Epaper_23-07-3 ISB

Profit

S A P L A N S $ 24 B I N V E S T M E N T, U A E $ 2 2 B I N

stated in an interview with a private television channel here on Sunday

I N I S T E R of State for Petroleum Dr Musadiq Malik on Sunday said that Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, and United Arab Emirates are taking keen interest in Pakistani information technology, agriculture and mining sectors KSA has planned to fix funds amounting to 24 billion dollars for investment purposes while the UAE has allocated 22 billion dollars funds for exploring opportunities in three sectors of Pakistan, Minister of State for Petroleum Dr Musadiq Malik

Dr Musadik continued that the heavy investment in three major sectors of Pakistan would open many job opportunities for the youth Our young people having knowledge of advanced technology are fully capable to show the world about their skills, he said and added that the government is committed to bringing in business opportunities here in the country The state minister said the government has recently constituted committees for onewindow operation to facilitate the investors Commenting on Nawaz Sharif s arrival in Pakistan, Dr Musadik said, after the an-

Attack on Balochistan checkposts leaves four securit y personnel dead

QUETTA: Unidentified gunmen targeted two security checkposts in the rural Sherani subdistrict of Balochistan resulting in the killing of four law enforcement personnel security officials said Sunday

According to Bilal Shabbir, the deputy commissioner of Sherani, an exchange of gunfire unfolded between security forces and attackers, lasting nearly two hours He confirmed that during the encounter, another Frontier Corps personnel sustained wounds but was in stable condition One militant was killed in the intense firefight while two others sustained injuries

Providing additional details Shabbir said: The associates of the injured terrorists managed to evacuate them from the scene The body of the slain militant has been handed over to the Counter-Terrorism Department [of provincial police] ”

The bodies of the deceased personnel have been transferred to the District Headquarters (DHQ) hospital of Zhob where necessary procedures will be carried out Expressing his condemnation Abdul Qudus Bizenjo the chief minister of Balochistan denounced the attack as an act of terrorism

nouncement of the date by the Election Commission of Pakistan, the former prime minister will come to Pakistan to lead the party’s election campaign He said the incumbent government s tenure will be finished by August mid and the Caretaker set-up will invite ECP to announce the schedule for general elections He said it is the responsibility of ECP to hold the next elections in a transparent m a n n e r H e s a i d t h e P M L - N u n d e r t h e guidance of Nawaz Sharif would sweep the general elections

To a question about the next leadership s role in the country, he said the PML-N will decide about the leadership role To another

question about relief to poor people, he said despite economic challenges, the government has provided maximum relief to employees and pensioners besides the people working in the private sector About load-shedding of gas and electricity Dr Musadik said the government has issued directives to the department concerned to ensure gas supply during breakfast, lunch and dinner timing He said that a discussion has been made with Azerbaijan regarding the provision of LNG cargo to Pakistan before next winter

To yet another question about IMF the state minister said a nine-month relief through an agreement has been made to run

Three terrorists killed in DI Khan IBO

RAWALPINDI: Three terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire with security forces in Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday

According to a statement of ISPR the military’s media affairs wing the security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kulachi area of DI Khan and three terrorist were gunned down in the exchange of fire

The killed terrorists remained actively involved in various terrorist activities against security forces, Police and innocent civilians They were also highly wanted for conducting a raid on a Police check post in Kulachi on 11 April 2022 which resulted in Shahadat of five brave police constables Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism Arms, and explosive material were recovered from the killed terrorists possession during the operation, the statement added “Security Forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve the press release stated S TA F F R E P O R T

Kiani, Baig make histor y as first Pakistani women to conquer Nanga Parbat

ISLAMABAD: Naila Kiani and Samina Baig high-altitude mountaineers and a source of national pride for Pakistan conquered Nanga Parbat the world s ninth-highest mountain on Sunday morning at 10:18 am, the Alpine Club Of Pakistan (ACP) announced The remarkable feat marks a significant milestone, as Kiani becomes the first woman from Pakistan to summit seven peaks worldwide with altitudes surpassing 8 000 meters The duo overcame hazardous terrain severe weather and a plethora of challenges during the journey They were accompanied by other mountaineers Rizwan Dad Eid Muhammad Ahmed Baig Waqar Ali Saeed Karim Liaqat Wajid Nagri and Shah

Daulat, according to ACP secretary general Karar Haidri All of them also successfully scaled the peak, he said Nanga Parbat, known as the treacherous “Killer Mountain,” poses a 21 percent fatality risk, making it one of the most perilous peaks on Earth Reflecting on her accomplishment Naila expressed her initial apprehension due to the high number of fatalities associated with the summit However her unwavering determination propelled her forward leading to her ultimate triumph

PREMIER UK UNIVERSIT Y COMMEMORATES ABDUS SAL AM WITH LIBRARY NAMING

IM P E R I A L College London, a top public university in England, has revealed its intention to bestow the name of Dr Abdus Salam, Pakistan’s first Nobel laureate on its main library in a decision that aims to pay tribute to the physicist s legacy Salam was a member of the Ahmadi sect, which is considered heretical by law in Pakistan and targeted by far-right groups Salam shared the 1979 Nobel Prize in Physics with Sheldon Glashow and Steven Weinberg for helping to pave the way to the discovery of the God particle one of science s greatest achievements in the last 100 years

However, under pressure from rightwing clerics Salam was banned from lec-

Passenger offloaded at Lahore airpor t for carr ying fake travel documents

LAHORE s tA f f R e p o R t

Saudi gifts two million copies of Quran to Hajj pilgrims returning home

The management board of the institution reached the resolution as part of their efforts in response to a comprehensive report by its History Group Published last year the report shed light on the historical figures and individuals associated with the institution who have not received adequate recognition for their contributions

Writing to university staff and students Hugh Brady president of the institution said: Throughout his career the Nobel Prize-winning Professor of Theoretical Physics Abdus Salam made a tremendous contribution to Imperial, as well as to the world of physics and science more generally It is right that we do more to celebrate this legacy I hope the new Abdus Salam Library inspires many more people in the years to come

turing at public universities during his lifetime and even after winning the Nobel Salam s association with Imperial College dates back to 1957 when he joined as

a faculty member During his tenure, he established the Theoretical Physics Department alongside the late Professor T Matthews

A formal launch and naming ceremony for the library will take place in the next academic year, the institute said

C h a r i t y p rov i d e s l u n c h e o n , m e at d i s

c o m m u n i t y, a r t i s t s

PESHAWAR

A passenger bound for Hungary was offloaded by the Federal Investigation Authority (FIA) at Lahore airport on Sunday due to the alleged possession of fake travel documents The passenger, identified as Muhammad Shahid, was attempting to travel to Hungary when the agency s vigilance team became suspicious and requested to inspect his documents Upon examination the FIA officials confirmed that the travel documents provided by Shahid were indeed fake The passport was discovered to have a counterfeit sticker indicating a Hungarian educational visa The passenger was subsequently transferred to the FIA AntiHuman Trafficking Circle in Gijrat for further investigation In a similar incident last month the FIA immigration staff offloaded an Afghan woman at Peshawar airport as she attempted to board a flight to France Her passport was found to be counterfeit

Naran, Shogran witness massive influx of tourists during Eid vacations

KAGHAN s tA f f R e p o R t

The Kaghan Naran and Shogran valleys Sunday have become hotspots for tourists attracting a large number of visitors during the Eid holidays During a span of three days an astounding 22,500 vehicles and 7,710 motorcycles have made their way into these breathtaking valleys To cater to the influx of tourists the authorities have taken significant measures by announcing the continuous opening of Babusar Top 24 hours a day over the next three days Families seeking to amplify their Eid celebrations are gathering in Naran, where the crystal-clear waters of the Kunhar River in Naran have captivated fishing enthusiasts, while others enjoy the melodious music alongside the river Acknowledging the substantial number of incoming tourists the Kaghan Development Authority (KDA) along with the administration and police has encouraged its staff to ensure seamless guidance and assistance for the visitors During the three-day Eid period, an impressive number of 22 500 vehicles and 7 710 motorcycles crossed through the valleys In order to facilitate the convenience of tourists the district administration of Mansehra and KDA after consideration and consultation with relevant authorities has made the decision to keep Babusar Top open for 24 hours which was earlier allowed from 9 am to 5 pm accessible The scenic beauty and serenity of Kaghan Naran and Shogran have captured tourists from around the country With the extra efforts of local authorities, tourists can now explore and enjoy these captivating destinations to the fullest, ensuring an unforgettable Eid experience

A p p

Al-Khidmat Foundation, one of Pakistan’s largest humanitarian organisations hosted a luncheon and distributed sacrificial meat to the marginalised transgender community and artists on Saturday T h e i n i t i a t i v e a i m e d t o i n c l u d e these neglected segments of society in Eid al-Adha celebrations by organising a gathering for them according to Noor ul-Wahid Jadoon media coordin a t o r a t t h e P e s h a w a r w i n g o f A l -

Khidmat Foundation

The ceremony took place at the main office of Al-Khidmat Foundation on G T Road in Peshawar and was attended by a large number of transgender individuals and artists from the city

They enjoyed a sumptuous feast and expressed their appreciation for the foundation s efforts

“This is a very welcoming initiative taken by Al-Khidmat Foundation and has won our hearts ” commented one transgender individual She highlighted that transgender individuals often face seclusion due to societal rejection even

from their own families

Such behaviour has a detrimental impact on their psychological wellbeing, making them feel like outsiders in society

The transgender community suggested that other organisations should adopt and replicate Al-Khidmat s approach to bring transgender individuals into the mainstream They believe this would help alleviate the mental stress and trauma caused by the stigma asso-

ciated with their gender identity and societal rejection

Al-Khidmat Foundation s event has received praise for its efforts to address the needs of marginalised communities and for promoting inclusivity during Eid celebrations analysts observed

By organising such gatherings and providing support to transgender individuals, the foundation is working towards creating a more accepting and supportive society, they added

Fresh wave of inflation to further

expose Shehbaz ’s govt: Rasheed

leading to downward countdown of the incumbent government, adding the three governments the sitting government the caretaker government and the new government had to fulfill the IMF s strict conditions in nine months and pay back $11 billion in six months

The former minister said the time would tell if the deposit assurances given by the friendly countries would reach any practical conclusion adding there was no room for errors in the IMF agreement as an environment of now or never had been created He was of the view that the government had wasted 10 months, signed [staff level] agreement with [the IMF] on the last day [June 30]

RIYADH s tA f f R e p o R t

The Ministry of Islamic Affairs in Saudi Arabia has commenced the distribution of two million copies of the Quran as a gift from King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud the custodian of the holy mosques The Quran copies are being provided to pilgrims returning to their home countries from the King Abdulaziz airport, the Red-Sea Jeddah Islamic Port, as well as other land and air crossings

Additionally, public employees who served during this year ’s Hajj season will also receive the gift According to the Saudi Press Agency the ministry said the distribution of the Quran is in line with the directives of the king The copies have been published by the King Fahd Complex for Publishing the Holy Quran and are available in various sizes and 76 international languages to cater to the diverse nationalities of the pilgrims Sheikh Dr Abdullatif bin Abdulaziz Al Al-Sheikh the minister of Islamic affairs expressed his gratitude to the king as well as to the crown prince, for their unwavering support and special attention in serving Islam and pilgrims worldwide

Dadu faces health crisis as malaria cases surge

KARACHI s tA f f R e p o R t

Dadu, a district in Sindh, is grappling with a major health crisis as a significant number of malaria cases have been reported causing concern among health officials and residents

The district has witnessed a surge in malaria infections, with some patients experiencing recurrent bouts of the disease This recurrence is particularly alarming as it poses additional health risks and underscores the urgent need to address the situation In an effort to combat the spread of malaria doctors have been prescribing Primaquine tablets to affected patients However, the availability of these essential medications has become a challenge due to shortages in local medical stores This shortage is exacerbating the difficulties faced by both patients and healthcare providers in effectively managing the outbreak The district administration s official statement highlights the severe impact of recent floods which have contributed to the escalation of malaria cases in Dadu The aftermath of the floods has created a favourable environment for the breeding of mosquitoes the primary vectors responsible for transmitting the disease

KSA ranked first in Gov t Strategy Index AI

ISLAMABAD

s tA f f R e p o R t

DI D the monsoon break in Lahore with the torrential rains last Sunday night, which lasted into the Monday morning with some places (like my house) getting flooded? Or did it break on Eid morning when there was rain thus making it a third year in a row for the monsoon to arrive on Eid day, just in time for the Eid prayer

Or maybe it hasn’t broken yet, and all we’ve had have been premonsoonal rains, as they are snootily called by the Met Office It s probably something to do with global warming though exactly what I don t know I don t know what effect it had on the Great Eid Exodus, but I m sure it made it more messy But what I did notice was how empty the mosques were on Friday They were merely full as opposed to bursting at the seams I suppose all the missing congre-

RAWALPINDI s tA f f R e p o R t

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

Rasheed Ahmed on Sunday said the cash-strapped Shehbaz-led government’s downward countdown is expected to begin from July 12 [the start of new wave of inflation including increasing power tariff]

gants were still in The Village, and swelled the congregations at their local mosques just as they had done on Eid day

As usual the Eid holidays were such that with a little bit of management, you could skip out for an entire week

Before the Eid holidays, there was firing outside former Punjab Governor Latif Khosa’s house The alleged shooter has been arrested one Mohsin who also rejoices in the monicker of Labba Now he would be Mohsin urf Labba or aka (also known as), or alias The labba is said to be a rodent that can grow up to 15 kg in weight, and has coarse brown chestnut hair

If that is how Mohsin got his moniker I don’t think either of his parents gave it to him I suspect friends who might have noted the resemblance At a certain age kids are very cruel and observant, quickly picking up on physical characteristics, and maybe Mohsin had protruding teeth or something Some names never get traction as they come late Mr Khosa is not known as Latif

head

and

Taking to Twitter, he asked what was the difference between the IMF decisions of former finance minister Miftah Ismail and his successor Ishaq Dar except they are relatives “Dar ’s tone was aggressive initially and then he started bowing before the [International Monetary Fund] to get the loan approved for nine months

He said a new wave of inflation would engulf the masses from July 12,

ones that stick you always have a full head of hair Of course being bald has a long history There was a medieval French king remembered as Charles the Bald French monarchs have had a thing about their crowning glory Louis XIV, the Sun-King, was as bald as an egg And introduced the fashion of the bag-wig The huge extravagant monstrosities he wore are nowadays reduced to hair transplants And then there was Napoleon Bonaparte who didn t lose all his head, but tried to cover up what he lost by combing it forward How can there be any discussion of head hair without mentioning the Sharif brothers who have four prime ministerships between them? Suffice to say they ve had transplants And so has Aleem Khan who has moved from the PTI to the IPP, and who insists now on being called Hairy by his friends I wonder if that was the first alarm bell that Imran Khan should have

“Is it fair that diesel has become expensive by Rs7 50 even on the arrival of Russian oil in the country the AML leader questioned He said the foreign minister of PPP made more than 50 foreign tourism trips but is a silent spectator on the IMF agreement Nawaz Sharif ’s coming or not depends on his health and not on politics and the decision of the case Taking jibe at the coalition partners Rasheed said that 13 parties had become politically bankrupt and the nation had become economically bankrupt

The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia was ranked first globally in the Government Strategy Index for Artificial Intelligence One of the indicators of the global classification of artificial intelligence was issued by Tortoise Intelligence, which evaluated more than 60 countries in the world, the Saudi Press Agency reported on Sunday Germany and China secured the second and third rankings respectively The Global Ranking of Artificial Intelligence incorporates more than 100 indicators categorized into seven subpillars The Kingdom had accomplished a remarkable feat, scoring 100 percent in all criteria of the index related to artificial intelligence This included the establishment of the National Strategy for Data and AI (NSDAI) within the Kingdom the presence of a dedicated government authority for artificial intelligence the allocation of funding and budget for AI initiatives, and the formulation and monitoring of national targets for artificial intelligence This significant achievement by the Kingdom perfectly aligns with the overarching goals of Saudi Vision 2030 which aims to position the country prominently in global indicators across various domains, the news wire further added

t r i b u t i o n to t r a n s g e n d e r

KP TRAFFIC POLICE DEPARTMENT SETS AMBITIOUS FINE COLLECTION TARGET

TH E Traffic Police Department in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) has set a monthly target of Rs120 million for collection as fine from traffic violators

This ambitious goal aims to collect Rs500 million during the next four months after the provincial government directed the department to generate more revenue In response, the department has explored various means of fund generation and presented their recommendations which were subsequently approved by the provincial government thus setting the target of collecting Rs120 million on a monthly basis as fine from traffic violators Typically, the traffic police department manages to collect an annual sum of 500 to 600 million rupees from traffic violations However this time they have been directed to achieve this amount within four months which will directly impact the general public

Cardiology facilities will not be halted on health card: Dr Javed Akram

LAHORE

Punjab s caretaker Health Minister Dr Javed

Akram has firmly rejected the termination of cardiology facilities on the health card, ensuring uninterrupted access to these services for patients This announcement comes in response to the recent suspension of heart ailment treatment on the health card at private hospitals by the Punjab govt Media reports had highlighted that an insurance company associated with the health card scheme issued a notification stating the cessation of all treatment provisions at private hospitals across the province According to the notification, heart patients would no longer be eligible for any form of treatment covered by the health card at private healthcare facilities Contrary to this decision the Punjab caretaker government under the leadership of Dr Javed, has taken a different stance Refusing to halt treatment through the health card, the government is determined to ensure that cardiology facilities continue to be accessible to the public Dr Javed emphasized that the govt is in the process of negotiating a new contract with the Punjab State Life Insurance Company, with the goal of making further improvements to provide enhanced facilities to the public through the health card system The government remains committed to delivering the benefits of the health card to the original beneficiaries without closing or limiting access to cardiology services As the negotiations progress and improvements are made, the govt remains focused on delivering effective and efficient healthcare solutions to the people of Punjab, he added

Attack on Balochistan checkposts leaves four securit y personnel dead

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Kiani, Baig make histor y as first Pakistani women to conquer Nanga Parbat

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The KP traffic police face a challenging task ahead as they strive to meet this revenue target However, concerns have been raised about the potential impact on lawabiding citizens and the need to ensure fairness in implementing traffic regulations

To achieve this target the traffic police will have to intensify their efforts to iden-

tify and penalize offenders Offenses such as overspeeding, failure to wear a helmet, use of tinted windows in vehicles, not wearing seat belts, illegal parking, and other violations will be strictly enforced with offenders facing triple the fines in the upcoming four months

Interestingly some transporters have

criticized the traffic police, accusing them of unfairly penalizing citizens for personal gain Transporters claimed that despite not being the primary target the traffic police manage to collect millions of rupees in fines from public transport vehicles every month Despite this substantial revenue, the traffic police department seems to be failing to show any significant improvement in its operations The transporters said that when the new strategy takes effect they eagerly await to see whether the traffic police can strike a balance between meeting their financial targets and maintaining a fair and just approach towards traffic regulation enforcement Transporters argued that even though the provincial government has set specific targets the traffic police continue to impose baseless fines causing inconvenience to the public They alleged that traffic officers are imposing unjust fines to meet their daily quotas of fine collection The traffic police department has yet to comment on these allegations and concerns

Post-Hajj flights bring back 82,000 pilgrims to countr y

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

TH E m o n t h - l o n g p o s t - H a j j f l i g h t o p e r a t i o n b e g a n o n Sunday with arrival of nearly 8 2 0 0 0 H u j j a j b a c k t o t h e c o u n t r y P a k i s t a n I n t e r n a -

tional Airlines (PIA) Airblue Serene Air and Saudi Airlines will work tog e t h e r t o f a c i l i t a t e t h e s a f e r e t u r n o f Pakistani Hujjaj

A spokesman of the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony said a total of three flights will depart from Jeddah today carrying 693 Hujjaj to Karachi Faisalabad and Islamabad

The hajj flight operation from Jeddah will culminate on 20th of this month Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) will initiate its Hajj-return flights operation from today till 2nd August PIA s first return flight to repatriate pilgrims from Saudi Arabia will arrive tomorrow in Karachi

According to the spokesperson of

the national airline, PIA s first Hajj-return flight, PK-832, departing from Jeddah, will land at Karachi Airport at 3:35 PM PST PIA’s Chief Operating Officer, Amanullah Quraishi will welcome the pilgrims at Karachi Airport The first return flight to Islamabad Airport will land at 3:30 PM and Air vice-marshal Aamir Hayat will receive the pilgrims Simi-

“I am filled with both fear and satisfaction in having achieved my mission,” Naila shared “Bringing honour to my beloved country fills me with immense joy I dedicate all my accomplishments to Pakistan its people and my invaluable sponsors the BARD Foundation, who provided unwavering support throughout my journey ”

‘Defection-ridden’ PTI notifies 17-member Karachi caretaker committee

KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t

He emphasised that such cowardly acts would not dampen the morale of the security forces “The sacrifices made by our security forces serve as a guiding light for the entire nation ” said the chief minister He also praised the unwavering determination and bravery exhibited by the security forces in ensuring the safety and security of the country and its people The bloodshed comes after the government declared a new offensive against militants following a resurgence of attacks in recent months including a mosque bombing in Peshawar that killed more than 100 people in February The military has launched several operations in the province, dismantling the militants infrastructure and networks and forcing their leaders to flee to neighbouring Afghanistan

larly, the first return flight for Lahore Airport will land at 3:20 PM

According to the spokesperson of the national airline, PIA will repatriate 61 467 pilgrims from Saudi Arabia to Pakistan through 268 flights out of those 41 000 went under the government scheme whereas 19,000 were private pilgrims

Two soldiers embrace mar tyrdom in

Balor ambush

RAWALPINDI S ta f f r e p o r t

Two soldiers embraced martyrdom and another sustained wounds during an ambush on a combat patrol of security forces in general area of Balor, in Balochistan, the ISPR said on Sunday

According to a statement issued by ISPR the military s media wing a combat patrol of security forces was initiated in general area Balor based on credible intelligence with respect to move of a group of terrorists, linked with firing incidents on Security Forces and civillians besides planting of Improvised Explosive Devices in Hoshab area While establishment of blocking

positions to cut the escape routes was underway, a party of terrorists tried to ambush closing in patrol and opened fire onto Security Forces

As a result of heavy exchange of fire two brave sons of the nation Major Saqib Hussain and Naik Baqir Ali embraced Shahadat while another soldier got injured, the ISPR statement said The statement said the security forces in step with the nation remain determined to thwart such attempts at sabotaging peace stability and progress of Balochistan Resultantly the follow up operation to nab the perpetrators of attack continues in the area Earlier in the day, three terrorists were killed during an exchange of fire

with security forces in Kulachi area of Dera Ismail Khan district, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said on Sunday According to a statement of ISPR the military s media affairs wing the security forces carried out an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Kulachi area of DI Khan and three terrorist were gunned down in the exchange of fire

The killed terrorists remained actively involved in various terrorist activities against security forces Police and innocent civilians

They were also highly wanted for conducting a raid on a Police check post in Kulachi on 11 April 2022, which resulted in Shahadat of five brave police constables

Govt committed to fast economic progress: SAPM

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t Special Assistant to Prime Minister (SAPM) Qaiser Ahmad Sheikh on Sunday said that the incumbent government under the leadership of Shehbaz Sharif was trying to remove all hurdles on the way to economic progress and prosperity

Talking to a private television channel program, he said that there had been difficulties in fulfilling the demands and criteria for investors who were trying to heavy investments in the country He said investors had made complaints about the

long procedure for investment in Pakistan He said the government under the vision of Shehbaz Sharif has announced the establishment of committees to facilitate the investors One window operation facility would help address all genuine issues of investors he stated adding a heavy investment from the Gulf region is coming to Pakistan soon Giving examples of the glorious period of the 60s and 70s he said credit goes to Pakistan for providing an economic road map to East Asian and South Asian countries He said that Pakistan has the full potential and resources to make fast progress under the guidance and policies of the PML-N government

The defection-ridden Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Sunday announced a 17-member caretaker committee to carry out reorganization of the party in Karachi As per details, PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Shiekh issued a notification regarding formulation of the caretaker committee and names of its members after approval from the PTI chairman The committee will finalize the names of members of seven districts and will also complete the organization on town, UCs and block basis PTI’s Khurram Sherzaman has been nominated as the coordinator and Dr Shahab Imam advocate will be the secretary of the committee Earlier Pakistan Tehereek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Akram Cheema, who recently made party s Karachi president, announced that he was parting ways with the PTI over the events of May 9 In a press conference, Cheema – who had been a member of National Assembly (MNA) from Karachi – announced that he had resigned from the party s position I strongly condemn the attack on military installations on May 9 As a Pakistani, I demand that such people should be punished,” Cheema stated “We should not fight with the institutions,” the ex-lawmaker added The press conference from Cheema comes a day after an anti-terrorism court granted bail to him in the May 9 rioting and arson case Last month Muhammad Akram Cheema had been appointed as president of the party s Karachi division following resignation of Aftab Siddiqui, who quit politics over May 9 events

Four killed, several injured in rival tribes clash near Shikarpur

SHIKARPUR

S ta f f r e p o r t

Four villagers were killed and several others injured in a clash between rival tribes – Kharos and Nareja – near katcha area of Madeji in the jurisdiction of Tajo Dero Police Station on Sunday According to an initial report, after some interval the tribal deadly clash broke out in two rival Kharos and Nareja communities when they attacked on each other with automatic weapons As a result of firing four persons Aftab alias Arif Kharos, Saleh Narejo, Rabnawaz alias Raboo and one other whose name could not be ascertained till late evening were killed in their deadly clash Three of killed persons were sent to Taluka Hospital Madeji for medico legal formalities by area police The cause behind the clash was said to be an ongoing old tribal dispute developed between Kharos and Nareja tribes over the theft of cattle

Three terrorists killed in DI Khan IBO

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Earlier, a terrorist was killed by security forces during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in the Tirah area of Khyber district The InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said an IBO was conducted after Tirah Khyber district

During an intense exchange of fire one terrorist was killed and three injured by the security forces According to the military s media wing, arms, and explosive material were recovered from the killed terrorists’ possession during the IBO the statement added

Geneva K ashmir moot highlights plight of K ashmiri prisoners languishing in Indian, IIOJK jails

MIRPUR (AJK)

S ta f f r e p o r t

While voicing their grave concern over the continual illegal detention of Kashmiri prisoners in Indian as well as Occupied Kashmir s jails speakers at a seminar held on the sidelines of the 53rd session of the UN Human Rights Council (UNCHR) in Geneva late Saturday, said that thousands of detainees lodged in different jails in and outside the Valley was getting worse with every passing day

The seminar titled Plight of Kashmir

Prisoners was attended and addressed by political activists, parliamentarians, public representatives, law experts and human rights defenders hailing from different parts of the world including Altaf Hussain Wani chairman Kashmir institute of International relations Faheem Kayani Hassan ul Bana Mirza Asif Jarral and others says a message reaching and released to the media here on Sunday

The speakers continued that thousands of Kashmiris who were arrested before and after 5th August 2019 have been languishing in India s notorious jails like Tihar which has become a death trap for Kashmiris

They said that a sizable number of Kash-

miris who were taken into preventive custody on 5th August 2019 continue to rot in Amphala, Udhampor, Hiranagar, Khatua and Kotbalwal jails The speakers said that the Indian government has given a free license to its forces and agencies like NIA and Enforcement Directorate to arrest Kashmiris

They said that dozens of top rank political leaders including Muhammad Yasin Malik, Musarrat Aalam Bhat, Shabir Ahmad Shah, Nayeem Ahmed Khan, Asiya Andrabi and others were picked up from their homes and whisked off to prisons outside the valley

They have been actually abducted by NIA and ED and shifted to Tihar Jail under frivolous and concocted charges the speakers said, adding that scores of detainees including Dr Qasim Faktoo, Dr Shafi Shariati, Ghulam Qadir and many more were rotting in jails serving life terms

The speakers while referring to conviction of prominent Kashmiri leader Muhammad Yasin Malik said that Malik s conviction in a manifestly dubious and politically motivated case filed by the Indian National Investigation Agency, amply demonstrates how the Modi government was using judiciary as a weapon to silence legitimate Kashmiri voices

Referring to India s history of using the judiciary and other state apparatus to suppress the political and democratic dissent in the occupied Kashmir, the speakers said that India which had deprived Malik of his fundamental right to defend himself in the court of law after implicating him in a concocted case was now hell bent on eliminating him by using its judiciary

Raising their concerns over the Indian investigation agency’s bid to seek the death penalty for Yasin Malik, the speakers said that the NIA’s malicious intention poses a grave threat to the life of Mr Malik who has been leading a nonviolent movement advocating for the peaceful resolution of the Jammu and Kashmir dispute They said that it was quite astonishing to note that the JKLF chief and other Kashmiri leaders were being penalised just for raising their voice for the voiceless Kashmiris

They said that the Modi s double edged onslaught against Kashmiris was aimed at whipping up anti-Muslim sentiments, polarise people and win votes They said that the Hindu nationalist party-BJP-which played communal card to stoke hatred between the people to win elections was now using the same tactics to save its vote bank

They said that there were ample evidence which suggests that the Modi led apartheid regime, which thrives on communal divide and anti-Muslim sentiment, could use the unlawful execution of the Kashmiri leader Yasin Malik as a means to regain popularity and to bolster chances of retaining power in the upcoming Parliamentary Elections being held in 2024

The speakers appealed to the UN secretary-general to take swift and decisive action by demanding the Indian government to stop

using its judiciary as a weapon to punish Kashmiri leaders who have been waging a peaceful struggle to achieve the fundamental rights guaranteed to Kashmiris by no less an authority than the United Nations

They said that India being a signatory to the Geneva Convention on political prisoners was bound to respect the rights of prisoners They said it was high time that the world human rights bodies should mount pressure on India to release all illegally detained prisoners

The PCB imbroglio J

U S T as the crunch time has come for decisions on taking part in the Asia Cup or the World Cup have come, the Pakistan Cricket Board has imploded

At the root of this imbroglio is the fact that the post of PCB Chairman lies in the PM’s patronage As the negotiations over the fate of the two Cups drew to a close the PCB Chairman Rameez Raja who has been named to the post by Prime Minister Imran Khan, was removed by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and replaced by Najam Sethi who was made chairman of an interim committee That committee was dissolved with the reconstitution of the Board and this time the PM s nominee was Zaka Ashraf, who was the PPP nominee for the job In the meantime, until that election is held, the government authorized the election commissioner to run the PCB’s affairs First the Balochistan high Court stayed the election and the election commissioner s notification has been challenged in the Islamabad high Court

It is amazing that first politics, then coalition wranglings, have left the PCB leaderless at this critical juncture The PCB has written to the Prime Minister with copies to the Interior and Foreign Ministries asking for permission to go to India for the World Cup

It has already had to face the Indian attempt to sabotage the Asia Cup by India refusing to play in Pakistan That too was only possible because India’s BCCI is also under the government’s thumb The solution would be to give the Boards their independence And considering how large the BCCI looms in world cricket, the Indian government can interfere too much in the game generally governments should stay out of sport but the temptation is too strong, especially when it means doing down the other, Of the two great rivalries in sport, Australia-england is restricted to cricket Unfortunately, Pakistan-India is not restricted to cricket or indeed sport Patriotic fervour adds zest to sporting encounters but it can only be displayed if those encounters take place Politicians of all stripes and from all countries must realize this, and the game must be allowed to win The World Cup has already lost the winner of the first two editions, the West Indies because they failed to qualify But that is a sporting reason; the real tragedy would be if it lost the winner of the fourth edition to politics

Weak multilateralism and existential threats

The Paris Summit did far less than enough

While these are good messages from the powerful corners of multilateralism they seriously fall short of the needed funds to assist developing countries facing a difficult debt situation, and together with (wrongly) over-board monetary tightening globally making capital very expensive while debt repayments also becoming a very uphill task and in turn countries in the global South in particular left with little fiscal space to effectively spend on climate resilience and managing the effects of climate disaster

In fact a November 2022 Report ‘Finance for climate action: scaling up investment for climate and development produced by The COP26 and COP27 Presidencies together with the UN Climate Change high-level Champions pointed out with regard to needed climate change related expenditures that ‘emerging markets and developing countries other than China will need to spend around $1 trillion per year by 2025 (4 1 percent of gDP compared with 2 2 percent in 2019) and around $2 4 trillion per year by 2030 (6 5 percent of gDP)

Th e world is in the grip of the existential threat of climate change crisis, mainly, and one of its main consequences has been the threat of Pandemicene, where the Covid pandemic– with all the health and financial crises that the humanity especially the developing countries had to go through– unfortunately may not be the last such health crisis of such enormous global magnitude

Yet the needed global response in terms of matching level of multilateralism, to the level of existential threat at hand, has been missing hence, during the last four decades, which is being seen by scientists as the tipping point after which the climate change crisis started to happen all the more quickly and especially for a decade or so when the pace of this crisis increased significantly much more both in terms of annual average global warming temperatures breaking records in a number of years during this time, and during which time the coronavirus epidemic that had been resurfacing time and again, since it first appeared in the early 2000s in the shape of SARS finally became a pandemic in 2019 in turn causing tremendous loss to life and the global economy

A July 29 2022 Reuters published article Rich countries failed to meet their climate funding goal pointed out in this regard Rich nations failed to meet a long-standing pledge to deliver $100 billion to help poorer countries cope with climate change the OeCD said on Friday Back in 2009 developed countries promised that by 2020 they would transfer $100 billion per year to vulnerable states hit by increasingly severe climate-linked impacts and disasters

In the recently held Summit for a New global Financial Pact’ in Paris, the French President reportedly made a commitment that this pledge will be adhered to going forward

A recent Reuters published article

Rich nations pledge to unlock hundreds of billions of dollars for climate fight pointed out the main commitments flowing from this Summit which it also indicated, was intended to improve the global financial system, and assistance for developing countries The article highlighted ‘Multilateral development banks like the World Bank are expected to find $200 billion in extra firepower for low-income economies by taking on more risk a move that may require wealthy nations to inject more cash world leaders said on Friday

Also, the reportedly rechanneling of special drawing rights (SDRs) to the tune of $100 billion from the allocation of SDRs made by International Monetary Fund (IMF) back in August 2021 – when $650 billion were given by IMF globally as enhanced SDR allocation but most of which went to already rich advance countries since the allocation was wrongly made on the usual quote-based criterion – is too little as compared to the calls made of around $3 trillion since the heyday of the pandemic having said that, there was serious ‘resentment’ shown by the South African president at the Summit and in fact rightly so given the severe practice of vaccine apartheid and lack of support of rich advanced countries in terms of waiving of intellectual property rights (IPRs) related to vaccine production during the covid-19 pandemic he emphasized this serious lack of spirit of multilateralism as follows: ‘I played a key role as chair of the African Union during the covid period We felt like we were beggars when it came to vaccine availability When we felt we needed access to vaccines and the Northern hemisphere countries had bought all the vaccines in the world, and they were hogging them And they didn t want to release them at a time when we needed them most And we felt like we were begging, and at times it felt like there would just be droppings from the table that yes we will give you that and then And let me tell you something that that s generated a lot of resentment

We resented that And it got worse when we said we want to manufacture our own vaccines And when we went to the WTO [World Trade Organization], there was a lot of resistance enormous resistance And we kept saying what is more important life or profits by your big pharmaceutical companies And that too I must tell you know generated and deepened that disappointment and resentment on our part because we felt like, life in the Northern hemisphere is much more important than life in the global South While the Summit showed some commitment to provide financial assistance to developing countries to better deal with the climate change crisis yet the needs are far greater in this regard– not to mention lack of any significant commitment shown by advanced countries to cut down on carbon emissions especially in the wake of the fast-closing window to keep the global warming from exceeding the temperature of 1 5⸰C– as pointed out by a recent Financial Times (FT) editorial ‘helping poorer countries fund the climate transition’ as follows ‘In emerging market and developing countries excluding China more than $2tn in investments each year is estimated to be needed to tackle climate change and its impacts by 2030; current investments are running at about $500bn

T h e c u r s e o f m i s s i n g B a l o c h a n d a c a d e m i c p e r f o r m a n c e s

ance, class participation, and creative activities

Due to the socio-political uncertainty, parents send their children to Punjab and Islamabad for quality education Over there as one writer wrote in an article in the press on Stereotype Baloch Youth : Baloch on the one hand face cultural and ethnic stereotypes and on the other they become victims of racial and ethnic profiling The issue of Baloch missing persons and the culture of abduction and disappearance of Baloch have created a fearful situation for Baloch youth artists students writers and academia everywhere there is fear

person s problem has caused widespread disillusionment and indifference among Baloch pupils Many students spoke of an overall lack of confidence in their capacity to succeed andof optimism about the future Many students are apathetic about their education because of this dismal outlook in the Voice for Baloch 2021 report, and as a result, class participation and attendance have decreased despite having the most critical academic quests and questions in mind human Rights Commission of Pakistan (hRCP) research from 2021 also indicated that the disappearance of people had a major effect on the emotional well-being of Baloch students

Moreover, the same article also highlighted that while it was important to raise more finances, the huge level of global debt also had to be dealt with from the viewpoint of that proportion of it that was due to the carbon footprint of advanced countries over the years It indicated in this regard Raising finance will not be straightforward Total government debt currently equates to about $86tn Around 60 percent of low-income countries are in debt distress, or at high risk of it Many feel they should not be paying for the damage caused by historic emissions from industrialized economies Competition to attract green investment is meanwhile heating up and the private sector is put off by the higher cost of capital in developing countries having said that, insistence of policy in multilateral institutions like IMF and World Bank on primarily being based on Neoliberalism, and within it, austerity, means that the debt burden, both external and domestic has kept on rising due to over-board monetary tightening globally in the wake of the pandemic and aggregate supply shock significantly increasing inflation That needs a serious revisit away from Neoliberalism, as one of the main steps to improve the global financial system, and in increasing both lending capacity of capital markets, and fiscal space of developing countries having said that a recent FT published article Central bank chiefs warn interest rates will keep rising hence it is quite clear that while the Summit in Paris tried to send positive signals in terms of climate finance, and improving global financial architecture to make this happen, yet the same message in terms of an appropriate revisit of neoliberal policies, and the significance of the supply side in inflation determination since the heyday of the pandemic and its lesser role in turn of fiscal stimulus and aggregate demand influence on inflation is not being understood by central banks

Therefore, such a policy revisit is not happening even after months of across-the-board monetary tightening– which has also caused rapid and deep capital flight from developing countries – and the mindset of major central banks indicating that this policy of monetary tightening is likely to continue was highlighted by the same FT published article as The world s top central bank chiefs signalled their readiness to increase interest rates further and keep them high, as they warned tight labour markets are still pushing up wages and prices The heads of the US Federal Reserve the european Central Bank and the Bank of england warned at a conference in Sintra Portugal that more action may be needed to bring inflation down towards targets of about 2 per cent despite some economists predictions that further rate rises could trigger a recession or financial crisis ’

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

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

Renewable energy

I T is shocking to note that 13 wind and solar power projects totalling 680MW approved five years ago at the lowest tariff of 3 2 to 3 7 cents per kWh by the National electric Power Regulatory Authority (NePRA) are still awaiting a go-ahead from the bureaucracy while the country is in dire need of cheaper affordable and green renewable energy as quickly as possible

Th e Balochistan province of Pakistan has been facing a serious human rights issue for many years now: the issue of missing persons According to the human Rights Commission of Pakistan (hRCP) as of 2021 there were over 12,000 cases of enforced disappearances in Balochistan alone (hRCP, 2021)

This issue has not only caused immense pain and suffering to the families of the missing persons but has also had a significant impact on the academic performance of Baloch students Moreover the issue has also led to a significant number of Baloch students dropping out of school or university

According to a report by the Baloch human Rights Organisation (BhRO) between 2004 and 2019 over 1 500 Baloch students had to drop out of school or university due to the disappearance of a family member (BhRO 2019) In some cases, students have had to take on extra responsibilities, such as caring for younger siblings or working to support their families, which has led to a decline in their academic performance

This province of Pakistan has been facing a serious human rights issue for many years The issue of missing persons came to the surface for the peripheries at the inception of Pakistan But the issue of missing persons became familiar for the rest of Pakistan, especially for the developed regions( Punjab and Islamabad), when some of the Federal and Punjab-centric activists got missing including Matiullah Jan Zainat Shahzadi Raza Khan Asad Tur Imran Khan Naizi and Ali Razvi

According to reports thousands of Baloch people have gone missing over the past decade, with many of them being tortured and killed The issue has not only caused immense pain and suffering to the families of the missing persons but has also had a significant impact on the academic performance of Baloch students however Balochistan province has some universities and colleges and many Baloch students attend these institutions to further their education Due to the ongoing conflict and the missing persons issue, these students face numerous challenges that affect their academic perform-

The psychological anguish that students experience as a result of their ongoing worry about being abducted or missing a family member is one of the most significant barriers they confront Owing to the stress brought on by the missing persons issue many Baloch students have reported feeling uncomfortable depressed harassed and unable to focus on their schoolwork

In addition many Baloch students have been forced to abandon their education because a parent, sibling, or other family member has gone missing As a result of having to help out at home by taking care of younger siblings or earning money to put food on the table some students grades have suffered

The problem has also caused despair and despondency among Baloch students Many people remain concerned that the prolonged turmoil and instability in the region will prevent them from realizing their full potential and achieving what they want in life

A 2019 study by the Balochistan education Foundation (BeF) found that the disappearance of so many people had a devastating effect on the academic success of Baloch students 75 percent of Baloch students in the research said they were nervous or stressed out because of the conflict and the missing persons issue Many Baloch students have been rendered unable to concentrate on their education as a direct result of the emotional distress they have experienced

The study also discovered that the missing

Due to the ongoing violence and the missing persons situation, the study indicated that many students experienced symptoms of sadness, anxiety, and PTSD (hRCP, 2021) Many students have had difficulty managing the stress and trauma brought on by the conflict which has had a negative effect on their mental health and therefore their academic performance

One of the M Phil students from Pakistan s Quaid-i-Azam University shared his experience about the process of choosing a topic for his thesis he claimed that he presented his supervisor with ten different research topics relating to the problems in Baluchistan and the aspirations of Baloch youth; his supervisor rejected all of them

Similarly, one of the master s students at Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad expressed with grief that he felt fear and anxiety while participating in class activities and critical discussion despite being a student of social sciences

In conclusion the Baloch missing persons issue in Balochistan has severely impacted the educational opportunities available to Baloch youths Their academic performance has suffered due to psychological stress, heavier workloads, and general pessimism Taking action to ensure that Baloch students obtain education without fear of harassment abduction or stereotypes is a top priority for the State s institutions This is the only way forward if we want to provide the educated youth of Balochistan with a brighter future

The writer is a freelance columnist

Such an inaction is unpardonable and people in the power sector responsible for this should be taken to task and shown the door Other countries are working day and night to generate all their power from renewable energy, including solar and wind, and a few are nearly achieving it China and India are planning to add 500 000MW of renewable energy by 2030 while Pakistan will be standing at a pathetic 2 300MW In the interest of affordability reliability and security it is time for us to take quick decisions to concentrate on adding renewables at a quick pace RIAZ BHUTTA ISLAMABAD

Workplace stress is a silent killer

A lT h O U g h mental health is a neglected subject, it should be a matter of concern for managers and employers owing to workplace stress in the corporate culture Unfortunately this is not the case and mental health in our corporate sector especially private organisations is considered the least important issue; if an issue at all

According to a recent report public health experts and intellectuals have pointed out that about 75 per cent of Pakistanis, especially youngsters, experience stress, anxiety or depression Any type of stress has adverse consequences on an employee’s mental wellbeing, and there is an increased risk of anxiety, burnout, depression and psychological disorders employees who are stressed are more likely to engage in unhealthy behaviours and workplace stress reduces employees productivity increases absenteeism and number of leaves taken for hospital visits This also ultimately results in increase in medical expenses being incurred by the employers Workplace stress is also linked to high demotivation, leading to a higher turnover rate, which increases administrative costs and may impair the organisation’s reputation in the market

According to the World health Organisation (WhO) workplace stress is caused by poor job design work system workload lack of control overwork poor management unsatisfactory working conditions and lack of support from colleagues and supervisors

Other factors include lack of participation, monotonous or unpleasant tasks, role ambiguity or conflict, lack of recognition of hard work, inequity, poor interpersonal relationships, poor working conditions, poor leadership and communication and conflicting home and work demands

There are two major roles that an organisation must need to perform at the management and employee levels The organisation must formulate a robust policy and for that the WhO has suggested guidelines covering key important aspects to tackle this issue in a smooth manner It is essential to have a clear understanding of the incidence and risk factors associated with workplace stress A policy should be developed with the primary objective of addressing the consent of all stakeholders, and it must adhere to the organisation’s vision and mission For implementing the policies care should be taken to identify such strategies targets to be achieved and timelines that need to be adhered to The impact of workplace stress on mental health can be shocking To overcome this critical challenge organisations must adopt strategies to overcome it at the employee level

There should be flexible communication, group discussions and a supportive work environment Also, peer relationships should be promoted The employees should be encouraged to build relationships with their peers and engage in activities together outside of work There should also be regular counselling sessions for employees who should have paid leave for the purpose and workload should be streamlined

Illuminating the Shadows COMMENT 05

This layer provides structural support, protects the underlying components from environmental factors and allows sunlight to pass through

Behind the photovoltaic cells there is a back sheet layer that acts as a barrier against moisture and protects the solar cells from the backside The back sheet is typically made of a polymer material like polyester or fluoropolymer The solar panels have a frame around the edges usually made of aluminum The frame provides structural support and helps protect the panel during installation and transportation

greenhouse gases

When solar panels are incinerated or left to decompose in landfills they contribute to the emission of greenhouse gases such as carbon dioxide and methane

These emissions contribute to climate change and global warming, further exacerbating environmental issues

disposal and recycling of used solar panels

TH E rapid growth of solar energy installations around the world has been a significant step towards reducing carbon emissions and combating climate change However, as the lifespan of solar panels ranges from 25 to 30 years, there is a pressing need to address the issue of electronic waste, or e-waste, generated by the disposal of these panels With billions of solar panels installed globally experts warn of a potential environmental disaster if proper recycling and disposal systems are not put in place Estimates indicate that by 2030 there could be four million tons of scrap solar panels, and by 2050, this number could exceed 200 million tons globally To put this into perspective, the current global annual production of plastic stands at 400 million tons

Thus the scale of the potential e-waste issue necessitates immediate attention and the development of comprehensive recycling chains

Solar panels also known as photovoltaic (PV) modules, are composed of several key components that work together to convert sunlight into usable electricity The composition of solar panels typically includes photovoltaic cells, which are the heart of a solar panel and are responsible for converting sunlight into electrical energy

The cells are usually made of silicon which is a semiconductor material Silicon can be either monocrystalline (made from a single crystal structure) polycrystalline (made from multiple crystals), or thin-film (made by depositing a thin layer of semiconductor material on a substrate) Monocrystalline and polycrystalline silicon cells are the most commonly used in solar panels

These solar cells are encapsulated to protect them from moisture dust and mechanical damage Ethylene vinyl acetate (EVA) is commonly used as the encapsulation material It is a transparent and durable polymer that acts as a protective layer Solar panels have a top layer made of tempered glass or a transparent back sheet

The junction box is located on the back of the solar panel and houses electrical connections It allows for the wiring of multiple panels in a solar array and facilitates the connection to an inverter or other electrical components Solar panels have electrical wires that connect the junction box to the external electrical system Connectors such as MC4 or Amphenol connectors are often used to join multiple panels together or connect them to other system components

Improper disposal of solar panels can lead to significant environmental hazards One of the main concerns is the presence of heavy metals such as lead, cadmium, and selenium within the panels When solar panels are not properly managed these metals can leach into the soil and water posing risks to ecosystems and human health

Heavy metals are known for their toxicity and can bioaccumulate in the food chain, causing long-term damage to organisms In addition to heavy metals, solar panels may contain hazardous substances like poly brominated diphenyl ethers (PBDEs) used in flame retardants and polychlorinated biphenyls (PCBs) found in older models When solar panels are disposed of improperly these substances can be released into the environment, leading to soil and water pollution Exposure to hazardous substances can have adverse effects on both wildlife and human populations Furthermore the improper disposal of solar panels consumes valuable landfill space As landfills become increasingly scarce, the accumulation of solar panels exacerbates this problem Additionally the disposal of solar panels in landfills represents a missed opportunity for resource recovery since many of the materials within the panels can be recycled or reused Another concern is the release of

French cities are in flames over systemic racism

In a recent sur vey of B lack and mixed-race residents of France, 9 in 10 said they had encountered racial discrimination, and roughly half said they had been stopped and asked for their identific ation more than t wice the share of the overall population who repor ted the same thing

torched, incendiary devices hurled at police in riot gear Shops and stores have been looted, ATMs demolished, windows smashed In the first three days of violence nearly 1 000 people were arrested and at least 200 police officers injured On Friday Interior Minister Gérald Darmanin said 45 000 police would be deployed to quell the riots around the country President Emmanuel Macron cut short a trip to Brussels and returned to Paris to address the convulsions on Thursday Facing calls that he declare a state of emergency which would trigger curfews and allow authorities to ban protests he tried to strike a balance between insisting on a return to order and expressing indignation at what he called Nahel s unjustified death

WASHINGTON POST L e e H o c k s ta d e r

IN the sprawling housing projects that ring many French cities heavily populated by working-class minorities the rage is rarely far from the surface Often for good reason it is directed at the police

That simmering fury erupted in waves of violence in suburbs and cities across France this week after police shot to death a 17-year-old named Nahel M from a family of North African origin in a town just west of Paris Video of the incident which went viral almost instantly showed a policeman opening fire as the boy started to pull away from two motorcycle officers who had stopped his car Nahel was unarmed French police discharge their weapons and kill civilians at a fraction of the rate their U S counterparts do and many people in France tend to reg a r d v i o l e n c e a n d r a c i s m b y l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a s mainly American problems Many White people in France, that is

Among migrants and their children, most of them from North and sub-Saharan Africa, hard feelings toward law enforcement have run deep for years and many regard police bigotry as a symptom of bias in French society generally

In a recent survey of Black and mixed-race residents of France 9 in 10 said they had encountered racial discrimination, and roughly half said they had been stopped and asked for their identification more than twice the share of the overall population who reported the same thing In the first months of the pandemic lockdown a survey by Reuters found that in France s five departments with the greatest percentage of immigrants police issued fines at a rate more than 50 percent higher than elsewhere in the country

Such routine racial profiling is a quotidian reality for millions of residents who, even if they were born in France or have lived here for decades often are made to feel not fully French For years researchers have documented discrimination in hiring and schools and on the streets

That was the social kindling lit by the death of Nahel on Tuesday, which ignited riots in and around Paris, Marseille and other major cities France has been set ablaze cars incinerated buildings

But as Macron surely knows, he has been forced to address symptoms, not causes, of France’s inequity schisms with roots in the country’s colonial past that have been papered over for decades by a policy of official colorblindness untethered to real people s lives Under French law data collection on race and ethnicity is strictly limited meaning the government which, for instance, publishes no information on the racial or ethnic composition of its police operates in a state of self-imposed ignorance and denial For minority residents of France however the absence of data is irrelevant Their lived reality is evidence of actual bias even if Macron has previously asserted there is no systemic racism in the police This is a moment for the country to seriously address the deep issues of racism and discrimination in law enforcement,” U N human rights office spokeswoman Ravina Shamdasani told a media briefing in Geneva

Similarly anodyne calls for France to grapple with those dilemmas are all too familiar They were issued with numbing regularity even before the resentments of the country s migrant communities exploded into weeks of anarchy in 2005, after two teenagers were electrocuted inside an electrical substation where they had fled following a confrontation with police It didn t help that the interior minister at the time Nicolas Sarkozy who later became president referred to the rioters, many of them from migrant families, as gangrene and rabble

In that instance, the government declared a state of emergency to contain the crisis after nearly two weeks of running street battles between rioters and police often set against a tableau of flaming cars The emergency lasted two months enabling the authorities to impose curfews and regain control of the streets

Yet despite the ensuing years of reforms, including programs targeted at the cities and neighborhoods that burned in 2005, the problems still fester And the police remain reviled by communities they are dutybound to protect

Lee Hockstader has been a member of The Washington Post s Editorial Board since 2004

Proper disposal and recycling practices for solar panels are crucial to address the environmental hazards associated with their end-of-life management Recycling processes involve collecting solar panels preprocessing to remove external attachments depaneling to separate photovoltaic cells shredding or delamination to isolate materials and recovering valuable components like silicon, silver, copper, aluminum, and glass Refining and purification ensure the recycled materials meet standards for reuse in new panels or other applications Incorporating recycled materials reduces reliance on virgin resources and mitigates the environmental impact of manufacturing

To effectively manage the waste generated by solar panels, it is crucial to establish comprehensive environmental management plans These plans should encompass various key components to ensure sustainable waste management practices Firstly, it is the need of hour to raise awareness and provide education to consumers installers and manufacturers By emphasizing the importance of proper waste management for solar panels, stakeholders can better understand the potential environmental impacts and become aware of available recycling options

Designing solar panels with recyclability in mind is another crucial aspect Encouraging manufacturers to use easily separable and recyclable materials, while minimizing the use of hazardous substances can significantly facilitate the recycling process Implementing standardized labeling for identification during recycling can further streamline the management of end-of-life panels Establishing collection systems and take-back programmes is imperative to ensure the proper

Collaboration among manufacturers installers and recycling facilities can help set up collection points and facilitate the return of panels that have reached the end of their life cycle Developing dedicated recycling infrastructure and facilities specifically designed for solar panels is vital Investing in research and development can drive improvements in recycling technologies, enhance efficiency and reduce associated costs This can be achieved through the exploration of innovative recycling methods and the identification of opportunities for resource recovery from waste panels

Implementing a regulatory framework is essential to enforce responsible management of solar panel waste

This can involve the implementation of regulations and policies that establish mandatory recycling targets extended producer responsibility (EPR) programs and product stewardship regulations Holding manufacturers accountable for the end-of-life management of their products can incentivize sustainable practices

In the pursuit of a sustainable future, conducting comprehensive life-cycle assessments of solar panels becomes an invaluable tool By understanding the environmental impacts throughout their production use and end-of-life stages we gain valuable insights that can shape decision-making drive improvements and prioritize environmentally friendly practices

However, addressing the global challenges of solar panel waste management requires a united front Collaboration, information sharing, and international cooperation among governments industry stakeholders and research institutions are crucial to developing best practices and sharing knowledge on recycling technologies and strategies Furthermore investing in research and innovation opens doors to new possibilities Exploring alternative materials, advancing recycling methods, and discovering ways to recover resources from waste panels pave the way for a more sustainable and efficient approach to solar panel recycling

By embracing these endeavors we can create a brighter future where renewable energy technologies are not only clean and efficient during their lifespan but also responsibly managed at their end, leaving a lasting positive impact on our planet

The writer is an Assistant Director at the Sindh Environmental Protection Agency He can be reached at fayyazsalih@gmail com and tweets @fayyazSHussain

After years of marches, petitions, open letters and public requests, a disaffec ted youth finds no other way to be heard than by rioting It is difficult to avoid asking if, without so many uprisings in cities across France, Nahel’s death would have garnered the attention it has And as Mar tin Luther King rightly said: “A riot is the language of the unheard”

SI N C E the video went viral of the brutal killing by a police officer of Nahel, a 17-year-old shot dead at point-blank range the streets and housing estates of many poorer French neighbourhoods have been in a state of open revolt France faces George Floyd moment I read in the international media, as if we were suddenly waking up to the issue of racist police violence This naive comparison itself reflects a denial of the systemic racist violence that for decades has been inherent to French policing

I first became involved in antiracist campaigning after a 2005 event that had many parallels with the killing of Nahel Three teenagers aged between 15 and 17 were heading home one afternoon after playing football with friends when they were suddenly pursued by police Although they had done nothing wrong (and this was confirmed by a subsequent inquiry) these terrified youngsters, these children hid from the police in an electricity substation Two of them Zyed Benna and Bouna Traoré were electrocuted The third Muhittin Altun suffered appalling burns and life-changing injuries

Those boys could have been my little brothers, or my younger cousins I remember the sense of incredulity: how could they simply lose their lives to such terrible injustice? “If they go in there [to the power plant], I don’t fancy their chances of making it” were the chilling words spoken by one of the police officers as he watched this horrific event play out France was ablaze for weeks with the rioting that followed – the worst in years But just as now, with the death of Nahel, the initial media and political reaction in 2005 was to criminalise the victims, to scrutinise their past, as if any of it could justify their atrocious deaths As if responsibility for their tragedy lay in their own hands Nicolas Sarkozy who was interior minister at the time sullied the memory of young people whose fear had led to their death with the remark: If you have nothing to hide, you don t run when you see the police

The numbers of cases of police brutality grow relentlessly every year In France, according to the Defender of Rights young men perceived to be black or of north African origin are 20 times more likely to be subjected to police identity checks than the rest of the population The same institution denounced the absence of any appeal against being checked as a form of systemic police discrimination Why would we not feel scared of the police?

In 1999, our country, the supposed birthplace of human rights was condemned by the European court of human rights for torture following the sexual abuse by police of a young man of north African origin In 2012

Human Rights Watch said: the identity check system is open to abuse by the French police These abuses include repeated checks – countless , in the words of most interviewees – sometimes involving physical and verbal abuse ” Now, after the death of Nahel, a UN rights body has urged France to address “profound problems of racism and racial discrimination within its law enforcement

agencies

Even our own courts have condemned the French state for gross negligence , ruling in 2016 that the practice of racial profiling was a daily reality in France denounced by all international, European, and domestic institutions and that for all that, despite commitments made by the French authorities at the highest level this finding had not led to any positive measures More recently in December 2022 the UN committee on the elimination of racial discrimination denounced both the racist discourse of politicians and police ID checks disproportionately targeting certain minorities

Despite such overwhelming findings, our president, Emmanuel Macron still considers the use of the term “police violence to be unacceptable This time Macron has unequivocally condemned an act that he called unacceptable – which is significant Yet I fear that the focus is being placed on an individual police officer instead of questioning entrenched attitudes and structures within the police that are perpetuating racism And not a single one of the damning reports and rulings has led to any meaningful reform of the police as an institution

Worse a law passed in 2017 has made it easier for police to resort to the use of firearms Officers can now shoot without even having to justify it on the grounds of selfdefence Since this change in the law, according to the researcher Sebastian Roché, the number of fatal shootings against moving vehicles has increased fivefold Last year, 13 people were shot dead in their vehicles

Nahel s death is another chapter in a long and traumatic story Whatever our age many of us French who are descended from postcolonial immigration carry within us this fear combined with rage, the result of decades of accumulated injustice This year, we commemorate the 40th anniversary of a seminal event In 1983, Toumi Djaïdja a 19-year-old from a Lyon banlieue became the victim of police violence that left him in a coma for two weeks This was the genesis of the March for Equality and Against Racism the first antiracist demonstration on a national scale, in which 100,000 people took part

For 40 years this movement has not stopped calling out the violence we see targeted at working-class neighbourhoods and more broadly black people and people of north African origin The crimes of the police are at the root of many of the uprisings in France s most impoverished urban areas and it is these crimes that must be condemned first After years of marches petitions open letters and public requests, a disaffected youth finds no other way to be heard than by rioting It is difficult to avoid asking if, without so many uprisings in cities across France Nahel’s death would have garnered the attention it has

And as Martin Luther King rightly said: “A riot is the language of the unheard

Rokhaya Diallo is a writer journalist film director and activist

By embracing these endeavors, we can create a brighter future where renewable energy technologies are not only clean and efficient during their lifespan but also responsibly managed at their end, leaving a lasting positive impact on our planet

France has ignored racist police violence for decades. This uprising is the price of that denial

ATTACK ON MAYOR’S HOUSE SHOCKS FRANCE DESPITE ‘CALMER’ NIGHT

PARIS

A G E N C I E S

FR E N C H politicians expressed horror on Sunday after the home of the mayor of a Paris suburb was attacked in a new night of rioting over the killing of a teen by police, even if the violence nationwide was less intense than in previous days

The government of President Emmanuel Macron has been battling five consecutive nights of violent protests since 17-year-old Nahel M was shot dead in the Paris suburb of Nanterre on Tuesday by a police officer during a traffic check

The killing of Nahel M who was of Algerian origin has revived longstanding accusations of institutional racism within the French police who rights groups say single out minorities during controls

Seeking to quell what has become one of the biggest challenges to Macron of his presidency the interior ministry has for the last two nights deployed 45 000 police and gendarmes nationwide as well as helicopters and armoured vehicles

The interior ministry said 719 people were arrested overnight, around half the figure from the previous night with intense clashes still reported in several places including the southern city of

Marseille but calmer elsewhere Attention focused on the attack on the home of Vincent Jeanbrun the rightwing mayor of L Haÿ-les-Roses outside Paris which saw a burning car rammed by rioters into the entrance of his home with the aim of it setting fire to the building, prosecutors said The mayor ’s wife and children aged 5 and 7 were at home although the mayor himself was at the town hall to deal with the riots The wife was badly injured sustaining a broken leg, prosecutors said Prosecutors have opened an attempted murder investigation “Last

Baltimore mass shooting leaves 2 dead, 28 injured at street party

BALTIMORE UNITED STATES

Two people were killed and 28 others were injured in a mass shooting in Baltimore, Maryland, early Sunday morning at the scene of a holiday weekend block party according to police and local media reports

An 18-year-old woman and 20-year-old man were killed and three victims were still in critical condition according to police in Baltimore, a city about 40 miles (64 km) north of Washington, DC

The suspect or suspects were still at large

“This investigation is ongoing, and we will not rest until the people responsible are held accountable ” Mayor Brandon Scott and the police department said in a joint statement The tragedy rattled the city at the start of the Fourth of July holiday weekend when Americans typically gather for parades, barbecues and fireworks

The shooting occurred shortly after midnight at the

“Brooklyn Day” block party in the Brooklyn Homes neighborhood of Baltimore which hundreds of people attended local media reported Alko read Guard gunman dead in shooting at US consulate in Saudi Arabia A witness told TV station Fox 45 that they had heard 20 to 30 shots fired

A local reporter posted an image to Twitter showing police tape, cups and other litter strewn across a yard that appeared to be the crime scene Nine people were transported from the scene to local hospitals while 20 others affected walked into hospitals in the area police said Medstar Harbor Hospital s emergency department treated 19 patients on Sunday morning, all suffering varying degrees of injury from gunshot wounds after the incident, MedStar Health Baltimore said in an email All but one patient had been released as of Sunday morning

Musk says T witter will limit how many tweets users can read

SAN FRANCISCO

R E U T E R S

Twitter is limiting how many tweets per day various accounts can read, to discourage “extreme levels” of data scraping and system manipulation Executive Chair Elon Musk said in a post on the social media platform on Saturday Verified accounts were initially limited to reading 6 000 posts a day Musk said adding that unverified accounts will be limited to 600 posts a day with new unverified accounts limited to 300

The temporary reading limitation was later increased to 10,000 posts per day for verified users, 1,000 posts per day for unverified and 500 posts per day for new unverified users Musk said in a separate post without providing further details

Previously Twitter had announced it will require users to have an account on the social media platform to view tweets, a move that Musk on Friday called a temporary emergency measure ”

British

LONDON A F P

PCB seeks permission from gov t to participate in World Cup 2023 being held in India

avenue in central Paris following calls on social media to take the rioting to the heart of the capital

The massive police presence helped keep the violence in check said Interior Minister Gerald Darmanin A calmer night thanks to the resolute action of the security forces, he tweeted early Sunday But Paris police chief Laurent Nunez cautioned on BFM TV: “No one is declaring victory ”

In Marseille which has seen intense clashes and looting police dispersed groups of youths Saturday evening at Canebiere, the main avenue running through the centre of the city, AFP journalists said

LAHORE

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) has sought permission from the federal government to participate in the ICC Men s World Cup 2023 being held in India later this year

As per details, the PCB has written a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif through the Ministry of Inter-Provincial Coordination (IPC) to provide the national team clearance to visit India for the upcoming ICC World Cup 2023

The cricket body has also requested the government to inspect the security of the five venues offered to Pakistan for their World Cup matches

night the horror and disgrace reached a new level ” the mayor said in a statement – Utmost severity –T h e s i t u a t i o n w a s m u c h c a l m e r o v e r a l l P r i m e M i n i s t e r E l i s a b e t h

B o r n e t o l d r e p o r t e r s a s s h e v i s i t e d

L’ H a y - l e s - R o s e s “But an act of the kind we saw this morning here is particularly shocking We will let no violence get by unpunished she said urging that the perpetrators be sanctioned with the utmost severity Some 7,000 police were deployed in Paris and its suburbs alone, including along tourist hotspot the Champs Elysees

NEW YORK A F P

On a visit to spotlight violence and chaos in Haiti the UN secretarygeneral on Saturday called for a robust international effort to help the country s beleaguered police in fighting rampant criminal gangs

For months Antonio Guterres has raised the alarm bell about the situation in the Western Hemisphere s poorest country which has been wracked by spiralling violence, a worsening public health situation and political instability

But he traveled to Port-auPrince his first visit to Haiti as head of the United Nations to make his point on the ground We must put Haiti on the international political map, and make the tragedy of the Haitian people the international community’s top priority ” Guterres told a press conference I met Haitians and I felt the exhaustion of a population that has been facing a cascade of crises and unbearable living conditions for too long,” he said

“This is not the time to forget about Haiti ” Guterres said after meeting with Prime Minister Ariel Henry and other political and civil society leaders

Guterres urged the UN Secu-

“They came specifically to do damage loot and leave ” said Youcef Bettahar a shopkeeper at the Merlan shopping mall in Marseille We re really disgusted by what s happening – ‘New crisis meeting’ –

The protests present a fresh crisis for Macron who had been hoping to press on with his second mandate after seeing off months of protests that erupted in January over raising the retirement age

He postponed a state visit to Germany scheduled to begin Sunday, in a sign of the gravity of the situation in France

Macron will head a crisis meeting Sunday with members of his government according to Elysee

rity Council which is due to discuss the Haiti situation later this month, to authorize the immediate deployment of a robust international security force ”

In October he relayed Henry’s request for a non-UN force to support the overwhelmed national police force B u t t h e c a l l h a s g o n e u nh e e d e d A f e w c o u n t r i e s h a v e i n d i c a t e d t h e i r w i l l i n g n e s s t o p a r t i c i p a t e , b u t n o n e h a s v o l u nt e e r e d t o l e a d a n o p e r a t i o n i n a c o u n t r y w h e r e m u l t i p l e p a s t f o r e i g n i n t e r v e n t i o n s h a v e b ec o m e m i r e d I call on those states that have the capacity to provide a robust security force to stop hesitating and be ready to follow a Security Council decision ”

Guterres said

Every day counts If we don t act now, instability and violence will have a lasting impact on generations of Haitians ” ‘Widespread sexual violence’

UN officials in recent months have offered increasingly grim assessments of the impact of gang shootings kidnappings and rapes on the Haitian population

Port-au-Prince is surrounded by armed gangs blocking the main roads leading to the northern and southern departments controlling

access to water food and health

care

Guterres said Saturday

He condemned in the strongest possible terms the widespread sexual violence used by armed gangs as a weapon to instil fear ” Earlier in the week

UNICEF executive director

Catherine Russell said after a trip to Port-au-Prince that the world was failing the Haitian people

She recounted the horrific story of an 11-year-old girl who was kidnapped by five men and raped by three of them

She was eight months pregnant when we spoke and gave birth just a few days later, Russell said, recalling that armed gangs control more than 60 percent of the capital and large swathes of the countryside

Almost half the population or 5 2 million people are in need of humanitarian assistance, including almost three million children

No elections have been held since 2016, and Henry, appointed prime minister just days before the assassination of President Jovenel Moise in July 2021 faces questions about his legitimacy

Guterres said he had frank exchanges with Henry and others about the “need for a political agreement to put an end to the crisis ” without offering specifics

Soon after the World Cup schedule was announced last Tuesday, we wrote to our Patron, Honourable Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif, through the InterProvincial Coordination (IPC) Ministry copying the Ministry of Foreign Affairs and Ministry of Interior requesting clearance to participate in the World Cup a PCB spokesperson told the private publication

The ICC Men s Cricket World Cup 2023 will begin on October 5 with holders England taking on New Zealand at the world’s biggest cricket stadium in Ahmedabad, which will also host the final Pakistan will clash with arch-rival India on October 15 in the tournament in Ahmedabad

In a recent development it has been reported that the Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) is likely to send a security team to India to assess the arrangements ahead of the World Cup

‘Hungry’ Djokovic fired up for more Grand Slam glory at Wimbledon

LONDON

A F P

Novak Djokovic says he is still hungry for Grand Slam glory as Wimbledon rivals queue up to hail him as the greatest and his achievements as phenomenal Having wrapped up a men s record 23rd Grand Slam title at the French Open, Djokovic now targets an eighth Wimbledon title to equal Roger Federer ’s mark

The 36-year-old Serb has won the title at the All England Club on the last four occasions

A fifth successive victory in two weeks time will take him level with Margaret Court s all-time record of 24 Slams He is also bidding to become just the fourth player in history to win eight or more Wimbledon titles after Martina Navratilova (nine) Federer and Helen Wills Moody (eight)

I still feel hungry for success for more Grand Slams more achievements in tennis said Djokovic As long as there s that drive, I know that I m able to compete at the highest level

He added: “A few days after Roland Garros, I was already thinking about preparation for grass and what needs to be done ” Worryingly for his rivals Djokovic one of the most polarising figures in sport shows no sign of slowing down Eleven of his 23 majors have come since he turned 30 Victory in what would be his 35th Grand Slam final on July 16 would crown him as the tournament’s oldest champion in the Open era

A lot of people are coming up to me and congratulating me reminding me of the historic success said Djokovic

Phenomenal

It s very flattering, but at the same time my mind was already directed towards Wimbledon, what’s the next Slam what’s the next task ”

England up against it, but where there’s Stokes there’s hope

LONDON

R E U T E R S

England will require more heroics from Ben Stokes if they are to pull off an unlikely victory over Australia on Sunday and level an Ashes series threatening to slide out of their control

Chasing 371 for victory at Lord s England had their top-order ripped apart by Aussie pace duo Mitchell Starc and Pat Cummins as they stumbled to 114-4 at the close of day four

But with captain Stokes still there, Ben Duckett unbeaten on 50 after a massive let-off just before stumps and the destructive Jonny Bairstow still to come in there is still hope according to England s batting coach Marcus Trescothick I think there s always hope with Ben there, two Bens there, Jonny coming in and the bowlers, Trescothick told the BBC

“If someone can get a big score we can challenge them and try and overcome it We’re still fairly upbeat we re a positive unit We have good days and bad days

you enjoy it on a good day, but you don’t get too down on a bad day

You take the rough with the smooth

Needing only six wickets and with England s long tail Australia are within touching distance of going 20 ahead in the series and only once in the history of the Ashes has a side come back from such a deficit to win

But they will be wary of Stokes who memorably scored an unbeaten 135 against them at Headingley in 2019 when England chased down 359 despite being 2869 If England do score 257 runs to emerge triumphant on Sunday it would be only the second time a team has successfully chased down a target of 300 plus at Lord s after West Indies made the 342 required in 1984

It would also be the second-highest successful run chase in the long history of the Ashes although way short of the 404 Australia knocked to win at Headingley in 1948

The way Starc and Cummins bowled on Saturday evening would suggest Australia are unlikely to let victory slip through their fingers, although they were clearly rattled as England opener Duckett was contro-

versially reprieved when caught on the boundary by Starc just before the close of play on Saturday

Duckett deflected a bouncer from Cameron Green and was caught on the fine leg boundary by a diving Starc who initially pouched the ball cleanly Despite being given out, Duckett was called back after third umpire Marais Erasmus decided it was not a clean catch, with Starc not in control of “ball and body”

“England have the best of the conditions and now they are getting the best of the rules ” former Australian bowling great Glenn McGrath told the BBC

If that is not out then every other catch that s ever been taken should not be out That is a disgrace If that s England taking that catch, that is out!

Barring something extraordinary on Sunday, it will become a minor detail but England have taken unpredictability to new levels under coach Brendon McCullum and the sell-out crowd at Lord s could yet be in for a treat

We ll see it makes it an exciting day Whatever happens tomorrow, it s going to be an exciting final day, Trescothick said

PM Sunak ‘sad’ over cricket racism and sexism repor t

described experiencing discrimination in the previous five years with the figures substantially higher for people from ethnically diverse communities

British Prime Minister Rishi Sunak has said he was sad to read a damning report that claimed racism and sexism are rife within English cricket

The publication of the Independent Commission report into Equity in Cricket came in the wake of a racism scandal centred around the treatment of Pakistan-born bowler Azeem

Rafiq at English side Yorkshire

Rafiq went public with allegations of racism and bullying in 2020, prompting the England and Wales Cricket Board to commission the report

Six former Yorkshire players found guilty of using racist language in the Rafiq case were last month fined by the Cricket Discipline Commission

Of the more than 4,000 individuals interviewed for the ICEC report, 50 percent

Women were often treated as secondclass citizens , the report found, also stating that not enough had been done to address class barriers, with private schools dominating the pathway into cricket

Appearing on BBC Radio during the second Test between England and Australia at Lord s on Saturday Sunak said: It was for people who love cricket really hard to read and you were just sad

A total of 44 recommendations were made in the report, including a call for equal pay for male and female international play-

ers by 2030 Sunak said the ECB was absolutely committed to fixing the problems outlined in the report

I have spent a little bit of the morning talking to the team at the ECB and I think

they have approached it in exactly the right way ” he said

“They commissioned this report off their own back because they wanted to be proactive so they deserve credit for that Sunak hopes the report provides cricket with a chance to reset its moral compass

“They have offered an unreserved apology and are fully committed to implementing change and for this to be a reset moment for cricket he said

We all want it to be open for everybody from all backgrounds and where everyone can feel respected and supported when playing it “So that’s what we want and I’m confident the whole cricketing family share that ambition ” Sunak the first British Asian Prime Minister said he had endured his own problems regarding racism although he acknowledged the progress made on the issue in the United Kingdom “Of course, I have experienced racism

growing up, in particular, and of course, I know it exists ” he said

“It stings you in a way that very few other things do It stings you It does hurt ”

UN chief c alls on world to make troubled Haiti ‘top priority ’

announces admissions for Autumn 2023

DESIGNED WITHIN CPEC FRAMEWORK , DSEZ TO PAVE WAY FOR INDUSTRIALIZ ATION IN PAKISTAN

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

facilitate the students at the nearest places to their residences Dr Nasir Mahmood instructed regional heads to guide the students properly He directed regional heads, tutors, and resource persons to actively participate in the admission campaign to ensure that no child is left out of school Prospectuses and admission application forms for all the programs will be available online on the university website (www aiou edu pk) on July 15, 2023 Admission in BS (face to face), MS/MPhil and PhD programs can only be applied via online system whereas admission application forms for matriculation intermediate and I Com can be submitted manually as well as via online mode

In case of online submission of admission application form the candidates are not required to dispatch printed application form to the university

$3b IMF deal to help achieve 2.5pc GDP growth in new fiscal year: PIAF

The Pakistan Industrial and Traders Associations

Front (PIAF) Chairman Faheemur Rehman Saigol has said that the new $3 billion agreement with the IMF will help the economy stabilize and achieve GDP growth of 2 5% in the new fiscal year of 2023-24 taking the country s foreign reserves to $14 billion

Faheemur Rehman Saigol said that the news comes as a major breakthrough for government that ran from pillar to post to meet conditions of the Washingtonbased lender only to see an incessant delay on a successful completion of the ninth review During this time the public was alienated heavy taxes were imposed, and questions were raised on Pakistan s debt obligations He said that the IMF Executive Board is likely to meet by mid-July to formally approve the new arrangement with Pakistan The new facility also unlocks access to capital markets for Pakistan opening up avenues for lending as it looks to finance its external funding gap Pakistan has budgeted $1 5 billion as a Eurobond and Sukuk for fiscal year 202324 This amount is likely to be dependent on the rates it is offered in the international market Pakistan s foreign exchange reserves, currently under $4 billion, are likely to get a boost as Saudi Arabia UAE and other bilateral partners also come through This is a fresh nine-month program implying that to move forward there will be a new set of conditions to keep the SBA going It gives some room to the government ahead of elections, and takes the onus off the ‘caretaker setup’ to take measures for the economy

The IMF will keep a close eye for the next nine months to ensure Pakistan does not sway from its economic measures The key things it will look at will be the imposition of the petroleum development levy (the new ceiling is Rs60) The IMF acknowledged that Pakistan s economy faced several external shocks, but was quick to point out that there were some policy missteps including shortages from constraints on the functioning of the FX market

Karot HPP contributes 3.64bln units of clean electricit y in one year

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

The 720 megawatts Karot hydropower plant contributed around 3 64 billion units of clean and low-cost electricity to the National Grid in one year of its commercial operations This was disclosed by CTG

Int'l which marks the completion of the first year of the commercial operations of the Karot hydropower project Karot was the first hydropower project completed under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) initiative, which started commercial operations on June 29, 2022

According to a Gwadar

Pro's report, that Karot contributed Rs 4 billion worth of electricity to the National Grid free of cost during its testing and commissioning phase Karot is a steady source of clean and affordable electricity for Pakistan

According to the latest energy purchase data released on June 15 by the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA), Karot contributed more than 509 86 million units of electricity in May 2023 at a cost of Rs 115 02 million It comes out that the electricity generation cost for this flagship CPEC power project stood at only Rs 0 226 per unit for the month of May

The project was executed by China Three Gorges (CTG) at a cost of around $2 billion

DH A B E J I Special Economic Zones (DSEZ) in Thatta Sindh is another mega project designed within the framework of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) to promote value addition in exports, generate employment and mobilize foreign exchange for the balance of payments support In a major development last week Federal Minister for Board of Investment (BOI) Choudhary Salik Hussain chaired the 8th meeting of the Approvals Committee which approved the establishment of eight SEZs including the DSEZ Thatta

According to a Gwadar Pro’s report, “Dhabeji Special Economic Zone has been granted SEZ status after much anticipation; DSEZ will pave a new era of industrialization for Karachi and Pakistan; the groundbreaking is to be held in mid-July 2023, reads an official statement of Sindh Economic Zones Management Company (SEZMC)

DSEZ will facilitate the potential investors of China and other countries to either start new enterprises or transfer their facilities to Pakistan In 2021 a technical issue emerged regarding the awarding of the contract of Dhabeji Industrial Zone (DIZ) when a

petitioner raised questions that the rules of SEZ were not followed during awarding of the contract SEZMC stated DIZ is not a special economic zone and later will be declared as SEZ Now the government has officially declared DIZ as DSEZ

PIA’s brings back 1,300 pilgrims to countr y

KARACHI

The PIA s post-Hajj operation from Saudi Arabia commenced on Sunday and the national flag-carrier brought back more than 1300 hujjaj a spokesman informed here on Sunday In a statement issued here he informed that the first post-Hajj flights reached Karachi Islamabad Lahore and Peshawar on Sunday bringing back more than 1300 hujjaj The PIA brought back more than 377 hujjaj to Karachi, 392 to Islamabad 323 hujjaj to Lahore and 276 hujjaj to Peshawar

The hujjaj of first flight to Karachi were welcomed and received by Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori, PIA Airport Station Manager Javed Pechuho along with officials of PIA Passenger Handling Services and hujjaj were presented rose garlands

Officials of CAA were also present to welcome the hujjaj

At Islamabad Airport hujjaj were welcomed and received by Senator Talha Mehmood, who also accompanied the hujajj on same flight from Jeddah

The hujjaj at Lahore Airport were welcomed and received by PIA Airport Station Manager Ali Abbas Shah and officials of passenger Handling services PIA while the hujjaj at Peshawar Airport were welcomed and received by PIA and CAA officials PIA officials welcomed and received the hujjaj at all Airports and garlanded them floral wreaths PIA will operate nearly 268

flights to bring back 61,467 Hujjaj to Pakistan Nearly 41,000 government scheme hujjaj, 19,000 private hujjaj and 600 khuddam from Jeddah and Madinah Airports will arrive in Pakistan through PIA flights PIA will operate direct Hajj flights to Karachi Islamabad Lahore, Multan, Faisalabad, Sialkot and Peshawar The PIA’s post Hajj Operation will conclude on 2 August 2023

Pak istan opens doors to Chinese meat enterprises

BEIJING

S TA F F R E P O R T

There s a lot of potential for enhancing meat exports to China,” said Ghulam Qadir, Commercial Counsellor Pakistani Embassy while addressing a forum titled “2023 Meat Import Development & Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei Port Cold Chain Economy New Growth Forum He invited Chinese enterprises to participate in Pakistan s Agri Expo (starting from August 10) in which over 300 top Pakistani agriculture and food processing firms are expected, including meat, fisheries, oil seeds fruits and vegetables food processing ones

According to a Gwadar Pro s report Ghulam Qadir stated that the Agri Expo undoubtedly will open doors to meat enterprises unveiling the untapped potential that the country possesses

As businesses leverage the opportunities presented by the Expo the future of Pakistan s meat sector looks bright promising sustainable economic development and increased global recognition In a landmark decision, the General Administration of Customs of China (GACC) has already granted access to Pakistani boiled beef to the Chinese market he said “Donkey meat is another important potential and the protocol on Donkey skin has almost been finalized by Pakistan This is another opportunity arising Similarly, donkey meat will be allowed to China in the next two to three months approximately, Qadir added He further said that the favorable climatic conditions, an abundance of grazing lands, and ample water resources contribute to the availability of high-quality feed for livestock With a rising demand for meat both domestically and globally Pakistan possesses a vast potential to cater to China s growing market

Around 40,000 people thronged ‘L ake View ’ park during weekend

ISLAMABAD

As many as 40 000 thousand people thronged Lake View Park to enjoy barbecue parties after Eidul Azha with their family and friends

With its spacious location at the shores of Rawal Dam, Lake View Park has started attracting more visitors than other public parks and picnic spots in the twin cities reported a private news channel

Traditionally people used to go to Ayub Park and Nawaz Sharif Park but now both the places seem too crowded and there is little for enjoyment there are also other attractions in the federal capital including Japanese Park, the Zoo and the whole track up to Pir Sohawa

However, Lake View Park has all the facilities available in one spot, making it the most attractive

place for visitors Thousands of merrymakers, including families and groups of youngsters, belonging to the twin cities and surrounding areas thronged the limited public places in Rawalpindi and Islamabad Visitors also enjoyed boat rides in Lake View Park on weekend

According to CPEC s official website 1530 acres of land have been allocated to establish DSEZ which will be developed in two phases DSEZ has been proposed to be constructed in two phases comprising 750 acres for Phase I and 780 acres for Phase II DSEZ has easy access to Port Qasim enabling raw material import and finished goods export without incurring major inland transportation costs and saving time A direct access road (8km) connecting Port Qasim to Dhabeji Zone is being developed A dedicated cargo deck connecting the zone with ML-1 from Dhabeji Junction and a jetty connecting Port Qasim alongside the Dhabeji zone from the creek side are envisaged to facilitate export-oriented industries Karachi Airport (35 Km) via National Highway enables safe travel of foreign workers and management personnel National Highway enables the transportation of goods to upcountry and Central Asian nations, utilizing the National Trade Corridor

IMF financing good development but reforms must to end economic crisis: BMP

ISLAMABAD

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry’s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has termed the agreement with IMF as a positive development for the economy but warned that the multilateral donors financing might not bring any significant impact on struggling economy as the sustainable solution to Pakistan s economic issues lies in the structural reforms and consistent policies

FPCCI former president and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar said the deal would end speculation of a possible default but the country’s debt troubles won’t end there as the more IMF aid will be needed in 2024 he added He said that the rupee will strengthen which will reduce inflation, so, the IMF agreement is overall a good development

The BMP Chairman expressed his opinion on the agreement with the International Monetary Fund and said that there is positive news at the beginning of the new fiscal year as it was not expected but the agreement was reached Now the rupee will strengthen which will reduce inflation

He said that there is a 9-month agreement which is very positive, as the caretaker government will remain in the facility, however, the IMF conditions have increased the cost of production He said that government will make payments to exporters when fiscal space is created He said that Pakistan is likely to avert default this year as the country managed to secure a last-minute International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout He was of the view that a staff-level agreement signed with the lender suggests aid will finally materialize after months of delay

The remarks come after the IMF announced on Friday that its staff and Pakistani authorities have reached an agreement on policies to be supported by a $3 billion nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) The staff-level agreement is subject to approval by the IMF Executive Board, with its consideration expected by mid-July

The new SBA builds on the authorities efforts under Pakistan’s 2019 EFF-supported program which expires end-June He said the funding is likely to be delivered in tranches so that the IMF can make sure Pakistan makes progress on fiscal consolidation and continues to allow the rupee to trade freely

But chances seem high that the board will approve the funding because Pakistan in recent days has stepped up efforts to meet IMF demands

Gov t to save Rs438b annually with energy conser vation plan

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The government expects to save Rs438 billion annually through the implementation of the energy conservation plan from July 1

The implementation of the previously announced plan will save 8,000 megawatts of electricity

According to the documents obtained the duty imposed on substandard fans will get the government tax worth Rs15 billion Moreover banning the manufacturing and import of substandard bulbs will fetch Rs23 billion in revenue, Rs86 billion will be generated from e-bikes, and Rs23 billion will be saved by using LED lights instead of bulbs

According to the plan closing the markets four hours earlier will save Rs62 billion while allowing 20% of the staff to work from home will save Rs56 billion the documents say

Using conical baffles in geysers will save 25% gas, and Pakistan save Rs92 billion annually under this head

Climate change -induced sizzling temperature threat to ecological balance, glaciers resources

PESHAWAR

Highly vulnerable to climate change vulnerabilities Pakistan was also facing a looming threat to an ecological and socioeconomic balances besides shortage of water resources owing to rising of temperature and fast melting of glaciers, affecting people

The rise of global temperatures and greenhouses gas emissions have put Pakistan under a heightening risk of disasters including heatwaves droughts floods and melting glaciers Pakistan is highly susceptible to climate change- induced weather patterns including rising temperatures, unpredictable rains and

floods besides fast melting of glaciers in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa that could be tackled through whopping plantation,” said Tauheedul Haq, former conservator of KP Forest Department while talking to APP on Sunday He said Pakistan was a unique country where over 7 253 glaciers were providing fresh water supplies to millions of people for irrigation, drinking and industrial purposes and it preservation was imperative for agriculture growth and economic prosperity Mostly located in Himalaya Hindukush and Karakorum regions of Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa he said these glaciers were a distinctive source of freshwater for

agriculture irrigation drinking and industrial supplies to people, agriculturists, farmers and industrialists living in those regions and downstream up to Karachi through river Indus Besides 2 253 mighty medium and small glaciers including Baltoro (63km) Biafo (67km) Batura (57km) found in Gilgit Baltistan the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s Upper Chitral district was blessed with around 500 glaciers especially at Trichmir mountains ranges providing freshwater to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Punjab and Sindh provinces through rivers Swat Panjokra Kabul and Indus throughout the year According to National Water Policy 2018 the per capita surface water availabil-

ity has declined from 5 260 cubic meters per year in 1951 to around 1,000 cubic meters in 2016 and this quantity was likely to further drop to about 860 cubic meters in next few years marking our transition from a “water stressed” to a “water scarce” country The policy disclosed that the minimum water requirement to avoid food and health implications of water scarcity was 1,000 cubic meters per capita per year and the

The National Forest Policy 2015 has revealed that Pakistan was losing about 27,000 hectares of forests per year The policy said forest resources were under tremendous pressure mostly in community and private-owned natural forests in Gilgit Baltistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa where deforestation was making negative impact on agriculture yield and quality of water at outlets besides triggering land degradation and loss of biodiversity Ibrahim Khan, Deputy Project Director, 10 billion trees afforestation project said that numerous measures were taken for maintaining ecological balance and water resources through sustainable growth and preservation of forest resources

IMPORTER SEEKS RELIEF FROM ALLEGED HARASSMENT, DEL AYED IN CONSIGNMENT RELEASE

AN importer of pesticides has reached out to authorities, seeking relief from alleged harassment and the delayed release of a consignment by the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) an attached department of the Ministry of Food Security and Research (FS&R)

Haji Abdul Qadir of Al-Mehmood Chemicals, the importer, has written a letter detailing the unfortunate circumstances surrounding the consignment s d e l a y a n d t h e a l l e g e d m i s u s e o f a uthority by department officials

According to the letter, the pestic i d e c o n s i g n m e n t a r r i v e d a t K a r a c h i port on April 20, 2023, and underwent inspection by Mr Abraiz Ali an entom o l o g i s t f r o m t h e D P P S h o c k i n g l y twenty days later on May 9 2023 Mr Ali filed an FIR (No 226/2023) at PS

Docks Karachi accusing the trader of f r a u d , f o rg e r y, a n d d i s h o n e s t y u n d e r sections 420, 471, and 468 of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC) The importer expressed deep frustration and helplessness emphasizing that the allegations made against them w e r e b a s e l e s s T h e a c c u s a t i o n stemmed from an error by the Chinese m a n u f a c t u r e r, w h i c h l e d t o t h e m i sprinting of the registration number on a few packages The matter was taken to court where the trader was eventua l l y e x o n e r a t e d T h e c o u r t r u l e d t h a t n o c r i m e h a d b e e n c o m m i t t e d a n d there was no tax evasion wealth conc e a l m e n t , o r f i n a n c i a l b e n e f i t i nvolved H a j i Q a d i r f u r t h e r d i s c l o s e d t h a t t h e y h a d m e t w i t h t h e D i r e c t o r G e neral (DG) of the DPP who suggested obtaining revised orders that explicitly s t a t e d t h e i m p o r t e r s i n n o c e n c e a n d the need for the consignment s release

Monsoon: PMD forecasts five-day rain spell in country from today

ISLAMABAD

The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Sunday issue an alert forecasting a five-day-long spell of monsoon rainfall in the country starting from Monday (July 3 and 08)

The Met Office, in a report stated that moist currents from the Arabian Sea are likely to penetrate in upper parts of the country, and a westerly wave is also likely to enter the country from July 3 (Monday)

Under the influence Islamabad Rawalpindi Murree

Galliyat Attock Chakwal and Jhelum Azad Kashmir and Gilgit-Baltistan and other areas will receive rain with thunderstorm from July 4-7 Rain, wind, thundershower with isolated heavy falls are also expected in Barkhan, Sibbi, Loralai, Kalat, Khuzdar, Zhob, Lasbella and Naseerabad, Bannu, Karak Waziristan D I Khan Rajanpur Multan Bhakkar Layyah Kot Addu Bahawalpur Bahawalnagar Sahiwal and Okara from July 5 to 8 T h e M e t O ff i c e a l s o p r e d i c t e d r a i n f a l l w i n d t h u n d e r s h o w e r w i t h i s o l a t e d h e a v y f a l l s i n S u k k u r, J a c o b a b a d G h o t k i , S h a h e e d B e n a z i r a b a d , L a r k a n a , M i t h i , C h h o r, P a d i d a n , N a g a r p a r k a r, T h a r p a r k a r, U m e r k o t , S a n g h a r, M i r p u r K h a s , D a d u T h a t t a B a d i n H y d e r a b a d a n d K a r a c h i o n J u l y 0 7 a n d 0 8 The Met Office has warned that heavy falls may cause flashfloods and hill torrent in Dera Ghazi Khan and adjoining areas of northeast Balochistan

The heavy rains could also trigger landslide in vulnerable areas of Azad Kashmir, Gilgit Baltistan, Galliyat and hilly areas of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Citing the PMD forecast Climate Change Sherry Rehman urged citizens to stay safe and well-prepared during the monsoon season She also advised farmers to plan activities as per the forecast

K P P D M A I S S U E S A L E RT: The Regional Meteorological Department on Sunday predicted five days rains starting July 3 to 8 in most parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa According to a notification issued by Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) in which Regional Met Office Peshawar has informed that a new spell of rains is starting for which people are urged to take all precautionary measures to avoid any loss of life, damages to infrastructure and crops and animals

Furthermore, all concerned authorities asked to take the safety measures Tourists to be informed about weather forecast ensure availability of all emergency services staff and machineries and other resources and all concerned line departments to remain vigilant in restoring road links

In case of any occurrence, updates may kindly be shared with PDMA, active round the clock via helpline 1700 ‘River Kabul continues to flow in low flood’

On the other hand the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) has said that River Kabul continues to flow in low flood at Nowshera while rivers Indus, Jhelum, Chenab, Ravi and Sutlej are flowing normal

According to the daily FFC report issued on Sunday, the existing Combined Live Storage of the country’s major reservoirs of Tarbela Chashma and Mangla is 7 135 MAF of 13 443 MAF

According to Flood Forecasting Division (FFD) Lahore trough of Westerly Wave over Kashmir and adjoining areas has earlier moved away eastwards, whereas seasonal low continues to prevail over Northwestern Balochistan

In back-to-back meetings, Ch Shujaat attempts to woo Per vaiz Elahi back

LAHORE

S TA F F R E P O R T

President Pakistan Muslim League Quaid (PML-Q)

Consequently the revised orders were a c q u i r e d , e m p h a s i z i n g t h a t n o f i n e could be imposed on the trader due to the absence of any violation or criminal activity Despite possessing these court orders the trader/importer was dismayed t o d i s c o v e r t h a t t h e d e p a r t m e n t w a s still refusing to release the goods According to him, another meeting with the DG of the DPP proved fruitl e s s , a s h e s t a t e d t h a t t h e i n s p e c t o r would file an appeal This situation he s a y s h a s l e d t o s i g n i f i c a n t f i n a n c i a l losses for him with demurrage and detention charges amounting to approximately Rs 3 million Adding to Mr Qadir s concerns is t h e a l l e g e d h a r a s s m e n t b y D P P o ff icials, who are described as contractual employees for locust survey and control in deserts but have taken it upon t h e m s e l v e s t o e x e r c i s e a u t h o r i t y a t ports under the discretion of the head

DPP

The trader s letter concludes with an earnest plea for support and intervention from the relevant authorities They request that the DPP officials be directed to cease harassing traders and p r o m p t l y r e l e a s e t h e i r c o n s i g n m e n t

The trader hopes that by bringing attention to their plight justice will prevail, and they can finally put an end to this ordeal T h e l e t t e r s e r v e s a s a s t a r k r eminder of the importance of ensuring fair and just treatment of traders and the need for accountability within government departments The allegations made by the trader warrant a thorough investigation to address any potential m i s u s e o f a u t h o r i t y a n d p r e v e n t f u rther instances of harassment in the future S e c r e t a r y o f F S & R M i n i s t r y a n d officials of DPP couldn t be contacted for version despite repeated attempts

PM S h e h b a z s u m m o n s

a b i n e t s e s s i o n t o d ay

gratitude to China, Saudi Arabia, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) the Islamic Development Bank (IDM) and other nations for their generous support during critical times highlighting Beijing s provision of approximately $5 billion in assistance over the past three months, which helped prevent default Sharif also mentioned the hurdles faced in the exploration of Chiniot ore and Reko Diq emphasizing that the Economic Revival Plan would attract investment from Gulf states and contribute to Pakistan’s progress

Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain held two back-to-back meetings with his ‘estranged cousin’ Chaudhry

Pervaiz Elahi who is President of Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) in a “what is being described as desperate attempt to woo him back to his party s fold

According to PML-Q sources Ch Shujaat Hussain held the meeting with Pervaiz Elahi at the camp jail wherein reportedly he once again offered Pervaiz Elahi to return to the political party

According to details, Shujaat’s son Chaudhry Salik, and brother Chaudhry Wajahat were also present in the meeting

Apart from having asked about Elahi s health they exchanged views on the present political situation

Prior to the meeting, the medical board team also came to Camp Jail to conduct a check-up for Elahi

The team included Dr Amir Hussain Bandesha and Dr Abdul Basit

The second meeting was held for 10 minutes in which he asked Pervaiz to mull over his offer sources closer to the development said adding that it cannot be said whether the meeting goes fruitful or not In the first meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain was accompanied by Wajahat Hussain The PTI president, however, reiterated his stance before the PML-Q top leaders

The Chaudhry brothers suggested Ch Pervaiz Elahi to return to the political party Sources said that the Chaudhry brothers are likely to hold another meeting in a few days

Last month, Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain, the head of the PML-Q, in a jail visit to Pervaiz Elahi, President of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), urged him to return back to his previous party Chaudhry Shujaat Hussain along with his son Salik Hussain held a special meeting with Chaudhry Pervaiz in Camp Jail Lahore which was reportedly lasted for an hour

During the meeting, Chaudhry Shujaat and his son expressed their concern for Pervaiz s well-being and inquired about his health and asked him to return to his previous party for the improvement of political matters in the country Sources mentioned that Pervaiz denies any intentions of quitting the PTI and expressed his commitment to the party

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has called for a session of the federal cabinet on Monday to discuss the political and economic situation of the country, according to reports

On June 30, Sharif expressed his belief that a $3 billion stand-by agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) would bring economic stability and growth to the nation Sharif shared that he held two meetings with the managing director of IMF in Paris and had a telephone conversation with her to secure the deal

N aw

Nawaz Sharif, the supreme leader of Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) is unlikely to make a comeback to Pakistan in the near future according to reports citing members of his party Sharif, who was convicted in graft cases by an accountability court before the 2018 general elections, had traveled to London in 2019 on the pretext of medical treatment and has remained there since then

Recently he visited Dubai and met with Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) politicians, sparking a debate in the media about his potential return to Pakistan However a cabinet member source said he will not be returning at this time Sharif has been convicted in the Al-Azizia Steel Mills and the Avenfield House references filed

H e c o m m e n d e d F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r I s h a q D a r a n d h i s t e a m f o r t h e i r t i r e l e s s e ff o r t s i n r e a c hi n g t h i s a g r e e m e n t w h i c h i s s e t t o r e c e i v e f o r m a l a p p r o v a l a t a n I M F b o a r d m e e t i n g o n t h e 1 2 t h o f n e x t m o n t h Sharif acknowledged that while nations do not progress solely on loans, it was necessary for the country to enter into this agreement with the IMF He said the parties of the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) would leave the government after the completion of its tenure, with elections to be announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) The prime minister expressed

Regarding energy matters he criticised the government of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for not signing agreements for the cheapest LNG during the Covid19, resulting in the late purchase of expensive fuel for the country

He highlighted the current government’s agreement with Azerbaijan for cheaper LNG imports which will benefit the nation as well as agreements signed in the past year for discounted wheat, fertilizer, and energy imports

Reflecting on the protests against the arrest of former prime minister Imran Khan on May 9 the prime minister referred to it as a black day in the country s history

Furthermore, during the course of the meeting, it was also communicated to Pervaiz Elahi that the family s involvement has nothing to do with the ongoing legal cases against him It is worth noting that Pervaiz Elahi is currently facing charges of illegal appointments in the Punjab Assembly and has been arrested in connection with the case

Pakistan sees high volume of trade with Japan in future: FM

Foreign Minister Bilawal Bhutto Zardari says Pakistan and Japan have the potential to increase bilateral trade in diverse sectors for mutual benefit FM Bilawal Bhutto Zardari was speaking at a function organized by the Pakistani diaspora in Tokyo today (Sunday) The Foreign Minister said both countries can benefit from investment in agriculture and livestock Bilawal said the incumbent government is working on economic diplomacy to bring prosperity in the country

He said Pakistan can learn from Japan s advancement in Information Technology and other fields

The Foreign Minister said during his meeting with Japanese leadership and entrepreneurs, he will urge them to enhance trade and investment in Pakistan

He said Pakistan has over sixty five percent populations of youth and we can exploit this human resource through skills based education and training The Foreign Minister urged Pakistani overseas particularly businessmen to play their role for increase in trade between two countries and also strengthening of bilateral relations

M E E T I N G S W I T H PA K I S TA N I D I A S P O R A, C O M PA N Y E X E C U T I V E S I N TO K Y O

Earlier Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Sunday here held meetings with the Pakistani diaspora and executives from notable Japanese companies and discussed prospects for investment and trade with Pakistan

by the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) following the 2016 Panama Papers revelations His appeals are currently pending in the relevant courts Sources emphasized that the Sharif family is aware of his plans to return They said: “In my understanding and based on the information I m hearing from within the

party Nawaz will likely return around November By then these legal issues will be resolved Regarding the need for a meeting with the leadership of the Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) in the UAE, a major ally of the coalition government the source mentioned that there are still some matters to be decided before the next elections

In a tweet on the social media platform, he said, “Reassuring to see Pakistan’s vibrant diaspora in Japan making its contribution to stronger ties between the two countries Today I met with some of its representatives and exchanged thoughts on diversifying our bilateral ties with Japan particularly in business and trade

During my visit to Japan, I also interacted with executives from notable Japanese companies at a reception Encouraging to see the eagerness for unlocking potential of Pakistan and Japan in diverse fields including trade agriculture technology education skilled workforce clean energy and disaster management he added

In emergenc y session, OIC c alls for collec tive measures against desecration of Holy Q uran

JEDDAH

The Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on Sunday said collective measures were needed to prevent acts of desecration of the Holy Quran and international law should be used to stop religious hatred after the holy book was burned in a protest in Sweden

The statement was issued after an extraordinary meeting in Saudi Arabia’s Jeddah called to discuss Wednesday s incident of the Holy Quran s desecration in Sweden

We must send constant reminders to the international community regarding the urgent application of international law, which clearly prohibits any advocacy of religious hatred ” OIC Secretary-General Hissein

Brahim Taha said

A man who fled from Iraq to Sweden several years ago tore up and burned the

Holy Quran outside Stockholm s central mosque on the first day of Eidul Azha in the country He was charged by Swedish police with agitation against an ethnic or national group and a violation of a ban on fires that was in place in Stockholm since mid-June

The act drew strong criticism from several countries, including Pakistan, Turkiye, Jordan, Palestine, Saudi Arabia, Morocco, Iraq and Iran The OIC had announced a day after the incident that it would be convening an emergency meeting of its executive committee to discuss the matter

The intergovernmental organisation of 57 countries had said in a statement that the meeting was called by Saudi Arabia in its capacity as chair of the Islamic Summit Conference and would take place at the OIC headquarters in the Saudi city of Jeddah

The emergency meeting would also go over the procedures for dealing with the fall-

out from the incident, it had added In an earlier statement, the OIC had strongly condemned the incident, saying that such an act contradicted “international efforts to spread the values of tolerance moderation and renunciation of extremism

It had also reiterated its condemnation of such reprehensible acts that some extremists deliberately commit and urged relevant governments around the world to “take effective measures to prevent its recurrence”

The OIC had also emphasised the importance of adhering to the UN Charter in terms of promoting and encouraging respect for and observance of, human rights and fundamental freedoms for all at the global level

T: Meanwhile Iranian Foreign Minister Hossein Amirabdollahian said today that the country would Iran refrain

from sending a new ambassador to Sweden in protest over the incident

Iran’s foreign ministry had summoned Sweden’s charge d’affaires on Thursday to condemn what it said was an insult to the most sacred Islamic sanctities

Although administrative procedures to appoint a new ambassador to Sweden have ended, the process of dispatching them has been held off due to the Swedish government’s issuing of a permit to desecrate the Holy Quran ” Amirabdollahian said on Twitter on Sunday

He did not specify how long Iran would refrain from sending an ambassador to Sweden

T H E I N C I D E N T: On Wednesday, Salwan Momika, 37, had asked police for permission to burn the Holy Quran “to express my opinion about the Quran” Ahead of the protest Momika told news agency TT he also wanted to highlight the

importance of freedom of speech

“This is democracy It is in danger if they tell us we can’t do this,” Momika said

Under a heavy police presence and with around a dozen opponents shouting at him in Arabic Momika dressed in beige trousers and a shirt addressed the crowd of several dozen through a megaphone At various times, he stomped on the Holy Quran and lit a few pages on fire while waving Swedish flags journalists at the scene said

Earlier this year Paludan the leader of Denmark s far-right party Stram Kurs (Hard Line) burned a copy of the Holy Quran in front of a mosque in Denmark, leading to great outrage among Muslims all over the world He had also committed a similar act on Jan 21 when he set a copy of the Holy Quran on fire during an anti-Islam and anti-immigration protest in front of the Turkish embassy in Sweden

a z S h a r i f u n l i ke l y t o r e t u r n t o Pa k i s t a n s o o n