Epaper_23-08-1 KHI

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ISLAMABAD

M I A N A B R A R

CH I N A and Pakistan on Monday signed six agreements for the promotion of bilateral cooperation as Chinese vice premier Mr He Lifeng, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, Foreign Minister Bilawal BhuttoZardari, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal and other foreign dignitaries looked on

On the occasion Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that Pakistan is absolutely ready to contribute towards Chinese President Xi Jinping s vision of the shared destiny of progress and prosperity

The premier made these remarks during the signing ceremony of six agreements and MoUs for the promotion of bilateral cooperation between China and Pakistan

PM Shehbaz said that the documents signed by the two countries were aimed at further enhancing economic relations between the two countries

He added that under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) more than $25 billion worth of investment has taken place in Pakistan s power and hydel sector road infrastructure and public transport

Shehbaz maintained, We are now entering the second phase of the CPEC which will envisage investments in sectors, such as, agriculture and information technology ”

He added that both ML-1 and Karachi circular railway projects are of immense importance expressing the confidence that both sides will successfully achieve these and many other projects” He was also confident that this will help Pakistan stand on its own feet”

The premier said both Pakistan and China enjoy a unique relationship adding We are all-weather friends iron brothers and this friendship will continue and will not tolerate any obstacles in its way”

The two countries have signed six agreements and MoUs for the promotion of bilateral cooperation The first document was signed on the joint cooperation committee (JCC) of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and the second document was related to the establishment of an expert exchange mechanism within the framework of CPEC

The third document was signed by the Secretary Ministry of National Food Security Zafar Hassan and the Chinese Charge

D affaires Ms Pang Chunxue for the export of dried Chillies from Pakistan to China

Member Planning of National Highway

Authority Asim Amin and Chinese Charge

D affaires Pang Chunxue signed the fourth document on the realignment of the Karakoram Highway Phase II project

Addressing the occasion, PM Shehbaz said, “I thank the Chinese president for sending his senior official to Pakistan expressing the solidarity of people-to-people friendship between the two countries This gesture demonstrates the strength of our friendship

I have no doubt that we are entering into the second phase of CPEC Today, we have signed some important documents which will enhance our economic cooperation and we will undertake the second phase under a new mode he told the gathering

The PM highlighted that the agreements would lead to investments in agriculture and IT, enabling Pakistan, with China s support, to export items according to the requirements and standards of the Chinese government

He emphasised “The CPEC was signed by then prime minister Nawaz Sharif and Chinese President Xi Jinping and it was implemented promptly Today, we can claim that under the CPEC, more than $25bn investment took place in power, energy, public transport, and other sectors ”

He also expressed gratitude to the Chinese vice premier for visiting Pakistan as the two countries celebrate ten years of the

KSE-100 index surges past 48,000 mark in almost two years

net buying

CPEC After the ceremony, delegation-level talks were held by PM Shehbaz and He Lifeng which encompassed multiple areas of bilateral cooperation

I

E

R: On Monday morning the Chinese vice premier was accorded a welcome after he arrived at the Prime Minister s House in Islamabad to meet PM Shehbaz Sharif

The premier received the foreign dignitary at the main entrance of the PM House

Upon He Lifeng s arrival the prime minister introduced his delegation comprising federal cabinet members Bilawal BhuttoZardari, Ishaq Dar, Rana Sanaullah, Syed Naveed Qamar, Ahsan Iqbal, Saad Rafiq, Marriyum Aurangzeb Hina Rabbani Khar and Tariq Fatemi to the Chinese vice premier

Taking to Twitter the PM warmly welcomed the Chinese vice premier and the members of his delegation

They are visiting Pakistan to join us in celebrating the 10th anniversary of CPEC and witnessing first-hand the transformations brought about by this game-changing initiative PM Shehbaz said

Earlier the FO had also acknowledged Lifeng s prominent role in China s international economic relations and implementation of the Belt and Road Initiative, of which CPEC is a flagship project

As the chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission from 2017 to 2023 he was instrumental in the planning and execution of multiple CPEC

projects in Pakistan” the FO had said

It had added that his visit was a part of regular high-level exchanges and dialogue between Pakistan and China and reflected the importance attached by both countries to further deepen their all-weather strategic cooperative partnership, enhance economic and financial cooperation advance highquality development of CPEC and explore new avenues for strengthening trade and investment ties

According to the security details, around 2,716 personnel of police, Dolphin Force, Frontier Constabulary and Pakistan Army will be deployed to ensure foolproof security along the route and venues where the Chinese vice premier will stay and attend the ceremony

Along with the Islamabad police, the Rawalpindi police will also perform security duties along the 39 5km route from Islamabad International Airport to the Punjab House As per the details 10 superintendents 18 security superintendents and 104 Dolphin Force personnel will be part of the security

duties The bomb disposal squad of the police s special branch will sweep all bridges culverts underpasses nullahs metro bus stops and other places along the route before the movement of dignitaries

No vehicle will be parked along the route during the movements and security officials will report any suspected person or vehicles to senior officers

The security personnel posted along the route will carry reflecting jackets raincoats bulletproof helmets and jackets, whistles and torches Extra security will be ensured at sensitive points identified in the security plan They will not be allowed to use mobile phones and have to display their official cards at all times

Policemen will also be deployed on rooftops of high-rise buildings They will be equipped with binoculars, wireless sets, and G-3 rifles

A dedicated command and control room has been established by the Islamabad Safe City Authority to supervise security arrangements during the movement and stay of the delegation

M o U s s i g n e d d u r i n g V i c e - Pr e m i e r

H e L i f e n g ’ s v i s i t . W h a t d o t h e y e n t a i l ?

In a significant move to enhance bilateral cooperation and foster stronger economic ties Pakistan and China signed six memorandums of understanding (MoUs) on Monday The occasion marked the 10-year celebrations of the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a multi-billiondollar initiative aimed at bolstering infrastructure and connectivity between the two brotherly countries

As per details shared by officials of Ministry of Planning and Development the the MoUs were formalized at a ceremony held at the Prime Minister s Office, following a meeting between Chinese Vice-Premier He Lifeng and Prime Minister of Pakistan Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Vice-Premier He Lifeng s three-day visit to Pakistan commemorates the decade-long partnership between the two nations in implementing the CPEC The signing ceremony witnessed the

presence of a high-level Chinese delegation, led by the Chinese Vice Premier, along with members of the federal cabinet and senior officials from various ministries

Among the signed documents, one included the minutes of the 11th Meeting of the Joint Cooperation Committee (JCC) on CPEC which took place on October 27 2022 This document outlined the decisions and outcomes of the meeting and was signed by Mr Cong Liang, Vice Chairman of China’s National Development and Reform Commission (NDRC) and Professor Ahsan Iqbal the Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives of Pakistan Knowledge sharing:

Another MoU aimed to establish an Expert Exchange Mechanism within the Framework of the CPEC The objective was to facilitate knowledge sharing between the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives of Pakistan and the NDRC of China

Judicial inquir y sought over IUB scam

two mobile phones

The

o n e r M u s h k o o r H u ssain filed the petition through advoc a t e N a d e e m S a r w a r n a m i n g t h e p r o v i n c e o f P u n j a b t h r o u g h t h e C h i e f S e c r e t a r y, P u n j a b I n s p e c t o r G e n e r a l o f P o l i c e ( I G P ) , D i r e c t o r General of the Federal Investigation

A g e n c y ( F I A ) c a r e t a k e r P u n j a b Chief Minister and Vice Chancellor of IUB as respondents

According to the petition the inc i d e n t c a m e t o l i g h t a f e w w e e k s ago when the police arrested IUB s chief security officer and allegedly f o u n d c r y s t a l m e t h a m p h e t a m i n e ( c o m m o n l y k n o w n a s i c e ) a n d a p h r o d i s i a c s i n h i s p o s s e s s i o n a l o n g w i t h a s i g n i f i c a n t n u m b e r o f objectionable videos involving university officials and students on his

The arrest occurred after the police stopped a car at a checkpoint of Baghdadul Jadeed police station According to the FIR registered on the complaint of Sub Inspector Muhammad Afzal Nawaz the car driver attempted to flee but was intercepted by the police Upon searching the vehicle, the police discovered 10 grams of ice and aphrodisiacs in the driver s possession, who later identified himself as the IUB chief security officer Ijaz Shah

Further investigations revealed that the suspect s mobile phones contained numerous objectionable videos and images of women The suspect confessed to using and selling drugs and claimed that the objectionable material involved officials from various departments at IUB as well as female students Shah revealed that he used to monitor the security cameras of the university, using the footage of female students hugging smoking with friends under trees and near university buildings These videos were then used to blackmail the students threatening to share them with their parents

Moreover Shah was accused of arranging sexual exploitation encounters with influential gang members, including the son of federal minister Chaudhry Tariq Bashir Cheema The appalling situation had been ongoing for a significant period The investigation also exposed the involvement of professors and staff members of the university in the gang

Following the incident, the caretaker CM formed a three-member committee consisting of Secretary Minerals Babar Aman Babar Deputy Inspector General (DIG) Amin Bukhari and DIG Raja Faisal to investigate the matter Simultaneously, the university also initiated an internal committee to probe into the scandal and suspended two officials who were arrested by the police

Critics have expressed concern over the investigation pointing out that only a case has been registered under CNSA 1997 against the chief security officer, while overlooking the registration of a case under PECA 2016 against all individuals involved in the filming and dissemination of objectionable content

Chinese Vice Premier conveys President’s Xi message of fir m suppor t to Pakistan

Chinese Vice Premier Mr He Lifeng conveyed President Xi Jinping s message of China s firm support to Pakistan s prosperity and development During his bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif here on Monday, Vice Premier He Lifeng underlined that PakistanChina friendship was unique and had withstood the vicissitude of time due to deep fraternal ties between the peoples of two nations He reiterated that as an iron-brother and strategic partner China would continue its existing economic and financial support to Pakistan

Welcoming the prime minister ’s vision for deepening trade and investment ties with Pakistan the Chinese vice premier conveyed China s willingness to enhance Pakistan s agro and food exports to China

Both leaders expressed satisfaction at the steady development of CPEC projects in Pakistan, agreed on its centrality for Pak-

istan s socio-economic development

The bilateral ties including the CPEC were discussed in a meeting between Shehbaz Sharif and He Lifeng

At the invitation of the Government of Pakistan the Special Envoy of President Xi Jinping He Lifeng was visiting here to attend the 10th-anniversary celebrations of China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Both sides expressed their firm commitment to continue working together for realizing the shared objectives of the CPEC

It was also agreed that 10th anniversary of CPEC celebrations constituted a fresh starting point to further expand CPEC as envisaged by the leadership of the two countries

The conversation was marked by traditional warmth and cordiality that has been the hallmark of Pakistan-China All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership During the meeting the two sides exchanged views on several aspects of bilateral relationship including CPEC and bilateral

Welcoming Vice-Premier He Lifeng to Pakistan, the prime minister congratulated him on being promoted as the Vice-Premier of China in March this year Appreciating China’s support for Pakistan s economic development the prime minister observed that as strategic partners and trusted friends, the two countries have always stood by each other in difficult times, as evidenced by Chinese support to Pakistan in the aftermath of COVID-19 pandemic and devastating floods in Pakistan

TOSHAKHANA CASE: PTI CHIEF AGAIN MOVES SC AGAINST PROCEEDINGS

CH A I R M A N Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) again moved the Supreme Court on Monday against the proceeding on Toshakhana case

In the appeal submitted in the apex court the PTI chief pleaded to stop proceedings of recording his statement under Section 342 in the case, which was initiated after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) found him guilty of not declaring the gifts he had retained from the state depository in his asset declarations

He was of the view that the proceedings should be halted until the Islamabad

Cour t extends judicial remand of PTI’s Khadija Shah, Sanam Javed and Ejaz Ch

LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t

An anti-terrorism court (ATC) in Lahore on Monday extended the judicial remand of Khadija Shah, Sanam Javed and other staunch PTI supporters and workers in Jinnah House attack case by 12 more days

High Court IHC) announces its ruling on the jurisdiction of the trial court He cited a previous decision of the top court that says the jurisdiction of the court must be decided first

In Toshakhana case, the PTI chief has moved the SC for the second time Last week, a two-member bench, headed by Justice Yahya Afridi had turned down a petition filed by him seeking an order to restrain trial in the Toshakhana case

The case was set to the Islamabad High Court (IHC) by two-member bench to reexamine it The former prime minister had petitioned the apex court against the IHC’s directive to the trial court that had asked for a re-examination of the maintainability of the Toshakhana case within a week

On May 10, the PTI chief was indicted in the case by Additional District and Sessions Judge Humayun Dilawar who dismissed objections to the admissibility of the case On July 4 the IHC nullified the decision of the trial court that had turned down the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) chairman’s plea challenging the admissibility of the Toshakhana case IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq announced the verdict reserved on June 23 after hearing arguments on the petition of the former prime minister against the trial court s ruling The chief justice sent the matter back to the trial court, ordering it to again hear the arguments of the PTI He gave the trial court seven days to decide the PTI chairman s plea in the Toshakhana case

The petition had been filed after the PTI chief was indicted in the case on May 10 – two days after the high court had stopped criminal proceedings in the case

Last year a reference was filed against him by lawmakers from the ruling coalition accusing him of not sharing the details of gifts he retained from Toshakhana in his assets declarations and the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had concluded in October last year that the PTI chief filed false statements regarding the gifts

The electoral watchdog subsequently disqualified him for being dishonest and corrupt and approached the district and sessions court seeking criminal proceedings against the PTI chief for allegedly misleading officials about the gifts

Suicide attacks in Pakistan surge in 2023, claiming over 200 lives in seven months

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

Pakistan is grappling with a distressing surge in suicide attacks witnessing a significant rise in fatalities and injuries compared to the previous year

The country has already experienced 18 suicide attacks in the first seven months of 2023 resulting in the loss of more than 200 lives and leaving over 450 others injured This alarming figure has surpassed the total number of suicide attacks recorded in the entirety of 2022, which stood at 15

The most severely affected region has been the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province (erstwhile FATA) accounting for half of the total suicide attacks in 2023

Marriyum rubbishes media repor ts about appointment of caretaker PM

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Marriyum Aurangzeb has termed media reports and speculations about any decision regarding appointment of caretaker Prime Minister as baseless and out of context Taking to her twitter handle on Monday she said Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has not chosen or ruled out any candidate for interim Prime Minister yet Marriyum Aurangzeb said the appointment of interim Prime Minister will be made as per procedure laid down in the Constitution Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will consult all coalition parties in the government PMLN Quaid Muhammad Nawaz Sharif to identify the most suitable candidate she added The information minister said as per the Constitution, the Prime Minister will consult with the Leader of the Opposition after consulting with the allies to make a decision on the matter

Economic, diplomatic ties between Pakistan, China to reach new heights: Dar

The court ordered the police to produce the suspects on August 12 Earlier the suspects were brought to the court on the completion of their judicial remand Informing the court that the case s challan was being prepared, investigation officer (IO) prayed to the court to extend judicial remand of the ladies and others ATC judge Abhar Gul Khan heard the case A case had been registered at Lahore s Sarwar Road police station

Thousands of people took to streets to register their protest against the arrest of former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan on May 9 They attacked and ransacked government and military installations besides damaging and setting on fire memorials of the Pakistan Army martyrs PTI leader Ejaz Chaudhry s judicial remand was also extended by seven days

Anti-Terrorism Court Judge Abhar Gill ordered the authorities to again produce Ejaz Chaudhry in the court at the expiry of his remand on August 7

Par t y Discipline: PTI terminates par t y membership of Imran Khattak, Ishaq Khattak

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) has taken decisive action by terminating the party membership of former MNA Imran Khattak and Ishaq Khattak on Monday

The move comes as a result of their alleged involvement in inciting party members to leave the political organization The decision to expel the two prominent members was announced through an official notification issued by the Party Secretary General Omar Ayub As per the notification, both Imran Khattak and Ishaq Khattak have been stripped of their PTI membership with immediate effect

Nine of these attacks have struck the area, leading to the tragic demise of approximately 60 people, while over 150 others sustained injuries Notably the deadliest attack of the year in the tribal region occurred during a JUIF gathering on Sunday July 30th

Mainland KP faced its own share of

devastation, with four suicide attacks causing the deaths of more than 110 people and leaving 245 injured Among them, the Peshawar Police Line attack stood out as the deadliest in the country claiming the lives of over 100 individuals Balochistan also experienced a troubling wave of violence, encountering at

least four suicide attacks within the first seven months of 2023 Tragically, 14 people lost their lives, and 27 others were injured in these attacks

Additionally one reported suicide attack occurred in Sindh resulting in the deaths of five individuals and injuring 18 others

Health of teenage maid allegedly tor tured by judge’s wife deteriorates

LAHORE S ta f f r e p o r t

Medics at the Lahore General Hospital (LGH) on Monday declared the condition of a teenage maid who was tortured allegedly by the wife of a judge as critical and said that next 48 hours crucial for her life

The maid Rizwana 14, has been under treatment in the intensive care unit (ICU) of the LGH since July 24

Chief Executive of the hospital Prof Al-fareed Zafar declared the next 48 hours highly crucial for Rizwana saying a special board treating her fears that she may need the ventilator support

He said the girl’s mother had sus-

pected that Rizwana had been poisoned by her employer(s) during domestic violence in Islamabad Her blood sample had been sent for laboratory test after her complaint, Dr Zafar added Rizwana, a resident of Sargodha, was shifted to the LGH in critical condition on July 24 Dr Zafar said an emergency meeting of the board was called when the duty doctors informed him about the deteriorating condition of the girl According to the board, her wounds were severely infected Bronchoscopy examination revealed that one of her lungs was infected and the other had blood clots due to which breathing was difficult for her That s was why oxygen saturation level

in her blood was falling

He said the girl had an infection in her blood which had spread throughout the body Her platelets have increased from 12,000 to 24,000 and the haemoglobin is 7 which is dangerously low

Dr Zafar said Rizwana had been diagnosed with sepsis and she was a suspected Covid patient and her samples had been sent for diagnosis

It may be recalled that Rizwana was allegedly subjected to brutal torture by the wife of civil judge Asim Hafeez on the allegation of stealing gold jewellery

Her family said the girl was working as a maid at the civil judge s house in Islamabad for six months and she was not paid her salary

S ta f f r e p o r t

Finance Minister Ishaq Dar has expressed the confidence that economic and diplomatic ties between Pakistan and China will touch new heights in the time to come Addressing the opening ceremony of Bank of China Islamabad branch on Monday, he said China had always supported Pakistan at world forums He said China was Pakistan’s timetested friend Dar especially thanked China and its financial institutions for extending tremendous financial support to Pakistan during the difficult times The finance minister said Pakistan was largely out of turbulent phase One of the rating agencies has also upgraded Pakistan He said country was now moving from stability to growth again Alluding to the CPEC the finance minister said work had been fast tracked on the corridor project expressing the confidence that in the years to come people would see its benefits reaching the common man Dar also felicitated Bank of China for establishing its second branch in Pakistan He hoped that the RMB would soon become a parallel acceptable currency in the global financial market

ECP seeks KP caretaker ministers’ removal over ‘political affiliations’

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

After sleeping over the matter of political affiliations of several ministers of caretaker setup of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) for almost seven long months, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) suddenly has sprung into action and asked the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa caretaker Chief Minister (CM) to remove ministers engaged in political activities

The caretaker government was put ion

place in January this year and almost all caretakers ministers had political affiliations but the ECP did not take any action despite continuous media reports on the matter The Secretary Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) taking notice of the political involvement of caretaker ministers, secretaries and assistants dispatched a letter to the KP caretaker CM seeking their removal

The letter stated ECP has come to know about the appointments of caretaker ministers based on political affiliations and

former caretaker minister Shahid Khattak is proof of political appointment

However, there are still several ministers who have expressed their political affiliation in media which is a violation of the Election Act 2017

Earlier the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sought a report from the Election Commissioner of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa regarding the participation and speech of caretaker minister Shahid Khattak in a public meeting

In a statement a representative of the

ECP said the purpose of report is to assess the situation and decide if any legal action is necessary

The spokesperson emphasized that it is essential for all incumbent governments to adhere to the law and provide complete cooperation to the commission to ensure fair transparent, and unbiased elections

The commission cannot grant permission to any incumbent government or minister to participate in any electoral campaign In case of violation legal action will be taken concluded the spokesperson

Embankments washed away, crops destroyed as rivers burst their banks

ISLAMABAD

There is no end in sight to flood situation in the country as persistent monsoon rains and water released by India into rivers has made things even worse on Monday

River

Sutlej at Arifwala has claimed the life of a 14-year-old boy besides washing away two protective embankments and developing cracks on Bahawalnagar road

Similarly the river continues to wreak havoc at Chishtian in south Punjab as it has washed away a protective embankment besides inundating several localities and crops sown over thousands of acres of land forcing people from their homes in search of safe places Area residents have complained that nobody from the administration has come to rescue them, and they have to safe locations on their own They have appealed to Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi to take notice of

acres of precious land was flooded after water from River Indus spilled over into nearby localities at Karor Lal Isan The situation has forced people to move to safe places Locals have said that the situation is getting worse by the day

On the other hand rising water level in River Indus at Qadirpur in Ghotki (upper Sindh) has set off alarm bells ringing as Deputy Commissioner (DC) Muhammad

Usman Abdullah has asked the concerned officials to remain prepared in order to deal with any emergency The DC has cancelled the leaves of all irrigation department staff and directed the executive engineer irrigation and director water board to keep an eye on the Bacha embankment

He has also asked the people living in the vicinity of the river to move to safe locations along with their cattle immediately

Currently 400,000 cusecs of

Rawalpindi Murree Sahiwal and Sialkot are likely to experience rainfall throughout the month of August Recent rainfall in the region has brought some relief

SUPREME COURT DISPOSES OF CONTEMPT PLEA AGAINST JUSTICE QA ZI FAEZ ISA

LHC moved against continuation of Punjab caretaker gov t

LAHORE S tA f f R e P o R t

The Lahore High Court (LHC) was moved against the continuation of Punjab caretaker government which has completed its three months on April 22 As per details, the petition filed by senior lawyer, Aftab Bajwa, in the court stated that the Punjab caretaker setup has ended as per the constitution The court was informed that 90 days have passed after the dissolution of the Punjab assembly and the constitution of the caretaker govt and the governor has still not announced the election date The status of the Punjab caretaker setup is unconstitutional and illegal and every measure this government takes should be considered as unconstitutional the petition added Hereby the petition urged the Lahore High Court (LHC) to bar the Punjab caretaker setup from working and orders of immediate removal of interim Punjab CM Mohsin Naqvi

Chinese Vice Premier conveys President’s Xi message of firm suppor t to Pakistan

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The Pakistan side included Bilawal Bhutto

Zardari Minister for Foreign Affairs Syed

Naveed Qamar Minister for Commerce

Muhammad Ishaq Dar Minister for Finance

Rana Sanaullah Khan, Minister for Interior, Marriyum Aurangzeb, Minister for Information, Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Planning, Khawaja Saad Rafique, Minister for Railways Hina Rabbani Khar MOS for Foreign Affairs Syed Tariq Fatemi SAPM and senior officials from relevant ministries

After the meeting, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Vice Premier He oversaw the ceremony for signing of agreements, MoUs and other documents covering areas including agriculture; industrial cooperation; transport connectivity etc Later the prime minister hosted a luncheon in honour of He Lifeng and the accompanying delegation Chinese vice premier conferred Hilal-e-Pakistan award:

President Arif Alvi conferred Pakistan s second-highest civil award, Hilal-i-Pakistan (Crescent of Pakistan) on Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng during an investiture ceremony held at Aiwan-e-Sadar here on on Monday The award was given to the Chinese dignitary to honour his role in the promotion of bilateral ties between Pakistan and China The ceremony was attended by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and other civil and military leaders The Chinese vice premier arrived in Islamabad a day earlier He was welcomed at the airport by Finance Minister Ishaq Dar and Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah

According to the Foreign Office (FO), the visiting dignitary will be in Pakistan from July 30 to August 1 (Tuesday) Mr He Lifeng also attended a ceremony celebrating a decade of CPEC as the chief guest

Judicial inquir y sought over IUB scam

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Furthermore, the involvement of a federal minister s son in the scandal has raised suspicions of undue influence and pressure on law enforcement agencies to suppress the matter The recent arrests of university officials and the allegations of drug abuse and sexual exploitation have deeply shaken the sanctity of educational institutions

Urgent and thorough investigation is required to address this disgraceful situation It is crucial that the matter is approached with utmost seriousness and impartiality The involvement of IUB officials teachers and students demands judicial oversight to ensure transparency and fairness throughout the investigation

Pak- C hina to enhance technic al collaboration producing hybrid chilli

ISLAMABAD S tA f f R e P o R t

Pakistan and China will soon sign a deal to have technical collaboration on hybrid chilli and subsequent export of chilli to China under the China-Pakistan

Economic Corridor (CPEC)

Chairman of Pakistan Hitech Hy-

brid Seed Association (PHHSA)

Shahzad Ali Malik has said that besides ongoing hybrid rice collaboration between Pakistan’s Guard Agri and China’s Longping, another agreement is going to be signed for the cultivation of hybrid chilli and subsequent export of chilli to China

He said the signing ceremony will be held during the 1st International

Food and Agriculture Exhibition on 10th – 12th August 2023 at Karachi

Expo Centre where Guard is exhibiting along with Longping and Litong Food Hybrid chilli seed will be provided by Peppara Seeds along with technical support for commercial cultivation and buyback of dried chilli for export to China will be through Litong Food,” he

added Pakistan-China collaboration in the agricultural sector particularly in the development of new varieties of hybrid seeds in the private sector has significant benefits for both countries Chairman PHHSA who is also visiting China said that such projects can lead to the creation of tailored hybrid seed varieties that cater to the specific needs of Pakistani farmers and align with the country s agricultural practices and climate He emphasized that fruitful meetings between agricultural organiza-

N15 re-aligned highway of Suki Kinari hydro project opens

tions from different countries can be beneficial for exchanging knowledge technology and expertise in the field of seed development and agriculture

Hybrid seed development in Pakistan has a significant impact on food security by increasing crop productivity, resilience and nutritional value

To ensure its effectiveness there must be continued investment in research infrastructure and extension services to facilitate the adoption of hybrid seed technology by farmers across the country

73% completion Once getting functional the project will annually generate some 3 21 billion kilowatt-hours of clean electricity replacing 1 28 million tons of coal and reducing 2 52 million tons of carbon dioxide emissions per year It can provide affordable clean electricity to more than 1 million Pakistani households

Lahore’s grave neglect: The alarming case of water contamination

CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

adequate resources and build a support system around the athletes

ISLAMABAD M i A n A b R A R

All the athletes participating in the World University Games for Pakistan are female highlighting the potential for women s sports and the capability of Pakistani young women said Agha Hunain Abbas Khan, Acting Consul General of Pakistan in Chengdu Agha Hunain Abbas Khan told media that their success not only brings glory to their nation but also serves as a reminder for young girls aspiring to pursue sports

The all-female cast was selected on the basis of being the best during Pakistan’s recently held national games, where all of them secured gold in their

chosen sport

A ten-member delegation including the five athletes is representing Pakistan in the World University Games in Chengdu, China Manisha and Maleeha, twin sisters from Gilgit Baltistan will be representing Pakistan in Taekwondo while Fiza hailing from Quetta will bring her talents on the wushu mat Uzma, studying in Faisalabad, competes in the hammer throw, while Amtul, who was the star of the national games having bagged four medals (two gold a silver and a bronze) before would try to beat her personal bests in the long and triple jump in Chengdu As Pakistan continues to nurture its sporting talent, it is crucial to provide

The Higher Education Commission is doing a great job of providing full scholarships for student-athletes, and it is hoped that various institutes can come together to build a holistic approach to ensure continued success and representation at the international level reflective of the talent of Pakistan Agha mentioned During the Opening Ceremony, the Pakistani team was welcomed with tremendously loud cheers from the Chinese audience showing the deep affection the Chinese hold for Pakistan Pakistan s Ambassador to China was present at the Opening Ceremony and later tweeted Proud moment to have the Pakistani delegation enter the stadium amongst loud clapping and a standing ovation at the opening ceremony of FISU World University Games Chengdu

It is worth mentioning that 6 500 athletes from 113 countries and regions are participating in the 31st FISU World University Games which kicked off on Friday at Dongan Sports Stadium in Chengdu the capital of southwest China s Sichuan Province and games will conclude on August 8

The province is famous for spicy food and Panda which is the symbol of Chinese Culture around the globe

ISLAMABAD

Minister for Foreign Affairs Bilawal Bhutto Zardari Monday said he received a call from Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen, and raised deep concern on the recent incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark and other European countries

In a tweet on social media platform Twitter he said "I received a call from Danish Foreign Minister Lars Lokke Rasmussen and raised our deep concern on the recent incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran in Denmark and other European countries

While acknowledging the Danish government's outreach to the Muslim world and condemnation of these abhorrent acts, I stressed the need for stopping Islamophobic acts that hurt the sentiments of Muslims across the world Also emphasised the need to promote interfaith harmony and religious tolerance "

The case of Shadi Pura as well as those of the other 6 E coli infected sites illustrate that the enormous disinterest of the government has now begun to translate into a tangible health and safety catastrophe within Lahore

However much like our past learnings if the government decides to shove another case under their mounting carpet, they will again see that calamities do not restrict themselves to a spatial setting and that their ramifications are soon experienced through upheavals in the entire region

Bajaur blast: CTD registers FIR against unidentified terrorists

PESHAWAR S tA f f R e P o R t

In the aftermath of the devastating Bajaur suicide blast a First Information Report (FIR) has been lodged at the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD), Bajaur on Monday

According to the details, the FIR has been filed against unknown terrorist(s) on the complaint of Station House Officer –Kharniaz Muhammad and encompasses charges of terrorism murder attempted murder, and other relevant sections As per Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) spokesperson, the inquiry team established to investigate the blast visited the site and collected crucial evidence from the crime scene Additionally the investigation team also reached out to the individuals injured in the blast to record their statements

Meanwhile, the wounded victims are receiving essential medical attention at the Lady Reading Hospital (LRH) The hospital officials revealed that a total of 16 injured individuals from the blast were brought to LRH for treatment The hospital staff has been tirelessly working to stabilize the patients and facilitate their recovery process According to the hospital spokesperson, four of the injured required immediate medical surgery to save their lives however the majority of the injured are now in stable condition with only one remaining in the intensive care unit (ICU) In a show of solidarity and support for the victims, the Corps Commander of Peshawar District Headquarters personally visited the hospital

raises issue of desecration of Q uran with D anish counterpar t

Dim i n ishi n g re tu rn s

Th e re’s o n l y s o m u c h a h i g h i nte re s t rate c a n d o

T

there’s lots that the central bank does But in much of the public’s imagination it is just a giant lever that decides what the interest rate is going to be And, after a series of increases, the monetary policy committee has decided that the interest rate is to be left unchanged

This is both surprising and not surprising at all

Surprising, because it is, apparently, what the IMF wanted Not surprising, because by now everyone in Pakistan at least is aware of the diminishing returns of raising the interest rates when it comes to fighting inflation

The SBP has justified its decision by citing a decrease in year-on-year inflation But that does not mean we re out of the woods yet In fact, we aren t even close to entering the thickest part of the forest Because when the Fund’s conditions are going to be met we are going to see galloping inflation specially on the fuel and utilities’ front But even that does not mean that the central bank will have to raise interest rates eventually Because that inflation - much like the current sort - is definitely cost-push inflation, not demand-pull inflation No amount of sucking excess liquidity out of the money market is going to fix that Our interest rates are already at perhaps some of the highest in our entire history

Yo u t h B u l g e

A s t r e n g t h t u r n i n g i n t o a w e a k n e

s s

Muneeb ur rahMan

OV E R the years, young people have been taught that education is the key to success and it will open new opportunities for them However the rising unemployment rate in Pakistan raises several concerns Most graduates question whether education is worth investing in, especially when majority of young graduates in the neighborhood are either unemployed or working for low wages

In Pakistan 31% of educated young people are currently unemployed and it is a serious problem, especially for new graduates Due to the lack of practical experience and skills, these graduates initially struggle to find employment Pakistani employers believe that universities and colleges fail to supply them with workers who have the requisite skills in demand because there are less connections and a misalignment between educational programs and market demands and needs

Our colleges and universities have evolved into automated systems for awarding degrees only In 2020–21 Pakistan produced roughly 471 306 university graduates However there is no formal guidance for students choosing their career path and choosing a particular course of

SO, what about cousin marriage? R K , my Facebook friend from Canada, recently asked during one of our frequent discussions on religion ‘What about it?’

‘I asked him right back Well it seems Islam forgot to tell its followers about its genetic dangers Unless it was unaware of the problem before science uncovered the risks involved, R K retorted

R K is a diehard fan of the Western way of life

In fact, having immigrated to Canada in his thirties, he is more Western than most born-and-bred Westerners But unlike the typical Westerner he is not content with the separation of church and state (or mosque and state) If he had his say church and mosque would altogether disappear from the face of the earth He therefore loses no opportunity to denounce religion

With him, as with many others like him, cousin marriage is one of the go-to options when he does not have anything else to say What the ‘argument’ lacks in soundness it more than makes up for in simplicity Islam is condemned by attacking cousin marriages on medical grounds Interestingly, and I speak from experience, if someone were to respond by pointing out the medical hazards of alcohol, this enthusiast of the Western way of life is apt to shrug his shoulders and behave as though he does not understand a word of what is being said – the other person might as well be speaking Greek In his heart of hearts he is perfectly aware of the medical and legal implications of alcohol Provided he is even moderately intelligent, he also knows that he is guilty of inconsistency when he passionately points out the genetic risks of cousin marriages but sweeps under the carpet the much more immediate dangers inherent in the consumption of alcohol The poor man hardly has an option for consistency is a luxury he can ill afford Being consistent would mean attacking the very cornerstone of the Western civilization He is way too deeply invested in what the West stands for to even contemplate that

The fact of the matter is that teaching of medical science to mankind was never the stated goal of Islam Like all prohibitions the prohibition of liquor is based on moral not medical grounds It is alco-

study Additionally university training programs and courses are of poor quality and do not meet market demands

In its truest sense education is about preparing young people for their future, not only for degrees It plays a key role in the creation of new knowledge and the invention of new technologies that benefit mankind It provides students with the knowledge skills and behavior that will help them succeed in both their academic and general lives and ultimately create a peaceful and prosperous world The world economy is intertwined and not everyone needs a college degree to be successful in life Technical vocational education and training, which offers a chance to develop specialized knowledge and skills for employment is highly valued in most of the developed countries Numerous studies demonstrate that hiring employers prefer to hire people who already have the necessary skills over training unskilled workers I n C h i n a a n d m o s t o f t h e d e v e l o p e d c o u ntries, educational institutions focus on develo p i n g s k i l l e d t a l e n t w i t h t h e s k i l l s t o d r i v e i n n o v a t i o n a n d c o n t r i b u t e t o e c o n o m i c growth This is achieved by working closely with the industry to ensure that we have an adequate workforce for the specific needs of various industries Pakistani universities need to design the courses and degrees in collaboration with the industries to meet industrial needs, but so far, no coordinated action has been taken in this direction Technical and vocational training is also a key missing element in Pakistan s education sector In South Asia Pakistan performs the lowest in terms of technical and vocational education and training There are only 3,798 vo-

hol s devastating effect on a man s judgment, not on his liver, that makes it a religious issue

Accepted in certain cultures and utterly unacceptable in others cousin marriage is nothing more and nothing less than a cultural thing For the record far from enjoining it Islam does not even recommend it The most that can be said is that the Quran does not prohibit it (Neither does the Bible for that matter ) To put things in perspective, Islam does not prohibit sugar either which by all accounts is extremely harmful for the human body The philosophy of Islam in matters outside the domain of worship could not be any simpler: It only interferes in such matters if and only if there are moral implications involved Even then it merely defines the broad boundaries Inside those boundaries, the individual is supposed to refer to experts of that field of inquiry and use his own judgment Islam does prohibit marriage with certain individuals; but that is based on moral considerations, which alone are the business of religion It leaves the medical aspects of marriage to medical science and its practitioners and encourages the individual to exercise his best judgment while making his decision Physical health though not a theme of religion has no-doubt always been an important consideration for mankind, and rightly so The concerned in-

dividuals should rest assured that Islam has never discouraged anybody from deferring to expert medical opinion on matters pertaining to health and physical well-being

To come back to marriag e:

cational training institutions in Pakistan with limited only to 500,000 trainees capacity On the other hand youth unemployment is estimated to increase by 1 5 million annually Morover inadequate skills lack of industrial connectivity lack of teachertrainings lack of female participation and lack of government funding are all features of Technical and Vocational Education and Training in Pakistan Another common behavior is that young people prefer generally higher education to vocational training This system and mind set needs a major shift Pakistan could and must benefit enormously from shifting their education system towards technical and vocational courses Pakistan can learn from the major economies of both the East and the West To accomplish the goal we do not need massive institutions and universities Urban and rural educational institutions, both have existing facilities that can be used or upgraded for a variety of vocational courses and trainings TVET is an urgent national need for Pakistan s growing youth population Young potential should be tapped using effective TVET development and deploym e n t strategies Government funding for TVET institutions and programs for skill development and training needs to be increased Additionally new legislation should be passed to allow large medium and small enterprises to participate in the development of technical education Participation in technical training by women, who constitute 52 percent of the population, should also be encouraged The aim should be to equip young people with the market-oriented traditional high-tech skills they need to advance their careers with the aim of raising their productivity to international standards, only then we can convert the growing despair among youth into hope

There are no guarantees of success, of course , but one must shirk nothing within oneÊs power

To come back to marriage: When you set out to select your life partner, by all means try and cover as many bases as possible: compatibility, health, looks, brains background etc There are no guarantees of success of course but one must shirk nothing within one s power What is true of holy matrimony is also true of any other matter outside the ambit of worship If Islam forbids men from eating certain foods or forbids devouring usury it is based solely on ethical considerations After specifying the four corners (only where necessary), it does not concern itself with the other details The rest is for the individual (or the society) to sort out based on empirical evidence N o r e l i g i o n o r p h i l o s op h y s h o u l d b e c o n s i d e r e d too holy to be beyond criticism; but it is equally unfair t o a t t a c k a r e l i g i o n o n m a tters it has nothing to do with C r i t i c i s e r e l i g i o n a l l y o u want; but for your own sake if not for anybody else s be a little more reasonable than t h a t M y m e s s a g e t o R K , and by extension to all like him, is this: I am sure you are better than this It is high time y o u realized it as well

The author is a connoisseur of music literature and food (but not drinks) He can be reached at www facebook com/hasanaftabsaeed

Ed 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

Electric vehicles

W I T H everything that is going on in the country’s economy the government should actively encourage people to convert their vehicles such as motorcycles rickshaws and smaller cars from petrol to electric In our region such a conversion costs anywhere from the equivalent of Rs50,000 to Rs250,000 Kits may be available from companies from Vietnam or China

The cost of operating these converted e-vehicles would be about onefifth of what it would be if they were running on petrol The kits may be subsidised by the government and commercial banks may also be encouraged to issue loans for the purpose

Some local auto manufacturers have been raising the prices of their brands and even then they are shutting down plants because there are no buyers If this continues, many workers would become unemployed, adding to the overall economic burden

Some of these companies should be encouraged to produce electric versions of their vehicles and to start converting the existing vehicles to set the ball in motion and then to keep it rolling DR SYED ARIF KAZMI KARACHI

Liaquat , the leader

Q U I T E a few letters have appeared in these columns in recent times lamenting the absence of Liaquat Ali Khan from the portraits of the founding fathers that adorned the celebratory currency note issued by the State Bank of Pakistan to mark the 75th anniversary of the country s Independence Day

As a biographer of Pakistan’s first prime minister (Liaquat Ali Khan: His Life and Work Oxford 2003 with many reprints) I want to add that the character assassination of Liaquat was the precursor of attacks on Mohammad Ali Jinnah at the Karachi Adab Festival in 2020 Seasoned writer Javed Jabbar had responded to that propaganda by quoting excerpts from Ishtiaq Ahmed s book, stressing that the assassination of Liaquat was a deep-rooted conspiracy

The late Dr Safdar Mahmood, while he was education secretary, had straightaway named Ghulam Muhammad and Mushtaq Gurmani as the abettors (Barg-i-Gul Karachi Federal Urdu College Magazine 1999 Pp4144) while Syed Muhammad Zul- qarnain Zaidi established that Liaquat was shot in the back and that Said Akbar was not the murderer (Pakistan Perspectives, University of Karachi, Vol XIII: January-June, 2008)

The story of the Quaid-i-Azam s broken ambulance is widely cited as a condemnation of Liaquat, while Brig Noor A Husain, the ADC of the governor-general on duty, wrote that the first ambulance had been chosen by the governor-general’s military secretary and Liaquat was following the second ambulance in his car (The News March 23 1995)

On the pages of Dawn itself (March 13 2019) Liaquat was accused of having turned Pakistan into a theocracy through the Objectives Resolution

This is despite the fact that the Constituent Assembly of Pakistan Debates (Vol V, p5) carries these words from Liaquat: Sir, I just said that the people are the real recipients of power This naturally eliminates any danger of the establishment of a theocracy ”

As for the prime minister ’s Russian invitation Liaquat said before embarking on his trip to the United States that the erstwhile Soviet Union s invitation was outstanding and he was waiting for a date as the host country had advanced the date (Karachi Press Conference, Aug 23, 1950)

Lastly, people would do well to read John Connell (Auchinleck, London, Cassell, 1959, Pp 872-873) If they do, they will find that it was Liaquat who was named as the leading personality in having Indian armed forces divided DR MUHAMMAD REZA

When you set out to select your life par tner, by all means tr y and cover as many bases as possible: compatibility, health, looks, brains, background, etc

PR E-B I RT H mental development also known as prenatal or fetal development, is the process of brain and cognitive development that occurs in the unborn baby during pregnancy It is a critical period during which the brain undergoes significant growth and differentiation In the context the key points include: a Early Stages of Development: Prenatal development begins shortly after conception when the fertilized egg (zygote) starts dividing and developing into an embryo The first eight weeks of pregnancy are referred to as the embryonic period, during which the basic structures of the brain and central nervous system begin to form b Neural Tube Formation: Around the third week of pregnancy the neural tube starts to develop which eventually becomes the brain and spinal cord Proper nutrition during this time, including folic acid intake, is essential to prevent neural tube defects c Fetal Period: After the eighth week, the embryonic period ends, and the fetal period begins During this phase the brain continues to grow and mature rapidly d Brain Development: By the end of the second trimester (around 24 weeks) most of the neurons in the fetal brain are already formed The third trimester is characterized by rapid growth and increased complexity of brain connections e Sensory Development: As the brain develops, the fetus’s senses also begin to function Sensory experiences such as hearing sounds responding to touch and even tasting the amniotic fluid contribute to early brain stimulation f Interconnection with Mother: The developing fetus is connected to the mother both physically and emotionally through the placenta and umbilical cord The mother s emotional state can potentially influence the fetus through stress hormones and other biochemical signals g Role of Genetics: Genetic factors also play a crucial role in pre-birth mental development The genes inherited from both parents contribute to brain development and cognitive potential Thus, providing proper prenatal care, a healthy environment, and maternal well-being are vital for supporting the best possible outcomes for the developing baby

S: Pre-birth mental health and nutritious food are interconnected and play crucial roles in supporting opti-

P r e - b i r t h m e

mal prenatal development Expectant mothers mental well-being and their nutrition during pregnancy can significantly influence the health and development of the foetus The other related matters include:

a Impact on Fetal Brain Development: Maternal mental health and nutrition can affect the developing fetal brain A mother s emotional state stress levels and mental well-being can influence the release of stress hormones which if excessive may impact the developing brain negatively On the other hand, a positive and emotionally supportive environment can contribute to healthier brain development

b Nutrients for Brain Development: Proper nutrition during pregnancy is vital for providing the essential nutrients required for the baby s brain development Nutrients such as folic acid, omega3 fatty acids (DHA), iron, iodine, and choline are particularly important for supporting optimal brain growth and cognitive function

c Healthy Neural Tube Formation: Adequate folic acid intake during the early stages of pregnancy is essential for proper neural tube formation Neural tube defects can result from insufficient folic acid intake, emphasizing the importance of a balanced diet or prenatal supplements

d Emotional Well-being of the Mother: Proper nutrition can also positively impact the mother s emotional well-being A well-balanced diet can help stabilize blood sugar levels, potentially reducing mood swings and promoting overall emotional stability during pregnancy

e Reducing the Risk of Complications: Good nutrition can help prevent certain pregnancy complications that may indirectly affect the baby s development For instance, proper weight gain and blood sugar control can reduce the risk of gestational diabetes which can have an impact on the fetus

f Long-Term Health Outcomes: Adequate nutrition during pregnancy can have long-term health effects on the child It may reduce the risk of certain chronic diseases and promote a healthier start to life To support pre-birth mental health and ensure proper nutrition during pregnancy it’s essential for expectant mothers to: Seek emotional support and manage stress through counselling relaxation techniques or support groups follow a

G l o b a l b o i l i n g ?

b

SPIKED b r e n Da n O n e i l l

AN D just like that we’ve entered a new epoch ‘The era of global warming has ended the era of global boiling has arrived decreed UN chief António Guterres last week It s hard to know what s worse: the hubris and arrogance of this globalist official who imagines he has the right to declare the start of an entire new age, or the servile compliance of the media elites who lapped up his deranged edict about the coming heat death of Earth ‘Era of global boiling has arrived and it is terrifying said the front page of the Guardian as if Guterres s word was gospel his every utterance a divine truth We urgently need to throw the waters of reason on this delirious talk of a ‘boiling’ planet Guterres issued his neo-papal bull about the boiling of our world in response to the heatwaves that have hit some countries over the past two weeks Climate change is here [and] it is terrifying he said

We see families running from the flames [and] workers collapsing in scorching heat and it is just the beginning , he said, doing his best impersonation of a 1st-century millenarian crackpot In fact forget ‘climate change’ he said Forget ‘global warming’ too What we’re witnessing is a boiling

It all brings to mind the Book of Job which warned that the serpent Leviathan would cause the seas to boil like a cauldron Leviathan s back, only we call him climate change now

The obsequious speed with which the media turned Guterres’s commandment into frontpage news was extraordinary They behaved less like reporters than like the slavish scribes of this secular god and his delusional visions World entering era of global boiling cried the Independent and we know who is responsible No prizes for guessing who that is It s you, me and the rest of our pesky species It always is ‘Planet is boiling’, one headline breezily declared confirming that Guterres’s fearful phrase his propagandistic line no doubt drawn up with the aid of spin doctors in some UN backroom is already being christened as fact

Almost instantly, media outlets started lecturing readers on how they might help to put a halt to the coming evaporation of our planet SBS in Australia advised us to ‘Reduce meat intake’ ‘Stop driving cars’ and ‘Cut down on flights’ In short stop all the fun stuff; make sacrifices to appease nature s angry gods Even self-styled radicals made themselves mouthpieces of the UN s medieval sermonising Novara Media instantly embraced global boiling as an apt metaphor for the arsonist impact humanity has had on Earth Scratch a Marxist these days, find a Malthusian Can’t we have just a little critical thinking on the idea of global boiling ? The first thing a rational mind ought to note is that boiling is when liquid turns into

t a l d e v e l o p m e n t

well-balanced diet that includes a variety of nutrient-rich foods including fruits vegetables whole grains lean proteins and dairy products take prenatal vitamins as recommended by healthcare providers to supplement any nutrients that may be lacking in the diet, avoid substances that can harm fetal development, such as alcohol, tobacco, and certain medications not approved by a healthcare provider and attend regular prenatal check-ups to monitor both maternal and fetal health and receive any necessary guidance on nutrition and mental well-being

Mental health is a complex and multi-faceted concept that encompasses various dimensions of well-being and functioning These dimensions collectively contribute to an individual s overall mental health which also include:

a Emotional Well-being: It refers to the ability to recognize, understand, and manage one’s emotions effectively It involves having a positive outlook, experiencing a range of emotions in a balanced manner and being resilient in the face of challenges

b Psychological Well-being: Psychological wellbeing encompasses aspects such as self-esteem, self-acceptance, and a sense of purpose or meaning in life It involves having a positive perception of oneself and feeling a sense of accomplishment and fulfilment

c Social Well-being: Social well-being is related to the quality of an individual s social connections and relationships It involves having a support network, feeling a sense of belonging and connectedness with

others and experiencing healthy social interactions

d Cognitive Functioning: Cognitive functioning refers to mental processes like thinking reasoning problem-solving, and memory Good mental health involves having the ability to think clearly, make decisions, and concentrate effectively

e Behavioural Functioning: Behavioural functioning refers to the patterns of behaviour and actions exhibited by an individual Positive mental health involves engaging in adaptive and healthy behaviours, managing stress effectively, and avoiding harmful or self-destructive behaviours

f Physical Well-being: Physical well-being is closely linked to mental health Taking care of one s physical health such as maintaining a balanced diet engaging in regular exercise and getting sufficient rest, can positively impact mental well-being

g Environmental Well-being: Environmental wellbeing is the relationship between an individual and their external surroundings It involves feeling safe and supported in one s environment and having access to resources that promote mental health

h Occupational Well-being: Occupational wellbeing is related to satisfaction and fulfilment in one’s work or daily activities Feeling a sense of accomplishment and purpose in one s job or activities can contribute to overall mental health

The writer is head of the political science department of the B N Mandal University, Madhepura, Bihar, India and can be reached at rajkumarsinghpg@gmail com

Can the Assange question tip toward a more independent foreign policy for Australia?

planet is now so fantastically hot that lakes and rivers and seas will shortly start to evaporate? If you don’t

and you shouldn’t because it’s baloney

then you should not use a phrase like global boiling Indeed one professor of climate physics rebuked Guterres mildly of course for starting to depart from the underlying scientific evidence Indeed Earth is not boiling, and we shouldn t say that it is

There are other reasons to be sceptical of the boiling hysteria Yes the weather is hot in parts of Europe but there have been heatwaves throughout history long before the dawn of industry What s more the Greek government says that most of the 667 fires it has experienced over the sweaty past fortnight were started by human hand So those ferocious flames gleefully described by our green elites as Mother Nature’s punishment of mankind were mainly the handiwork of arsonists Then there s the fact that cold weather kills far more people than hot weather Will the chilly winter months in which numerous old people will perish be described by Guterres and his apostles as a global freezing, a New Ice Age? Of course not There are no propaganda points, no opportunities for modernity-bashing in fearmongering over cold weather

Let s be clear: global boiling is not a factual or scientific phrase Rather it represents yet another ramping up of the green politics of fear It s the latest addition to the already fat dictionary of eco-dread Economic inflation isn t the only problem we face today – there’s threat inflation, too The catastrophism of climate change in particular is puffed up on pretty much a weekly basis This is why we’ve gone from climate change to climate crisis to climate emergency And it s why we re now going from global warming to global boiling Language is used to terrorise the masses, to snap us out of our supposed apathetic coolness on the issue of climate change and force us to agree with the cranky elites that the end really is nigh and it’s our fault

As the Washington Post said in its coverage of the global boiling edict apocalyptic superlatives can be useful in underlining the importance of [this] issue This is a familiar tactic of eco-propagandists

A few years ago, Extinction Rebellion protested outside the offices of the New York Times to put pressure on it to dump the passive phrase ‘climate change’ in preference for the panic-inducing ‘climate emergency Linguistic experts have cheered the media s embrace of catastrophic language because apparently fretful terminology can help to convey to the public an increasingly urgent threat They’re trying to manipulate us They are using the grammar of Armageddon to cajole us into compliance with the green narrative and its demands for sacrifice in everyday life As I argue in my new book

A Heretic s Manifesto they want to coerce us into the realm of doom by making us think less about climate change and more about climate chaos, climate disaster, even climate apocalypse’

It is imperative that we resist this linguistic authoritarianism ‘Global boiling’ isn’t only a ridiculous phrase – it is also an insult to truth reason and us That such a fact-lite post-scientific hysterical phrase has been used by the UN the activist set and the media elites is a reminder that they see the rest of us, the little people, as malleable creatures to be marched this way and that by scary words and warnings of a

boiling anger we should feel for

The US has assumed for many decades that it can tell Australia what to do Is the Assange question a moment when the balance will tip once again toward a more independent foreign polic y? Only time will tell

among its support base on the Assange question In fact this disquiet may be found across political parties in Australia and is shared widely by the Australian population

After all, Julian Assange is an Australian citizen being pursued by the “long-arm jurisdiction” of the US In this respect the current leadership in Canberra seems to be feeling the pressure

Second there is the question of the nuclear submarine deal, which was the initial official reason for the AUKUS pact The deal has turned out to mean that Australia pays hundreds of billions of dollars for a US submarine base in Australia While the politicians in Canberra are still holding the line and saying they support AUKUS and the submarine deal the sheer amount of money - torn out of basic services such as medicine and education - is increasingly unpopular among the Australian public One suspects that some within the Labor Party are increasingly uneasy about the deal

AT a press conference on Saturday, Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said that “we have made clear our view that Mr Assange s case has dragged for too long and our desire that it be brought to a conclusion As reported in The Guardian, she went on to say that there were limits to what could be achieved in talks between governments until Mr Assange’s processes have concluded ” In a diplomatic setting these are surprisingly sharp and direct words even more so when we bear in mind that this was a joint press conference with the US Secretary of State Antony Blinken along with the defense ministers from Australia and the US The meeting between the four government ministers is known as Australia-US Ministerial Consultations (Ausmin) and takes place regularly The meeting on Saturday was mostly focused on military matters including a military base for US and UK submarines - in Australia and paid for by Australia In this context the verbiage concerning close ties and cooperation between the two countries was undone by the direct comment by Penny Wong concerning Julian Assange

This was not the first time the Assange question has been raised In fact, the Labor government in Canberra made its position clear not long after it commenced in May 2022 Since June 17 2022 the website of the Australian Government s Department of Foreign Affairs and Trade has carried a statement saying that Assange s case should be brought to a close and that we will continue to express this view to the governments of the United Kingdom and United States ” It is now on public record that the Australian side has pressed this point on numerous occasions

To return to Penny Wong’s statement at the press conference on Saturday she reiterated the well-known position that Assange s case has gone on for too long and that it should be brought to a close Of more interest is her observation that until the Assange question is resolved there are limits to what can be achieved in talks between the two governments

Clearly, a rift is emerging between Australia and the US on the Assange question How should we understand this rift? There are a number of aspects and they are not mutually exclusive First there is increasing disquiet within the Labor Party and

Third, the fact that the Assange question was raised during a meeting that was supposedly focused on military matters leads me to suggest that raising the question may be a diversion tactic Such a tactic is an old trick of political parties in Western countries: In the face of an unpopular decision, politicians will say look over there to divert attention In this case, the Labor government may be trying to divert attention from an unpopular AUKUS pact by raising the Assange question It may be a way of saying to the public: “We are ‘progressive ’ look at what we are doing for Julian Assange

Fourth to go a step further let us focus on Penny Wong s statement that there are distinct limits as to what can be achieved in Australia-US talks until the Assange question is resolved One suspects that Labor government leaders may see the AUKUS pact as leverage to gain the release of Assange Stall the talks refuse to agree until Assange is released If so this is a significant move

Finally the larger picture is that the Labor government in Canberra is caught in some serious contradictions On the one hand, the Australian Labor Party has a history of trying to chart a more independent foreign policy that is in Australia’s interest; on the other hand, the US has assumed for many decades that it can tell Australia what to do Is the Assange question a moment when the balance will tip once again toward a more independent foreign policy? Only time will tell

The author is a Marxist scholar from Australia overseas talent professor in the School of Philosophy at Renmin University of China and on the editorial board of the Australian Marxist Review

Dr rajkuMar Singh

AS INTERNATIONAL POWERS DECRY NIGER’S COUP, EXPERTS SAY ITS FUTURE IS UNCERTAIN

DAY S after soldiers ousted Niger ’s president, uncertainty is mounting about the country’s future and some are calling out the junta s reasons for seizing control

The soldiers said they overthrew President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected two years ago, because he wasn t able to secure the nation from growing jihadi violence But some analysts and Nigeriens said that’s just a pretext for a takeover that is more about internal power struggles than securing the nation

Everybody is wondering why this coup? That s because no one was expecting it We couldn’t expect a coup in Niger because there’s no social, political or security situation that would justify that the military take the power said Professor Amad Hassane Boubacar who teaches at the University of Niamey Bazoum wanted to replace the head of the presidential guard, General Abdourahmane Tchiani, who also goes by Omar and is now in charge of the country said Boubacar adding that Tchiani was loyal to Bazoum s predecessor and that sparked the problems

Conflict experts say out of all the countries in the region Niger has the most at stake if it turns away from the West, given the millions of dollars of military assistance the international community has poured in

On Saturday U S Secretary of State

Antony Blinken said the continued security and economic arrangements that Niger has with the U S hinged on the release of Bazoum who remains under house arrest and the restoration of constitutional authority in the country France on Saturday suspended all

The ‘war’ is returning to Russia, Zelenskyy warns after latest drone attack

KYIV

A G E N C I E S

Ukraine attempted to launch an attack on targets in Moscow with three drones but failed to achieve its goal, said the Russian Defense Ministry on Sunday as Ukrainian President Volodymyr Zelenskyy warned that the “war” was coming to Russia

Ukraine did not directly claim responsibility for the drone attacks but Zelenskyy said the “war” was gradually returning to Russia s territory – to its symbolic centers He described Sunday as a good day a powerful day at the front

According to the Russian Defense Ministry, Kyiv launched three unmanned aerial vehicles at Moscow early Sunday morning One was shot down by air defense forces over the Odintsovo district in the Moscow region while the other two were jammed by electronic warfare systems and crashed into a nonresidential building complex in Moscow Moscow Mayor Sergei Sobyanin said on his Telegram channel that the Ukrainian drones caused minor damage to the facades of two office towers in Moscow

The Russian state-owned TASS news agency reported that the attack injured a security guard and caused the temporary suspension of flights at Moscow s

Vnukovo International Airport

Former Russian President Dmitry Medvedev said on Sunday that Moscow would have to use a nuclear weapon if Kyiv’s ongoing counteroffensive had succeeded

China imposes expor t controls on cer tain UAVs to safeguard national securit y

development aid and other financial aid for Niger the Foreign Ministry said in a statement France demands an immediate return to constitutional order under President Mohamed Bazoum, who was elected by the Nigeriens ” it said The African Union has issued a 15day ultimatum to the junta in Niger to reinstall the country s government On Sunday, the West African regional bloc, known as ECOWAS, is holding an emergency summit in Abuja, Nigeria However in a televised address Saturday Brigadier General Mohamed

Toumba one of the soldiers who ousted Bazoum accused the meeting of making a plan of aggression against Niger and said it would defend itself And protesters taking part in Sunday’s rally also warned regional bodies who have denounced the coup to stay away “I would like also to say to the European Union African Union and ECOWAS please please stay out of our business said Oumar Barou Moussa who was at the demonstration It s time for us to take our lives, to work for ourselves It’s time for us to talk about our freedom and liberty We need to stay together we need to work together we need to have our true independence he said Niger experts say it s too soon to know how things will play out “Tensions with the military are still ongoing There could be another coup after this one or a stronger intervention from ECOWAS potentially military force even if it is difficult to foresee how specifically that may happen and what form that may take, said Tatiana Smirnova, a researcher at the Center FrancoPaix in conflict resolution and peace missions “Many actors are also trying to negotiate but the outcome is unclear she said

British High Commissioner designate Jane M arriott ‘delighted

upon arrival in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T British High Commissioner-designate to Pakistan Jane Marriott

C M G O B E h a s a r r i v e d i n I sl a m a b a d t o t a k e u p h e r n e w posting at British High Commission Islamabad

Jane arrives at an important time for UK-Pakistan relations with a significant uplift in UK aid spend in Pakistan focussed on strengthening climate resilience and reducing humanitarian risks

Last month the UK also launched the new Developing Countries Trading Scheme which will help Pakistan to boost exports by reducing tariffs and simplifying trade terms

Arriving in Islamabad, Jane said: I am delighted to be here in Pakistan, a country that deeply matters to, and has a long-standing relationship with the UK With over 1 6 million people of Pakistani heritage in the UK making up every part of British society, we have a special and ever-growing special bond

“Our friendship stems from our shared history and values deep people-to-people ties growing trade links and a renewed development partnership I will be working hard to continue to expand these

With the climate emergency a growing threat to health and livelihoods across the world I have a particular interest in ensuring the bilateral relationship between our countries is a green sustainable one Jane joined the UK Government’s Foreign, Commonwealth & Development Office in 2001 She was previously posted as British High Commissioner to Kenya from September 2019 to June 2023 and has served as British Ambassador to Yemen She has also been posted to the USA, Iraq, Iran and Afghanistan as well as heading the UK’s Joint International Counter Terrorism Unit S h e t r a v e l l e d f r o m L o n d o n H e a t h r o w u s i n g B r i t i s h A i rw a y s , t h e o n l y a i r l i n e t o o ff e r

UK and Pakistan Jane tweets at @JaneMarriottUK Jane Marriott

Walmar t buys out $1.4bn Tiger Global stake in India’s Flipk ar t, WSJ repor ts

Chinese authorities on Monday issued two notices to implement export controls on certain unmanned aerial vehicles (UAVs) and related items to safeguard national security and interests, which will take effect on September 1

Some Chinese experts considered the latest controls as China’s action as a responsible major country and the export control is conducive to the regional security especially when the drones for civilian use are increasingly converted for military purpose

High-performance drones have certain military attributes, and it is an international norm to implement export controls on them Since 2002, China has gradually implemented export controls on drones with the scope of control and technical standards in line with international practices a spokesperson from the Chinese Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Monday commenting on the latest export restrictions

In recent years, drone technology has rapidly evolved, and its application scenarios expanded The risk of high-grade high-performance civilian drones being repurposed for military use has increased the spokesperson said As a major producer and exporter of drones China based on comprehensive assessments, has decided to moderately expand export controls on drones This is not targeted at any specific country or region, the spokesperson said

The certain UAVs to be under export control include unmanned aircraft or unmanned airship-related items which are capable of controlled flight beyond the operator s visual line of sight with a maximum endurance of 30 minutes or more and a maximum take-off weight of over 7 kilograms or an empty weight of over 4 kilograms, as well as with certain features, said one notice issued by China’s Ministry of Commerce General Administration of Customs State Administration of Science Technology and Industry for National Defense and the Equipment Development Department of China s Central Military Commission

The period of temporary export control on certain UAVs shall not exceed two years, according to the notice

During the period, if an exporter knows or should know that the export will be used for proliferation of weapons of mass destruction terrorist activities or military purposes all the relevant UAVs whose indicators do not meet the existing control standards won t be allowed to be exported according to the notice

In the other notice issued on the same day, certain export restrict requirements are listed for UAV-related items

It’s the first time that China has explicitly imposed export controls on anti-drone systems according to media The systems can be used to disrupt and destroy the operating function or flight capability of UAVs through technical measures However if the anti-drone systems are used improperly, it may also lead to serious consequences, including affecting civilian aviation safety and increasing the risk of military conflict, noted experts

By managing different drone products especially in line with the different types of products with export permit required the latest restriction showed that China holds a responsible attitude as a major country in drone export, since if unrestricted, some drones could end up in the hands of terrorists, posing threats to other countries and regions, Song Zhongping a Chinese military expert and TV commentator told the Global Times on Monday China has its own standards for weapons and equipment export curbs including missiles drones and other objects We strengthen the permit control over these drone exports in order to act as a responsible country, ensuring that drones aren’t transferred to end users who should not possess them,” Song said Especially now as some drones converted from civilian to military use have become increasingly frequent on the Russia-Ukraine battlefield As a responsible major country it s necessary for China to tighten its regulations, Song noted Export controls on certain UAVs are not a ban on exports ” As long as they are used for lawful civilian purposes they can be exported normally after going through the relevant procedures so it will not have a huge impact on the civilian UAV industry Wang Yanan an aviation expert from Beihang University and chief editor of Aerospace Knowledge, told the Global Times on Monday The export control is focused on the civil UAVs which could be possible used as military purposes so that the tech indicators include infrared imaging equipment UAVs’ power to prevent those UAVs with large and more accurate tech indicators to be used as other purposes according to Wang

In response to the newly introduced export control on certain drone items, Chinese drone maker DJI told Global Times on Monday that as a global company, DJI always maintains a strict and responsible attitude in the field of export control DJI has always strictly complied with and implemented the export control laws and regulations applicable in China BEIJING

C hina to celebrate Army D ay today as armed forces urged to boost modernization

As China’s Army Day being observed today the Chinese armed forces are called for to continue to modernize and accomplish entrusted tasks at a time when China s security situation is facing rising instability and uncertainty

Ahead of the Army Day, Chinese President Xi Jinping has stressed the need to speed up efforts to boost the modernization of the armed forces

Xi also general secretary of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the Central Military Commission (CMC), made the remarks on Wednesday in Southwest China’s Sichuan Province while inspecting the air force of the Western Theater Command of the People’s Liberation Army (PLA) the Xinhua News Agency reported on Sunday

On behalf of the CPC Central Committee and the CMC, Xi extended sincere greetings to all the officers and soldiers of the air force of the command, as well as festival greetings to service personnel of the PLA and the People s Armed Police Force civilian personnel posted in the military and members of militia and reserve forces

Xi demanded an accelerated pace of pushing new equipment and forces to form combat forces The new equipment and forces should be integrated into the current combat systems, he added It is imperative to remain committed to accomplishing the various tasks entrusted by the Party and the people said Xi who also called for continuous efforts to carry out training under real combat conditions

On Sunday, the five-day PLA Air Force Open-Day Event and the Changchun Aviation Exhibition held in Changchun, Northeast China’s Jilin Province wrapped up with celebrations for the upcoming Army Day

During the air force event some of China s most advanced warplanes including the J-20 stealth fighter jet the YU-20 aerial tanker and the Z-20 utility helicopter were displayed to the public in a very transparent manner, including flight performances and ground displays in a move that the visitors and experts told the Global Times at the exhibition site not only showed the PLA Air Force s rapid modernization but also its confidence and will in safeguarding China s national sovereignty, security and development interests

In recent years, these advanced aircraft have gradually been commissioned into the

combat units of the PLA Air Force in large numbers as they are expected to further elevate the comprehensive combat capability of the PLA Air Force, enabling it to better accomplish its duties, observers said

At the moment, there are potentially at least five PLA Navy units sailing beyond the first island chain around the world namely the flotilla consisting of destroyers and frigates that is participating in the China-Russia joint naval patrol in the North Pacific, the amphibious group led by a Type 075 amphibious assault ship in the West Pacific, the Peace Ark hospital ship in the South Pacific the 43rd escort task group in the western coast of Africa and the 44th escort task group in the Gulf of Aden and waters off Somalia

The Shandong aircraft carrier group recently also held drills in undisclosed waters

More warships are being commissioned into the PLA Navy and are becoming active in far sea voyages which reflects the PLA Navy s strides in becoming a blue-water navy analysts said

The modernization of the armed forces means not only the development of advanced new weapons and equipment, but also their rapid commissioning in large numbers Song Zhongping a Chinese military

expert and TV commentator told the Global Times on Monday China is facing multiple security threats at a time when the world is at unease, so it is important that the Chinese armed forces form combat capabilities with the new weapons and equipment and be ready for potential military conflicts against a worldclass power under modern and informationized conditions Song said

The Party and the people entrusted the PLA to safeguard national sovereignty, security and development interests, which are being threatened because of troubles caused mainly by the US including the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue Song said

The US military has been pouring its resources in an attempt to compete with and contain China, ganging up allies and forming cliques including QUAD and AUKUS targeting China, promoting an eastward expansion of NATO into the Asia-Pacific region arming the island of Taiwan provoking the Taiwan question and the South China Sea issue and leaning toward India over the China-India border conflict Conflicts in other parts of the world like the Ukraine crisis are also having a spillover effect to the global security situation

Together with the Air Force and the Navy other PLA services and branches including the Army and the Rocket Force participated in key missions over the past year, including two large-scale encirclement exercises around the island of Taiwan countering collusions between “Taiwan independence” secessionist forces and external interference forces in August last year and April this year

Last year s Army Day was a special one as it was celebrated at the eve of then US House speaker Nancy Pelosi s provocative visit to the island of Taiwan under high tensions as the PLA raised alert and prepared countermeasures Immediately after Pelosi landed on August 2 the PLA announced large-scale military exercises which saw the island completely blocked down through joint drills by the PLA Army, Navy, Air Force and Rocket Force, with ballistic missiles flying over the island for the first time The drills demonstrated the PLA’s firm will and strong capability to safeguard national sovereignty and territorial integrity and thwart secessionist attempts by Taiwan independence and external interfering forces, Zhang Junshe, a senior research fellow at the Naval Research Academy of the PLA told the Global Times

CORPORATE CORNER

CPEC 2013-23: Sino-Pak univErSitiES’

link agES booSting EduCation SECtor

in bilateral exchanges and cooperation

pre-ordered from Xpark and also comes along with exclusivepre-order gifts The All-Around FastCharge Technology embedded in Infinix NOTE 30Pro series is significantly aimed at changing the way users charge theirsmartphones such as a 68W fast charger of Infinix NOTE 30 Pro is efficientenough to charge a 5000mAh battery PR

S&P Global introduces enhanced benefits with its ‘People First 10.0’ Initiative

K A R A C H I: S&P Global has launched People First 10 0 , the latest iteration of its enhanced global benefits policy across all its markets, including Pakistan The policy commits to leading with care and empathy and enabling the company’s people to thrive at work at home and in life People First prioritized the needs of S&P Global colleagues to cover a variety of their personal professional and social requirements Mujeeb Zahur, Managing Director, S&P Global Pakistan, expressed enthusiasm for the People First 10 0, saying, “We are proud to unveil People First 10 0 which demonstrates our unwavering dedication to our colleagues well-being We listen to our people and the continuous feedback inspires our approach towards people friendly policies with People First We believe that when we lead with care and empathy, we empower our people to thrive PR

Busan Is Good for EXPO and Ever ything Else

Busan Korea‘s second-largest city and main port has gained a reputation as a renowned venue for international events and festivals Beyond its vibrant event scene Busan s picturesque coastline and beaches have made it a captivating maritime tourist haven Haeundae Beach and Gwangalli Beach, in particular, are beloved by both locals and international visitors This combination of leisure and tourism presents a truly delightful experience for all visitors Adding to its allure Busan boasts a rich tapestry of historical sites and temples Landmarks like Beomeosa Temple, Hae Dong Yonggungsa

Temple, and Gamcheon Culture Village showcase the city’s cultural heritage Beomeosa Temple, dating back to the 7th century, stands out as Korea’s finest temple offering exquisite temple scenery and a deep connection to Buddhist traditions Busan has been recognized domestically and internationally as one of National Geographic Traveller s 25 most inspiring travel destinations PR

TikTok introduces text posts; an exciting new way for users to express themselves

TikTok the leading destination for short videos has announced the launch of text posts an innovative new format designed to empower creators and provide exciting opportunities for self-expression

With text posts, TikTok is expanding the boundaries of content creation, offering its vibrant community another innovative way to showcase their stories, poems recipes and other written content TikTok is always looking to empower its creators and community with innovative tools that inspire selfexpression TikTok s commitment to nurturing creativity in all its forms has led to a diverse array of content formats, including videos, photos, Duets, and Stitch The introduction of text posts adds yet another dimension to the content options, enabling creators to effortlessly share their written brilliance and making it even easier to inspire and captivate audiences Seamless publishing experienceCreating and sharing text-based content has never been simpler PR

SECP Publishes D iagnostic S tudy on S tatus of Motor Third-Par ty Insurance

I S L A M A B A D: The SECP has released a Diagnostic Study providing a holistic synopsis of the existing landscape of motor third-party insurance in the country The objective of this study is to present an in-depth overview of the legal framework applicable to motor third-party insurance, current state of motor insurance, impediments in implementation and enforcement recent initiatives taken by SECP way forward containing recommendations This study is intended to serve as a starting point for discussion and collaborative action planning on the implementation of Motor third-party insurance among key stakeholders, including central and provincial authorities SECP and the insurance sector PR

CH I N A Pakistan cooperation in the realm of education be it university-to-university linkages academia-industry collaboration or the number of Pakistani students studying in China, are all reflective of the confidence and stability of the unique ties between Pakistan and China

Ms Afifa Shajia Awais Education

Attaché of Pakistani Embassy in China told audience at the 2023 Shared Aspirations, Beyond Khunjerab PASS Pakistan Theme Day China-Pakistan Education Cooperation Promotion Conference held by Pakistan China Center at SCO Demonstration Area (SCODA) in Qingdao said that the growing economic ties between the two countries have laid the groundwork for partnerships in the education sector

The number of Pakistani students studying in China stands at a good 26 000 and 25 percent of them are recipients of

different types of scholarships offered by the Chinese government These students are enrolled in a wide range of disciplines such as medicine, engineering, and information technology, and pursue sub-specializations and hyperspecializations in specific domains Expressing her gratitude to the Chinese government for offering scholarships and facilitation to Pakistani students on a preferential basis, Ms Afifa stated that “the educational institutions are not only providing high-quality edu-

cation imparting useful skill-set but also providing a unique cultural experience to our youth who will act as ambassadors of goodwill between the two countries in the future ”

The Ministry of Education of both countries is actively engaged with each other and bringing educational institutions into a network of collaborative paradigms Ms Afifa Shajia Awais stated that the recent establishment of the CPEC University Consortium Exchange Mechanism was tantamount to the opening of a new chapter

Sri Lank a Consulate General K arachi facilitates Pakistan business delegation to Sri Lank a

The Pakistan Sri Lanka Business Forum (PSLBF) in collaboration with the Sri Lanka Consulate General Karachi organized a Pakistan Business Delegation to Sri Lanka from 18-22 July 2023 to enhance businerelationshipship between the private sector companies

This delegation is in reciprocation of the recent visit of the trade delegation arranged by the Sri Lanka Pakistan Business Council (SLPBC) of the Ceylon Chamber of Commerce in March 2023 to Karachi, Pakistan The Programme for the visiting delegation in Colombo was arranged by the SLPBC

The programme included a Pakistan Business Forum hosted by the SLPBC on 19 July, at the Cinnamon Grand Colombo Leveraging Free Trade Agreements and streamlining trade processes to facilitate trade promotion were among key strategies suggested to enhance bilateral trade and investment at the Pakistan Business Forum

The Forum was attended by Sri Lanka Consul General in Karachi Jagath Abeywarna SLPBC President S Deivanayagam & Council

members PSLBF President Aslam Pakhali & Forum members Trade and Investment Attaché of the High Commission of Pakistan in Colombo Asmma Kamal and Head of Market Development of Sri Lanka Export Development Board Anoma Premathilaka along with other private sector representatives The Forum was followed by a B2B Session among the private sector companies

During the visit, the Delegation had a fruitful discussion with Hon Tharaka Balasuriya State Minister of Foreign Affairs Discussions were held on enhancing trade between Sri Lanka and Pakistan from

exporting products to manufacturing processes The State Minister was hopeful that the session would prompt positive and mutually beneficial collaborations

The program also included meetings with h High Commissioner of Pakistan to Sri Lanka

H E Shahzad Chaudhry Director General of Agriculture (Agri Technology) P C Peiris and d visit to the Port City which included briefings on the y Head of Branding and Communication of Colombo Port City Economic Commission Dhanya Gunawardana & Head of Investment Promotion at the BOI Sri Lanka Prasanjith Wijayatilake

FM Shazia Marri visits Benazir Nashonuma Center in Rural Health Center Jam Nawaz Ali, Sindh

Nashonuma Programme for the next fiscal year is more than 32 billion which will benefit 1 5 million people, she added

On this occasion, the Federal Minister further stated that the current government has timely distributed 70 billion rupees to the flood victims and now we are working day and night for the rehabilitation of the flood victims and no negligence will be tolerated in this work

She said that whole country specially the provinces of Sindh and Baluchistan were worst affected by floods last year and we are aware of miseries of the flood affected families I am also working with the Government of Sindh to rehabilitate these affected familes

ISLAMABAD/SANGHAR

Federal Minister for Poverty Alleviation and Social Safety & Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme Ms Shazia Marri today visited the Benazir Nashonuma Center established at Rural Health Center Jam Nawaz Ali, Sindh province along with representative of World Bank & World Food Programme

Federal Minister while talking to the media said that Pakistan People s Party has always started initiatives and programmes for the

welfare of the poor people With the technical support of the World Bank and World Food Program, the Benazir Income Support Programme is providing Special Nutritious Food (SNF) to 770 000 pregnant lactating women and infants registered in the Benazir Nashonuma Programme to address malnutrition

This food is provided to women and children up to two years of age For this, the initiative of Benazir Nahsonuma Centers has been increased from 15 districts to the entire countrs and now 488 centers are operational in all 157 districts all over the country The budget of Benazir

The 130th birth anniversary of Mader-eMillat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah, the sister of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, was celebrated Monday Madr-e-Millat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah sister of the founder of Pakistan Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah was remembered for the selfless courageous and vital role she had played in the creation of

Ms Shazia Marri said that a Dynamic Survey has been started for the registration of women living below the poverty line and currently 617 Dynamic Registry Centers are functioning in the country She said that the present government has expanded Benazir Kafaalat Programme and through it now Rs 8750 are being given to 9 million families on quarterly basis

District Health Officer Dr Faiz Muhammad Marri, Regional Director PPHI Fida Hussain Lashari and other officers were also present on this occasion

r b r o t h e r and gathered the women of sub-contin e n t o n o n e p l a t f o r m w h i c h m a d e t h e struggle for achieving a separate state for Muslims easier In 1947, Fatima Jinnah formed the Women’s Relief Committee which later formed the nucleus for the All Pakistan Women s Association (APWA) She also played a significant role in the settlement of Muhajirs in the new state of Pakistan Fatima Jinnah is referred to as the Madr-e-Millat (Mother of

It has provided an organizational platform for positive and progressive cohesion of the education institutions Under its umbrella, the last 5 years have seen surprising registration of more than 100 universities from both Pakistan and China ” China’s economic prominence has grown globally making it an important player in world politics She underlined that Pakistan looks towards China to learn from its miraculous growth and development story as there are great lessons to be learned Zheng Shi, president of the SCO Economy and Trade Research Institute noted that since the inauguration of the China-SCO Institute of Economy and Trade 11 800 people from 43 SCO countries including Pakistan, and countries along the Belt and Road, have attended the training He hopes that “through the ChinaPakistan Education Cooperation Promotion Conference we can further deepen understanding build consensus and create a practical version and realistic model for international educational cooperation

ogdCl records significant boost in oil and gas production in July 2023

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

While successfully implementing cutting-edge technologies and industry s best practices the Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) has recorded a substantial production increase during the month of July 2023 The company has achieved remarkable enhancements in oil and gas production across various exploration and development wells These significant milestones mark the company's commitment to delivering excellence and strengthening Pakistan s energy landscape Notable accomplishments include the successful performance of the Nim East-1 exploratory well Nim East-1, an exploratory well located in the Tando Allah Yar district of Sindh province, operated jointly by OGDCL (95%) and Government Holdings (Private) Limited (GHPL) (5%) has proven to be a significant success Following the installation of a 6 -12 5 Km pipeline the well has contributed an additional production of 585 barrels per day (BPD) of oil 7 4 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas, and 32 metric tons per day (MTD) of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) The injected gas is seamlessly integrated into the Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGCL) network starting from July 20 2023 and has been continuously monitored until July 28 2023

Similarly OGDCL installed an Electrical Submersible Pump (ESP) in its 100% owned Pasakhi Oil Field, Well -11, situated in the Hyderabad district of Sindh This strategic intervention resulted in a remarkable incremental impact, enhancing oil production by 1010 BPD Presently the well is producing 1810 BPD of oil and is under observation to ascertain optimum flow rates The enhanced production from Pasakhi-11 commenced on July 28 2023

Meanwhile, the Chak 2-1 exploratory well, operated jointly by OGDCL (62 5%), GHPL (22 5%), and Orient Petroleum Inc (OPI) (15%), located in district Sanghar Sindh province and demonstrated exceptional potential with a rigless intervention Through additional perforations the well s production was boosted by 140 BPD of oil 4 7 MMSCFD of gas and 11 MTD of LPG As with Chak 2-1, the injected gas is integrated into the SSGCL network from July 20, 2023, and monitored until July 28, 2023

The Chak-V Dim South-3 well, situated in Chak-5 Dim South Block district Sanghar Sindh Province has shown impressive results as an on-production development cum exploratory well Under OGDCL s 100% working interest a rigless intervention with new perforations contributed to an incremental production of 130 BPD of oil, 3 8 MMSCFD of gas, and 8 MTD of LPG The injected gas integration with the SSGCL network commenced on July 24 2023 and observations were made until July 28 2023

The noteworthy incremental production will lead to Import substitution resulting in a substantial annual reduction of the country s import bill by approximately USD 96 million

S TAT E B A N K O F PA K I S TA N H O L D S

P O L I C Y R AT E S T E A D Y AT 2 2 P C

g ECONOMIC RECOVERY EXPECTED IN FY24, REAL GDP GROWTH PROJECTED AT 2-3PC

TH E State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has made the decision to maintain the policy rate at 22 percent This announcement was conveyed by SBP Governor Jameel Ahmad during a press conference held after the meeting of the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) today

In the statement issued following the MPC meeting it was noted that the economic uncertainty has decreased compared to the previous meeting, and the challenges in the external sector have been largely addressed Moreover there has been an improvement in investor confidence

Although some risks to inflation have emerged, the committee acknowl-

edged the positive impact of the previous monetary tightening, budgetary fiscal consolidation and the cautious growth outlook for FY24 The committee also observed that inflation is expected to decline over the next 12 months, resulting in a significant level of positive real interest rate

The MPC highlighted some key developments since the last meeting on June 26 Firstly Pakistan has secured a nine-month Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) with the IMF which has helped stabilize the external sector by boosting foreign exchange reserves Secondly, the government has implemented additional tax measures and increased electricity tariffs which may contribute to inflation in the coming months Thirdly global commodity prices have increased but remain lower than their recent peak Lastly

Bajaur suicide attack draws condemnation from across Muslim world

The suicide attack that took place in Bajaur on Sunday, which killed around 44 people and left over 200 injured, has drawn strong condemnations from across the Muslim world The leadership of the Muslim nations as well as the heads of the Muslim world bodies condemned the heinous crime and sympathised with the bereaved families At least 44 people were killed in a suicide blast at a Jamiat

Ulema Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers convention in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s (KP) Bajaur district on Sunday The explosion occurred when more than 400 JUI-F members and supporters gathered under a tent in the town of Khar near the border with Afghanistan

Secretary-General of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Hissein Brahim Taha in a statement, condemned the explosion in the strongest terms He offered his sincere condolences to the victims’ families and to the government and people of Pakistan wishing a speedy recovery to the injured

The secretary-general reaffirmed the OIC’s solidarity with Pakistan in its efforts to combat extremism and terrorism In a statement the Saudi Foreign Ministry denounced the attack and reaffirmed the Kingdom s rejection of violence and terrorism anywhere in the world, expressing that the Kingdom stood in full solidarity with Pakistan and its people

The ministry offered condolences and sympathy to the families of the victims the government and the people of Pakistan wishing the injured a speedy recovery

Secretary-General of the Cooperation Council for the Arab States of the Gulf Jassim Muhammad AlBudaiwi, also condemned the bombing and said that the position of the Cooperation Council was firm

He said the Council rejected all forms of violence, extremism and terrorism which aimed to destabilize security and stability and were inconsistent with human values and principles Similarly in a statement the UAE foreign ministry also strongly condemned the terrorist attack and reiterated its permanent rejection of all forms of violence and terrorism aimed at undermining security and stability in contravention of human values and principles The UAE ministry also expressed its sincere condolences and sympathy to the Pakistani government and people

The State of Qatar also expressed its strong condemnation and denunciation of the explosion

In a statement, the Ministry of Foreign Affairs reiterated Qatar s firm position on rejecting violence and terrorism, regardless of the motives and reasons

The Iranian foreign ministry spokesman Nasser Kan’ani strongly condemned the attack and offered condolences on behalf of the government and the people of Iran to the government and people of Pakistan

Besides Kuwait, the state of Egypt also condemned the bombing and renewed its firm stance toward its categorical rejection of all forms of violence

“Egypt, government and people, expressed their sincere condolences and sympathy to the government and people of brotherly Pakistan in this painful affliction and to the families of the victims wishing a speedy recovery for all the injured the Egyptian foreign ministry said

O G R A n o t i f i e s h i k e i n L P G p r i c e b y R s 24 p e r k g

the IMF has slightly raised its projection for global growth in July 2023

Considering these developments

the MPC emphasized the need for a tight monetary policy with positive real interest rates to achieve the medium-term inflation target of 5-7 percent by the end of FY25 Looking ahead, the MPC expects a moderate economic recovery in FY24, supported by improved rice and cotton output The outlook for manufacturing construction and allied services has also improved due to better business confidence and a withdrawal of priority guidance on imports However, the impact of previous monetary tightening and expected fiscal consolidation is expected to keep growth range-bound projecting a real GDP growth in the range of 2 to 3 percent for FY24 In terms of the external sector the

current account deficit is anticipated to remain contained at 0 5 to 1 5 percent of GDP in FY24 The prospects of multilateral and bilateral inflows have improved after the IMF SBA which is crucial for building external buffers and meeting near-term financing needs

The MPC projects average inflation to be in the range of 20-22 percent for FY24, down from 29 2 percent in FY23 The expectation is for inflation to gradually decline in the first half of FY24 and fall below 20 percent in the second half However this outlook is subject to risks arising from domestic and external shocks, such as adverse climate events and global commodity price volatility The MPC will closely monitor these developments and may adjust the monetary policy stance if needed to maintain price stability

G o v t a p p o i n t s A m j a d Z u b a i r

T i w a n a a s n e w C h a i r m a n F B R

Member IR operations FBR slot in last year August

and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) on Monday allowed Rs 23 86 per kilogram increase in the price of Liquefied Petroleum Gas (LPG) for the month of August 2023

According to OGRA s notification, the price of LPG per kg has been fixed at Rs 201 15 after an increase of Rs 23 86 And after this price hike the 11 8 kg domestic cylinder has become expensive by Rs 281 5 while the price of commercial cylinder increased by Rs 1083 for the month of August 2023

With effect to Rs 24/kg hike in LPG price, the domestic cylinder s price has increased to Rs 2373 64 from Rs 2092 13 and commercial cylinder has gone up to Rs 9132 from Rs 8049 LPG is an alternate fuel basically used in Pakistan for domestic and commercial cooking fuel LPG caters to all types of energy needs in households including cooking lighting heating etc

Suzuki to resume motorcycle production after Independence Day

The federal government has appointed Member Inland Revenue Operations Malik Amjad Zubair Tiwana as new Chairman Federal Board of Revenue

Sources said that the Finance ministry through circulation approved Tiwana summary for head of Premier Tax office of Pakistan Finance Ministry has also recommended Member admin FBR Nadeem Rizvi and Secretary Power Arshad Mahmood Langrial names for chairman FBR Slot

Sources said that Finance minister Ishaq Dar has kept the tradition to post his loyal officer this time Malik Amjad Zubair Tiwana for head of FBR

Sources said that around twenty to twenty five IRS officers are senior to Tiwana due to which there are chances, some senior officers choose to work on some another department Tiwana has also worked as Staff Officer to Finance minister ’ another close aide Tariq Tariq Pasha when the latter was chairman FBR

The outgoing government has posted Tiwana as

Sources said that Malik Zubair Tiwana as member Operations cannot dispose off files on daily basis Similarly, He also Put on hold the file of the Point of Sale prize scheme

The FBR in January this year had announced that it will start the POS prize scheme in March but the recently retired Chairman Asim Ahmed and Tiwana did not make decision to start the scheme

Sources mentioned that the first major assignment of newly appointed Chairman Fbr is to present IRS and Pakistan Customs officers promotional cases in Central Selection Board meeting which will start on Tuesday (today) IRS as well as Customs officers promotional cases will likely to be considered in CSB on August 2 2023 sources added Sources also said that Tiwana has also held meeting with PM subsequently his name for the slot approved Former Chairman FBR Asim Ahmed retired from the position last Thursday and the government did not notify the new chairman FBR so far

Lahore’s grave neglec t: The alarming c ase of water contamination

With an influx of daily news reporting miscarriages of governance and policy in the form of infrastructural ruin, debilitating air quality, rising crime rates and the recent research report published by the Action Research Collective (ARC) on Lahore s water contamination crisis it is almost as though the city and its people are quickly climbing the hierarchy of injustice and neglect ARC, an environmental justice and advocacy collective, set out to investigate, through their social research, the presence of contaminant levels and physicochemical properties in Lahore’s household water supply The focus of their research was to identify in particular the extent of chemical and microbial pollutants in the water which have harmful repercussions for both humans and the environment After visiting 850 randomly selected locations in Lahore, collecting water samples from 700 locations, and testing the samples in accredited laboratories the report revealed that 6 sites in Lahore are heavily contaminated with the presence of E coli in their tap water supply These E coli hotspots were identified to be: Chungi Amar Sidhu, Charar, Kirianwala, Kharas Mohalla, Mustafaabad, & Kot Khawaja Saeed

The presence of E coli in water is indicative of sewage or animal waste contamination, which means that the water supply in most houses in each of these 6 locations is likely to contain fecal pollutants The report includes that 32% of fifty-one tap water samples collected from households in Kharas Mohalla, were contaminated with coliforms, indicating sewage contamination ARC further reports that the polluted water is causing a concerningly high percentage such as 81% in Mustafaabad of residents living in these danger zones to suffer from diarrhea or skin infections Unfortunately these two identified symptoms may only be the tip of the iceberg if this contaminated water and the unsanitary conditions of Lahore s localities remain untreated

This report, “Mapping Water (Ine)Quality” also notifies of another distressing crisis of lead contamination in Shadi Pura’s water supply Only a 26

minute drive away from the city s beloved Raya Golf Resort, the alarming repercussions of lead poisoning within Shadi Pura s residents is a testament to the starkly different living conditions of Lahore’s varying income groups In 2016, the Law and Parliamentary Affairs department of the Punjab Government set the permissible limit for lead in drinking water to be 50μg/L However the government s own water supply in Shadi Pura revealed lead levels ranging between 150-1550μg/L Similarly, the Action Research Collective graphically explains that the WHO, EPA, and the Punjab Government hold that the maximum safe levels of lead per Litre in drinking water are 10 50 and 50 (microgram/Litre) respectively Astonishingly Shadi Pura water samples exhibited 1550 micrograms of lead per Liter recorded

In assessing the consequences of this the ARC s reported results reveal that the ignorance of this lead contamination in the government’s water supply is a heinous injustice to the resident’s of this site According to the Collective unfortunately 48% of adult males 52% of adult women and 82% of all children under 10 years of age in Shadi Pura were anemic Additionally 36% of women in the area reported stillbirths, while 10% reported premature births as well

Amongst other future endeavors, the Action Research Collective next aims to study the water samples from both government and private hospitals across Lahore

Pak Suzuki Motor Company (Suzuki Pakistan) has notified the Pakistan Stock Exchange that its motorcycle manufacturing facility will be undergoing a temporary cessation of operations from 31 July to 15 August The company has attributed this decision to a scarcity of inventory

This constitutes the eighth cessation of operations at Suzuki s motorcycle facility this year Profit endeavored to solicit a comment on the matter from Shafiq Ahmed Shaikh Head of Public Relations at Pak Suzuki; however no comment could be elicited The paucity of inventory can be ascribed to a convergence of events expounded Muhammad Sabir Shaikh, Chairman of the Association of Pakistan Motorcycle Assemblers There remains an insufficiency of completely knocked-down kits as letters of credit continue to be widely inaccessible to the automotive sector ” added Shaikh “Moreover the exorbitant prices of motorcycles have considerably diminished sales thereby reducing the stockpile that companies normally tend to possess Shaikh continued

Keeping track

Suzuki’s motorcycle facility has previously undergone eight plant shutdowns this year: from 2 to 6 January from 20 to 31 March from 4 to 27 April from 2 to 9 May from 23 May to 10 June from 12 to 16 June and from 22 June to 18 July for a total of 117 calendar days

In contrast, Suzuki s four wheeler manufacturing facility has undergone nine plant shutdowns this year: from 2 to 6 January, from 9 to 13 January, from 16 to 20 January from 13 to 17 February from 20 to 21 February on both 14 and 17 April from 2 to 9 May and from 22 June to 18 July for a total of 59 days

Police get a break in Bajaur blast probe as death toll jumps to 54

PESHAWAR

N E W S D E S K

The death toll from the suicide blast in the Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) workers’ convention in Bajaur rose to 54 after more wounded in the explosion succumbed to their injuries on Monday

officials said

A deadly blast ripped through Bajaur district s Khar, a former tribal area bordering Afghanistan, on Sunday evening when a suicide bomber set off explosives at the JUI-F gathering, killing around 40 people on the spot and over 100 injured

Police said the initial probe suggested that the terrorist organisation Daesh was behind the suicide attack

Currently, 83 injured people are undergoing treatment at different hospitals, Counter-Terrorism

Department’s (CTD) Additional Inspector General Shokat Abbas said

Sharing the investigation update the official said the convention began at 2pm while the explosion occurred two hours later at 4:10pm

He said that ball bearings and other stuff used in making the explosives had been found at the site of the explosion

Alvi c alls for S ino -Pak cooperation in agric ulture, IT, transpor t, textile sec tors

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday called for enhanced Chinese investment in various sectors of Pakistan’s economy particu l a r l y i n t h e S p e c i a l E c o n o m i c Z o n e s (SEZs) to further strengthen bilateral economic cooperation

The president in a meeting with Special Representative of the Chinese President Xi Jinping, and the Vice-Premier of the State Council of China, He Lifeng, who along with members of his delegation called on him said that Pakistan was desirous of Chi-

nese cooperation and support to strengthen its agriculture, information technology (IT), transport, and textile sectors

Welcoming the delegation, the president highlighted that Pakistan and China enjoyed an All-Weather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and always stood by each other in difficult times

He added that Pakistan and China had a unique relationship and the world must learn from the time-tested friendship between the two brotherly countries

He appreciated that bilateral relations between the two countries had continued to expand to new areas of cooperation

Talking about the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), President Alvi said that CPEC would transform the economic landscape of Pakistan, besides bringing prosperity to the region He added that CPEC had considerably helped in overcoming the shortage of electricity in Pakistan He maintained that Pakistan would continue to extend firm support to China on all its core issues

The president expressed gratitude for China’s principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir Dispute apart from thanking the Chinese Government for providing financial support to Pakistan in difficult times

He congratulated the Vice-Premier on the conferment of the award of Hilal-i-Pakistan on him and appreciated his contributions towards promoting Pak-China friendship and successfully overseeing the implementation of CPEC projects C o n v e y i n g h i s g r a t i t u d e t o t h e p r e s id e n t t h e C h i n e s e v i c e - p r e m i e r r e c a l l e d P r e s i d e n t D r A r i f A l v i s s o l i d a r i t y v i s i t t o C h i n a i n M a r c h 2 0 2 0 , s a y i n g t h a t t h e v i s i t w o u l d b e r e m e m b e r e d b y t h e p e o p l e o f C h i n a a s h e u n d e r t o o k i t d u r i n g a d i ff i c u l t t i m e d e s p i t e t h e r i s k s o f

brought significant transformation in Pakistan s socio-economic and infrastructural l a n d s c a p e a n d w a s n o w p o i s e d t o f u r t h e r e n h a n c e P a k i s t a n ’s e c o n o m i c , t r a d e , a n d c o n n e c t i v i t y p r o f i l e i n t h e e n t i r e r e g i o n a n d b e y o n d

The vice-premier apprised the president about the measures taken by the Chinese government for the elimination of poverty in China He thanked the president for the conferment of Hilal-i-Pakistan on him in recognition of his services

He also conveyed the best wishes of Chinese President Xi Jinping to President Dr Arif

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