Epaper_23-07-23 LHR

Profit

‘BOMBSHELL’: GOVT APPROVES MASSIVE HIKE OF UPTO RS7.5 PER UNIT IN BASE POWER TARIFF

g INCREA SE LIKELY TO COME INTO EFFECT FROM JULY 1

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

TH E federal cabinet on Saturday gave approval to a massive increase in the base tariff of electricity by up to Rs7 50 per unit against the national average tariff determination of Rs4 96 by the power regulator The approval was given by the cabinet via circulation summary sources told Geo News and a request has been submitted to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) Federal Secretary Energy Rashid Mahmood Langrial said that 55% of electricity consumers would not be affected by the increase

Last week, the regulator hiked the tariff to increase revenue collection for the loss-making power distribution companies (Discos) during the current fiscal year

The hike is set to come into force from July 1 after formal notification by the Nepra following a public hearing

The federal government sought approval from the cabinet, adjusting different rates of increases for various consumer categories through cross-subsidy though without affecting the overall revenue requirement

According to a Nepra statement the revised national average tariff for the 2023-24 fiscal year has been determined at Rs29 78 per unit kWh, which is Rs 4 96 per unit higher than the previously determined national average tariff of Rs24 82

While the regulator cited the rupee s devaluation, high inflation and interest rates, the addition of new capacities and overall low sales growth as reasons behind the increase, it was actually hiked to meet one of the conditions set by the In-

g GOVT SAYS TARIFF HIKE WILL ONLY IMPACT 45% OF CONSUMERS

monthly and quarterly adjustments

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

ternational Monetary Fund (IMF) of introducing structural reforms in the energy sector

However, the applicable tariff would be much higher after including surcharges, taxes, duties and levies, besides

According to the letter the retrospective price hike will take effect from July 1 and includes K-Electric among the power distribution companies (Discos) I t s a i d l i f e l i n e c o n s u m e r s u s i n g u p t o 1 0 0 k W p e r m o n t h a n d t h e p r ot e c t e d s e g m e n t c o n s u m i n g u p t o 2 0 0 k W w i l l b e e x e m p t e d f r o m t h e h i k e H e n c e l i f e l i n e c o n s u m e r s u s i n g u p t o 5 0 k W w i l l c o n t i n u e p a y i n g R s 3 9 5 p e r u n i t w h i l e t h o s e u s i n g b et w e e n 5 1 - 1 0 0 k W w i l l c o n t i n u e p a y i n g R s 7 7 4 p e r u n i t Similarly the base tariff for protected consumers using between 1-100kW every month will remain at Rs7 74 per unit while for protected users consuming between 101-200kW, the rate will remain at Rs10 06 per unit

PM urges masses to compare PML-N, PTI gov ts per formance in upcoming elections

SHAR

QPUR S TA F F R E P O R T

more expensive due to increase in electricity prices

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Focal Person on Economic Affairs Muzamil Aslam Saturday blasted the imported government for exorbitant increase in the power tariff saying that it would further augment the misery of the people Muzamil said on Saturday that the imported government increased the power rate by 30%; however, the public bill would probably be increased by 35 to 40 percent He said that the cabal of crooks was taking decisions as if they still had 2 5 year in the power but in reality the government would have to go in next 2 5 weeks but it released a whooping Rs 61 billion for MPs development schemes Muzamil stated that ironically, consumers who consumed less electricity were even not spared as they would also bear the brunt of the power hike He said that the prices of the goods would witness rise considerably with the increase in electricity bill adding that cement fertilizer even store-bought ice-cream would become

M a s s i v e p o w e r p r i c e h i ke t o f u r t h e r a u g m e n t p u b l i c w o e s : P T I C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03

low-lying areas, bringing life to a flooding halt

The citizens waded through the streets and roads flooded with rainwater across the provincial capital

The prime minister was addressing a ceremony after foundation stone-laying of different significant development projects which included 19Kms long Lahore bypass linking Kala Shah Kaku with LahoreKarachi Motorway at a cost of Rs35 billion The project will create about 27,000 jobs opportunities

He said they would accept public mandate in the upcoming general elections and if the PML-N under the leadership of Nawaz Sharif got another opportunity to serve the country they would restore the real image of Pakistan

The prime minister also broke ground for expansion of Lahore-Karachi Motorway Saggian road and main Ravi bridge which would ease vehicular traffic, help save fuel and create jobs opportunities Later he also laid foundation stones of Esaan (Sharqpur) interchange at Abdul Hakeem Motorway and the establishment of Quaid Azam University campus and soft launch of construction of a scout college

Declaring former prime minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif as ‘a builder of Pakistan, man behind ending loadshedding launching of multi dollars China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects and a builder of a vast network of roads and putting the country on path of rapid progress he said Nawaz Sharif aspired to transform the country into an Asian tiger

Unfortunately, his rule was ended in 2018 through a huge conspiracy hatched against Pakistan, the prime minister regretted If the PML-N was in the government during the four years of PTI s rule the country would have a different destiny he added

At least six people died in rain-related incidents while many injured as intermittent spell of heavy monsoon rains rain wreaked havoc in parts of country

As the rain battered the city at least 70 feeders of the Lahore Electric Supply Company (LESCO) tripped suspending the power supply to several areas

The Council of Islamic Ideology (CII) on Saturday took a momentous step towards strengthening the values and principles that form the bedrock of Pakistan’s identity by unveiling a comprehensive “code of conduct”

Addressing the press conference after a consultative meeting with prominent religious scholars and leaders Chairman Dr Qibla Ayaz said the code aimed at maintaining peace and tranquillity particularly during the month of Muharramul Haram across the country, emphasised the importance of upholding the Constitution, respecting the dignity of fundamental rights, and remaining loyal to the state under all circumstances

He said the newly-introduced code placed the duty on every citizen to acknowledge and abide by the constitutional authority of the state demonstrating unwavering allegiance to it and its institutions

He said that the key aspects of the code revolved around upholding the dignity and respect of fundamental rights as outlined in the Constitution This included the principles of equality social and political rights freedom of expression belief worship and assembly he added Dr Qibla said that the Islamic foundation of Pakistan s Constitution and laws would be preserved, with citizens being entitled to pursue peaceful efforts for the implementation of Shariah, adding that to maintain the spirit of Shariah the code strictly forbade any use of force in the name of Islam armed actions against the state violence and incitement

Additionally he said no individual had the right to declare anyone, including government officials, military personnel, or security agencies, as infidels

While four people died in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

(KP), two youth died in Lahore

In Lahore the whopping 203mm of rainfall brought the life to a standstill According to rescue

1122 sources two teenage boys aged 14 years and 11 years drowned in the rainwater in the city s Sherakot Babu Sabu and Nawan kot areas, respectively Another person got injured in roof collapse incident in Raiwand area, they added Low lying areas of the provincial capital inundated by torrential rains with the highest rainfall recorded in airport area Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) said in a statement

It said 205mm rain was recorded in the airport area, 204 mm in Gulshan Ravi, 193mm in the Tajpura SDO Office area, and 190mm in Nishtar Town Torrential showers lashed the city for 6 hours 45 minutes with rainwater entering Jinnah Hospital and General Hospital as well

In a tweet in evening Punjab interim Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi said Lahore received a whopping 203mm of rainfall in only five hours

He appreciated WASA and the district administration for “their remarkable efforts in clearing 95% of the water ponding in the city Keep up the great work!”

Meanwhile the heavy rainfall also caused the outer wall of Noor Jahan tomb to collapse

According to the spokesperson, the Walled City Authority took charge of the tomb from the department of archeology a month ago

The spokesman said that the northern outer wall and some other parts of the tomb are in dilapidated condition and work will start soon to preserve the damaged parts of the historic site

LESCO spokesperson said that the work for restoring the power supply will be started soon The interim CM visited different areas of Lahore to inspect the situation after the downpour He directed the city administration and WASA to drain the rainwater from the roads quickly while employing all the resources available

Naqvi also ordered the authorities to increase the number of dewatering pumps installed in the city and stay in the field to address the problems faced by citizens Moreover he also ordered all-out efforts to keep the traffic flowing without disruption

On Friday the Met Office said that monsoon currents are continuously penetrating the country from the Bay of Bengal A westerly trough is also affecting the upper parts of the country that may persist during the next few days

It also warned of urban flooding in the low-lying areas of Lahore and other upper parts of the country

F O U R D I E I N K P R A I N FA L L: Four people were killed and one person got injured due to heavy rains in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, a report of Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) said on Saturday

12 houses were partially damaged due to floods and rains across the province the authority reported

Nine houses partially damaged due to the natural disaster in Lower Chitral it added

The KP Relief Department District Administration, PDMA, Rescue 1122, Civil Defense, and related institutions were on alert, a spokesperson Relief Department said when contacted

A detailed assessment of the damage would be compiled as soon as the flood waters recede in Lower Chitral he said adding affected people in Lower Chitral had already been shifted to safer places he added

During the years 2013 to 2018, under Nawaz Sharif s rule the country was making progress by leaps and bounds, but afterwards in the PTI’s government, the country was pushed into chaos

The prime minister said with a change in the regime all the opposition leadership was sent to jails on basis of fake cases false allegations of thefts and corruption were levelled, even sisters and daughters were sent behind bars during the PTI s rule

“The development pace spurred by PML-N government was halted ” he regretted

The prime minister also questioned Imran Niazi’s claims of returning back 300 billion dollars stashed outside Pakistan within ninety days and said the PTI s government did not get any single penny during the four years of its rule

Referring to Rs50 billion amount recovery scandal, he said the UK National Crime Agency (NCA) had investigated the issue and after out of court settlement with the other party decided to return the amount to the government exchequer but it did not go to State Bank of Pakistan rather went to the Supreme Court where Niazi s government became a party

A closed envelop was presented before the cabinet in this regard without showing or discussing it with the members and approval was accorded he added

It was a huge crime as to how the national exchequer was plundered he said adding the BRT Peshawar Toshakhana, Malam Jabba, sugar scams etc were the other major corruption cases of PTI

The prime minister said the UK crime agency had also carried out investigation against him for two years over false allegations and at the request of PTI’s government but later gave him clean chit Citing difficulties regarding the IMF s agreement the prime minister said China Kingdom of Saudi Arabia and the United Arab Emirates stood with Pakistan like rocks

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

Day in the provincial capital broke with a cloudburst across the city which inundated the roads and

What IHC ’s judgement on Super Tax means and what will happen next?

super tax and will be levied the conventional rates stated therein contingent upon their tax liability Moreover, in agreement with the SHC, the

on companies (up to 4%) once these infractions are rectified

provided that the companies meet all other criteria stipulated in the tax Looking at the IHC’s twist Let’s start with the final tax stipulation “Final tax is predicated on the notion that you remit a specific amount for example Rs 10 and then you do not inquire about the amount or the rationale behind having Rs 10 deducted from you It falls under a distinct category of tax, referred to as full and final’,” explains Adnan Haider Randhawa, managing partner at AHR & Co and another petitioner Expanding on this concept Randhawa continues Final tax falls under a separate category in which the FBR cannot demand any account or conduct an audit The court questioned the FBR that if they have collected the full and final tax from someone, how could they impose an additional tax on them?”

In response to this inquiry the court has stated that the FBR could levy the tax in instances of normal or minimum tax, but they cannot do so with final tax “This constitutes a breach of promise that is still present in other provisions of the ITO today ” Randhawa concludes Moving on to the topic of exempted industries Randhawa explains There are certain industries that have been exempted by law from tax and are still exempt today They cannot have their exemptions revoked by 4C because those provisions have not been repealed ” To further clarify this point Randhawa adds If they had been revoked the matter would have been settled They have not been revoked; they are still present in the statute These industries are being told that they are not subject to normal tax, but they are subject to 4C ”

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 A N A LYS I S

adds They are saying that it should be interpreted in the way that they are stating ” So, has the IHC interpreted it? Concurrence with other courts In concurrence with the Lahore High Court (LHC) and Sindh High Court (SHC) the Islamabad High Court (IHC) proclaimed that 10 specific industries could not be exclusively subjected to the elevated 10% tax Instead, these industries are to be subjected to the tax slabs established as part of the

D O L P H I N P O L I C E O F F I C I A L B O O K E D F O R

E X U A L LY A S S A U LT I N G ’ A P R E G N A N T W O M A N

ISLAMABAD e j a z a R S h a d C h e e m a

AN official of Dolphin Police Force

Islamabad has been booked by Islamabad Police for allegedly sexually assaulting a pregnant woman

She alleged that the police official lured her in the name of providing legal assistance from police against her husband tortured the victim woman informed sources told Pakistan Today on Saturday

A case has been registered with Police Station Noon under section 376 of Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) against Zeeshan, a cop in Dolphin Force, in complaint of the victim (J), they said

According to the sources Ms J appeared before PS Noon officials and stated that she had left her house after having a quarrel

with her husband Imran Ameer on July 18

2023 at 3:20pm She added she was going to PS Tarnol for lodging a complaint against her husband when a man namely Zeeshan met with her and offered her a lift

“Zeeshan took me to his flat at Jhangi

Syedan instead of bringing me at PS Tarnol and raped me forcefully she said adding that she repeatedly requested the accused not to assault her sexually because she is pregnant but the accused did not listen to her hue and cry

The victim lady asked the police to file case and to arrest accused so he may be brought to justice Police has registered case against rapist and began investigation Also Secretariat police have booked a man on multiple charges for storming into office of his wife, a grade 18 officer in Federal Public Service Commission) and hurling threats of dire consequences the

Senator stresses political steadiness, economic continuity for stability

ISLAMABAD

a p p

In a discussion with leaders of the Pakistani community at the Pakistan Embassy in Washington DC Senator Irfan ul-Haque Siddique highlighted the crucial importance of economic stability in Pakistan

He emphasized that this stability could only be achieved through political steadiness and the continuation of sound economic policies

Senator Siddique expressed his concerns that any unreliability and disruption in the implementation of economic policies could have fatal

consequences for the country s economy

He commended the political leadership institutions and stakeholders for recognizing the need to avoid repeating past mistakes

The senator credited the PML-N leadership with putting Pakistan on a path of progress noting that the growth rate had increased to over 6 percent and that they had successfully combated terrorism

However, he also acknowledged that the incidents of 2017 had inflicted significant damage to the journey of progress and prosperity

Specifically Senator Siddique expressed deep sorrow over the 9th May incidents which hurt the sentiments of all

patriotic Pakistanis He strongly condemned the vandalism at installations of armed forces and the disrespect shown to the dead soldiers who had sacrificed their lives for the motherland He called for accountability and justice for those involved in these abhorrent incidents

The senator expressed concerns about attempts to obstruct the legal process and accountability by raising human rights issues He highlighted the use of different resources abroad to hinder the process of bringing the perpetrators to justice

The delegation accompanying Senator Siddique during this discussion included

prominent business leaders and community figures underscoring the importance of economic prosperity and stability for Pakistan

Senator Siddique also praised the role of overseas Pakistanis in contributing to the country’s economic growth He asserted that they are aware of and committed to the stability and upliftment of Pakistan and any attempts to divide them would not succeed

Finally, the senator emphasized that despite economic challenges, the defense requirements of the country could not be neglected implying the need to ensure national security in parallel with economic development

W h at I H C ’s j u d g e m e n t o n S u p e r Ta x m e a n s a n d w h at w i l l h a p p e n n ex t ?

PAGEI 01

He continues “This is a breach of statutory promise as 4C does not have an overriding effect and the law has not revoked those provisions

What are these exempted industries then? Benevolent funds revenue shall remain exempt from taxation The criteria for determining income as stipulated in Section 4C shall not impede their taxexempt status elucidates Waqar Zafar partner at EY Ford Rhodes Issued recovery notices are deemed unlawful and blatantly illegal; thus, they have been annulled,” Zafar adds

“Employing the same rationale, the exemption granted under the Second Schedule to the ITO (2001) to employee retirement funds shall remain in effect As a result these funds shall not be obligated to pay super tax per Section 4C, Zafar concludes Finally what s up with the petroleum sector?

“Petroleum companies enter into agreements with the president known as petroleum concession agreements These agreements delineate the terms of operations, as the land and its resources are the property of the state, explains Ladha “Within these agreements, there are freezing clauses pertaining to income tax intended to incentivise investors ”

Ladha continues These clauses stipulate that there will be a cap on income tax, frozen at the time of signing the agreement ”

Elaborating on this point, Randhawa elucidates “The terms of these contracts specify that taxation on their profits cannot exceed 55% However with the implementation of section 4C some companies tax rates exceed 55% They contend that this is not permissible, as it contravenes the contract signed by the president ” He adds “Moreover these contracts contain arbitration clauses If they are violated the companies can take the matter to international arbitration

Can companies rejoice then?

There are two aspects to this companies that still need to pay taxes for the tax year 2022, and the fact that the super tax has been incorporated into the Finance Act of 2023

Let s start with the former The FBR may assert that the IHC s judgement solely affects clients with registered offices in Islamabad, who are party to the writ petition The order is exclusively for those who contested; it cannot be applied universally ” Zafar points out Nonetheless as per the Constitution the judgments of high courts are binding on subordinate courts unless overruled or modified by the honourable Supreme

Massive power price hike to fur ther augment public woes: PTI

CONTINUED FROM PAGEI 01

Likewise, he said that those who consumed 1000 units of electricity would pay Rs 42 72 per unit and after fuel surcharge, quarterly surcharge, income tax and sales tax the price per unit would be Rs 60 Muzamil said that a consumer using 2500 or 3000 units would have a monthly electricity bill of Rs 2 lakh and the bill of consumers using 300 units would be Rs 10500 to Rs 11,000 including all taxes However, he said that most of the customers using 300 units had a salary of Rs 20,000 to Rs 25,000, adding that how such a person would pay the bill Muzamil revealed that the increase in electricity price was not due to IMF conditions adding that it was mainly because of the loss being suffered by the power generating companies, as only Rs 7 fuel was being used in the electricity purchased at Rs 50 per unit He state that due to the agreements signed by the previous government of PML-N, the electricity generating companies would have to pay Rs 15 per unit adding that they would also have to pay the bills for the stolen electricity Muzamil said that a year ago the electricity bill recovery was to be 93 to 94 percent but during the days of flood, the electricity bill recovery was reduced to 81 to 82 percent He went on to say that if 20% of electricity was being stolen in this country, they would have to pay for it adding that factories would be closed in the coming days unemployment would increase due to massive increase in power Muzamil stated that it was being said that the government would get an additional Rs 3250 billion due to the increase in power tariff, adding that the situation was very challenging, as it would be next to impossible for rank and files to pay the electricity bill

Court Zafar clarifies Similarly, What that means is if asked to pay the tax, you could irrespective of where you are based say that the super tax has been interpreted by the IHC and that is what the law is as it stands unless the Supreme Court suspends the judgement or interprets it differently adds Ladha

In terms of the Finance Act So you read it not as it stands in the statute book today, or in the Finance Act Amendments, but as the IHC are saying The FBR is to read it from their judgement ” As things stand Ladha continues the super tax in the Finance Act 2023 is also as it has been interpreted in the IHC judgement The judgement applies everywhere, and anyone can take advantage of it,” Ladha explains However “The IHC verdict isn’t a significant impediment to the Government in its application of the super tax unless of course the Supreme Court interprets it similarly, contends Aamir Younas, another partner at EY Ford Rhodes ” What happens now?

“The FBR is keen to swiftly approach the Supreme Court to have this judgement suspended The reason for their urgency is clear: the judgement will have farreaching and significant ramifications for

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He said that one crucial aspect of the code was the call for individuals to refrain from associating with movements driven by linguistic, regional, religious, or sectarian biases as the state stands firm in taking strict action against such groups to preserve unity and harmony

Moreover Dr Qibla said “The code highlighted the importance of avoiding the imposition of personal views or ideologies on others as it contradicts the spirit of Shariah and can lead to corruption

In the educational realm, he said, Both private and government institutions, as well as religious educational establishments, must refrain from promoting militancy, extremism, and hatred alarming that those found involved in such activities would face legal consequences based on evidence and witnesses

He categorically stated that stringent administrative and punitive measures would be taken against those promoting extremism and violence, irrespective of their affiliation with any organisation or ideology

While all Islamic schools of thought have the right to propagate their beliefs and ideologies he mentioned that the code strictly prohibited inciting hatred or making baseless accusations against individuals institutions or groups The chairman said the code underscored the sanctity of religious figures by stating that no person or group had the authority to say indecent words about the Prophet Muhammad (Peace be Upon Him), other prophets, the wives of the Prophet, the Ahl-e-Bayt, the Rightly Guided Caliphs or the companions ” However the decisions regarding blasphemy cases would be under the purview of the courts he added Dr Qibla said The code ensured that no individual shall declare another Muslim as a non-believer, adding that only qualified religious scholars could discuss

tax filings in the tax year 2023 and beyond states Ladha

When the FBR files an appeal and it is heard, they will typically seek to have the judgement suspended until the petition is finally heard and decided which could take several years In the interim they ll argue that the judgement should be suspended If it is then the law will revert to what it was in the finance act amended super tax, Ladha adds “At first glance, it may seem as though we are at a standstill for the next few years However there is a glimmer of hope The Supreme Court is already hearing another writ petition filed against the SHC s verdict Ladha clarifies that The appeals made to the LHC’s decision and when the FBR files one against the IHC’s would normally classify as inter-court appeals This is an intermediary stage before the Supreme Court can adjudicate on the matter

However, The Supreme Court stated, when hearing SHC appeals, that they would entertain CPLA’s direct appeals from Islamabad as well once filed ” adds Ladha This suggests that a verdict on the matter may be forthcoming particularly now that it affects tax years 2022, 2023, and 2024 for companies across Pakistan

sources said

The accused had been identified as Tauseef Ahmed

According to sources, Shumaila Zubair, a grade 18 officer working in the FPSC Islamabad lodged a complaint with PS Secretariat that she had married with Tauseef Ahmed, a resident of Dhoke Syedan Rawalpindi but recently her relations with hubby had deteriorated She added that she is also pursuing her legal remedies with regards to dissolution of marriage and ancillary matters

The applicant said that her husband barged into her office on July 20 2023 at 1pm despite the resistance on part of security deployed in the building and physically assaulted and harassed her

She alleged that the accused, Tasueef Ahmed created unrest during office hours and eroded her professional credibility due to his violent behaviour The victim appealed to police to register a case against accused and to arrest him

Police have registered a case against accused under sections 352/353/509/506 and 354 of PPC and began investigation sources said Police are carrying out raids to arrest the accused, they said

JI to write to PM Shehbaz over Census 2023 results

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Jamat-e-Islami (JI) on Saturday announced to write to Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif over delay in notifying the results of Census 2023 In interaction with private TV channel, JI Karachi chief Hafiz Naeemur Rehman opposed the incumbent government’s decision to hold elections on the basis of Census 2017 Hafiz Naeem demanded the government should hold general elections after notifying the results of Census 2023 and carrying out fresh delimitation of constituencies [Interior Minister] Rana Sanaullah had refused to notify the results of newly-held census ” JI Karachi chief said lambasting the government for not ‘completing the process for over two years In response to a question Hafiz noted that national and provincial seats in Karachi would be increased if Karachiites are counted in full

‘Bombshell’: Gov t approves massive hike of upto Rs7.5 per unit in base power tariff

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Islamic principles based on religious doctrines, and decisions on apostasy would be determined by the courts in accordance with the Constitution ”

In a resolute stance against terrorism he said the code forbade any individual from supporting or engaging in any form of terrorism promoting mental or physical training for terrorists or participating in terrorist activities

He said the code encouraged healthy discussions on Islamic jurisprudence and theoretical issues in educational institutions providing appropriate platforms for research and investigation

Additionally he said it highlighted the responsibility of all Muslim citizens and government officials to fulfil their duties in accordance with Islamic teachings and the Constitution The chairman said Islam s teachings regarding the rights of elderly citizens, women, children, transgender individuals, and all marginalized groups would be disseminated at all levels ensuring their protection and well-being

Dr Qibla said the code also acknowledged the rights of non-Muslim citizens to practice their religion and religious rituals according to their beliefs, promoting religious freedom and inclusivity

Upholding the protection of women’s rights, he said the code strictly prohibited any individual from depriving women of their voting rights education employment or causing damage to their educational institutions Acts of honour killing forced marriage coercion or voter disenfranchisement were strictly forbidden, he maintained To promote a peaceful environment, he said the code prohibited any individual from delivering hatefilled speeches in mosques, on pulpits, or during gatherings adding that similarly contentious discussions related to sectarian issues on media platforms were strictly discouraged

However for unprotected residential consumers using up to 100kW per month, the base tariff has been hiked by Rs3 per unit, reaching Rs16 48, while those consuming between 101-200kW will be paying Rs22 95 per unit after an increase of Rs4 Similarly for those consuming between 201-300kW a price hike of Rs5 per unit will leave them paying Rs27 14 for every unit consumed An increase of Rs6 50 per unit for consumers in the 301-400kW category will result in them paying Rs32 30 per unit For consumers using between 401-500kW, the price has been increased by Rs7 5 per unit taking the new rate to Rs35 24 while an equivalent hike for those consuming between 501-600kW will take the rate to Rs36 66 per unit Similarly for those consuming between 601-700kW, the base tariff has been increased by Rs7 50, reaching Rs37 8 per unit while an equal hike for consumers using more than 700kW has taken the new tariff to Rs42 72 per unit It may be mentioned that after including sales tax at the rate of 18 per cent the maximum power tariff for those using more than 700kW will reach Rs50 41/kWh Meanwhile, for commercial consumers lying in the A-2 category and having a peak load requirement of less than 5kW”, the base power tariff has been hiked by Rs7 50 per unit taking it to Rs37 75 An equivalent tariff hike for regular consumers having a peak load requirement exceeding 5kW will have them paying Rs39 43 per unit For commercial consumers lying in the General Services A-3 category, the base power tariff has been hiked by Rs7 50 per unit as well, taking it to Rs37 31 After approving the Nepra’s proposal the cabinet had yesterday filed a motion to reconsider and issue the new uniform tariffs for the abovementioned Discos and K-Electric Subsequently the Nepra announced it will hold a hearing on July 24 (Monday) to finalise the decision

Six die in rain-related incidents across countr y

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Food items (dry ration) were provided to the affected families, the official said He said PDMA had already issued a letter to all the concerned institutions and district administrations on July 17 and 19 for taking precautionary measures against expected heavy rains and floods

BALOCHISTAN RAINS H e a v y r a i n s a l s o l a s h e d B a r k h a n , R a k h n i a n d K o h - e - S u l a i m a n a r e a s o f B a l o c h i s t a n T h e t o r r e n t i a l r a i n s a l s o c a u s e d m u d s l i d e i n F o r t M u n r o a r e a s u s p e n d i n g t r a ff i c o n n a t i o n a l h i g h w a y c o n n e c t i n g t h e t w o p r o v i n c e s L o n g q u e u e s o f v e h i c l e s w e r e f o r m e d d u e t o s u s p e n s i o n o f t r a ff i c o n t h e h i g h w a y n e a r F o r t M u n r o

CII unveils comprehensive ‘code of conduc t ’ for peace, harmony in Muharram

PROJECT L AUNCHED TO STRENGTHEN ANTI-CORRUPTION, IMPROVE GOVERNANCE IN BALOCHISTAN

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Afive-day training workshop aimed at improving the investigation and prosecution skills of senior investigators and prosecutors from the Anti-Corruption Establishment and Prosecution Departments of Balochistan concluded in Islamabad

In an effort to enhance anti-corruption measures in the province improve accountability and restore public trust in state institutions, the Anti-Corruption Establishment Balochistan (ACEB) developed a comprehensive strategy and launched a capacity-building initiative funded by U S Embassy Islamabad s Bureau of International Narcotics and Law

Enforcement Affairs (INL) and implemented by Accountability Lab Mr Sohail Anwar Hashmi, the Director General of ACEB, praised the training at the conclusion of the five-day training workshop for investigators and prosecutors Accountability Lab is building the institutional capacity of ACEB through a series of training workshops on anti-corruption legislation and rules, techniques for combating white-collar crimes, finance and asset investigation methods and intelligence gathering strategies in an effort to improve the department s processes based on global best practices said Mr Asif Farooqui Deputy Director Programs, Accountability Lab As part of this initiative, a specialized Financial Investigation Unit will be established along with strengthening

PIA , Air China offer passengers to fly to 16 Chinese cities via Beijing

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t P a s s e n g e r s t r a v e l i n g b y 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 ) c a n n o w f l y b e t w e e n P a k i s t a n a n d 1 6 c a p t i v a t i n g c i t i e s i n C h i n a v i a B e i j i n g i n p a r t n e r s h i p w i t h A i r C h i n a T h e C h i n e s e c i t i e s i n c l u d e G u a n g z h o u , S h a n g h a i , Wu h a n , C h e n g d u , C h o n g q i n g C h a n g c h u n H a n g z h o u H a r b i n e t c s a i d a P I A o ff i c i a l o n S a t u r d a y T h e n a t i o n a l f l a g c a r r i e r h a s a l s o o ff e r e d a 2 0 p e r c e n t d i s c o u n t f o r s t u d e n t s o n f l i g h t s b e t w e e n P a k i s t a n a n d C h i n a P I A o ff e r s l o w f a r e s w i t h f r e e b a g g a g e o f 8 0 K g f o r e c o n o m y c l a s s a n d 1 0 0 K g f o r e x e c u t i v e e c o n o m y c l a s s r e s p e c t i v e l y P I A h a s a l r e a d y a n n o u n c e d t h a t i t w i l l r e s u m e i t s f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n t o C h i n a f r o m A u g u s t 0 6 I n i t i a l l y, P I A w i l l o p e r a t e o n e w e e k l y f l i g h t o n t h e I s l a m a b a dB e i j i n g - I s l a m a b a d r o u t e e v e r y S u n d a y w i t h d e p a r t u r e f r o m B e i j i n g a t 2 1 : 1 5 A c c o r d i n g t o t h e o ff i c i a l , t h e o n e - w a y f a r e f r o m B e i j i n g t o I s l a m a b a d i s 3 8 1 4 R M B a n d t h e f a r e f o r t h e R e t u r n t i c k e t i s 5 6 8 5 R M B

institutional collaboration between ACEB and other anti-corruption agencies at the national and sub-national levels, to facilitate better inter-agency coordination and knowledge sharing Mr Emmett Sapp Program Officer for Rule of Law and Corrections at INL expressed confidence that this collaboration will contribute to improving public service delivery and strengthen anti-corruption measures in Balochistan

Mr Qaisar Ashfaq the lead trainer of the workshop and an expert in anti-money laundering white-collar crimes and financial investigations stated that these trainings will enhance the capacity of anticorruption and prosecution officials and promote accountability and good governance in the province

Islamabad police’s hunt for 4th suspec t in schoolgirl gang rape c ase continues

Police hunt for the fourth nominated accused involved in the gang-rape of a schoolgirl in Islamabad a couple of days ago is still continuing

The police have already arrested three youths who allegedly sexually assaulted the 17-year-old schoolgirl in the federal capital’s Sector E-9

The teenaged girl was on her way to school when she was abducted by the boys at gunpoint who later gang-raped her

The Shalimar police have registered a first information report (FIR) under Section 375-A of the Pakistan Penal Code against the four alleged rapists on the complaint of the victim’s mother Atish, Junaid Ansar and Afad Malik are in police custody while Hassan Shakeel in still on the run

According to the FIR the girl left the house for her school at 8am on the day of the incident and returned home at 3:30pm as usual The mother informed the police that she observed her daughter nervous, and her school uniform ripped

After being insisted the girl told her mother about the tragic tale she came across The victim saw one of

Bodies of 4 more Pakistanis who died in Greek boat tragedy brought to L ahore

The dead bodies of four more Pakistanis who died in the Greek boat tragedy were brought to Lahore on Saturday

The bodies were transferred to Lahore from Doha via a foreign flight

The representatives of the Overseas Pakistanis Foundation received the bodies and handed them over to the heirs

The dead bodies of Arsalan and Abu Bakr were sent to their native town Nowshera Warkan While the bodies of Adnan and Ali Ijaz were dispatched to Gujrat and Mandi Bahauddin respectively

Before this three dead bodies reached the Lahore Airport on Thursday night

More than 300 Pakistani nationals were killed in the capsizing of an overcrowded fishing trawler off the coast of Greece last month They wanted to enter Europe illegally

About 750 men women and children were on the packed boat when it capsized last month the United Nations Migration Agency (IOM) said killing hundreds and making the tragedy one of the worst in the Mediterranean Sea, according to the EU Commissioner for Home Affairs Ylva Johansson

Every year, tens of thousands of migrants fleeing war, persecution, climate change, and poverty risk treacherous routes to Europe

S hocking death of L ahore police official under probe

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

The police took a man and his wife into custody for questioning after Lahore Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Shariq Jamal Khan was found dead allegedly at their apartment in the Defence Housing Authority (DHA) neighbourhood of the provincial metropolis

The body, discovered in the apartment, was initially taken to National Hospital, according to reports However later on it was transferred to Jinnah Hospital for post-mortem examination

Initially it was reported that the couple had shifted Khan to the hospital from his residence However as the police delved deeper into the matter, a new revelation emerged Khan was present at the couple s apartment at the time of his passing U p o n q u e s t i o n i n g t h e c o u p l e d i s c l o s e d t h a t K h a n h a d b e e n i n t h e i r f l a t a n d t h e y h a d r u s h e d

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

Subsequently, at 1:30 am, Jamal was brought to National Hospital where he was pronounced dead upon arrival The deceased policeman resided in Phase IV of the neighbourhood an area falling under the jurisdiction of Defence-A police station while the apartment where the body was found falls under the jurisdiction of Nishtar police station Authorities promptly launched an immediate inquiry into the circumstances surrounding the incident A police team swiftly rushed to the hospital to oversee the investigation upon receiving the news

A case has been registered on the complaint of Khn s wife

It is important to mention that Khan was currently s e r v i n g a s O ff i c e r o n S p e c i a l D u t y ( O S D ) , h a v i n g p r e v i o u s l y h e l d p o s i t i o n s a s D I G o f t r a ff i c a n d railways police

Minister expresses gratitude for joint effor t in passing Pemra law

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb expressed her gratitude to all stakeholders, especially a joint action committee (JAC), for their dedicated efforts and contributions in preparing the PEMRA (Amendment)

Islamabad cour t approves PTI chief’s exemption plea in Toshakhana case

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

the suspects, Atish a friend of her brother few steps away from the main gate of the school

The suspect asked the victim to accompany him about an emergency The suspect took her to a house in village Matiari where three of his friends Junaid Asad and Hassan were present

According to the complainant the prime suspect tortured and slapped her daughter along with his friends and later raped at gunpoint

A district and sessions court on Saturday approved a plea filed by the PTI chief through his lawyer seeking exemption from appearance in the Toshakhana case Additional Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar resumed hearing of the case filed by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) seeking criminal proceedings against the former prime minister for not disclosing the gifts retained from the state depository Former prime minister s lawyer Barrister Gohar and ECP lawyer Amjad Parvez appeared in the court when the former submitted the exemption plea and sought adjournment of the case till Monday The ECP lawyer opposed the petition saying no solid reason had been given for the absence He said the suspect should appear before the court Since the PTI Chairman has been summoned by the Supreme Court on Monday, the trial court should order him to ensure his appearance before it on same day Later the court approved the exemption plea and directed him to ensure his appearance after attending hearing at the Supreme Court on Monday The judge adjourned the further hearing of the case till July 24

taken on board and their inputs and feedback were incorporated into the Bill The minister emphasized that the

Bill aimed to enhance the welfare of journalists and foster a free, responsible, and ethical media environment in Pakistan aligned with democratic practices in other countries

The Bill addressed various long-standing issues and matters such as curbing arbitrary and unchecked powers of the chairman of PEMRA, ensuring the representation of PFUJ and PBA in PEMRA Authority and the Council of Complaints resolving delayed payments of journalists salaries and refining the definitions of misinformation and disinformation

Aurangzeb revealed that she would hold a news conference the following day to unveil the key features of the Bill and provide detailed insights into the extensive participatory and consultative process undertaken to prepare the legislation

y h e m i n M a n i p u r

A new t wist in the ongoing violence in Manipur shows the ugly face of India

THE sense of rage gripping India since Friday when a video recording went viral which showed women of the Kuki community in Manipur being paraded naked by men from the Meitei, is apparently continuing, with two of the accused having their houses destroyed by women That those women include Meiteis indicates that it is not seen as a communal issue but as a gender issue also The explosion in Manipur shows that the Bharatiya Janata Party has presided over an increased heightening of communal feeling which has led to such an outcome It should be remembered that the Manipur government is led by the BJP and the fighting is between the Christian Kukis and Hindu Meiteis This is of a pattern with the BJP s Hindutva ideology, which sees iNdian identity as Hindu identity, and views with suspicion all those that belong to another religion The BJP had been concentrating on anti-Muslim activities and even in the northeast where Manipur is its most striking action had been over the National Citizenship Register with as many Muslims excluded as possible, and expelled to Bangladesh

However, the Manipur example also lays bare the problems of Indian secularism, which is constructed on the basis of quotas and reservations The reservations pitted the Meiteis who were demanding the reservations given to the Kuki of which 50 tribes are scheduled and thus have quotas reserved for them in various jobs and in admissions The Meiteis are a majority in Manipur, so reserving seats for them as tribals does not really make all that much sense, but the whole of India is busy with caste identity, and whether or not there are reservations for that caste Reservations exist both at the state and central levels, and while a member of a certain caste have to compete on open merit for a central government job he may compete on a quota at the provincial level The Raj used this system to administer recruitments and admissions in India, and the system continued after Independence In India, it has given rise to caste-based politics, as various parties appeal to voters on the pledge to get their caste designated a Scheduled Caste, an other Backward Caste or a Scheduled Tribe so as to get a share of reservations Now the result has been both bloodshed as well as bestiality Pakistan is fortunate not to have castes but it does have provincial quotas They have not fractured the state as viciously as In India, but need to be watched both carefully and suspiciously

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

THE August summit of BRICS an economiccentric alliance between Brazil, Russia, India, China and South Africa, in Johannesburg, would have been a normal summit event, void of rhetoric and focused on economic development between members However the ongoing Russia-Ukraine war has made it special

It has happened often that international political events got paced up or accelerated due to other events The death of Julius Ceaser was instrumental in transforming the Roman Republic into an Empire Similarly, the assassination of Archduke Franz Ferdinand of Austria led to World War I The ongoing Russian conflict may have the same effect on world politics but in the contemporary spectrum of gaining economic superiority

The Russian-Ukraine war is seen differently by Russia, the West led by the USA and emerging economic giant China Russia views it as safeguarding its sovereignty and considers it a war for its survival

It cannot afford Ukraine to join NATO and thus bring the NATO arsenal on its western borders

The USA considers it a direct challenge to its hegemony and the right of Ukraine to choose its political and military alliances out of its free will and military preferences Europe is sandwiched between its economic interests, intermingled with Russian oil and gas provision and its strategic compulsions associated with the USA and NATO

A lingering war in the region is detrimental to the long-term economic interest of Germany and France

The same was evident in Germany s recent reluctance to contribute toward war efforts against Russia For China, however, it is an opportunity to advance its agenda of economic parity with the USA

Economic statistics generally indicate that China might become the world s biggest economy by 20352040; however it will not be able to challenge the USA s hegemonic status at least for the next four decades The Dollar s dominance through the SWIFT banking system, with particular reference to Oil trade through this system, is a gauge which controls the USA dollar's superiority over all other currencies

The Russian invasion of Ukraine in February 2022 led to the USA s freezing of $300 Billion of forex reserves and severely disrupted Russia s banking system This weaponisation through the King Dollar' was viewed suspiciously by all growing economic powers like India, Brazil and Argentina How-

IMF Deal and Political Uncertaint y

on June 30

To meet the IMF s stringent demands, the government has committed to revising its budget, implementing new taxes, and cutting spending to generate revenue

ever China took it as an opportunity to be the reliable currency of the East and Russia started trading with China in Yuan India followed and started paying Russia in rubles for its oil export Thus the emergence of an alternative financial system, stirred by the geo-political environment, is ahead of its time and an opportunity for China s emergence as a superpower Encashing the opportunity, Beijing has also furthered its relations with Saudi Arabia as its strategic partner one of the world s biggest oil exporters In addition to the oil trade agreement with China in Decrmber 2022, Riyadh is also inclined to be a full member of the SCO Additionally Saudi Arabia is growing toward BRICS and financial collaboration with its New Development Bank (NDB) Reportedly most of the South Asian countries are also inclined to join the BRICS financial system, along with a few other Middle Eastern countries

throning the dollar it will be led to the beginning of its weakness If human history proceeds it is a natural process of balancing that another power challenges a superpower in a century or so However instead of the reluctance to accept reality, a pragmatic approach is to adjust to new realities

Economic statistics generally indicate that China might become the world's biggest economy by 2035-2040; however, it will not be able to challenge the USA's hegemonic status, at least for the next four decades. The Dollar's dominance through the SWIFT banking system, with particular reference to Oil trade through this system, is a gauge which controls the USA dollar's superiority over all other currencies

In this background the 15th BRICS summit 2023 s top agenda of considering a new gold-backed currency an alternative to SWIFT clearly indicates the world s growing economies desire to reduce reliance on the US dollar BRICS countries are also contemplating crypto-currency and alignment of central Bank digital currencies for interoperability and trade payments Although it's a long way from de-

It is accepted that China is a challenger to the USA hegemony However USA strategic thinkers do not perceive a lone China as a threat; however, the SinoRussian alliance is real The present Ukraine war is weakening Russia more than the West and the USA and, if not stopped, can damage Russia s economy internally Thus, a weak Russia suits the USA However the present offshoot of it is pointing toward a new reality It's not the big three anymore; but the 'economic powers to be' inclination would also help set the pace for world politics in years to come With its alternative financial system and soft power projection, the emergence of BRICS has all the ingredients to attract small nations towards it The bipolar world is now a reality Although no king has been assassinated the economic war is looming ahead

The author retired as a commander from the Pakistan Navy, and is now a researcher, associated with Bahria University Islamabad, who can be reached at senananees@yahoo com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Arecent $3 billion IMF deal has reshaped Pakistan s economic landscape but it is anticipated to introduce a host of political uncertainties leading up to the upcoming general elections If ousted Prime Minister Imran Khan is allowed to participate in the election, he is likely to emerge victorious Once in power there is a possibility that he may seek retribution against his political opponents and the military establishment However any attempt to disqualify him or invalidate the election could have unintended consequences, involving millions of his followers

With Imran Khan s term in office expiring next month the Pakistani government has achieved little progress in addressing the country s mounting economic challenges The 13party ruling coalition, which has been in power for the past 14 months, has failed to implement significant economic policy initiatives, resulting in the deterioration of key macroeconomic indicators

F ortunately immediate concerns regarding Pakistan s economic stability were alleviated last week when the government secured a short-term $3 billion financial package from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) This much-needed relief, along with the potential for freeing other international debts through the deal comes at a critical time as Pakistan was on the verge of defaulting on its external debt after the expiration of a prior IMF loan

The news of the deal has bolstered Pakistan s dollar bonds and pleased foreign investors resulting in the country s shares experiencing their largest single-day surge in 15 years However, the business community in Pakistan has expressed less e n t h u s i a s m about the deal as they now face higher corporate and other taxes

M o r e o v e r , deeper concerns surround the agreement itself as it adds an estimated $140 billion in debt and liabilities by June 2023 pushing Pakistan into a potential debt trap

This new loan will make Pakistan the IMF s fourthlargest borrower among 93 countries accounting for $10 4 billion of the IMF s total global debt of $155 billion Pakistan's external debt stands at one third of its GDP, while its total national debt is equivalent to 84 percent of its GDP

While Khan himself is accused of inciting the protests and is likely to face trial on one of the 150 charges against him, either in a military court or civilian courts, he continues to rally his party and has garnered support from a fragmented media landscape The reaction of Khan's millions of supporters to his removal from the political scene remains largely unknown Until the political outcome becomes clear, the difficult economic decisions made by Pakistan through the IMF agreement could be at risk

While the IMF loan provides temporary relief it merely postpones the inevitable challenges that Pakistan must confront in the absence of significant structural reforms required to bolster its economy The loan could aid in facilitating the transition to a newly elected national government, potentially en-

couraging major political parties to prioritize economic recovery as a central component of their campaign agendas However the multitude of political uncertainties surrounding the elections is likely to divert public attention away from the economy at least for now Questions loom regarding whether the federal and provincial combinations will proceed as planned or face delays and potential indefinite suspensions The participation of new political parties and coalitions as well as the potential return of former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif to lead his Pakistan Muslim League, remains uncertain The extent to which the elections will be free from violence and how the military might exert its considerable influence to sway the outcome are also matters of concern H o w e v e r much of the current uncertainty revolves around Imran Khan and his immediate political future The crucial question is whether he and his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf supporters will be permitted to participate in the elections If the ousted former prime minister is allowed to compete in a reasonably free and fair vote there is a belief that he could secure victory and seek retribution against his political opponents and the military establishment once in power To prevent this, some argue that Khan should either be disqualified from running in the election or find a pretext to cancel the election on national security grounds Many of his supporters are currently being tried in special military courts for their involvement in the May 9 riots, which resulted in widespread looting and arson across the country While Khan himself is accused of inciting the protests and is likely to face trial on one of the 150 charges against him, either in a military court or civilian courts, he continues to rally his party and has garnered support from a fragmented media landscape The reaction of Khan's millions of supporters to his removal from the political scene remains largely unknown Until the political outcome becomes clear the difficult economic decisions made by Pakistan through the IMF agreement could be at risk

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

BJP versus Congress

LONG haunted by successive electoral defeats at the hands of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) led by Narendra Modi the Indian National Congress regained some of its lost electoral glory recently by dethroning its formidable rival in the key state of Karnataka

Staging emphatic success, the Congress party won 136 seats in a house of 224 to de-seat the BJP which had won in 2019 by inducing defections from the former Congress-led coalition government

Even though Modi visited the southern state as many as 19 times to drum up support the electorate firmly rejected the BJP s Hindutva charm and its treatment of the minority communities in India

Much of the Congress success had been attributed to the marathon long march across the country by Rahul Gandhi However, with the national elections due in 2024 Congress still faces a formidable task in ousting its bitter rival from New Delhi the throne that matters more than most others State assembly elections during the current year will also take place in Rajasthan Chhattisgarh Madhya Pradesh and Telangana Additionally there may be elections in the troubled occupied Kashmir where Article 370 was repealed in 2019 The Congress party s focus on agriculture, rural development, education and healthcare issues resonated with the voters Furthermore, it also fielded a number of Muslim candidates many of whom actually won their seats Besides the party revamped and strengthened its organisational structure which was able to drum up its support base However whether the secular Congress would be able to further its electoral fortunes in the upcoming other state elections remains to be seen The lessons learned from the success in Karnataka could be the way forward FAWAD HASHMEY LAHORE

PCB decision is an embarrassment

THE recent chain of events within the cricketing world between Pakistan and India are less than ideal for the former making one wonder why they could not be managed a bit more prudently Regardless of what the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) says in this regard the fact cannot be denied that we got the short end of the stick India is hosting the 2023 ICC World Cup starting in October this year There will be 10 national teams taking part in the tournament Each team will be playing nine matches on a round-robin league basis The last four teams will play the semifinals The final will be played in midNovember, most probably in the Indian city of Ahmedabad

Earlier Pakistan will be hosting the Asia Cup in August-September Six teams will be participating in the event India refused to travel to Pakistan and suggested a change in the venue from Pakistan to either Sri Lanka Malaysia or the United Arab Emirates (UAE)

Jay Shah, the Secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), who is also the chairman of the Asian Cricket Council (ACC), on the sidelines of the Indian Premier League (IPL) finals, persuaded the heads of Afghanistan, Bangladesh and Sri Lanka cricket to boycott the Asia Cup if held in Pakistan The PCB chief at the time conceded ground and suggested a hybrid formula to hold four first-round matches in Pakistan and the remaining nine including the final in Sri Lanka India clearly won the deal hands down All that the PCB could do was to give the whole thing a public relations twist which did not quite cut it with the masses All through the lengthy affair, Pakistan, currently ranked number two in ODI world ranking, kept threatening that it would boycott the Word Cup if India refused to travel to Pakistan for the Asia Cup But later the PCB bent its knees and agreed to participate in the World Cup on the terms and conditions that were framed by BCCI to its benefit The PCB decision as such is nothing but an embarrassment Since the visit of the national cricket team is still subject to clearance from the government there is still a tier left to save the nation from further humiliation The government should not allow the team to participate in the World Cup being held in India as a simple tit-for-tat strategy It is only a fair deal, and we should go for it S ZAKI

How Pakistan is coming to terms with global realities COMMENT

option but to run the engines on petrol

Learning a bit from that blunder, there have been efforts to buy relatively cheap Iranian electricity for border areas of Balochistan

Chinese diplomatic initiatives have indirectly frustrated for the time being the American and Israeli calculations In that scenario, a hypothetical view of the situation; gives Pakistan two options: one of tying up with the Chinese ascendency or drifting towards the USA

CAUGHT off-guard when under Chinese patronage the two Middle Eastern giants Saudi Arabia and Iran buried their mutual hatchet for good; for the client states like Pakistan it was a new reality; that too a shocking one The recent flurry of activity, coupled with a ‘painful courtship’ with the western financial system meaning the IMF Pakistan is opening up to the previously prohibited domains in foreign policy; all suggest that the country establishment seems to be coming to terms with ground, rather global, realities

The gradual delinking of the Saudi defence establishment from the American axis; talks of joint Iranian-Saudi patrolling of the Persian Gulf was the first takeaway from the change Coupled with that a more than warm reception meted out to the Iranian Hajj pilgrims in the Holy Cities, coupled with a breathing space for traditional Iranian allies the Shi’a Muslims in visiting the famous Medina cemetery all point out to changing patterns in the domain of foreign policy

In that environment, the Pakistani establishment, which has been extra careful, as regards warmth with the anti-USA in the Middle East has been caught by surprise Pakistan like Turkey and Iraq has been an energy-deficient economy While the latter two states have been straightforward in their dealing with the Americans regarding the imperative of dependence on Iranian natural gas reserves, Pakistan has been more than faithful towards seeking Saudi or US approval for the same

Here it is ironic to observe that while the compromised journalists following the establishment line have been trying to pit the Shaheed Beheshti port in Chahbahar against the Gwadar port in Pakistani Balochistan, the Pakistani port city is dependent upon that same Iranian electricity to get the show running

The winds of change can be felt the way the military contacts with the Iranian defence establishment spearheaded by the Islamic Revolutionary Guards Corps (IRGC) seem to be the preferred line of action for the dominant decision makers in Pakistan

A month ago the establishment of joint markets in the border areas close to the border between the Pakistani and Iranian Balochistan had been indicative of that change of heart Likewise, the visit of the top man in the army; as well as contacts between the respective Navies and Air Force as well as diplomats, all indicate a new defence paradigm The reasons for that change of heart

The on-ground situation suggests that Pakistan is apparently testing waters on both the fronts; yet its tilt seems to be towards the Chinese option The recent flurry of visits between the Iranian and Pakistani military officials and the inroads the PAF has been able to make with the Iraqi counterpart strongly suggest Chinese encouragement

Pakistan really has to catch up with the new global realities, given the fact that it is not proverbially sitting on the wrong lorry, train, flight. Failing which it would only be buying further dire straits and disgrace for itself

rest in the fact that the other option available for Pakistan can be the prohibited path; tying up with Israel

That refusal to avail the Iranian offer has its consequences for the Pakistani economy; whose POL bill inflated naturally when the so-called CNG-fitted vehicles have no other

Ever since the Trump years’ build-up against Iran for a possible military strike with the connivance of Saudi Arabia has been on the table However the Biden years since 2021 have taken the steam out of that option gradually The recent emergence of

It may be recalled that the generally proAmerican Baghdad was the recipient of 36 F16s during the high time of campaigns against ISIS/Daesh The intent has been to belittle the ground offensives against Daesh by Iranian aligned groups and give more weightage to the Iraqi efforts; and consequently cultivate the political package accrued out of it Recently there has been talk in the media about what can be called American disinterest in providing the Iraqis the required technical assistance The Iraqi air force is practically experiencing the same sort of American behaviour which the PAF faced after the 1965 War forcing Pakistanis to look towards French and Chinese sources of weapon systems The recent news in the media about Iraqi Air Force readiness to buy Pakistani-Chinese joint production JF-17 Thunders strongly points towards the fact that Chinese have patted Pakistan on the back for that Given the fact that Pakistan is able to overcome its foreign exchange issues with the help of massive defence exports, means that the IMF/USA/Abraham Accord options might get weaker with the passage of time Of late Pakistan has already sold the propelled trainer aircraft to the Iraqi Air Force as part of the ongoing initiative Here it might be too early to jump to conclusions with regard to the foreign policy options at hand for Pakistan For a country like Pakistan, deeply embedded in the West-

Is Netanyahu endangering US-Israel ties by visiting China

While it is impor tant to direc tly talk with B eijing, Jerusalem must remain as transparent as possible with Washington about those conversations

2022 when Chinese President Xi Jinping visited Saudi Arabia and in March 2023 when China brokered the restoration of Iranian-Saudi diplomatic relations

ern financial system trained in the Western protocols for defence as well as financial system linkages, it can be a big step if the country decides for a big disengagement

The IMF recent report does not traditionally touch on Pakistan tax collection capabilities; it has its reservations on export refinance facilities espoused by the central bank Pakistan s current weak economic profile has the advantages and vice versa for rolling into any of the two camps The USA having invested in Pakistan as it did with many states like Venezuela, will certainly prompt the USA not to let Pakistan slip out of its orbit In other words it means the USA has no presence in the region against what it can call growing Chinese and Russian influence in it

Given the black and white drawing of the battle lines between the waning dollar regime led by the US-based capitalist regime capital and the alternate narrative led by the Chinese Russians and Iranians are already drawn the lineup prophetically illustrated two months back in the Wall Street Journal cover; showing Russian and Chinese leaders helping Iran’s Khamenei to scale down the proverbial staircase The options for noncommittal fence watchers like Pakistan are going to be to decide where they need to be

The month-old remarks by Hina Rabbani Khar dated June 23 2023 that Pakistan can-

not leave the western sphere for the Chinese one; apparently speaks of Pakistan nonaligned posture, it also indicates the yearning within the ruling elite, inclusive of those currently out of favour, to link up with the USA, as were Ayub Zia and Musharraf R e c e n t y e a r ’s p o l i t i c a l d e v e l o p m e n t s w i t h i n a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t s e l s e w h e r e h a v e r e i n f o r c e d t h e f a c t t h a t Pakistan might not have the previous position in the eyes of the Chines e es tablis hment as it used to China’s Middle Eastern a n d I r a n - s p e c i f i c i n i t i a t i v e s s u g g e s t t h a t Pakistan is one of the connecting states for t h e C h i n e s e t r a d e i n i t i a t i v e b u t n o t t h e prime one which was once sought The hyb r i d e x p e r i m e n t w i t h i n w h e n t h e PA F USAF and RSAF jointly exercised in central Punjab for imaginary Iranian targets in 2020 through 2021 are a far cry from the Saudi Navy contemplating joint cooperation with Iranian Navy in the aftermath of China led mending of fences in 2023; leaving Pakistan in the literal cold Pakistan will really has to catch up with the new global realities, given the fact that it is not proverbially sitting on the wrong lorry, train, flight Failing which it would only be buying further dire straits and disgrace for itself |

The writer is a freelance columnist

What does C hina’s cour teous reception of K issinger indic ate?

T h e U S a d m i n i s t r a t i o n o f f i c i a l s " l o o k f o r w a rd t o h e a r i n g f ro m S e c re t a r y K i s s i n g e r w h e n h e re t u r n s , t o h e a r w h a t h e h e a rd , w h a t h e l e a r n e d , w h a t h e s a w " We h o p e t h a t Wa s h i n g t o n w i l l h u m b l y a n d s i n c e re l y l i s t e n t o t h e a d v i c e b ro u g h t b a c k b y t h i s c e n t e n a r i a n e l d e r

JERUSALEM POST

M a r k r E G E V

LAST month s announcement that Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu plans to visit America s rival China drew widespread criticism In Israel, General (res ) Amos Yadlin, a former head of military intelligence, reminded the Prime Minister of the irreplaceable diplomatic military and economic backing Washington provides Jerusalem and declared that the Beijing visit “will harm Israeli interests General (res ) Tamir Hayman another former head of military intelligence warned that the special relationship with the US is in danger, and labeled the China trip a serious mistake IDF officers and government officials working closely with their American counterparts, witnessing first-hand the immense benefits that such collaboration brings will quite naturally be hypersensitive about any perceived threat to the smooth functioning of Israel-US cooperation

While a Beijing visit contains important potential benefits for Israel, to assuage the criticism that it may harm ties with Washington, Netanyahu can take steps that will demonstrate his clear prioritization of the Israel-US partnership

EVERYONE TALKS TO CHINA

First and foremost it needs to be remembered that the Americans themselves engage directly with China In June US Secretary of State Antony Blinken was in Beijing to strengthen high-level channels of communication While acknowledging that China and the US do not see eye-to-eye on many issues, Blinken stated that his talks “made progress and we are moving forward ”

This month US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen followed up with a trip of her own as did former secretary of state and current Special Presidential Envoy for Climate John Kerry

American allies also regularly visit China In November 2022, German Chancellor Olaf Scholz was in Beijing Spanish Prime Minister Pedro Sanchez visited in March 2023 And in April, French President Emmanuel Macron, accompanied by EU Commission President Ursula von der Leyen was in the Chinese capital The French Germans and Spaniards are all NATO allies in good standing All three sought to encourage China to distance itself from Russia and its war against Ukraine Simultaneously, America s European partners were eager to promote trade and investment – Scholz bringing with him the CEOs of German corporations Volkswagen, Deutsche Bank, Siemens, and BASF; and Macron opening the door for the heads of France’s biggest companies including Airbus BNP Paribas and L Oréal Like Europe s leaders Netanyahu also legitimately desires to expand economic ties China is already Israel s third largest trading partner (following the EU and the US), with total Sino-Israel trade, excluding diamonds, reaching $17 6 billion in 2022 – although there remains much room for further growth But as with the Europeans, Netanyahu has both an economic and political agenda

While Beijing competes with Washington for influence, China has a keen interest in continued regional stability, especially in the Gulf Beijing sees such stability as an essential prerequisite for its ongoing unfettered import of energy from the Middle East As China invests more heavily in the region it has a vested interest in ensuring stability securing the economic viability of its projects To accomplish these goals Beijing s policy has been to maintain good ties with all key regional players – including Iran Herein lies the contradiction between China’s need for a stable Middle East and its professed friendship with the region’s primary destabilizer Beijing needs to appreciate that Tehran’s policies will inevitably lead to a Middle Eastern conflagration antithetical to China s own interests While Beijing s Arab partners share with China s leadership their concerns about Tehran s behavior, there can be no substitute for the Israeli prime minister engaging face-to-face with the all-powerful Chinese president

COORDINATE CLOSELY WITH THE US

While it is important to directly talk with Beijing Jerusalem must remain as transparent as possible with Washington about those conversations Netanyahu clearly understands this – the Prime Minister s Office briefed the press that the Americans knew about the plans for a China visit well before the trip was publicly announced

Moreover, as he has done in the past, Netanyahu must be clear about the parameters governing Israel’s cooperation with China This requires stressing that Israel is and will remain a steadfast US ally; that it will not be assisting the Chinese military with equipment or technology; and that China will not be involved in critical Israeli infrastructure projects or hi-tech sector investments that may have implications for national security I accompanied Netanyahu on his May 2013 trip to Beijing when he had his first meeting with Xi Jinping – then only two months into his first term as China’s president During that visit the Prime Minister expressed his hopes for greater cooperation in a host of civilian areas: agriculture green energy healthcare and water management I recall Netanyahu talking to prime minister Li Keqiang about innovations in dairy technologies that had made the Israeli cow the highest milk producer in the world, suggesting that China could benefit from collaboration with Israel in the field This sort of innocuous cooperation should not be a problem for Washington

REACH OUT TO AMERICA S ASIAN FRIENDS

Despite Beijing s unquestionable global and regional importance Israel s focus on Asia must remain comprehensive Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi was recently in Washington where he received a red-carpet welcome from President Joe Biden – who even hosted a rare official state dinner in the Indian leader ’s honor Netanyahu has met Modi on multiple occasions the two prime ministers clearly sharing a rapport

Under their joint tutelage the Indo-Israel relationship went from strength to strength To maintain the positive momentum Netanyahu should be visiting Delhi sometime soon

In parallel, Netanyahu worked closely with the late Japanese prime minister Shinzo Abe to upgrade Jerusalem-Tokyo ties

Today, he needs to do the same with Prime Minister Fumio

Kishida A visit to Tokyo would add new impetus to relations

Smaller but deserving of greater Israeli diplomatic attention is South Korea Jerusalem-Seoul ties contain much untapped potential and there needs to be more to the relationship than the Israeli motoring public s love of Hyundai and Kia cars To help mitigate concerns about his Beijing visit, Netanyahu could consider adding an additional stop to his itinerary Perhaps he could choose for the final leg of his trip one of the region’s staunch American allies I can think of more than one pro-Western Asian capital where the Prime Minister would be a welcome guest

The writer formerly an adviser to the prime minister is chair of the Abba Eban Institute for Diplomacy at Reichman University

CHINA S old friend Henry Kissinger was warmly welcomed by the Chinese side As a private citizen he was given the grandest reception at the official level Chinese President Xi Jinping met him at Villa No 5 of the Diaoyutai State Guesthouse where then premier Zhou Enlai held a meeting with Kissinger 52 years ago when the latter visited China for the first time Kissinger was also received by Director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee Wang Yi and Minister of National Defense Li Shangfu Kissinger's visit became a trending topic on China's social media Netizens welcomed him and expressed respect for his contribution to China-US relations

Judging from Kissinger s previous interviews and speeches he has real concerns about the current development trend of China-US relations

Presumably, this is why he insists on visiting China at such an age The Chinese people know that it is not easy for a centenarian to travel from afar for the sake of China-US relations and feel deeply about his efforts However in the US the White House expressed regret that Kissinger was able to get more of an audience in Beijing as a private citizen than some sitting US officials and some analysts and media say that Beijing is playing the old friend card and wooing those who might help change opinions in Washington and some even claim that this looks very much like a deliberate Chinese strategy " I n t h e e y e s o f t h e C h i n e s e t h e s e c l a i m s a r e e x t r e m e l y n a i v e a n d r i d i c u l o u s W h y c o u l d a c i t i z e n s u r p a s s s i t t i n g o ff i c i a l s i n Wa s h i n g t o n a n d r e c e i v e h i g h e r c o u r t e s y a n d g r e a t e r r e s p e c t ? D o e s n t Wa s h i n g t o n h a v e a p o i n t i n m i n d ? I n r e c e n t years, pragmatism and rationality toward China has been severely marginalized in the US Washi n g t o n ' s C h i n a p o l i c y o f t e n d r i f t s a n d c o l l i d e s under the countercurrent of extreme protectionism and resentment of all kinds and the room f o r m a n e u v e r i n C h i n a - U S r e l a t i o n s h a s b e e n g r e a t l y r e d u c e d A t t h e a g e o f 1 0 0 , K i s s i n g e r still plays a prominent role in promoting the stability of China-US relations and avoiding conflicts It shows that the diplomatic wisdom of the US has no successors and that there is a lack of sound communication channels between China and the US Kissinger is an old friend of the Chinese people The word "old" first pays tribute to the long history of China-US relations, of which he has been a participant and witness Secondly, it shows

respect for his continuous attention and concern for China-US relations, and his hope for peaceful coexistence between the two countries In the eyes of the Chinese people, as long as someone is reasonable and holds goodwill and sincerity toward China they are considered a friend and if the relationship lasts for a long time they become an old friend Over the past few decades Kissinger has visited China over 100 times and has always been treated with friendship, regardless of his changing roles or positions The reception China has given him is the consistent manifestation of deep feelings an emphasis on righteousness and respect for wisdom H o w e v e r s o m e p e o p l e i n t h e U S d e l i b e ra t e l y m i s i n t e r p r e t t h e t e r m o l d f r i e n d a n d s o m e e v e n c a l l i t a t r a p T h i s r e f l e c t s t h e u nh e a l t h y m i n d s e t o f A m e r i c a n s o c i e t y t o w a r d C h i n a a n d t h e l a c k o f m u t u a l t r u s t b e t w e e n China and the US It is essential to emphasize that the friendliness and friendship China shows to Kissinger are not only for him as an individu a l b u t a l s o f o r a l l t h e i n s i g h t f u l i n d i v i d u a l s who have played a constructive role in ChinaU S r e l a t i o n s We h o p e t o e x t e n d t h e g o o d w i l l a n d s i n c e r e c o o p e r a t i o n e v e n w i d e r a n d a l s o hope that rationality can become the dominant factor in the US decision-making process and through these old friends to convey goodwill and sincerity of cooperat i o n t o t h e American people The importance of communication in China-US relations is irreplaceable Genuine c o m m u n i c a t i o n requires respecting reality and each other s interests rather than forcing one side to u n c o n d i t i o n a l l y accept hegemony Kissinger is a staunch defender of American interests, but he understands that the US cannot simply equate US interests with world interests His decades of engagement with China have fully demon s t r a t e d t h a t m u t u a l r e s p e c t peaceful coexistence and win-win cooperation a r e n o t o n l y f e a s i b l e b u t a l s o t h e o n l y c o r r e c t p a t h I n r e c e n t y e a r s , K i s s i n g e r h a s r e p e a t e d l y i s s u e d w a r n i n g s a b o u t t h e d a n g e r o u s t r e n d i n t h e r e l a t i o n s h i p b e t w e e n t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s T h i s i s b a s e d o n h i s p o l i t i c a l i n s i g h t g a i n e d f r o m m o r e t h a n h a l f a c e n t u r y o f e x p e r i e n c e a n d t h e o r e t i c a l r e s e a r c h a n d d e s e r v e s Wa s hi n g t o n s a t t e n t i o n

PROTESTS ERUPT IN IRAQ, IRAN AGAINST PURPORTED HOLY QURAN DESECRATION IN DENMARK

TEHRAN A G E N C I E S

IR A Q I security forces on Saturday dispersed about 1,000 supporters of Shia Muslim cleric Moqtada Sadr who tried to march to Baghdad s Green Zone housing foreign embassies believing a Holy Quran had been desecrated in Denmark

The protesters were reacting to reports of an apparent desecration of the Muslim holy book for the third time in a month with the first two in Sweden already raising diplomatic tensions

On its Facebook page the extreme right group Danske Patrioter posted on Friday a video of a man desecrating what seemed to be a Holy Quran and trampling an Iraqi flag Copenhagen police deputy chief Trine Fisker told AFP that not more than

a handful of protesters had gathered on Friday across from the Iraqi embassy I can also confirm there was a book burnt We do not know which book it was,” she said “It was quite peaceful ” Sadr, who has a following of millions among the country’s majority Shia population and wields great influence over national politics has urged action after Holy Quran desecrations in Sweden

His followers on Saturday reacted to the news from Copenhagen, and gathered in the pre-dawn darkness at Tahrir Square in central Baghdad some carrying portraits of Sadr

Yes yes to the Quran! shouted the protesters mostly young men Security forces cut two bridges leading to the high-security Green Zone where governmental institutions and foreign embassies are located The demonstrators tried to force their way through

before officers pushed them back

The protesters eventually dispersed several hours later, after scuffles erupted, an interior ministry official told AFP, speaking anonymously because he was not allowed to brief the media Protesters were trying to reach the embassy of Denmark the official said

Early Saturday Iraq s foreign ministry had condemned the desecration of the Holy Quran and the Iraqi flag in front of the embassy of Iraq in Denmark

The ministry’s statement said that “these actions provoke reactions and put all the parties in delicate situations”

A separate statement said we cannot allow to happen again what occurred at the Swedish embassy

It reaffirmed Baghdad s full commitment” to the Vienna Convention on Diplomatic Relations and said it guarantees “the protection and security pro-

vided to diplomatic teams

Meanwhile Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari said in a tweet that he and his Iranian counterpart Hossein Amir-Abdollahian “jointly expressed” their strong condemnation of the recent “abhorrent act of desecration” in Sweden

I underlined that such Islamophobic incidents incite religious intolerance hatred and incitement and cannot be justified under any pretext, Bilawal said

He added that both countries resolved to work together and with other members of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) in “confronting and combatting the menace of Islamophobia

: Iranian students burn a US flag during a demonstration denouncing the desecration in Sweden of the Holy Quran, Islam’s holy book, in front of Swedish embassy in Tehran on July 21 AFP

M ayo r M u r t a z a Wa h a b s t a r t s Cl e a n a n d

S TA F F R E P O R T

President of Korangi Association of Trade and Industry (KATI) Faraz-ur-Rehman has congratulated People's Party Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, Sindh Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah, and Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab on the inauguration of Korangi Causeway Bridge and demanded that clean and green campaign may be started in the city

He said that the parks and other public places in the city are in a dilapidated state, for which the immediate attention of Mayor Karachi Murtaza Wahab is required

President KATI said that except for a few places in the city the overall condition of the parks are extremely poor He said that all the parks district clubs and uninhabited places should be renovated under the public-private sector to ensure the provision of entertainment and facilities to the people in the style of Karachi Gymkhana

n , Pre s i d e nt K AT I

dustrial Area clean and green and KATI is ready to volunteer to be an arm of the government and offers its services for the betterment of the city President KATI said that Pakistan is already severely affected by climate change for which there is a dire need for plantation in Karachi He said that we all have to take the city of Karachi on the path of development

Putin’s high-stakes warning to Poland against Belarus aggression

KREMLIN

A G E N C I

E S

Russian President Vladimir Putin has accused NATO member Poland of harboring territorial ambitions in the former Soviet Union

The Russian leader made the explosive statement during a meeting of his Security Council on Friday warning that any aggression against Russia s ally Belarus would be seen as an attack on Russia itself

China calls for an early resumption of grain and fertilizer exports from Russia and Ukraine, Geng Shuang, China’s deputy permanent representative to the United Nations (UN) said on Friday during a UN Security Council meeting The Black Sea Grain Initiative and the

Faraz-ur-Rehman said that there is no doubt that the Sindh government has initiated many mega projects for the development and construction of Karachi, but the garbage heaps in the city and the poor cleaning arrangements in the parks need immediate attention He said that KATI is committed to making Karachi and Korangi In-

memorandum of understanding on Russian Federation food and fertilizer exports are of great significance to safeguarding the global food supply and stabilizing the global food market, and should be implemented in a balanced, comprehensive and effective manner, and the legitimate concerns of the parties concerned should be addressed Geng said China hopes the parties concerned will work

India becomes worst place for women as t wo more women beaten, paraded naked in West B engal

KOLKATA

After Manipur another video has emerged on social media platforms now from Malda district of the Indian state of West Bengal showing two women being beaten and paraded naked The incident occurred three to four days ago Local people in Pakuahat village in Malda district had caught the two women on suspicion of theft and thrashed them

A video of the incident has gone viral

showing several women assaulting the two accused women and parading them half-naked However, no complaint of the incident was lodged with the West Bengal Police The police claimed that they became aware of the incident only after the video came to their attention

The West Bengal Police said The incident happened in Pakuhat area in Malda 3 to 4 days back Two women were caught in suspicion of theft by local traders Both women were thrashed by the local female traders

Faraz-ur-Rehman further said that the Mayor Karachi should form committees for the maintenance and renovation of parks and places reserved for healthy activities, in which industrialists and all citizens should join by fulfilling their responsibility He also requested the philanthropists in this regard to come forward and play their role in providing healthy activities to the society While the government should also strongly encourage such individuals or organizations who are determined to provide healthy activities to the society by taking care and beautification of parks and playgrounds in the spirit of service

together with the relevant UN agencies strengthen dialogue and consultation adhere to the principle of mutual benefit seek a balanced solution to the legitimate concerns of all parties, and resume the export of grain and fertilizer from Russia and Ukraine at an early date, in the light of the overall situation of safeguarding international food security in particular the need to alleviate the food crisis in developing countries he added

Donald Trump ‘buries’ Joe Biden in presidential race poll

NEW YORK

A F P

A new survey conducted by Harvard-Harris Poll released Friday suggested that former president Donald Trump will be dominating the primary race for the presidential nomination in the Republican Party and will become the President of the world’s largest economy beating the incumbent US President Joe Biden Trump would lead the Republican nomination if it were held today securing 52% of the voter support, whereas another Grand Old Party (GOP) contender and Florida Governor Ron DeSantis would only secure a meagre 12% of support US President Joe Biden disembarks Air Force One at Vivek Ramaswamy a biopharmaceutical entrepreneur rounded out the top three with 10% support, according to the polls

It also indicated that the 80-year-old Biden would be defeated by the 77-year-old Trump in a head-to-head matchup by a margin of 45 to 40% with an important 16% of voters not sure about the candidate with the gap over Vice President Harris more wide 47 to 38% The poll suggest that there is great discontentment with both major party candidates, however, 70% of voters are hungry for another option, New York Post report highlighted Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis departs after delivering remarks at the 2023 Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit on July 17 2023 in Arlington Virginia AFP Republican presidential candidate Florida Governor Ron DeSantis departs after delivering remarks at the 2023 Christians United for Israel (CUFI) summit on July 17, 2023, in Arlington, Virginia AFP

If at any point Donald Trump who is facing two indictments in cases involving hush money paid to an adult film star Stormy Daniels and mishandling classified documents after leaving the Oval Office is out of the race, DeSantis would be the major runner from the GOP The survey results show that a full 68% of US citizens felt President Biden, is “showing he is too old to be president ” as there have been videos of him stammering and falling

President Putin s remarks have escalated tensions in the region, prompting concerns over potential military confrontations Moscow s response to any perceived aggression against Belarus has been stated to be comprehensive and swift using “all the means at our disposal ” The accusations stem from Poland’s decision to move military units to its eastern borders after reports emerged of Russian Wagner mercenary forces arriving in Belarus, which shares a Union State relationship with Russia Polish Prime Minister Mateusz Morawiecki took to social media to denounce the accusations and stress Poland’s commitment to peaceful coexistence He tweeted “Stalin was a war criminal guilty of the death of hundreds of thousands of Poles Historical truth is not debatable In response to the escalating situation German Defence Minister Boris Pistorius has expressed Germany and NATO s readiness to support Poland in defending the eastern flank of the military alliance Pistorius said, “We stand in solidarity with Poland during these challenging times ” While tensions between Russia and Poland have been simmering the situation took a new twist when Wagner s chief Yevgeny Prigozhin announced in a video that his fighters would temporarily halt their involvement in the Ukrainian conflict Instead, he ordered them to focus on training the Belarusian army for potential operations in Africa

As the situation remains fluid international observers are closely monitoring developments in the region

The presence of Russian tactical nuclear weapons in Belarus according to recent reports further adds to the complexity of the situation As of now, diplomatic channels remain open, and both Russia and Poland are urged to engage in dialogue to prevent any escalation of hostilities

The international community is keeping a watchful eye on the unfolding events hopeful that a peaceful resolution can be reached

Ch i n a c a l l s fo r e a rl y re s u m p t i o n o f g ra i n ex p o r t s f ro m R u s s i a , U k ra i n e

CORPORATE CORNER

CBA, IPC partner to promote bilateral or multilateral trade, investment opportunities

K a r a c h i: In a recent development, CBA and IPC (International Parliamentarians Congress) have partnered to promote bilateral or multilateral trade and investment opportunities between the countries represented by the IPC This partnership is expected to bring a major impact in economic development and promoting social welfare in developing regions IPC is an international organization that aims to establish cooperation, synergy, and strategies across parliamentarians from different regions of the world and work on promotion of world peace prosperity trade and development cooperation CBA on the other hand is the largest digital distribution platform of the country that aims to promote microentrepreneurship, trading opportunities within & outside the country PR

National S takeholder Consultation on Energy

Efficienc y & Conser vation in Pakistan

TriparTiTe railway projecT To reduce pak-uzbekisTan cargo Time by 5 days

pA K I S TA N Business Forum (PBF) has said that the 760kilometre tripartite railroad agreement inked between Pakistan, Afghanistan, Uzbekistan is expected to reduce delivery times of cargo between Uzbekistan and Pakistan by about five days

While talking to media on Saturday

the PBF spokesperson Zainab Jatoi said that it was matter of extraordinary accomplishment that Pakistan, Afghanistan, and Uzbekistan have marked a joint convention to lay out a rail connect that would assist with interfacing Pakistan with Central Asia and Russia via Termez city in southern Uzbekistan hailing the improvement as a unique advantage for the district

She termed it a new rail economic c o r r i d o r w h i c h t o t a p t h e p o t e n t i a l o f t h i s r e g i o n w i l l p a s s t h r o u g h Te r m e z M a z a r- i - S h a r i f a n d L o g a r i n Afghanistan and extend till the Kharl a c h i b o r d e r c r o s s i n g i n P a k i s t a n s northwestern Kurram tribal district

The line would support both passen-

ger and freight services and contribute to regional trade and economic growth according to PBF

The project will help connect Central Asia and Russia with Pakistan This railway track will be a game changer Zainab Kausar Jatoi further said the “monumental achievement” reflected their commitment to strengthen regional

cooperation and enhance relations

The PBF thanked the Government of Pakistan and Minister for Railways

According to PBF spokesperson currently most trade between Europe and South Asia was dependent on sea routes, which could be susceptible to geopolitical tensions and maritime piracy ” “A railway link could provide an alternative

Pa k i s t a n i a t h l e t e s c e l e b r a t e f o r e xc e p t i o n a l p e r f o r m a n c e a t S p e c i a l

O l y m p i c s Wo r l d G a m e s

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

The triumphant athletes who brought home honours for Pakistan in the Special Olympics World Games held in Berlin have been receiving a warm welcome across the nation

National Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Authority (NEECA) organized a national level

consultation on Energy Efficiency and Conservation

Action Plan 2023-30, Energy Conservation Building

Codes (ECBC)- 2023 and Pakistan Energy Labels Regulations” on 21st July, 2023, in Islamabad The consultation was attended by stakeholders from Public Departments Chamber of Commerce & Industries Industrial Associations Academia

Media and Representatives from Civil Society

Mr Agha Hassan Baloch, Federal Minister for Science & Technology graced the event with his opening remarks He highlighted the need for energy conservation and its impact on the national economy Within limited span of time under the leadership of Mian Muhammad Shahbaz Sharif

Prime Minister of Pakistan National Energy Efficiency & Conservation (NEEC) Policy 2023 was approved in April this year and several drastic measures like preparation of Energy Efficiency Conservation Action plan 2023-30, banning on inefficient bulbs have been taken He further insisted for cooperation from all segments of the society for national cause PR

Islamabad capital Police conducts flag march to maintain peace and tranquility

To commemorate their remarkable victory in the global sporting event a special ceremony was arranged at the German Consulate in Karachi hosted by Consul General Dr Rudiger Lotz Medalists, unified partners, and coaches along with Special Olympics Pakistan Advisor Yasmin Haider National Director Taha Tahir Media Advisor Asif Azeem and National Sports Director Farkhunda Jabeen and other personalities attended the event While delivering the welcome

speech on this occasion the Dr Lotz said that six and a half thousand athletes from 176 countries participated in the Special Olympics World Games hosted by Germany for the first time Pakistani athletes have won more than 80 gold medals in the World Games and have proven that when there is a determination to win and a strong belief in hard work, no difficulty or hurdle can stop them from achieving success Dr Lotz said that Pakistan's athletes are the best second to none in the world Along with medals in the Berlin World Games they have also won the hearts of all with their good morals and attitude as representatives of their country, for which I congratulate them and the Chairperson of Special Olympics Pakistan Ronak Lakhani ” he said

SOP Adviser Yasmeen Haider thanked Dr Lotz for organising the event and said that the German Embassy in Islamabad and Karachi have made it possible for the athletes to participate in the World Games by facilitating the visa process

The support of the consulate has been exemplary Our special children have achieved the feat in Berlin that the nation was waiting for a long time,” she said They need to be given confidence, and such events are very helpful in motivating the players she added Taha Tahir National Director of SOP said that special athletes are inferior to none in their abilities and talents On this occasion, the host Dr Lotz also distributed gifts among the players

and more secure trade route, reducing dependence on traditional sea lanes and bringing down the cost,” she added

She also stated that the construction and operation of the railway link would generate employment opportunities in various sectors including construction logistics, and services, leading to a positive impact on the local workforce

As the Landlocked Afghanistan generally depends on Pakistan for exchange while Islamabad has of late been hoping to help its exchange attaches with Central Asia and Russia

This month marked the first time a truck carrying Russian export goods arrived in Pakistan as part of an agreement between the two nations The improvement came days after Islamabad got a second freight of limited unrefined petroleum from Moscow

Last month a transfer of 21 trucks conveying melted oil gas (LPG) from Uzbekistan and Turkmenistan arrived at Pakistan through the Torkham line crossing as per Pakistani traditions authorities The LPG orders began showing up soon after the primary freight of limited Russian unrefined petroleum showed up in Karachi in June, she told i n b r o a d d a y l i g h t , g u n m e n r a i d s u k k u r v i l l a g e , k i l l t w o m e n , a b d u c t t w o w o m e n

KARACHI

N E W S D E S K

In a shocking incident on Friday, hundreds of armed men launched a brazen attack on a village near Sukkur, resulting in the abduction of two women and a child and the death of at least two men

The assailants reportedly carrying modern weapons were captured on video riding motorcycles passing the Sangi police station and entering the village of Nirch in broad daylight

Abdul Rahim Kalhoro, an elder of the village, recounted the harrowing events, stating, “They attacked our houses and killed two of our young men ” He further revealed that the attackers also abducted two women and a young girl leaving at least three other people injured In response to the attack, the police launched an operation in the Kacha area along the Indus River, claiming to have successfully recovered the abducted women and girl However, sources indicated that no arrests were made during the operation raising questions about the efficacy of law enforcement s response Villagers have expressed frustration and disappointment with the police s inability to protect them They said that approximately 400 armed men reportedly passed by four police stations, several security pickets, and even the National Highway with impunity Astonishingly the villagers were able to film the attack and share the footage on social media

Islamabad Capital Police and other law enforcement agencies conducted a flag march in the city with a purpose to maintain peace and tranquility in the city a police public relations officer said on Saturday He said that following the orders of the Islamabad Capital City Police officer (ICCPO) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, Islamabad Capital Police, Islamabad Capital Police has taken comprehensive security arrangements during Muharram Ul Haram adding that flag marches are being conducted in various areas to make security more effective and added that strict vigilance would be maintained like previous years to maintain law and order in the city

He added that the flag march started from the Pakistan Sports Complex and culminated at the same point after passing through various areas of the capital city PR

Ensuring national security requires the acquisition of modern defense platforms which not only preserve technological expertise but also foster spin-off technologies and innovation

The introduction of advanced weaponry significantly enhances a country s defense capability and plays a crucial role in maintaining credible deterrence The Pakistan Navy (PN) has silently but consistently progressed in its development and accomplishments From its humble beginnings with a handful of aging Royal Navy ships and a one-room office serving as the Naval Headquarters, the PN embarked on a remarkable journey since the country’s independence

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Secretary General Omar Ayub Khan said that this PMD fascist government opened a floodgate of inflation because they did nothing for the masses rather than filling up their coffers, making life of the countrymen a miserable

PTI Secretary General lashed out at the PDM government for its flawed policies and self-centered approach and said that the cabal of crooks gifted the nation backbreaking inflation and rampant unemployment

He said that the fascist government drowned the inflation-ridden and poverty-stricken masses in the storm of inflation after the departure of PTI government Omar stated that the gravity of

the situation could be judged from the fact that flour jacked up from Rs 60 to Rs 170 per kg, sugar went from Rs 85 to Rs 150 per kg

Similarly, he compared that the petrol price surged from Rs 150 per liter to Rs 255 per liter dollar upped to 290 from 170

Moreover Omar went on to say that the electricity per unit rate went up to Rs 50 from Rs 16 per unit during PTI government and said that in a few days it would be jumped to Rs 58 per unit

In addition PTI SG revealed that the interest rate witnessed an alarming upsurge which was increased from 8% to 22%

Omar said that the PDM ruling clique compounded the miseries of the people manifolds because they were little bothered about the state and public interests

He stated that they were busy

in minting money due to which they plunged the country into the worst crises of its history

PTI SG said that the PDM selfcentered group sent their money abroad because they just focus on crushing PTI Chairman Imran Khan and PTI as they made no decision to safeguard and protect the interest of the state

However, Omar offered a practical and lasting solution to the current crises of the country and said that the general elections was around the corners; therefore the people should vote the PTI in order to rid the country of these corrupt clique

He appealed that the people should vote PTI candidates in all their respective constituencies so as to elect Imran Khan again as a prime minister of Pakistan because only he could guide the country out of the prevailing quagmire of problems

Flash floods wreak havoc in Chitral for second consecutive day

CHITRAL: Flash floods wreaked havoc in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa's Chitral district for the second consecutive day on Saturday, with villages Danin, Kari and Ayun besides Koghuzi Valley inundated as the Yarkhun River swelled due to melting glaciers and snow Rescue efforts were impeded as bridges in Koghuzi Valley and Kari village were damaged and rendered inaccessible by the flood water A stretch of the Chitral-Booni Road at Nirdeth Gol near Chitral Town was also washed away cutting off access to affected areas At least eight more houses and four commercial properties were damaged by the overflowing river water while four motorcycles and several farm animals were swept away by the current among other possessions Moreover, the flood uprooted four giant poplar trees that had stood tall in the Chitral Fort for centuries besides causing damage to the fort itself A day prior, the flood had left Government Primary School Pewar and 18 other houses submerged S TA F F R E P O R T

Despite limited resources and insufficient domestic production capacity the PN has consistently demonstrated commendable efforts in safeguarding the nation s maritime borders The PN plays a pivotal role in protecting Pakistan’s maritime interests encompassing the security of sea lines of communication preservation of maritime resources prevention of maritime terrorism and piracy, and facilitation of economic development through maritime trade

As part of its mission enhancement, the Pakistan Navy (PN) has made substantial investments in developing a versatile fleet of surface ships Additionally the PN effectively operates multiple bases and installations along Pakistan s coastline which serve as indispensable infrastructure and logistical support for its operations Beyond its pri-

mary operational responsibilities the PN actively contributes to regional and international endeavors aimed at upholding maritime security This includes active participation in multinational exercises and joint patrols with neighboring navies fostering cooperation and interoperability to promote a secure maritime environment

Over the past two decades the Indian Navy has significantly escalated its investment in securing dominance in the Indian Ocean Leveraging support from global powers and access to Western technology, India has been continuously expanding its naval capabilities Given these circumstances the PN recognizes the necessity of maintaining a well-balanced and formidable naval force to meet its defense requirements and effectively fulfill its international and

The motive behind the attack appears to be linked to an incident a day before when a girl from the village eloped with a man from a neighbouring village We had assured the Mahar tribe that the girl will be brought back within three days We also assured them that a fine will also be paid,” Kalhoro said

The situation has left the local residents in distress and they are now calling upon the Sindh government and law enforcement agencies to swiftly apprehend the culprits responsible for the brazen attack

We are poor and helpless people It seems that people like [us] have no right to live here, Kalhoro lamented Despite attempts to reach the concerned senior police officials SSP Sukkur Sanghar Malik and DIG Sukkur Javed Jiskani have not yet responded to inquiries about the incident

ceo pia calls on Finance minister

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

Minister for Finance Senator Muhammad Ishaq Dar here on Saturday expressed the firm commitment of the government to provide maximum support to Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) for the improvement of its services in order to make it a profit-oriented entity for the country

The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of PIA Air Vice Marshal Muhammad Amir Hayat met with Finance Minister and discussed matters related to PIA besides requesting further financial support from the government

The Finance Minister expressed his commitment to provide maximum support for the improvement of PIA and also indicated full support from Aviation Minister Khawaja Saad Rafique to improve PIA's performance and start PIA flights to Europe as soon as possible

national responsibilities in the Indian Ocean

To this end PN while keeping in view the security challenges at Indian Ocean Region (IOR), stepping up to modernize its fleet in order to maintain a reasonable force at sea PN has revised its development plans and inducting new technological advanced platforms into the service Previously PN had relied on UK and US for military equipment and in fact these military platforms had provided essential tenets of training and professionalism to PN

However, due to Geo-political tilt and military-technological partnership with China, PN has worked on a comprehensive program to transform its naval platforms especially the destroyers or frigates ships PN had historically been operating with 8 to 9 major surface ships which constrain country s regional footprints and influence

To redress this the fleet size comprising of more than 50 ships was envisioned by the PN Under this, the Navy has recently acquired new platforms including the MILGEM Class Turkish Corvettes and Chinese 054 A/P frigates

Recently two Type 054 A/P Frigates PNS SHAHJAHAN and PNS TIPPU SULTAN have been commissioned together at Hudong Zhonghua Shipyard, Shanghai, China And their induction ceremony is going to be held in the month of July 2023 The induction of these ships marks the successful culmination of Type 054A/P project with four ships of the class constructed for PN The first and second Type 054A/P Frigates PNS TUGHRIL and PNS TAIMUR joined PN fleet in Jan 22 and Aug 22 respectively

PM CALLS FOR IMPLEMENTING CHARTER OF ECONOMY, DEMOCRACY

vowed to construct similar projects across the country if came to power after the upcoming elections

PTI vehemently rejects PEMRA ( Amendment) Bill 2023

ISLAMABAD S TA F

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz

Sharif on Saturday once again called for a charter of economy and democracy for the sake of continuity of policies and for the prosperous future of the country

Addressing a ceremony to award laptops to talented students of the Danish Schools System, the prime minister regretted that the false allegations of thefts and corruption had divided the nation and spread venom

He said during the past 15 months of the coalition government, they had faced issues like floods, price hikes and an IMF agreement but he had never witnessed such a bitter divide in the society throughout his life

The prime minister said that in different parts of the world elections were being held but the worst divide which had been created in Pakistan, had destroyed the country s progress and prosperity

He stressed that a charter of economy and democracy would ensure continuity in policies irrespective of change of governments as had been pursued by different countries of the world

The prime minister called upon all to realize the issues confronted by the country

Terming the IMF’s agreement as ‘a breather for the country’, he stressed that they should convert it into an opportu-

nity, adding that it was also a moment of introspection for all

“They should bury their differences and become one and if they decide it then nothing could hinder the country from moving on the path of progress and prosperity We have to resolve to equip young generations with the latest education, especially the poor and deprived classes,” he added

The prime minister maintained that Pakistan was blessed with natural resources but these could not be fully explored rather the country had paid huge amounts on litigation abroad

He said the disparity among different segments of society was not permissible in the country conceived by Quaid-e-

Gov t urged to immediately withdraw high taxes on real estate sector

President Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari has said that the construction and real estate sector was the backbone of the economy as it facilitates the growth of over 70 allied industries, generates economic activities, attracts investment and creates plenty of new jobs

However the government in the budget 23-24 has imposed high taxes on the real estate sector that would destroy property businesses and ultimately retard the overall growth of the economy

While addressing a seminar on tax issues of real estate sector organized by ICCI in collaboration with Islamabad Estate Agents Association (IEAA) and Federal of Realtors Pakistan (FORP) here on Saturday he said that the government should urgently engage realtors in consultation and rationalize high taxes on this important sector to save the businesses and the economy from their destructive consequences

Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that many businesses from real estate sectors have already closed down due to high tax rates and if these taxes were not revised more businesses would face closure He said that instead of imposing high taxes the government should provide attractive incentives to the construction and real estate sector that would bring more investment to the country and help in early revival of the economy

He assured that ICCI would fully cooperate with IEAA and FORP in their efforts for resolving tax issues

Speaking on the occasion President Islamabad Estate Agents Association and President Federation of Pakistan Realtors Sardar Tahir Mehmood highlighted the major tax issues of the real estate sector He said that the 1% tax on deemed income of immovable assets under Sec-7E entails destructive consequences for the real estate and property sector and urged that the government should immediately withdraw this tax to save the real estate businesses from collapse

He said that the WHT on filer buyers and sellers has been raised from 2% to 3% while on non-filer buyers it has been from 7% to 10 5% and on non-filer sellers from 4% to 6% He said that these tax measures would have counterproductive impact as they would promote tax evasion instead of improving the tax revenue for the country He cautioned that if the government did not revise high taxes on the real estate sector the realtors would launch a strong protest against such coercive tax measures

Faad Waheed Senior Vice President, Engr Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President ICCI, Khalid Iqbal Malik

Group Leader ICCI, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan former President ICCI & CEO Centaurus, Musarrat Ejaz Khan

Chairman Federation of Realtors Pakistan Abid Khan

Chairman IEAA Ch Zahid Rafiq Secretary General IEAA Ch Masood & Ch Abdul Rauf former Presidents IEAA Malik Rahid Tufail Rana Arshad and others also spoke on the occasion and called upon the government to withdraw high taxes on the real estate sector to save the economy from further troubles

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah

The ceremony was attended by Caretaker Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi parliamentarians relevant authorities and a large number of students

The prime minister congratulated the students on their success and said they owed their success due to their talent and hard work and the dedication of their teachers, management and the provincial government’s support The prime minister recollected that when Danish schools were established they had faced stiff resistance from different quarters Today Danish schools had become model institutions for those students who could not afford expensive private education, he added The prime minister

He said if these students were deprived of such educational facilities, they would have wasted in the wilderness of the backward areas but now these schools have turned them into gems

He said about 50 000 students were being imparted education in the Danish schools The prime minister said that no nation could aspire to achieve progress unless its youth were properly educated Citing the laptop scheme he said during Covid-19 the students continued their studies with the facility of laptops and became freelancers and now were earning respectable earnings PM s Special Assistant on Youth Affairs Shaza Fatima Khawaja also briefed the gathering about the government’s various launched projects for the young people

Rana Mashood a PML-N leader and former provincial minister in his remarks highlighted the initiatives launched during the provincial government of PML-N under the leadership of Khadem-e-Ala of Punjab

Earlier different students narrated their success stories and expressed their gratitude to the prime minister for enabling them to pursue their studies at Danish Schools

On the occasion, the prime minister also distributed laptops and cheques among the outstanding students

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Saturday vehemently rejected the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) Amendment Bill 2023 and vowed that all attempts to arrest and undermine the media freedom would be thwarted come what may

The PTI spokesperson on Saturday strongly reacted to the PEMRA Amendment Bill and said that the puppet government held in abeyance the constitution for the last 15 months and unleashed a reign of terror to silence the san dissenting voices in the country

He said that the PTI being the only federal and the largest political party in the country would resist any such efforts to curtail freedom of expression and would raise voice in support of press freedom in the country at all fora The spokesperson stated that imposing censorship to control the media and free speech was unacceptable, adding that the puppet government proved to be the worst exploitative and anticonstitutional government in history of the country He went on to say that in the absence of the largest representative political force of Pakistan the legislation by the puppet government had no value adding that the killing of freedom of expression was the topmost agenda of the minority government imposed through conspiracy The spokesperson said that the sensitivity of the issue could be judged that an illegal unconstitutional and unjustified ban was imposed on broadcasting the name statement photo and speech of the head of Pakistan s largest political party and former prime minister Imran Khan PTI spokesperson said that during the puppet rule, journalists were subjected to the state repression, as Arshad Sharif like prominent and reputed investigative journalist of Pakistan was falsely implicated in serious cases like sedition and treason He stated that Arshad Sharif was forced to leave the country but even he was not spared there and was martyred on foreign soil

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has said during Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) rule the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority s (PEMRA) restricted the media made attempts to curb its freedom and they tried to bring the Pakistan Media Regulatory Authority black law, which was opposed by all political parties and media organizations

Addressing a press conference here on Saturday she said

PEMRA Amendment Bill 2023 is the bill not of the government, this is a bill of Pakistan, the people of Pakistan, the media and journalists, in which the rights of journalists are protected It includes the representation of journalistic organizations and they are empowered to make decisions

Marriyum Aurangzeb said that there were 140 channels licensed by PEMRA in Pakistan, among them 35 were news and current affairs channels 52 entertainment channels 25 regional channels 6 non-commercial and education channels, 5 sports channels, 7 health and agro channels, and 10

education commercial channels

She said that PEMRA Ordinance was promulgated in 2002 and now in 2023 the media landscape had changed and it becomes so diverse

“We are all going through a new era of social media where new platforms have been introduced to express opinions all these channels are present on cyberspace and social media , she added

The information minister said that during the last four years of PTI, there was censorship on the media and the former Prime Minister Imran Khan got the title of media predator adding the title was not given to him by his political rivals or any organization of Pakistan, but by international journalistic organizations keeping in view the freedom of expression in Pakistan

At that time the programs running at that time were stopped journalists and news channels were banned, she added

She said that in the past, firing was done on journalists, they were kidnapped and tortured , their programs were stopped and they were sent to jails

Citing the example of Mir Shakeel-ur-Rehman she said that he was arrested in a case in which

everyone had now been acquitted

By sending him to jail in the NAB case Imran Khan gave a message that if he could go to jail then other media house owners and journalists could also be prosecuted, she opined

The minister said during PTI’s tenure the then information minister used to slap journalists he used to threaten journalists and media organizations to support the draconian PMDA law

Marriyum said that last year, when she was appointed Minister of Information she held first meeting with the Joint Action Committee on 23rd April 2022 Representatives of PBA APNS CPNE AMEND and PFUJ were included in the joint action committee

The minister said that the laws regarding the rights of journalists ethical media media responsibilities and fake news within the regulatory bodies in many countries of the world were reviewed

She said she was thankful to all these organizations that assisted her in preparing the PEMRA (Amendment) Bill 2023

She said they guided her how to take steps to protect the rights of media workers and establish a responsible media

Similarly, PTI spokesperson recalled that Imran Riaz, another known journalist was nominated in dozens of false cases who was arrested twice and was released by the court but now he went missing and no one know about his whereabouts He continued that during this fascist government many journalists were forced into exile, besides dozens of journalists were violently attacked, false FIRs were registered against them while several were arrested The spokesperson said that the media had been forced to promote and publish specific narratives by making dissent a punishable crime adding that PEMRA being an ally of criminals supported the hateful media campaigns against PTI and government s critics in the country He said that the PEMRA s record of actions was tainted with reprisals against several channels, adding that PTI would fight against the organized invasion on media and free speech at all forums The spokesperson urged the puppet rulers to leave instead of further damaging the democracy and fundamental rights adding that no stone would be left unturned to ensure media freedom and free speech in the country

PTI chief granted pre-arrest bail in May 9 cases

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

A district and sessions court in Islamabad on Saturday granted pre-arrest bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan in two cases related to May 9 events – wherein military installations including General Headquarters (GHQ) came under attack According to details, the sessions court granted bail to PTI chief in two cases registered against him at the Shehzad Town Police Station A four-page written order on the pre-arrest bail has been issued in both cases Additional Sessions Judge Farrukh Farid – in his written judgment – ruled that the prosecution must prove that the accused, Imran Khan, instigated the violence – which erupted after the latter was arrested in 190 million pounds case According to the prosecution the written order added that Khan’s video statement was the only evidence while that statement was not related to the incident

The Afghan Taliban have asked Pakistan to prefer peace instead of war and assured that Kabul will not allow anyone to use its soil against Islamabad

During a meeting with Pakistan s Special Representative for Afghanistan Asif Durrani earlier this week, acting Afghan

Deputy Prime Minister Maulavi Abdul Kabir said that Pakistan is not only their neighbour country but also a Muslim brother and Kabul wants lasting peace there

We have seen the bitter experiences of wars We advise Pakistan to prefer peace instead of wars, Kabir told Durrani, according to state-run Bakhtar News Durrani arrived in Kabul on Wednesday to meet with the interim administration’s senior

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and former federal minister Moonis Elahi was declared an absconder in the money laundering case by a Lahore court on Saturday Following the court order, the process of freezing Elahi’s identity card, passport, bank accounts and properties had also been initiated The court asked to be provided with the former federal minister ’s travel information bank account passport and identity card details as well as his correct residential address

The former PML-Q leader is facing two cases of money laundering He has been accused of illegally taking billions of rupees out of the country

The Anti-corruption circle Punjab has also filed a case against four suspects including Elahi and submitted the challan to the court

officials to discuss the latest security situation in the region after recent attacks in Pakistan

Afghanistan does not interfere in the internal affairs of any country, including Pakistan and we will not allow anyone to use Afghan soil against Pakistan or any neighbouring country Kabir said adding they never wanted insecurity and war in Pakistan because it would also have impacts for Afghanistan

During his three-day stay in Kabul, Durrani also met with acting Foreign Minister Amir Khan Muttaqi and acting ministers for commerce public health and higher education

This was his first official visit to Afghanistan since assuming his responsibilities as Pakistan s Special Representative in Afghanistan in May this year

His visit came just days after 12 soldiers and seven militants were killed in two attacks and subsequent operations in the Zhob and Sui

Last year, the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) registered a money laundering case against Elahi and others in a case pertaining to his alleged involvement in a scam to the tune of Rs720 million

The investigation agency also arrested two of Elahi s close associates – Nawaz Bhatti and Mazhar Iqbal – on the charges that the two men used to facilitate

There was nothing in the statement of PTI chief to incite the public, it said and added that the prosecution also presented several tweets of the former prime minister as evidence The judge said pointed out that the provision concerning incitement or conspiracy has been subject to misinterpretation

Laundering Act 2010

areas of Balochistan last week that further increased tension between the two neighbours

On Monday, Pakistan Army warned the Afghan Taliban about providing safe havens to Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and said the militants’ safe havens and sophisticated weapons pose a security risk to the country

The TTP is a conglomerate of several militant groups in Pakistan that Islamabad believes are currently inside Afghanistan

Earlier last week, the army chief said that TTP militants have freedom of action across the border in Afghanistan and urged Kabul not to allow its soil to be used against any country

Later Defense Minister Khawaja Asif also accused Afghanistan of not fulfilling its obligations as a neighbour

Asif said Kabul is not abiding by the commitments made in the 2020 Doha agreement

The written order added that it was necessary to establish a link between the act of incitement and the commission of the offence It was necessary to prove that the offence was committed as a result of the incitement At the time of the crime, PTI chief was under the custody of NAB [National Accountability Bureau (NAB) debunking claims of him orchestrating his illegal arrest ” the verdict stated Framing a person in a criminal case in such a manner is absurd and reveals malicious intentions on the part of the police, Judge Farrukh Farid added The written order stated that the pre-arrest bail was granted against the payment of surety bonds worth Rs5,000

Five to six million Afghans are living [for the] past 40 to 50 years with all rights (in Pakistan) while on the other side, those terrorists who shed the blood of Pakistanis can

find refuge on Afghan soil he said in a tweet

This situation cannot continue any longer Pakistan will use all its resources to protect its land and citizens,” he added

PTI during its era restrained media, attempted to curb its freedom: Marriyum

C h o o s e p e a ce ove r wa r, Ta l i b a n t e l l Pa k i s t a n