidence? Do you believe there is such a thing as independent facts at all? the study s lead author, psychologist Jan Philipp Rudloff, told DW The evaluation revealed that the participants found it more difficult to distinguish true statements from false ones the more they relied on their gut feeling and the less they believed in the existence of facts And then we also looked at the dark factor of personality sort of the core of all dark personality traits, such as narcissism or psychopathy, Rudloff said They re called dark because those are related to behaviors that we don’t socially approve of ” For people with a strong dark personality factor he said their own advantage is the most important thing Everything else and that could be the truth in some circumstances becomes subordinate to that The question then is not whether a piece of information is true or not, but whether it benefits them plays into their cards serves as justification Dark personality traits and a problematic understanding of knowledge and facts often go hand in hand, according to Rudloff, and usually manifest themselves at a young age

THE DESIRE FOR ATTENTION AND APPROVAL:

Joe Walther director of the Center for Information Technology and Society at the University of California, points to another important aspect that promotes the spread of fake news He sees liking commenting and spreading information on the internet primarily as a social interaction: “I think people often engage in social media (behavior) in order to feel like they re participating and to be recognized for it So if I send you a crazy story that research has found that short people are more susceptible to fake news

than tall people I doubt such a thing is true but I think you would appreciate that I sent you that crazy funny thing and I think people use social media in order to be liked by others, in order to get attention, to be recognized, validated,” he said

At the same time, this example helps to illustrate that users don’t share fake news necessarily because they fall for it Rather t h e y s i m p l y w a n t t o e n t e r t a i n a n d a m u s e themselves and others Or they share content precisely because they do NOT believe it to be true

WHAT CAN WE DO TO BECOME

MORE RESILIENT? The reasons why we believe fake news are complex Among other things they have to do with our personality and our attitude toward knowledge and facts Fake news is also an appealing vehicle for networking with others and enjoying attention and approval There are also various cognitive mechanisms that distort our perception

The question is: How do we become more resilient? The first step is to become aware of how susceptible we are to manipulation and to be aware that we can never be entirely objective Jan Rudloff advocates providing students with more meta-level knowledge regarding facts and science “Ultimately in science it is always the case that you can only find a consensus a kind of agreement among as many experts as possible But as new information comes in, what was previously considered fact or consensus can shift ” This is very complex, he said, and it gives some people the impression that facts are arbitrarily determined by politicians and scientists An example of that is the claim made during the corona pandemic that children would not spread COVID-19 as much and then it turned out they did

An approach that goes in a similar direction is the so-called prebunking With information about fake news and disinformation at their disposal users can be sensitized even before they encounter it One idea of that would be to provide an information campaign ahead of an election where a lot of fake news is expected to manipulate voters

Ines Eisele is the Fact-checker editor and author

UZBEKISTAN’S LEADER POISED FOR L ANDSLIDE VICTORY IN PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION

brace for tourists and visitors – reflecting hard work by the Committee for Roads

Over dozen killed as rain lashes nor thern India

VO T E R S thronged the polling stations in across Uzbekistan as the country goes to Central Asian state’s presidential elections here on Sunday

Elabourate measures were taken to ensure free fair and transparent elections as Election Commission of Uzbekistan holds key polls to decide the future leader of the republic President of Uzbekistan, Mr Shavkat Mirziyoyev lead the presidential race as no opponent poses a formidable challenge to him but the country faces major challenges amid global recession Mirziyoyev plans to take forward his reform agenda as the country takes path of economic stability and transformation In the federal capital itself, people came in large numbers to cast their votes with hopes that the country would take a leapfrog into transformation and industrial development

While around 2000 polling stations were set up in across the capital city hustle and bustle was the norm at most of the polling stations By mid-day, 71 percent voters had cast their votes at 362nd polling station set up at State Conservatory while at 105th 31 percent votes had been polled by 11am

A facilitation center with all modern facilities for journalists and experts was

set up by Election Commission of Uzbekistan at the Palace of Symposiums

The Election Commission officials made successive briefings throughout the day to ensure provision of maximum information to the election observers

Murat a voter told Pakistan Today that the election commission had made elabourate arrangements and the voters were free to exercise their right to elect their future leader Yes, the measures taken by the election commission are good and we are at ease to caste our vote

While it is Sunday, we got up bit late and now came to the polling station In the afternoon we can easily go to market to

Kashmiris, Sikhs & other minorities insecure in India: Lord Qurban

LUTON

Lord Qurban Hussain a member of the House of Lords of the United Kingdom has said that Kashmiris Sikhs Dalits Muslims and other minorities are insecure in India

Lord Qurban Hussain was talking to Dr Sardar

Muhammad Tahir Tabassum, former adviser on human rights and president, Institute of Peace & Development, an international think tank active for human rights, peace Kashmir and religious harmony who visited him at his residence in Luton UK Lord Qurban Hussain said Shaheed Burhan Wani is a hero of Kashmir s freedom and his sacrifice has created the hope of freedom and sacrifices among the Kashmiri youth The time has come for the need to implement the resolutions passed by the United Nations on Kashmir, he added He said the United Nations and Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) should take practical measures to end the atrocities in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir By implicating Yasin Malik in false cases the death penalty will set back all efforts for peace and inflame Kashmiris, he said, adding the fictitious cases against the Hurriyat leadership should be immediately dismissed

Sardar Tahir Tabassum also met President of Tehreek-e-

Kashmir Europe Muhammad Ghalib former President

Mubasher Madani and Senior Vice President Chaudhry Muhammad Sharif at their residences and discussed several important issues

E: The Shiromani Gurdwara

Parbandhak Committee (SGPC), on behalf of the Sikh community has registered strong opposition declaring the Uniform Civil Code (UCC) proposed by the Bharatiya Janata Party-led Indian government as unnecessary in the country

NEW YORK A F P

but our groceries he said

Asked whether she was happy with the arrangements made at the polling stations, a woman named Saba said that officials were eagerly facilitating the voters and there were no issues for them

A polling agent for a presidential candidate told that the election commission was fair towards all the polling agents and equal treatment was being given to the polling agents of all the candidates They have even provided food for all the polling agents We hope for a transparent and fair election today,” he added Road infrastructure in federal capital was excellent and Tashkent is ready to

Conflict-torn Sudan is on the brink of a full-scale civil war that could destabilise the entire region the United Nations warned Sunday, after an air strike on a residential area killed around two dozen civilians

The Ministry of Health reported “22 dead and a large number of wounded among the civilians from what it described as an air strike Saturday on Khartoum s sister city Omdurman, in the district of Dar al-Salam, which means “House of Peace” in Arabic

After nearly three months of war between Sudan s rival generals the air strike is the latest incident to provoke outrage

Around 3,000 people have been killed in the conflict, survivors have reported a wave of sexual violence and witnesses have spoken of ethnically targeted killings There has been widespread looting and the UN warned of possible crimes against humanity in the Darfur region

A video posted by the health ministry on Facebook showed apparently dismembered bodies lying partly covered on the ground after the air strike Several women were among the victims

A team of dedicated officials was fully facilitating the around 150 journalists and 500 experts from all across the world who observed the electoral process

Especially the efforts made by Mr Hushmurod and his team of volunteers were matchless who did an excellent job and they provided best possible facilities to the journalists Among the volunteers Mr Javohir O skanov stood out for his dedication and facilitation though all the volunteers did their best to help the guests from various countries

Back in Pakistan, Uzbekistan Ambassador Mr Oybek Usmanov and his team led by Mr Sarvar Abdirakhimov were making sure that the observers are taken good care of in Uzbekistan Mirziyoyev has been credited for launching what he calls a New Uzbekistan”, ending a decades-old decaying system He came to power in 2016 after the death of his predecessor Mr Islam Karimov who ruled Uzbekistan for 27 years Uzbekistan held a national referendum two months back in which a new set of reforms was approved by the people of Uzbekistan After the referendum, the incumbent President decided to seek a fresh mandate from people therefore he called early Presidential elections despite the fact that Mirziyoyev had to serve another five years

The paramilitary Rapid Support Forces (RSF) fighting the regular army, claimed that the air strikes killed 31 Since the war began, paramilitaries have established bases in residential areas and they have been accused of forcing civilians from their homes

UN Secretary-General Antonio Guterres on Sunday condemned the air strike in Omdurman, which he said reportedly killed at least 22 people” and wounded dozens, his deputy spokesperson Farhan Haq said in a statement

Guterres remains deeply concerned that the ongoing war between the armed forces has pushed Sudan to the brink of a full-scale civil war, potentially destabilising the entire region” Haq said ‘Dangerous and disturbing’ Sudan in northeast Africa borders other impoverished countries which have a history of unrest

Nearly three million people have been uprooted by Sudan’s fighting, among them almost 700,000 who have fled to neighbouring countries according to the International Organization for Migration

The UN and African blocs have warned of an ethnic dimension to the conflict in the western region of Darfur, where the United States Norway and

Britain have blamed the RSF and allied militia for most of the widespread violations Concentrated in Darfur and the capital Khartoum, fighting has also been reported in Blue Nile state near Ethiopia as well as in South Kordofan state

Overnight Saturday-Sunday residents in El-Obeid the capital of North Kordofan and a commercial hub south of Khartoum, reported renewed fighting there

“There is an utter disregard for humanitarian and human rights law that is dangerous and disturbing said Haq expressing support for efforts by the African Union and East African bloc IGAD to end Sudan s crisis

On Monday leaders of Ethiopia, Kenya Somalia and South Sudan IGAD members handling the Sudan file are to meet in Addis Ababa Sudan s army chief Abdel Fattah al-Burhan and RSF commander Mohamed Hamdan Daglo have been invited but neither side has confirmed they will attend Several Sudanese civilian figures are already there however in order to accelerate peace efforts said Khalid Omer Yousif who was fired from the government in 2021 when Daglo and Burhan led a coup, before their falling out

More than a dozen people were killed in northern India over the last two days as heavy rainfall continued to lash parts of the country, Indian media reported on Sunday

NDTV reported that the Indian Metrological Department (IMD) has predicted heavy to extremely heavy rain for New Delhi Haryana Himachal Pradesh Uttarakhand Rajasthan Punjab and occupied Kashmir

The report said that Delhi had recorded 153mm of rainfall in 24 hours, highest in single day in July since 1982

NDTV reported that heavy rain continued to lash the Indian capital and its adjoining areas on Sunday with several areas of Gurugram also experiencing waterlogging and power outages

An interaction between a western disturbance and monsoonal winds is leading to an intense rainfall spell over northwest India, including Delhi which experienced the season’s first ‘very heavy’ rainfall,” India Today reported Meanwhile Indian media reported that five people lost their lives in rain-related incidents in Himachal Pradesh Times of India reported that 13 landslides and nine flash floods had been reported in the state during the last 36 hours

TOI also reported that two people were killed after a landslide hit a passenger bus in occupied Kashmir while three were killed in Uttar Pradesh and four were killed in Rajasthan in rain-related incidents

The report also said that the bodies of two soldiers swept away by flash floods were recovered in occupied Kashmir s Poonch district

BBC to investigate presenter allegations ‘swiftly’, British government says

LONDON

A G E N C I E S

Britain’s BBC was questioned by the government on Sunday about its handling of an allegation that one of its star presenters paid a teenager thousands of pounds to pose for sexually explicit photos beginning when they were 17 years old

Culture Secretary Lucy Frazer held urgent talks with the broadcaster s director general, Tim Davie, on Sunday about the allegations, which she described as “deeply concerning”

“(Davie) has assured me the BBC are investigating swiftly and sensitively she said on Twitter

Given the nature of the allegations it is important that the BBC is now given the space to conduct its investigation, establish the facts and take appropriate action

The Sun newspaper, which first reported the allegations cited the young person’s mother as saying the unnamed male presenter had paid the teenager more than 35 000 pounds ($45 000) over three years for the images

The mother told the newspaper that the teenager had used the cash to fund a crack cocaine habit

The family complained to the broadcaster on May 19, but the presenter was not immediately taken off the air according to the Sun which said the family had not requested payment for their story

The BBC which is funded by a license fee paid by every TV-watching household said in a statement: We treat any allegations very seriously and we have processes in place to proactively deal with them

McLaughlin credits ‘championship coach’ Kersee in 400m triumph

The queen of the hurdles Sydney McLaughlin, has staked her claim in the 400 metres flat, picking up the US title in her new event on Saturday as she follows a path set by top coach Bobby Kersee to perfection

She collected gold in Tokyo two years ago and sent the crowd in Eugene, Oregon, to their feet in 2022 when she took a chunk out of her own world record to win the 400m hurdles World Championship

And just when it looked as though she had no more accolades to collect Kersee sent his star pupil out to conquer new territory

The plan could scarcely have gone better, as she won the 400m

national championship in a world-leading 48 74 seconds on Saturday to qualify for the event at the World Championships in Budapest Hungary B o b b y s a c h a m p i o n s h i p coach He works back from our m a j o r c h a m p i o n s h i p s t o k n o w w h e n w e n e e d t o b e r e a d y a n d h e ’s a l w a y s p r o v e n t o h a v e u s ready when it matters most she told reporters The 23-year-old would be entitled to compete in both the 400m and 400m hurdles at worlds, with reigning title holders earning an automatic spot but said she has no idea if she will attempt a double when the competition kicks off on August 19 All I know is that today is Saturday and tomorrow s Sun-

day,” she said, adding that there is still work to be done to finetune her strategy I want to continue to get better (and) put the race together properly, said McLaughlin

“Once I get the front half and back half together that’s when it happens and I think today was (example) of that T h e U S c h a m p i o n s h i p s w r a p u p o n S u n d a y

Has Janet Yellen’s trip to Beijing improved US - C hina relations?

BEIJING A G E N C I E S

US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen has just concluded a four-day trip to China aimed at rebuilding bridges between the two countries

Was the trip to Beijing a success? Well, by one very basic metric, yes

The US and China are once again talking to each other, face to face, politely and respectfully if not warmly

It s a stark contrast to trans-Pacific communication during the Donald Trump administration which was done largely via the megaphone of social media

The tone and the content from both sides is more positive and more measured

Ms Yellen said her trip would help to build a “resilient and productive channel of communication with China s new economic team That should not be discounted In March this year, much of the top tier of China s government was replaced with men whose primary qualification is loyalty to leader Xi Jinping Key among them is the

country s new economic chief, He Lifeng

On Saturday Janet Yellen spent much of the day with Mr He She said their talks had been “direct substantive and productive” while admitting that the two sides had “significant disagreements

Throughout her visit Ms Yellen sought to persuade her Chinese hosts that under President Joe Biden, America is not fundamentally hostile to China “We do not see our relationship in terms of great power conflict”, she said and “we do not seek to decouple” our economies from each other

It appears the Biden administration is trying to demonstrate that its China policy is not simply a continuation of the Trump administration s open hostility to Beijing Did she succeed? We are still waiting to hear from the Chinese side But as the saying goes actions speak louder than words And from Beijing s perspective some recent actions of the Biden administration are anything but friendly K e y a m o n g t h e m i s t h e i m

that are used in the development of artificial intelligence

Far from being eased, the US is now moving to widen those restrictions to other high-tech exports to China while leaning hard on its allies from Japan to Germany to the Netherlands not to supply China with the means to make the most cutting-edge microchips America s motivation is simple: It doesn t want China to have easy access to American technologies that could give it an edge in things like AI and in military technologies that could one day be used against the US in a future conflict over for example Taiwan

All of this means that while dialogue has re-opened, and looks set to accelerate in the coming months, the process is delicate Progress made in the last few days could very easily be knocked back by another “spy balloon” incident or a close call between US and Chinese naval ships or aircraft

Even the most optimistic experts believe this is now a very difficult relationship that will require careful, long-term management by both sides in order to keep it stable

UN warns S udan nearing ‘ full-sc ale civil war ’ as air raid kills at least 22

Lipton Pakistan, ABHI collaborate to empower employees

Lipton Teas & Infusions Pakistan is pleased to announce an exciting collaboration with ABHI representing a significant milestone in the company’s commitment to innovation and employee welfare This partnership introduces an employee benefit called Earned Wage Access (EWA), revolutionizing how Lipton workforce experiences financial freedom and empowerment Through the partnership with ABHI, Lipton employees gain unprecedented control over their finances providing access to earned wages before the traditional pay cycle The revolutionary AbhiSalary product enables employees to conveniently access a portion of their earned salary within seconds eliminating the waiting period until payday

With ABHI s user-friendly mobile app, SMS, or WhatsApp, employees can effortlessly request and receive funds directly into their bank accounts avoiding the need for interest-bearing loans or seeking financial assistance during challenging times

‘Indulge in Flavours of Japan’: Sakura opens its doors in DHA, KARACHI

TH E projects under China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) a flagship project of the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) are flourishing all across Pakistan and have attracted US$25 4 billion of direct investment from China during the last 10 years

After ten years of development, a 1+4″ cooperation layout has been formed, with the CPEC at the center and Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, energy and industrial cooperation being the four key areas according to a senior official of the Chinese Foreign Ministry

The projects under the CPEC framework have created 192,000 jobs, producing 6,000 megawatts of electric power, building 510 kilometers of highways and adding 886 kilometers to the core national transmission network he added Terming the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor a signature project of China-Pakistan cooperation in the new era, he said that it is an important project under the Belt and Road Initiative

This year marks the 10th anniversary

of the launch of CPEC After ten years of development, a 1+4 cooperation layout has been formed, with the CPEC at the center and Gwadar Port, transport infrastructure, energy and industrial cooperation being the four key areas

The CPEC has made a tangible contribution to the national development of Pakistan and connectivity in the region China and Pakistan have also explored new areas for cooperation under the framework of CPEC, creating new highlights in coopera-

tion on agriculture science and technology telecommunication, and people s well-being China stands ready to work with Pakistan to build on the past achievements and follow the guidance of the important common understandings between the leaders of the two countries on promoting high-quality development of CPEC to boost the development of China and Pakistan and the region and bring more benefits to the people of all countries,” the official said

Goods reach Pakistan in trucks from Russia af ter oil tanker arrived in June

most 50% and amounted to more than $760 m (million) Another step towards strengthening cooperation in trade between, it tweeted

Goods have reached Pakistan from Russia after an oil tanker arrived in June amid increasing trade between Islamabad and Moscow

The Russian embassy in Islamabad said the first truck of goods reached Pakistan from Russia under the Transport International Routes (TIR) Convention

Last month, the first cargo of “discounted” crude oil from Russia arranged under a deal between Islamabad and Moscow arrived in Pakistan The Pure Point cargo vessel was carrying more than 45,000 metric tons of crude oil

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

Hashoo Hotel proudly announced the grand opening of its celebrated Japanese restaurant, Sakura, in the vibrant heart of DHA, Karachi Originally located within Pearl-Continental Hotel Karachi, this first standalone branch of Sakura in Phase 6 DHA will be the fourth Sakura outlet in Pakistan promising to continue its tradition of unmatched dining experience for all Japanese cuisine enthusiasts

The prestigious opening ceremony took place on 7th July and was graced by esteemed guests, including His Excellency, Mr Yasushi Nakagawa, Acting Consul General of Japan to Karachi, renowned celebrities notable socialites of Karachi the management teams of Hashoo Hotels PearlContinental Hotel Karachi and Sakura Sakura s new establishment in DHA Karachi is poised to carry forward the rich tradition of excellence and top-notch service that has become synonymous with its previous branches Set to captivate diners with its tastefully adorned interior a team of highly skilled chefs under the expertise of Japanese Chef Fumio Kikuta and impeccable service ensuring a seamless overall guest experience The restaurant aims to become a beloved destination for seasoned food connoisseurs and casual diners

Al-Jalil Developers Inaugurates DHA corporate office

LAHORE

S TA F F R E P O R T

Al-Jalil Developers marked a momentous occasion as they proudly opened the doors to their new DHA Corporate Office situated at Defence Raya Fairways

Commercial DHA, Phase 6, Lahore

The office opening commenced with a ribbon-cutting ceremony, led by Al-Jalil Developers' Managing Director Fraz Hassan Warraich accompanied by Sardar Aslam Warraich the Commercial Director of Al-Jalil Developers The Esteemed business partners and the leadership of Al-Jalil Developers graced the occasion with their presence, adding to the grandeur of the event The opening ceremony concluded on a high note, as attendees enjoyed a delightful session of refreshments and high tea

“By May 2023, trade between Russia and Pakistan grew by al-

The procurement of crude oil has long been at the centre of politics, particularly after the visit of

former prime minister Imran Khan before Russia launched its war against Ukraine in February of last year Khan, who was ousted in a contentious no-confidence vote in parliament less than two months later, claimed his visit to Moscow was one of the reasons behind his ouster Currently Pakistan meets 80 percent of its oil requirements or 154,000 barrels per day, through Gulf and Arab suppliers, mainly Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

AIOU to provide free SSC education to students of Balochistan, merged distric ts and GB

f r o m J u

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Allama Iqbal Open University

(AIOU) will provide free education of Secondary School Certificate (SSC) to the students of Balochistan merged districts and Gilgit Baltistan during the upcoming admissions

A c c o r d i n g t o t h e A I O U s c o m m u n i q u e i s s u e d o n S u n d a y, a d m i s s i o n s a r e c o m m e n c i n g

B u s i n e s s l e a d e r u r g e s g o v t t o m a ke e f f o r t s f o r e x t e n s i o n i n G S P + s t a t u s

ISLAMABAD: Former President of Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Dr Shahid Rasheed Butt on Sunday demanded of the government to redouble efforts to get GSP+ status that is set to expire at the end of current year The European Union (EU) is considering GSP+ status for Pakistan and other eight countries, and it will continue monitoring the human rights, freedom of media and labour rights in all the countries enjoying the status he said In a statement issued here on Sunday Shahid Rasheed Butt said that the EU has decided to introduce

fresh legislation to continue the scheme for another 10 years but there is a deadlock between the EU Council and the EU Parliament on the issue of migration

F F R E P O R T

Governor pays homage to Madr- e -Milat on her anniversar y

KARACHI: Sindh Governor Mohammed Kamran Tessori visited the mausoleum of Madr-e-Milat Fatima Jinnah and paid her tremendous homage on her anniversary here on Sunday He laid a wreath and offered fateha He also prayed for the development and prosperity of the country Meanwhile he also visited the mausoleum of father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah and laid a wreath The Governor also offered fateha and inked his impressions in the visitors book While talking to media persons he said I pay homage to madre-e-milat Fatima Jinnah on her anniversary He said that the Madr-e-Milata was a role model for our women He said that Fatima Jinnah mace untiring efforts after the death of father of the nation Quaid-e-Azam Mohammed Ali Jinnah S TA F F R E P O R T

In a recent statement, Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif said that the CPEC has been playing a pivotal role in transforming Pakistan s economic landscape

The implementation of a number of multi-billion-dollar development projects under the CPEC has brought socio-economic benefits to Pakistan and helped the country progress in the region and beyond Shahbaz Sharif said while addressing a ceremony to mark a decade of the signing of CPEC

Launched in 2013, the CPEC is a corridor linking the Gwadar port in southwestern Pakistan with Kashgar in Northwest China’s Xinjiang Uyghur Autonomous Region which highlights energy transport and industrial cooperation Over the past 10 years the CPEC has gathered momentum unheard of in Pakistan s economic history with complete support from the Chinese leadership, the prime minister said He said that the pace of work on the CPEC projects will be further expedited in the coming days and the cooperation between the two countries is being enhanced in various areas including agriculture, special economic zones, information technology, and exploration of mineral resources

BoP tops Banking on Equality Initiative by SBP

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T

The Bank of Punjab (BOP) Tops amongst the entire Commercial Banking Industry on the Banking on Equality (BoE) Initiative by State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in the scorecard compiled for CY 2022

According to press release issued here the BOP is delighted to announce its remarkable achievement as the number one bank with the highest score and green rating in BoE initiative of SBP This recognition encompasses all commercial banks, including large, mid-sized, and small-sized institutions, further reinforcing BOP's commitment to promoting equality and diversity within the banking sector

The SBP s BoE program assess through a comprehensive scorecard banks performance based on various criteria including workforce diversity gender equality, accessibility, and inclusion initiatives

"We are immensely proud to secure pole position amongst all commercial banks in Pakistan with the highest score and green rating on the BoE initiative " said Mr Zafar Masud President & CEO of The Bank of Punjab This achievement is a testament to our ongoing commitment to create an inclusive workplace where diversity is celebrated, and everyone has equal opportunities to grow and succeed " BOP has been steadfast in its efforts to promote equality within its workforce and broader community The bank has implemented robust diversity and inclusion policies ensuring equal opportunities for all employees and fostering an environment that respects and values differences BOP has also prioritized accessibility by enhancing banking services to cater to the needs of all customers, including those with disabilities As part of its commitment to gender equality, BOP has actively promoted women's participation at all levels of the organization Programs such as mentorship leadership development and training opportunities have enabled women employees to excel and thrive in their careers

IESCO issues power suspension programme

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) on Sunday issued a power suspension programme for Monday for various areas of its region due to necessary maintenance and routine development work

According to IESCO Spokesman, the power supply of different feeders and grid stations would remain suspended for the period from 06:00 AM to 12:00 Noon

Rawalpindi Cantt Circle Islamabad Feed Mill Jhata Hatial Bisali Pind Jatla Lab I & II Reliance Weaving Mill Bhal Jarrar Comp Feeders From 08:00 AM to 1:00 PM Islamabad Abad Circle, COMST, Chhata Bakhtawar, Park Enclave, Lahtrar, Tramiree, ISI, Rehara, PHA, Kuri Road, CM Pak Zong, Isolation Hospital, Tufail Shaheed, Charah Frash Town Karpa Feeders From 07:00 AM to 12:00 PM Islamabad Circle I-11/1 I-11/3 Metro Feeders Rawalpindi City Circle Nogzi Misrial Road Medina Town Askari XI Race Course Iqbal Road Subhan Shaheed, Chakra, New Milpur, People s Colony, Azizabad Feeders, Attock Circle, Ghorghashti, Bara Zee, Maskinabad, Shah Deer, Radio Pak 1&2, Larnpur, Qaziabad, GBHP Feeders and surrounding areas

l e c t r i c b u s e s to r e s u m e o p e r at i o n to d ay a s c h

to develop the Dhabeji Special Economic Zone, underscoring their commitment to this endeavor over an extended period

nated developer He mentioned that the Dhabiji Special Economic Zone spans an extensive area of 1500 acres and is strategically located in close proximity to Port Qasim Karachi Airport and E

medical treatment

He stated that the Dhabji Special Economic Zone is commencing operations, which will create numerous investment and employment opportunities Investors are being facilitated through a streamlined onewindow operation process there is a high likelihood of establishing an electric bus plant in Sindh During the press conference, Syed Qasim Naveed Qamar, the Special Assistant to the Chief Minister Sindh for Investment and Public-Private Partnership Unit emphasized the importance of creating a businessfriendly environment for investors and businesspeople He mentioned that the Sindh Government has dedicated significant effort

He announced that the development work of the Dhabiji Economic Zone will commence on July 15 marking a significant milestone that has been achieved He also mentioned that the Dhabiji Special Economic Zone offers a tax holiday for a period of 10 years The establishment of the Dhabiji Economic Zone is expected to generate increased employment opportunities and contribute to economic growth

the main railway track Considering its advantageous location and promising prospects, he expressed confidence that the Dhabiji Special Economic Zone will emerge as the most successful economic zone in the country

N D M A R A I S E S A L A R M S A B O U T F LO O D A S

I N D I A R E L E A S E S WAT E R F LO W I N T O R AV I

TH E National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) announced on Sunday that India has discharged 185 000 cusecs of water into River Ravi, signalling imminent threat of flooding in the area within the next 20 to 24 hours

On the other hand the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that medium to high flood discharge is expected in River Ravi at Jassar (first control structure on River Ravi in Pakistan) and highlevel flooding in River Chenab and associated Nullahs of River Ravi during the next 48 hours In response to this development the NDMA has called upon t h e l o c a l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n a n d r e l e v a n t departments in the vulnerable region to enhance their preparedness

Under the Indus Waters Treaty signed in 1960, India has the right to release water into River Ravi, along with Sutlej and Beas Last year a discharge of 173 cusecs of water had been reported

Meanwhile the deputy commissioner of Gujrat said the high flood in the region could potentially impact 59 villages, which is a seasonal occurrence after monsoon rainfall in the river ’s catchment area

According to the NDMA a total of 76 fatalities have been recorded across Pakistan since the start of the monsoon season on June 25 In the last 24 hours nine additional deaths and eight injuries were reported The highest number of casualties were recorded in Punjab, with

five new deaths bringing the province s total to 48 Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ranks second on the list with 20 fatalities followed by Balochistan with five and Azad Jammu and Kashmir with three

The NDMA further disclosed that out of the 76 reported deaths 30 were men, 15 were women, and 31 were children Additionally, 78 houses have been damaged The total number of reported injuries currently stands at 133 including 48 men 38 women and 48 children

The MET office has warned that flooding was possible in low-lying areas of Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Peshawar, Gujranwala, and Lahore, with the risk of flashfloods in hilly western areas late this week

48 HOURS: The Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that medium to high flood discharge is expected in River Ravi at Jassar (first control structure on River Ravi in Pakistan) and high-level flooding in River Chenab and associated Nullahs of River Ravi during next 48 hours

According to the daily FFC report on Sunday except for River Kabul which continues to flow in Low Flood at Nowshera all major rivers of the country are presently flowing in Normal Flow Conditions

At present combined live storage of three major reservoirs show a healthy position (61 04% of total 13 443 MAF as against 18 74% last year)

According to Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore yesterday s deep Trough of the Westerly Wave still persists over Northern parts of Pakistan

Greece boat disaster: FIA arrests ringleader of human trafficking gang

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Sunday claimed to have arrested one of the two main human traffickers in connection with the Greece and Libya shipwreck tragedies from Gujrat

Last month an Italy-bound fishing trawler reportedly carrying at least 800 people including approximately 350 Pakistanis capsized off Greece

The incident led to a day of mourning along with the launch of a nationwide crackdown on human smugglers with many subsequently arrested

According to a statement from the FIA spokesperson issued on Sunday Mohammad Saleem Saniyare a key figure in the Greek tragedy was arrested in Gujrat in a major operation by the watchdog s local team

The statement added that he was the brother of the main suspect Asif Saniyare who is still at large

It further said that Saleem took millions of rupees from the people to illegally send them to Europe and there were already nine cases registered against him at the FIA s Gujrat branch

The FIA said Saleem sent money to his brother through Hundi/Hawala and had gone into hiding after the Greek tragedy, adding that he was arrested through the use of modern technology and further investigation was under way

The watchdog said Asif was present in Libya currently and had various safehouses there

As many as nine cases have been registered in the FIA Gujrat anti-human trafficking circle

A separate tweet from the FIA said that Mohammad Saleem was also a central figure in the Libya shipwreck, without specifying whether it was the February or April incident

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed authorities concerned to hold an inquiry into the human trafficking that led to the tragic incident of migrants shipwreck near Greece with several Pakistani nationals onboard

In a statement, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had directed the authorities concerned for an immediate crackdown on agents involved in the heinous crime of human trafficking and called for bringing them to justice

Earlier in June FIA Deputy Director Tariq Masood said that human traffickers residing in foreign countries will be brought to Pakistan via Interpol

On Monday, the FIA had decided to blacklist the passports of the suspected human traffickers involved in the Greek shipwreck incident and charge them under the Anti-Money Laundering Act

FIA Director General Mohsin Hasan Butt had also ordered that the identity cards and bank accounts of the agents involved in the accident should be immediately blocked

whereas Seasonal Low lies over Northwestern Balochistan Upper air cyclonic circulation (the main source of streams of air at higher altitude) yesterday over Northwestern Madhya Pradesh (India) lies over Western Rajasthan (India)

At the reporting time strong monsoon currents from the Bay of Bengal has weakened slightly and thus moderate monsoon currents from both sources (Bay of Bengal & Arabian Sea) are now penetrating into the upper parts of Pakistan upto 7 000 feet

Widespread wind thunderstorms/rain with heavy falls at isolated places and very heavy falls at one or two places over the upper catchments of rivers Ravi & Sutlej is expected during the next 24 hours Scattered wind thunderstorm rain of moderate intensity with isolated heavy falls over Islamabad Punjab Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Sindh and Kalat Naseerabad Loralai Sibbi & Zhob Divisions of Balochistan is also expected besides over the upper catchments of rivers Indus, Jhelum and Chenab during the said period

In view of the above all concerned organizations including PDMAs/ DDMAs (especially Punjab) are strictly advised to remain fully alert & vigilant take timely actions on warnings issued by the concerned organizations (especially in the context of flood-generating discharges in eastern rivers) to ensure the safety of communities living in low lying areas public & private property besides irrigation drainage flood protection & river training infrastructure etc

General (DG) Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) Punjab, Imran Qureshi visited Head Marala Sialkot and inspected all Naullahs passing through the city

He also chaired a meeting to review the preparations for rescue and relief activities He expressed satisfaction over the measures taken by the district administration for setting up 22 relief camps, health department, livestock counters, rescue and relief in the four tehsils

The DG said that in the next 24 hours the flow of water in Chenab River was likely to be between 2 00 000 and 2,15,000 cusecs, which would be a medium level flood, however, there was a capacity of 1,100,000 cusecs of water to be released from Head Marala He added there was the information of 60 000 cusecs of water streaming into the river Jammu Tawi

On the other hand, the Peshawar Regional Meteorological Department officials said here Sunday said that more rains are likely in all districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa including Peshawar The official said that with the chance of heavy rains in Hazara Malakand Mardan and Peshawar divisions the minimum temperature of Peshawar city is 24 centigrade recorded and during the last 20 hours, Abbottabad recorded the highest rainfall of 21 mm Saidu Sharif Swat 15 mm rain 11 mm in Mansehra Mardan and Balakot 9 mm rain in Kalam 5 mm in Kohistan recorded, the official of the Meteorological Department said

Aide announces agreement between Nawaz, Zardari on c aretaker setup, timely polls

NOWSHERA S TA F F R E P O R T

Syed Khurshid Shah, a leader of the Pakistan People s Party (PPP) and Minister for Water Resources, said deposed prime minister Nawaz Sharif and former president Asif Ali Zardari have reached an agreement to establish a caretaker setup for the upcoming general elections

He emphasized that the elections will not be delayed, adhering to the constitutional and legal requirements

The minister highlighted the government s unity with coalition partners in ensuring that the general elections are conducted in accordance with the constitution and the law

He regarded the coalition government’s achievements, such as securing a deal with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and finalising the budget as significant milestones

Shah stressed that transparent

and impartial general elections are the only solution to the ongoing crisis He also noted that inflation in the country has started to decrease

Reiterating the PPP’s track record of leading the nation “out of disappointments” the minister expressed confidence in their ability to navigate the current challenges

Addressing the issue of the census, Shah assured it was conducted transparently and in compliance with the rules throughout the country including Karachi and Sindh

He further mentioned that the objections raised by the Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) and Jamaat-i-Islami have been addressed Regarding Naeem ur-Rehman, Shah remarked that he seemed disoriented due to his failure to secure the mayorship leading to his critical statements

May 9 mastermind advancing anti-state agenda through overseas proxies, says Marriyum

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum

Aurangzeb on Sunday castigated the Pakistan Tehreeke-Insaf (PTI) chief for furthering his anti-state agenda through his proxies and puppets sitting abroad

Some elements have been engaged in anti-state activities and treason while sitting abroad, but it is the PTI chief who will be held responsible if any incident of political extremism strikes the country ” the minister said in a news statement

She said the relentless campaign of the PTI chief against the state has continued unabated with only the faces involved being swapped out periodically The reprehensible and shameless media campaign launched against the national institutions was a direct result of his malevolent planning and mindset she added Marriyum emphasized that the “foreign agent” was afflicted with an incurable ailment characterized by an insatiable desire to be in the limelight He has been suffering from FOMO (Fear of Missing Out) syndrome following his ouster from power

“This person is mentally sick and should be in a mental hospital,” the minister said while lashing out at the PTI chief for resorting to unfounded accusations mischief and conspiracies against others

She said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had already made it clear that propaganda against the state institutions would not be tolerated under any circumstances

The minister said Imran Khan sought another conspiracy to divert attention from his corruption from Tosha Khana whose trial had been commenced unearthing evidence against him

She said his statement regarding cypher absurd claim of a planned rocket launcher attack on him, and his references to Hazrat Isa and the Holy Quran served as proof of his sick mentality

“Back in 2017, I had stated unequivocally that he is mentally ill and should be in a mental hospital ” the minister added

She said the Fitna driven by his desire for chaos and disorder sought nothing but dead bodies and unrest in the country

U P : Meanwhile

Pakistan People s Party (PPP) Lahore Division Information Secretary Faiza Malik said there was a consensus among the coalition parties on caretaker set-up after the dissolution of national and other two provincial assemblies

Talking to a delegation of party workers who came to meet her at her residence here on Sunday, she that month of August would prove to be the month of political changes in the country The PPP would field strong candidates in the upcoming general elections in Punjab and electoral field would not be left empty in any constituency, she asserted Faiza Malik said that the recommendations of the District Election Boards were being finalized which would be sent to the secretary general Pakistan People s Party by mid-July

In an attempt to divert attention from his own corruption, lies, and failures, she said the PTI chief had now resorted to absurd tactics such as donning buckets boxes and dustbins on his head while being in public

He shamelessly accused officers of plotting his murder yet when pressed for evidence he admitted that there was none, relying solely on hearsay

She said he has been using a group of YouTubers and vloggers as his “proxies” to spread his lies, conspiracy theories and propaganda Marriyum said this was the same mentality which involved in launching a despicable campaign against the martyrs of Lasbella helicopter crash Foreign agent bears responsibility for fueling political extremism within our nation

She accused Imran Khan of executing the May 9 tragedy through his proxies who were brainwashed to attack the state They audaciously attacked government buildings and defiled the memorials of the brave martyrs she said adding the PTI chiefs sinister mindset resulted in the burning of ambulances, Radio Pakistan, mosques, and schools

She said the PTI chief resorted to such actions for feeding his false narrative to his lobbyists and the foreign media

PDM distances itself from decisions of Nawaz-Zardari meeting

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Taking a dig at Federal Minister for Planning Ahsan Iqbal Vice Chairman Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) Shah Mehmood Qureshi on Sunday termed the statement of PML-N leader pertaining to China and CPEC as unfortunate and irresponsible

In a statement issued on Sunday he said that the insinuation that our iron brother would interfere in our domestic affairs was baffling and insulting Shah Mehmood said that with PTI there has always been strong consensus on taking CPEC forward and under Imran Khan s leadership they successfully implemented the important projects, deepening Pakistan’s commitment to CPEC under the PTI government “Faisalabad and Rashakai In-

dustrial zones were made operational during PTI government and the Dhabaji Industrial zone was finalised, which was under construction ” he revealed Similarly the PTI Vice Chairman said that the IT and Technology and Agriculture – Three new joint working groups were negotiated and added into the second phase of CPEC

He recalled that all power plants under construction were completed; Power generation projects were completed and added to transmission project Qureshi further stated that the h i g h w a y c o n s t r u c t i o n – m o r e k i l o m e t r e s c o m p l e t e d u n d e r P T I

G o v e r n m e n t , We s t e r n a l i g n m e n t was finalised and work was accelerated on it

The Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) has distanced itself from the decisions of Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari’s meeting held in Dubai

According to PDM spokesperson Hafiz Hamdullah on Sunday they did not raise objections to the Dubai meeting but they were unaware of the decisions taken in the meeting

The decision of the Dubai meeting will not be considered as the Pakistan and PDM s decisions Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazl (JUI-F) is an important political party which cannot be neglected ” Hafiz Hamdullah said that JUI-F should be taken into confidence regarding the caretaker set-up and other matters

M A U L A N A FA Z L’S C O N C E R N S: Earlier PDM head and JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman expressed displeasure over the meeting of allied parties’ leaders Nawaz Sharif and Asif Ali Zardari in Dubai, held last month to ‘resolve political issues’

Chitral upset GB to claim Shandur Polo Festival 2023 title

CHITRAL

S TA F

Promising young Polo player Ilyas two timely goals and a goal scored by star player Miraj guided Chitral to a comfortable 7-5 victory to claim Shandur Polo Festival-2023 title in a thrilling free style game played at the world highest Polo ground situated on Shandur

Pass in Upper Chitral district on Sunday

Corps Commander Peshawar Lt-Gen

Hasan Azhar Hayat was the special guest of the final match

Before the start of the matches, the teams of both Chitral and Gilgit were introduced to him

A large number of local and foreign tourists participated in the festival

At the closing ceremony students from local school presented a tableau while paragliding, paratrooper, and FC dance performance, Kalasha dance performance and other performances were other main features of the concluding day of the three-day festival

The festival was organized in collabora-

tion with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP)

Culture and Tourism Authority Pakistan Army and the district administration

At the festival, the local artists of GilgitBaltistan (GB) performed in a musical concert on the previous day

The artistic works of the talented people of Chitral and GB were put on display for tourists and guests A large number of local and foreign tourists were present in the grounds to watch During the match the players were strongly encouraged by tourists including fans from GB and Chitral

On the first day of the festival, a cultural night of Chitral was organized while on the previous day a musical concert of GB was organized in which artistes entertained the audience by singing traditional and cultural songs and promoted the rich culture of the region Paragliding was also performed brilliantly

At the end of the match, students from different schools presented special national songs

The final game started with a high speed

as players of both teams tried hard to outclass the other in the first half amid cheering hands by a large number of spectators In the first half, Chitral was leading 3-1 and went on to extend their advantage to 4-1 in the second half

The players of Chitral including captain Israr Wali Shahzad Ahmad Amir Hama Izhar Ali Khan Muhammad Ilyas and Miraj Uddin played like rock and did not give much time to the GB team to strike back

However, the GB team made an impressive comeback with two quick goals to make the match interesting The team came close to levelling the match on numerous occasions but Chitral players held their nerve to win the match 7-5

The three-day Shandur Polo festival took place from July 7-9 with participants from various parts of the country and abroad Besides Polo, the participants enjoyed traditional food and cultural dances besides rock climbing trekking and paragliding

The tribes from the regions of GB and Chitral meet at the Shandur pass every summer The pass has a beautiful polo ground where unique free-style polo is played among different teams of the region Shandur Polo ground is considered to be

the highest polo ground in the world at 3 700 meters where the historic game has been played since 1930 The polo ground is adjacent to Shandur Lake The festival provides an amazing cultural experience to visitors in the Hindukush mountain ranges