Epaper_23-08-19 ISB

G O V T T O I M P L E M E N T F O R M E R G O V T ’ S C O M M I T M E N T S , E N S U R E R U L E O F L AW : P M

g Te r m s S I F C d r e a m p r o j e c t a s Pa k i s t a n i s a n a g r i c u l t u r e c o u n t r y

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e P o r t

CARETAKER Prime Minister

Anwaarul Haq Kakar vowed on Friday to comply with the commitments made by the previous government on national and international levels with different forums, besides ensuring rule of law and financial discipline during the interim period

We do not have perpetual mandate to serve the nation but during the given allocated time we will try to lay foundation where we have sense of continuation of national and international commitments that the previous government has made with different forums he said while talking to the cabinet members here during the first cabinet meeting of the caretaker government

ith respect to a new initiative-Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), launched by former government the prime minister said the caretaker government would fully support it H e s a i d S I F C w a s a d r e a m c o m e true project as Pakistan was an agricult u r e c o u n t r y a n d r i c h w i t h m i n e r a l r esources He said in fact SIFC was not a n e w i d e a b u t i t w a s a n o l d n a t i o n a l dream that was going to be materialized n o w D a y h a s a r r i v e d w h e n w i t h t h e support of all institutions including Pakistan military leadership, we support, facilitate, encourage, and realize this old national dream ” He said this initiatives was not held by any institution but it was collectively owned by around 250 million people of the country We all own it and we will contribute towards it During the meeting he individually acknowledged the services of all the cabinet members saying “I am very proud that we have got one of the best team He hoped that the

g E x p r e s s e s r e s o l v e t o e n s u r e m i n o r i t i e s i n Pa k i s t a n s t a y p r o t e c t e d a t a n y c o s t

Speaking about the incident of May 9, the prime minister explicitly expressed disappointment and discomfort over the sabotage activities happened on the day

He said attack on the military installation was like the country s immune system was attacked which could lead towards fatality We do not just condemn it but we also will ensure that justice will be done and whosoever violated laws on those days will be treated according to law and there will not be any favor to anybody On Kashmir issue the prime minister said It was the core issue which could not be ignored It lies in our soul, for us Kashmir is eternal

Caretaker PM shakes up top bureaucracy; retains Sharif’s blue-eyed on key slots

ISLAMABAD S h a h z a d Pa r ac h a

Almighty Allah would enable them to lead and steer this nation during the interim period “With our utmost duty may be it is a m o n t h t w o o r t h r e e o r t h r e e a n d a half whatever the allocated time is we will demonstrate through our actions not by our words, he added With regard to t h e e c o n o m i c s i t u a t i o n i n t h e c o u n t r y, t h e p r i m e m i n i s t e r s a i d h e w a s w e l l aware of the huge economic challenges but with an able team the government w o u l d e n s u r e t h e f i n a n c i a l d i s c i p l i n e We have a sense of sanctity of tax paye r s m o n e y T h i s m o n e y o n w h i c h w e a r e h a v i n g t o d a y ’s m e e t i n g , u s i n g r esources or traveling is paid by the people of Pakistan ” He said either it was an ordinary vender shopkeeper teacher lawyer or any other person, all were contributing in this regard PM Kakar said in this polar-

ized environment, the government would try to differentiate between politics and law

He said the government would ensure that rule of order was not compromised in any way and the rule of order would lead us towards the rule of law We know the sanctity of the order that would be kept at any cost Pakistan is owned and shared by all ethnicities, all creeds, and all religious background ” he added He highlighted that the rigidity be it in any form in the society would be strongly discouraged He said rigidity might come in the garb of religion or secularism or in any other form, these extreme attitude would be discourage and would be controlled by the law

He said the miscreants might be from us but we must have to divorce them and keep distant from them He said Pakistan was created on noble principles and the country was the product of noble idea

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f r e P o r t Supreme Court’s Justice Mansoor Ali Shah on Friday raised an objection to the bench hearing a petition filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan against the NAB amendments suggesting formulation of a full court bench to hear the petition

A three-judge SC bench led by Chief Justice of Pakistan Justice Umar Ata Bandial, and comprising Justice Ijazul Ahsan and Justice Mansoor Ali Shah was hearing the petition After coming to power in April last year, the then PDM government passed the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 a move that was heavily criticised by PTI which termed the legislation an attempt to turn the anti-graft watchdog into a toothless organisation

In June, the former prime minister challenged the amendments to the NAB ordinance, arguing that it is a violation of fundamental rights The petition stated that the amendments will virtually eliminate any white-collar crime committed by a public office holder

During the hearing Justice Shah who is part of the bench objected to it, remarking that the NAB amendments case would have its own impact He observed that the Attorney General for Pakistan had raised the objection in the military courts case “I think this case should be heard by a full court bench I suggest that the Chief Justice of Pakistan should form the full court Justice Shah added He went on to remark that in the presence of Sections 3 and 4 of the Practice and Procedure Act,

this case should be heard by at least five members

Either the Supreme Court should decide the Practice and Procedure Act case or constitute a full court, Justice Shah suggested The judge also referred to his note written during the military courts case He said his objection was that such cases could be heard only by the full court After the objection raised by the member of the bench the Supreme Court adjourned the case till August 28 Meanwhile, CJP Bandial remarked that the parties in the case should present their final arguments in the case at the next hearing “This case is pending since 2022 No one has challenged changes to the NAB law made in 2023 ” he observed Justice Ahsan observed that each case had its own facts and merits The opinion given in one case is only for that case, he said

CJP Bandial then remarked when there is a difference of opinion, the decision is taken by the majority He further said that the petitioner had presented their ar-

The Caretaker Prime Minister expressed firm resolve to ensure that minorities in Pakistan stay protected and rule of law is established at any cost S t r o n g l y d e p l o r i n g t h e J a r a n w a l a i n c i d e n t , t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r s a i d P a ki s t a n i s o w n e d a n d s h a r e d b y m u l t i p l e e t h n i c i t i e s a n d r e l i g i o n s a n d a n y e xtreme attitude like the one exhibited in J a r a n w a l a w i l l b e u n w e l c o m e d a n d dealt with iron hands He said we strongly discourage rigidity either in the garb of religion or secularism and no one will be allowed to create anarchy or chaos in the country

Highlighting the key priorities of the caretaker government the Prime Minister said in the current polarized environment we will try to differentiate between politics and law and lay a solid foundation for continuity of the country s national and international commitments

He added that in the same spirit of c o n t i n u i t y w e w i l l m o v e f o r w a r d t o work with the support of all state institutions on different development initiatives especially the Special Investment Facilitation Council which aims at realizing the full potential of country’s natural resources

guments over 22 hearings while the federal government had done the same over 19 hearings This case was not that long he said During the hearing Justice Shah also noted that he had been asking since day one about which fundamental rights were affected In 47 hearings, it has not been told which fundamental rights have been affected,” he said CJP Bandial then asked the federal government lawyer Makhdoom Ali Khan why he was shying away from presenting arguments on merit To this the lawyer responded that he was not shying away from doing so but raising the inadmissibility of the plea was his responsibility

Why are you trying to leave the hearing, CJP Bandial asked, to which the counsel said that the court had the right to either accept or reject his argument

Furthermore the PTI chief s lawyer Khawaja Haris did not appear for today s hearing with his assistant Yasir Aman appearing on his behalf The latter told the court that detailed responses from their side had been submitted CJP Bandial then said that the court would decide the case after conducting daily hearings Justice Shah also sought arguments on whether the current bench could hear the case after the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) law My retirement is near CJP Bandial said adding that it would be a source of shame for him if the case was not decided It is an important case and is being heard for a long time There was no debate over the Supreme Court (Practice and Procedure) law in the court ” he said

C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 02

The caretaker government on Friday transferred a number of Federal Secretaries whereas officers considered close to Sharif family have been retained at key positions According to the document available with daily Pakistan Today BS-22 Pakistan Administrative Officer Karmran Ali Afzal will be the new Cabinet Secretary and incumbent Secretary Ejaz Dar has been asked to report to the Establishment Division Meanwhile grade-21 PAS officer Sajid Baloch has been posted as Special Secretary Cabinet Division According to the document, a BS-21 officer of PAS Muhammad Abdullah Khan Sumbal has been posted as Additional Secretary/Incharge Interior Division whereas the incumbent Secretary Interior Syed Ali Murtaza has been posted as Secretary Water Resources A BS-22 of PAS Hasan Nasir Jami has been posted as new Secretary Information Technology while another grade-21 officer of PAS group has been posted as Additional Secretary/Incharge Petroleum Division whereas Cap (R) Mahmood will be Additional Secretary/Incharge National Food Security and Research According to the notification a BS-22 officer of PAS Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash has been posted as Secretary Housing and Works, Syed Asif Hyder Shah Secretary Climate Change, AD Khawaja Secretary Human Rights Humaira Ahmad Secretary Heritage Division Ali Raza Bhutta Secretary Ministry of Science Sara Saeed Special Secretary Commerce Division Dr Iram Anjum Khan Secretary Maritime Affairs while Mustafa Jamal Qazi have also been posted DG Passport with immediate effect According to the document, Secretary Housing and Works Dr Muhammad Fakhr-e-Alam Irfan has been posted as Chief Secretary Sindh Dawood Muhammad Baraich Chief Secretary AJK and Shakeel Qadir Khan Chief Secretary Balochistan The Chief Commissioner Islamabad has also been transferred and the government has posted Cap (R) Anwar Haq as new

Chief Commissioner Islamabad On the other hand, Secretary IT Navid Ahmed Secretary Cabinet Ejaz Dar AS Incharge climate change Musaddiq Ahmed Khan Chief Secretary Sindh Sohail Rajpoot CS AJK

Usman Chachar CS Balochistan Abdul Aziz Uqaili

DG Passport Yawar Hussain, Secretary Heritage Fareena Mazhar and Secretary Maritime Affairs Abdul Ghufran Memon have been directed to report to Establishment Division On the other hand Secretary

Mir Ali Mardan Domki

sworn in as caretaker Balochistan CM

QUETTA S ta f f r e P o r t

Former MPA Mir Ali Mardan Domki on Friday took oath as the caretaker chief minister of Balochistan at a ceremony held at the Governor ’s House Balochistan Governor Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar administered the oath to Domki The oath-taking ceremony was attended by various prominent political and social figures, including federal ministers and other dignitaries The event marked the formal swearing-in of Domki after his nomination was approved by a parliamentary committee Earlier a parliamentary panel formed to decide the name of the caretaker Balochistan Chief Minister on Friday picked Ali Mardan Domki for the top slot A summary in this regard was approved by Governor Balochistan Malik Abdul Wali Khan Kakar The second round of the parliamentary committee constituted by Speaker Balochistan Assembly Mir Jan Muhammad Jamali was held on Friday as the deadlock between the outgoing provincial government and the opposition of the dissolved Balochistan Assembly persisted over the appointment of the caretaker chief minister The first meeting of the parliamentary committee for the appointment of caretaker chief minister ended without any result on Thursday night

Pakistan records cur rent account deficit af ter 4 months of surplus

g C u r r e n t a c c o u n t r e c o r d e d a d e f i c i t o f $ 0 . 8 1 b i n J u l y c o m p a r e d t o a s u r p l u s o f $ 0 5 b i n J u n e

same

at $4 2 billion down 23 51 per-

2022

remittances amounted to $2 billion, falling sharply by 99 92 percent compared to the same month last year O v e r a l l t h e c u r r e n t a c c o u n t d e f i c i t w a s 3 5 8 p e r c e n t l o w e r t h a n t h e f i g u r e o f

$ 1 2 6 b i l l i o n i n J u l y F Y 2 3 L a s t m o n t h t h e c u r r e n t a c c o u n t s a w a s u r p l u s o f

( I M F ) t o o n o t e d i n a s t a ff r e p o r t e a r l i e r t h i s y e a r t h a t t h e c u r r e n t a c c o u n t d e f i c i t h a d n a r r o w e d s u b s t a n t i a l l y i n t h e 11 m o n t h s o f F Y 2 3 b e c a u s e o f a s h a r p c o nt r a c t i o n o f i m p o r t s t h a t r e f l e c t e d b o t h a dm i n

RIZWANA BLAMES JUDGE’S WIFE FOR SUBJECTING HER TO SEVERE TORTURE ON DAILY BASIS

TH E minor domestic helper Rizwana who had survived alleged brutal torture at the hands of an Islamabad civil judge’s wife recorded her statement with Islamabad police on Friday The case came to light on July 25 when Rizwana was shifted to a hospital in Lahore with serious injuries

PTI says moving SC against ECP’s delimitation schedule

ISLAMABAD

Taking swift action on the reports the police filed a case against the wife of the civil judge for the alleged brutal torture of the 14-year-old girl employed as a domestic help at their house A day earlier it was reported that besides the wife the civil judge also used to torture the 14-year-old domestic helper accused the Rizwana s grandmother Today in her recorded statement to the police Rizwana claimed that the judge s wife Somia used to beat her with sticks

iron rods and other objects The housewife used to kick and slap her in rage police said quoting the minor She also used to hold her hair and bang her head against the wall Rizwana further said in her statement that whenever the judge s family used to go out of the residence she was locked in a room for days without food or water I was not allowed to meet my parents Rizwana said The judge s wife stood next to me whenever I talked to my

parents on the phone The minor girl further revealed that Somia used to threaten and warn her about telling her parents about the brutal torture inflicted on her They did not even bandage my wounds she said According to police the civil judge was yet to appear before a joint investigation team It is pertinent to mention here that the civil judge was removed from his post and appointed as Officer on Special Duty (OSD) by the Lahore High Court Chief Justice Muhammad Ameer Bhatti

Pakistan, China ink accord to set up technology transfer center in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday announced to challenge the delimitation schedule announced by the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) in the Supreme Court which will eventually delay the general elections PTI spokesperson in a statement announced that the decision of the Council of Common Interests (CCI) regarding the new census will be challenged in the Supreme Court The statement termed the statement of ECP regarding delaying elections a violation of the constitution and added new elections should be held within 90 days

The statement noted that caretaker chief ministers of Punjab and KP do not have the authority to okay the census results in the CCI meeting Earlier on Thursday the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that general elections were not possible within 90 days As per details the Election Commission of Pakistan decided to hold the upcoming general election on the census 2023 The ECP stated that the commission is bound to carry out the delimitation process The first publication will be on October 9 while the final publication will be on December 14 The meeting decided to seek assistance from the provincial governments and the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) in the delimitation process

The administrative measures will be completed by August 31 whereas the delimitation will be carried out across the country from September 8 to October 7

Interior Minister orders release of PTM activists

China and Pakistan signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) to establish China-South Asia Technology Transfer Center-Sub Center in Pakistan Pakistani Ambassador to China Moinul Haque said that the Sub Center would help strengthen bilateral technology transfer, enhance cooperation among enterprises, research institutes, and universities, as well as support cooperation in the pursuit of science, technology, and innovation (STI) for sustainable development under Belt and Road Initiative between the two countries Gwadar Pro reported on Friday

Addressing the 3rd China-Pakistan technology transfer matchmaking workshop in Kunming he said that Pakistan and China are now focusing on STI cooperation in areas of information technology and other emerging technologies advanced and new materials green transportation renewable energy technologies digital economy smart cities minerals and natural resources biotechnology and modern agriculture

“The two countries have now included STI in China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) for high quality and sustainable development of CPEC Pakistan has recently established Special Technology Zones Authority to build a knowledge ecosystem for entrepreneur-

ial innovative and tech-driven Pakistan he said I hope that the discussions and interaction being held today in the B2B matchmaking will enable the parties to propose a clear roadmap for developing cooperation for technology transfer in priority areas the ambassador mentioned Haque said he visited over 40 cities and headquarters of over 100 companies In every city and within the halls of each company that he visited, the emphasis and focus on research and development was palpable China s global leadership in cuttingedge technologies such as high-speed rail networks, electric vehicles, artificial intelligence, 5G, solar technology, data storage, and e-commerce is a testament

strategies

PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T

The KP Centre of Excellence on Countering

UoG extends admission deadline till Sep 8

to its dedication for bringing constant improvement in the lives and living standards of its people he added Khan Muhammad Wazir Science and Technology Counsellor at Pakistani Embassy in Beijing said that the MOU will connect the private sector of the two countries, the government R&D centers, and the universities of the two countries for technology transfers and enhance cooperation in STI

It is to be noted the 3rd China –Pakistan technology transfer matchmaking workshop with the theme of Connecting STI Resources to Empower High-Quality Development of CPEC was held on the sidelines of the 7th China-South Asia Expo which kicked off on Wednesday in Kunming, Southwest China s Yunnan province

Rangers arrests two ‘wanted terrorists ’ of Daesh in K arachi

The spokesman further stated that the leader of these terrorist Sikandar was arrested in Karachi back in 2020 while Farmanullah managed to escape to Afghanistan returned to Karachi a while ago and went into hiding

Spokesman Rangers said that the accomplices of the arrested terrorist have been killed in the encounters against the security forces in Bajaur meanwhile these terrorists were booked in several terrorism cases in PIB Colony police station

Violent Extremism organized an international conference here on Friday to discuss ways to counter extremism in the province The speakers at the conference called for chalking out and implementing long-term strategies and projects to counter extremism in the province They also stressed the need for promoting tolerance and harmony in society Secretary Higher Education Anila Mahfouz Durrani said that the KP Centre of Excellence on Countering Violent Extremism is the first center of its kind in South Asia and would act as a think tank in the fight against extremism PPP leader and former Deputy Speaker National Assembly Faisal Karim Kundi said that KP is currently facing critical issues including extremism and climate change He said Pakistan has to reconsider its foreign policy towards Afghanistan for peace in the region Musrat Kadim said that this Center should have been established a decade ago to prevent extremism She emphasized upon women’s active and imperative role in establishing peace and rejecting extremist thinking Another speaker Javed Iqbal said that Pakistan had faced huge losses in terms of human lives and infrastructure in the war against terrorism He suggested that parallel to the war against terrorism work should also be done on other social political and economic issues He said that extremist ideas could be defeated through constructive thinking and health activities in the society Professor Dr Usman Ghani Director IM Sciences pointed out that currently political intolerance and extremism was on the rise in Pakistan and suggested promoting tolerance and harmony in the society He said that the Centre should make recommendations to the Higher Education Commission and the Department of Education regarding the elimination of extremism at institutional level At least one chapter on topics like counter-extremism should be included in the syllabus he added

Justice Shah suggests formulation of full court bench for hearing NAB amends case

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The hearing of the case was then adjourned till August 28 N A B L AW A M E N D M E N T: The NAB

Rangers claimed to have arrested two most wanted terrorists allegedly affiliated with the banned organization Daesh from Karachi on Friday Rangers and the Special Investigation Unit (SIU) conducted a raid in Karachi s Gadap area and apprehended two most wanted terrorists affiliated

with Daesh

The apprehended terrorist – identified as Farmanullah aka Ehtesham and Dawood aka Ameer Sahab – were active member of Daesh and wanted in several terrorist activities in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Bajaur and Karachi

The rangers spokesman stated that the hand grenades arms and ammunition were also recovered from the arrested accused

The spokesman claimed that the accused Dawood alias Ameer Sahib belongs to Tehreek-e-Taliban Bajaur and recently left Tehreek-e-Taliban and joined Daesh The spokesman further said that the accused was reorganizing the group with his partner Farmanullah alias Ehtesham

Moreover the police continuously conducting raids to arrest the accomplices of the arrested accused while the arms and ammunition of these accused have been handed over to the police for legal action

(Second Amendment) Bill 2021 states that NAB s deputy chairman, to be appointed by the federal government, would become the acting chairman of the bureau following the completion of the tenure of the chairman The bill has also reduced the four-year term of the NAB chairman and the bureau’s prosecutor general to three years After approval of the law, NAB will not be able to act on federal, provincial or local tax matters Moreover, the regulatory bodies functioning in the country have also been placed out of NAB’s domain It says that “all pending inquiries, investigations, trials or proceedings under this ordinance, relating to persons or transactions shall stand transferred to the concerned authorities, departments and courts under the respective laws ” It has also set a three-year term for the judges of the accountability courts It will also make it binding upon the courts to decide a case within one year Under the proposed law, it has been made binding upon NAB to ensure the availability of evidence against an accused prior to his or her arrest According to one of the key amendments, the act “shall be deemed to have taken effect on and from the commencement of the National Accountability Ordinance 1999”

Police set up picket near Fatima’s grave as court grants exhumation

t r a t e p o l i c e p l e a a n d s e n d a c c u s e d t o j a i l o n 4 - d a y p h y si c a l r e m a n d The issue initially came to light after video clips of Fatima s body bearing severe torture marks went viral on social media In the video the seriously injured girl is seen struggling to sit up on her bed but soon collapses

Bushra Bibi writes to Punjab govt voicing fears Imran could be ‘poisoned’ in Attock jail

Bushra Bibi, the wife of former prime minister Imran Khan, has voiced concerns about the possibility of her husband being poisoned while he is incarcerated at District Jail Attock, it emerged on Friday

On Aug 5, an Islamabad trial court had convicted Imran in a case pertaining to concealing details of state gifts and sentenced him to three years in prison Soon after the verdict, he was arrested by the Punjab police from his Zaman Park residence in Lahore and taken to the prison in Attock

Imran s lawyer, Naeem Haider Panjutha, has on several occasions criticised the conditions the PTI chief is allegedly being kept in On Aug 7, he told the media about the conditions after meeting his client in the jail

I asked Khan sahib about the situation in jail after his arrest He said he is being kept

in a dark, small, C-Class, chakki wala (manual labour) room He said there is an open washroom there, which does not have a shower

“He said the jail has flies in the morning and insects in the evening,” Panjutha had said In a letter dated August 17, addressed to the Punjab home secretary, Imran’s wife sought the ex-PM’s transfer from District Jail Attock to Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail and expressed fear he could be poisoned in lock-up

According to the letter, the life of the exprime minister was in danger as “he was previously attacked twice whereby once he was hit by bullets shots (sic) on his body ”

“Moreover it is apprehended that he may be poisoned in the jail through food as the ones responsible and perpetrators of previous attacks are still at large and have not been captured by the law enforcement agencies,” Bushra feared She questioned her husband’s detention at Attock jail, citing the

lack of apparent justification

The letter highlighted that Imran was eligible for B-Class facilities within the jail premises due to several reasons These reasons encompass his “leadership as the former captain of Pakistan’s national cricket team, his distinguished status as an alumnus of Oxford University in the UK, and his past role as the prime minister of Pakistan” She pointed out that it was against the jail rules to “keep the person of my husband’s stature at a place which lacks even the very basic amenities” Bushra wrote that her husband was not even being allowed homemade food “which is against the rules and in violation of fundamental rights” “It was duty of the jail authorities to provide him all the facilities within 48 hours but even after lapse of 12 days no facility whatsoever has been provided which is disgrace

E x p e r t s c a l l f o r long-term

t o c o u n t e r e x t r e m i s m i n K P

PAKISTAN DESIROUS OF CORDIAL TIES WITH ENTIRE INT’L COMMUNIT Y: FM

CA R E TA K E R Minister for Foreign Affairs Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that Pakistan is desirous of having cordial relations with entire international community including China, the United States, European Union, Turkiye and Arab countries

In an exclusive talk with Radio Pakistan he said: “We want to strengthen our economic relations with these countries as well ” Replying to a question about ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor, the Minister said he is proud of being a signatory of the CPEC in May 2013 during the Chinese Prime Minister ’s visit to Pakistan

He said CPEC is a major flagship programme of the economic development of the country, and we have completed many development projects under the CPEC dur-

NDMA ‘high-level flood’ aler t in Sutlej River triggers evacuation

LAHORE/KASUR S TA F F R E P O R T

There is very high-level-flood at Ganda Singh in Kasur after the release of 150 000 cusecs water by India into Sutlej River and the authorities started evacuation in Punjab following the National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) issued a flood alert in the river According to the NDMA advisory issued on Friday Sutlej River had reached an extremely high-level flood level at Ganda Singh Wala adding the flows would be reflected and passed downstream to Sulemanki and Islam Headworks in the next 48 to 76 hours In light of the high flows and probable dangers and vulnerability of areas astride the Sutlej river the NDMA advised the Federal Flood Commission (FFC) to ensure the implementation of an elaborate coordination mechanism for preparedness and mitigation through the management and regulation of water reservoirs barrages headworks and irrigation canals The measures must ensure desynchronised releases from all reservoirs regulating structures to preclude cumulative flooding in any regions Plan immediate discharges from regulating structures to build capacity for likely heightened or increased flows, it said The PCIW was also directed to ensure that flows and discharge data of eastern rivers were updated regularly for necessary planning and preparations

Furthermore, PMD and FFD were directed to share six-hourly weather forecasts during the forecasted period to enable timely decisionmaking and coordinated responses The departments were also told to share three-hourly updates on river and nullah flows and reservoir levels to facilitate coordinated water management and regulation The Punjab Irrigation Department was also instructed to take all necessary measures to manage water flow and mitigate flood risks The Punjab Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) and respective district disaster management authorities (DDMAs) were directed to conduct extensive public awareness campaigns through multiple channels, including TV, broadcast, social, and print media etc , to ensure that vulnerable communities were well-informed about the anticipated flood situation and necessary precautions Moreover, they were also told to preposition required machinery, equipment, emergency supplies and personnel in high-risk areas, considering the forecasted severity of flooding The NDMA also directed relevant authorities to proactively maintain nullahs and stormwater drains to ensure their proper functioning and prevent blockages that may exacerbate flooding There were also instructions to ensure immediate stocking of basic commodities, including paramedics and medicine, especially in regions that were likely to get cut off during flooding Authorities were told to activate early warning systems in flash flood-prone areas to promptly alert residents and facilitate their evacuation to safer locations and also strengthen coordination among all relevant departments and agencies to facilitate the timely sharing of information and resources during emergency situations Lastly, authorities were instructed to ensure the widespread circulation of alerts and advisories, especially in local languages, to raise awareness and sensitise travellers, tourists and local communities in atrisk or vulnerable areas Settlements along Sutlej evacuated: PDMA Separately, the Punjab PDMA said in a statement that the Office of the Indian Commissioner for Indus Water Treaty had intimated that Harike and Ferozepur Headworks “have entered into the flood regime”

ing the past ten years The Caretaker Foreign Minister said we need to further improve our economic p o l i c y w i t h f o c u s o n i m p r o v i n g e c o -

nomic ties with all the countries including regional, and other major important countries He said we will also try our level best

to further cement our economic ties with the United States China and the European Union which are the major trading partners of Pakistan Jalil Abbas Jilani on Friday returned to the Foreign office but this time as caretaker Foreign Minister Jilani served as foreign secretary of Pakistan and Pakistan s Ambassador to important capitals including the US and the EU Jilani was also the deputy high commissioner in New Delhi in 2003 when the Indian government declared him persona non grata after accusing him of funneling funds for separatist activities in Jammu and Kashmir

Being the interim foreign policy chief he may not have enough time and limited mandate to change the course of Pakistan s foreign policy but he may lay ground for the future government particularly on how to proceed with India

SC to hear pleas against Mar yam, Sanaullah’s bails, Volume 10 opening on 22, 23rd

PPP, JI senators term ECP decision to delay elections ‘unconstitutional’

hearing seeking to issue classified part – volume 10 – of the report compiled by a six-member Joint Investigation Team (JIT) constituted by the Supreme Court (SC) to investigate the Sharif family s offshore assets as revealed by Panama Papers A two-member bench headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial will hear the petition submitted by the Broadsheet Company on August 22

In the plea the company stated that it had aided the National Accountability Beauru in locating the overseas properties of the Sharif family However NAB did not fulfill the payment for this property search it added

Broadsheet appealed to the apex court to release Volume 10 saying the purpose was to present Volume 10 as evidence in a British court

It is pertinent to mention that Broadsheet had taken legal action against NAB in a UK court to retrieve the outstanding dues

The senators of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Jamaat-i-Islami (JI) spoke against the Election Commission of Pakistan s (ECP) decision to carry out new delimitations, saying that it was unconstitutional as the electoral body is bound to hold elections within 90 days A day earlier, the poll organising authority announced the schedule of new delimitations to be carried out as per the new census approved by the Council of Common Interests (CCI) earlier this month The ECP schedule showed that fresh delimitation will take nearly four months, meaning the general elections in the country cannot be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the provincial and national assemblies PPP Senator Raza Rabbani, in an official statement, said that the ECP s publication of the final list of constituencies violates Article 224 of the Constitution as it directs to hold elections within 90 days after the assembly is dissolved The delimitation of constituencies flows from the Election Act, 2017, particularly when the provincial number of seats is not being affected In order to meet a constitutional requirement the time provisions in the schedule should have been squeezed,” said the statement He added that the ECP could have asked the federal and provincial government for additional staff to complete the task to ensure elections within 90 days “Previously there was an attempt to provide a fig leaf for a constitutional violation but in the past four years the Constitution has been violated at will and convenience,” said Rabbani, adding that it is “very dangerous” for the federation Meanwhile, JI Senator Mushtaq Ahmad Khan said that the electoral body’s decision to postpone elections under the guise of fresh delimitations was “unconstitutional” He said the decision violates Article 224 of the Constitution, adding that the CCI had no authority to give approval to the census Khan also said that the previous government facilitated the ECP in this “unconstitutional process”

A-level students allowed to resit cancelled exams for free

Following a backlash from the students, Cambridge Assessment International Education (CAIE) on Friday offered A-level students opportunity to retake examinations that had been cancelled due to Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) protests in May, a statement said

The move came after Cambridge students took to the streets to protest against the unexpected reduction of marks in the AS and A levels results earlier this week

The students expressed concerns about their academic future as they gathered outside the Karachi Press Club to voice their dissatisfaction with their results They expressed worries about the grading process, citing the cancellation of A-level papers in Pakistan on May 9 and 12 due to the unrest in the city on political grounds Instead of rescheduling the exams, average marking was employed, leading to unfavourable outcomes for the students, they said

Only a handful of students received A and B grades, while a majority, including us, were left with C, and D grades, they maintained Cambridge International s June 2023 exams series in Pakistan was marked with uncertainty when papers were cancelled on 10, 11 and 12 May 2023 due to political unrest in the country Due to this, students whose exams were cancelled were assessed based on the components they sat in exam during the series,” a statement issued by the CAIE read

It clarified that Cambridge had also shared in advance that grading standards for 2023 would be returning gradually to pre-Covid standards of 2019 in phases in 2022 and 2023, therefore, a shift in grading thresholds should be expected

However it said that following the results students showed concerns about their grades and called for remedial action by Cambridge

To address such concerns Mr Waseem Ajmal Secretary Ministry of Federal Education and Professional Training presided over a meeting to discuss the concerns of students who received their Cambridge International AS & A Level grades on 10 August Present in the meeting were Uzma Yousuf Country Director Cambridge International Pakistan Maarya Rehman Acting Country Director British Council and leaders from various private schools The meeting discussed the concerns of the schools and students and asked for suggestions from Cambridge to support these students

The statement said that Cambridge International explained to the ministry its process for calculating assessed marks as well as why returning to the standards of our qualifications to pre-pandemic standard was required

After the briefing it added the ministry recognised that June 2023 exam results are fair valid and reliable even where students missed some components due to the disruption to exams on 10 11 and 12 May

Both Cambridge International and the government recognise that many students were disappointed not to be able to sit every component and may want another chance to show what they can do it added

To provide such students the opportunity to show their academic attainment to the fullest the government in agreement with Cambridge International announced the following decision: Any student who missed a component for Cambridge International AS & A Level on 10 11 and 12 May because exams were cancelled can re-sit exams for that subject

without paying the Cambridge part of the exam fee in the November 2023 exam series Students who ask to re-sit a qualification take all relevant components in November – those they missed and those they took in June Students who want to resit A Level take all components both AS and ‘A2’ ”

The ministry also decided to hold meetings with vice chancellors of renowned universities in Pakistan to request them to provide flexibility in their admission processes for students while Cambridge also agreed to make similar request to the universities in Pakistan

It said that the ministry will also coordinate with the provincial government to initiate similar measures by them

Appreciating the government and federal ministry of education for its continued trust in Cambridge Uzma Yousuf Country Director Cambridge International Pakistan said: “Cambridge International takes

pride in the high quality and standards of our education and assessment and reiterate our confidence in all our June 2023 results

“We have always prioritised the wellbeing of our learners and the decisions taken today are a reaffirmation of our commitment to providing quality education and assessments I would also like to reiterate to our schools and students that we are here to support you with the best of our capabilities in providing a successful academic experience ”

Yousuf also advised students who still have concerns to get in touch with their schools in the first instance while private candidates can contact the British Council

The ministry of education lauded Cambridge International’s efforts in providing high-quality education for the students of Pakistan and being an important stakeholder for the government for the betterment of education in the country the statement further said

RUDA to host Public-Private dialogue on educ ation’s role in urban development

Higher Education

from

representatives of the Higher Education Commission Their involvement is expected to facilitate the private sector in devising clear and positive strategies for their engagement in Ravi City’s development endeavors Fatima Ali Khan also informed that the upcoming dialogue organized by RUDA underscores the symbiotic

Arrest presages greater crackdown

PTI chairman Imran Khan must see the arrest of his nephew Hassaan Niazi as another step bringing him closer to trial by a military court for the events of May 9 Though he is already in jail serving a sentence after one conviction, he faces a number of other charges

However the prospect of a military court trial is daunting

Though one Prime Minister was hanged after a military trial and another convicted for hijacking not since Hussain Shaheed Suhrawardy appeared before an Elected Bodies Disqualification Order tribunal after the 1968 coup would an ex-PM appear before an Army officer as an accused Indeed, it would be the first time one would appear before a purely military tribunal However it is not just the tightening of the noose that Mr Khan has to face but also the knowledge that the change of government has brought no change in his fortunes It also symbolises how the many PTI workers behind bars are likely to fare Though the Supreme Court had initially taken up the matter it now has adjourned the case and the statement to the Lahore High Court that Mr Niazi had been handed over to a military court showed which way the wind was blowing

There is now every likelihood that this arrest will be followed by a new wave of people abandoning the PTI much as there was an exodus after May 9 At this point, those who might desert the ship are those who like Mr Niazi, have been evading arrest Once such figures are in custody some might choose to sing like the proverbial canaries in the hope of getting some relief

These death-throes of the PTI are painful to watch, and must be so even for those who oppose it Of course with Mr Khan in jail and unable to lead his party s campaign disqualified and thus unable to contest himself the PTI is crippled to the point of not being able to contest the coming election, delayed though it might be It would seem to appear that the PTI is going to dissolve in much the way it emerged Where it was given strategic support, now it seems to be getting strategic hurdles in its way The process is not a pretty one but while political forces might have been expected to find some wriggle-room over the May 9 incidents to expect the current caretakers to show the least flexibility would be to live in a fool’s paradise And that is very bad politics indeed

IS L A M is a universal religion in which guidance is for all humanity Where Islam teaches the lesson of guidance to humanity it also preaches politeness and respect In Islamic teachings the Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and the Holy Quran have special importance Both of these are the foundations of Islam and without them Islam cannot be complete nor can anyone enter the circle of Islam

Just as it is necessary to believe in the last Prophet Muhammad (SAW) and to show respect and politeness in Islamic religion In the same way it is necessary to have Iman (faith) and respect the Holy Quran Insulting and disrespecting the Holy Quran and the Prophet is not tolerated in any situation but every other day blasphemy is being done as sometimes blasphemous sketches are published or sometimes the Holy Quran is burnt Due to the indifference of the Muslim Ummah disrespect and the flattery of the socalled rulers extremists hurt the feelings of Muslims day by day but no one is coming forward to rein them in Neither the rulers leave their allegiance to big lobbies nor do the luxurious people abandon their desires Just in case nominal protests against the blasphemy and insult of the Quran are held for a few days and condemnation resolutions are passed yet there is no impact on these racist infidel activists nor is there any change in blasphemous attitude

It is the utmost indifference of the Muslim nation that despite there being a large number of Muslims around the world the incidents of blasphemy a n d i n s u l t i n g t h e Q u r a n a r e h a p p e n i n g c o n t i n u -

ously and the Muslim nation is not able to respond effectively because of the helplessness of the Muslims While Muslim nation is in dire sleep of negligence a politician of Hard Line party in Sweden Rasmus Paludanset set on fire a copy of the Holy Quran in front of the Turkish Embassy following a hour-long diatribe in which he attacked Islam and immigration in Sweden

There was a heavy police force to protect this vile act in the planned demonstration Some Muslim countries including Turkey and Pakistan have expressed their anger over this incident but all these are formal acts for show If Swedish ambassadors were immediately expelled from 57 countries the extrem-

ist would have been arrested and sent to jail within a day but this light reaction depicts that there is no Islamic honor left among the rulers of the Muslim Ummah, and they are all dozing in grim negligence

It is not hidden from anyone that these kinds of actions are done only to see the reaction of the Muslim nations and the extent of honour in the rulers

After that, the patrons of the anti-Islamic activities increase their influence in Muslim countries This action previously used to happen in front of the Saudi Embassy and the first strong reaction to this was from Pakistan and Saudi Arabia but this time, a lot of indifference is being shown from all sides No country has expelled the Swedish ambassador nor has any massive warning behaviour been adopted, only protest letters have been given It is not the foremost task of any government to send a protest letter as protesting political and religious parties can also give letters of condemnation The Muslim Ummah will have to fight against this global agenda unitedly Until the countries of the Muslim nation unite and take a strong stand on Islamophobic provocations, the vile practice of the West will not halt

Currently, Muslims seem to be deeply immersed in humiliation and disgrace on even tiny matters This ummah has suffered such a calamity that it is being eaten from within Internal and external enemies are engrossed in destroying the roots of the Muslim nation Mountains of oppression are being broken on Muslims everywhere The eyes observe that the Muslims are being cut, beaten and become the targets of the infidels cruelty as in Myanmar, rohingya muslims suffered the dreadful attacks

Strengthening the sense of Baloch alienation

such an amendment not introduced in the Constitution making Baloch an exception to all the fundamental human rights mentioned from Articles 9 to 28 of the Constitution?

BA L O C H youths, especially the students and educated class, have been the direct victims of enforced disappearances for the last few days in particular Only in the month of August (2023), more than 20 Baloch students have gone missing from across Balochistan including from Kech, Gwadar, Khuzdar, Kharan and Quetta Unfortunately, most of the students, this time, have been of matriculation and intermediate, and those who have been solely prioritizing education and nothing else Neither they are imprisoned in a local police station nor are they ever produced in a court of law After a few days– sometimes months and years– they are released after mental and physical torture And then no one ever asks them officially where they were or who inflicted torture on them Should not it be deemed that the state is equally a partner with the heinous criminals?

Following the surge in enforced disappearances of the Baloch students, many families have restrained their children from an education away from their home cities While many cities in Balochistan are deprived of the basics of life, education is still only available far away But the question is yet another: cannot Baloch choose to get an education anywhere in the country? If so, why are they made to disappear on the basis of their nationality? If not, why is

Enforced disappearance is recognized by the United Nations as a crime against humanity and international law It refers to confining a person, or persons, illegally from any sort of movement and infringing their other subordinated rights, including that of legal representation in a court of law

Earlier the Enforced Dissappearance (ED) cases only appeared in Balochistan But this latest wave of illegal ‘abductions’ by the ‘legal institutions’ have spread across the country Only in the year of 2022 over 60 Baloch including students from the Quaid-i-Azam University Islamabad and the University of Punjab Lahore were made to disappear in broad daylight Some cases were even recorded in camera but neither courts nor any other state institutions have been ready to make the persons and institutions behind the enforced disappearances of the Baloch accountable With such a one-sided attitude won’t the Baloch alienation further spread making it harder for state institutions to enter into peaceful dialogues with the Baloch?

On the other hand the new ‘caretakeer project’ of the ministries is handed over to ‘Balochistan’s Anwaar Ul-Haq Kakar ’ saying that it would help in resolving the Baloch issue The fact is that Kakar has been even a bigger anti-Baloch ‘project’ launched to counter the Baloch as a nation

From the day he took oath as the caretaker prime minister the enforced disappearances in Balochistan have intensified taking in more Baloch students He has already been notorious in the region for his formation of the ‘Voice of Balochistan’ NGO and his role in the suddenlyestablished Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) In fact as journalist mentions in a column in a newspaper Kakar has been purely a pro-establishment figure who has always resisted highlighting the cases of enforced disappearances “In a seminar at Quetta in 2017 he (Kakar) made comments on my talk at one of the sessions: why do you only talk about missing persons?”

Apart from Kakar the other political parties too have used the enforced disappearances as a

tool to gain votes The fresher rise in EDs can be an election campaign to ‘blackmail’ the parents into casting their votes even against their wills Because the parties grab such opportunities and ask the affected families to render them their votes and in return they vow to talk to the ‘authorities’ and ensure their loved ones are released Because as the general elections get closer we can witness the number of enforced disappearances ascending so fast The authorities perhaps fear an election boycott because of the absence of a positive role of the parliamentarians in the lives of the people in Balochistan

Whatever the case may be Baloch students are at the forefront in confronting the state oppression Whether involved in anti-state activity or not they are to face the tortures and illegal detentions which will not only weaken them physically but traumatize them mentally as well even after they are released When justice itself goes missing despite the presence of the administration of justice (the courts) how come the people living under such a fragile justice system overcome going abducted illegally?

Enforced disappearance is recognized by the United Nations as a crime against humanity and international law It refers to confining a person or persons illegally from any sort of movement and infringing their other subordinated rights including that of legal representation in a court of law Baloch have been facing EDs for years with a growing ration from 2009 which turned into the kill and dump policy back then With a short break in the middle the EDs have once again arisen from the Baloch regions including Karachi and Dera Ghazi Khan to other cities like Islamabad Rawalpindi and Lahore The state needs to revive its policy of enforced disappearances of the Baloch if they pretend to be serious with the Baloch issue

The writer is a freelance columnist

whereas Palestinians, Kashmiris, Uighurs and Muslims in Denmark are left from basic rights of practicing their religion through false legislation The holy book of Muslims is being burned, the last Prophet of Islam (SAW) is being defamed and the Muslim Ummah is in the slumber of indifference When will this Muslim Ummah wake up and when will those leaders who give the message of Islam and the exaltation of Islam realize their responsibilities? Similarly, Pakistani leaders have remained in government for years and again hold current governing status, even now a Hafiz-e- Quran is the army chief Anywhere in the world when the Holy Prophet (SAW) is insulted, Islamic orders are mocked and the Quran is burnt, then the Muslim Ummah will look towards (Saudia Arabia) the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques, the pioneers of the restoration of the Caliphate and the Pakistani people will look towards their Hafiz-e-Quran army chief In this situation, all Muslim leaders have the responsibility not to disappoint the Muslim nation while it is the responsibility of the Ummah to put political and regional differences aside and give a strong response to the matter agreed upon by the Quran and the Prophet For this, the entire Muslim Ummah will have to wake up from negligence and if it still does not do so then one will have to give an account of one s shortcomings in the presence of the Almighty on the Day of Judgment

The writer can be reached at attiabutt121@gmail com She tweets @AttiyaMunawer

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

Scam in Dubai

O N E of my friends recently had a strange experience in Dubai A bank account was opened by this person and a credit card was subsequently issued to him A few days later there were phone calls on the cellphone number my friend had mentioned in the bank records

The calls were apparently from Dubai Police asking for the details of the credit card The person being naive to the system assumed it to be a routine in Dubai and gave the card details to the caller and sure enough within no time lost everything that he had in his bank account

Such scams are common but what was surprising was that this happened in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) which has very strict laws Most probably these fraudsters were operating not from the UAE but from some other country having access to the banks in Dubai People have to outsmart the system but then organisations need to upgrade their security and advise their clients who are new to the system about such potential scams

Water scarcit y

S U P P LY of safe, clean and drinkable water to the people of Karachi, it seems, has become an issue that has no immediate solution in the foreseeable future Let history be witness to the fact that the city that cumulatively pays more taxes than any other in the country has no value in the eyes of the decision-makers who are not bothered if the tax-paying people are in the grip of an intense and protracted water shortage In the same city, the water-tanker mafia continues to thrive owing to maladministration

It was startling to hear a senior politician recently stating publicly that he himself had to purchase tanker water One wonders whether it was a political statement to reveal his own misery, or inaptness, or a political statement to sound like one of the masses Regardless of what the statement was meant to communicate, it has brought the issue of water scarcity in Karachi under the spotlight It serves as a stark reminder that urgent action, a comprehensive strategy, and constructive planning are needed to address the prevalent water crisis in the mega city

This could be achieved by doing away with the tanker mafia and implementing sustainable solutions for the long-term benefit of the city s residents It is imperative for the government, civil society and citizens to come together and work towards ensuring people s access to clean and safe water, which is a fundamental right of every individual SYED SADAQAT HUSSAIN KARACHI

Monsoon fears

Wise nations learn from their past and never repeat mistakes Last year Pakistan suffered unprecedented rains and floods that resulted in loss of lives and property while there was a huge negative impact on several other domains of national life such as education economy and agriculture

The monsoon is back and heavy rains are expected once again But unfortu-nately the provincial authorities including the chief minister do not seem concerned about the impending danger

Some areas in the country are still inundated owing to the last year ’s floods How can the upcoming floods be controlled? This is a question that all government authorities must answer Although much time has been wasted plans can still be made and executed to save the lives and property of public from the impending losses A proactive approach is better than taking actions after the losses The floods last year wreaked havoc only because of lack of contingency planning and apathy of those who were responsible for taking preventive measures

In this situation, all Muslim leaders have the responsibility not to disappoint the Muslim nation while it is the responsibility of the Ummah to put political and regional differences aside and give a strong response to the matter agreed upon by the Quran and the Prophet.

75 years and not a single successful economic policy

What chaos!

TH E core inflation rate in Pakistan increased by 18 5 percent in June 2023 The inflation rate rose to 38 percent in May and this was a recordbreaking jump The weekly inflation rate has reached an all-time high 38 percent We don t have money to pay for imports stuck at ports Floods of last year still have their effects on the shaking economy striving to get back to some stability We suffered $30 billion financial loss with 30 million people displaced due to floods People are afraid of predictions about getting closer and closer to the default situation Energy crisis is getting horrible Lawlessness in the country is making things even worse over all

Things might be new but looking back at our history we never find such a thing as a stable economic policy in this country Absence of a sustainable economic policy has always been an unfortunate event for this country Among many reasons one is of course no democratic government ever completing its tenure Every succeeding government replaced the policies of the previous one to prove it wrong It seemed like their first priority to prove their rivals wrong in every capacity at the cost of damage to the nation

Then the new government comes up with its new policies from the lowest starting point again and the cycle continues Since 1947 we have experienced a complete roller coaster of policy after policy but without getting us any long term good for a long span of time

We did not have a Constitution for the first nine years after the creation of Pakistan

Whatever the reasons we were a nation with no future layout not knowing anything about what we were looking for Our economy went through different phases back and forth In phase I 1947-77 we can call it the Era of experimentation We saw Ayub Khan came up with the Harvard Trickledown Model a capitalist model This model was then replaced by Bhutto s socialist model that

was built on the idea of nationalization ]

Later we entered the second phase the Era of twisted economy lasting from 1979 to 2000 Zia ul Haq followed the footsteps of his ideological father Ayub and again revived the capitalist mode of economy in the country This was the time period of the Soviet war in the region Pakistan was clearly a queen on the chessboard in the game Our economy was booming on ‘aid’ from the USA Benazir Bhutto then became the Prime inister of Pakistan saving the pieces of democracy in the country

The war had ended The aid was cut Now we were having nothing at hand to run a state on its own We once again asked for help from the IMF in the form of of course loan The series of changing governments between Benazir and Nawaz Sharif kept on going and so did the seeking of loans from the IMF until 2000

Here we entered a new era Era of Problematic Economy which started from 2000 and we are still going through its tough times

A big change comes once again breaking the repeating cycle of Bhutto’s and Sharif ’s loan seeking policy in the form of another military general Pervez Musharraf In 2000 Gen Pervaiz Musharraf introduced the Model of the Subsidized Scheme in which Gen gave loans to educated youth for small level domestic business or entrepreneurship It helped the industry to stand again Energy demand increased which led to energy shortage in the country and ultimately caused loadshedding Now Nawaz Sharif came up with a ‘Crony Capitalism’ plan benefiting only favourite industries CPEC is also product of this era Our recent economic model is Imran Khan’s ‘Socialist’ model

This never-ending search for a stable and strong policy needs many serious initiations towards a strong Pakistan This is 23 d time since 1947 we have begged the IMF for loans and aid The IMF World Bank or whatever the monetary body gives us loans just for its own benefits We need to understand the fact that a state can never be run on loan money for a long period The core issues of Pakistan’s economy mainly include policy framework inconsistent policy doctrines agricultural problems industrial issues fiscal policy problems tax-

ation problems monetary policy problems neoliberal structural programmes the Pakistan development paradox poverty and inequality issues issues of class policies bureaucracy issues bad governance structure and many others

One major issue today seems to be wrong investment in the agriculture department and ignoring the space for development in the industrial sector Pakistan invests 45 percent of its population input in agriculture every year and it yields only 19 percent output in GDP

On the other hand 19 percent of our population is involved in industry and it yields almost 30 percent output in GDP It clearly depicts our wrong directions of economic investments towards progress Moreover Lack of mechanization water issues commercialization of agricultural land lack of agricultural education no facilities

There is a long series of problems one can list out, but every problem comes with a solution FBR decentralization, knowledge economy, strong local government, better tax collection mechanism, digitalization, economic-driven policy, tourism, services lead economy, strong IT sector, CPEC execution, hi-tech manufacturing, education, are still the options helpful for the survival of the economy of Pakistan It is never too late to mend the ways We all hope we play our part in a better future

C r u d e o i l p r i c e s w i l l i n c r e a s e t h r o u g h 2 0 24

China and India lead our forecast of consumption growth

five-year (2015–19) average of 36 2 million b/d and reduce OPEC s share of world production to 33% in 2024 down from the pre-pandemic average share of 37%

We slightly increased our forecasts for world petroleum consumption in recent months in contrast to our downward revisions in world petroleum production In our latest forecast we expect non-OECD consumption of petroleum and liquid fuels to grow by 1 6 million b/d from 2022 to average 55 1 million b/d in 2023 and to rise further to 56 5 million b/d in 2024 China and India lead our forecast of consumption growth

for labour are also factors deteriorating the agricultural sector Pakistan Textile Industry for example is one of the largest industries of the country and has been badly ignored for years Another reason for the worsening economy is the malfunctioning of our state-owned enterprises These are the companies that are directly owned by the state and they make incentives for the state PIA WAPDA PIA steel mills are major among them According to stats our state-owned enterprises are losing millions on a daily basis PIA- has lost 600bn rupees and steel mills lost 500bn rupees in last 3 years Steel mills lose Rs five million per hour when working Pakistan Railways lose Rs 50 billion a year PTCL WAPDA PTV and the rest also follow the trend as well Reason behind may be lack of technical and professional operating hands in the industrial sector Technical and professional supervisors are being replaced by politicians bureaucrats or retired military officers who have no background knowledge of the subject causing heavy loss in industries Brain drain is also the reason we have no competent expertise left behind in the country to boost the economy There is a long series of problems one can list out but every problem comes with a solution FBR decentralization knowledge economy strong local government better tax collection mechanism digitalization economic-driven policy tourism services lead economy strong IT sector CPEC execution hi-tech manufacturing education, are still the options helpful for the survival of the economy of Pakistan It is never too late to mend the ways We all hope we play our part in a better future The writer is a lecturer at the University of Okara and can be reached at uzmarana70@gmail com

Are these really the world’s happiest countries?

And why are so many of them often rich, Western nations?

W2023 We forecast OPEC production of petroleum and other liquid fuels will average 33 9 million b/d in 2024 down 1 2 million b/d from the group s 2022 peak of 35 1 million b/d These production cuts will keep total OPEC production below the pre-pandemic

We forecast petroleum and liquid fuels consumption in China to grow by 0 8 million b/d in 2023 and by 0 4 million b/d in 2024; India s consumption is forecast to grow by 0 3 million b/d in both 2023 and 2024 Oil prices in 2023 have been considerably less volatile than they were between 2020 and 2022 However changes in world production and consumption could result in significant differences in oil prices than in our forecast for 2024

The US and Iran look for de-escalation

FINANCIAL TIMES

AF T E R more than two years of tortuous halting talks the Biden administration may finally be making some progress in its efforts to de-escalate tensions with Iran secure the freedom of US nationals imprisoned in the Islamic republic and potentially put a lid on a long-running nuclear crisis

Last week Iran transferred four Iranian-US citizens including businessmen Siamak Namazi Emad Shargi and Morad Tahbaz from Tehran s notorious Evin prison to house arrest as the first phase of a prisoner swap Under the agreement the detainees plus another dual national also under house arrest will eventually be free to leave the Islamic republic Washington meanwhile will allow Tehran to access $6bn of its frozen oil funds held in South Korea and release five Iranian prisoners

The deal smacks of hostage diplomacy and will justifiably cause concerns that it will encourage the regime to keep cynically using human pawns as a tactic in its decades-long hostility with the west But the release of the dual nationals is a welcome step Namazi had languished in Evin for eight years; Shargi and Tahbaz for five years all on spying charges A successful prisoner exchange may help build a degree of trust where none exists and support efforts to contain a nuclear crisis that has been simmering dangerously since former US president Donald Trump unilaterally abandoned the 2015 nuclear deal Tehran signed with world powers US and Iranian officials have been discussing other deescalatory measures that would include Tehran putting a cap on its uranium enrichment levels and co-operating more with the International Atomic Energy Agency Washington is also

pushing the republic to stop selling armed drones to Moscow which Russian forces have used to brutal effect in the war in Ukraine In return the US may turn a blind eye to Iranian oil exports which have been stymied by sanctions

Those discussions are not complete and they are not designed to produce a new nuclear deal But they would amount to progress by stopping at its current capabilities a nuclear programme that could inflame the Middle East Iran is enriching uranium at its highest ever levels and has the capacity to produce sufficient fissile material to develop a nuclear bomb in about two weeks if it chose to do so

If the programme continues unchecked Israel or the US at some point would feel compelled to respond militarily The risk of a miscalculation that could trigger a conflagration is also real Any attempt to delay this prospect should be seen as diplomatic pragmatism A more desirable solution to breathe new life into the now moribund 2015 Iran nuclear deal is sadly out of reach at this time When Trump launched his maximum pressure campaign against the Islamic republic he offered no political off-ramp Iran responded to the pressure by acting provocatively: it mobilised proxies to destabilise and attack its enemies and ramped up its nuclear activity In Tehran the calculation is that its leverage comes from stoking crises and making its foes aware they will pay a cost There is no reason to believe that malign behaviour would change As expected Iran hawks in the US are already criticising the Biden administration for agreeing to unfreeze the $6bn The prisoner deal is not contingent on the de-escalatory measures but could still fall apart There are questions about how sustainable the steps to contain the nuclear crisis would be even if they were secured The underlying challenge of preventing Iran becoming a threshold nuclear state remains unresolved Any moves to de-escalate tension and reduce the risk of war should be welcomed

WH O are the happiest people in the world? According to the World Happiness Report, it s the residents of Finland, Denmark, Iceland, Israel and the Netherlands Meanwhile, Palestinians, who have lived for decades under Israeli military occupation, rank 99th Every year, a United Nations-backed organisation publishes a report that ranks countries based on happiness The rankings themselves are based on Gallup surveys of a few thousand participants in each country who are asked to personally rate their lives on a scale of 0 to 10 This life evaluation , in other words, is someone s stated personal opinion of how content they are with their life at that particular point in time That information is then coupled with some other factors and presented in the annual World Happiness Report

But critics have pointed out glaring contradictions, blind spots and biases, including a seeming inclination towards rich Western nations – the Global North – that ignores centuries of colonial exploitation that enabled them to gather that wealth

DEPRESSED BUT HAPPY? Most of 2023 s happiest countries are in Europe Finland, for example, holds the top spot as the world s happiest country –as it has for the past six years But the country also has some of the highest rates of antidepressant use in Europe The same is true for Sweden, which ranks sixth, and Iceland, which ranks second – and has the highest reported antidepressant use in all of Europe

Meanwhile, India ranks 126th – extremely low – on the World Happiness Report, but places much, much higher in a separate poll, which also factors in variables like work-life balance Another competing report, known as the Global Happiness Report, ranked China as the world s happiest country

RICH BUT UNEQUAL? While the happiness rankings are based on responses to a single question, the actual World Happiness Report itself is an indepth analysis that explains the rankings with the help of other data points One of these data points is gross domestic product (GDP) per capita

Researchers have noticed a correlation: countries with high GDP per capita are often the ones that rank highest on the happiness rankings The top 20 countries on the list, after all, are largely Western countries with high economic indicators, leading many to conclude that GDP per capita is the most important factor in determining a country s overall happiness

But GDP per capita does not take into account income inequality It is simply the total value of goods and services generated per year in a country, divided by the total population It tells us nothing about who gets a country s wealth and who does not, nor how much of it is concentrated in the hands of the few

The United States, which ranks 15th on the happiness index, has significantly more income inequality than just about any other developed nation, according to one of the world s most widely cited measures of income inequality It s a country where some 38 million Americans live in poverty – officially – and nearly 60 percent of the population lives paycheque to paycheque

WHOSE HAPPINESS? Gallup s website says they poll the entire civilian non-institutionalised adult population of the country for the data that feeds the happiness report But that excludes populations who live in institutions like prisons nursing homes and senior centres to name a few What s more the researchers don t survey civilians in areas they believe are unsafe (ie where the safety of the interviewing staff is threatened ) It s unclear how many population centres that may exclude – especially in deeply unequal societies or in countries with significant imprisoned populations like the US and Brazil where a disproportionate share of inmates are Black

Then there s the issue of cultural bias a common critique of the happiness report The basic idea is stated quite clearly in a 2023 study: How can one conclude that wellbeing is higher in country A than country B when wellbeing is being measured according to the way people in country A think about wellbeing? The problem with the happiness report these researchers say is that asking people to rate how happy or satisfied they are is akin to viewing the issue through a Western educated industrialised rich and democratic – or WEIRD – lens which they describe as much more individualistic and achievement-oriented

To put it simply asking someone How satisfied are you with your life? may in fact be asking them to think about happiness as it relates to their individual life achievements rather than other factors such as their interpersonal relations and social harmony

One poll shows that interdependent happiness rooted in one s interpersonal relations with family and peers is a stronger factor in determining happiness – a common response in polling data from Japan Nigeria and Poland How different might the world happiness ranking look if the main question was Do you feel loved and cared for? or Do you feel like you belong?

STOLEN HAPPINESS?The happiness report also lacks perspective on how the happiness of one group may be inextricably linked to the unhappiness of another The United Kingdom is ranked the world s 17th happiest country but the country s prosperity was built in part on the centuries-long colonial exploitation of enslaved Africans in the Caribbean sugar trade and the plundering of India Belgium is the 19th happiest but it extracted enormous wealth – and inflicted incredible suffering – through its colonisation of what is today the Democratic Republic of the Congo Meanwhile India the Caribbean nations and African countries are largely ranked quite low on the happiness report Or take the fact that this year Israel ranks fourth while Palestinians rank 95 spots lower Palestinians have been forcibly removed from their homeland by settler colonialists both before and after 1948 a day Palestinians remember as the Nakba or the catastrophe They have since lived under military occupation and a regime that practises what multiple international human rights groups describe as a system of apartheid run by the Israeli government So what do the World Happiness Report s rankings actually tell us? Is it a hierarchy of people who openly proclaim they are satisfied with their lives based on a Western conception of satisfaction ? Is it a ranking of countries with high GDP per capita? Or is it a ranking of wealthy countries that got rich by exploiting others?

I R A N T O P D I P LO M AT M E ET S S A U D I C R O W N P R I N C E M O H A M M E D B I N S A L M A N

RIYADH s tA f f c o R R e s p o n d e n t

IRAN’S foreign minister met Saudi Arabia s de facto ruler on Friday during his first visit since the Middle East rivals announced a surprise rapprochement, officials said Hossein AmirAbdollahian, who travelled to Riyadh on Thursday, held talks with Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman in Jeddah the Saudi foreign ministry announced after extending what had been scheduled to be a one-day visit

The two reviewed relations between the countries, future opportunities for cooperation and ways to develop them, in addition to discussing developments in the situation on the regional and international arenas” the foreign ministry posted on X formerly known as Twitter Iran s official IRNA news agency said it was the first time a senior Iranian official had

met with Prince Mohammed 37 who has ushered in a series of reforms in the conservative kingdom

In a statement posted on X, Amir-Abdollahian called the 90-minute meeting a “direct frank and productive conversation” that addressed bilateral relations security and development

The way to the success of the region is to strengthen dialogue and cooperation and increase development-oriented cooperation, he said, according to a statement from Tehran’s foreign ministry

Shia Muslim-majority Iran and Sunniruled Saudi broke off ties in 2016 but they agreed to restore diplomatic relations in a Chinese-brokered deal in March

The announcement sparked optimism as the two regional heavyweights have backed opposing sides in conflict zones across the Middle East for years including in Yemen Saudi Arabia s impoverished neighbour

On Thursday Amir-Abdollahian said

ties are progressing in the right direction as he appeared in front of the media with his Saudi counterpart, Prince Faisal bin Farhan His visit would “be a prelude to the meeting of the heads of the two countries”, he said without specifying when Iran’s President Ebrahim Raisi would travel to Saudi Arabia at King Salman s invitation Iran s top diplomat hailed economic and security cooperation between the two countries, but announced no new agreements He was accompanied by Iran’s new ambassador to Saudi Arabia Alireza Enayati

“We are sure that these meetings and cooperation will help the unity of the Islamic world Amir-Abdollahian added proposing a regional dialogue without giving details

Since the March deal, Saudi Arabia has ramped up a push for peace in Yemen, holding direct talks with Houthi leaders in the Yemeni capital Sanaa and championed the return of key Iran ally Syria to the Arab League

China vows forceful measures af ter

Lai Ching-te’s

BEIJING s tA f f c o R R e s p o n d e n t China s Foreign Ministry said on Friday that it will take forceful measures to resolutely safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity after the deputy leader of China’s Taiwan region Lai Ching-te stopped over in New York and in San Francisco

F o r e i g n M i n i s t r y s p o k e s p e r s o n Wa n g We n b i n s t a t e d a t a d a i l y b r i e f i n g t h a t C h i n a s t r o n g l y c o nd e m n e d t h e U S d e c i s i o n t o a r r a n g e t h e s o - c a l l e d “ s t o p o v e r ” f o r L a i s a y i n g i t h a d s e n t s e r i o u s l y w r o n g s i g n a l s t o s e p a r a t i s t f o r c e s

US stopover

f o r Ta i w a n i n d e p e n d e n c e

“At the very heart of China’s core interests the Taiwan question is the bedrock of the political foundation of China-U S relations and the first red line that must not be crossed in ChinaU S relations, Wang added

The spokesperson reiterated the one-China principle, which he called “a basic norm recognized by international community” and “prerequisite and foundation for the establishment and development of China-U S relationship Wang also urged Washington to abide by the provisions of the three China-U S joint communiques,

which clearly state that the United States promises to maintain unofficial relations with the people of Taiwan

The act of Washington allowing Lai to make the stopover and carry out political activities that promote Taiwan independence exposes U S hypocrisy of saying one thing while doing another Wang urged the United States to c e a s e a n y f o r m a l e x c h a n g e s w i t h Taiwan and stop its support for Taiwan separatist forces and its secess i o n i s t a c t i v i t i e s C h i n a w i l l t a k e r e s o l u t e m e a s u r e s t o f i r m l y s a f eguard its own sovereignty and territorial integrity, he said

Bitcoin drops to new two-month low as world markets sell off

PR OFIT R e u t e R s

The first offline BRICS summit in over three years will be held in Johannesburg South Africa next week, and Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay a state visit to the country and join other BRICS leaders to discuss issues on development of concern to emerging economies and developing countries and the international community The highly-anticipated summit will provide emerging markets and developing countries the opportunity to fully discuss challenges they face on boosting development in the post-pandemic era and will further strengthen South-South cooperation amid growing geopolitical risks analysts said Xi will attend the 15th BRICS Summit in Johannesburg, South Africa and pay a state visit to South Africa from August 21 to 24, at the invitation of President of the Republic of South Africa Cyril Ramaphosa While in South Africa Xi will co-chair with President Ramaphosa the China-Africa Leaders Dialogue Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Friday

This summit is the first offline BRICS summit held in over three years and marks the return of the BRICS summit to Africa after a five-year hiatus It will seek to strengthen dialogue and cooperation between BRICS and Africa and other emerging markets and developing countries and send a strong message of safeguarding multilateralism and focusing on common development Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Wang Wenbin said at the press conference on Friday when talking about expectations of the upcoming summit Wang said that the summit will carry forward the sound momentum of cooperation from the BRICS “China Year” 2022 and blueprint a brighter future for BRICS adding that all sides will have indepth exchange of views on prominent global challenges, enhance coordination and collaboration in international affairs, inject stability and positive energy into today’s world fraught with uncertainties, and contribute wisdom and strength to

world peace and development This year s BRICS chair South Africa has invited a total of 69 countries and regions to the summit Russian President Vladimir Putin will join other BRICS leaders via video link media reported In the post-pandemic era and amid a turbulent international security situation this year s BRICS summit will highlight the urgent need of developing counties and emerging markets for development as well as their intention to strengthen independent cooperation and solidarity Yang Baorong director of the division of economy at the China-Africa Institute, said on Friday

Also, as the BRICS countries account for approximately 40 percent of the global population and about a quarter of the world’s GDP the summit will also show the world the majority of developing countries and emerging economies attitude and approaches to some global concerns, and their appeals for the reform of global governance, which will also inject stability and positive energy into a complex world said Yang MECHANISM OF COOPERATION

Topics on BRICS expansion will be high on the agenda of the upcoming summit, as BRICS states are implementing the political consensus they reached at last year ’s summit to give an active response to the concerns and needs of more emerging markets and developing countries Zhu Tianxiang director of the Institute of Foreign Relations of the BRICS Research Institute of Sichuan International Studies University, told media

More focus will be put on discussing details on standards and procedures to include new members analysts said noting that countries that have expressed growing interest in joining BRICS have always played important roles in regional and international affairs and this is why BRICS e x p a n s i o n has attracted more attention in recent years

Top cryptocurrency bitcoin hit a fresh two-month low on Friday, breaking out of its recent tight range as a wave of risk averse sentiment swept through world markets On Thursday, bitcoin fell 7 2% in its biggest one-day drop since November 2022 when top exchange FTX collapsed It then slipped to a two-month low of $26,172 during Asian trading hours on Friday its lowest since June 16 By 0835 GMT it had partly recovered to $26 441 down 0 8% on the day Global markets have been hit by a wave of selling with Wall Street s main indexes closing lower on Thursday and Asian shares heading for a third week of losses over concerns about China s economy and fears that U S interest rates would stay higher for longer given a resilient economy Ether the second biggest cryptocurrency was steady at $1 685 20 having also dropped sharply on Thursday Some analysts attributed crypto’s drop to a Wall Street Journal report that Elon Musk’s SpaceX sold its bitcoin holdings after writing the value down by $373 million Musk is influential among crypto enthusiasts, and bitcoin prices have previously moved in response to his tweets The SpaceX report was the immediate catalyst for bitcoin s sell-off, said Ben Laidler, global markets strategist at eToro The broader driver is that crypto assets are not immune to the deepening riskoff selling pressure seen across all asset classes Laidler added Joseph Edwards head of research at Enigma Securities attributed the bitcoin price move to low volatility and a lack of enthusiasm from retail investors

China’s Cher y sets new record sales of 741,400 units in H1

BEIJING

Ag e n c i e s

According to data from the China Association of Automobile Manufacturers (CAAM), China’s auto exports in the first quarter of 2023 exceeded 1 07 million units surpassing Japan and becoming the world s largest auto exporter Chinese vehicles are running at full speed around the world and Chery Group is also creating its own Chery effect In the first half of 2023, Chery Group made further efforts, with a cumulative sales volume of 741,400 vehicles, up 56% year-on-year This not only set a new record high sales in the history of semi-annual but also exceeded 100 000 vehicles in a single month for 13 consecutive months and the growth rate ranked second in the industry Among them, the cumulative sales volume of the Chery brand in the first half of the year was 539,400, a year-on-year increase of 50 9%, Gwadar Pro reported The accumulated technical strength is a strong endorsement of Chery’s rising sales and it is also an important code for Chery s 20year run at the top of China s passenger car export rankings Since its establishment 26 years ago Chery has insisted on independent research and development, solidified and thoroughly developed industry technologies, and made new technologies such as chips software and batteries high-end with a view to achieving technological leaps

Foodpanda partners with the All-Pakistan Memon Federation (APMF) to foster community development and enhance opportunities for the local workforce

This collaboration aims to leverage the collective strengths of both organisations and create a positive impact on the lives of individuals belonging to the Memon community Under the scope of this partnership, the All-Pakistan Memon

GFS Builders lead in google ranking

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

GFS Builders and Developers is a sign of trust

GFS Builders lead in the google ranking leaving all the builders behind GFS is at top of the list of Google in Pakistan CEO of GFS Builders and Developers Irfan Wahid said that GFS Builders has proved with their work that they are the most popular brand in Pakistan and abroad We achieved a great success due to our outstanding work and commendable efforts by our brilliant team The entire nation stands with GFS that is not only appreciated locally but also internationally CEO Irfan Wahid said that today every one in Pakistan is worried over the uncertain situation, and he is under stress for one reason or the other In such a depressing atmosphere we are trying to bring happiness in the life of middle class families by providing them residence at economical cost with the facility of easy installments It is our commitment to ensure every Pakistani has his own house Mr Irfan Wahid pointed out that GFS Builders & Developers has been associated with the construction industry of Pakistan for the past two decades

OGDCL BoD okays hiring EPCC contractor for KPD TAY compression project

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Several news articles have recently addressed the issue of circular debt settlement We would like to clarify that as of this date we have not received any formal communication from the relevant authorities Thus, any information in circulation about a settlement plan might be speculative We encourage stakeholders and the public to rely exclusively on official communications for accurate information KPD-TAY Compression Project: We are delighted to announce the Board s approval for hiring the EPCC Contractor for the KPD-TAY compression project The completion timeframe of the project is set at 16 months, spanning from the establishment date of Foreign Supply, Letter of Credit (LC) to the successful performance testing of all Compressor Packages Indigenization Initiatives:

OGDCL is deeply committed to indigenization to bolster self-reliance and fortify our domestic economy using local resources and technologies Our goals with this initiative are to:

Minimize imports, conserving foreign reserves and enhancing our trade balance by backing local industries

Secure continuous material supply with alternate supply chains for our operations

Elevate domestic market competitiveness ensuring quality products at great prices and opening global export avenues

Drive economic growth, spurring production, employment and local investment

Junior World Squash Champion who is brand ambassador of Albaraka Bank visits head office

KARACHI: Hamza Khan Junior World Squash Champion and Brand Ambassador of Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited visited their Head Office in Karachi on August 17th 2023 He was accompanied by his Father Niaz Ullah Khan An event was arranged at the Headoffice where Management and staff of the bank welcomed this young and inspiring talent Speaking at the event, Mr Muhammad Atif Hanif CEO Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited applauded and praised the hard work of Hamza Khan Brand Ambassador of Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited for winning the World Junior Squash Championship 2023 for Pakistan after a long wait of more than three decades Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan) Limited looks forward to a long lasting partnership with this aspiring young Talent of Pakistan s ta f f r e p o r t

LAHOR s ta f f r e p o r t

ACCA has announced the results for students who took their exams in June 2023

A total of 105,016 students from across the globe participated in the June session of ACCA exams resulting in the completion of 123 828 exams Zeeshan ul Hassan hailing from Lahore Pakistan has earned the prestigious distinction of achieving the highest score worldwide in ACCA's Performance Management (PM) paper, making him the prize winner Among the 105,016 candidates who sat for June session Zeeshan

ul Hassan emerged as the top performer Assad Hameed Khan, Head of ACCA Pakistan, commented: ‘ Z e e s h a n u l H a s s a n ' s u n w a v e r i n g determination and ambition stand as a b e a c o n o f i n s p i r a t i o n f o r t h e t a l e n t e d y o u t h i n o u r n a t i o n H i s r e m a r k a b l e a c h i e v e m e n t i s a t e s t a m e n t t o t h e p ot e n t i a l o f P a k i s t a n i s t o e x c e l o n t h e global stage, provided they are granted t h e r i g h t o p p o r t u n i t i e s a n d p l a t f o r m s D e s p i t e t h e m y r i a d c h a l l e n g e s c o nfronting our country the key to a prosp e r o u s f u t u r e l i e s i n e n d o r s i n g a n d c o m m e m o r a t i n g t h e a c c o m p l i s h m e n t s o f y o u n g i n d i v i d u a l s l i k e Z e e s h a n u l H a s s a n We s h o u l d m o t i v a t e t h e m t o

c h a s e t h e i r p a s s i o n s a n d a s p i r a t i o n s , unhindered by obstacles Z e e s h a n u l H a s s a n a t t r i b u t e s h i s success to relentless hard work and unw a v e r i n g p e r s e v e r a n c e H e e x p r e s s e s g r a t i t u d e f o r t h e u n w a v e r i n g s u p p o r t h e r e c e i v e d f r o m h i s p a r e n t s a n d e d uc a t o r s a t Ta b a n i s S c h o o l o f A c c o u n ta n c y ( T S A )

With his consistent examination performances, Zeeshan ul Hassan has set a high standard for himself and is resolute in maintaining this pinnacle of excellence He is resolutely focused on replicating his triumph in his remaining examinations and is committed to constructing a thriving career, thereby gar-

NBP Pilot launches BISP social protection accounts to empower women in Pakistan

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

Pakistan: (August 18th, 2023) The National Bank of Pakistan is dedicated to promoting social and economic progress and is proud to contribute to the pilot launch of the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) Social Protection Account Opening initiative The Benazir Social Protection Account” was recently launched by the Prime Minister of Pakistan enabling beneficiary women to receive payments directly in their accounts It is designed to empower women throughout Pakistan by providing them greater access to banking services and promoting financial inclusion

By partnering with SBP and BISP NBP is committed to revolutionizing how women can access financial resources contributing to their overall empowerment and success NBP is leading the pilot initia-

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Board of Directors of Telenor

Pakistan has appointed Khurrum Ashfaque as Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of the company He will succeed Irfan Wahab Khan who will take a new role as Senior Vice President (SVP) in Telenor Asia

Irfan will continue as Chair of the Board of Directors in Telenor Microfinance Bank (TMB) The appointment is effective from 15 September 2023

Khurrum comes from the position of Chief Operating Officer (COO) of Telenor Pakistan He has been with the company for 17 years and has played a key role in repositioning Telenor Pakistan as a strong and efficient company geared for the future

I am pleased to see Khurram stepping up and take the CEO role His understanding of the company and the Pakistani telecom market is unmatched, and I am confident that he will continue the company s momentum and bring perspectives that drive operational excellence empower the organisation and deliver value to cus-

tive and reached a significant milestone in its ongoing efforts to establish a digital financial ecosystem and promote gender equality by launching a pilot phase initiative This initiative aims to eliminate the challenges faced by women in remote areas and provide them with opportunities to become financially self-sufficient and actively participate in the formal economy Key features of the BISP Digital Account Opening initiative include:

1 Financial Education: The program will offer comprehensive financial literacy training to account holders equipping them with the knowledge and skills needed to manage their finances effectively

2 Digital Transactions: Account holders can access various digital banking services, including PayPak debit/ATM cards and the fastest mobile app enabling women to make secure transactions pay bills SBP Raast and save money conveniently

sia

nering acclaim for both his family and his homeland

The ACCA qualification commands substantial recognition and enjoys widespread recognition on a global scale thereby presenting captivating career prospects with prominent employers The ACCA Qualification meticulously evaluates the skills, capabilities, and competencies requisite for a contemporary accountant, all while fostering a strong foundation in ethics and professionalism ACCA stands as the world s premier institution for professional accountants boasting a membership of 247 000 and a prospective membership of 526,000 hailing from 181 countries and regions

Mayor Mur taza Wahab claims citizens of Karachi owe Rs50b in water board bills

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

Mayor Karachi Barrister Murtaza Wahab has said that the citizens of Karachi owe fifty billion rupees in water board bills funds are needed to run the organizations if any police officer is found involved in stealing water action will be taken against him, I am in touch with the higher authorities of the police, earlier the local bodies used to produce construction materials themselves, now they will re-establish the chain He expressed these views while addressing the event organized under the auspices of Karachi Water and Sewerage Corporation

Deputy Mayor Karachi Salman Abdullah Murad People s Party Parliamentary Leader in the City Council

Najmi Alam, Mayor Karachi Spokesperson for Political

Affairs Karamullah Waqasi, District Central General

Secretary Dil Muhammad Chairman of various UCs

CEO MD Water Board Syed Salahuddin Chief Operating Officer Asadullah Khan and other officers were also present on the occasion

Caretaker Finance Minister chairs meeting to review revenue collection per formance of FBR

tomers I welcome Irfan to the Telenor Asia leadership team in Singapore and am pleased that Telenor will continue to gain from his vast leadership experience, says Jørgen A Rostrup, Head of Telenor Asia and Chair of the Board of Telenor Pakistan

It s an honour to take on the role of CEO of Telenor Pakistan Irfan leaves behind a legacy of innovation and growth, and I am committed to building upon that foundation As we navigate the evolving telecommunications landscape my focus will be on empowering our customers and driving digital transformation Together with our dedicated team, I am confident that we will continue to deliver exceptional services and

contribute to Pakistan's digital future,” says Khurrum Ashfaque, appointed CEO of Telenor Pakistan

Commenting on the transition Irfan Wahab Khan shared It has been an incredible journey leading Telenor Pakistan, one marked by dedication, innovation, and the unwavering commitment of our exceptional team As I move on from this role I am filled with a profound sense of gratitude Telenor Pakistan its people and the communities we serve will forever hold a special place in my heart I wish Khurrum the best in his new role and am assured that under his leadership our teams will continue to empower the communities drive positive change and impact lives

PTA, PITB inaugurate Lahore IXP to boost digital connectivity

LAHORE

s ta f f r e p o r t

The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) marked a historic milestone today with the inauguration of the Lahore Internet Exchange Point (IXP) This state-of-the-art facility stands poised to revolutionize digital connectivity across the region

The inauguration ceremony was held at Arfa Software Technology Park (ASTP) with esteemed industry leaders government officials vital stakeholders and prominent Internet Service Providers (ISPs) in atten-

dance International stakeholders namely Internet Society (ISOC), Asia Pacific Network Information Centre (APNIC) and Japan Registry Services (JPRS) attended the event remotely The launch event featured presentations and insightful speeches

from key industry figures emphasizing the IXP s potential to enhance digital infrastructure and support the growth of Pakistan s internet economy

Speaking at the event, Chairman PTA, Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman emphasized the critical importance of the Lahore IXP highlighting its multifaceted benefits He lauded the IXP s potential to galvanize economic growth, facilitate greater access to digital services and enhance network efficiency Chairman PITB Mr Faisal Yousaf said Launching IXP locally would reduce our dependency on international data routes

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Newly appointed Caretaker Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue Shamshad Akhtar visited the Federal Board of Revenue Headquarters today and held a meeting with Chairman FBR Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana and Members of the Board to review revenue collection performance of FBR Secretary Finance Mr Imdad Ullah Bosal and senior officers from FBR and Finance Ministry were also present During the meeting Chairman FBR gave a detailed presentation to the Minister about the revenue collection performance of FBR including the assigned targets for the current financial year 2023-24 and the strategy to achieve them He informed that FBR was able to collect Rs 7169 Billion against a target of Rs 7200 Billion in the previous financial year The Chairman further apprised that all efforts will be made to meet this year’s collection target of Rs 9415 Billion Chairman FBR also informed the caretaker Minister about the procedural improvements being made to simplify the process of paying taxes in order to facilitate the taxpayers He also gave an update on important initiatives of FBR including Broadening of Tax Base, Track and Trace System and Point of Sale System whereby efforts are afoot to further enhance revenue generation The caretaker Finance Minister emphasized on devising strategies to further enhance tax-to-GDP ratio and broaden the tax base to maximize revenue collection She also called for finding innovative ways to tax the untaxed sectors

KU adopts post-doctoral fellowship policy

The Advanced Studies and Research Board of the University of Karachi adopted the post-doctoral fellowship policy during its meeting held at the Vice Chancellor Secretariat on Thursday The ASRB meeting was chaired by the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mahmood Iraqi and Professor Dr Anila Amber Malik prepared and presented the post-doctoral fellowship policy which was approved and implemented after the deliberated discussion by the participants of the meeting The ASRB meeting discussed eligibility and selection criteria for the post-doctoral fellowship in detail and also talked about its tenure and policy regarding how to review the post-doctoral fellowship program The members considered that a post-doctoral fellowship would be an excellent growth in the careers of the faculty and it would be a facilitative step in the transition of research students to independent scholars

K hurrum A shfaque appointed CEO of Telenor Pakistan as Ir fan Wahab K han joins leadership team in Telenor A

ISLAMABAD

S h a h z a d pa R ac h a

THE Cement sector has reportedly implemented the track and trace after the directions of the Federal Board of Revenue The FBR had been striving to implement the T&T solution in the Cement Sector since July 1 2022 with assistance from its Licensee Authentix Inc US and consortium partners AJCL Private Limited and MITAS Corporation of South Africa

The Board has already been successful in implementing this system in the tobacco industry and is in process to make it fully applicable in the fertiliser industry as well

Why is the T&T system needed?

Manufacturers often under-report their production numbers precisely to evade tax

This is where the problem starts Say, for example, that you are a cement manufacturer and produce 500 bags of Urea The demand for cement from your plant is 400 bags

Now if there are 500 bags being produced that would mean the supply is increasing beyond demand which results in the price falling The problem for the manufacturer is that the government will tax every single bag of Urea that is purchased So instead of reporting these extra 100 bags the producer will show that they are making an even 400

bags and sell the remaining 100 at a lower price free of tax

Manufacturers underreport their production numbers They then sell the unreported surplus production outside of the tax net at cheaper rates and the black market grows

This has resulted in startling estimates of just

how big the shadow economy is in Pakistan with academics and researchers estimating the size of this undocumented economy anywhere between 40-80% of the country s GDP

Of course if you can under report for controlling price you are also more likely to under report to evade taxes More often than not the under reporting is much more blatant than the aforementioned example and it doesn’t just exist in the cement industry

What is the T&T system?

The T&T system proposes that tax collection be done directly at the source That means the government monitors production and catalogue how much a company s output is and then tax them directly on those numbers So if we go back to our cement example when the government first brings in a T&T system it will ask the cement industry to invest heavily in a mechanism that will have a stamp placed on each and every bag of cement produced which could then be scanned before it is sold

The data from this scanning would go directly to the FBR which would then record

the total number of bags produced and tax them accordingly T&T solutions are used across the globe to assist in the process of tax collection IMPLEMENTATION AND IMPACT

According to sources, numerous successful demonstrations were conducted in multiple factories to demonstrate the performance of the Track and Trace System However there were delays on the part of the cement manufacturers

The tax department reportedly has given the deadline to powerful cement manufacturers to implement the Track and Trace system from 18-Aug-2023 Almost 70% of the operational Cement plants are located in the North Region while the remaining 30% capacity is located in the South Region

According to All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association Cement sector s production capacity has surged to approximately 83 1 Million Tonnes

Currently, there is 20% Customs duty, 6% additional Customs duty, Rs2/kg FED and 18% Sales tax on finished cement products besides 11% income tax which has been imposed on the cement manufacturers

Generally the Cement sector is organised and is oligopolistic in nature With most of the players listed on the PSX, market capitalization of the sector was recorded around Rs 378 billion in March 2023

In FY22, overall sector gross revenues grew by 24% and were recorded at Rs 671 bn As per a study conducted by a local institute, the cement sector achieved a gross profit of Rs 72 billion in the first half of FY23 with a pre-tax profit of Rs 49 7 billion

Meanwhile Pakistan s per capita cement consumption is around 215 kg whereas world average per capita consumption is recorded around 550 kg, more than double the consumption in Pakistan, reflecting an immense potential for growth in cement demand The International Monetary Fund in its last report also declared the roll-out of track-and-trace essential to secure the full benefit of recent taxation changes, notably FED on cigarettes In a recent report, a local NGO highlighted that the FBR’s Track and Trace system is yielding positive results The digital

Interim govt to provide ECP all possible assistance to ensure free, fair elec tions: S olangi

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Information Minister Murtaza

Solangi on Friday said the interim set-up has assured the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) of all possible assistance and cooperation to ensure free and fair elections in the country T h e i n f o r m a t i o n m i n i s t e r w a s b r i e f i n g t h e m e d i a f o l l o w i n g t h e m a i d e n c a b i n e t m e e t i n g o f t h e n e w c a r e t a k e r g o v e r n m e n t S o l a n g i a d d e d that the current government would also comply with the directions of the ECP

Pakistan’s HC to UK meets Nawaz Sharif in London

LONDON

M o n to R i n g R e p o R t

The newly-appointed Pakistan s High Commissioner to UK, Dr Muhammad Faisal called on former prime minister and PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif, reported on Friday Pakistan’s high commissioner met Nawaz Sharif at his son Hassan Nawaz’s office in Central London The meeting lasted for more than half an hour Nawaz Sharif and Dr Faisal discussed matters of mutual interest including Pakistan Dr Faisal assumed the responsibility of Pakistan s High Commissioner in the United Kingdom this month Before his appointment in the UK, Dr Faisal was performing diplomatic duties in Germany He has vast experience of more than 30 years in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs

i n r e g a r d t o t r a n s f e r s a n d p o s t i n g s o f a n y i n d i v i d u a l n e c e s s a r y t o h o l d f r e e and fair elections

The information minister referred to the meeting he held with Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja and said that he has conveyed the will and resolve of the cabinet in holding transparent polls

Solangi reiterated the determination of the caretaker setup to abide by their oath and discharge their responsibilities as per the law and Constitution of Pakistan and added that the economic health of the country is the top priority of the in-

terim setup He also condemned the Jaranwala incident and said the state stands by its minority communities as all citizens have equal rights as all have equal rights in the Constitution

The ECP has commenced the delimitation process citing the digital census notification issued by the Council of Common Interest (CCI) on August 5 as the basis for its action

As the delimitation process will end in the month of December, the general elections cannot be held within 90 days in November as per Article 224 of the Constitution

ECP bans issuance of NOCs for new housing societies

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday banned the issuance of No-Objection Certificates (NOCs) for new housing societies and made its approval mandatory in cases of urgency

The ECP in a notification stated that the caretaker government has a mandate only to manage routine operational emergencies and should refrain from making significant policy decisions The ECP s notice highlights a growing concern – changes in land usage initiated by the provincial government across various districts The issuance of NOCs by deputy commissioners to multiple housing societies has begun to compromise vital green spaces and productive agricultural land

This trend could potentially lead to disorderly and unplanned residential expansion accompanied by possible corruption concerns in specific regions

The responsibility of devising an appropriate policy to tackle this challenge falls squarely on the shoulders of the elected government, bypassing the caretaker government Consequently, an immediate cessation of new NOC issuance is urged with a directive to communicate this decision to all deputy commissioners

In instances where the caretaker government identifies pressing matters in this context or any other they are expected to present a well-justified case for review and approval by the commission before any action is taken Upholding the commission’s legal mandate and guidelines is a fundamental expectation from the caretaker government as they fulfil their duties

US asks Pakistan to respec t Imran K han’s rights as prisoner

oners including PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan s Addressing a news briefing in Wash-

ington on Thursday US State Department Principal Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was responding when asked Is the US at all concerned about the safety and security of Imran Khan in jail – has the US shown any concerns at all?”

“ S o o u r m e s s a g e c o n t i n u e s t o b e c l e a r t o o u r p a r t n e r s i n P a k i s t a n t h a t

a n y b o d y h e l d i n d e t e n t i o n s h o u l d b e [afforded] human rights consistent with international law and that continues to b e t h e c a s e h e r e I w i l l l e t P a k i s t a n s p e a k a b o u t a n y o t h e r d e t a i l s a s i t r el a t e s t o I m r a n K h a n ’s c a s e , ” Ve d a n t Patel said

To another query about “any threats

to democracy in Pakistan Patel said

There is a caretaker prime minister and government put in place in Pakistan We look forward to continuing to partner with Pakistan on a number of issues, but especially as they gear up for elections to take place in the forthcoming time So I will just leave it at that”

solution has effectively limited illicit trade in the Tobacco sector to under 15% for the first time

The Track and Trace System’s capability for real-time production monitoring offers a transformative shift from conventional retrospective auditing approaches

The real-time production monitoring will enable the Tax Authorities to have access to current and comprehensive data which will facilitate proactive decision-making and ensure more accurate tax assessments This centralised repository will provide Tax Authorities with unprecedented visibility into the sector s production landscape The implementation of the Track and Trace System will not only encompass the Sector within the Track and Trace network but will also amplify revenue collection thereby contributing to the national exchequer

Tribal districts development program suffers as gov t fails to release funds

The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government s approved development plan for tribal areas worth 9 billion rupees has not materialized into reality as the provincial government could not released funds because of financial challenges Despite the allocation of funds for these projects in the current fiscal year there has been no forward movement leading to concerns that these projects will remain confined to paperwork Initially included in the developmental program for the fiscal year 2022-23, these projects have yet to see any substantial progress Since June 2022 these initiatives have only been part of the developmental program without any work being initiated According to documents from the Planning and Development (P&D) Department, the total cost for the District Development Plan in the merged districts is 5 billion rupees But, no funds have been released for this purpose so far Similarly the estimated cost for the District Development Plan in districts like Khyber Bajaur Mohmand Orakzai Kurram North Waziristan and South Waziristan is Rs 400 million each For the tribal districts, an overall estimate of 2 80 billion rupees has been projected The estimated costs for all divisions, including Hassan Khel Dara Adam Khel Wazir Bhatani Drazanda and Jandola amount to Rs200 million each However there has been no progress in the past fiscal year Similarly in the current fiscal year no funds have been disbursed for these projects which has resulted in a lack of progress in the Tribal Districts Development Plan The lack of progress on these development projects is a major setback for the people of the tribal areas who have been promised a better future after the merger with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Imran’s nephew Hassaan Niazi handed over to military for trial, LHC told

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Hassaan Khan Niazi, a Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) leader and the nephew of former prime minister Imran Khan has been handed over to the military for a trial over his alleged involvement in the May 9 riots, Lahore High Court (LHC) was told on Friday

The court was hearing the petition of Hafeezullah Khan Niazi the father of Hassaan Niazi who sought his son s recovery and inquiry against the responsible officials over this illegal detention His counsel further requested the court to allow the petitioner to meet with his son

The legal counsel for the Punjab government informed the court t h a t H a s s a a n N i a z i h a s b e e n handed over to the military adding that he is the prime accused in the case related to the attack on Jinnah House on May 9

The court granted the government lawyer time to inquire whether a meeting between Hassaan Niazi

and his father could be arranged considering both are now in military custody

During the initial session of proceedings, Additional Advocate General Ghulam Sarwar Nihung submitted a report on behalf of the concerned quarters in response to the court s directive to present the detainee Hassaan Niazi today

The report stated that the PTI leader had been transferred into the military custody and asserted his central role in the Jinnah House attack case T h e p e t i t i o n e r s l e g a l c o u n s e l c o u n t e r e d c o n t e n d i n g t h a t w h i l e m i l i t a r y c u s t o d y c o u l d b e a u t h or i s e d t h r o u g h p r o p e r l e g a l c h a nn e l s , t h e i n v o l v e d S t a t i o n H o u s e O ff i c e r ( S H O ) f a i l e d t o a d h e r e t o t h e l a w T h e c o u n s e l h i g h l i g h t e d that Hassaan Niazi had been apprehended on August 13 briefly held by the police on August 17 yet no o ff i c i a l t r a n s i t r e m a n d w a s o btained from a court The petitioner ’s counsel further implored the court to summon the

SHO responsible for an explanation of these actions

He argued that the police s unauthorised transfer of Hassaan Niazi to military custody was unlawful and called for its condemnation

The lawyer also sought the court s permission for the petitioner to meet his detained son emphasising the urgency of the matter In response, Justice Tanvir questioned potential objections from the law officer, prompting the latter to express the need to consult relevant regulations Justice Tanvir instructed the law officer to provide an update following consultations with concerned quarters regarding the feasibility of a meeting between father and son Nevertheless, the court adjourned the proceedings until 2pm In a subsequent round of proceedings held