Epaper_23-07-22 ISB

Profit

g STATE MINISTER MUSADIK MALIK CONVINCES PPDA TO DEFER PROTEST FOR TWO DAYS

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

WH I L E the federal government was able to convince Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) to delay its strike for two days, the LPG dealers announced to observe strike across country PPDA deferred strike to shut fuel pumps across the country for two days following successful negotiations with State Minister for Petroleum Musadik Malik who arrived in Karachi earlier Friday in a bid to convince the PPDA to call off the nationwide strike

While long queues seen at petrol pumps on Saturday due to the strike call given by the PPDA and the deferment of the strike call even failed to convince people not to buy fuel

In a statement the PPDA said they might hold another round of negotiations with the government after two days

A day earlier, the PPDA announced shutting down fuel pumps across the country from July 22 demanding an increase in profit margins amid an inflation crisis

We will shut down all petrol pumps across Pakistan on July 22, 6pm, said the association, which further says it has more than 10,000 members

In a statement the association said the petroleum minister was informed about their concerns but to no avail

The official communique said interest rates and inflation have hit operators businesses and called for the dealership margin to be increased

It said sales have slumped by 30% due to Iranian fuel being smuggled into the country Around 8 000-9 000 (operators)

represented by us, will be shut on July 22 ” Abdul Sami Khan chairman of the association told Reuters

The association said the supply of petrol will remain suspended until the demands are met Pakistan is dealing with a weakening currency and a prolonged period of inflation with the national rate hitting 29 4% in June down from a record high of 38% in May

Earlier in May Pakistan s oil industry had sought Rs12/litre margin on highspeed diesel (HSD) and Mogas (petrol) for oil marketing companies (OMCs) in view of the high cost of doing business, which has created financial hardships

On April 30 2022 petroleum review the OMCs margin on HSD was Rs6 50/litre whereas it was Rs6/litre on Mogas Apart from the OMCs margin,

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dealers were charging Rs7/litre margin on HSD and Mogas

The oil industry has been facing severe challenges since last year because of the increased cost of doing business The reasons vary from increased fuel prices in the international market and exchange rate to increased interest rates (leading to inventory holding cost of around Rs3/litre) credit letter confirmation charges leading to higher demurrages and high turnover tax (0 5 per cent) etc

The oil body pointed out that the margin for HSD and Mogas has been revised to Rs6/litre during the current year based on the decision taken by the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) dated October 31 2022; however the same is insufficient and needs to be reviewed urgently

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W: Meanwhile, the sellers of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) on Friday announced a strike against the sale of the commodity at fixed government prices

Chairman LPG Industries Association

Karachi Irfan Khokhar said that there will be a shutter down strike across the country from August 5

He added that LPG is not being sold anywhere in the country at the fixed official price, adding that due to black marketeering the gas is being sold at higher prices

Khokhar also added that the price per kg is Rs178 but LPG is being sold at Rs220 to Rs350 per kg, while the local gas company is selling LPG at a price of Rs100,000, which is more than the fixed price per ton

The chairman added that the annual consumption of LPG is 1 8 million tons 40% of which is met by local production

The announcement comes just a day after petroleum dealers in Pakistan issued a warning to close down filling stations across the country indefinitely, starting from July 22 morning The decision came after the outgoing government failed to honour its commitment to increasing profit margins of the dealers leaving them dissatisfied with the current situation

Speaking at a press conference held at the Karachi Press Club, Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA)

Chairman Samiullah Khan expressed their frustration over the government s inability to raise their profit margin to 5% on the sale of two major petroleum products Currently fixed at Rs6 per litre (2 4%) the 5% margin would amount to over Rs12 per litre given the prevailing petrol and diesel prices of Rs253/litre and Rs253 50/litre respectively

No new tax for agriculture, construction sectors: Dar assures NA

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar on Friday assured the National Assembly that no new tax would be introduced for the agricultural and construction sectors as part of the nine-month Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF)

Justice Bandial had reserved his decision on the plea in April with the PDM government arguing that “there is no room for a second review or curative review” in the Constitution

In the detailed order released today Justice Bandial accepted the government s position and ruled that curative review has no standing in our jurisprudence

“In the present case, no Hon’ble Member of the Bench that delivered the Subject Judgment (nor any other Judge of the Court) has so far considered it necessary to re-visit review or set aside that judgment on the ground that it has had a significant impact on the Fundamental Rights of citizens; or that it is in the interest of the public good; or that it is per incuriam “Consequently, in the absence of such a judicial view and the lack of an enabling jurisdiction that allows an aggrieved or concerned party to file a second review the appellant s curative review petitions appear to be not maintainable Justice Bandial wrote in the order

The CJP stated that the ordinary course of action would have been to refer the matter to the top court for a conclusive determination on its maintainability, but the appellants had sought the withdrawal of their curative review petitions

i l i t a r y t r i a l s o f c i v i l i a n s s

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Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial said on Friday that the trial of those involved in May 9 violence should not begin in military courts without informing the Supreme Court (SC)

He made the remarks as a six-member bench headed by him and consisting Justice Ijazul Ahsan, Justice Munib Akhtar, Justice Yahya Afridi, Justice Sayyed Mazahar Ali Akbar Naqvi and Justice Ayesha

A Malik resumed hearing a set of pleas challenging the military trials of civilians

During today s hearing Latif Khosa the lawyer for petitioner Aitzaz Ahsan stated that whatever was happening in the country today had taken place during the tenure of former military dictator Ziaul Haq

“You can’t compare the present era with the era of Ziaul Haq This is not Ziaul Haq’s era nor is martial law imposed in the country Even if a martial law-like situation arises we will intervene CJP Bandial said CJP Bandial said the SC should be informed before military trials of civilians begin The trial of the accused in military court s should not begin without informing the SC,” he said

At the previous hearing the apex court had provided another opportunity to Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan to seek fresh instructions from the government about the provision of appeal against the sentence to be awarded by military courts to those found guilty of May 9 violence and arson

The observations came when the AGP said the government was willing to follow any suggestions to improve the process of trial by military courts if the SC issued directions to ensure provision of appeal against convictions and that the sentence should be

awarded with reasons

At the outset of the hearing AGP Awan came to the rostrum and said that the apex court had issued him directives at the last hearing He said that he had spoken about the organised plan behind the violent events of May 9 From the video clips shown in court, it is evident that a lot of people were involved in the events of May 9 ” he said “Despite the large number after exercising caution 102 people were pinpointed for court martial he said He reiterated that such an incident had occurred in the country for the very first time He said that an airbase was attacked in Mianwali, adding that it could also have taken place at the ordnance factory

“We have to prevent such incidents [from taking place] in the future ” the AGP said “There is a difference between a civil crime and a crime committed by a civilian Awan said

At one point, Justice Naqvi asked how it was decided who would be tried in military courts and who wouldn’t Awan said that offences under Section 2(1)(d) of the Army Act would be tried in military courts

“Is the Army Act outside the bounds of fundamental human rights? asked Justice Afridi The AGP responded in the affirmative saying that fundamental rights were not applicable on the Army Act

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

Speaking on the National Assembly (NA) floor on Friday, the finance minister said that he had “promised in the budget that whatever agreement is reached with the IMF will be presented before the parliament Dar said three copies of documents signed with the IMF have been placed in the National Assembly s library as he noted the positive role played by members of parliament in securing the SBA Stressing the government’s commitment to transparency Dar said that all documents have also been made available on the Finance Ministry s website Due to non-implementation of the conditions (set with the IMF) on the part of the previous government, many difficulties were faced by this government,” he said

“When our government came there were reserves of $14 billion dollars we are committed to leaving the country s reserves in a better state he added We hope that when the new government comes this IMF program will be over

The finance minister also said that no tax will be levied on the construction and agriculture sectors and that efforts were afoot to reduce inflation in the country

The inflation rate can come down to as low as 7% the minister said as he presented the document of the IMF agreement noting that there are 11 or 12 reviews of the agreement

“We are trying our level best that a 9th review of the IMF agreement can be completed ” said Dar Last month the government reached a staff-level pact with the IMF a decision long awaited by the South Asian nation which is teetering on the brink of default

The deal had come after an eight-month delay and offers some respite to Pakistan, which is battling an acute balance of payments crisis and falling foreign exchange reserves Islamabad has taken a slew of policy measures since an IMF team arrived in Pakistan earlier this year including a revised 2023-24 budget last week to meet the lender s demands

Other adjustments demanded by the IMF before clinching the deal included reversing subsidies in power and export sectors hikes in energy and fuel prices jacking up the key policy rate to 22% a market-based currency exchange rate and arranging for external financing

It also got Pakistan to raise over 385 billion rupees ($1 34 billion) in new taxation through a supplementary budget for the 2022-23 fiscal year and the revised budget for 2023-24

Going forward the IMF said the central bank should remain pro-active to reduce inflation and maintain a foreign exchange framework

The painful adjustments have already fuelled alltime high inflation of 38% year-on-year in May

Govt ends gas subsidy scheme for expor t- oriented sectors

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sional rate in FY24 According to the Directorate General Gas the government has not allocated any subsidy for the gas supply to these exportoriented sectors in the current financial year As a result SNGPL is directed to raise invoices to these sectors as per the previously approved mechanism by the cabinet

tor which stood at Rs 577 billion by hiking gas prices by up to 40 percent and ending subsidies

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) had also previously advised the government to end gas subsidies to prevent the circular debt defined as a cash shortfall across the sector when the gas purchaser fails to pay the gas provider from ballooning further The five export-oriented sectors are likely to face increased operational costs due to the absence of subsidised gas supply This decision may have implications for their competitiveness in the international market and might prompt them to explore other cost-saving measures Sui Northern Gas Pipeline Limited, as the major gas distribution company in the

northern region of Pakistan will be responsible for implementing the approved mechanism and ensuring an uninterrupted supply of gas to the five export-oriented sectors as per the directives of the Petroleum Division

As FY24 progresses the government’s decision regarding the allocation of subsidies for various sectors will continue to shape economic activities and have an impact on businesses across the country

The Petroleum Division s decision highlights the ongoing efforts of the government to streamline energy subsidies and ensure a sustainable energy sector in the face of fiscal challenges The burden of increased costs for the export-oriented sectors now rests on their ability to adapt and navigate these changes effectively

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Justice Umar Ata Bandial on Friday approved the PDM government s plea to withdraw a curative review reference filed by the ousted Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) government against Supreme Court judge Justice Qazi Faez Isa The previous government had filed the curative review reference after the top court quashed its initial Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) reference against Justice Isa for not disclosing his family s foreign assets in his wealth statements

PAKISTAN HOPES INSTANT, PEACEFUL RESOLUTION OF UKRAINE CONFLICT: FO

FO R E I G N Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch has expressed the hope that Ukraine conflict will be instantly and peacefully resolved through negotiations and Pakistan was ready to play its part in promoting a dialogue to end this war

Responding to a question at her weekly news briefing in Islamabad on Friday she said Pakistan and Russia are friends we have a very solid relationship She said Pakistan’s engagement with Russia will continue and Islamabad is concerned about sufferings of the civilian population on both sides

To another question Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan has raised his concerns with the Afghan interim authorities at level regarding the use of Afghan soil in carrying out terrorist activities inside Pakistan She said Pakistan expects that

Police thwar t late-night ambush of terrorists on Peshawar checkpost

Afghanistan will adhere to its commitments it made with the international community to not allowing any individual or group to use its soil to pose threat to regional peace and security The FO spokesperson speaking about Ukrainian Foreign Minister Dmytro Kuleba ongoing visit to Pakistan said it has been

PESHAWAR: The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police thwarted a late-night terrorist ambush on a police checkpost situated on the outskirts of Peshawar, an official said on Friday Superintendent Police (SP) Cantt Waqas Rafiq informed that armed men tried to approach the Sarband police checkpost under the cover of darkness late at night on Thursday However the quick response from the vigilant officers foiled their attempt The officers whom he said were equipped with modern weapons, promptly retaliated, driving the terrorists away The police s timely action foiled the terrorists’ plan,” the officer stated As per the KP police statement a group of six to seven terrorists made an attempt to reach the checkpost Pakistan has seen an uptick in terror activities especially in KP and Balochistan, after the outlawed Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year On Wednesday night, two policemen were martyred while as many were injured in a late-night attack on a police check post in Peshawar s Regi Model Town area A day later three policemen embraced martyrdom and 12 people nine personnel and three civilians suffered injuries when terrorists attacked an official compound in Bara and a police post near Peshawar within a few hours Officials said two suicide bombers were intercepted by policemen at the entrance of the tehsil headquarters complex and police station adjacent to Bara bazaar around 11am on Thursday They said police engaged the bombers in a gun battle, which left one of the attackers dead, while the other blew himself up A portion of the building collapsed owing to the impact of the explosion A report released earlier this month by think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said the first half of the current year witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 389 people across the country More than a week ago, 12 soldiers of the Pakistan Army were martyred in two attacks on the military in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan the military s highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year Staff RepoRt

LHC withdraws order barring authorities from arresting PTI chief

LAHORE: The Lahore High Court (LHC) withdrew on Friday its previous order restraining authorities from arresting the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman in all reported and undisclosed cases registered in Punjab The development come as Justice Alia Neelum heard a petition filed by the former prime minister to avoid his possible arrest In the petition he had also pleaded the high court to club all cases registered against him in the province During the hearing PTI chief s lawyer Intizar Hussain pleaded the court to grant some time as senior counsel was absent He also requested the court to not withdraw the previous order However Justice Neelum took back the previous order that had barred the authorities from arrest the PTI chief She later adjourned the hearing for an indefinite period Staff RepoRt

Strong gov t elected with real mandate need of hour: Siraj

the first ever move of this kind since the establishment of diplomatic ties between the two countries in 1993 She said Pakistan and Ukraine has agreed to enhance mutually beneficial cooperation in trade investment higher education agriculture defence and information technology for the mutual benefit of both countries They agreed on the importance of regular dialogue and engagement and decided to hold meetings of various institutional mechanisms in due course She further said that it was also agreed to deepen cultural exchanges and people-to-people contacts She also spoke about the founder and President of Jammu and Kashmir Democratic Freedom Party Shabbir Ahmad Shah who completed six years of his continued detention this month She said incarcerated currently in New Delhi s infamous Tihar Jail Shabbir Shah has spent 36 years in prison for his political views She said that the total period of his confinement exceeds half of his life He

was rightly called by the Amnesty International’ as a “Prisoner of Conscience”

Mumtaz Zahra Baloch urged India to put an end to the protracted imprisonment of Shabbir Shah and thousands of other Kashmiri political leaders and activists whose basic crime is to demand their inalienable right to self-determination These political prisoners must be released and acquitted of the fabricated charges against them

Updating the media persons on the Greek Boat Tragedy Spokesperson said two separate flights carrying the mortal remains of four Pakistanis who perished in the disaster have arrived in Lahore and Islamabad She said the mortal remains have been handed over to the families in the districts of Gujrat and Gujranwala She said Pakistan Mission in Greece has made plans for the transportation of the remaining dead bodies within the next few days She said we also remain in contact with the Greek authorities for identification of the victims

‘No freedom of expression’: PM slams

Quran’s desecration in Sweden

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has strongly condemned another incident of desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden

In a statement on Friday he said a joint strategy will be formulated from the platform of OIC to counter such heinous acts He stressed that the OIC has to play a historic role in expressing the sentiments of Muslim Ummah and stopping such evil acts

The premier said that a campaign will be initiated to get reversed the decision of allowing the desecration of divine books Torah Bible and Holy Quran The desecration of sacred books,

persons and rituals is not freedom of expression but to constantly torment the world He said the continuity of these acts reflects that it is part of a political and satanic agenda He said the entire world of Islam and Christianity must stop this conspiracy together PM Shehbaz said the followers of devil are blaspheming the Book which gave human beings dignity rights and guidance Shehbaz Sharif said the decision to allow the desecration of the Torah and Bible encouraged desecrators This is the promotion of hatred which international law does not allow He said these attitudes of religious incitement provocation terrorism and

violence are fatal to world peace These behaviors are highly abhorrent and condemnable both legally and morally

Islamabad Airpor t to be outsourced for 15 years to enhance operational ac tivities: S aad

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Aviation Khawaja Saad

Rafique has said that for enhancing the operational activities of Islamabad International Airport, it would be outsourced for a period of 15 years

Responding to a calling attention notice in National Assembly sponsored by MMA lawmaker Maulana Abdul Akbar Chitrali regarding the outsourcing of the airport on Friday, the minister clarified that the move does not equate to privatization Instead, it aims to bring in proficient operators to enhance airport operations he added S a a d R a f i q u e e m p h a s i z e d t h a t open competitive bidding would be ens u r e d , a l l o w i n g t h e b e s t b i d d e r t o b e g i v e n t h e o p p o r t u n i t y t o o p e r a t e t h e a i r p o r t T h e p r o c e s s , h e s a i d w i l l b e p r o f i t - o r i e n t e d u l t i m a t e l y b e n e f i t i n g t h e n a t i o n a l e x c h e q u e r T h e I n t e r n ational Finance Corporation will serve a s t h e c o n s u l t a n t a n d a l r e a d y 1 2 - 1 3 companies have shown interest in part i c i p a t i n g i n t h e b i d d i n g p r o c e s s , h e

a d d e d H e a s s u r e d t h a t t h e p r o c e s s would be transparent and adhere to all rules and regulations

However the minister clarified that the runway and navigation operations would not be included in the outsourcing process Highlighting the success of outsourced airports in other countries like India and Turkiye, Saad Rafique mentioned that even Madina airport has been efficiently outsourced to deliver enhanced services

He also stressed the need to restructure Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) to address its substantial deficit, which has reached Rs 80 billion this year and is projected to increase to Rs 259 billion by 2030 if not dealt with appropriately

The minister asserted that no employees would be laid off, and all existing staff would retain their job security and privileges However, he also mentioned that best practices would be implemented to ensure facilities at airports are efficiently managed Regarding the future plans for PIA

he informed that the total liability of PIA amounts to Rs 742 billion, with only 27-28 planes currently operational He urged the necessity to save the institution and underscored the importance of the restructuring legislation which has been approved by the National Assembly in the previous sitting

To address the deficit, he revealed plans to restore flights to the UK within three months followed by the resumption of flights to the US and Europe

Saad Rafique issued a warning that immediate reforms were crucial to prevent further escalation of the deficit in the coming days He acknowledged that a statement from a former federal minister for Aviation had created problems for PIA However he assured that all audits and tests have been successfully cleared demonstrating the government s commitment to transparency and accountability

Furthermore, as the minister overseeing the Railway portfolio, he recommended engaging industrialists to invest in the railway sector instead of opting for privatization

MULTAN: Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq has said that a strong government elected with the real mandate is the pressing need of the hour, demanding the Election Commission ensure transparent and timely election as per the direction of the constitution after the dissolution of assemblies on August 12 Addressing a seminar on interest-free economy in Multan he appealed to the masses to vote for the JI to bring real change and get rid of the riba which plagued the national economy Sirajul Haq said that the electoral watchdog should hold consultation with the political stakeholders to ensure free and fair polls The election should be held in way that no one could raise objection on the outcome, he said, adding the caretaker government must cooperate with the ECP for smooth and peaceful process of national vote, standing impartial The JI chief said the foreign minister promised to eliminate interest but Ishaq Dar desperately failed to keep his words The head of the PDM government he said was also a religious scholar and leader of a religious party but his government jacked up interest rate instead of following the Federal Shariat Court s order He said the corruption, interest-based economy and unfair distribution of resources were the real problem of the country The two percent ruling elite he said captured the state resources ignoring the need of the masses The economy damaged due to bad-governance and ill-conceived policies of the current and previous rulers who only focuses on their own and family well-being while staying in power he said The rulers who had been controlling the affairs of the country now wanted their children in power he said blocking the progress of a common man The political parties who were alien to concept of democracy and acting as family clubs and oneman show would never be interested in strengthening democracy, he said, adding only the JI which was the only democratic party could introduce real democracy rule of law and impartial accountability S ta f f R e p o Rt

PTI’s law yer cross-examines

ECP’s witness in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD: A hearing of the Toshakhana case was held Friday in a district and sessions court in Islamabad during which the lawyer for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chairman cross-examined a witness of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar heard the case Khawaja Harris, the lawyer for PTI chairman Imran Khan and Amjad Pervaiz the lawyer for the ECP along with witnesses appeared in the court Khawaja Harris cross-examined the first witness Waqas Malik, and asked: When did you join the ECP? Waqas Malik replied: I joined the ECP as Election Officer in 2006 I joined the NIM training in May 2023 The verification of the complaint was done in October 2022 ” Khawaja Harris further asked: Did you read the complaint in detail before filing the complaint? Waqas Malik replied: Yes! I read all the details before filing the complaint ECP s lawyer Amjad Pervaiz attempted to talk to the witness during the cross-examination, but Khawaja Harris requested him to refrain from doing that When did you sign the complaint? Khawaja Harris put another question to witness Waqas Malik The complaint was taken from a computer The verification came out by itself, the witness replied I did not ask for this This is not a statement This is cross-examination It is not legally allowed ” Khawaja Harris asserted “There is a difference between signing a complaint and an affidavit The word affidavit is not written on the complaint verification, the witness replied while being cross-examined S ta f f R e p o R t

US suppor ts fundamental democratic principles in Pakistan: State Dept

The spokesperson of State Department Mathew Miller while briefing the media has said that the US supports fundamental democratic principles in Pakistan

To a question regarding upcoming election in Pakistan, Mathew Miller said that US support the peaceful upholding of fundamental democratic principles such as free media, free speech and freedom of assembly

“We champion the rule of law, not just in Pakistan but around the world These principles are the foundations for democratic elections he added We respect the rule of law not just in Pakistan but around the world he said

Responding to a question regarding a number of terrorist attacks in Pakistan which media intelligence reports

said were planned in Afghanistan he said We will continue to urge the Taliban to fulfil their promises We will also maintain the capacity to carry out counterterrorism actions in the region He said that we retain the ability to conduct our own operations in the region to ensure that, regardless of any promises that the Taliban make and regardless of their relative ability or willingness to uphold them that we retain the right to protect American interests

To a question regarding desecration of Holy Quran in Sweden, Mathew Miller said that US condemn such acts as the burning of a Quran We think they are abhorrent

“It is abhorrent for anyone to burn or deface a religious book held in honour by so many people around the world We appreciate the significance of the holy Quran and other texts he said

Pakistan lauds UN chief ’s new agenda aimed to boost multilateral effor ts for peace

Pakistan has welcomed as bold and perhaps timely UN Secretary-General s new policy brief outlining his vision of a more robust multilateral framework to boost peace and security, for a world in flux

Commenting on UN chief Antonio Guterres New Agenda for Peace Ambassador Munir Akram said that his initiative comes at a time when we may be at the dawn of a darker era of history

The world faces complex and interlocking threats to peace arising from: the use and threat of use of force in violation of the UN Charter; the vertical and horizontal proliferation of weapons – conventional and nonconventional in new domains such as cyber and out space; festering conflicts and unresolved disputes; prolonged foreign occupation and interventions; spreading terrorism and extremist; rising intolerance and hate;

environmental impacts, and poverty, inequality and injustice,” the Pakistani envoy said “In these direct circumstances the Secretary-General s attempt to outline a new peace agenda as a bold and perhaps timely initiative Ambassador Akram added

The New Agenda for Peace presents twelve concrete sets of proposals for action, in five priority areas

The Secretary-General called for strong measures to prevent conflicts at the global level and address geopolitical divisions prioritizing diplomacy and investments in regional security architectures

Second, he highlighted a paradigm for prevention that addresses all forms of violence”, focusing on mediation and social cohesion; ensuring respect for human rights and meaningful participation of women in decision-making; and prioritizing links between sustainable development, climate action, and peace

fourth key area, noting the need for global governance to address threats posed by new technologies such as artificial intelligence (AI) and autonomous weapons systems

The fifth priority area calls for urgent reforms to the Security Council General Assembly the UN s disarmament machinery and the Peacebuilding Commission, to enhance collective security

The Secretary-General also introduced other policy briefs on Transforming Education and UN 2 0 aimed at improving education systems and modernizing the UN to support the 2030 Agenda for Sustainable Development

In conclusion, all the Policy Briefs in the series aim to support Member States’

together with other likeminded countries will seek to reflect these fundamental preconditions for peace in the outcome of next year s Summit of the Future Ambassador Akram said

Yet, he added, despite our leaders decisions at this Summit, our desire for peace will come to naught unless we – the UN’s Member States – are able to prevent a new global clash between the major powers; unless we are able to avert another Cold War; unless we are able to prevent the division of the world into rival military, political and economic blocs

BIL AWAL DISTRIBUTES OWNERSHIP RIGHTS AMONG 5000 FLOOD VICTIMS OF L ARK ANA

LARKANA

CHAIRMAN Pakistan People s Party (PPP) and Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Friday

distributed Title Deeds to five thousand families in Larkana in the first phase of the project to give ownership rights to residential plots to flood victims of Sindh

PPP Chairman has also vowed that he will complete the mission of Shaheed Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and bring the country out of hardtimes

According to the statement issued by media cell Bilawal House, PPP Chairman attended the distribution of ownership rights ceremony held in the flood-affected village of Larkana District Vikio Sangi and also inspected the houses built by the Sindh

People’s Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) for the homeless flood victims He while addressing the event said that his Party s government in Sindh is providing financial assistance to the flood victims to rebuild their houses adding that now such houses are being constructed, which will be safe to a large extent in case of floods He furthered that home ownership right is an asset which is being given to every woman of all the displaced flood-affected family

“We have learned from Shaheed Mohtarma Benazir Bhutto and President Asif Ali Zardari that when women are economically empowered it strengthens the entire family he added Chairman PPP said that the government of Sindh has turned the natural calamity into an opportunity, now flood victims houses are built across the province, adding that 2 million houses are to be built in the entire province although it will take time to build

ATC extends PTI chief ’s bail in five cases

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Friday extended the bail of Pakistan

Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in terror cases

Judge Abhar Gul Khan of the special ATC heard the former prime minister s request for an extension of interim bail in five cases including the Jinnah House attack case After the PTI chairman appeared before the court the interim bail was extended till August 8

During the hearing, special prosecutor Farhad Ali Shah told the court

that the police have completed the investigation of the party chairman adding that the former premier has been found guilty in the probe

It is pertinent to note that cases have been registered against the PTI chairman in Sarwar Road Gulbarg Shadman and other police stations of the city

QURESHI’S BAIL EXTENDED: In a separate development, the ATC provided relief to PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi and extended his interim bail in three cases, including the Jinnah House and Askari Tower attack cases Duty Judge Abhar Gul Khan extended interim bail till August 8 in the

Admin along Ravi, Chenab rivers on high aler t after flood warning

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The administration in the districts along the Ravi and Chenab rivers is on high alert on Friday to deal with any emergency following the release of water into both rivers by India India released 180,000 cusecs of water in Auj Nullah a tributary of the Ravi River and 150 000 cusecs of water in Tawi River a tributary of the Chenab River A 30,000 cusecs water current passed through N u l l a h D e k t h e o t h e r d a y, i n u n d a t i n g h u n d r e d s o f a c r e s o f p a d d y c r o p s T h e w a t e r e n t e r e d t h e f i e l d s d u e t o t h e l a c k o f a n e m b a n k m e n t a t t h e p o i n t o f D e o l i I n B u r e w a l a , a n e i g h t - y e a r- o l d c h i l d h a d b e e n s w e p t a w a y i n M a u z a J o d e k a D o z e n s o f s e t t l e m e n t s w e r e a l s o f l o o d e d i n t h e v i l l a g e a f t e r a n e m b a n k m e n t w a s b r e a c h e d I n A r i f w a l a , a n e m b a n k m e n t i n M a u z a N a k r a H a i d e r w a s b r e a c h e d I n Wa z i r a b a d t h e r e i s a h i g h - l e v e l f l o o d a t H e a d Q a d i r a b a d i n t h e C h e n a b R i v e r I n T h u l , a 2 0 - f o o t - w i d e b r e a c h o c c u r r e d i n M u s a A l l a h a b a d C a n a l T h e c a n a l w a t e r e n t e r e d h o u s e s a n d t h e G o v e r n m e n t P r i m a r y S c h o o l R a h i m B a k h s h T h e c a n a l w a t e r s t a r t e d m o v i n g t o w a r d t h e u r b a n p o p u l a t i o n T h e r e s i d e n t s w e r e f a c e d w i t h d i ff i c u l t i e s D e s p i t e t h e i n f o r m a t i o n , t he

Gov t introduces online passpor t renewal facilit y

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t I n a s i g n i f i c a n t d e v e l o p m e n t a i m e d a t e a s i n g t h e b u r d e n o n c i t i z e n s , F e d e r a l I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r R a n a S a n a u l l a h h a s a n n o u n c e d t h a t p a s s p o r t s c a n n o w b e r e n e w e d o n l i n e w i t h o u t t h e n e e d t o v i s i t a n y g o v e r n m e n t o ff i c e T h e n e w i n i t i a t i v e i s s e t t o r e v o l u t i o n i z e t h e p a s s p o r t r e n e w a l p r o c e s s a n d a l l e v i a t e t h e l o n g s t a n d i n g g r i e v a n c e s o f c i t i z e n s w h o w e r e o n c e p l a g u e d b y l o n g q u e u e s a n d w a i t i n g t i m e s T h e a n n o u n c e m e n t w a s m a d e v i a a t w e e t o n t h e o ff i c i a l s o c i a l n e t w o r k i n g a c c o u n t o f F e d e r a l I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r R a n a S a n a u l l a h T h e h a s s l e - f r e e e - p a s s p o r t f a c i l i t y i s n o w a v a i l a b l e , s o p a s s p o r t s c a n b e r e n e w e d o n l i n e f r o m a n y w h e r e w i t h o u t v i s i t i n g t h e o ff i c e ” t h e t w e e t r e a d Wi t h t h e i n t r o d u c t i o n o f t h e e - p a s s p o r t r e n e w a l f a c i l i t y c i t i z e n s c a n b i d f a r e w e l l t o t h e t e d i o u s a n d t i m ec o n s u m i n g o r d e a l o f v i s i t i n g p a s s p o r t o ff i c e s P r i o r t o t h i s , o b t a i n i n g a r e n e w e d p a s s p o r t w a s a d a u n t i n g t a s k f o r c i t i z e n s , w i t h l o n g l i n e s s t r e t c h i n g o u t s i d e p a s s p o r t o ff i c e s b e c o m i n g a c o m m o n s i g h t S u c h i n e ff i c i e n c i e s o f t e n l e d t o u n n e c e s s a r y d e l a y s a n d i n c o n v e n i e n c e s f o r a p p l i c a n t s

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Fundamental rights can only be done away with through legislation This about this,” CJP Bandial remarked He observed that independence of the judiciary was a central part of Pakistan s justice system

The SC had declared independence of the judiciary a fundamental right We can t leave everything to the trial court, the CJP said “In 2015, the Constitution was pushed aside through the 21st Amendment But that is not the case now he said The court observed that citizens were accorded fundamental rights under the Constitution and wondered how these could be removed through specific restrictions under the Army Act

AGP Awan said he would first talk about the trial process in military courts before answering the questions posed by the apex court He said that the

cases and called the lawyers for arguments

UMAR’S BAIL EXTENDED: Meanwhile, a hearing on PTI leader Asad Umar ’s interim bail application in the Askari Tower arson and vandalism case was also held at the ATC The court ordered Umar to be investigated in the Jinnah House case and also sought the records of other cases at the next hearing and extended his bail till

8

August

In an unprecedented show of vandalism protestors allegedly belonging to the former ruling party vandalised public and private properties

and even attacked the General Headquarters in Rawalpindi and the Lahore corps commander s residence, also known as the Jinnah House The attack took place hours after paramilitary Rangers personnel arrested the party chairman in the Al-Qadir Trust corruption case later retitled as the £190 million National Crime Agency scandal on the orders of the National Accountability Bureau, from the Islamabad High Court premises F o l l o w i n g t h e c l a m p d o w n , s e v e r a l s e n i o r P T I l e a d e r s w e r e a r r e s t e d a n d m a n y d i s s o c i a t e d t h e m s e l v e s f r o m t h e p a r t y

NAB’s open cour t witnesses complaints against fraud by real estate sec tor

LAHORE S h a h a b o m e R

In a Khuli Katchehri (Open Court) organized by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) a significant number of individuals who claimed to be victims of fraud committed by the real estate mafia and various housing societies presented their grievances

The Khuli Katchehri took place as part of NAB’s efforts to address corruption and embezzlement-related concerns faced by the public

The spokesperson of NAB informed that under the directives of NAB s Chairman Lieutenant General (R) Nazeer Ahmed, the second monthly Khuli Katchehri aimed to provide a platform for the affected individuals to voice their issues

The Director-General of NAB Lahore, Amjad Mehmood Aulakh, oversaw the proceedings ensuring a transparent and fair process

Victims from housing societies such as Amin Housing Society Lahore Lahore Motorway City Pak Memon Group Abu Zar Housing Scheme and Formanites Housing Society shared their complaints

during the session NAB Lahore has undertaken a thorough investigation into these cases to expedite the resolution process and deliver justice to the affected parties,” he informed

During the event the Director-General of NAB Lahore assured the victims that NAB remains committed to taking strong actions against corrupt elements within the city He explained the importance of these Khuli Katchehri in addressing the issues faced by the public promptly and transparently NAB Lahore’s efforts to hold corrupt individuals accountable were also highlighted, with previous recoveries of significant amounts from corrupt elements being acknowledged The Director-General expressed determination to continue utilizing available resources to ensure the effective redressal of victims losses and the prosecution of corrupt individuals

In response to the victims convenience, NAB Lahore announced its commitment to continue holding monthly open sessions every month as this move aims to provide complainants with an opportunity to seek immediate justice for their grievances

Monsoon rains likely to continue till July 26: PMD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) Friday indicated chances of monsoon rains to continue in the coming days

The monsoon currents were continuously penetrating in the country from Bay of Bengal and a westerly trough was also affecting its upper parts that might persist during next few days, the PMD said Rain/wind-thundershower with few heavy to very heavy falls are expected in Kashmir, (Neelum valley, Muzaffarabad, Poonch, Hattian, Bagh, Haveli, Sudhanoti, Kotli Bhimber Mirpur) Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir Astore Ghizer Skardu Hunza Gilgit Ghanche Shigar) Murree Galliyat Islamabad Rawalpindi Attock Chakwal Jhelum Mandi Bahauddin Sialkot Narowal Lahore Sheikhupura, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat, Kasur, Mianwali, Sargodha, Khushab, Faisalabad, Toba Tek Singh, Jhang, Sahiwal, Bahawalnagar, Okara, Chitral, Dir Swat Shangla Buner Mansehra Kohistan Abbottabad Haripur Peshawar Mardan Swabi

Nowshera Kurram Lakki Marwat Kohat Dera Ismail Khan Bannu Karak and Waziristan from July 22- 26 with occasional gaps, it added Rain/wind-thundershower with isolated heavy falls, the PMD further said, “are also expected in Zhob, Sherani, Barkhan, Musakhel, Kohlu, Naseerabad, Jhal

commanding officer assigned to a particular area sends a report to the General Headquarters (GHQ)

Under the Army Act rules an inquiry is initiated [and] in the next phase, the suspect s custody is sought, he said He said that after seeking the suspect’s custody, a summary regarding the evidence is presented after which he is charged

If the commanding officer is not satisfied with the evidence then he can dismiss the charges, the attorney general said He added that the suspect was given a choice to record his statement “During the trial, the suspect can consult with a legal adviser ” he said CJP Bandial however observed that suspects were given very little time to defend themselves in military courts AGP Awan contended that under the Army Act, the decision in military courts was passed by a majority In case of the death penalty a two-thirds majority is required he said “Prima facie no one

Magsi Loralai Ziarat Mastung Kalat Khuzdar Lasbela

Awaran Kech Panjgur Dera Ghazi khan Rajanpur

Multan Khanewal Bhakkar Layyah Kot Addu Bahawalpur Rahim Yar Khan Tharparkar Umerkot Mirpurkhas, Sukkur, Larkana, Jacobabad, Dadu, Shaheed Benazirabad, Hyderabad, Sanghar, Badin, Thatta and Karachi from July 22- 24 with occasional gaps”

About the impacts, the PMD warned that heavy rains might cause urban flooding in low lying areas of Islamabad/ Rawalpindi Peshawar Gujranwala and Lahore from July 22-26 and trigger landslides in the vulnerable areas of Murree Galliyat Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the period Heavy rain may generate flash flooding in Kashmir, Dir, Swat, Kohistan, Shangla, Buner, Manshera Abbottabad Rawalpindi/Islamabad during July 22-26 and cause hill torrents in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan on July 22 and 23 Heavy rains might also trigger water logging in low lying areas of Karachi and Hyderabad during July 22-24, the PMD said

It advised the farmers to manage their activities keeping in view the weather forecast, and asked tourists and travelers to remain extra cautious to avoid any untoward situation during the wet spell

The PMD urged the public to stay at safe places during wind-storm/heavy rains as loose structures like electric poles, solar panels etc might be damaged

out of the 102 suspects arrested will be sentenced to death or 14 years imprisonment he said Justice Akhtar then wondered if the AGP was trying to say that there was no case under Section 3A of the Official Secrets Act Are you saying that such a case could emerge?

CJP Bandial asked the AGP “My statement is up till this stage ” AGP Awan responded as he assured the court that the verdicts issued by the military courts would have detailed reasons He also told the apex court that the government had decided to have an open trial of the accused in military courts “The accused’s lawyer and family members of can see the full trial ” the AGP said He went on to say that after the suspect was sentenced there was also the confirmation phase Before the conformation, a review is undertaken to see whether or not the trial was according to the law ” he said AGP Awan said that the accused

these houses, but this is the beginning of a revolution He said that the people sitting in Islamabad have no idea of the sufferings of the flood victims of Larkana He said that inflation unemployment and poverty are increasing in the country adding: Problems will be solved only by helping the common person, and the day is not far when we will make Pakistan economically strong, Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said that whenever PPP comes to power, it has been introducing pro-poor and pro-public projects He said that the election is not far away and after winning the next general election similar pro-people projects will be taken to the whole country, including Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan He said that there is an ideological difference between PPP and other parties

Pakistan hopes to resume PIA flights to UK in three months

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t P a k i s t a n h o p e s i t s n a t i o n a l c a r r i e r P a k i s t a n I n t e r n a t i o n a l A i r l i n e s ( P I A a P S X ) c a n r e s u m e f l i g h t s t o B r i t a i n i n t h e n e x t t h r e e m o n t h s Av i a t i o n M i n i s t e r K h a w a j a S a a d R a f i q u e s a i d o n F r i d a y R a f i q u e m a d e t h e a n n o u n c e m e n t i n p a r l i a m e n t s a y i n g n e w l e g i s l a t i o n t h i s w e e k h a s r e m o v e d t h e l a s t h u r d l e f o r t h e n a t i o n a l c a r r i e r t o f l y t o t h e U n i t e d K i n g d o m G o d w i l l i n g , t h e P I A f l i g h t s w i l l r e s u m e a t l e a s t t o t h e U K i n t h r e e m o n t h s , a n d , l a t e r, f l i g h t s t o E u r o p e a n d A m e r i c a w i l l r e s u m e ” h e s a i d P I A’s f l i g h t s t o E u r o p e a n d E n g l a n d w e r e s u s p e n d e d a f t e r t h e E u r o p e a n U n i o n Av i a t i o n S a f e t y A g e n c y ( E A S A ) r e v o k e d t h e n a t i o n a l c a r r i e r s a u t h o r i s a t i o n t o f l y t o t h e b l o c i n 2 0 2 0 f o l l o w i n g a f a k e p i l o t s c a n d a l i n t h e S o u t h A s i a n n a t i o n

Flash floods claim one life, damage five houses in KP PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t T h e P r o v i n c i a l D i s a s t e r M a n a g e m e n t A u t h o r i t y ( P D M A ) r e p o r t e d t h a t r e c e n t f l a s h f l o o d s r e s u l t e d i n o n e f a t a l i t y i n U p p e r D i r a n d f i v e h o u s e s d a m a g e d i n U p p e r C h i t r a l S a b z A l i a 2 5 - y e a r- o l d r e s i d e n t o f A l i g a s a r U p p e r D i r w a s t r a g i c a l l y s w e p t a w a y b y t h e f l a s h f l o o d , a n d h i s b o d y w a s l a t e r r e c o v e r e d I n U p p e r C h i t r a l s Ya r k h o n v i l l a g e , t h e f l a s h f l o o d c a u s e d e x t e n s i v e d a m a g e , c o m p l e t e l y d e m o l i s h i n g f i v e h o u s e s a n d p a r t i a l l y d a m a g i n g t w o o t h e r s F o r t u n a t e l y n o c a s u a l t i e s h a v e b e e n r e p o r t e d s o f a r T h e f l o o d s a l s o i m p a c t e d t e n s h o p s a n d c a u s e d d a m a g e t o c r o p s g a r d e n s a n d f o r e s t s T h e P D M A i s s u e d a w a r n i n g r e g a r d i n g t h e C h a n t a r G l a c i e r a t B r u g h a l P o i n t , a s i t d a n g e r o u s l y s l i p p e d i n t o t h e Ya r k h o n R i v e r i n C h i t r a l , r a i s i n g c o n c e r n s a b o u t p o t e n t i a l d o w n s t r e a m f l o o d s

PM, Mengal discuss

Balochistan’s matters, political situation

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t P r i m e M i n i s t e r M u h a m m a d S h e h b a z S h a r i f w a s c a l l e d o n b y M e m b e r N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y a n d C h a i r m a n B a l o c h i s t a n N a t i o n a l P a r t y ( B N P ) S a r d a r A k h t a r M e n g a l o n F r i d a y D u r i n g t h e m e e t i n g , m a t t e r s r e l a t i n g t o t h e B a l o c h i s t a n p r o v i n c e a n d o v e r a l l p o l i t i c a l s i t u a t i o n o f t h e c o u n t r y c a m e u n d e r d i s c u s s i o n M i n i s t e r f o r E c o n o m i c A ff a i r s S a r d a r Ay a z S a d i q a n d A d v i s o r t o t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r A h a d C h e e m a w e r e a l s o p r e s e n t o n t h e o c c a s i o n A s o u r c e t o l d P a k i s t a n To d a y t h a t A k h t a r M e n g a l a l s o s h a r e d w i t h t h e P M t h r e a t s b e i n g h u r l e d o n h i m H e t o l d t h e p r e m i e r t h a t a n i n d i v i d u a l l i n k e d w i t h a t e r r o r i s t o u t f i t w a s h u r l i n g t h r e a t s o n h i m T h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r a s s u r e d f u l l s e c u r i t y t o t h e p o l i t i c i a n a n d s a i d t h a t a c t i o n w o u l d b e t a k e n a g a i n s t t h e a c c u s e d f o r t h w i t h

would be allowed legal representation, adding that he could also seek the services of a private counsel He said that Section 133 of the Army Act was there to appeal the verdict of military courts For a punishment that is more than three months, an appeal can be sought within 42 days,” the attorney general said adding that the plea could be filed in a court of appeal

The Pakistan Army is so far investigating the events of May 9 Up till now, the trial of any accused in military courts has not yet started, the AGP said Regarding the right of appeal, the AGP sought more time to ponder this question “This matter needs careful consideration AGP Awan said Referring to the case of Indian spy Kulbhushan Yadav he said We have to act in such a way that the country s position is not affected The AGP then sought one-month’s time from the SC on this matter and the hearing was adjourned indefinitely

r a i n i a n F M v i s i t s

K R A I N I A N Foreign Minister Dymytro Koleba had a tough row to hoe on his visit to Pakistan as he failed to get its support in its ongoing conflict with Ukraine Pakistan has so far resisted taking sides, and used this visit to dispel the rumours that it had sold Ukraine any arms However Mr Koleba would not look on this visit as a waste of time for he managed to raise one issue where Pakistan has a direct interest grain shipments from the Black Sea Admittedly, Pakistan looks to the import of Russian wheat rather than Ukrainian to overcome its shortage, but the Russian pullout from the UN-brokered deal permitting Ukrainian exports of wheat from Odessa has raised the spectre of a spike in the international price of wheat, which would hurt not just Pakistan, but a whole slew of food-deficient Third World countries, and further raise the possibility of mass starvation Therefore Pakistani Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was ready enough to agree to Mr Kolba’s request for help in reviving the grain export deal by raising the issue with his Russian and Turkish counterparts, as well as the UN Secretary General One aspect that was not discussed was the fact that Pakistan had begun to import crude oil from Russia at an undisclosed discount

This is perhaps the main factor maintaining Pakistani neutrality in a conflict which it wants to see ended It should also be remembered that Pakistan has deep ties with China, which is supporting Russia in the current conflict, thus maintaining neutrality is not just a matter of pleasing Russia which is after all a relatively recent ally but of keeping on the right side of China Not picking sides between Russia and Ukraine also means that Pakistan stays out of the US-China rivalry

The degree to which Pakistan has committed to Ukraine is probably as far as it can go While it has expressed concern about the loss of lives in the conflict

Pakistan needs to go on following its national interests

There seems no reason what it should jeopardize its relations with Russia, and the tangible benefits they bring, for the will o the-wisp of support for Ukraine Mr not only didn’t bring enough he brought nothing to the table

It may not have been the most productive of visits but it should have helped bring clarity to those calling the shots

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

P T I - P a r l i a m e n t a r i a n s

salaried class and change their path and loyalty in politics The deviation has never served the country in the past and it would never do in the future

This time the major challenge for these runaway politicians ensconcing themselves in one new slanted version or the other of the PTI are going to face is that the PTI voter is attached tenaciously to the PTI Chairman Making any new party as an innovated or distorted version of the PTI weighs less than wooing voters of the PTI The real test of the runaway politicians would be on Election Day, but even before that they would gauge their relevance during the election campaign

d r Q a i s a r r a s h i d

LI K E a runaway bride who has an option of arranging a new husband a runaway politician also has a right to embrace a new political arrangement The concept of runaway politicians is personified nowhere else but in Pakistan

The mother party remains the Pakistan Tehrik Insaf (PTI) Whereas one collection of the runaway politicians merges into the Istehkam-e Pakistan Party (IPP) of Jahangir Tareen the other gathering huddles around the PTI-Parliamentarians (PTI-P) of Pervez Khattak In a way, two provinces have given birth to two distorted versions of the PTI: the IPP (Tareen group) in Punjab and the PTI-P (Khattak group) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The runaway phenomenon indicates that political conviction of most politicians remains pliable Most abhor steadfastness They succumb to pressures and remain prone to blackmailing They remain inclined to opportunism coupled with political expediency, instead of adhering to any ideological underpinning The question is this: what law can they enact as law makers (after getting elected) if their standing is so susceptible to vicissitudes of life?

This is one of the reasons people lose faith in politics and consequently in the law-making process

Most laws are considered compromised, serving some people and occasions The consequent disconnect renders people dissociated from the state affairs

When a section of this disgruntled part somehow manages to go abroad they live there with hatred against the system This is why when the PTI raised the slogan of change and the rule of law in the country, most expatriate Pakistanis stood by the party The phenomenon was palpable after 2007

It is a norm in Pakistan’s political system that the salaried class tends to rule over the elected politicians One of the reasons could be that politicians come with their foibles which they keep on exposing to the pleasure of those who tend to peep into their affairs, public or private Bathrooms are wired up and bedrooms are bugged Corruption cases are an added menace

It is unfortunate that the would-be lawmakers or elected representatives succumb to pressure from the

A l e a d e r t h a t h e n e v e r w a s

tion regarding the reason for losing the Premiership, Those who bring you in power can also remove you ” General Musharraf in this regard said that he was not a Prime Minister material meaning thereby that he was incompetent to hold that post Imran was undoubtedly one of those whom the establishment brought into power to promote its agenda of predominance in managing the state affairs and was destined to meet the same fate as his predecessors He enjoyed their support till the time he was found out to be incompetent and trying to wriggle out of the agreement with the establishment to work under its unchallenged supervision He clung to power so long as the establishment supported him but as soon as the latter decided to abandon its interference in the political affairs and remain apolitical his government met a predictable fate

If an anodyne appraisal of the three and half years rule of Imran Khan and the claims that he used to make before coming into power, and after his removal from the corridors of power three things stand out undisputedly He was an incompetent ruler a demagogue of the first order and an irreconcilable liar who took pride in taking Uturns on everything he said and considered it the quality of a great leader which he never was

Let us begin with what he told Mehr Bokhari in an PATH interview before coming to power about the overarching role of the Army

He said If I come to power I will never make excuses that the Army is not letting me do anything If it so, happens it means that I am incompetent What he said after losing power in this regard is “General Bajwa was a super king He made all the decisions and the government could not do anything without his permission”

What do you make of the foregoing claim and confession? Surely that he was incompetent according to his own words

He probably forgot that those who brought him into power would not let him have his way and could easily have him removed from power

When Zafrullah Jamali was removed from Premiership he told a journalist in reply to a ques-

Fake propaganda invariably has ephemeral impact and g ets exposed shor tly. Imran was the personification of power politics. Infact he took it to a higher level. That is why his claims for revolution fizzled out like a damp squib

During his rule he miserably failed in strengthening democratic norms and instead damaged democracy by not building a working relationship with the opposition which is the pivot of a democratic dispensation He transformed political rivalry into enmity and practiced politics of vendetta by instituting false cases against the leaders of the opposition parties which were never proven in the courts of law

Involving Rana Sanaullah in the drug-peddling case was the worst example of filthy politics, considering the fact that his government in the end admitted that it was a false case His government also filed a wrong reference against a judge of the Supreme Court which it later admitted was a mistake

Imran Khan introduced an element of violence in the Pakistani politics which has ultimately led to disintegration of his party and possibly an end to his political career The reference is to the attacks carried on the military installations on May 9 by the PTI workers instigated by PTI leadership including Imran himself The beeline of the former PTI leaders leaving the party and their accusing fingers towards Imran Khan for the tragedy has unraveled his satanic inclinations

The popularity that he regained after his exit from power for all the wrong reasons has evaporated in the thin air

A narcissist infected with delusional hubris was destined to meet this fate

In reply to his accusations against General Bajwa after being ousted from power the latter among other things has also said that Imran was a liar to the core

When I say that he was a demagogue of the first order and a persistent liar my contention is not based on my personal opinion but the false promises and lies that he has told and has been telling the nation There is an exhaustive litany of his lies and ploys to befool the people which cannot be covered in this discourse therefore I would focus on only a few unbelievable lies that he unashamedly uttered to dupe the people

These include:

Construction of five million housing units ; creation of 10 million jobs; keeping electricity at Rs 2 per unit; selling petrol at

What the incumbent government has done to strengthen the connection between the PTI Chairman and PTI voters is by filing more than 100 (fake) cases To add fuel to the fire the PTI Chairman has been banned from media appearances Hence, on the one hand, he has been busied into exonerating his name from the cases; on the other hand, his voice is almost muted in the mainstream media The strategy may be beneficial immediately to have encircled and squeezed the PTI Chairman but the tactic is counterproductive concomitantly in the sense that the PTI voters see their leader as a victim of the state oppression They may vent their feelings of retribution on the voting day This is where the runaway politicians see the chances of their extinction politically

After the tenure of this government is over the interim government may not proceed with the same restrictions to muzzle the voice of the PTI Chairman

Currently Pakistan is in the grip of international institutions which are keen to see democracy flourish They have tied their financial help, though it is a loan, to progress on the path of democracy The excuse that Pakistan is passing through a critical phase politically stands no more relevant The expatriate Pakistani community is quite vocal in educating the loan giving

T h e p o i n t i s s i m p l e : g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s a r e ro u n d t h e c o r n e r

T h e i n c u m b e n t o u t g o i n g g ov e r n m e n t mu s t p l ay i t s c a rd s c a r e f u l ly, b e fo r e a ny c a rd

b a ck f i r e s B y a d o p t i n g t h e r i g h t p a t h o r w ro n g w ay p o l i t i c a l ly, t h e P T I i s a r e a l i t y T h e P T I vo t e rs a r e s t i l l ch a rg e d T h e r e s e e m s t o b e n o e l e c t o r a l p l a c e fo r a ny d i s t o r t e d v e rs i o n o f t h e P T I – b e i t I P P o r P T I - P

institutions on the prevalent ground scenario

Even if the Supreme Court is prevaricating on declaring the Army courts unlawful to try civilians for May 9 events trying civilians in the Army courts would change the trajectory of the country Pakistan would be labeled as a country where democratic norms are crumbly and the administrative system wobbly The consequent situation cannot be considered conducive to inviting foreign investment especially from the western democratic countries One-window operation through the Army may be appreciated by the countries which are not practising democracy but it may not be valued by the countries believing in democracy Pakistan has to make a choice

Many still overlook that the PTI Chairman has been demanding investigation into the events of May 9 before the state wields its ultimate coercive measures This point may not carry any weight in the eyes of the DG ISPR but it is valued in the eyes of international observers and commentators

The PTI has been set on the path of internal disintegration, but the practice may not serve much in the election year In principle, the state institutions, in whatever uniform are not empowered to disintegrate a political party under any ruse The misuse of the Punjab police as a Londi or Khadima to suppress the PTI has wasted all efforts and money spent on the image building of the police What is the purpose of merit in induction in the police if they are supposed to obey illegal orders afterwards? In fact, by indulging in politics the Punjab police have ruined the capital it had earned

It is known that cypher was a political gimmick launched by the PTI Chairman to prop up the party s dwindling popularity and to avenge the ouster of his party from government through a legitimate vote of confidence Nevertheless, the cypher is a bygone case Making the PTI Chairman disqualified on this account may destabilize the political system further

The point is simple: general elections are round the corner The incumbent outgoing government must play its cards carefully before any card backfires By adopting the right path or wrong way politically, the PTI is a reality The PTI voters are still charged There seems to be no electoral place for any distorted version of the PTI – be it IPP or PTI-P

The writer can be reached at qaisarrashid@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

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

Dar winian approach marks our behaviour

I and my family recently visited Pakistan during the holidays and had experiences and observations that left us pondering over the state of affairs prevailing in the country It is interesting and ironic that our visit was in part initiated by the efforts the government is making to promote overseas Pakistanis to contribute to the economy by sending remittances and by spending their vacations in the country of their birth

Rs 45 per litre; committing suicide instead of asking for loans and going to IMF; repatriating the stolen money; building Pakistan on the model of Reyast-e- Madina; not employing a person like Sheikjh Rasheed even as a peon; No amnesty scheme; introducing police reforms; not accepting turncoats and electables; not to indulge in politics of U-turns and claiming that he would not make an alliance with the MQM as doing so would be the biggest hypocrisy He did exactly the opposite of these pledges

Those who brought him into power projected him as the ultimate hope for the nation for a positive transition from an exploitative system to a welfare-oriented system of governance ensuring a better future for the teeming millions and terming it a revolution for ‘Naya Pakistan’ This caught the fancy of many who yearned for change This feeling and impression was reinforced through a well organized and extensive network of social media warriors who persistently focused on denouncing the prevailing system and dubbing the rulers thieves and exploiters who were solely responsible for the prevailing catastrophic circumstances The punch line of this entire propaganda was that the only person who could winch the country out of the mess it was stuck into was Imran Khan and anybody who opposed his narrative was corrupt and unpatriotic History bears irrefutable testimony to the fact that the fancies and whims of certain leaders assumed the shape of larger national interests and mass hysteria was at times marketed as the national pride and honour as they plunged their nations into horrible catastrophes

The promised revolution failed because the leaders of the professed revolution, including Imran Khan, lacked the characteristics of revolutionaries Though with the help and support of their mentors and persistent propaganda they created the urge for change in the hearts of millions by shaking their faith in the existing institutions they did not have the alternative to consolidate the gains of this promised revolution Fake propaganda invariably has ephemeral impact and gets exposed shortly Imran was the personification of power politics Infact he took it to a higher level That is why his claims for revolution fizzled out like a damp squib

As responsible citizens, we paid heed to the call and embarked on a holiday to spend time at our home in Karachi, reconnect with our roots and make our humble contribution to the local economy by bringing in the much-needed foreign currency

However our enthusiasm quickly turned into frustration when we discovered a fundamental issue plaguing our very own neighbourhood the absence of water in the main supply lines Despite numerous inquiries, we were informed that the water indeed was reaching the main pipes, but was being consumed entirely by our neighbours who possessed powerful water-suction pumps and had two water connections for the same house that they had ‘somehow’ arranged through the Karachi Water and Sewerage Board (KWSB) leaving us dry and disheartened

It was disheartening to witness how Pakistani society has devolved into a constant battle for resources It is reminiscent of Darwin s theory of the survival of the fittest With a burgeoning population and limited resources, it seems that only the strongest species can thrive in this survival-of-thefittest scenario

One of our relatives who owns an export-oriented garment factory does not receive even drinking water from the water connection at house for the last 15 years even though he has been paying water bills regularly every month during all these long years

Perhaps it is time for Pakistan to embrace a Chinese-style Social Credit System to ensure that everyone receives their rightful portion of resources based on their social behaviour An all-encompassing artificial intelligence (AI) system could make decisions on behalf of the people fairly allocating resources for the betterment of society Furthermore the introduction of a central bank digital currency (CBDC) could monitor everyone s resource usage allowing them to survive in a resourceconstraint country

Regrettably, one thing is certain; our children, who eagerly anticipated their summer vacation in Pakistan, will not be inclined to visit again in the near future It is disheartening to witness the dwindling appeal of our homeland due to such fundamental challenges

I believe it is crucial for the authorities concerned to address these pressing issues to ensure a comfortable and enjoyable experience for both citizens and visitors alike Let us strive for a Pakistan where resources are distributed equitably, where the pursuit of survival does not overshadow the pursuit of progress

With a family background in textiles, I personally know of thousands of weaving factories lying shut for the last many months These units part of the larger umbrella of small and medium enterprises (SMEs) apparently have no future to look forward to

The solution is simple and just The SMEs are merely asking for equitable treatment in electricity pricing They just want a level playing field, and are more than willing to pay the same price as is applicable to the large units

Currently, they have to pay three times more than the privileged, lucky, blessed large units It is only natural that they have pulled the shutters down The owners may still survive in the short term owing to their savings and investments but what about the workforce?

It is only through collective efforts and commitment to justice that we can hope to overcome the current economic crisis and build a prosperous future for Pakistan and for all the Pakistanis

Malik MuhaMMad ashraf

05

The need for open dialogue on women’s health

tality rates can be attributed to early detection through screening increased awareness and advancements in treatment options However the decline in mortality rates has slightly decelerated in recent years

Oncogenes tumour suppressor genes and DNA repair genes are the most common types of cancer-related genes Consequently, cancer may have a genetic and hereditary component Women who inherit certain gene mutations such as BRCA1 and BRCA2 are at a higher risk of developing breast and ovarian cancer Reproductive history also plays a role as early onset of menstruation before the age of 12 and later onset of menopause after the age of 55 expose women to hormones for longer periods, increasing their susceptibility to breast cancer

NO doubt women are among the most delicate and fragile creations of the Almighty Regrettably, this delicate creation is plagued by significant health issues It is disconcerting to observe our reluctance to openly discuss these major health concerns affecting women

Despite living in an era characterized by technological advancements and modernity we continue to exhibit behaviour akin to that of uneducated individuals To delve into the matter at hand, the major health issues faced by women include breast cancer, depression, infertility heart problems osteoporosis and many others The lack of confidence and awareness hinders women from seeking appropriate medical assistance

As previously mentioned breast cancer stands out as one of the primary health issues that continues to escalate day by day Cancer is generally characterized by uncontrolled growth of certain cells within the body, which then spread rapidly to other areas Breast cancer specifically refers to the uncontrollable growth of cells within the breast It is worth noting that breast cancer encompasses various types depending on which cells in the breast undergo cancerous transformation and cause complications Breast cancer can originate from different regions within the breast Primarily, breast cancer affects middle-aged and older women, with the median age of diagnosis being 62 This implies that half of the women diagnosed with breast cancer are 62 years of age or younger

The occurrence of breast cancer among teenagers is exceedingly rare while it is more prevalent among older individuals Regrettably, breast cancer stands as the second leading cause of cancer-related deaths among women, surpassed only by lung cancer The likelihood of a woman succumbing to breast cancer is approximately 1 in 39 (around 2 5 percent) worldwide However breast cancer mortality rates have steadily decreased since 1989 experiencing an overall decline of 43 percent until 2020 Unfortunately in 2023 breast cancer rates have shown a resurgence The reduction in mor-

A healthy diet stands as the most effective preventive measure against breast cancer It is crucial to maintain a balanced diet that fulfills the body’s nutritional requirements Additionally avoiding radiation and chemical exposure is another preventive measure Many women unknowingly subject themselves to various chemicals and treatments in pursuit of beauty, often oblivious to the potential harm caused by these substances, ultimately leading to adverse health effects It is imperative to enhance awareness about breast cancer among women instilling confidence and eliminating any reluctance or hesitance that may hinder effective communication It is worth mentioning that the World Health Organization commemorates the International Day against Breast Cancer on October 19, aiming to raise awareness and facilitate women’s access to timely and effective screening, diagnosis, and treatment

Ever yone must adopt a stress-free routine and maintain a healthy diet to safeguard against various diseases that weaken the body. The government must initiate comprehensive awareness programmes on womenÊs health issues. In this era of modernization and technology, it is crucial to raise awareness among our youth and nation to eliminate health problems from our countr y

Are you ready for a digital death?

W h o g e t s yo u r W h at s A p p m e s s a g e s, p a s s wo rd s a n d c r y p t o a s s e t s w h e n yo u p a s s ? I t ’s g e t t i n g m o re c o m p l i c at e d t o d i e

result of the state’s anti-migrant militance After all, the comprehensive dehumanisation of refugees largely precludes the potential for sensationalising their demise –whether or not they send any pre-death WhatsApp messages that could be made available for public scrutiny

Deaths of interest did include the 26-year-old killed by a bear in April in the northern province of Trentino, and my companions in Puglia waved their mobile phones in my face such that I might view predeath photos of the victim and his girlfriend with superimposed bear maw looming in the background

AL JAZEERA

B E L é N F E R N á N D E z

IN mid-June after I had been in Italy for two weeks I got around to reading the June 4 edition of the Italian newspaper La Repubblica which I had bought – on June 4 of course – in accordance with my never-fulfilled vision of being one of those people who buys and reads a physical newspaper every day Prominently featured was coverage of the murder of 29-year-old Giulia Tramontano who had been stabbed to death outside Milan in May by her boyfriend Alessandro Impagnatiello She was seven months pregnant

Page 12 of La Repubblica was devoted to the WhatsApp correspondence between Tramontano and Impagnatiello, helpfully colour-coded and divided into categories like “the quarrel about the lipstick”; “the separation announcement”; “the future of the baby”; and “the messages after he killed Giulia”

To be sure humans have always exhibited a certain fascination with murder But the digital era has created novel opportunities for morbid voyeurism – while also raising obvious issues of privacy

I had already heard all about the Tramontano case since arriving back to Puglia, the southern Italian region where prior to the pandemic I used to spend a portion of every summer with the mother of an Italian friend in her humble seaside abode

My Puglian acquaintances almost exclusively persons over the age of 70, had quickly filled me in on the details of the murder in Milan – or their own version of the details, rather These often veered significantly from the reported facts but commanded such impassioned vehemence as to suggest intimate knowledge of all aspects of the crime in addition to the psychologies of both victim and perpetrator

It was the same scene I had witnessed over so many summers of being subjected to nightly Italian homicide TV shows, which had also occasioned much shouting and exaggerated Italo-gesticulation in the direction of the television set and had often caused me to wonder what came first: Italian homicide TV shows or the Italian homicide fetish

This year a television glitch at my friend s mother s house meant that the homicide shows had been reduced to intermittent bursts of sound and light, but advances in mobile phone competence among the local population meant that everyone could still keep up-to-date on Italy s killings of interest

Naturally these killings did not comprise the refugees who regularly drown off the Italian coast as a

Then there was the 33-year-old nearly killed by a bear in Abruzzo National Park in December whose frantic near-pre-death audio message to his wife has been preserved online courtesy of Corriere della Sera, another main Italian newspaper

Of course, this sort of digital voyeurism is hardly Italian-specific I myself am guilty of having perused the Tramontano-Impagnatiello transcripts despite the fact that I certainly would not want my own WhatsApp communications on posthumous display – if only to avoid being immortalised as frivolous and neurotic (I can at least take comfort that my notebooks of handwritten musings are almost entirely illegible, often even to me )

Indeed gone are the days when folks just had to concern themselves with the fate of their physical possessions when they died; now there s the digital footprint to worry about to boot As if all that were not tiresome enough, the field of digital inheritance has arisen to regulate the passing down of everything from passwords to crypto assets

Meanwhile, a glance at recent international headlines confirms that the morbid trampling of privacy remains highly marketable across the board Take this example from the UK media: Woman said next time you ll kill me in secret clip before partner stabbed her to death

Or this one from India:

Tunisha Sharma ended her life within 15 minutes of chat with Sheezan Khan; here are shocking details of their WhatsApp messages ”

Perhaps more broadly disturbing though is the trivialisation of death that has inevitably occurred with social media s conversion into a primary forum for death announcements and condolences A twist on that old phrase comes to mind: If you can t say anything without emojis, don t say anything at all

One recalls the days when sympathy was not reduced to a series of yellow crying faces – when people had more time to be human and condolences were not something to be fired off before scrolling on to the next Facebook post

I personally will never forget an occasion some years ago when, in response to a Facebook friend s post about a death in the family, another Facebook friend – a filmmaker for whom I normally have the utmost esteem – commented: “sorry for ur loss ” Modern communications have so warped our sense of propriety it seems that the commenter failed to consider the inherent disrespect in such circumstances of only typing half of an already very short word But as life itself has become irreparably digitised, it s probably only natural that death has, too

In addition to breast cancer, infertility rates are also increasing among women Unhealthy routines and diets contribute to these issues The use of plastic is a major culprit in women’s health problems The utilization of plastic leads to numerous health concerns Heating food in plastic containers releases harmful germs toxins and chemicals known to cause cancer Consequently imposing a ban on plastic usage is crucial Moreover, plastic is a significant source of pollution on Earth, and its nonbiodegradable nature exacerbates various issues The government should implement awareness programs to address these concerns The younger generation is especially affected by these problems necessitating urgent measures to combat them Prohibiting plastic usage is essential for the preservation of lives, the betterment of our nation, and the safeguarding of our planet

As mentioned earlier, depression ranks as the second major health issue faced by women today The demands of a hectic life and busy routines often contribute to feelings of depression and stress Research indicates a strong link between depression and women s health Undoubtedly the environment plays a significant role Our surroundings are congested, sophisticated, anxiety-inducing, and stress-inducing Hormonal changes also contribute to stress, anxiety, and depression in women Some experts suggest that the increased likelihood of depression in women may be connected to hormone level fluctuations experienced throughout their lives These changes are evident during puberty pregnancy menopause as well as postpartum and after a miscarriage Additionally, family history plays a role Although specific genes linked to depression have not been identified, individuals with a family history of depression are more likely to experience it themselves Therefore family history significantly impacts our health Other factors such as illness medication substance abuse and personality traits also contribute to depression

The higher likelihood of depression in women may also stem from hormonal fluctuations occurring through-

out their lives, including puberty, pregnancy, menopause, childbirth, and miscarriage These factors indicate that environmental conditions, family history, and health issues significantly affect women’s health leading to various distressing problems Overthinking is also a significant contributor to depression since high expectations often clash with reality resulting in feelings of loss and depression

Now let us discuss another prevalent health issue affecting women today, osteoporosis Osteoporosis is a bone disease characterized by a decrease in bone mineral density bone mass or changes in bone structure and strength Consequently the weakening of bones increases the risk of fractures Osteoporosis is often referred to as a silent disease due to the absence of symptoms, with individuals often unaware of the condition until they experience a bone fracture Research reveals that women are more susceptible to osteoporosis compared to men due to the hormonal changes that occur during menopause which directly affect bone density The female hormone oestrogen plays a vital role in maintaining healthy bones and its levels decline after menopause increasing the likelihood of osteoporosis Consuming a nutritious diet and regularly consuming milk can help prevent osteoporosis and enhance overall bodily energy levels Numerous other health issues plague women as well

Everyone must adopt a stress-free routine and maintain a healthy diet to safeguard against various diseases that weaken the body The government must initiate comprehensive awareness programmes on women s health issues In this era of modernization and technology, it is crucial to raise awareness among our youth and nation to eliminate health problems from our country A strong nation ensures a strong country

The writer is a student of Medical Laboratory Technology at the University of Okara and can be reached at fatimariaz976@gmail com

S w e e p i n g s e x u a l v i o l e n c e u n d e r t h e r u g

W h at ’s h a p p e n e d a n d c o n t i n u e s t o h a p p e n i n H a i t i , Co l o m b i a a n d

M e x i c o s h o u l d awa ke n o u r c o l l e c t i ve c o n s c i e n c e a b o u t t h e u s e o f wo m e n’s a n d g i r l s ’ b o d i e s a s a we a p o n o f wa r

digital violence, which, in turn, fuels sexual violence

At the same time the region’s governments continue to fail to prioritize connectivity for ethnic groups rural and peasant women and young people from peripheral neighborhoods in third-tier cities

From the entire South American Pacific region to the Central American Caribbean, different conflicts shaped by drug trafficking and each country’s political interests have left the sexual violence that stems from such confrontations at the bottom of the list of priorities

In fact they do not even want to admit that it exists

No one talks about the rapes that occur on the long journey made by migrants of all origins and nationalities in the Darien Gap, the border between Colombia and Panama Each day, thousands try to cross an entire continent to get to the United States

Nobody talks about the violations at all levels that the dictatorships of Venezuela and Nicaragua have covered up As victims support groups have documented state security forces commit many of these abuses

violence continues to cause all of those things around the world, amid armed conflicts in Africa Eastern Europe and Latin America The same invisible crime the same collective tragedy that neither States nor societies have wanted to claim and put a stop to even though it victimizes thousands of people each year For the third consecutive year, the report by the United Nations Special Representative on Sexual Violence in Conflict, Pramila Patten sounds the alarm about this barbarism that war continues to feed

While it is true that there are countries that merit special attention like Afghanistan Mali Sudan Myanmar and Ukraine, other places are ticking time bombs because rape is hidden and virtually swept under the rug

In the Americas, a continent that has always considered itself removed from the horrors of war in the Middle East and North and Central Africa what has happened and continues to happen in Haiti Colombia and Mexico should awaken the collective conscience about the use of women s and girls bodies as a weapon of war

In particular, the UN report emphasizes that entire communities are destabilized through the humiliation and stigma that sexual violence causes The ways in which impunity perpetuates these illicit acts is even worse

In addition to these nefarious elements there is the digital universe which was created to connect humanity and close inequality gaps What has the potential to provide millions of women and girls from remote communities and regions the tools that could afford them opportunities has instead become a counterweight that disadvantages them The chasm between them and those who can access digital tools to find secure information health support networks protocols for care in high-risk situations and basic- or intermediate-level education that improves their quality of life is increasingly wide

Indeed, we are not at a remove from that In Latin America, human trafficking organizations seek out digital tools to trade in girls and adolescents Those who gain access to these tools run the risk of falling into that

No one speaks about the women and girls who have survived or those who did not survive and have been branded, like cattle, by Mexican drug cartel criminals Their power and evil has gone beyond the country of the Aztecs and spread to El Salvador Guatemala and Colombia They ve even infiltrated the security forces in Paraguay and Argentina

And Haiti doesn t even register in the region s news

The crimes that local criminal organizations commit against girls and teenagers are the most persuasive weapon for controlling the country

In addition, women who belong to international human rights organizations have been warned about what will happen to them if they cross the border

The hell of sexual violence is not so remote Not when women no older than 20 are sold in Cartagena and Medellín (Colombia) by drug trafficking networks to the highest bidder and then end up in brothels in Alicante, Mallorca, the Canary Islands or Tenerife, Spain, as exploited walking dead Or they wind up in elite brothels in Greece and Russia where teenagers kidnapped from Ukraine and Sudan are also sent

It seems like a nightmare from which it is impossible to wake up That s what wars beyond guns, state-of-the-art rifles and missiles do As Representative Pramila Patten s report underscores, “rape is the reward for men with guns ”

But it would be a mistake to say that all is lost You can take action and it is not necessary to have political or economic power to do so Journalism itself is the best avenue for deterrence Today remembering that as you read this text, a woman or girl is being trafficked or sexually abused should be reason enough to raise your voice Remaining silent encourages those who use bodies as weapons Raising your voice reminds the victims that they are not alone

Jineth Bedoya is a Colombian journalist and writer and UN global ambassador for the prevention of sexual violence In 2020 she received the UNESCO World Press Freedom Prize

C H I N E S E P O L I C Y M A K E R S L A U N C H TA R G ET E D S T I M U L U S

T O B O L S T E R G R O W T H A S W O R L D E C O N O M Y FA LT E R S

BEIJING s ta f f C o r r e s p o n d e n t

CHINESE policymakers ranging from the State Council and top economic planner to the commerce ministry and the central bank, have been intensively launching stimulus measures to boost consumption and rejuvenate growth momentum over the past week moves that are seen as a pivot for bolstering the nation s continuous economic recovery and also critical for the world as it encounters lingering headwinds Observers noted that the slew of measures are carefully drafted, widely applying to all sides concerned and could form a compounded effort in boosting the nation s growth For instance a boost for automobiles and electronics products consumption are close to people s daily life, the promotion of artificial intelligence appliance is in line with the nation’s determination to promote high-quality growth and the heavyweight guideline to spur the private economy has injected much-needed confidence into the domestic market

They will further consolidate the foundation for the recovery of the world s second-largest economy observers added noting that with more broad-based stimulus to kick in over the next few months, recovery will continue to pick up pace, though challenges remain

The growth from China will bring opportunities and stability for the world a stark contrast to the US which is obsessed with geopolitical fighting and is eager to maintain hegemony rather than a pursuit of common

growth for the world they said POLICY PACKAGE

In the latest move to shore up consumption China on Friday freshly announced steps to boost sales of cars and electronics – two areas in which the nation has vast potential Regions will be encouraged to increase annual car purchase quotas and efforts will be made to support sales of second-hand vehicles the National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) said in a statement on automobile consumption A separate state-

ment on supporting sales of electronics products said authorities would encourage scientific research institutes and market entities to actively apply domestic artificial intelligence (AI) technology to improve intelligence levels of electronic products with a particular focus on rural areas In recent years, the demand for electronic products has been slow to pick up due to various reasons such as uncertain income expectations due to the pandemic slower innovation and disruptions in global supply chains However China s strong income levels and network infrastructure indicate that there s still great potential in the market The increasing trend of smarter products is driving upgrades in consumption, and even rural areas hold significant untapped opportunities NDRC official Chang Tiewei explained at a press conference introducing the policies on Friday

To boost consumption policymakers are considering ways to make electronic products smarter and more user-friendly by using the latest technology like AI, Chang said, explaining that they are planning to invest in technology that recognizes different regional

C limate change: Which countries will foot the bill?

oped countries and small island developing states ” a diplomat from one European Union country told Reuters

The EU today the biggest contributor of climate finance, has lobbied to expand the pool of donor countries that provide it

dialects and accents, making voice control features more efficient and accessible to people in rural and older communities T h e s e e ff o r t s a i m t o r e d u c e t h e d i g it a l g a p m a k e e l e c t r o n i c p r o d u c t s m o r e a c c e s s i b l e a n d b e n e f i c i a l t o a l l r e s i d e n t s r e g a r d l e s s o f t h e i r l o c a t i o n o r b a c kg r o u n d A s t h e c o u n t r y m o v e s f o r w a r d , t h e s e s t e p s m a y s h a p e a m o r e a d v a n c e d a n d i n c l u s i v e e l e c t r o n i c p r o d u c t s m a r k e t , t h e o ff i c i a l s a i d I n a n o t h e r c o n f e r e n c e h e l d b y t h e M i n i s t r y o f A g r i c u l t u r e a n d R u r a l A ff a i r s o n F r i d a y Z e n g Ya n d e a n o f f i c i a l w i t h t h e m i n i s t r y v o w e d f u r t h e r e f f o r t s t o f i l l f a r m e r s w a l l e t s , s a y i n g t h a t o n l y w i t h a s t a b l e i n c o m e c a n p e o p l e i n r u r a l a r e a s “ d a r e t o c o n s u m e ” T h e t w o p o l i c i e s f r o m t w o m i n i s t r i e s f o r m a v i rt u o u s c i r c l e t o b o o s t r u r a l c o n s u m p t i o n w i t h a s u p p o r t f o r b o t h t h e d e m a n d a n d s u p p l y s i d e s a n d s e r v e a s a n e x a m p l e o f h o w t h e n a t i o n b o o s t s i t s e c o n o m i c g r o w t h w i t h a s u s t a i n e d g r o w t h d r i v e , Z h a n g H o n g , a n i n d e p e n d e n t a n a l y s t o n m a c r o e c o n o m y t o l d t h e G l o b a l Ti m e s o n F r i d a y

CORPORATE CORNER

i d t h i s w e e k s c l i m a t e t a l k s b e t w e e n t h e U S a n d C h i n a , w h e r e t h e w o r l d ’s t w o b i g g e s t e c o n o m i e s t r i e d t o f i n d w a y s t o w o r k t o g e t h e r o n i s s u e s r a n g i n g f r o m r e n e w a b l e e n e rg y d e p l o y m e n t t o c l i m a t e f i n a n c e a h e a d o f t h i s y e a r s U N c l i m a t e s u m m i t , C O P 2 8 , i n D u b a i

Given China’s rapid economic growth and increasing emissions pressure has grown on Beijing to join the group of countries providing this funding

During the talks in Beijing U S climate envoy John Kerry said the two sides would continue to discuss climate finance over the next four months, before the COP28 conf e r e n c e s t a r t i n g Nov 30

It s difficult to argue that c o u n t r i e s like China, Brazil or Saudi Arabia should still be put at the same level as the least devel-

Climate finance refers to money that wealthy countries pay toward helping poorer nations reduce CO2 emissions and adapt to a hotter harsher world

So far, the few dozen wealthy countries obliged to make these payments have not delivered cash in the amounts promised That list of financing nations was decided during U N climate talks in 1992 when China s economy was still smaller than Italy s

Now, some countries are calling for China to contribute U S officials including Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen have noted that Chinese contributions would boost the efficacy of the U N climate fund

Other countries under similar pressure include Qatar Singapore and the United Arab Emirates, three of the world s richest nations in terms of GDP per capita So far, China has resisted calls that could group it alongside wealthy nations In a meeting with Kerry on Tuesday Chinese Premier Li Qiang stressed that developed countries should deliver their unfulfilled climate finance commitments and take the lead in cutting emissions, according to Li’s office He suggested developing countries could make contributions within their capabilities

That resistance suggests the effort faces serious challenges Changing the official U N donor list would require international consensus

“There is much too much resistance among countries like China and Saudi Arabia to touch the official definition one EU official said on condition of anonymity

Xi stresses enhancing Par ty leadership over armed forces

BEIJING

M i a n a b r a r

President Xi Jinping has stressed breaking new ground in enhancing the leadership of the Communist Party of China (CPC) over the armed forces to provide a strong political guarantee for achieving the centenary goal of the People’s Liberation Army Xi also general secretary of the CPC Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC) made the remarks in an instruction to a meeting on the Party building in the armed forces The meeting was held in Beijing on Thursday and Friday

In his instruction, Xi required earnest review of the historic achievements and important experience in Party building since the Party’s 18th National Congress as well as continued efforts in advancing full and rigorous self-governance of the Party and the governance of the military with strict discipline in every respect Xi also emphasized concentrating efforts on addressing prominent issues faced by Party organizations at all levels, in aspects such as maintaining the Party’s absolute leadership over the military and ensuring stronger combat readiness Xi’s instruction was studied at the meeting He Weidong a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and vice chairman of the CMC, addressed the meeting He emphasized the importance of fully implementing the system of ultimate responsibility resting with the CMC chairman, sharpening the military’s capabilities of combat readiness strengthening its organizational system improving conduct enforcing discipline and combating corruption PLA warplanes to deliver mock combat demonstration during open-day eventChinese warplanes in active service will deliver mock combat demonstrations among other flight performances to the general public at the upcoming People’s Liberation Army (PLA) Air Force open-day event in a move to show its development on a path toward becoming world-class Coinciding with the 70th anniversary of the victory in the War to Resist US Aggression and Aid Korea (195053), the event will also commemorate the great triumph, organizers announced on Friday

NUST holds 19th annual National Engineering Robotics Contest

RAWALPINDI s ta f f r e p o r t

The last two decades have seen tremendous activity in the field of Robotics As part of its efforts to promote Robotics in Pakistan, NUST College of Electrical & Mechanical Engineering (CEME) has been holding the National Engineering Robotics Contest (NERC) since 2003 Over 200 teams from all over the country took part in the 19th annual edition of this prestigious competition held in the second and third week of July NUST CEME organised the event in collaboration with STEM Careers Program and HEC The five-day event was split into nine categories including Indigenous Robots Modular Robots for Schools and Universities Robowars Aero etc What set the competition apart was the demographic diversity it entailed A special award Akhtar Nawaz Prize was dedicated for those teams that came from far-flung areas of Pakistan The event sponsors included MRS Technologies Graana Headstart School Sapient Hall School Robotics World Pvt Ltd Education Resource Network and Buraaq Tractors Dr Rizwan Riaz NUST Pro-Rector Research Innovation and Commercialisation, was the chief guest

Pakistani Student in Bahrain sweeps top position in Federal Broad ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

A Pakistani student in Bahrain Adeena Asim has bagged top position in the Federal Board Matriculation Examinations According to results, Adeena Asim of Pakistan Urdu School Isa Town secured 1070 marks and held 1st position in Bahrain Adeena Asim has given full credit to her parents for this marvelous success She aims to continue working hard after reaching this milestone

Energetic manifestoes like ‘Apni Zameen Apna Makaan’, the Sindh Gov t

SINDH

s ta f f r e p o r t

Trying times are the best test of how great an institution actually is The catastrophic floods that took the entire country by storm last year has to date given replete examples of the commitment of the Sindh government to its people and their welfare In a bid to continue working on its people-centric agenda, Sindh People's Housing for Flood Affectees (SPHF) has now emerged as a unique flagship project wherein the government of Sindh under the visionary leadership of Foreign Minister Pakistan and Chairman PPP Bilawal Bhutto Zardari aims to not just help the downtrodden victims of their province stand up but take a confidence stride towards prosperity With energetic manifestoes like #ApniZameenApnaMakaan, the Sindh Government is going to build as

The Best Graduates of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Medical University were decorated the medals by Chairman HEC Dr Mukhtar Ahmed

CORPORATE CORNER

O M A P U R G E S E N D O F S I N D H C E S S F O R ‘ O I L I N D U S T R Y ’ S S U R V I VA L ’

LAHORE

S H A H A B O M E R

Mr Waqas Mirza, CEO, Avanza Innovations and Mr Haider Waheed, Advocate of the Supreme Court of Pakistan Founding partner of HW Partners and Cofounder of AshreiTech singing the partnership agreement to Launch Avanza USA Inc for the North American Market PR

PHIMC was convened at Primar y and S econdar y Healthc are Depar tment

The 24th Procurement Committee Meeting of PHIMC was convened at the Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department on July 19, 2023, with the purpose of reviewing the annual procurement plan Health Secretary Ali Jan Khan presided over the meeting, and CEO of PHIMC, Dr Ali Razzaque, provided a comprehensive briefing on the annual procurement plan PR

TH E Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan (OMAP) has urgently called upon Minister of State for Petroleum Musadik Malik to take decisive action in bringing an end to the Sindh Cess Tax which is significantly impacting the nation s oil industry It is pertinent to mention here that the Sindh Cess Tax is a 1 25% levy imposed by the Sindh Government Infrastructure Cess Tax on all imports made through Karachi Port This tax has the potential to directly impact the profit margins of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) by nearly 40% if enforced The omission of this tax from the existing pricing mechanism has further compounded the challenges faced by the struggling oil industry

However in a formal letter addressed to Minister Musadik Malik Tariq Wazir Ali Chairman of OMAP highlighted the critical importance of the Minister s intervention to safeguard the interests of the oil marketing sector and the entire petroleum industry The Sindh Government Infrastructure Cess Tax currently imposes

a 1 25% levy on all imports made through Karachi Port, severely affecting the profit margins of Oil Marketing Companies (OMCs) According to Ali, this has resulted in a substantial decline of nearly 40% for the OMCs Moreover the letter underscored the necessity of incorporating any new tax components into the pricing formula that

C P E C 2 0 1 3 - 2 0 2 3 :

A major chunk of investment was received from China with 448 companies, registered with the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in the recent year

governs the determination of prices for diesel, gasoline, and other petroleum products The omission of this tax from the existing pricing mechanism has further compounded the challenges faced by the struggling oil industry Chairman OMAP explained the pivotal role played by the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) in regulating oil

prices

However the recent imposition of the Sindh Cess Tax has not been integrated into the price determination formula causing a significant erosion of OMCs margins This additional burden is intensifying the hardships faced by OMCs, who are already grappling with survival in an intensely competitive industry

We respectfully request your intervention to instruct OGRA being the regulatory body to expeditiously address and resolve this issue without any delay, stated Chairman He warned that any further delay in addressing the matter would have severe repercussions for the OMCs and OGRA would bear full responsibility for the resulting adverse consequences

The OMCs are already burdened with heavy costs resulting from non-industryfriendly policies imposed by OGRA, despite repeated warnings and requests

The Chairman of OMAP concluded by urging Minister Musadik Malik to act promptly and save the petroleum industry from impending disaster The industry s survival depends on a swift resolution of the Sindh Cess Tax issue, and the entire oil marketing sector is looking to the Minister of State for Petroleum for support and relief in these challenging times

HSY Joins LRBT as Global Ambassador

to the OffPeak hours either the seasonal band 6:00PM TO 10:00PM in winter and 7:00PM TO 11:00PM in summer for the peak hours also remain the unchanged PR

Bank Alfalah launches

#GreenWayFor ward by planting 15,000 mangrove trees in Collaboration with WWF- Pakistan

Bank Alfalah, one of the largest commercial banks in Pakistan, has initiated a #GreenWayForward, a plantation drive with World Wide Fund for Nature Pakistan (WWF-Pakistan) a leading organisation that works on ecosystem conservation

This collaborative effort aims to contribute to the reforestation of mangroves and improve natural resource management in Pakistan PR

Faysal Bank Ltd and Marham Medic are are proud to announce the launch of Marham Ba-Ikhtiyar

The signing ceremony was held at FBL Head Office

Strategic Partnership was signed by Raheel

The SECP registered 27 746 new companies in the financial year 2022-23 with an increase of around 5 percent as compared to the previous fiscal year, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday quoting an official statement

The total number of registered companies now stands at 196 805

As a result of end-to-end digitisation of the company incorporation process, about 99 8 percent companies were registered online while 1 256 foreign users were registered from overseas ” SECP said

Total capitalisation (paid-upcapital) with regard to newly incorporated companies for the FY23 stood at Rs36 6 billion Real estate development and construction sector led the number of new incorporations with 4 527 new companies registered followed by information technology with 4 038 and trading with 3 539 new companies SECP data shows services sector with 2,928 new incorporations, food and beverages with 1,106, tourism with 1 101 education with 1 048 e-commerce with 910 corporate agricultural farming with 732 marketing and advertisement

with 672, textile with 634, engineering with 591, pharmaceutical with 468, mining and quarrying with 462 healthcare with 451 power generation with 447 transport with 423 chemical with 402 cosmetics and toiletries with 274 fuel and energy with 272, auto and allied with 271, communications with 268, lodging with 266, broadcasting and telecasting with 208 paper and board and cables and electrical goods with 192 each and 1 324 companies were registered in other sectors According to SECP, it has made significant reforms to facilitate the registration of companies by fully digitising the registration process along with company registration certificate With this automation companies can now be registered online from any part of the world, without needing to visit SECP offices, it said SECP’s e-services have also been integrated with provincial revenue departments to facilitate registration of companies with the departments at the time of incorporation Company tax number is also issued online, according to the commission

As a result of integration of SECP with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and various provincial departments 26 125 companies were registered with the FBR for registration of NTN 819 companies with EOBI, 317 companies with PESSI/SESSI and 569 companies with excise and taxation depart-

Capital S treet plots auc tion by CDA conclude

ISLAMABAD: Two-days auction of Capital Street Islamabad plots organized by CDA has been concluded The Capital Street Islamabad project received a healthy and welcoming response from investors During the two-day auction, 18 plots were sold for 3 82 billion rupees According to the details

CDA is going to establish Capital Street Islamabad on the pattern of JBR Dubai City Walk Dubai and Nizami Street Baku on 27 acres near Shakar Parian adjacent to Pak China Friendship Center for which 500 square yard plots were offered through auction by CDA Plots in Capital Street Islamabad will be designated for cafes restaurants bistros and eateries etc It is pertinent to mention that during the two-days auction investors particularly from national and international food chains restaurants bistros and people related to the food and beverage industry directly participated in the bidding process and got plots of their choices On the second day of the auction, 8 plots of Capital Street Islamabad were auctioned for 2 007 billion rupees On the second day of the auction Plot No 12 of Capital Street Islamabad was auctioned for Rs 24 35 crore PR

ment SECP said it has created an online portal for banks to facilitate companies in opening corporate accounts after registration

The commission also has a dedicated WhatsApp facility for instant resolution of the queries pertaining to name availability and incorporation process During FY2023, around 14,973 queries were responded with 96 percent satisfaction rate according to SECP

During fiscal year 2023 nearly 58 percent companies were registered as private limited companies, while 39 percent were registered as single member companies

Three percent were registered as public unlisted companies not for profit associations Trade organisations foreign companies and limited liability partnership

Foreign investment was reported in 841 new companies

Major chunk of investment was received from China with 448 companies the US with 46 the UK with 36 Afghanistan with 35 Germany with 32 Turkey and South Korea with 16 each, UAE with 15, Singapore with 11, Nigeria with 10, and 176 companies from other countries, SECP stated Information in this article comes from third party providers

This website does not provide explicit or implied warranty for such information and is not liable for any losses directly or indirectly caused by using such information

Zong's Digital Trainee Executive Program: Paving Way for Future Digital Leaders

I S L A M A B A D: Zong 4G, Pakistan's leading digital telecom operator has launched its Digital Trainee Executive Program for 2023 aimed at developing young talent and fostering the Leaders of the Digital Generation This intensive on-the-job training and mentorship initiative is designed to provide aspiring individuals with the necessary skills and knowledge in Information, Communication, Data, and other Emerging Technologies Zong 4G recognizes the significance of empowering young minds and nurturing their potential in driving digital transformation The company firmly believes that investing in fresh graduates will pave the way for a brighter and digitally advanced future for Pakistan The application process is simple and user-friendly, allowing candidates fresh graduates to showcase their talents and aspirations effectively Those meeting the eligibility criteria can apply by submitting their applications PR

K A r A c h I: The Layton Rahmatulla Benevolent Trust (LRBT), Pakistan's largest provider of eye care, proudly welcomes the celebrated fashion icon and philanthropist Hassan Sheheryar Yasin (HSY) as its Global Brand and Goodwill Ambassador The Chairman of LRBT Mr Najmus Saquib Hameed presented HSY with a Certificate of Appointment during a ceremony held at LRBT Korangi, where he also shared the life-transforming contributions of LRBT in Pakistan LRBT’s mission is: “No man, woman or child should go blind just because they cannot access or afford the treatment To further this mission LRBT has since its inception 37 years ago built 19 eye hospitals and 60 clinics offering free-of-cost quality eye care services for the poor Since start of operations in 1985, LRBT has treated over 53 million patients, transforming lives and offering hope to countless families P R

Pakistan requests US to ease mango expor t

WASHINGTON

S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan s Ambassador to the US, Masood Khan, has urged the United States to facilitate a pre-inspection facility at Karachi Port to boost mango exports to various parts of the country

During the annual reception and Mango Festival at Pakistan s Embassy in Washington DC the Ambassador expressed optimism about expediting the process with the cooperation of relevant US authorities Attendees at the event expressed hope for the removal of obstacles hindering Pakistani mango exports aiming to make the unique taste sweetness and aroma of Pakistani mangoes available throughout the United States Chairman House Foreign Affairs Committee Michael McCaul said the United States has important security arrangements with Pakistan but through trade and economic investments in Pakistan, the two countries would become closer partners and bring peace to our nations Senator Irfan Siddiqui while addressing the gathering congratulated Ambassador Masood Khan on Mango diplomacy saying it is one of the effective tools to bring the two countries closer to each other

CPEC 2013-2023: Sino -Pak exper ts vow joint effor ts to secure Pakistan’s Cotton yield

ISLAMABAD

China Cotton Association, together with relevant experts from China’s cotton breeding production and processing sectors held an online seminar via Zoom video conference with the All-Pakistan Textile Mills Association (APTMA)

During the conference, Mr Wang Jianhong, Executive Vice President and Secretary-General of the China Cotton Association provided an overview of the association and its expert team to the Pakistani participants highlighting the association s active engagement in international affairs and its efforts to promote international exchanges in the Chinese cotton industry, Gwadar Pro reported on Friday

Mr Wang expressed a strong desire to establish a cooperative partnership with Pakistan, fostering collaboration and communication in the cotton sector between the two countries

Mr Asif Inam President of APTMA expressed gratitude to the China Cotton Association and extended an invitation to the Chinese delegation to visit Pakistan with the aim of further deepening bilateral cooperation and communication

He emphasized Pakistan’s keen interest in learning from China’s successful experiences in the cotton sector and expressed the hope of seeking support and collaboration in cotton breeding cultivation and processing Subsequently experts from China took turns to speak, sharing their practical experiences in the cotton industry

They particularly focused on the scientific management system for cultivation emphasizing how efficient planting management practices can enhance production efficiency

The experts also pointed out that these experiences could provide valuable insights for Pakistan s cotton production In future collaborations the Chinese experts expressed their willingness to share more professional knowledge with Pakistan and jointly explore best practices for the development of the cotton industry, promoting mutual progress in the field Both parties agreed during the meeting to further deepen exchanges and cooperation strengthen technical exchanges and training, and promote the mutual prosperity and development of the cotton industries in

China and Pakistan This online seminar served as a crucial platform for enhancing cooperation between

the two countries in the cotton sector and marks a significant milestone in their collaborative relationship

brought a flood of inflation and uncertainty in the economy According to the data against the estimates of $7 6 billion

The incumbent government also received $5 2 billion in loans from the multilateral creditors, 31% less than the estimates during the last fiscal year The Asian Development Bank (ADB) remained the largest creditor and extended $2 3 billion during the last fiscal year The World Bank disbursed $2 1 billion in loans against the annual esti-

$ 1 0 . 8 B N

mates of $2 6 billion The Islamic Development Bank gave $161 million for oil financing against the estimates of $1 2 billion

Against an annual estimate of $7 5 billion, Pakistan received $2 2 billion in foreign commercial loans in the last fiscal year 71% less than the budgeted amount

In June Pakistan received $1 3 billion foreign commercial loans from China Poor credit ratings and failure to revive the stalled programme led to low disbursements by the foreign commercial banks

The planned $2 billion sovereign bond-based borrowing did not materialise due to poor credit ratings and expected high-interest costs

The government also expected to

U.S. leading indicators point to recession star ting soon

receive $3 billion from the IMF but only got $1 2 billion till the end of this fiscal year

Furthermore the government received only $789 million under the Naya Pakistan Certificates against the annual estimates of $1 63 billion

The government had increased the interest rates on the Naya Pakistan Certificates to attract more loans The bilateral creditors disbursed $1 5 billion as against the estimates of $970 million

The higher disbursements were due to the Saudi Arabian oil facility Pakistan also received $1 2 billion equal oil from Saudi Arabia against the budgeted amount of $800 million

The decrease in disbursements was mainly because of the fact that major international creditors stayed away due to the government s inability to timely revive the $6 5 billion Extended Fund Facility (EFF)

K S E - 1 0 0 I n d e x s u r g e s o ve r 5 0 0 p o i n t s , n e a r s 4 6 , 0 0 0 m a r k

On Friday the Pakistan Stock Exchange s (PSX) main index the KSE-100 experienced significant gains of over 500 points nearly reaching the 46 000 level before closing slightly below it

During the trading session, the index surged by 675 30 points, reaching 46,073 61 at 3:46 pm, compared to the previous day’s close at 45 398 31 Ultimately it closed at 45 920 73 still marking a notable increase of 522 42 points equivalent to 1 15 percent

The Director of Arif Habib Corporation Ahsan Mehanti attributed the market rally to foreign capital flowing into the energy sector and several favorable factors These factors include positive financial results, the Islamabad High Court’s ruling that declared the imposition of a super tax on various companies as illegal and reports suggesting that the policy rate would remain stable These combined

conditions led to the index crossing the 46,000 mark for the first time in 15 months Salman Naqvi, the head of research at Aba Ali Habib Securities also acknowledged the market’s positive movement and linked it to the IHC s verdict on the super tax He observed an improvement across all sectors and mentioned the potential created after the announcement of a standby agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Naqvi expressed optimism that if the market continued to close above 46 000 it could further increase Amir Shehzad the Director of First National Equities Limited described the recent market activity as a technical correction He predicted that the market might surpass the 47 000-point milestone in the following week He emphasized the importance of the central bank s decision to maintain an unchanged monetary policy, which could have a positive impact on the market and potentially lead to setting new records

An index designed to track turns in U S business cycles fell for the 15th straight month in June dragged down by a weakening consumer outlook and increased unemployment claims marking the longest streak of decreases since the lead-up to the 2007-2009 recession

The Conference Board on Thursday said its Leading Economic Index, a measure that anticipates future economic activity declined by 0 7% in June to 106 1 following a revised decrease of 0 6% in May

The decline was slightly greater than the median expectation among economists in a Reuters poll for a 0 6% decrease

Taken together, June s data suggests economic activity will continue to decelerate in the months ahead ” Justyna Zabinska-La Monica senior manager of business cycle indicators at The Conference Board said in a statement The Conference Board reiterated its forecast that the U S economy is likely to be in recession from the current third quarter to the first quarter of 2024

Elevated prices, tighter monetary policy, harder-toget credit, and reduced government spending are poised to dampen economic growth further ” Zabinska-La Monica said

The Conference Board said the contraction in the LEI is accelerating falling 4 2% over the last six months compared to 3 8% between June and December 2022

Gov t lays PEMRA ( Amendment) Bill in NA

Finance ministry has proposed the name of Rehmat Ali Hasnie as the principal candidate for the post of the President of National Bank of Pakistan

In addition to the principal candidate, the Finance Ministry also proposed the names of Muhammad Abdullah Ahmed and Mudassir Husain Khan as alternate candidates It is pertinent to note that Rehmat Ali Hasni has been working as the acting president of NBP since May 2022

Sources close to the development said that the position of President NBP was advertised on February 09 2023 and a total of one hundred and five applications were received

These applications were scrutinised by the Shortlisting Committee headed by the Finance Secretary The Finance division shared a list of 45 eligible candidates along with their CVs for comments under the Section 11(3)(a) of the Act SBP cleared 15 candidates, who were in the panel of professional bankers

The Shortlisting Committee in its meeting held previously assessed those 15 candidates on the basis of education professional professional experience quality of the previous organizations diversity of experience and experience in leadership positions

In July, the Selection Committee held interviews for the 15 candidates cleared by SBP Two members of the selection committee ,Dr Aisha Ghaus Pasha, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue and Tariq Bajwa (SAPM) did not attend the meeting 11 Out of 15 candidates appeared for the interview (06 in person and 05 through Zoom video link)

The Selection Committee assessed the candidates on the basis of their professional knowledge and expertise leadership qualities, communication skills, and aptitude for the job and unanimously recommended the following panel of three candidates in order of merit for appointment against the position of President/ CEO NBP

Sources said that Finance Division has asked Federal cabinet to approve names of Rehmat Ali Hasnie, Muhammad Abdullah Ahmed and Mudassir Husain Khan as President/CEO, NBP, under Section 11(3)5) of the Banks (Nationalization) Act, 1974 for a period of three years subject to final Fit and Proper Test (FPT) clearance by the SBP

PTI white paper warns against attempts to delay, sabotage polls

Pakistan

Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) on Friday welcomed $3 billion IMF Standby Arrangement (SBA) for Pakistan and its commitment to support national elections in Fall 2023 and to anchor the economy during the transition to the new government because only free and fair elections would be crucial to reduce political uncertainty and build confidence in the economy

In a white paper issued on the economic performance of the PDM government the PTI warned against any attempts to delay or sabotage the elections , saying that any such bid will create further hurdles in the way of stabilizing the economy and financial support from the international development partners

The PTI white paper said that IMF report acknowledged that the PTI leadership support has paved the way for the IMF SBA and led to the Board’s approval

“As the largest national party in Pakistan we will always support actions for the benefit of the country and the welfare of the people despite our strong apprehensions about the fascist actions of the PDM government against the citizens and political opponents,” it added

The PTI white paper showed that the IMF report acknowledged the gains made under the Imran

a t i n g S O P s f o r m a k i n g i t i m p o s s i b l e t o treat the mangoes in the existing plants In response, Director General of DPP, Abid Alla Dita refutes the claim saying that any HWT plant was closed He asserts that only consignments treated according to the SOPs would receive the necessary P h y t o c e r t i f i c a t e f o r e x p o r t s T h e i s s u e a r o s e w h e n e x p o r t e r s d e m a n d e d c e r t i f ic a t e s w i t h o u t a d h e r i n g t o t h e p r e s c r i b e d treatment protocols T h e c o n t r o v e r s y e s c a l a t e d w h e n a

Khan-led government

Following the program approval in July 2019 the authorities decisive policy implementation started to reverse Pakistan s large imbalances’ left by the PMLN government in 2018 It was said that IMF staff notes that under the PML-N government the misaligned economic policies including large fiscal deficits loose monetary policy, and defense of an overvalued exchange rate eroded macroeconomic stability, increased external and public debt and depleted international reserves the white paper added

The white paper said that IMF staff once again highlighted the success of the PTI government in managing the COVID pandemic IMF report stated that ‘the authorities’ policies proved critical in supporting the economy and saving lives and livelihoods from the severe pandemic shock

The successes under the PTI government listed by the IMF staff report include: Independence of the SBP; Market based exchange rate; Ending the flow of circular debt; Expansion of the social protection under the PM Ehsaas program and exit from the FATF grey list

The IMF report is a charge sheet against the disastrous economic policies of the PDM regime, which sky rocketed inflation and stalled the growth It was said that

according to the IMF report the economy took a tumble in FY23 amid worsening domestic and external conditions, stringent import payment restrictions, and floods

“IMF estimates that GDP growth would decline 0 5% in FY2023 against government projection of 0 3% growth as data in recent months has disappointed with LSM activity output contracting by 9 4% amid frequent announcements of temporary plant shutdowns due to the inability to import machinery and intermediate inputs in a timely manner it added Moreover IMF also pointed out that consumer and business confidence have weakened sharply due to speculation in the media about a possible sovereign debt default’ The PDM government team issued frequent ‘public statements about a possible debt restructuring causing market turmoil and a spike in sovereign spreads Under the PDM government inflation has continued to rise due to the regressive import restrictions ‘shortages placed upward pressure on prices’ hurting especially the poor with headline inflation reaching 38% in May 2023 compared to 12 7% (March 2022) under PTI government IMF notes that ‘despite the mounting pressures, actions by the policy makers lacked clarity’ leading to runaway inflation

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Amendment) Bill, 2023 was introduced in National Assembly Session

Speaking on the bill, Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb said new amendments have been introduced in the bill to enhance the credibility of the news content and curbing disinformation as well as misinformation

She said the definition of fake news has been made part of the bill to ensure objectivity and further said that media organisations have also been given representation in the bill

The government had revealed plans for introducing the changes last year where the minister had said that amendments would be made to the PEMRA laws to curb fake news

The decision was made during a meeting of the information minister with a delegation of the media s Joint Action Committee (JAC) in April 2022 The forum had reached a consensus that fake news damages national security interests and societal cohesion

“Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will not compromise on the freedom of expression she had said The prime minister wants to promote this constitutional and civil right as the death of journalism is the death of politics and democracy She had said, For four years, the people, politics and journalism have been derailed During this time, attempts were made to snatch the ‘freedom of the nation’ ”

The information minister had added that black laws such as the Peca Ordinance and Pakistan Media Development Authority (PMDA) conspired to enslave 220 million people

The media was financially destroyed in four years like the country’s economy,” she lamented

“Journalists are aware of the economic catastrophe

They want to repair the damage done to them as soon as possible

S O Ps

n o t a single kilogram of mangoes from Punjab has been exported during this period They blame the DPP’s unreasonable and fluctu-

Multan-based HWT plant owner accused t h e D P P o f o b s t r u c t i n g m a n g o e x p o r t s even after conducting a second-time audit of existing plants This situation has jeopardized the export of the prized Chaunsa mango variety, which holds a substantial m a r k e t i n I r a n a n d D u b a i a m o u n t i n g t o

over $100 million S u r p r i s i n g l y, H W T p l a n t s h a v e b e e n treating mangoes from Sindh, particularly t h e w e l l - k n o w n S i n d h r i v a r i e t y w i t h o u t a n y S O P - r e l a t e d h i n d r a n c e s d u r i n g t h e p a s t f e w m o n t h s H o w e v e r t h e C h a u n s a v a r i e t y f r o m P u n j a b i s f a c i n g e x p o r t r estrictions due to the treatment issue This suspension is causing substantial losses to exporters, traders, and growers in the affected region, considering the perishable nature of mangoes H W T p l a n t o w n e r s h a v e r a i s e d c o ncerns about the DPP s insistence on using portable sensors in addition to the central c o m m a n d s y s t e m i n s t a l l e d t h r o u g h d a t a loggers They argue that the central comm a n d s y s t e m i s s u ff i c i e n t t o v e r i f y t a n k temperature and that the portable sensors

a r e r e d u n d a n t , p r o n e t o d a m a g e , a n d c o s t l y t o r e p l a c e A c c o r d i n g t o a n H W T plant owner, 30 sensors were spoiled during a mere 2 30 minutes of an audit which occurred as the sensors were damaged by t h e c o n v e y o r s a n d f l a p p e r c h a i n s d u r i n g the treatment process Exporters feel that millions of rupees are being overlooked due to this predicament, hampering trade and adversely impacting the country’s remittances, which a r e n e e d e d d e s p e r a t e l y I n a l e t t e r t o t h e N F S & R m i n i s t r y a n e x p o r t e r h a s u rg e d the authorities to take this matter seriously a n d a l l o w H W T o p e r a t o r s t o f o l l o w t h e given SOPs to facilitate trade T h e o n g o i n g s t r i n g e n t m o n i t o r i n g regime has also led to the shutdown of ope r a t i o n s i n t h r e e H W T p l a n t s i n M u l t a n

e x a c e r b a t i n g t h e c r i s i s f u r t h e r F u r t h e rmore, the valued crop of Chaunsa White mango faces a significant threat if it cannot be exported to Iran potentially causing severe financial losses to farmers W h i l e u n v e r i f i e d a n i n s i d e r a l l e g e s that a broken secret deal between the mini s t r y s h i g h e r- u p s a n d a n H W T p l a n t owner has contributed to the mess

Exporters have made an appeal to the authorities to remove the portable sensor regime from HWT plants as permitted in t h e D P P S O P s t o r e s t o r e t h e m a n g o e xp o r t i n d u s t r y s f u n c t i o n a l i t y a n d p r o t e c t the interests of all stakeholders involved A s t h e c o u n t r y g r a p p l e s w i t h e c o n o m i c challenges, addressing this issue promptly becomes crucial to ensure the continuity of a vital revenue stream