Epaper_23-08-12 ISB

to challenge their lifetime disqualifications

The detailed verdict said that the law was repugnant to and ultra vires the Constitution while being beyond the legislative competence of Parliament It is accordingly struck down as null and void and of no legal effect,” the order said The order said that any attempt by way of ordinary legislation to interfere in the scope of the SC s powers and jurisdiction including but not limited to its review juris-

diction, would constitute a wrong and erroneous reading and interpretation of the Constitution

The judgement further said that there was no express authorisation in the Constitution which empowered Parliament to enlarge the SC s review jurisdiction under Article 188 “In addition, the 2023 Act does not ‘enlarge’ review jurisdiction it ‘creates’ a new appellate jurisdiction which has no constitutional basis sanction or authorisation the order said

It further said that any legislation interfering with the independence of the judiciary would by its nature and from its very inception be unconstitutional null void and of no legal effect

It said that a constitutional amendment was needed to convert the court s review jurisdiction into an appellate jurisdiction “It is a well-recognised principle that ordinary law cannot amend change delete of add to the Constitution the order said

S E C P I M P O S E S T W O T E R M L I M I T S O N

C E O S A N D D I R E C T O R S O F C M I I

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

THE Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) in order to promote best governance practices and maintain focus on core operations, has introduced maximum two terms limits for the Chief Executive Officers and Independent Directors to serve in the Capital Market Infrastructure Institutions (CMIIs) PSX NCCPL CDC and PMEX SECP has introduced tenure limits upon CEO of a CMII to a maximum of

t h r e e t e r m s w i t h t h e t h i r d t e r m t o b e a l l o w e d o n l y i n c a s e o f e x c e p t i o n a l p e r f o r m a n c e a n d s u b j e c t t o a competitive selection process

Moreover, the tenure limits for independent directors have been capped at a maximum of three terms across all CMIIs Further no individual shall serve as independent director on the board of the same CMII for more than two terms CMIIs perform important public policy functions including the infrastructure services and regulations

It is expected that these reforms will encourage greater participation by

professionals in the governance of the CMIIs and promote a culture of independence, accountability and objective decision making E a r l i e r, t h e C h a i r m a n S E C P, A k i f S a e e d d u r i n g h i s m e e t i n g s w i t h t h e boards of directors of CMIIs last week s t r e s s e d u p o n t h e n e e d f o r C M I I s t o f o l l o w t h e h i g h e s t s t a n d a r d s o f corporate governance while discussing o t h e r r e f o r m s a i m e d a t p r o d u c t d e v e l o p m

PM to award Tamgha- e -Imtiaz to paramedics mar t yred during Covid-19

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to award Tamgha-e-Imtiaz (posthumously) to the martyred doctors and health workers who took care of patients without caring for their lives during Corona pandemic

In a statement on Friday, the prime minister paid glowing tributes to the doctors and the frontline workers for their services during COVID-19 He said these sons and daughters of the country died from the deadly pandemic while fulfilling their responsibilities

He said the whole nation will remain indebted to these dutiful doctors and frontline health workers He said the families of these doctors and frontline health workers are the pride of the nation Tamgha-e-Imtiaz posthumously will be conferred upon eighty-one doctors from Punjab, eighty-seven from Sindh, twenty-three from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, eight from Balochistan four from Azad Jammu and Kashmir and one doctor from

Gilgit and Islamabad for their hard work and dedication to save people s lives during Corona pandemic

Fifty-nine nurses and frontline health workers from across Pakistan will also be honoured with Tamgha-e-Imtiaz posthumously for saving lives of the people without caring about their lives during the Corona epidemic

Meanwhile, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday paid tributes to the minorities for their contribution in nationbuilding and socio-economic development of the country

On the National Day of Minorities

I join the nation in paying rich tributes to our non-Muslim citizens for their valuable contributions in nation-building and assure them of the government’s consistent and unwavering commitment to protecting their rights ” the prime minister said in a message in connection with the Day

He said today the nation celebrated the role and contributions of the nonMuslim citizens for peace, progress and prosperity of Pakistan on the National

PTI says worried about Imran Khan’s safet y, health condition

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee expressed great concern over the authorities concerned non-serious attitude pertaining to PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan s safety and security and wellbeing who was kept in a terrible condition in Attock Jail vowing that no compromise would be made on his health and safety come what may The PTI core committee in its meeting voiced strong apprehension the delay in allowing PTI Chairman to provide home-made food and water They demanded that the former prime minister should be transferred from Attock to Adiala Jail instantly

The PTI core committee expressed its nonsatisfaction over the non-serious behavior of the rulers regarding the health and safety of PTI Chairman despite the fact multiple assassination attempts were made on him The participants stated that they could not allow risking the health and safety of Imran Khan in the guise of being imprisoned as a result of a controversial and biased court verdict They stated that as per rules and jail manual, PTI Chairman was entitled as a former prime minister to be provided with quality and safe food along with a security guard PTI core committee urged the court should take immediate notice of the situation and allow providing him food and water from home besides issuing order of his immediate transfer of PTI Chairman from Attock to Adiala Jail

T wo terrorists neutralised in Balochistan IBO

RAWALPINDI

S ta f f R e p o R t

At least two terrorist were killed and another sustained injuries in a successful intelligence based operation launched by the security forces against miscreants in Mazaband Range area of Balochistan’s Kech district on August 10-11 the military said According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) a large cache of arms and ammunition was recovered in the operation The killed Terrorists were involved in targeting of innocent civilians and law enforcement agencies, the military’s media wing said “Security Forces of Pakistan remain committed towards eliminating menace of terrorism and thwart nefarious designs of the enemies of Pakistan at all costs it added

Earlier this week at least seven people including a chairman of a union council were killed in a bomb explosion in Balochistan s Panjgur district Levies sources said a vehicle was targeted through a remote-controlled blast in the Balgatar area of Kech district near Panjgur border Ishaq Balgatri the UC chairman was among the dead The victims were going in a vehicle for a wedding party when targeted Balochistan Home Minister Mir Ziaullah Langove confirmed

Waving national flag with political par t y’s flag banned in Capital

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The government on Friday imposed a ban on waving national flag with the political party s flag in federal capital Islamabad The government took extraordinary measures ahead of Independence Day being celebrated on August 14, imposing a ban on waving national flag with the political party’s flag Additionally a ban was also imposed on placing political party s flags along with the national flags at sale points in Islamabad The Islamabad police department has also been directed to stop the sale of vuvuzela and ordered the officers to strictly monitor their areas Earlier in the month, taking strict notice of noise pollution, the judicial magistrate ordered authorities to take action against the sellers and users of toy horns (vuvuzelas) on the occasion of Independence Day As Independence Day approaches the sight of vuvuzelas hanging alongside other merchandise at stalls is a common sight across the country

Punjab police launches fresh crackdown against PTI workers

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Day of Minorities

Our minority communities are part and parcel of the Pakistani nationalism

From the freedom struggle to this day, they have contributed meaningfully to building the country From defence to education to health to social service there is no walk of life where our non-Muslim brothers and sisters have not played their role in the socio-economic development of the country, he added

The Day, he said also drew the attention to Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s historic speech at the floor of the legislative assembly where he laid down the rules of engagement for the citizens with the newly created state of Pakistan

The very idea of Pakistan is incomplete without our non-Muslim citizens The “white colour” of our flag symbolizes their place in the body politic of Pakistan he added PM Shehbaz said from Jogendranath Mandal Pakistan s first law minister to Dr Maira Phailbus to Dr Ruth Pfau to Justice Dorab Patel, the list of our Pakistani non-Muslim personalities of

eminence was long whose contributions to public service continued to be celebrated He said interfaith harmony was a marked feature of the national identity Pakistan is a strong advocate of pluralism and diversity

Our Constitution guarantees the provision of social political religious and economic rights to all citizens without any discrimination of caste, creed and colour, he said, adding, I am happy to state that the empowerment of our minority communities has taken the center-stage of public policy as successive governments have allocated resources and implemented policies aimed at their mainstreaming and empowerment

The prime minister urged all segments of society to forge unity in their ranks He said nothing was more powerful than the spirit of togetherness in a nation for it powered its imagination and strengthened its resolve to overcome the odds Unity faith and discipline , the Quaid s motto, shows us the way forward to navigate the challenges ” he added

Pak istan ‘deeply saddened’ over loss of precious lives in China floods

ISLAMABAD

M i a n a b R a R

Pakistan on Friday expressed its deep concerns and dismay over the loss of precious human lives due to floods in China, saying it was ready to provide utmost support and humanitarian assistance to China in the difficult hour

In a statement issued here Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: We are deeply saddened to learn about the loss of precious human lives due to floods in China Our thoughts and sympathies are with the affected people and the bereaved families

The FO spokesperson, who herself has served as Charge d’Affaires in Beijing, said that in these difficult

times, Pakistan stands ready to provide utmost support and humanitarian assistance to China

“We are confident that led by the Chinese leadership and due to strong will and conviction of the Chinese people China would soon surmount this temporary difficulty, she maintained

The spokesperson further stated that like China, Pakistan was also confronting the adverse impacts of climate change manifested in heat-waves, torrential rains and floods Pakistan stands ready to work with China to achieve our shared objectives of mitigating climate change and up-grading our respective capacity for disaster management and prevention, she added

In a renewed effort to bring the culprits of the May 9 and March 14 incidents to justice, the Punjab police have initiated a massive crackdown again – a claim confronted strongly by major political party Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) which claims that the crackdown was launched to prevent party workers waving party flags on Independence Day – August 154 According to police sources, an extensive list of 4,082 individuals allegedly has been compiled, covering various regions across Punjab Among these 1 082 individuals have been listed as suspects from Lahore A meticulously crafted strategy for apprehending these suspects has been devised incorporating a combination of targeted raids and cutting-edge technological tools to locate and apprehend them within their respective residences Furthermore, not only will those directly responsible for the incidents face legal action but also individuals found to have provided support or aid to the accused will be held accountable under the law To effectively execute this operation specialized teams, each comprising four distinct units, have been assembled with a specific focus on swiftly apprehending the identified suspects

APHC pays tributes to mar t yred APHC leader Sheikh

A ziz on his anniversar y

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The speakers have said that martyred senior APHC leader Sheikh Abdul Aziz will always be remembered as a great hero in Kashmir s history The All Parties Hurriyat Conference Azad Jammu and Kashmir (APHC-AJK) chapter held a seminar in Jammu and Kashmir House in Islamabad, today, to pay glowing tributes to senior martyred leader, Sheikh Abdul Aziz on his 15th martyrdom anniversary The seminar on the martyred leader Peace with Honour Not let up No Compromise was presided over by senior APHC-AJK leader Muhammad Farooq Rahmani while former president of AJK Sardar Yaqoob Khan was the chief guest The seminar was addressed by APHC-AJK and AJK leaders, including , Muhammad Farooq Rehmani, Sardar Yaqoob Khan Ghulam Muhammad Safi Sheikh Abdul Mateen Syed Yousuf Naseem Sheikh Mohammad Yaqoob Hassan Al-Bana Rafiq Ahmed Dar Syed Ejaz Rahmani Dr Mushtaq Ahmed Ibrahim Hassan and Afsar Khan

No restric tion on Nawaz after completing 5-year disqualific ation: PM

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said there was no restriction on Pakistan Muslim League-N supremo Nawaz Sharif to contest the election as he had completed his five-year disqualification period

As far as Nawaz Sharif is concerned, that law is in the field now under which the maximum disqualification period is five years There is no restriction on Nawaz Sharif as he has completed his five-year disqualification ” the prime minister said in an interview with a private television channel

He said the new law promulgated by the Parliament had overwritten the previous law which the Supreme Court has not yet annulled

“Inshallah, I am sure that he will return by next month He will face the law The nation will receive

him warmly He will run the election campaign and all of us will be with him, he stated

Commenting about the Supreme Court s decision on the Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act 2023 the prime minister said the legislature had all the powers of lawmaking This is the first time in the history I have not seen it happening anywhere in the world that legislation is stopped in anticipation, he remarked and said the legislation was the job of Parliament, not the Supreme Court Regarding the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief, he said the court would decide his fate as he had no role in that regard

However he said the NAB-Niazi nexus victimised him and his family Nawaz Sharif and his daughter and sister of Asif Ali Zardari when they were also denied bail Contrarily, the PTI government obtained stay orders in the cases of the BRT (Bus Rapid Transit), wheat and

sugar scandals He told the interviewer that inflation touched 12 5% during the previous government which stood at just 3 5% during Nawaz Sharif s tenure

Prime Minister Shehbaz said his government reduced oil prices based on international rates after regular reviews but had to increase them due to global market fluctuations He said the government spent Rs 40-50 billion for distributing free flour during Ramazan to support the poor Additionally, it also provided crosssubsidy to those consuming up to 200 units of electricity per month However, he said, it was unrealistic to expect economic growth amidst incidents like the one on May 9 which was treason against Pakistan the Pakistan Army and the Chief of the Army Staff

To a question he said the controversy over the appointment of the army chief was not a positive tradition In other countries, such appointments were not publicized

Counsels always allowed to visit: C J Farooq tells Imran’s law yer

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday assured Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf

(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan s lawyer that the court would issue appropriate orders over pleas seeking protection for the former premier as he serves his sentence

Imran’s lawyer Sher Afzal Khan

Marwat appeared before IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq s court today as he pleaded with the court to issue directives to allow the legal team to meet with the PTI chief in jail He implored the court that there had been ‘”false accusations” of lawyers causing disruptions at the Attock District Jail where Imran is serving his prison term We have said this before and we will say it again lawyers are allowed to hold meetings remarked the CJ

The lawyer also complained before the judge that there had been attempts to arrest him despite him having secured

interim bail

We were not permitted to meet the PTI chairman despite court orders, he said The court also heard Imran’s plea requesting a transfer from Attock district prison to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail

The court inquired from Assistant Advocate General Punjab Rao Shaukat to provide clarification on whether the court had sentenced the PTI chief to Attock or Adala jail Upon this, the letter of Attock Jail transfer on behalf of the Punjab Government was presented before the court The Punjab Government s counsel also read out the details of the reasons related to the transfer of Attock Jail

Tell me one thing, said CJ Farooq, can t the lawyers meet the accused? The provincial government’s lawyer informed the court that a meeting between the PTI chief and his lawyer had already taken place on August 7 where the lawyer signed letters of attorney of the high courts and the Supreme Court

The court questioned whether signing legal documents is the only reason lawyers are permitted to meet with the accused Failure to

cases registered against Imran and the legal team needed

take advice from him The CJ expressed the view that lawyers should be permitted to meet with the accused through proper channels The PTI’s lawyer on the other hand objected to the Punjab government s version saying that they were fabricating the details Marwat further argued that they needed to decide on the jail class within 48 hours which they failed to do so” “Under what law did they transfer the PTI chief to Attack Jail? the lawyer implored expressing reservations regarding the conditions under which Imran was being kept at the premises

The Punjab government on the other hand maintained that the former premier was being provided all necessary facilities including medical care at the jail The CJ remarked that there is the matter of meetings and facilities at the jail before us We

U S S ET T O U N V E I L LO N G - AW A I T E D C R A C K D O W N O N

R E A L E S TAT E M O N E Y L A U N D E R I N G

THE U S Treasury Department will soon propose a rule that would effectively end anonymous luxuryhome purchases, closing a loophole that the agency says allows corrupt oligarchs, terrorists and other criminals to hide ill-gotten gains

The long-awaited rule is expected to require that real estate professionals such as title insurers report the identities of the beneficial owners of companies buying real estate in cash to the Treasury s Financial Crimes Enforcement Network (FinCEN) FinCEN is slated to propose the rule sometime this month according to its regulatory agenda though the timeline could slip said two people briefed on the developments Anti-corruption advocates and lawmakers have been pushing for the rule, which will replace the current patchwork reporting system

Criminals have for decades anonymously hidden ill-gotten gains in real estate Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in March adding that as much as $2 3 billion was laundered through U S real estate between 2015 and 2020

“That’s why FinCEN is taking this important step to put something officially on

the books that would root out money laundering through the sector once and for all,” said Erica Hanichak, government affairs director of advocacy group the FACT Coalition Some advocates say FinCEN which declined to comment on the timing of the proposal has moved too slowly Officials first said in 2021 that they planned to implement the rule

FinCEN has been struggling to complete a related rule that would unmask shell company owners A bipartisan group of lawmakers has pressed FinCEN to tighten up that proposal according to an April public letter That debate has slowed down FinCEN s work on the real estate reporting rule, one of the sources said The American Land Title Association, which represents title insurers says it welcomes the new rule but that FinCEN should delay it until the shell company rule is completed

The proposed rule will be open to public and industry feedback

PATCHWORK

While banks have long been required to understand the source of customer funds and report suspicious transactions no such rules exist nationwide for the real estate industry Instead, FinCEN has operated real estate purchase disclosure rules, known as

geographic targeting orders (GTOs), in just a handful of cities including New York, Miami and Los Angeles The new rule is expected to effectively expand GTOs nationwide FinCEN implemented GTOs in 2016 after the New York Times revealed that nearly half of luxury real estate was bought by anonymous shell companies

But the orders are easy to skirt by simply buying property outside the targeted areas said Jodi Vittori an expert on illicit finance at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Transparency advocates pushing for a nationwide rule point to the example of Guo Wengui, an exiled Chinese businessman who, according to prosecutors, used an anonymous shell company to channel illicit profit from a fraud scheme into the $26 million purchase of a 50 000-square-foot New Jersey mansion in December 2021 Had Guo brought property across the Hudson River in Manhattan, it would have been subject to a GTO and likely flagged immediately to law enforcement Guo a onetime business partner of former Donald Trump adviser Steve Bannon has pleaded not guilty to fraud charges His lawyers did not respond to a request for comment A FinCEN spokesperson said GTO

reports provide valuable data Howard Master a formal federal prosecutor said law enforcement uses them to generate leads but mainly to learn more about assets owned by individuals already under investigation “It’ll identify an asset that is beneficially owned by someone that you might not otherwise have known about ” said Master now a partner at investigations firm Nardello & Co A 2020 report by the Government Accountability Office, Congress

Apex court terms review of orders and judgments law ‘null and void’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The order said that the so-called enlargement of the court’s jurisdiction had “no constitutional sanction or basis” and was not anchored in any provision of the Constitution relating to the judicature or the SC

Meanwhile Justice Akhtar penned an additional note wherein he observed A review is not an appeal

Indeed, it is quite different and distinct from it So says conventional wisdom

Justice Akhtar then recalled the history of review and appellate jurisdictions, beginning with the Government of India Act 1935 which he said “became the first Constitution for both the dominions of Pakistan and India

Quoting numerous judgements he arrived at the conclusion: Here was the wisdom that became conventional: a review is not an appeal

Justice Akhtar cited Article 184 of the Constitution, which he said “deals with the appellate jurisdiction of the Court from judgements decrees etc of the high courts He observed that an appeal whether granted by right or by the Supreme Court does not lie on a question of fact but only on questions of law

He concluded, Therefore, [ ] section 2 (of the law) clearly goes beyond even Article 185 when it provides for the scope of the appeal as including questions of fact ”

Opposing the empowering of the petitioner to have a counsel of choice Justice Akhtar cited Rule 6 of Order XXVI of Supreme Court Rules 1980 which provides that unless special leave is obtained from the Court, it is only the advocate who appeared at the hearing of the case’ who will ‘be heard in support of the application for review'”

In the note Justice Akhtar observed that Section 2 of the law sought to transform the nature of the jurisdiction by purporting to alter the scope in relation to judgements or orders under Article 184

But that cannot mean that the review jurisdiction [ ] can be so altered that it, in substance, is transformed into an appellate jurisdiction ” he stated The justice then went on to raise questions about members of the bench hearing the review

Noting that the review under Section 2 of the enacted law would have to be heard as though it were an appeal under Article 185 of the Constitution, he recalled that it was a settled and cardinal rule that no judge can hear an appeal from his or her own judgment”

Highlighting that the said section created a dilemma Justice Akhtar said the only way out of it would be for none of the judges who originally heard the latter to be part of the bench hearing the review petition However, resultantly, the author of the judgement not being able to be part of the review bench was “certainly startling”, he added

PMD forecast rain, wind-thundershower from Aug 13 to Aug 16

The Independence Day seems to be rainy as Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) on Friday forecast rain-wind-thundershower at various parts of the country from August 13 (night) till August 16 According to the synoptic situation moderate monsoon currents from Arabian Sea were penetrating in upper parts of the country A westerly wave was also likely to enter in various parts of the country on August

13 Under the influence of these systems, rain/wind-thundershower with few moderate to heavy falls is expected in Kashmir, (Neelum valley Muzaffarabad Poonch Hattian

Bagh Haveli Sudhanoti Kotli Bhimber

Mirpur) Gilgit Baltistan (Diamir Astore

Ghizer Skardu Hunza Gilgit Ghanche Shigar), Murree, Galliyat, Islamabad, Rawalpindi, Attock, Chakwal, Jhelum, Mandi Bahauddin, Hafizabad, Gujranwala, Gujrat Sialkot Narowal Lahore Kasur

Sheikhupura Chitral Dir Swat Shangla

Buner Mansehra Kohistan Abbottabad

Haripur Peshawar Mardan Swabi and Nowshera from August 13 (evening/night) to August 16 with occasional gaps

The judge stated that the resulting bench would “at one and same time decide it in terms of two distinct and separate jurisdictions which he said was a startling conclusion Noting another issue arising from Section 3 of the law, Justice Akhtar observed that the true nature of and intent behind section 2 [was] nothing other than a right of appeal masquerading as a ‘review’”

Again objecting to Section 3 he said that as a result a full court could never be constituted to hear a matter as any such possibility would stand practically precluded by reason of section 3

He went on to observe that while the enacted law “purports only to regulate the review jurisdiction under Article 188, it oversteps that bound and contains and limits [ ] also the power” of the CJP

Justice Akhtar in his note concluded that Sections 2 and 3 of the law violate more than one constitutional principle and rule and were ultra vires the legislative competence conferred by Article 188 of the Constitution However, this conclusion may, at this point, be marked as provisional,” he said Verdict to have no impact on Nawaz’s disqualification: Tarar

Meanwhile former law minister Azam Nazeer Tarar said that the apex court s verdict would have no impact on the cases pertaining to the disqualification of former premier Nawaz Sharif

Speaking to Geo News shortly after the verdict was announced, Tarar termed the verdict “unfortunate” “It is not a good tradition if courts will repeatedly interfere in Parliament s workings and give verdicts that impair its independence he said

When asked if the verdict could cause a delay in Nawaz s expected return, Tarar said, Not at all

He then referred to an amendment made to the Elections Act, which he said was “sort of a unanimous legislation” The amendment limited disqualification of lawmakers to five years with retrospective effect

He went on to argue that extending the disqualification period would offend the fundamental rights of a person as taking part in politics, going into the public, asking for votes from the public are fundamental rights”

Tarar further asserted that Nawaz and “dozens of others disqualified only in the cases of [Article] 184(3) are now after five years eligible to take part in elections under Article 232 (disqualification on account of offences) of the Elections Act

Recalling that the bill for amending the Elections Act was passed by the Senate amid an uproar, he insisted that the law was not “person-specific just for mian Nawaz Sharif sahib but for the benefit of many others so that justice can be served”

So this [verdict] has no impact relating to the cases of Nawaz Sharif sahib he said

He highlighted that the timing of the verdict created a perception that the development could be considered as taking advantage of the Parliament s absence He added that the verdict was announced after the dissolution of the National Assembly, meaning the law could not be referred back to it, and the Parliament cannot immediately enact it again”

On June 19 during the hearing Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial expressed his reservations underscoring the importance of comprehensive consultation with experienced legal minds before enacting pivotal laws such as the Supreme Court (Review of Judgments and Orders) Act, 2023

The CJP had also observed that the court welcomes and accepts that there should be remedy to the orders and judgements issued under Article 184(3) but such remedy should be crafted in accordance with the constitution by adding valid grounds rather than ordinary legislation Why the government should not consider giving definition of the public importance an important ingredient while invoking petitions under Article 184(3), he wondered The Supreme Court approved the constitutional petitions against the new law granting right of appeal against the apex court decisions The chief justice remarked that the parliament had no power to enact such a legislation The CJP further remarked that the act was against the Constitution It is learnt that the court had on Thursday sent electronic notices to the parties to the case for announcement of judgement on Friday

Ghulam Mohiuddin Zaman Khan Vardak the Jurists Foundation through its CEO Riaz Hanif Rahi and the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) had challenged the vires of the act The apex court held six hearings from June 7 to 19 on petitions challenging the law, enacted in May

Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan had asked the court to dismiss the pleas against the law explaining that it broadens the court’s jurisdiction and does not curb its powers However PTI lawyer Ali Zafar had argued that a change in the Supreme Court s powers could not be made through legislation alone and required a constitutional amendment It was worth mentioned here that the bill was passed by Parliament on May 5 amid a tussle with the judiciary The bill brought to the House through supplementary agenda was moved by Senator Irfanul Haque Siddiqui who is believed to be a close confidant of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif The House had allowed its immediate consideration with a majority vote of 32-21 The government had claimed that the bill was aimed to facilitate and strengthen the Supreme Court in exercise of its powers to review judgements and orders However the opposition saw it as an attempt to reverse the disqualification of PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif

Pak, C hina joint lab for ecosystem restoration, sustainable development inaugurated

Muhammad Jafar Jaskani, professors of entomology Dr Muhammad Jalal Arif and Dr Abid Ali, professor of botany Dr Muhammad Saqib, and professor of agronomy Dr Zeeshan Ahmed were engaged as visiting professors of Shenyang Normal University

ISLAMABAD

The lab for ecosystem restoration and sustainable development jointly built by University of Agriculture Faisalabad (UAF) and Shenyang Normal University China has been inaugurated The two sides expect to carry out some innovative projects and research programs together under the lab, according to Iqrar Ahmad Khan, Vice Chancellor of UAF

Pakistan land degradation has been eroding agricultural output We look forward to green technology

In Pakistan two third of the rapidly increasing population depends on drylands to support their livelihood mainly by engaging in agro-pastoral activities Within the vast arid and semi-arid areas which takes over 70% of national land area, all have been affected by land degradation According to Remote Sensing study, the land degradation in Pakistan is mainly due to vegetation loss and withdrawal of agriculture accounting for 53 78% and 40 07% respectively

This is particular acute in the transition area from northern mountainous area to central and eastern plain and the Indus River Basin, where the intensification of human activities also plays a role

From 2001 to 2020 Pakistan’s land degradation area reached 17 550 07km2 The problem becomes even more severe after the biblical floods last year which destroyed 4m acres of crops nationwide and caused $3 18bn damages to the agriculture sector, leaving impact to be felt for years Experts suggest that effective land use methods be formulated to protect the ecological environment and vegetation, improve the productivity of cropland, optimize the use of cropland resources and reasonably reclaim cropland to realize Land Degradation Neutrality and sustainable development of land resources in Pakistan

investigative arm found that nearly 7% of GTO reports identified individuals or entities connected to ongoing FBI cases But the same report highlighted concerns about the ability of FinCEN, which has complained of chronic underfunding, to police the program For the new rule to be effective, FinCEN will need more enforcement resources said David Szakonyi a political science professor at George Washington University FinCEN needs more people and more computers to process the information

‘No helmet , no petrol’: LHC suspends Punjab gov t notification

LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t

The Lahore High Court (LHC) took decisive action on Friday by suspending the notification that had imposed a ban on the sale of petrol to motorcyclists without helmets The ban meant that the motorcyclists not wearing helmets would not be sold fuel at any petrol station within Lahore The petrol pumps that sell fuel to such motorcyclists would be fined The court s decision came following its issuance of a formal notice to the federal government and other relevant stakeholders soliciting their input on the matter The high court expressed deep concern over the imposition of the ban through a mere notification The court questioned the validity of such a directive emphasizing the importance of upholding citizens fundamental rights in a just and equitable manner Fundamental rights cannot be denied or curtailed without proper legal procedures, the court remarked

IHC issues notices to par ties in plea against ‘abduction’ of former PTI MNA Shandana Gulzar

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f r e p o r t

A petition has been filed against the alleged abduction of Shandana Gulzar, a former Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) Member of the National Assembly (MNA) in the Islamabad High Court (IHC) The petitioner Sabahat Gulzar Khan claimed that the unlawful kidnapping of her daughter Shandana Gulzar was purportedly carried out by personnel from the Islamabad police The Islamabad Inspector General (IG), Bani Gala Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP), and the Station House Officer (SHO) have all been named as parties On Friday Justice Babar Sattar heard the petition during which legal representative Sher Afzal Marwat presented the petitioner s stance on behalf of Shandana Gulzar Advocate Sher Afzal Marwat asserted that Shandana Gulzar, a former MNA of the PTI, was allegedly forcefully abducted by individuals donning Islamabad police uniforms The incident purportedly took place on Wednesday at approximately 5 pm when as claimed she was accosted at gunpoint Marwat further detailed that a formal complaint had been registered with the Bani Gala SHO regarding the alleged abduction, but no action has been taken yet After hearing the arguments, the court issued notices to all concerned parties Later, the proceedings have been adjourned until August 15

PR I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif has advised the President for the dissolution of the National Assembly, hopefully paving the way for general elections to be held to the National Assembly and all four provincial assemblies in 90 days with the Election Commission of Pakistan fixing the exact date The President immediately dissolved, thereby setting November 8 as the maximum to which elections can be stretched There is an increasing noise that elections will not be held on time because of fresh delimitations, based on the census held this year Only if a politician feels he can win will he ask for fresh elections otherwise he would prefer to avoid them There is no real room in the Constitution for putting off elections, and in fact, holding them on time is the main duty of the caretaker government This is paradoxically a return to the instability preceding the last election when the fall of Mian Nawaz Sharif led to a period of instability which the elections did not end The opposition has always insisted that the PTI was brought to office in 2018 but in 2022 it took the support of those same smaller parties and independents to form a government This Parliament was the fourth in succession to have the PM changed in the middle of the term, but was the first to have the government’s party complexion changed That was not the only first It was also the first House to remove a Prime Minister through a vote of noconfidence It was also the first House in which members criticized the judiciary

The PDM on taking over lost its opposition as the PTI resigned and left The resignations were accepted but by-elections were not held The PTI held negotiations on its return but nothing came of it with the result that Raja Riaz the PTI dissident remained Leader of the Opposition, and enjoys his moment in the sun, consulting for all it s worth, on who should be the next caretaker PM

While the National Assembly is one of the two Houses of a legislature it did not do a particularly outstanding job Whereas the PDM only brought legislation it was interested in, until the last days before dissolution when it rushed through legislation and might have passed some bad laws like the Official Secrets Act amendments, had it not been for a rebellion within its own ranks The PTI was hardly better; lacking a Senate majority it relied heavily on ordinances It is to be hoped that the House to be elected will do a better job

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

If one sets out to explore the enigmatic labyrinth of feudalism in Sindh Pakistan one is confronted with a rich tapestry of historical roots and deep-seated beliefs that have shaped the province’s political landscape for centuries The feudal lords known as Waderas have existed in this region since time immemorial This feudal system of Sindh has both critics and supporters Through the historical and critical analysis of the political history of Sindh, one can explore whether feudalism has been a source of empowerment for the people or an impediment

Feudalism in Sindh follows deep archaic roots

The feudal lords in Sindh existed from time immemorial but the era of British colonialism could be termed as the aggravating period The feudalism before that era did not create a proper class difference but this era created a Marxist-based class difference of bourgeoise and proletariat In this era, land ownership was concentrated in the hands of a few powerful landlords Over time this system entrenched the roots of present-day feudalism in Sindh and created the control of the feudal elite over vast agricultural lands fostering a hierarchical society with a limited concentration of wealth and power

Proponents of feudalism argue that the system provides a sense of social order and stability They claim that the feudal lords or Waderas, act as the patrons of their people by supporting their communities through philanthropic initiatives such as building hospitals mosques schools or charity Also they argue that the historical feudal justice system allows quick justice and resolution of conflicts which helps maintain peace as well as law and order, especially in rural areas where institutional powers might be limited However reality shows a different picture While some of the feudal lords do engage in such philanthropic activities the majority does not They often

do these activities selectively to maintain power and influence in the area rather than having intention to serve the people Also the patronage system can create dependence, perpetuating a cycle of subjugation where the vulnerable are forced to remain loyal to their landlords because for someone who is dependent on his feudal elite for basic survival needs, he must prioritize the survival over any justice

On the other hand the critics of feudalism argue that the feudal elites have produced hindrance in the progress and development of Sindh The concentration of land owned by feudal elites who prefer traditional farming practices to preserve their interests have stifled the agriculture growth and innovation

This has also hindered the farmers from producing water-friendly crops eventually leading to a major contribution in water scarcity This results in lower productivity and less modernization of agriculture

Furthermore, the feudal system perpetuates a lack of political representation, awareness, and access to resources for the marginalized community or the pro-

While some proponents of feudalism argue that it offers stability and social order, it is important to recognize the darker side of the system. It has not only contributed to perpetuating inequality but also hindered progress and marginaliz ed the vast majority of the population of Sindh. Empowerment can only be achieved by dismantling this system strictly, making a debt-free society, and redistributing the political representation and resources equitably among the people

To ensure the brighter future of Sindh, it is imperative to spread awareness in people and embrace modern and democratic values while preser ving the provinceÊs rich cultural heritag e

P a t r o n a g e - b a s e d p o l i t i c s a n d b a r r i e r s t o a c c e s s

businessman says: “We’re not a poor country

PA K I S TA N has long struggled with governance issues, but reform impetus has not materialised Regular power outages have hampered manufacturing and sparked protests, but energy reform has been difficult to implement Pakistan has not been motivated to increase tax receipts above one of the lowest rates in the world less than 10 percent of GDP despite an unsustainable budget deficit and a lack of resources for basic service provision Throughout its history, the nation has alternated between military and civilian control but these transitions have barely altered the character of governance A small elite that forms weak coalitions based on patronage rather than ideology has controlled politics under both types of regimes Elites have combined broad pledges of better living standards with specific commitments to particular politicians, families, and districts in order to assert their authority But because the state lacks the means and ability to follow through on these commitments authority has a tendency to ebb and flow rendering any system of government unstable Military and civilian elites have prioritized defending their own interests or those of their followers at the expense of fellow people since they are dependent on appeasing various parties through patronage As Nazim Haji a Karachi

Pakistan could move towards a more stable, fair, and open rules-based political order by gradually improving stability by eliminating the need to threaten violence, bolstering the stateÊs ability to ensure that the law applies more fairly (especially when dealing with organisations) and embracing economic reforms that encourage individuals to support change

We re a poorly managed country The ability to use violence is a key factor in deciding political results in Pakistan as it does in other nations with limited access orders (LAO) For a long time, extremists have used violence to both deter influential institutions from interfering with their activities and to force them to adopt their philosophy assassinating politicians in the process The LAO model sheds light on how politics are conducted in Pakistan and explains why change is so tough In many senses, the military and political parties are just vehicles that provide different elites access to state resources Transferring ring control to anybody outside of the immediate family would undoubtedly result in the dissolution of the major parties in Pakistan which depend on personal relationships to maintain their coherence and durability Poor public services are the result of limited capability combined with insufficient finance Governmental institutions now function quite differently for different people due to the weak and corrupt state that has caused this condition

The elite nature of society is a contributing factor to the problem Ordinary people, especially those from lower socioeconomic classes, are frequently dismissed by officials Institutions that should defend equitable and fair government instead serve the elites in charge of them in addition to these attitudes Despite recent efforts to increase the freedom of the judiciary at the highest levels courts and the police have remained subservient to powerful interests, severely hindering the ability of the average person to access justice, receive a prompt resolution of grievances and have contracts and property rights enforced

In fact unfairness against poor people women and minorities is still pervasive in the delivery of public services, including the legal system, particularly in less developed areas

According to some estimates almost 40 percent of Pakistan s population is significantly excluded from politics, society, and the economy because of their identity such as their geography, gender, or kinship group or because of their circumstances These groups are unable to participate in political life access resources assert their rights or have an impact on the institutions that define their lives as a result of their multifaceted disadvantage State institutions continue this exclusionary behaviour, which has strong ties to Pakistan’s historical nepotism and power structures Pakistan is not the only country where patronage in politics exists As long as politics have existed patronage in politics has played a role in it

The lowest and least innovative kind of corruption is allegedly nepotism The biggest abuse of power is providing family members the best jobs even though they are not deserving of them Isn t selecting a person based on relationships and contacts with others unfair and unjustified? How would it feel to be passed over for advancement while providing devoted, honest service and putting forth a lot of effort?

Does a relationship trump merit?

Reform that gives the general public more freedom to pursue their interests won t happen soon or easily Rapid change may actually be destabilising since it threatens the inter-elite bonds that keep the state intact while preventing the emergence of stronger institutional arrangements The goal should be a sequence of small advancements that support one another to progressively alter power dynamics Pakistan could move towards a more stable fair and open rules-based political order by gradually improving stability by eliminating the need to threaten violence, bolstering the state s ability to ensure that the law applies more fairly (especially when dealing with organisations) and embracing economic reforms that encourage individuals to support change

The writer is a freelance columnist

letariat in the Marxist terminology The norm of dynastic politics in Sindh has roots in this feudalism where people are heirs to the political power of their ancestors along with the assets This leads to a pool of leaders that may not be competent or committed enough to serve the people Consequently, the major portion of Sindh’s population is left without a voice in decision-making processes

One of the most egregious aspects of feudalism in Sindh is the persistence of bonded labour Thousands of landless peasants known as haris are trapped in a vicious cycle of debt which compels them to work on the land of feudal elites without any escape route They are also deprived of the right to vote because they can only vote according to the will of the feudal elite Although this kind of exploitation is outlawed by the government its enforcement remains weak due to the deep-rooted influence and vote banks of these feudal lords in local politics

The feudal system has also contributed to ethnic tensions in Sindh Land ownership patterns have often favoured certain ethnic groups leading to disparities among different communities Most of the feudal lords have control over their ethnic community which helps them fulfil their political interests This ethnic divide has also exacerbated conflicts which divert focus from addressing broader issues of poverty, education, and infrastructure development

While some proponents of feudalism argue that it offers stability and social order it is important to recognize the darker side of the system It has not only contributed to perpetuating inequality but also hindered progress and marginalized the vast majority of the population of Sindh Empowerment can only be achieved by dismantling this system strictly, making a debt-free society, and redistributing the political representation and resources equitably among the people To ensure the brighter future of Sindh it is imperative to spread awareness in people and embrace modern and democratic values while preserving the province s rich cultural heritage Only then can Sindh truly progress towards prosperity and inclusivity for all its inhabitants

The writer is a freelance columnist

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

Penalties

I T was good to learn that the police force has stepped up efforts to punish traffic violators Unfortunately the very small penalties will not deter the habitual law-breakers and some more visible punishment impacting the pocket as well as their image will have to be introduced to make roads in Karachi and other cities of Pakistan safer

When the first martial law was promulgated in 1958, one observed an army jeep suddenly stopping at bus stops and a soldier with a stick directing people waiting for a bus to make a queue This scenario was repeated all over the country for a few weeks and as a results people as per my recollection started getting into a queue automatically for at least the next 10 years Similarly vehicles of persons driving on the wrong side were stopped and the driver was asked to get down on his knees and hold his ears This was basically to shame the person, and it worked We need to reintroduce such relatively strong penalties not only for streamlining traffic but in all aspects of life to put emphasis on discipline in the conduct of our lives if we want to progress as a nation

We have often heard the lament that Pakistanis strictly follow the laws of other countries but start taking liberties with law as soon as they land in Pakistan This is primarily because of the poor accounta-bility and hardly any penalties on the law-breakers Citizens of other countries are not angels Their behaviour is subconsciously tailored by the strong accountability and penalties in their respective countries where visitors from Pakistan would have hardly ever observed people driving on the wrong side of the track

MOIN MOHAJIR KARACHI

How to curb spread of Hepatitis

H E PAT I T I S is increasing in Pakistan despite efforts by the government as well as by the non-government organisations (NGOs) working for decades to eliminate the disease from the country We spend only a miniscule fraction of the budget on health and therefore cannot spend much on vaccination against polio and hepatitis

First we need to assess the reasons for the spread of hepatitis and then develop a formal action plan The most important reasons for the spread of the infection are lack of education, use of a syringe for several patients by doctors and nurses, barbers using infected instruments, through sexual contact, and from mother to baby at birth An NGO has been working on hepatitis for the last few years in and around Gharo, which is a locality housing the underprivileged People there have been living with practically no access to healthcare The NGO has done screening of more than 2 387 people and found 397 to be reactive Out of 192 positive cases 146 were treated; 106 completely treated and the remaining still under treatment

One of the key modes of transmission is from mother to baby at birth Therefore, there has to be a programme to prevent the transmission soon after the delivery For this, lady health visitors and midwives may play an important role They must be aware of pregnant women in their area and their expected date of delivery so that they may vaccinate the child within 24 hours of birth to prevent the transmission of virus

Another important area of consideration comprises 4 4 million unvaccinated orphans living in various orphanages The said NGO is coordinating with leading orphan houses in Karachi and drawing up a programme to carry out vaccination of these orphaned children, beginning with Karachi and then moving on to other cities The situation will change only if the government spends more money on health and through preventive measures like immunisation which can eradicate hepatitis polio measles tuberculosis and many other illnesses A solid commitment on the part of the government and agencies towards primary prevention and healthcare is badly needed, and sincere efforts have to be made to improve the quality of life and decrease morbidity and mortality

The holding of the nex t elec tion on time is supposed to come after the dissolution

The roof of the World COMMENT 05

Territorial claims on the arc tic ocean and its impor tance

Haseeb Haroon

ON the top of our map of the world is the North Pole and we can see it is surrounded by the Russia America Canada Norway Greenland Iceland in the midst of a vast region which is called the Arctic Ocean This ocean is covered with ice almost all year round, and ships can t pass through it, so why is this ocean so important? And why has it become so important in recent decades?

Which countries are claiming ownership over it and what does international law say about these claims?

Arctic Ocean is in the far north of the earth and its adjacent small seas and the northern parts of Russia the USA, Canada, Norway, Finland, Sweden as well as Greenland and Iceland make up the Arctic region The Arctic Ocean is located in the middle of this region at the North Pole and total area is 14 million sq km

W h y A r c t i c O c e A n i s i m p O rtA n t: Until a few decades ago this part of the earth was covered with snow all year round but in recent years due to increase in global warming, the ice in this region began to melt faster and it melts at the annual rate of 13 percent The last few decades have seen a significant decrease in the ice here According to experts if the ice from the Arctic Ocean continues to melt at the same rate then this area will be completely ice free by 2035 This has posed a new strategic issue as the snow level decreases with each passing year So coastal countries of Arctic Ocean are seeing it as an opportunity and trying to prove their ownership of as much of it as possible and are even ready to pay the price of the enmity of other countries in the region There are two main reasons for this:

1 According to experts it contains 22 percent of the undiscovered mineral resources in our oceans Under these circumstances, any coastal country would want to control as much of it as possible and become the owner of the mineral deposits, while in addition the claimant country will have the rights to fish within the claimed limits

2 The Northern Sea route and North Western Passage will also become conducive to shipping in coming years So the coastal countries would also like to have control over these shipping lanes and ports that might be established in their areas

3 Comparing these new shipping routes with the shipping routes now used make it easy to understand why these new shipping lanes are important

Through NSR the maritime distance from Japan to

North Western Europe will be reduced to 40 percent compared to the Suez Canal route and of course the cost of trade through this route will be very low Similarly through the NWP maritime distance from Japan to New York (USA) will be reduced by 17 percent of the Panama Canal route In these circumstances it would be economically beneficial for claimant countries In 2017 a Russian LNG tanker travelled from Europe to Asia via the NSR without resorting to an ice-breaker and a Russian official says that trip lasted only six and a half days

c l A i m s O f A r c t i c n At i O n s: According to the United Nations Law of Seas, the sea from the coast of any country up to 200 nautical miles Falls within the territorial boundaries of that country Within these limits this country will have control and rights over (a) shipping (b) fishing (c) drilling This range is called the country s Exclusive Economic Zones According to the same law if a country succeeds in providing on technical grounds that it had more maritime boundaries then its limit can be extended Some of the same provisions of this law also make it complicated Coastal states have claims for specific reasons over specific part of the Arctic Ocean and it is also becoming a point of contention looking at the claims from the USA Russia Canada and Denmark

r u s s i A c l A i m: Russia covers 53% of the coastline of the Arctic Ocean and Russia claims the ownership of much of the Arctic Ocean in addition to its EEZ Russia had also formally submitted its claim to the UN Russia claims that the geological features of mountain ranges with in the Arctic ocean are very similar to mountain ranges found on land in Russian territory as in extension there the ownership of this mountain range should be given to Russia, but interestingly the part that is claimed by Russia is also claimed by Denmark because of Greenland which falls in its territory

c A n A d A c l A i m s: Canada claims due to extension of its continental shelves thus the claims of these countries overlap Although the conflict is not yet severe it can become severe as the ice melts and the possibility of war can also arise among Arctic nations over claims In the Arctic ocean there is conflict between Canada and Denmark Canada claims Hans Island in the Nares Strait in the Arctic Ocean as its own as does Denmark However no mineral deposits have been discovered there, rather it is just a rock but the acquiring country will have the right to search and extract minerals in its vicinity Therefore this conflict is also intensifying Canada also claims that NWP passes through its territorial waters and the rest of the world should get regular permission for using it, but the USA and the rest of the world is of the opinion that this route is in international waters and doesn’t require permission to pass Adjacent to the

Pa k i s t a n i s v e r y f a r f ro m t h e A rc t i c O c e a n , bu t c a n n o t b e p l e a s e d w i t h t h e p ro s p e c t o f h a v i n g t o t a k e s i d e s i n d i s p u t e s i nvo l v i n g a n E U m e m b e r l i k e D e n m a r k a n d C a n a d a . I t c a n n o t h e l p bu t b e n e f i t f ro m t h e b o o s t t o wo r l d t r a d e f ro m t h e N W P o r B S R , bu t i t wo u l d n o t l i k e i nvo l v e m e n t i n t h e d i s p u t e s t h a t m ay a r i s e .

Arctic region there is the Beaufort Sea, in which the boundary lines drawn by Canada and the USA overlap and according to experts the region is rich in resources so both countries want to own it Similarly Russia has more control over NSR and has military bases on its shores and the USA has strong reservations about it The conflict is not only among Arctic nations but China also has special interest in this region as it is near Arctic state and wants to build the Polar Silk Route with Russia and in near terms China will emerge as a party to the conflict No agreement has yet been reached between the Arctic countries on this issue but and Arctic council is there for coordination cooperation and interaction between these countries

This sea importance can also be gauged from the fact that during WW-II when Germany invaded the USSR, it was not possible for allies at that time to help the Soviets by way of the Black Sea or the Baltic Sea or through the Persian Gulf because these were a very long way off So the possible shortest and quickest way was through the Arctic Ocean The UK first provide assistance to the USSR through it, and following in its footsteps the USA in the same way provided assistance to the USSR which proved very helpful for the Soviets in throwing back Germany Pakistan is very far from the Arctic Ocean, but cannot be pleased with the prospect of having to take sides in disputes involving an EU member like Denmark and Canada It cannot help but benefit from the boost to world trade from the NWP or BSR but it would not like involvement in the disputes that may arise It must keep an eye on developments

The writer is a freelance columnist

The world has no choice but to work with the Taliban

H o w t o h e l p Af g h a n i s t a n w i t h o u t n o r m a l i z i n g re l at i o n s

region, Afghanistan’s neighbors worry the Taliban cannot or will not fill the gap

W h at e ve r t h e wo r l d t h i n k s, t h e Ta l i b a n n o w r u n a c o u n t r y, w i t h a i m s a n d u rg e n t n e e d s

FOREIGN AFFAIRS

G r a e m e s m i t H a n d i b r a H e e m b a H s s

IT has been two years since the Taliban retook control of Afghanistan But earlier this summer in a government office in Kabul overlooking a well-tended garden, a mid-level Taliban official lamented that the country remains locked in a political standoff Regional and Western actors cannot agree about how to deal with the Taliban he complained; even after the withdrawal of all foreign troops from Afghanistan the West is still fighting a culture war The United States and its allies want the Taliban to lift their restrictions on women s rights, but the Taliban will not accept what they see as a feminist agenda Governments from Beijing to Washington, meanwhile have demanded that the Taliban form an inclusive government At peace talks in Doha before August 2021 Taliban representatives offered to share power with opposing Afghan factions for the sake of ending conflict But since winning the war, they have reserved the right to exclude politicians not in the Taliban from the cabinet Western officials argue that it would be against their own values and politically damaging to accredit diplomats from a regime that so flagrantly discriminates against women Even sending a U S envoy to Kabul remains a controversial idea in Washington and the Biden administration has refrained from doing so Formal diplomatic recognition of the Taliban could take years, if it ever happens

These years cannot be wasted Sanctions asset freezes and other economic restrictions that isolate Afghanistan have crippled its chances of recovering from an economic crisis that for the last two years the United Nations has called the world s largest humanitarian disaster Banking, aviation, and other critical sectors are hobbled More than half the country’s people cannot satisfy their basic household needs Pledges of humanitarian aid have fallen as donors turn away

After spending several months in Afghanistan speaking to Taliban officials and the foreign dignitaries who negotiate with them we concluded that even though Afghanistan s reentry into the community of nations remains a distant prospect, there are substantial practical steps that the outside world can take in the service of peace stability and security

GOOd defenses mAKe GOOd neiGhBOrs:

The Taliban regime may be a pariah government but Afghanistan does not exist in isolation It anchors a region with neighbors who badly need it to recover; if Afghans continue to suffer, so will millions of others nearby The Taliban are trying to cement their power with displays of state building: they have been improving dams around the country flying drones over water projects and filling social media with the footage of their works in progress Whatever the world thinks the Taliban now run a country, with aims and urgent needs Afghanistan s region cannot wait in a holding pattern for the world to strike a grand bargain with the Taliban on diplomatic recognition Most of Afghanistan’s neighbors wanted the departure of foreign troops and were pleased when the U S withdrawal ended an extraordinarily deadly war But now that American forces are no longer combating transnational militants in the

China for its part wants the Taliban to hand over Uyghur militants based in Afghanistan but the Taliban have adopted a softer policy of resettling them far from the Afghan-Chinese border Central Asian countries have similar security concerns and get identical responses Pakistan, which has supported the Taliban since the group’s inception in the 1990s wants Kabul to crack down on the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) a jihadi group intermittently at war with Islamabad since 2007 The TTP has a presence in Afghanistan despite Taliban denials and TPP-related incidents in Pakistan have increased since mid-2021, resulting in three times as many fatalities than in the two years before the Taliban’s takeover of Kabul Also deeply troubling for most of the neighbors and for Western countries is the ongoing presence in Afghanistan of the Islamic State Khorasan Province an affiliate of the group known as ISIS

Part of the problem lies with the Taliban: they deny that some militant threats exist Meanwhile, other governments in the region Russia, especially stoke paranoia among the Taliban by claiming absurdly that ISKP and other militant groups are backed by the United States But it does not help that UN monitoring teams which used to visit Afghanistan to research and publish analyses of terrorist threats, have not returned since the Taliban takeover

Those monitors are unlikely to return any time soon, because they accept information only from UN member states and the Taliban do not sit in Afghanistan’s UN seat But in the meantime other multilateral forums could serve as a stopgap Afghanistan has observer status at the Shanghai Cooperation Organization which was founded by China and Russia in 2001 and includes all of Afghanistan s neighbors The Taliban want to join its discussions about security

The Shanghai Cooperation Organization appears reluctant to welcome the Taliban and authorities in Kabul might have to settle for the kind of regional meetings hosted by Uzbekistan in recent years But regardless of the forum, the countries surrounding Afghanistan need to sit down with the Taliban and talk about their mutual security needs Kabul has legitimate concerns about antiTaliban militants sneaking across its borders, and its neighbors need to prevent illegal immigrants drugs guns and jihadis from crossing into their territory from Afghanistan

These kinds of practical conversations seem unlikely to harden the Taliban s stances on big issues that foreign governments care about and they would have many possible benefits Regional security forums could push the Taliban toward regularizing border management or at least keeping their fighters away from the edges of neighboring countries unless they are uniformed guards The Taliban might accept help professionalizing their border forces with better training and equipment, and they and their neighbors could together install new technologies for border screening and customs integration under pressure: All the security interventions in the world cannot make the lives of Afghans or their n e i g h b o r s b e t t e r w i t h o u t e c o n o m i c i m p r o v e m e n t s

Here, too, there are many possible collaborations that do not entail formal diplomatic recognition The Taliban want their highways and, eventually, railways to serve as trading connections with South Asia Kabul dreams of electrical corridors and gas pipelines linking the region But as the world heats up the most urgent r e g i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n e ff o r t s s h o u l d f o c u s o n w a t e r

development Climate change is exacerbating flooding and droughts The Taliban’s flagship water project is a new canal system in the north called Qosh Tepa which would divert water from the Amu Darya a large river for irrigation

The Taliban s desire to manage water resources is u n d e r s t a n d a b l e a n d n e c e s s a r y, b u t t h e y a r e p l o w i n g a h e a d w i t h o u t r e g a r d f o r t h e i r n e i g h b o r s T h e A m u

Darya also irrigates vast swaths of Turkmenistan and U z b e k i s t a n a n d o ff i c i a l s i n t h o s e c o u n t r i e s w o r r y about their cotton fields and their exports withering Tehran for its part complains that the Taliban are taking too much water from the Helmand and other rivers that flow into Iran

Disagreements over water rights have almost surely contributed to deadly clashes between Taliban and Iranian security forces Coordination and investment by both Afghanistan and Iran is necessary not only to forestall violent conflict over water; both countries also need it to grow Iran cannot afford to let its rivers dry up and business in landlocked Afghanistan cannot flourish without access to Iranian ports such as Chabahar, which could be threatened if border tensions escalate

A blueprint for better cooperation already exists in the form of a 1973 water treaty between the two countries which guaranteed Iran fixed amounts of water Negotiations at the time included discussions about increasing Afghan trade through Iranian seaports That treaty was never implemented because of political upheaval in both countries, but the old deal could serve as the basis for today’s negotiations

Iran and Afghanistan could in theory achieve such climate adaptations themselves But they are both saddled with foreign sanctions and the barriers to securing expertise and funding for such ventures are multiplied Getting help from organizations such as the World Bank is not only a matter of technical assistance; it could help with the politics of water

A cautionary tale of what happens if the Taliban are left to their own devices is unfolding on Afghanistan’s northern border Uzbekistan has offered technical support for the Qosh Tepa project to help the Taliban avoid the risk of routing a river into an improperly engineered trench, but the Taliban have resisted what they see as foreign meddling in their flagship project The neighbors have leverage Afghanistan imports most of its electricity from Central Asia but their bilateral outreach to the Taliban on water issues has not worked so far

Still there is room for agreements or tacit understandings that address the concerns of the Taliban and other countries The Taliban could make deals in multilateral discussions on watershed management and climate adaptation

BABy steps Are mAJOr steps: These regional piecemeal solutions might provide international actors a template for how to deal with the Taliban in the short term More than a few Western leaders just want to forget Afghanistan Ignoring the country allows them to avoid the shameful topic of a lost war

O thers may nurture a hope that undermining the Afghan regime will leave a mess on the doorsteps of China Iran and Russia And others who want to negotiate a better future for ordinary Afghans especially women and girls may believe that withholding money and help will give them leverage if and when negotiations begin over the normalization of diplomatic relat i o n s W h e n f o r m a l n e g o t i a t i o n s b e g i n , t h i s t h e o

from the

although in the past the Taliban have rarely been swayed by such incentives B u t t h e r e a r e m o r e w a y s t o s u p p o r t A f g h a n i s t a n

than many acknowledge And regional solutions often need international backing, whether that be a Western government’s OK to send equipment for Taliban bor-

der guards or a yes vote from the World Bank to go a h e a d w i t h w a t e r i n f r a s t r u c t u r e p r o j e c t s F i n a n c i n g t h r o u g h t h e G l o b a l E n v i r o n m e n t F a c i l i t y t h e G r e e n Climate Fund and the Adaptation Fund could substant i a l l y h e l p d e f r a y i n f r a s t r u c t u r e c o s t s b u t A f g h a n i s t a n s a c c e s s t o t h e s e f u n d s h a s b e e n s u spended since the Taliban s takeover

Regional diplomats are trying to deal with the Taliban on security economic and environmental concerns But an official at an understaffed embassy in Kabul admitted to us that the to-do list feels daunting Day-to-day engagement with the Taliban now mostly falls to officials like him who draw on limited budgets that do not match the size of the problems Western sanctions also constrain local actions For instance, it is hard for regional governments or private investors to get loans to build infrastructure in Afghanistan; grants from international donors used to provide much of the financing for such projects

And many of the problems facing Kabul for example, its lack of budgeting, banking, and developmentstrategy expertise are the kind of development challenges typically financed by Western countries But Western donors are withholding development assistance and offering less humanitarian aid which has fallen to about 25 per cent of last year s humanitarian funding so far in 2023 If your engagement is mostly based on humanitarian assistance and that assistance is declining, then your engagement strategy is really a disengagement strategy,” a Western official in Kabul told us Afghanistan’s economic and security troubles cannot be ignored indefinitely not least because the people who suffer most from instability and deprivation are often women and girls The neighborhood cannot simply stop and wait a regional diplomat told us He said that regional actors on the frontlines need international backing

Two years after the Taliban’s ascent to power, it is worth listening to the nearby countries that now spend substantially more time talking to Kabul’s new leadership than do Western diplomats and who have the most to lose if the country crumbles They are saying that the world cannot let Afghanistan become a failed state and that global isolation will only make the Taliban more difficult to work with

Pursuing and supporting regional cooperation does not mean giving up hope for talks between the Taliban and the world about achieving recognition Diplomats must keep chipping away at the hard positions that block progress toward a full normalization One modest step forward occurred earlier this year in Doha, when UN Secretary-General António Guterres convened a meeting of international envoys to Afghanistan

The envoys agreed that the conditions are not right for recognition of the Taliban even if they did not spell out the conditions But in his public comments Guterres concluded that such gatherings should continue to fight terrorism and drug trafficking and promote inclusivity and women s rights And earlier this year, the UN Security Council mandated an independent review of all international engagement with Afghanistan; that report will be delivered in November

In many ways Western countries remain Afghanistan s gatekeepers Someday a Taliban regime that respects human rights might be fully welcomed into the club of nations That day, however, is distant The West cannot stand around and wait for the cow to die The region is struggling, and both Afghans and their neighbors deserve to eat

GRAEME SMITH is a Senior Analyst at the International Crisis Group and the author of The Dogs Are Eating Them Now: Our War in Afghanistan

IBRAHEEM BAHISS is an Analyst for the International Crisis Group focused on Afghanistan

RUSSIA-UKRAINE WAR: ZELENSKY FIRES ‘CORRUPT’

MILITARY COMMISSARS AFTER STRATEGIC LOSSES

KIYV ag e n C e S

AS the Russia-Ukraine war intensifies with Moscow gradually securing gains in the eastern part of the neighbouring country, President Volodymyr Zelensky Friday dismissed some top military officials over corruption charges saying the system should be headed by those who know about the war Volodymyr Zelensky wrote on social media: We are dismissing all regional military commissars,” the decision he took after meeting with senior military leadership

He added: “This system should be run by people who know exactly what war is and why cynicism and bribery at a time of war is high

treason

This photograph taken on July 29, 2023, shows President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) looking on as he awards and congratulates servicemen on the day of Special Operations Forces during a visit to their forward positions

near Bakhmut, Donetsk region AFP his photograph taken on July 29, 2023, shows President Volodymyr Zelensky (R) looking on as he awards and congratulates servicemen on the day of Special Operations Forces during a visit to their forward positions near Bakhmut, Donetsk region AFP

Amid the Russia-Ukraine war, Kyiv has been mandating his people to launch an assault against Moscow’s advance to recapture the lost territory under its counter-offensive

The action reflects Ukraine s efforts to clamp down on graft and corruption as part of sweeping reforms requested by Western institutions like the European Union(EU), which Ukraine hopes to join

“During the inspection of the territorial recruitment centres law enforcement agencies exposed cases of corruption ” the presidency said in a separate statement

It further noted that Ukraine s general mobilisation was a key area in which inspectors had uncovered instances of foul play Ukrainian troops can be seen preparing to

depart as they are getting onto a battle tank in Ukraine in this picture released on July 26, 2023 Instagram/zelenskiy official

Ukrainian troops can be seen preparing to depart as they are getting onto a battle tank in Ukraine in this picture released on July 26 2023 Instagram/zelenskiy official

These pose a threat to Ukraine s national security and undermine confidence in state institutions,” the statement added

“Ukraine’s security council recommended that the head of the army select replacements who have battlefield experience and were vetted by Ukraine s intelligence services it underlined RUSSIA INCREASES PRESSURE

Separately, Russia said Friday that it got better in its fighting positions around northeast Ukraine as Kyiv’s troops struggle ahead with their counteroffensive in other areas

Moscow also launched a volley of hypersonic missiles at western Ukraine in an attack that killed one in a part of the country that has largely been spared from Russia

C h i n a eye s s h a re d i n te re s t s w i t h S i n g a p o re,

CHINA ag e n C e S

Singaporean Prime Minister Lee Hsien Loong met with Senior Chinese diplomat Wang Yi on Friday the second day of Wang s Southeast Asian trip with stops also in Malaysia and Cambodia

The trip eyes deepening China-Southeast Asia cooperation amid external disturbances that are attempting to shake ASEAN’s balancing strategy according to analysts

During the meeting Wang said the upgrade of China-Singapore relations to an all-round high-quality future-oriented partnership opened up new prospects for high-level mutually beneficial cooperation

China s development is the growth of peace forces and the enhancement of stability factors, which will bring lasting dividends and development opportunities to all countries in the world especially neighboring countries said Wang member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Minister of Foreign Affairs

O u t o f t h e n e e d t o m a i n t a i n h e g e m o n y, t h e U S does not want China and other emerging countries to prosper: on one hand, they connive with “Taiwan independence” forces and violate China’s red line; on the other the US tears off the disguise of fair competition and coerces other countries to engage in protectionism against China Wang noted These actions will only damage the US own credibility and prove the US has become the biggest element of instability in the world today, Wang said

For his part Lee said the world today is not peaceful and major countries are expected to play a leading role in seeking mutual benefits and win-win results

Singapore supports ASEAN and China to deepen cooperation and jointly maintain regional peace, stability

and development Wa n g a l s o m e t w i t h S i n g a p o r e a n

D e p u t y P r i m e M i n i s t e r a n d F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r

Lawrence Wong who noted the strong momentum of bilateral relations and fruitful achievements in joint building of the Belt and Road

Singapore opposes the law of the jungle and power politics, and will jointly maintain regional peace and stability, uphold WTO rules, and safeguard a fair, open and inclusive cooperation framework Wong said Wang Yi also met with Singaporean Foreign Minister Vivian Balakrishnan

Photo: Courtesy of Ministry of Foreign Affairs

Singapore, despite being a close ally of the US, has maintained a sound balance in its foreign policy and adopted a development path that is suitable for its national conditions, particularly its political system and cultural background analysts said

134 Indian MPs, ML As have cases of crimes against women: repor t

NEW DELHI ag e n C e S

A signature China-Singapore cooperation project under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) – the western New International Land-Sea Trade Corridor – is moving ahead steadily and has been playing a more important role in facilitating regional connectivity in Southeast Asia with western China

An executive from the China-Singapore (Chongqing) Demonstration Initiative on Strategic Connectivity Administrative Bureau (CCIB), which is responsible for implementing the corridor, told the Global Times that with the implementation of the RCEP and the opening of the China-Laos Railway the corridor has seen more active participation from companies in ASEAN members

Chinese Singaporean and Thai companies joined in cooperation at the Vientiane logistics park project, and Thai petroleum company Nathalin Group also signed up to join the route’s supply chain partnership, according to the executive

Twenty years since China’s accession to the Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia (TAC) and 10 years since the proposal of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road and a closer China-ASEAN community with a shared future, cooperation between China and ASEAN as a whole has become closer and deeper

The 2023 ASEAN-China Summit is scheduled to be held in September to be followed by the 20th ChinaASEAN Expo and the China-ASEAN Business and Investment Summit

Marzuki Alie former speaker of the House of Representative of Republic of Indonesia, pointed to further China-ASEAN cooperation in infrastructure development, exchanging academic and human resources, cooperating on environmental issues, and ensuring security and stability with closer cooperation and synergy between China and ASEAN

Deadly D aesh ambush claims 26 Syrian soldiers in Deir Ezzor attack

BEIRUT

At least 26 soldiers have been killed in war-torn Syria’s east a monitor said on Friday the deadliest in a new wave of attacks blamed on Islamic State group jihadists Despite losing their last piece of territory in Syria in 2019, IS has maintained hideouts in the vast Syrian desert from which it has carried out ambushes and hit-and-run attacks

Daesh members targeted a military bus in Deir Ezzor province on Thursday

said the Syrian Observatory for Human Rights

The number of dead has risen to 26 soldiers, it said, revising an earlier toll of 23 and calling it the extremists’ deadliest attack on government forces this year

The jihadists surrounded the bus and opened fire in Deir Ezzor province s Mayadeen area in Syria s vast Badia desert the Observatory added

Eleven other soldiers were wounded, with some in critical condition, while troops previously thought to be missing were on other buses that managed to

reach safe areas said the Britain-based group which relies on a network of sources inside Syria

The official Syrian news agency SANA said the “terrorist attack” had caused a number of military casualties, citing an unidentified army source Syrian government forces and their allied pro-Iranian armed groups deployed in the area were on high alert on Friday morning, the Observatory reported

The war monitor s Rami Abdel Rahman said Daesh “has recently been escalating its deadly military attacks aiming to cause as many deaths as possible By doing so the jihadists are trying to show that Daesh is still active and powerful despite the targeting of its leaders , he told AFP

Last week, Daesh announced the death of its leader Abu al-Hussein alHusseini al-Qurashi who it said was killed in clashes in northwestern Syria

A spokesman for the group announced a new leader known as Abu Hafs al-Hashimi al-Qurashi, in a recorded message on its channels on the Telegram messaging app In March 2019 Daesh lost the last territory it held in Syria to a Kurdish-led counteroffensive backed by a US-led coalition but jihadist remnants continue to carry out deadly attacks

Targets have included civilians and Kurdish-led fighters as well as government troops and allied pro-Iranian fighters Daesh members in recent weeks have increased their attacks in Syria’s north and northeast

Thursday’s attack was the third carried out by the jihadists this month alone

Earlier this week 10 Syrian soldiers and pro-government fighters were killed in a Daesh attack in the former jihadist stronghold of Raqa province, the Observatory said

Last week the jihadists attacked a convoy of oil tankers guarded by the army in the Syrian desert killing seven people including two civilians

And last month, Daesh claimed responsibility for a rare bombing in Damascus that killed at least six people near the capital’s Sayyida Zeinab mausoleum, Syria’s most visited Shiite pilgrimage site The Sunni Muslim extremist group s brutal rule was marked by beheadings and mass shootings IS has had five leaders since it lost the last remnant of the once sprawling “caliphate” it proclaimed across large swathes of Syria and neighbouring Iraq in 2014 Four of them were killed including the group s first caliph Abu Bakr al-Baghdadi who died in a US raid in October 2019

China well on track of stable economic recover y: exper ts

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

Following the newly-announced executive order that restricts US investment in some high-tech industries in China, US President Joe Biden on Thursday intensified the smear campaign against China by claiming that the country is a ticking time bomb due to its economic challenges and it was in trouble because of weak growth Chinese experts said on Friday that Biden purposely made these demeaning and smearing comments to distract the domestic audience s attention from domestic issues and gain political benefits for his campaign in the 2024 US presidential election Despite recent exchanges between senior Chinese and US officials there has been no real easing of bilateral relations experts said They said since the US side is unlikely to change its foreign policy on issues such as the Taiwan question, the South China Sea and economy and trade, and especially the high-tech sector, it will be more aggressive toward China on these issues “China is in trouble ” Biden said at a political fundraiser in Utah on Thursday Reuters reported

A total of 134 sitting Members of Parliament (MPs) and Members of Legislative Assemblies (MLAs) have cases related to crimes against women, which includes 21 MPs and 113 MLAs Seven Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) members are facing rape charges maximum in any party revealed a report In the report the Association for Democratic Reforms (ADR) and National Election Watch (NEW) said that of 762 sitting MPs and 4,001 sitting MLAs analysed, 134 sitting MPs or MLAs have declared cases related to crimes against women

The report said among the 134 sitting MPs or MLAs with declared cases related to crimes against women, 21 are sitting MPs and 113 are sitting MLAs The report also pointed out that among various parties BJP has the highest number of sitting MPs or MLAs with 44 members against whom cases of crime against women have been registered In the second spot is the Congress with 25 followed by AAP with 13 sitting MPs or MLAs who have declared cases related to crimes against women

The report said: “Of 134 sitting MPs and MLAs who have declared cases related to crimes against women 18 sitting MPs and MLAs have declared cases related to rape Among these 18 sitting MPs and MLAs with declared cases related to rape, four are sitting MPs and 14 are sitting MLAs Among the parties, the BJP has the highest number of sitting MPs and MLAs with cases of rape registered It said that cases of rape have been registered against seven BJP MPs and MLAs while six Congress MPs and MLAs are facing cases of rape

Luna-25: Russia launches spacecraft to find water on moon

MOSCOW ag e n C e S

Russia launched its first moon-landing spacecraft in 47 years on Friday in a bid to be the first nation to make a soft landing on the lunar south pole a region believed to hold coveted pockets of water ice The Russian lunar mission, the first since 1976, is racing against India, which launched its Chandrayaan-3 lunar lander last month and more broadly with the United States and China both of which have advanced lunar exploration programs targeting the lunar south pole A Soyuz 2 1v rocket carrying the Luna-25 craft blasted off from the Vostochny cosmodrome 3 450 miles (5,550 km) east of Moscow, at 2:11 a m on Friday Moscow time (1111 GMT on Thursday), with its upper stage boosting the lander out of Earth’s orbit toward the moon over an hour later Russia’s space agency Roscosmos confirmed The lander is expected to touch down on the moon on Aug 21 Russia s space chief Yuri Borisov told Interfax on Friday Russian space agency Roscosmos previously pegged Aug 23 as the landing date Now we will wait for the 21st I hope that a highly precise soft landing on the moon will happen ” Borisov told workers at the Vostochny cosmodrome after the launch according to Interfax Luna-25 roughly the size of a small car will aim to operate for a year on the moon s south pole where scientists at NASA and other space agencies in recent years have detected traces of water ice in the region s shadowed craters There is much riding on the Luna25 mission, as the Kremlin says the West’s sanctions over the Ukraine war many of which have targeted Moscow s aerospace sector have failed to cripple the Russian economy

TwentyO ne to launch new Grand Bazaar in K arachi

AT I O N T O C E L E B R AT E I N D E P E N D E N C E D AY

W I T H T R A D I T I O N A L Z E A L , N AT I O N A L S P I R I T

TH E nation will celebrate the 76th Independence Day on August 14 (Monday) with traditional zeal and enthusiasm through a number of activities to highlight the struggle of forefathers and national heroes for acquiring a separate homeland

Different public and private departments will hold special functions and activities, including seminars, discussion programmes, photographic exhibitions, painting poetry national songs and debate competitions with the focus on acknowledging the contribution of leaders of the Pakistan Movement and sacrifices of national heroes

Similarly, private and public educational institutions will also hold different activities including quiz and speech competitions functions and sessions to

educate the students about the historical struggle for the creation of Pakistan Overseas Pakistanis living around the world will also celebrate the Independence Day with equal fervour and passion They will also organize cultural events flag hoisting ceremonies and rallies to show their love and loyalty for the homeland

The significance of Independence Day goes beyond the celebration of national pride and patriotism

It is a day to remember the struggles and sacrifices of forefathers who fought for our independence It is also a reminder of the responsibility we as a nation have to preserve and protect our independence by working towards the

progress and prosperity of our nation

The Independence Day of Pakistan is a day of great historical significance and national pride

It serves as a reminder of the sacrifices made by forefathers for the independence of beloved homeland

The federal capital has already turned into green and white colours with a large number of Jashan-i-Azadi stalls carrying dresses flags bunting pin badges toys and other decorative accessories to attract the youngsters and children Since the Independence Day celebrations have become a sort of a festival in the country, different brands, online retailers, eateries, cab-hailing services and even electronics companies are offering exciting discount offers adding more charm to the festivity

Special prayers will be offered in mosques at dawn for peace solidarity and prosperity of the country The day will dawn with special prayers and a 31gun salute in the federal capital and 21gun salutes in all provincial capitals

The Bank of Punjab Secures Top Rank in SBP's Agriculture Credit Scoring Model for FY 2023

It is pertinent to mention here that on an overall basis, BOP s score is the second highest among all commercial banks regardless of their Tier Size This score has weightage of outstanding borrowers regional / geographical disbursements outstanding portfolio and overall disbursement with regards to Agriculture sector and includes both Farm and Non-Farm Sectors BOP has not only increased its agriculture customer base but also booked one of the largest Collateral Free Loans portfolios of Agriculture customers whereby loans are extended for Poultry Dairy and Animal Fattening against personal guarantee of the borrowers PR

Introduc tion of Turkish Cuisine to Pakistani C hefs

K A R A C H I : The two-week Turkish Cuisine Training Program organized by the Turkish Cooperation and FC Coordination Agency (TİKA) in cooperation with the Pakistan Tourism and Hospitality Management Institute (PITHM) ended with a certification ceremony attended by Sindh Provincial Minister of Culture and Education Syed Sardar Ali Shah and Consul General of the Republic of Turkiye to Karachi Cemal Sangu Speaking at the certificate program, Syed Sardar Ali Shah, Sindh Provincial Minister of Culture and Education stated that he had the opportunity to taste many Turkish dishes during his visit to Turkiye last year and he was very pleased that TİKA had brought these flavors to Pakistan through the training program conducted by PITHM s trained chefs In his speech at the program, the Consul General of Karachi Cemal Sangu stated that TİKA has activities in almost all countries of the world, He stated that it is a fact that TİKA is operating with two offices which shows the value of bonding with Pakistan TİKA Karachi

Pakistan

High Commissioner in London commends minorities’ role in nation-building

The Pakistan High Commission in London Dr Mohammad Faisal commemorated National Minorities Day on Thursday to honour the vital contributions of Pakistani minority communities in nation building

The event celebrated Pakistan’s diversity on Minorities Day coinciding with August 11th annually according to a press release received here on Friday

Sir Anwar Parvaiz, Dr James Shera, Representatives of the Church of England members of Pakistani minority communities in the UK and individuals from diverse backgrounds attended the event

High Commissioner Dr Mohammad Faisal, in his address, highlighted the significant role played by the minorities in shaping the nation He paid homage to historical figures from various faiths

who have contributed to Pakistan s development Drawing from Quaide-Azam’s historic speech Dr Faisal emphasized a progressive Pakistan with equal rights for all citizens regardless of caste or creed

On this occasion the High Commissioner also reflected on the symbolic importance of the Kartarpur Sahib Corridor, as a pathway to interfaith understanding and regional harmony In this regard he

MOU between Pakistan Mineral Development Corporation and Miracle Saltworks Collective Inc. for Export Quality Pink Rock Salt Crushing & Packaging Facility

highlighted government initiatives including the Pakistan National Commission for Minorities, job quotas for minorities, and reserved legislative seats

The speakers commended the pivotal role played by minorities in the inception of Pakistan as well as its ongoing journey of progress and development They emphasized the profound importance of embracing diversity and promoting inclusiveness as a driving force behind the nation’s socio-economic progress

Reflecting the vision of the Quaid-i-Azam the speakers underscored the imperative of ensuring equal rights for all citizens as a cornerstone for national development

Esther Das gave a roundup of the contributions of important personalities from minorities of Pakistan The evening concluded with performances by British Pakistani minority singers, fostering unity and patriotism

PepsiCo Celebrating International Youth D ay with Roshan K al, a Nationwide Internship Program to Upskill and Empower Pakistani Youth

PepsiCo one of the world s leading companies for food and beverages is commemorating International Youth Day by highlighting Roshan Kal , a progressive and inclusive internship program One of the largest initiatives for youth skills development in Pakistan, this initiative is powered by a one-of-a-kind collaboration with prestigious private-sector organizations from diverse industries such as KFC Hum Network Lucky Cement, and Daraz, joining forces for youth empowerment Roshan Kal represents PepsiCo Pakistan’s unwavering commitment towards creating an environment that facilitates growth and equal opportunities for the youth of Pakistan, enabling a future where they can positively contribute to the development of their respective communities and the nation PR

FrieslandCampina Engro

Pakistan Limited records strong financial results in H1, 2023

FrieslandCampina Engro Pakistan Limited (FCEPL) announced its financial results for the first half of the year, concluding on June 30th, 2023 Despite a challenging operating environment and economic slowdown the Company delivered strong doubledigit growth of 53% (revenue of PKR 47 0 billion against PKR 30 8 billion in the same period last year) fueled by volume growth, favorable portfolio mix, pricing management initiatives and distribution expansion The Company witnessed gross profit growth of 48% while gross margin declined by 49 bps due to high inflation increase in energy prices global geo-political environment foreign exchange constraints and significant currency devaluation PR

Zo n g 4 G Ce l e b r ate s Pa ki s t a n’s 7 6 Ye a r s o f I n d e p e n d e n c e w i t h a n I n c r e d i b l e 7 6 G B D at a D e a l

I s l a m a b a d: Zong 4G, the country’s leading telecom provider, is showcasing its patriotic zeal by celebrating Pakistan’s 76th Independence Day with an extraordinary offer for its customers! Zong 4G's latest discount on the Weekly Azaadi Offer allows customers to enjoy an impressive package featuring 76GB of data coupled with 1000 Offnet and 10 000 on-net minutes all for an unbeatable price of only PKR 476 This remarkable offer strikes the perfect balance between data and calling resources delivering incomparable value to customers at an affordable rate By introducing this outstanding discount, Zong 4G takes its place at the forefront of the telecom industry, solidifying its commitment to offering unparalleled value and premium services to its cherished clientele ’ This limited-time offer not only presents a unique chance for customers to join Zong 4G's celebration of success but also reflects the company's commitment to narrowing the digital divide across diverse regions of Pakistan Zong 4G’s official spokesperson expressed his views on the offer With a commitment to elevating customer experience through unparalleled offers Zong 4G prioritizes granting access to exceptional packages Aligning with our customer-centric ethos and Pakistan s 76th independence celebration the exclusive Weekly Azaadi Offer discount emerges as the ideal solution for all In

PM SHEHBA Z , RA JA RIA Z FAIL TO REACH CONSENSUS ON CARETAKER PM

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

PR I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif said on Friday that he was confident that the name of the caretaker premier would be finalised by today (Saturday)

“The coalition partners will be taken into confidence over the matter before taking a final decision ” the prime minister confirmed this during a conversation with journalists in Islamabad

PM Shehbaz also said that the Constitution provided eight days for the appointment of the caretaker premier

A day after the premature dissolution of the National Assembly PM Shehbaz met outgoing Leader of the Opposition in the NA Raja Riaz to exchange a list of probable candidates for the coveted slot as formal consultations on the matter kicked off

Talking to reporters after the meeting Riaz said six names came under con-

sideration for the job, adding that they were in no hurry to decide the name for the caretaker PM The leaders are also expected to hold a second meeting today for further deliberations

According to the Constitution, the premier and the outgoing opposition leader in the NA have three days to decide the name of the interim prime minister

In case the two fail to agree on a name the matter would be referred to a parliamentary committee If the committee fails to make any decision then the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will have two days to choose the caretaker prime minister from the list of names shared with the commission

Some in political circles believe that PM Shehbaz wants to stay in office till Aug 14 so he could attend the flag-hoisting ceremony on Independence Day, after which a caretaker premier will take an oath

As per the Constitution, PM Shehbaz can act as the caretaker prime minister

Former IG Salahuddin Mehsud’s brother killed after abduction

MIRANSHAH

Former Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) IG police and serving officer on special duty (OSD) Salahuddin

Mehsud’s brother Nasrullah Mehsud was kidnapped and killed on Friday in Tank

According to details the victim was making his way to his residence from Tank Bazaar in his vehicle after Friday prayers when assailants, waiting for him near the customs pump, opened fire on him Syed Amal, the gunman accompanying Nasrullah Mehsud was seriously injured The perpetrators then proceeded to forcefully take Nasrullah His body was later found in Manzai area

The gunman was also reported to have succumbed to his injuries at the hospital The police have registered a report of the incident and started an investigation

According to the district police officer, the accused came on a motorcycle and after firing on Nasrullah s car, left the gunman injured and took the victim with them in his car The police have since found the motorcycle of the accused after which the scope of the investigation was being widened

Notably Nasrullah s brother has served as Frontier Constabulary Commandant and IG Police in KP and is presently an OSD No group has so far accepted responsibility for the attack However, it is pertinent to mention that there has been for some months a lot of fear and panic among the people due to the consistent increase in target killings kidnappings and other such incidents of unrest in Tank district as well as South and North Waziristan Such cases continue on in the context of an ongoing surge in terrorist attacks

Speaking with tribal elders in Peshawar earlier this week, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir emphasised that Pakistan would only talk to the Afghan government stressing there would be no talks with terrorists The surge in terrorism in recent past is a futile effort on the part of terrorists to get the talks reinitiated however there is no option for these terrorists except to submit to the writ of state of Pakistan before they are decimated, if they persist on their wrong path, Gen Asim Munir told tribal elders

Federal gov t to provide Rs30b for solar energy transition of tubewells in KP

PESHAWAR

A Z I Z B U N E R I

The federal government will provide more than 30 billion rupees for the transition of agricultural tube wells to solar energy in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

The project which is also approved by the Provincial Development Working Party is part of the federal government s efforts to reduce electricity consumption and ensure water availability for agriculture

Under the project, agricultural tube wells across the country will be shifted to solar energy This will not only reduce electricity consumption, but it will also ensure water availability for agriculture particularly during power shortages The federal government has allocated 30 90 billion rupees for KP in this project The implementation of the project will be carried out by the provincial Department of Agriculture The Department of Agriculture will prepare the project s PC-1 and present it to the Provincial Development Working Party Work on the project is set to commence in the current year

The project is expected to benefit thousands of farmers in KP It will help to reduce their electricity bills and ensure that they have access to water for irrigation even during power outages The project is also expected to create jobs in the solar energy sector

Oil prices could rise fur ther this year, but 2024 demand to slow sharply: IEA

till the appointment of the head of the interim set-up Article 94 of the Constitution says The president may ask the prime minister to continue to hold office until his successor enters upon the office of prime minister

One of the reasons for delay in deciding the name of the head of interim set-up is believed to be the PML-N’s desire to see its own man in office Sources said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif and PPP leader Asif Ali Zardari were calling the shots on the issue of the appointment of the caretaker PM in consultation with the third party President asks PM, Raja Riaz to finalize name of caretaker PM until Aug 12 President Dr Arif Alvi on Friday asked the prime minister and the leader of opposition in the outgoing National Assembly to propose a suitable person for appointment of Care-taker Prime Minister not later than August 12, 2023

In a letter to the prime minister and the opposition leader President Alvi said

under Article 224-A of the Constitution, Prime Minister and Leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly were required to propose name of a person for appointment of care-taker prime minister within three days of dissolution of National Assembly “Under proviso to Article 224 (1A) of the Constitution, the president appoints care-taker prime minister in consultation with Prime Minister and Leader of the Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly he added He said the prime minister advised him on August 9 for dissolution of National Assembly under Article 58 (1) of the Constitution which he approved and dissolved the assembly on same day

As provided in Article 224 (1A) of Constitution of Pakistan Prime Minister and leader of Opposition in the outgoing National Assembly may propose a suitable person for appointment of care-taker prime minister not later than August 12, 2023 ” the president added

PSX gains momentum amid rising MSCI integration

Stocks on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) started the day with higher values on Friday following the integration of 15 stocks into the Frontier Market Index by Morgan Stanley Capital International (MSCI)

The MSCI Frontier Markets Index is designed to represent the performance of medium and large-cap stocks across 28 Frontier Markets countries This index includes a total of 99 components encompassing approximately 85% of the market capitalization that is freely tradable in each country

During the intraday trading session, the benchmark KSE-100 index experienced a rise of 702 01 points or 1 47% reaching a value of 48 510 35 points at 10:19 am This increase came after it had previously reached a peak of 48 898 82 points an hour earlier

In its latest quarterly review 41 stocks were added to the MSCI Frontier Markets Small Cap Index Notably, Pakistan s influence within this index is projected to notably increase, rising from its current level of 0 6% to a more substantial range of 2 6% to 2 7%

The report also highlighted that this inclusion aims to attract higher levels of foreign investment, as foreign investors have already directed a total of $22 8 million into the equity market since the beginning of the fiscal year 2023-24 Samiullah Tariq the Head of Research at Pakistan-Kuwait Investment Company shared insights noting that the market s upward movement is attributed to the increased participation of Pakistani entities in the MSCI index and the corresponding rise in their weighting

Plastic manufac turers express concerns as Punjab G ovt bans disposable plastic

The Plastic Manufacturers Association and individuals linked to the food and packaging sectors have raised serious objections to the Punjab government’s recent decision to ban disposable plastic Critics argue that the ban was imposed without sufficient consultation with stakeholders endangering the livelihoods of thousands and potentially impacting government revenue According to the manufacturers, the ban, which encompasses a wide array of single-use plastic items such as cups spoons food containers straws and more has sent shockwaves through the affected industries Additionally it extends to multi-layer packaging commonly used for products like biscuits and chips Industry representatives have voiced their distress, claiming that this abrupt decision has cast a shadow of uncertainty over their businesses Urging an immediate reconsideration of the ban they emphasize the potential ripple effects on sectors including beverages and confectionery Advocates of plastic use argue that disposable plastic has played a pivotal role in maintaining hygiene and preventing the spread of diseases Despite global opinions from influential nations like the United Arab Emirates China and Saudi Arabia supporting the use of single-use plastics for sanitary reasons the government s ban remains firmly in place

Manufacturers have sounded the alarm warning that the ban could inadvertently trigger a domino effect across various industries This has sparked calls for a swift review of the ban’s impact and consequences

of a slowdown the inflationary pressures continue to mount casting shadows over economic stability

One of the contributing factors to the soaring inflation is the 1 75 percent increase in electricity tariffs during the first quarter

Among the 51 items encompassed within the SPI basket, the prices of 29 goods registered a noticeable uptick while five items experienced a decline and 17 remained unchanged compared to the preceding week D u r i n g t h e p a s t w e e k s e v e r a l i t e m s w i t n e s s e d s u b s t a n t i a l y e a r- o n - y e a r p r i c e

An official from the Punjab Environment Protection Department (EPD) informed Profit that the department has taken a significant step in its fight against pollution The production, use, and distribution of single-use polythene bags and related items have been classified as a legal offense with potential penalties of up to RS 1 million under the Environment Protection Act

The ban currently covers 15 types of single-use plastic products ranging from cutlery and plates to packaging materials, affecting all stages of the supply chain from manufacturing to retail trade The Governor of Punjab has endorsed the legislation, signifying official acknowledgment of the environmental harm caused by single-use plastics This designation as a criminal act has far-reaching implications including substantial fines and the possibility of inventory and product confiscation

In a coordinated effort, the government is pursuing a phased reduction of plastic usage as part of the ‘Beat the Plastic’ campaign This aligns with Pakistan’s broader stance against plastic waste highlighted by the approval of the Single Use Plastics Prohibition Regulations 2023 earlier this year

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announcing the regulation on World Environment Day, reaffirmed the government s commitment to combating plastic waste and gradually phasing out single-use plastics in the capital city of Islamabad

Moreover the federal government has issued a clear directive to plastic manufacturers to halt the production of non-degradable plastics by August 1 2023 signaling a comprehensive effort to address plastic pollution and promote environmental sustainability

t ) c h i l i e s p o w d e r ( 7 2 9 4 p e r c e n t ) rice irri-6/9 (72 74 percent) sugar (67 90 p e r c e n t ) c h i c k e n ( 6 5 8 7 p e r c e n t ) g u r ( 5 8 9 3 p e r c e n t ) g e n t s s p o n g e c h a p p a l

05 percent) potatoes (57 02 percent) and tomatoes (53 66 percent) Moreover,

OPEC+ supply cuts could erode oil inventories in the rest of this year potentially driving prices even higher before economic headwinds limit global demand growth in 2024 the International Energy Agency (IEA) said on Friday

Tighter supply driven by oil output cuts from OPEC and its allies, together known as OPEC+, and rising global demand have underpinned a rally in oil prices, with Brent crude hitting highs of over $88 a barrel on Thursday the highest since January

The IEA said if OPEC+ current targets are maintained oil inventories could draw by 2 2 million barrels per day (bpd) in the third quarter and 1 2 million bpd in the fourth, with a risk of driving prices still higher “Deepening OPEC+ supply cuts have collided with improved macroeconomic sentiment and all-time high world oil demand ” the Paris-based energy watchdog said in its monthly oil market report The Organization of the Petroleum Exporting Countries (OPEC) and its allies began limiting supplies in late 2022 to bolster the market and in June extended supply curbs into 2024

The IEA said that in July, global oil supply plunged by 910 000 bpd in part due to a sharp reduction in Saudi output But Russian oil exports held steady at around 7 3 million bpd in July the IEA said Next year demand growth is forecast to slow sharply to 1 million bpd, the IEA said, citing lacklustre macroeconomic conditions, a post-pandemic recovery running out of steam and the burgeoning use of electric vehicles “With the post-pandemic rebound largely completed and as multiple headwinds challenge the OECD s outlook oil consumption gains slow markedly the IEA said referring to Organisation for Economic Co-operation and Development nations

The IEA s demand growth forecast is down by 150,000 bpd from last month and contrasts with that of OPEC which on Thursday maintained its forecast that oil demand will rise by a much stronger 2 25 million bpd in 2024

The global economic outlook remains challenging in the face of soaring interest rates and tighter bank credit, squeezing businesses that are already having to cope with sluggish manufacturing and trade,” the IEA said For 2023 the IEA and OPEC are less far apart

The IEA expects demand to expand by 2 2 million bpd in 2023 buoyed by summer air travel increased oil use in power generation and surging Chinese petrochemical activity OPEC sees a rise of 2 44 million bpd Demand is forecast to average 102 2 million bpd this year, the IEA said, with China accounting for more than 70% of growth despite concerns about the economic health of the world s top oil importer

Sindh Assembly dissolved on CM’s advice

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

Si n d h G o v e r n o r K a m r a n Te s s o r i o n t h e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n o f C h i e f M i n i s t e r S y e d M u r a d A l i S h a h a p p r o v e d t h e s u m m a r y t o d i s s o l v e S i n d h A s s e m b l y o n F r i d a y T h e g o v e r n o r s i g n e d t h e s u m m a r y u n d e r A r t i c l e 11 2 ( 1 ) o f t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n o f P a k i s t a n A c c o r d i n g t o o ff i c i a l s t h e s u m m a r y w a s s e n t t o t h e g o v e r n o r t h i s e v e n i n g a f t e r t h e S i n d h c h i e f m i n i s t e r a l o n g w i t h h i s c a b i n e t m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g S h a r j e e l M e m o n N a s i r H u s s a i n S h a h a n d S a e e d G h a n i r e a c h e d t h e g o v e r n o r h o u s e a n d h e l d a m e e t i n g w i t h h i m L i k e t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y, t h e p r o v i n c i a l a s s e m b l y t h a t h e l d i t s i n a u g u r a l s e s s i o n s o n A u g u s t 1 3 2 0 1 8 f o l l o w i n g t h e i r e l e c t i o n i n t h e J u l y 2 5 v o t e w a s s e t t o e x p i r e o n S a t u r d a y A u g u s t 1 2 A s p e r t h e C o n s t i t u t i o n i f t h e a s s e m b l y c o m p l e t e s i t s t e r m t h e n e x t g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n w o u l d b e h e l d i n 6 0 d a y s B u t i f t h e t e r m i s n o t c o m p l e t e , e v e n b y a s i n g l e d a y, t h e e l e c t i o n s w o u l d b e h e l d i n 9 0 d a y s B e f o r e t h e d i s s o l u t i o n o f S i n d h A s s e m b l y, t h e l a w m a k e r s b e l o n g i n g t o t h e t r e a s u r y a n d o p p o s i t i o n b e n c h e s a t t e n d e d t h e l a s t s e s s i o n a n d b i d f a r e w e l l t o i t d e l i v e r i n g t h e l a s t s p e e c h e s i n t h e h o u s e A s t h e s e s s i o n s t a r t e d w i t h s p e a k e r A g h a S i r a j D u r r a n i i n c h a i r, t h e m e m b e r s b e l o n g i n g t o r u l i n g P a k i s t a n P e o p l e s P a r t y ( P P P ) , M u t t a h i d a Q a u m i M o v e m e n t ( M Q M ) , G r a n d D e m o c r a t i c A l l i a n c e ( G D A ) , M u t t a h i d a M a j l i s - e - A m a l a n d Te h r e e k e L a b b a i k P a k i s t a n ( T L P ) s h a r e d t h e i r f i v e y e a r s t h o u g h t s i n t h e a s s e m b l y S o m e o p p o s i t i o n m e m b e r s c r i t i c i s e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t p o l i c i e s w h i l e t h e t r e a s u r y m e m b e r s i n c l u d i n g m i n i s t e r s a p p r e c i a t e d i t S i n d h C h i e f M i n i s t e r S h a h w h i l e w i n d i n g u p t h e s p e e c h e s s a i d , “ S i n d h A s s e m b l y i s b e i n g d i s s o l v e d t o d a y, a d a y b e f o r e i t s t e n u r e ” L a t e r, h e p r e s e n t e d h i s f i v e y e a r s ’ p e r f o r m a n c e b r i e f i n g t h e h o u s e a b o u t t h e g o v e r n m e n t m e a s u r e s t o c o p e w i t h C o v i d - 1 9 f l o o d s d e v e l o p m e n t s c h e m e s g o v e r n m e n t i n c e n t i v e s a n d j o b s p r o v i d e d b y h i s g o v e r n m e n t i n d i ff e r e n t d e p a r t m e n t s

inflation saw a week-onweek increase of 0 69 percent, underscoring the ongoing challenges faced by both economists and consumers With no clear signs

including wheat flour (131 81 perc e n t ) , c i g a r e t t e s

o f t h e S P I i s a n t i c ip a t e d g i v e n t h e p e r s i s t e n t h i g h l e v e l s o f petroleum prices Earlier in May the SPI remained above 45 percent for three consecutive weeks, reaching an all-time high of 48 35 percent on May 4 This concerning trend is influenced by several key factors including rupee depreciation rising petrol prices sales tax and escalating electricity bills According to the latest forecast from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the average Consumer Price Index (CPI) for the current fiscal year is projected to be 25 9 percent, showing a slight decline from the previous year ’s figure of 29 6 percent

However some respite was observed on a week-on-week basis with decreases in prices of key commodities such as vegetable ghee (1 kg) by 1 59 percent LPG by 0 79 percent cooking oil by 0 78 percent mustard oil by 0 48 percent, and vegetable ghee (2 5 kg) by 0 10 percent The government’s stringent measures, including hikes in fuel and power tariffs the withdrawal of subsidies adoption of a market-based exchange rate and increased taxation are part of the IMF program aimed at generating revenue to bridge the fiscal deficit However, these measures may potentially result in sluggish economic growth and continued inflationary pressures in the coming months

g MANUFACTURERS HAVE SOUNDED ALARM, WARNING THAT BAN COULD INADVERTENTLY TRIGGER A DOMINO EFFECT ACROSS VARIOUS INDUSTRIES

g KSE-100 INDEX JUMPS 1.47% ON MSCI'S INCORPORATION OF PAKISTANI STOCKS