Epaper_23-08-31 LHR

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N O S PA C E F O R A D D I T I O N A L S U B S I D I E S U N D E R

O N G O I N G I M F P R O G R A M : S H A M S H A D A K H TA R

Finance Minister’s statement misinterpreted: Solangi

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Dr Akhtar communicated the government’s sensitivity toward the welfare of the country’s poor stressing that the administration is resolute in its commitment to prevent any exacerbation of hardships faced by the vulnerable

ing economic stability and implementing measures conducive to the enhancement of overall economic conditions

Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi Wednesday said statement made by Caretaker Minister for Finance Shamshad Akhtar

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

CARETAKER Finance Minister

Dr Shamshad Akhtar on Wednesday said there is no space for additional subsidies under the ongoing International Monetary Fund (IMF) program

Speaking to the media following a meeting of the Senate Standing Committee on Finance on Wednesday she said that the current economic circumstances leave no room for additional subsidies within the IMF agreements

The caretaker finance minister acknowledged that the previous governments had entered into binding agreements with the IMF elucidating that these agreements inherently encompassed provisions for subsidies

Consequently she affirmed that the existing agreements do not permit the inclusion of supplementary subsidies, due to their predetermined nature within the terms established with the IMF

Dr Akhtar said that the current administration is dedicated to crafting a comprehensive strategy aimed at bolstering the nation s economic health

She underscored that the caretaker government’s agenda revolves around achiev-

One of the significant measures outlined by the caretaker finance minister involves efforts to stabilise the exchange rate between the national currency, the rupee, and the US dollar This strategy aims to mitigate volatility in the currency market, ultimately fostering a more conducive environment for economic growth and development

Earlier briefing the Senate Standing committee on Finance and Revenue held under the chair of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla in Chair, Dr shamshad lamented that the economic situation of the country was even graver than expected

Every conceivable effort had been directed towards undermining the economy

Unfortunately no effort has been spared to destroy the economy, she added

The Senate Committee expressed concerns over the growing dollar instability, un-

on to say She added, It is a great honor for me to be given the opportunity to serve my country, the caretaker finance minister and I will serve my country with all my efforts ”

precedented electricity cost and a 22% interest rate that are making it challenging for current businesses to survive and thrive

Senator Mohsin Aziz highlighted the issue of ’ Capacity Payment’ which currently stands at Rs 1 2 trillion being paid to IPP’s and advised that the government should reconsider its agreement with them eanwhile another member of committee

Jail trial challenged: Imran Khan’s remand in cypher case extended for 14 days

Cypher case trial of PTI chief unacceptable: PTI

ATTOCK S ta f f R e p o R t

The special court established to hear cases under Official Secrets Act on Wednesday extended judicial remand of PTI Chairman Imran Khan for 14 day during hearing of the in cypher case held at Attock Jail

The PTI chief who has been incarc e r a t e d i n A t t o c k J a i l w a s p r e s e n t e d b e f o r e S p e c i a l C o u r t s J u d g e A b u l H a s n a t M o h a m m a d Z u l q a r n a i n w h o held proceedings in the jail Superintendent s office

Earlier, in light of security concerns the Law and Justice Department decided to conduct the cypher case hearing against the PTI chairman in the jail

Judge Abul Hasnat Mohammad Zulqarnain of the special court set up to hear cases under the Official Secrets Act was designated to preside over the cipher case proceedings, as outlined in the ministry’s notification

Though the cypher issue never really faded out it resurfaced after a US publi-

cation recently published its contents

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has now launched a thorough probe into the alleged “disappearance” of the diplomatic cypher booking Imran Khan and former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi under the recently enacted Official Secrets Act

The court extended the judicial remand of the former premier till September 13 and immediately left for Islamabad after conducting the hearing Security outside the jail was beefed up as police and Elite Force personnel were deployed around the prison premises and all the routes leading to the jail were sealed

Earlier, a special court established to try the case under the Official Secrets Act 1923 ordered the Attock jail superintendent to keep Imran in judicial lockup and produce him on 30 08 2023 before this court Imran s number 2 in the PTI, Shah Mahmood Qureshi, has already been arrested in the same case

It should also be noted here that though the FIA had requested the court to

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee made it clear that they would not accept the cypher trial against PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan in Attock Jail come what may as he was deprived of “right to fair trial The PTI core committee strongly condemned the judicial remand of PTI Chairman and held a detailed deliberation over the party legal strategy regarding the trial of PTI Chairman in jail on Wednesday The participants said that PTI Chairman was being punished and subjected to political revenge for adopting an uncompromising stance on pursuing the Haqeeqi Azadi movement of the nation and saying ‘absolutely not’ PTI Core Committee said that the secret trial of PTI Chairman in jail clearly indicated that the government was trying to conceal something from the nation The participants said that PTI Chairman s legal team moved the court against the secret trial in the jail demanding that the honorable court should take up the issue instantly besides issuing orders to stop the series of worst vindictive action against Imran Khan PTI Core Committee urged that the process of political victimization of PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi through the cypher case should also be put to a halt forthwith

grant physical remand for Imran Khan, the court had rejected the plea and sent him on judicial remand instead According to the FIA once judicial remand has been granted pleas for physical remand are no longer admissible and only a bail application can be filed before trial begins Imran Khan’s legal team including lawyers Salman Safdar Intezar Panjutha Shoaib Shaheen and others were present at the Attock jail

A post-arrest bail application was also filed by the PTI chairman s legal team The lawyers argued that there is no legitimate Official Secret Act case against Imran and that the entire matter had been concocted for political revenge

Caretakers brace for impact

On Tuesday, Imran Khan was re-arrested in the cypher case moments after his sentence in the Toshakhana criminal case was suspended by the Islamabad High Court Moments after, the Islamabad High Court had suspended the sentence of Imran Khan in the Toshakhana criminal case A division bench of IHC Chief Justice Aamir Farooq and Justice Tariq Mahmood Jahangiri accepted Imran Khan s appeal and pronounced the decision The court had ordered to release Imran Khan from jail after submitting bail bonds surety of Rs100,000

the government had anticipated Her remarks, made during a meeting of the Senate’s Standing Committee on Finance today asserted that the interim set-up had “inherited” the International Monetary Fund (IMF) programme hence it was non-negotiable The finance minister s statement comes as Pakistan remains plagued by the inflated cost of living, particularly exorbitant electricity prices that have forced residents to take to the streets across the country Prime Minister Kakar is already trying to position himself as a populist He is making the rounds as a politician would and has called emergency meetings to discuss the high electricity prices that consumers are now protesting against However he must realise that the finance minister is correct There is no fiscal space for the government to provide subsidies and for however long they are here the IMF’s conditions must be followed diligently The government is trying to position itself as a long-term technocratic answer to Pakistan s woes The problem is it does not have the mandate required to solve the problems plaguing Pakistan Short of subverting the constitution, there is little they can do to gain that mandate

Senator Sherry Rehman drew attention to the plight of the public especially in relation to electricity bills She underscored how these bills have become an unbearable burden for citizens, many of whom struggle to reconcile bills that often surpass their meager salaries

Rupee falls near Rs325 against US dollar in open market

g S p r e a d b e t w e e n b u y, s e l l r a t e o f d o l l a r w i d e n s i n t h e i n t e r b a n k, r e f l e c t i n g m a r ke t v o l a t i l i t y

On a day marked by the caretaker government s finance team loudly announcing the country s economic position was worse than they had anticipated, the rupee’s value continued to decline falling to nearly Rs 325 per dollar in the open market Exchange companies were buying the dollar at Rs 322 and quoting a sell rate of Rs 324 5 This is significantly higher than the official rates shared by the Exchange Companies Association of Pakistan (ECAP) in its noon update According to the ECAP, the US dollar was being bought at Rs 316 and sold at Rs 319 This equates to a difference of Rs 5 5 between the ‘official’ and ‘unofficial’ open market selling rates The difference in the rates between the open and interbank market is even more pronounced The dollar was being bought at Rs 304 65 and sold at Rs 305 2 respectively in the interbank market This amounts to a difference of Rs 13 8 or 4 52 percent between the interbank and ‘official’ open market rates The difference between the interbank and ‘unofficial’ open market rates is a whopping Rs 19 3 or 6 32 percent Moreover there is a spread of 55 paisa between the buying and selling rate in the interbank

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

Many offences either deleted or changed in NAB Law amends, obser ves CJP

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial on Wednesday sought an updated list of NAB cases transferred after the amendments were introduced, saying that “many offences were either deleted or changed in the NAB amendments and a crucial point in the present case is that the entire law has been turned upside down The petitioner has given some Islamic examples for accountability standards and that accountability is the basis of the democratic process , but in this case as a result of amendments to the NAB law, many of the offences have either expunged or the evidentiary procedure was altered ” observed Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) Umar Ata Bandial CJP Bandial while heading a three members bench of the apex court hearing pleas against the amended NAB Law The three-member bench, led by CJP Bandial, comprises Justice Mansoor, and Justice Ijazul Ahsan resumed hearing Imran Khan s plea against the NAB amendments The CJP continued by stressed that the court must be satisfied that “no crime has been abolished” He also expressed reservations over how difficult the process of proving a corruption case has been made through the changes It must be ensured that the crime of corruption has not been reduced to mere paperwork, said CJP Bandial

PM EMPHASIZES SIGNIFICANCE OF WAR GAMES IN VALIDATING NAVAL WAR PL ANS

Prime Minister Kakar expressed complete confidence in the preparedness of the Pakistan Navy to meet all threats and challenges, and reassured the government's commitment to provide all available resources for its capacity building

Earlier upon arrival at the venue the prime minister was received by Chief of the Naval Staff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi

While presenting the overview, the Deputy Chief of Naval Staff (Operations) outlined the objectives of the war game which was conducted in tri-service format with participants of relevant ministries and divisions as well

KARACHI a p p

CA R E TA K E R Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar on Wednesday emphasized the significance of war games in validating naval war plans in sync

Chairman JCSC holds talks with Tajik president during official visit

ISLAMABAD

Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff

Committee (CJCSC) General Sahir Shamshad

Mirza, currently on an official visit to Tajikistan, engaged in diplomatic discussions with President Emomali Rahmon and other key officials the military said The visit seeks to foster cooperation and strengthen the bilateral relationship between Pakistan and Tajikistan with a particular emphasis on matters of mutual interest, the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR) said in a statement on Wednesday General Mirza’s official visit was marked by a significant meeting with President Emomali Rahmon revered as the Founder of Peace and National Unity Leader of the Nation The meeting reflects the commitment of both countries to bolster their diplomatic and defence ties for regional stability and security The media arm of Pakistan’s military reported that General Mirza’s visit also encompassed separate dialogues with various government and military officials These meetings served as platforms for comprehensive discussions on issues that hold shared significance for Pakistan and Tajikistan

PTI leader Haleem

Adil Sheikh arrested from outside SHC

KARACHI

S ta f f R e p o R t

Karachi police on Wednesday arrested PTI Sindh President Haleem Adil Sheikh from outside the Sindh High Court (SHC) after he arrived at the court seeking injunction to prevent his possible arrest Sheikh was among the PTI leaders nominated in cases after the May 9 riots for allegedly facilitating and inciting violence and arson attacks on public and private properties and causing terror in reaction to the arrest of party chief and former prime minister Imran Khan Today the SHC barred the authorities from arresting the former opposition leader in the Sindh Assembly in the land scam case, however, moments after exiting the SHC premises the police arrested the PTI leader and moved him to undisclosed location Advocate Wahab Baloch who represents Sheikh said that his client appeared in court today in response to a graft case filed against him in Jamshoro

However, a significant police presence was deployed to arrest him in what he said was a contravention of court orders Baloch expressed disappointment over the arrest noting that despite the change in government the same treatment of Sheikh s party persisted

Saudi Crown Prince may pay hours-long visit to Pakistan

ISLAMABAD

with military and national security policy besides exploring operational concepts and refining deployment strategies

The prime minister, addressing the debrief session of Pakistan Navy’s war game Shamsheer-e-Bahr IX lauded the well-deliberated plans of the force commanders and the insightful analysis of the

war game which would help crystallize operational plans for maritime security and seaward defence of Pakistan, a PM Office press release said He also highlighted the enhanced responsibilities of the Pakistan Navy in ensuring the security of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and Gwadar Port

He highlighted various concepts tried during the war game and recommendations pertaining to the Pakistan Navy's deployment strategies

The debrief of the exercise was attended by high-level government officials and senior officers from tri-services

G ov t g o i n g t o r o l l o u t 5 G s e r v i c e s w i t h i n 1 0 m o n t h s : D r U m a r S a i f

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Federal Minister for IT and Telecommunication Dr Umar Saif revealed on Wednesday that Pakistan is going to launch 5G services in the country within 10 months

The development emerged after a pivotal meeting between Saif and Chairman Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) Maj-Gen (r) Hafeezur

Rehman The discussions delved into intricate matters of telecommunications the impending 5G auction and spectrum allocation The minister also discussed in detail the upcoming plans related to telecommunications, the rollout of the 5G spectrum and strategies for optimal spectrum utilization Dr Umar Saif shed light on the paramount importance of optimal spectrum utilization and the coordinated deployment of the 5G network Dr Umar Saif expressed unwavering determination to eliminate hurdles

by establishing a priority-based criterion He specifically highlighted that challenges related to taxation telecom density, and spectrum management would be actively addressed

In alignment with this proactive stance the IT minister reiterated the administration’s dedication to refining the quality of telecom services thus en-

hancing the experience for consumers

The minister underscored the significance of optimizing existing telecom provisions to ensure citizens derive the utmost benefit from these services

Incidentally, the Ministry of IT and Telecom had announced to roll out 5G by the middle of 2023 and the ministry was vying to woo foreign investors too

Pa k i s t a n A r my o r g a n i ze s f r e e m e d i c a l c a m p s a c r o s s S i n d h

istan Army established medical camps, which saw a significant turnout of local residents During these camps patients received thorough medical check-ups consultations and access to essential medications

The medical camps provided stateof-the-art diagnostic services, including ECG, ultrasound, and various medical tests, in addition to the free medical consultations The local population expressed their gratitude for the Pakistan Army s efforts emphasizing the importance of such initiatives for the wellbeing of their communities

S ta f f R e p o R t

Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman may pay a short visit to Pakistan in the second week of next month, diplomatic sources said on Wednesday The possible visit of the Saudi Crown Prince would be of four to six hours as part of first leg of his tour which will later take him to Pakistan s arch-rival India The Saudi Crown Prince is likely to come to Pakistan on September 10

During his brief stay, the Saudi royal guest is expected to hold meetings with Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq and Army Chief General Syed Asim Munir with focus on bilateral relations including defence trade and the oil refinery plan

FIA nabs two more suspects involved in money-laundering

RAWALPINDI

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

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA)

Commercial Banking Circle Rawalpindi has arrested two suspects involved in Hawala and Hundi crime during a raid at Aara Bazaar Road in Chakwal informed sources on Wednesday The detained accused have been identified as Sajjad Hussain and Muhammad Waleed, possession of whom the raiding team recovered Rs 30 9 million, they said

According to sources a team of FIA CBC following the orders of Deputy Director CBC Islamabad Syed Rizwan Shah has arrested two suspects in an operation in Chakwal The suspects were involved in buying and selling foreign currency without a licence The FIA team also seized cash, mobile phones and large number of receipts from the possession of the arrested men FIA investigators said that the action against two suspects was taken on an information as both were running a larger racket of Hawala/hundi in Rawalpindi

A case has also been registered against the accused The DG FIA appreciated the efforts of DD CBC Syed Rizwan Shah and his team for netting two notorious men involved in Hawala and Hundi

Cop mar t yred in Quetta firing

QUETTA

S ta f f R e p o R t

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Army organized free medical camps in remote areas of Sindh where a team of qualified army doctors conducted comprehensive medical exami-

nations for the general public on Wednesday

According to the details, the armed forces actively engaged in initiatives aimed at the welfare and well-being of the citizens of Pakistan In different regions of Sindh Pak-

Furthermore, the residents conveyed their hope that similar noble endeavors would be undertaken in the future The people appreciated the actions of the Pakistan Army and reiterated their determination to fully cooperate with the armed forces

A cop was martyred in firing of unidentified armed men near Sariab Road Mill Colony in Quetta on Wednesday The cop, Akhtar Hussain was on his way back to home after night duty when unknown gunmen attacked him As a result of firing the cop was martyred and assailants fled the scene The body was shifted to hospital for postmortem and police after registering a case into the incident have started an investigation

D olphin S quad of Capital Police provided body cameras for effec tive policing

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Islamabad Police to bolster transparency and accountability within the force have distributed body cameras among the dedicated personnel of the Dolphin Squad

In line with the directives of Dr Akbar Nasir Khan the Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO), the SSP Safe City initiated the distribution of these body cameras, coupled with comprehensive training on their proper usage

The primary objective behind this initiative is to ensure the secure and verifiable recording of interactions between police officials and the public By doing so, the Islamabad Capital Police aims to foster a safer environment, deter criminal activities, and

keep a vigilant eye on any suspicious individuals or events During the training session Dolphin Squad members were instructed to consistently wear and operate these body cameras while on duty This practice guarantees that all interactions with the public are securely recorded, serving as a deterrent against unlawful activities Furthermore officials were unequivocally directed to refrain from conducting vehicle searches without the explicit authorization of senior officers They were also reminded to uphold courteous and respectful behaviour when interacting with the public maintaining the highest standards of professionalism

The Islamabad Capital Police remains steadfast in its commitment to safeguarding the lives and property of the citizens it

serves Islamabad police have appealed to all citizens for cooperation in a collective mission to uphold peace and security It has

been also asked to report any suspicious activities promptly to your nearest police station or dial the Pucar-15 helpline

KP inspec tor hosts Russian tourists at residence to clear air

Following a foreign couple’s allegations of being harassed by police in the Jamrud area of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s (KP s) Khyber district, Sub Inspector Amin Akbar Afridi hosted them at a Nanawate – a local custom aimed at erasing misunderstandings

The Russian tourists Slava Skolaniya and his wife were the first foreigners to be hosted at an event otherwise only held for locals The event was also attended by journalists and other police officials During the event, the couple was honoured with traditional hospitality and gifted the woman a traditional chadar Several local dishes were on the

menu whereas traditional musicians were also arranged for the entertainment of the guests

The couple lauded the people of KP, especially of Khyber district terming them “very hospitable loving peaceful and traditional They said they held no anger towards them in their hearts and would encourage tourists, especially foreigners, to visit this historic place They added that while they faced some troubles navigating their way around a day earlier and felt the officers were rude they have now realised that the people of Jamrud are in fact very loving The couple extended their gratitude to the sub-inspector for the gifts and hospitality The Russian tourists said they

will remember the love brotherhood hospitality, and especially the tribal tradition Nanawate

Earlier this week, the foreign couple was travelling in Khyber ’s Jamrud when they were allegedly intercepted by pol i c e p e r s o n n e l w h o q u e s t i o n e d t h e m a g g r e s s i v e l y a n d o r d e r e d t o n o t g o a h e a d f r o m t h e r e o n w a r d s , d e s p i t e showing documents

Regrettably, the couple’s experience took an unexpected turn as their photograph surfaced online accompanied by allegations that the woman had been subjected to harassment

However District Police Officer (DPO) Saleem Abbas had vehemently denied harassment of the couple by any member of the police force

I H C B A R S A R R E S T O F I M A A N M A Z A R I I N A N Y C A S E R E G I S T E R E D A F T E R A U G 2 0

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Asingle-member bench of Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Wednesday directed the Interior Secretary to take all necessary measures to guarantee that Imaan Mazari remains free from any arrest and exempt from being transported out of Islamabad

Furthermore, the court stipulated that if any cases or reports against Imaan Mazari emerge after August 20 she should not be subject to arrest and adjourned the hearing till tomorrow

IHC Justice Mian Gul Hasan Aurangzeb presided over the hearing of a petition filed

Man allegedly kills daughter for refusing to marr y man of his choice

RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t

A man allegedly killed his daughter after she refused to marry the boy of his choice, police said on Wednesday According to police, the incident happened in Punjab’s Mianwali on August 20 when a man allegedly shot his daughter after she refused to marry the boy of his choice The girl was critically injured and was shifted to Rawalpindi hospital on August 20 After remaining 10 days in the ICU, the woman, identified as Dr Sidra Niazi, succumbed to her wounds Earlier on August 24, a man axed his daughter to death over ‘honour ’ in Karachi’s Manghopir The man buried her daughter near his house in Manghopir after killing her over honour police said Police further said as per initial reports, the 19-year-old victim had gone missing from her husband s house The man informed his father-in-law about the missing of his wife It is pertinent to mention here that in October 2016 the joint session of parliament passed long-awaited legislation closing a loophole that allowed people who killed for honour to walk free The legislation, passed unanimously by the National Assembly, mandates life imprisonment even if the victim’s relatives forgive the murderer

by Imaan Mazari seeking details of cases registered against her

During the proceedings the court ordered that the Interior Secretary, representing the government, would be responsible for compiling comprehensive reports of cases registered across the country against Imaan Mazari and submit the report to the court by tomorrow

Meanwhile Barrister Salman Akram

Raja counsel for Human rights lawyer

Imaan Zainab Mazari-Hazir on Wednesday said the Islamabad High Court (IHC) made it clear that his client could not be arrested in any cases registered after August 20 the day she was taken into custody

In a video posted on X (formerly Twitter) by journalist Asad Toor Barrister Raja

can be heard explaining the IHC order in Imaan s case saying that that the court issued directives to present a record of all the FIRs registered against her throughout the country so that they could be reviewed by the judges “The court has said that since she was arrested on Aug 20 if any FIR is registered after that date she will not be arrested in that her lawyer said If this court can grant relief we will take it from here otherwise from other concerned courts, Barrister Raja further said “Or we will file for a protective bail in this court ” “We contended before the court that the fundamental rights mentioned in the law and Constitution are for every citizen of the country If any citizen says something no

matter if you like it or not even if you think that it shouldn t have been said despite all that the Constitution trumps it

The Constitution is not just for people who say good things or say things that we want to hear It is also for those who utter things that we think shouldn’t have been said “Now we will see what comes in the order tomorrow Barrister Raja further said Today s hearing went pretty well

He also confirmed that the high court had ordered to not shift Mazari out of the jurisdiction of Islamabad in any case

Earlier to this the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) on Tuesday granted a three-day physical remand of the human rights lawyer Imaan Mazari in a case related to collection

Cy p h e r c a s e t r i a l o f P T I c h i e f u n a c c e p t a b l e : P T I

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

They argued that there was no legal justification for prosecuting the former prime minister and former foreign minister under the Official Secrets Act PTI core committee said that the original cipher document was with the Foreign Office, which had been confirmed by former Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah as well as FIA that was enough to prove the allegations unfounded and unjustifiable that the cipher was lost somewhere from the former prime minister

They asserted that the cypher s contents were discussed and the then federal cabinet had declassified the cypher adding that the day the cypher was declassified it no longer remained an official secret thus the case automatically died down It was said that when the cypher contents became public, it proved that there was interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan The participants stated that not only the federal cabinet but the National Security Committee also approved issuance of diplomatic demarche to the US in this regard

They asked as how could a former Prime Minister and Foreign Min-

ister of Pakistan be punished for taking a firm stand against blatant interference in Pakistan s internal affairs PTI Core Committee said that this case was a part of the ongoing series of coercive measures and attempts to break the morale of PTI Chairman and crush PTI However they vowed that all such attempts to break the resolve and moral of PTI Chairman or to make PTI politically irrelevant would not bear any fruit in any way In the meeting, they lauded PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi’s message sent from jail who pledged that he was with Imran Khan is and will be with him till his last breath PTI President gave clear instructions to his son Chaudhry Moonis Elahi that he would not be part of any secret agreement The PTI Core committee praised highly Pervez Elahi for his courage and determination and adopting a bold and principled stand in this trying time

In the meeting they expressed serious concern over the failure of making any major breakthrough in the investigation of the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif

The participants also strongly denounced the forced disappearance and non-recovery of Imran Riaz for over three months They demanded that the

federal government should immediately complete the investigation of the brutal murder of Arshad Sharif and identify the responsible and expose them before the nation

The participants emphasized that information regarding Imran Riaz Khan’s recovery and health and safety should be immediately provided to his family in particular and to the nation in general

In the meeting, the participants eulogized the jailed leaders, workers and especially the women for their determination and courage in the face of the worst state repression

They requested the Supreme Court to protect the rights of detained workers, especially women by taking practical and effective actions to stop the reign of terror unleashed by the state against PTI supporters

In the meeting the illegal and illegal arrest of Sindh PTI President Haleem Adil Sheikh from outside the Sindh High Court was also strongly condemned

They also demanded immediate recovery and release of the illegally detained or forcibly disappeared political activists including Senator Aon Abbas Buppi Barrister Hassaan Niazi and Haleem Adil Sheikh

of funds to fuel anti-state activities

ATC Judge Abu Al-Hasanat Zulqarnain Sikandar presided over the hearing of the case The prosecutor claimed that the human right lawyer is accused of ‘collecting funds to fuel anti-state activities and demanded her physical remand to recover the alleged funds and apprehend other potential co-conspirators

No space for additional subsidies under ongoing IMF program: Shamshad Akhtar

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Caretaker Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar stated that Country s economy needs a lot of fixing and the ministry is tirelessly working on multilateral fronts to deliver the task She stressed that mobilisation of local resources and structural reforms in State Owned Enterprises is the need of the hour and it will bear fruit for the struggling economy The Caretaker Finance Minister decided to provide a comprehensive briefing on the Country s Economy to Standing Committee in the upcoming week The Committee deliberated on the Private Member Bill titled The State Bank of Pakistan (Amendment) Bill,2023”

Senator Mushtaq Ahmed mover of the bill apprised that the purpose of the bill is to curtail the unbridled powers of the State Bank of Pakistan and enable the government to borrow money from the SBP However, Dr Inayat Hussain, Deputy Governor SBP, argued that the amendment made in the previous year was aligned with the ongoing IMF program and aimed to instill fiscal responsibility in government operations The Committee deferred the deliberations on the bill till the next meeting

cannot be higher than 1 25 percent for five business days Right now, this difference stands at 4 52 percent What is even more concerning however is the two different rates in the open market itself and the premium of 6 32 percent between the interbank and unofficial open market rates

This means that either the open market rate has to be brought down which the government cannot do through administrative measures as the IMF agreement binds it to adhere to a market-based exchange rate or the interbank rate must catch up If this doesn t happen it may become difficult for the government to complete the next review to release a tranche of nearly $700 million under the SBA

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During hearing Justice Mansoor Ali Shah remarked that the court must take into account who the petitioner is, challenging the recent amendments to the NAB Law “if the NAB amendments were such a big problem a citizen would have challenged them no financial institution challenged the amendments nor any political party a fugitive politician from the parliament approached the SC, he pointed out and observed “To date it remains unclear what aspects of the law are contrary to fundamental rights provisions ” expressing his surprise that the court has been hearing the case for so long Today marked the 50th hearing of a petition filed by Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan challenging the National Accountability (Second Amendment) Act 2022 passed by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) led coalition government In the previous hearing Justice Shah had stressed for a second time, requesting to the CJP, to constitute a full bench to

hear the matter He has maintained that the NAO amendments case should either be heard in the presence of an injunction on a law – namely the SC (the Practice and Procedure) law – or a full court should be constituted Meanwhile CJP Bandial had remarked yesterday that the Attorney General for Pakistan (AGP) had spoken of inconsistencies between the SC (the Practice and Procedure) law and the SC (Review of Judgment) Law on June 1 2023 The AGP had asked for some time on June 8 2023 the chief justice observed He added that the AGP had also said that the parliament would correct the law after the budget session “I am unaware what the current (interim) government s stance on the matter is he said asking whether the court should delay all cases in light of a suspended law, or continue its work

As the court resumed the hearing today, the AGP took to the rostrum to clarify that he had not stated that the law was “flawed” but merely conceded that there was an overlap be-

tween the Practice and Procedure Law and the Review of Judgment Law

CJP Bandial also observed that “several good amendments have been introduced” as well but regretted that not only were there inconsistencies between laws but that the CJP s powers had been reduced to a rubber stamp The parliament was very active in August,” he added, observing that revisions on the two said laws did not appear to be “a priority” for the parliament

The AGP explained that the parliament had been waiting for a decision from the apex court on the matter and had therefore, not acted to revise the laws This explanation however was not well-received by the top judge

At one point Justice Shah proposed that the issue of NAB law tweaks could be left up to the next parliament Why don t we leave the issue of NAB amendments to the new parliament?” he said while seeking arguments about the application of NAB amendments from the past The case was adjourned till tomorrow

Minister for expediting process to complete S afe C it y projec t

KARACHI a p p

Sindh Caretaker Minister for Finance Revenue Planning and Development Muhammad Younus Dagha on Wednesday, stressed the importance of the Safe City Project for the safety and security of citizens and called for expediting the process to ensure completion of the project at the earliest

The minister while chairing a meeting in the regard said that the Safe City Karachi Project was based on modern scientific specifications and envisioned for the protection of lives and property of the citizens of the metropolis, so all the regulatory matters should be completed without

any delay Younus Dagha instructed that two options of fibre optics lines should be considered for the installation of 13 000 state-of-the-art cameras under the Safe City Project to ensure optimal functionality and provision of alternative network service in case of any emergency

For procurement of cameras, a competitive rate analysis report should be submitted to the ministry after taking rates from internationally renowned companies he outlined and further directed that construction of the 10-story state-of-the-art building at the proposed site within the jurisdiction of Saddar Police Station should be completed and made operational in one and a half years instead of a projected period of 3 years

Jail trial challenged: Imran Khan’s remand in c ypher case ex tended for 14 days

jail has been filed with the Islamabad High Court (IHC)

Notably, the interior ministry, in view of security concerns, had written a letter on August 29 seeking permission to conduct a jail trial of the PTI chief on August 30 The law ministry replied that it had no objection in this regard In his plea Imran Khan through his lawyer Sher Afzal Marwat has said that the notification is illegal and requested the IHC to quash it He has also challenged the authority of Islamabad s Anti-Terrorism Court-1 (ATC) judge Zulqarnain to hear the cases registered under the Official Secrets Act

According to the application the judge does “not meet even the basic qualification criteria required in this case The law secretary interior secretary chief commissioner, IG, DG FIA, superintendent Adiala jail and

superintendent Attock jail have been made parties to the matter

Later, Barrister Safdar confirmed the court extended Imran Khan’s judicial remand by 14 days and also issued a notice on his post-arrest bail plea seeking a reply from the respondents by September 2 Talking to the media Safdar said he met Imran who was in high spirits and was positive He added that the PTI chief gave him a briefing for 15 minutes detailing his stance on the cypher case

The barrister asserted that proceedings under the Secrets Act were “reserved for the armed forces regarding internal matters such as spying [and] mapping He termed the prosecution of a former premier and a former foreign minister (Qureshi) as highly condemnable and very concerning

He said that no one in the PTI’s legal team or even Imran himself knew that he had been detained on judicial remand in the cipher case “for the past 15 days

when the FIA had requested for his physical remand but it was rejected He then confirmed that the special court will hear the bail plea on Saturday and that the court also issued notices to the FIA on two other petitions one challenging the trial of Imran in the cipher case and the second requesting an open hearing of the case Presenting Imran s stance on the cipher case Safdar stated that former interior minister Rana Sanaullah had admitted on social media that the original cypher was with them “The FIA has also admitted that the original document of the cipher is with the Foreign Office ” he added Referring to the two meetings held by the then cabinet the lawyer asserted that the cypher s contents were discussed there and the then government had declassified the cypher and the minutes of that meeting are with the Cabinet Division “The day the cipher was declassified, it no longer remained an official secret,” he said, asking for what purpose then was this case for

Furthermore the senate body was briefed on Azad Jammu and Kashmir Budget Chaudhry Anwarul Haq, the Prime Minister of AJK, highlighted that AJK produces approximately 2600 MW of electricity each year, with a consumption of 350 MW He appealed to the government to provide electricity to the people of AJK at production costs and requested the allocation of the share mentioned in the Federal Divisible Share Pool The Committee recommended the government to address the reservations expressed by AJK Prime Minister In addition to that, the committee discussed the Point of Public Importance raised by Senator Hilal ur Rehman regarding the non payment of compensation to the affectees of Mohmand dam Senator Hilal ur Rehman informed that Affectees have not been paid according to the rates specified in the project s PC-I (project cost estimation) District Administration Mohmand stated that rates have been finalised through negotiations with affectees The Committee deferred the deliberations on the matter till the next meeting

Four accused in Fatima Furriro murder case released

RANIPUR: The Khairpur police on Wednesday released four accused in the murder case of the innocent girl Fatima Furriro who died due to violence in the Haveli of Ranipur According to details, the police released SHO Ameer Chang, Dr Fatah Memon, Dr Ali Hasan Wasan and medical dispenser Imtiaz Merasi The investigating officer has claimed that all the four suspects were set free as they were not named in the FIR “The evidence of innocence of four accused has been presented to the Joint Investigation Team headed by DSP Abdul Qadoos Kalor, he said However, despite the passage of 12 days, Hina Shah, the wife of the main accused Asad Shah, has not been arrested yet Yesterday, Ejaz Khaskhali, a driver of Hina Shah w/o main suspect Asad Ali Shah was arrested from Karachi by Khairpur Police while 11 others were also taken into custody from Asad s mansion S ta f f R e p o R t

M any offences either deleted or changed in NAB L aw amends, obser ves C JP

Throwing up one’s hands

CA R E TA K E R Finance Minister Shamshad Akhtar has indicated, while talking to the media after giving testimony to a Senate committee, that the government not afford the consumer any relief in the massive bills that have provoked huge protests throughout the country, with bills being burnt and suicides being committed Dr Shamshad said that the agreements with the IMF allowed for no subsidy She thus confirmed that the primary target of the caretakers was to ensure that the IMF’s conditions were met The loading of the electricity bills with taxes, and the idea of giving installments on the bills, were thus rejected, and the plan for relief to the consumer had been forwarded to the IMF for approval The scenario thus meant that the two days of meetings were not meant to provide relief, so much as to provide the government a breathingspace in which the protests would die down

However, while some consumers have paid their bills somehow or the other, some have not When the bills come in next month, those people will be hit with arrears on top of their new bill As can be easily guessed, they will be on the verge of facing disconnections When disconnections start taking place, the kind of public protests that may erupt will make the current protests seem like nothing As winters are shortened by the effects of climate change it is likely that the heat will not be over at the time of these disconnections making them all the more unbearable There may well be an increase in crime as householders not necessarily the most scrupulous seek means fair or foul to make the next payment

This increases the pressure for elections to be held within the 90-day time limit Mass public protests are not particularly well-handed by caretakers It might seem unfair for the new elected government to be plunged into the middle of street protests but that is what elected governments do Back in 1971 the PPP took over when half the country had seceded after the massive surrender at Dhaka with a constitution still to be written and an economic programme to be implemented The country’s problems have not reached the point of no return but they do seem to have gone out of the hands of the caretakers

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M A Niazi Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

WH E N Ayub Khan the first usurper seemed invincible it was Madar-eMillat Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah who decided to challenge the might of the dictator by contesting the presidential elections in 1965 While her brother earned the title of Father of the Nation, for supporting the struggle of her elder brother she was crowned as Mother of the Nation It is widely believed that mothers know best for their children She campaigned across the length and breadth of the country She had widespread support in the Eastern Wing together with Karachi and the areas of Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Despite the fact that she had no direct administrative experience, people trusted her blindly She stood firm like her brother with a no-nonsense attitude Before she spoke the crowd had to be silent When speakers before her tried to shower praises on her she asked them to cut short She was on a mission to restore constitutional democracy Her election symbol was a lantern, a source of light As a child I was surprised to see a lantern on the roof of a car so I stopped there to warn the owner to avoid accidental damage It was a lawyer who told me that he had himself fixed it to show support for the candidature of Ms Jinnah

By and large the legal community supported her as she stood for rule of law Posters of lanterns were all over the country Her popularity was evident which rang alarm bells for the establishment

Had she won the election Jinnah’s Pakistan could have been saved She stood for the restoration of the unanimously agreed 1956 Constitution As President and Chief Executive she would have imposed strict discipline and merit together with austerity and simplicity The sell-out of our sovereignty by the dictator would have been reversed Pakistan would have been debt free today

The over riding shadows of the establishment would have ended On completion of her term of office she would have ensured free and fair elections to transfer power to the genuinely elected representatives of the people and go home gracefully to leave a legacy, as the Jinnahs had no aim or ambi-

tion to create a political dynasty

Ever since the creation of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan peaceful constitutional transfer of power has been a major challenge It is perhaps the biggest obstacle faced by the democratic order of the country No Prime Minister has thus far succeeded in completing his or her term of office

Mainly it is the establishment that has come in the way, supported by the judiciary

In1958 elections were to be held under the 1956 constitution but instead the country came under Martial Law Even after the break-up of Pakistan

Bhutto tried to hold elections ahead of schedule in 1977 under the 1973 constitution but it was hijacked by the establishment The day the assemblies were dissolved a nine party alliance was waiting in the wings which then launched a movement which resulted in third Martial Law in July

1977 On the promise of holding elections in 80 days the usurper s misrule stretched for over 11 years which resulted in the destruction of most civilian institutions O u r b r o t h e r l y M u s l i m country Indonesia also went t h r o u g h a s i m i l a r p r o c e s s E x t e n d e d m i l i t a r y r u l e o f G e n e r a l S u h a r t o h a d d es t r o y e d m o s t i n s t i t u t i o n s There was widespread discontent with poor economic conditions Finally after the removal of the dictator the daughter of the father of the nation Dr Ahmed Soekarno won the election and came into power Soerkarnoputri, a s s h e w a s n a m e d , d i d n o t h a v e t a l l c l a i m s t o g l o r y S h e c o r r e c t e d t h e d e r a i lm e n t o f t h e c o u n t r y h e l d e l e c t i o n s a n d t r a n s f e r r e d power through free and fair e l e c t i o n s a n d g r a c e f u l l y went home Today Indonesia is a thriving constitutional democracy and a prosperous country comp e t i n g w i t h A s i a n Ti g e r s l i k e M a l a y a s i a S o u t h Korea and Taiwan A real constitutional transition of power proved to be the key Today Pakistan faces a similar challenge after 76 years of its creation Orderly transition of power through free and fair elections is the only way forward As the most popular political leader Kaptan seeks a similar course correction for his coutry The constitution must prevail These unholy Zia and Bajwa amendments have to be annulled The overriding establishment influence has to be neutralized to ensure civilian supremacy Ms Fatima Jinnah tried to end the derailment of the country founded by her elder brother Muhammad Ali Jinnah but her efforts were thwarted by the usurper Soekarnoputri succeeded in Indonesia in putting her motherland

Political instabilit y’s implications for healthcare

HEA LTH is wealth Should our bodily defenses prove sufficiently robust to fend off the internal assaults of ailment, we then stake a genuine claim to survival Regrettably the healthcare infrastructure within Pakistan languishes in a dire state besieged by adversity The preeminent cause of this incongruity in healthcare provision within the country resides in the persistent quagmire of political instability Pakistan has remained ensnared by the tendrils of political turbulence for a protracted span, the repercussions of which cast a looming shadow over the realm of healthcare provision Curiously this predicament often evades thorough scrutiny even as the integrity of healthcare delivery steadily wanes As posited by the World Health Organization (WHO), Pakistan finds itself ensconced among nations exhibiting the most frugal healthcare expenditures on a global scale

An already trying predicament is further exacerbated by the unrelenting churn of political instability Healthcare services across Pakistan grapple with an acute crisis, the taproot of which may be discerned in the tempestuous milieu of political instability, the tendrils of which extend far and wide The ramifications of such instability have wrought a profound impact upon Pakistan s healthcare edifice yielding restricted access to medical amenities lacklustre health outcomes and a corroded trust in the infrastructure underpinning healthcare delivery

This exer tion shall not merely redound to the enhancement of well-being among PakistanÊs populace, numbering 200 million soles, but shall also furnish impetus to the nationÊs economic augmentation and maturation.

A population hale in health indisputably begets one more prolific in productivity

The task of addressing the sway of political instability upon healthcare dispensation in Pakistan demands a multifaceted approach The present vicissitudes in the political landscape gravely impede the purveyance of healthcare services instigating a multitude of predicaments by virtue of inadequacies in oversight Furthermore political upheaval can sow seeds of security apprehension, subsequently constricting the access to medical facilities

In regions beset by conflict or violence, healthcare practitioners might find themselves incapacitated from administering care due to the spectre of jeopardized safety This sense of trepidation within healthcare professionals emanates from the paucity of robust security protocols and the recurrent transgressions against established norms Consequently, marginalized communities, encompassing women and children remain ensnared in the grip of restricted healthcare access thus perpetuating the scourge of health disparities

In addition political instability may engender an environment conducive to corruption and the misallocation of healthcare resources The proliferation of mismanagement and graft within the machinery entrusted with healthcare stewardship erodes the pillars of transparency accountability and overall efficacy This misadministration further compounds the predicament of constrained healthcare access disproportionately afflicting impoverished and marginalized demographics

Ultimately, the ripple effects of political instability may enervate the political resolve to accord precedence to healthcare prerogatives This dearth of prioritization engenders suboptimal investments in healthcare services and insufficient political advocacy for healthcare policies Bereft of political commitment, the amelioration of healthcare service quality looms as an imposing challenge The question at hand is conspicuous: Why do these factors which engender the decay of Pakistan s healthcare fabric not command the requisite attention they warrant?

The extant landscape of corruption coupled with the dearth of regulatory oversight within the operative framework, conspires to disen-

franchise nearly half of Pakistan s populace from their elemental entitlements to healthcare

While challenges besetting systems are not wholly unexpected, it remains untenable to forsake the pursuit of continual enhancement Collaboration between the Pakistani governmental apparatus and the healthcare domain emerges as an imperative Effective governance and endorsement stand as prerequisites for the optimal functioning of every sector

A pertinent exemplification lies in a recent research study spotlighting the paucity of proper X-ray apparatus in rural and remote medical establishments with laboratories in need of modernization to furnish adequate diagnostic services Indigenous investments could alleviate the strain on congested urban hospitals The central administration ought to underscore the importance of preventive care, ensuring universal access to vital vaccinations for all juveniles

Financial constraints frequently shackle underprivileged parents precluding their wards from receiving essential medical attention The quandary of healthcare accessibility remains a foremost concern for multitudes of indigent Pakistanis, who remain bereft of the means to engage private medical services

The administration led by Prime Minister Khan had introduced initiatives such as the Sehat card an instrument furnishing cost-free treatment and pecuniary aid to the underprivileged These endeavours warrant pervasive and expeditious implementation across all provinces to genuinely mitigate the suffering endured by the marginalized populace By effectuating these stratagems and policies the administration can chart Pakistan s trajectory toward remedying its beleaguered healthcare infrastructure

This exertion shall not merely redound to the enhancement of well-being among Pakistan’s populace, numbering 200 million soles, but shall also furnish impetus to the nation’s economic augmentation and maturation A population hale in health indisputably begets one more prolific in productivity

The writer can be reached at fatimariaz976@gmail com

back on the rails

The establishment experimentation must end for the democratic system to work. The big question is; „ Are we still slaves after 76 years of independance and 50 years of constitutional democracy?‰

Cer tainly, all is not well in the land of the pure . Course correction is inevitable

The land of the pure needs an upright and honest leader elected through a credible electoral process to get rid of the evil that has engulfed us through repeated establishment manipulations started since its early formative years I n t h e o r i g i n a l 1 9 7 3 C o n s t i t u t i o n t h e r e w a s n o c o n c e p t o f i n t e r i m g o v e r n m e n t s A l l o v e r t h e w o r l d t h e e l e c t i o n s a r e c o n d u c t e d b y t h e i n c u mbents through independent election commissions The caretaker approach h a s p r o v e n t o b e c o u n t e rp r o d u c t i v e a n d s h o u l d b e d o n e a w a y w i t h E x t e n d e d rule by un-elected individuals is totally unacceptable C o n s t i t u t i o n a l b o u n d a r i e s have to be respected Institutions must operate within t h e i r s p e c i f i e d d o m a i n s Those who dare to cross the red line must face the legal ramifications So far only Gen Pervez Musharraf had to face trial under Article 6 of the cons t i t u t i o n a n d t h e r e s t h a v e g o t t e n a w a y N a t i o n s m u s t learn from history The Jinnahs and Soekarnos had to p e r s o n a l l y i n t e r v e n e f o r c o u r s e c o r r e c t i o n i n t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e c o u n t r i e s P a kistan has to be brought back on track through honest and selfless leadership, nothing short will work Continuation of political dynasties m e a n s m o r e o f t h e s a m e , c o r r u p t i o n , i n c o m p etence loot and plunder which must stop for the nation to move forward like our Muslim brothers in Indonesia Malayasia and Turkey May the soul of Ms Jinnah rest in peace for standing up to tyranny for which she was called a traitor in a country that she had founded with her brother

The establishment experimentation must end for the democratic system to work The big question is;

“ Are we still slaves after 76 years of independance and 50 years of constitutional democracy? Certainly all is not well in the land of the pure Course correction is inevitable

The writer is ex-Chairman, Pakistan Science Foundation He can be contacted at: fmaliks@hotmail com

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Panjgur airpor t’s fate

W I T H a population of over 350 000 people the Panjgur district in Balochistan has an important strategic position because of its proximity to the Iranian border allowing local people to avail of trade opportunities Thus, the district is said to have been playing a vital role in terms of development across the region One of the key factors that contributed to the district’s economic prosperity was the opening up of its airport, which was granted international status in 2011 However the airport now stands desolate and empty owing to suspension of flights that has constrained economic activities in the region Seen as a major step forward the airport was initially granted international status which made it a key transportation hub, linking Panjgur with other major cities across the country, as well as international destinations The national flag carrier had started offering flights to Sharjah, a major commercial centre in the United Arab Emirates (UAE) via Turbat The move was welcomed by the people of Panjgur who saw it as a key step towards improving their economic prospects and raising their standard of living in the long run

With suspension of flights the community of local businessmen finds itself stuck in the middle of nowhere They are denied easy and efficient access to their target markets outside the district which is an essential aspect of their businesses There have been several protest demonstrations held over the years, calling for resumption of aviation facilities, but they have all fallen on deaf ears Balochistan already stands at the butt end of economic prosperity and a failure to resume activity on Panjgur airport would only make things worse

JAVED SARWAR PANJGUR

It is ‘salar y’ tax , not income tax

T H E term income tax is pretty mis- leading in Pakistan and requires a more accurate representation How about calling it the ‘salary tax’? This will make the title consistent with what is being taxed

Successive governments have never tried to tax the income All they have done is to tax the salaries So there is every reason to call it what it is

The consistent targeting of the salaried class as an easy revenue source by policymakers is as unjust as it is nauseating Seriously frustrating, it is

Startling statistics were presented by a government functionary a little while ago, illustrating the low tax registration and compliance rates in the country The data presented was clearly an eye-opener

Out of 250 million citizens only three per cent are registered with the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) and a significant proportion from among them fails to submit the obligatory tax returns leaving just 1 6pc of individuals who dutifully file their income tax returns with a mere 0 88pc contributing to income tax payments Further accentuating the staggering disparity is the fact that an astonishing 90pc of the total income tax revenue comes from only 0 127pc of the population ‘Unjust’ is too small a word to describe such disparity Policymakers seem hesitant to broaden the tax net even though fiscal stability can only be attained when every segment of society pays tax according to income completely regardless of the source of that income

As things stand right now tax on agriculture-related income is a matter we have not even started discussing in parliamentary circles Retailers, on their part, pay a meagre 0 25pc of their net income, and threaten to shut down shop in case they are ‘forced’ to pay any additional amount In contrast, the salaried class is taxed on a higher slab, and, more critically, taxed on the basis of gross income The current take-home salaries have actually returned to 2019 levels and even more worryingly the purchasing power has reverted to the level of 2011 owing to the lethal mix of higher taxes and even higher inflation To achieve a fair and sustainable tax system it is crucial for the country s policymakers to address these issues, and pursue comprehensive reforms that may ensure equity and shared responsibility PROFESSOR ALTAF MUKATI KARACHI

Caretaker Finance Minister ’s refusal to offer relief could mean trouble down the road

AF T E R the Russian invasion of Ukraine there were concerns in western capitals over whether China might take similar action in Taiwan Against this backdrop, US Speaker Nancy Pelosi s visit to Taiwan prompted some security scholars to predict a fourth cross-strait crisis China will likely ensure that it punishes Taiwan enough to prevent future visits like Pelosi’s This may include economic action limited military signalling and selective diplomatic action in bilateral and multilateral fora, and aggressive cyber repression In response, Taiwan and the USA are likely to continue building deterrent defense capabilities to deter Chinese aggression The USA may continue to signal its increased presence and commitment to the region through freedom of shipping operations in the Taiwan Strait and South China Sea while keeping lines of communication open to avoid unintended tensions with Beijing China and Russia believe the USA is playing the role of an arrogant player This thinking has emerged in many parts of the world, including China The People’s Republic of China places all responsibility for the violence and destruction in Europe on Washington Russia supports Chinese principles and affirms that Taiwan is a part of China and opposes any form of Taiwan s independence Russia s aggression against Ukraine has shown that the world should take seriously what Presidents Xi Jinping and Valdimir Putin are saying, especially when they speak in their own language Both countries are determined to destroy the US alliance by force whenever it would be possible Xi and Putin means that the US alliance has been formed over their opposition and they will oppose it Statements by top Chinese diplomats should not be dismissed as mere propaganda This is a clear warning to Washington to abandon its strategy in the Indo-Pacific, and Beijing reserves the option of resistance From this point of view Russia s invasion of Ukraine sets an example Beijing has also warned small countries such as Ukraine to stay away from US plots According to Beijing sympathy for Ukraine is good but it is not good to be used as a pawn in Washington s efforts to maintain geopolitical dominance These messages are also being heard in those countries that remain neutral in international politics Russia and China continue to oppose any attempt by foreign powers to undermine security and stability in their respective territories That is why China and Russia also oppose further NATO expansion and have called on the North Atlantic Treaty Organization to abandon Cold War ideological methods China and Russia also oppose the formation of a bloc in the Asia-Pacific region and re-

Ta i w a n : A f l a s h p o i n t o f c o n f l i c t b e t w e e n C h i n a a n d U S COMMENT 05

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main wary of the negative effects of the US Indo-Pacific strategy on peace and stability in the region

The two countries also express deep concern over the trilateral security partnership between Australia the USA and the UK which provides deep cooperation between its members in the areas of strategic stability especially in the nuclear field

Both Beijing and Moscow believe that such measures contradict the security and sustainable development goals of the Asia-Pacific region and it will increase the risk of an arms race in the region which also poses a serious threat to nuclear non-proliferation Opposition to the Biden Administration s new Australia-British-US (AUKUS) initiative has led to violations of non-proliferation treaties This opposition is also echoing in the West

On the other hand, Australia, Korea, Singapore and Taiwan are committed to supporting Ukraine Most Southeast Asian nations have supported NATO Ukraine and the USA The Philippines and Indonesia also voted in favor of condemning Russia but India Pakistan Sri Lanka and Vietnam did not Indo-Pacific countries such as Saudi Arabia, have also not backed coalition efforts against Russia Such neutrality and indifference is a growing problem in international affairs and undermines counter-terrorism efforts There is a growing sense in the West that a new Cold War is going to start but most of the world does not see things that way China is a bigger threat to Asian countries than Russia, but in the absence of a comprehensive US-led diplomatic campaign, Washington cannot support Taiwan in the Taiwan crisis Many analysts believe that if China invades the Democratic Republic of Taiwan, many coun-

tries will remain on the fence Such a campaign by Beijing to tarnish Taiwan s international image could be dangerous as if a dispute erupts, it may signal Taiwan s diplomatic isolation that Taiwan is the only province China will bring back China also has strong economic ties with every country The USA will need to defend Taiwan and it often uses its diplomatic and other tactics to keep it at bay Many countries and US allies do not necessarily agree with all Chinese statements about Taiwan and justify their neutrality US diplomacy should highlight that China is backtracking on its commitment to peace and endangering the stability of law and order in the region while it is committed to maintaining peace under the Taiwan Relations Act Washington needs to make sure that it does not distance itself from countries or regions that oppose China and Russia However the USA has also given China and Russia the opportunity to wield considerable influence in key regions such as the Persian Gulf The lack of a US trade vision for Southeast Asia and the lack of a se-

President Xi is using the war in Russia and Ukraine to forg e a „new era‰ that will either destroy or weaken the US alliance Putin has taught the world that aggressive statements and threats can wreak havoc Washington must also review its strategy and highlight the growing threats posed by Beijing to peace and security in Asia in order to protect thousands of innocent people from the effects of war. It will take time for these two countries to come down from the mountain of arrogance to stand side by side . Though it is difficult to do so but they have to do to protect Asia from war and its consequences

curity system are obstacles to form a bloc But Washington only sees how quickly military aid can be delivered and how quickly the right weapons system can get into the right hands in a crisis Washington does not need to provoke China, but the two states must make promises and work for peace

There are lessons to be learned from Ukraine s failed deterrence efforts It should be noted that the prevention of war in Ukraine has failed The USA has no military ties with Ukraine, so it could not help Ukraine directly except through rhetoric Although the USA has armed Ukraine with disproportionate weapons that could destroy Russia’s major weapons systems it has not been able to stop Putin from going to war On the other hand Taiwan is also under threat from China and a similar approach will not work to stop China because the USA is not militarily engaged with the island The USA must build Taiwan s military so that it can work together as an ally to counter the various threats of repression But that requires careful coalition management, as Washington has been practicing with other potential coalition partners China relies on global markets for everything from technology and energy to food and agriculture major metals minerals and capital In fact China s dependency on the global economy did not stop it from trading with Russia Washington will have to maintain strong ties with all major suppliers in China

In short President Xi is using the war in Russia and Ukraine to forge a “new era” that will either destroy or weaken the US alliance Putin has taught the world that aggressive statements and threats can wreak havoc Washington must also review its strategy and highlight the growing threats posed by Beijing to peace and security in Asia in order to protect thousands of innocent people from the effects of war It will take time for these two countries to come down from the mountain of arrogance to stand side by side Though it is difficult to do so but they have to do to protect Asia from war and its consequences

The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo com

Why the West allowed Japan to get away with the Fukushima water dump

UNHERD t H O m a S Fa z i

LA S T week’s Brics summit was supposed to herald the dawn of a new world order

It would announce the end of the American era and the rise of another this time belonging to developing nations It would even, according to excitable analysts, be remembered as another Bandung Conference, the 1955 meeting that paved the way for a non-aligned movement during the Cold War

And on that front the gathering in Johannesburg succeeded The organisation announced its first expansion since its founding in 2009 Even more significantly, the summit underscored the bloc s inclination to use its increasing economic clout to challenge the Western-dominated global order The combination of these two elements growing economic muscle and political boldness means that the bloc (to be renamed Brics Plus) has become a full-blooded geopolitical actor that can longer be ignored

In demographic and economic terms, the power of the Brics, especially in light of its recent expansion, is all too evident With its new members the bloc will represent almost half of the global population In terms of purchasing power parity (PPP) the most appropriate measure for comparing the relative economic size of countries it already represented nearly one third of global GDP more than the US-led G7 s economies, which account for 30% The latest additions will bring its share up to 37% This gap with the West will only widen considering that emerging and developing countries are predicted to grow at much higher rates in the coming years and that more countries are likely to join More than 40 countries have reportedly expressed interest in joining, and 22 of them have formally asked to be admitted

The importance of this becomes even more apparent if we look at what countries produce rather than just how much they produce Over the past decades Western economies have become increasingly financialised and seen their industrial production stagnate, meaning that a large part of their GDP doesn t represent the production of actual goods but rather of financial assets If we look at actual production manufacturing the gap between the West and the Brics is even starker: the G7 countries as whole contribute to global manufacturing output roughly as much as China does on its own

But the growing power of this new alliance is about much more than just GDP and the production of stuff; it’s also about resources The integration of two of the world’s top oil producers Saudi Arabia and the UAE means that the Brics members will account for more than 40% of global oil production The fact that two of America s staunchest allies in the Persian Gulf have decided to join a China-led (and increasingly politicised) alliance exemplifies better than anything else the paradigm shift underway US

officials can downplay the significance of the event as much as they want, but its symbolic value is clear especially if we consider that the two Gulf countries are joined by Iran one of America’s most notorious arch-enemies For the US however the consequences are likely to be more than just symbolic The move potentially represents a serious threat to the petrodollar system During the Seventies, Saudi Arabia made a deal with the US in which it agreed to list its oil on the global market in dollars; the dollars received by Saudi Arabia for its oil sales the so-called petrodollars would then be recycled back into the US in the form of deposits and purchases of US Treasuries This combined with the fact that any country that wants to buy oil has to purchase dollars to do so, has allowed the US to run a massive trade deficit for decades without seeing the dollar depreciate In recent years however cracks have started to appear in the petrodollar system Not long ago Saudi Arabia announced that it was considering pricing its oil in other currencies first and foremost the Chinese yuan while the UAE has already sold oil to China using the yuan Saudi Arabia and the UAE’s entry into the Brics is therefore likely to provide further momentum to this gradual shift away from the petrodollar system

As a group too the Brics has leaned towards an explicitly pro-de-dollarisation stance Last year, for instance, they announced plans to develop an international currency along the lines of the synthetic alternative proposed by Keynes 70 years ago the bancor At last week’s summit Brazil’s President Lula reaffirmed it as a priority though it is unlikely to happen anytime soon In the meantime the Brics s plan is to encourage the use of local currencies in international trade, as well as increasing the percentage of the bloc s loans financed in local currencies

Equally symbolic, in political more than economic terms is the admission of Ethiopia Not only is Ethiopia Africa s second most populous country after Nigeria; it is also where the headquarters of the African Union are located in the capital Addis Ababa The move here should be read as a message to the entire continent that the Brics is open to any African country that may want to join, as well as an affirmation of the bloc’s commitment to helping developing countries Ethiopia is also one of Africa’s poorest countries In his speech (read by the Chinese commerce minister) Xi Jinping in particular insisted on the role of the Brics as a fundamental vehicle for the development and emancipation of the Global South primarily Africa Not that these countries need much convincing Many African nations have already asked to join the Brics along with several more in the Middle East and Latin America There are strictly economic reasons for this: the bloc s approach to global affairs and development based on the principles of inclusive multilateralism and sovereign equality, and opposition to economic coercion is seen by many nations as a better alternative to the current Western model and as

an opportunity to break away from economic and financial

control

Western

As ever, there are deeper factors at play, too For some the Brics represents a “geopolitical umbrella” ostensibly offering a degree of protection in the face of the West s increasingly aggressive foreign policy epitomised by the Biden administration s dual containment strategy against China and Russia, and the expansion of Nato and Natolike alliances around the world For others, the motivation might be the opposite: they might, as Branko Milanovic suggests view the Brics as “the only place where nations not interested in participating in the new Cold War or even in a possible hot war between the superpowers can runaway in order not to have to choose sides For others still, the motivation is more ideological: it is about explicitly challenging and weakening the West’s 500-year-old grip on global affairs in what may be likened to a new decolonisation movement This is particularly evident in some African countries

On this issue however not everyone in the bloc is on the same page Russia and China, for obvious reasons, favour transforming the group into a full-blooded political organisation speaking up for the Global South, countering US and Western hegemony and spearheading the creation of a more equitable multipolar world order In his speech Xi said that the US has gone out of its way to cripple emerging markets and developing countries; whoever is developing fast becomes its target of containment; whoever is catching up becomes its target of obstruction” South Africa’s Cyril Ramaphosa meanwhile drew a direct parallel between the Johannesburg summit and the Bandung Conference of 1955: The Conference called for the recognition of the equality of all nations, large and small We still share that common vision of a fair and just world ” Isaias Afwerki, the President of Eritrea, one of the many non-member countries invited to the summit was even more scathing: “US exceptionalism or Pax Americana has unleashed malaises that have gravely impaired global progress for almost a century now Illegal and unilateral sanctions; weaponisation of US dominated financial, economic and judicial institutions; as well as other punitive instruments in their toolbox are routinely invoked [by the US and its allies] to punish those who do not toe the line ”

Yet not all members agree with this confrontational approach Modi s India in particular which has very good relations with Washington and the West, including in the security field, is concerned about the Brics’s evolution into an explicitly anti-Western organisation led by China and Russia and favours a more neutral approach non-Western but not anti-Western For the time being however it appears to be losing ground to the latter two whose anti-hegemonic stance enjoys widespread support in the Global South

Thomas Fazi is an UnHerd columnist and translator His latest book is The Covid Consensus co-authored with Toby Green

TE N S I O N S between China and Japan are escalating after Tokyo started dumping radioactive water from the Fukushima Nuclear Plant into the ocean Beijing which insists the water is a hazard to the environment has banned the import of seafood from Japan in response –and although South Korea s rightwing, pro-Japanese government has sidestepped the issue, it has caused public outrage in the country

The United States as well as the pro-Western media back Tokyo s decision and insist that the discharge is safe including through a deliberately misleading narrative that China dumps more nuclear water of its own into the ocean than Japan does, ignoring the facts that 1) there has been no nuclear disaster in China and 2) the isotopes involved are different Despite this the campaign to downplay China s concerns as hypocritical and politically motivated has been coordinated

The Fukushima water-dumping saga nonetheless reveals China’s lasting sensitivities about Japan and in contrast displays how the West is willing to defend Tokyo no matter what How, for one, do you think the media would have reacted if China were responsible for such a disaster?

The response to Covid-19 is a helpful template with Beijing still being accused of a cover up and a lack of transparency over the origins of the pandemic and demands being bandied around that China must pay” for its impact on the rest of the world We can only imagine the concerted political outrage that would follow if Beijing were the one releasing potentially dangerous nuclear wastewater into the ocean These contrasting reactions show us how, in political terms, Japan enjoys great privileges that China does not One is able to get away with murder while the other is condemned for jaywalking (even when it s only allegations)

The Empire of Japan committed grave historical atrocities during its war against, and occupation of, parts of China The best-known of these is the Nanjing Massacre of 1937-1938, when an estimated 200 000-300 000 Chinese were murdered at the hands of the Japanese From China s perspective the Nanjing Massacre was perhaps the single worst act of foreign aggression in modern history, which scarred the country’s public consciousness Worse still is the perception which is also shared in

Korea after its own occupation, that Japan never truly had to atone for its crimes, there was no justice for the aggression and atrocities committed by Tokyo during this era This lack of justice stems from the fact that Japan unlike Nazi Germany, surrendered unilaterally to the US, which took the opportunity to immediately make the state its own strategic vassal in East Asia In doing so the US opted to give Japan a new constitution but keep its leadership and society completely intact for fear of a communist takeover which stood in contrast to the denazifaction of Germany, where former Nazi leaders were put on trial, jailed and executed, with its ideology completely dismantled and outlawed Japan may have suffered from two atomic bombings but it was otherwise rebranded and whitewashed, never having to come to terms with what it did This history sowed great resentment in China

Since that time Japan has remained a highly privileged member of the G7 the primary US partner in Asia and therefore a tool of containment against Beijing Washington has seen the country as key to expanding NATO’s influence inside Asia, and is also keen to marshal South Korea into a trilateral alliance something President Yoon Suk-yeol is perfectly happy to do As a result it is a strategic design of the US that Japan faces no repercussions for the mismanagement of the Fukushima disaster, and the subsequent water dumping, whatsoever For China, this becomes a venting opportunity against Tokyo for its alignment with the US and Beijing s inability to undermine its reputation Thus the water issue has become hyper-politicised China s perspective, however, is dismissed as mere propaganda This is because, as evident from the above, the West does not care about Japan’s historical atrocities in China While the West takes the opportunity every year to remind the world of the Tiananmen Square events of 1989, little to no attention is being paid to the memory of the Nanjing Massacre

This in turn reveals the structural inequalities between how China’s voice and perspective is ignored but Japan is given a comfortable protected status While Japan is admired, China is loathed It goes without question that concerning Fukushima, Beijing would never be allowed to get away with the same things which is also a reminder of how outrage is manufactured selective and politically motivated What China can do may be in any case branded a threat and crime against the entire world, but Japan? Nothing to worry about

DR muHammaD akRam zaHeeR

T h e d a w n o f t h e B r i c s W o r l d O r d e r

P L A H O L D S E X T E N S I V E , N O N S T O P A N T I - S U B M A R I N E D R I L L I N S O U T H C H I N A S E A

BEIJING s tA f f c o r r e s p o n d e n t

THE Chinese People’s Liberation Army (PLA) recently conducted an anti-submarine exercise that stretched for more than 40 hours and featured more than a dozen groups of anti-submarine patrol aircraft in the South China Sea, which is a region experts said is infested with foreign submarine activities that potentially threaten China’s national defense

A naval aviation regiment and a submarine detachment affiliated with the PLA Southern Theater Command recently conducted a long-endurance, non-stop exercise on searching and attacking submarines in the South China Sea the PLA Southern Theater Command said in a press release on Tuesday

During the exercise that examined the crews skills and tactical capabilities Y-8 anti-submarine patrol aircraft carried out searching,

identifying attacking and tracking of submarines under single or multiple known variables, according to the press release

The exercise presented a combat scenario in which the anti-submarine patrol aircraft and submarines confronted each other in a realistic manner By focusing on multiple time periods including small hours and daybreak the crews were able to garner more experience in dealing with hydrological and geographic environments in water at different times of the day, gather combat data, and hone the force’s all-weather aviation anti-submarine warfare capabilities the PLA Southern Theater Command said

Anti-submarine warfare is a very challenging task and such an extensive nonstop search is a common practice to find submarines hidden in the vast sea, Song Zhongping, a Chinese military expert and TV commentator, told the Global Times on Wednesday

The depth of the South China Sea means

that it is suitable for submarine operations, and it has already become infested with submarines from not only countries in the region

like Vietnam, Malaysia and Indonesia, but also countries from outside of the region like the US and Japan Song said

An example exposing intensive submarine activities in the South China Sea is the US Navy s Seawolf-class nuclear-powered attack submarine the USS Connecticut s collision with a seamount in the South China Sea in October 2021 The AUKUS trilateral security pact among the US Australia and the UK is also planning to send more nuclear-powered submarines to the South China Sea and build new ones for Australia in an attempt to militarily contain China

The PLA now has a selection of antisubmarine equipment, including surface vessels anti-submarine patrol aircraft and anti-submarine helicopters giving it multiple means to carry out anti-submarine missions Song said China has become one of the leading countries in anti-submarine technology, and it is important for the country to put its antisubmarine forces through the most challenging training to test and enhance their capabilities Song said

Pak

crush Nepal with convincing 238-run vic tor y in Asia Cup clash

MULTAN Ag e n c e s

World number one batter Babar Azam and Iftikhar

Ahmed scored punishing hundreds as Pakistan annihilated Nepal by 238 runs in the opening game of the Asia Cup in Multan on Wednesday Skipper Azam smashed a 131-ball 151 for his 19th one-day-international (ODI) hundred while Ahmed scored an unbeaten 109 in 71 balls for his first as Pakistan piled up 342-6 in 50 overs

The home team then bundled out Nepal for a mere 104 in 23 4 overs with leg-spinner Shadab Khan taking 4-27 while the pace duo of Haris Rauf took 2-16 and Shaheen Shah Afridi 2-27

Only Sompal Kami (28), Aarif Sheikh (26) and Gulsan Jha (13) made it into double figures as they struggled against Pakistan’s much-vaunted bowling attack

The win gives Pakistan who rose to world number one in the ODI rankings last week an ideal start and tune-up for the high-profile clash against arch-rivals India in Pallekele on Saturday

The Asia Cup is being played on a hybrid model this year with Pakistan hosting four matches and Sri Lanka nine after India refused to tour Pakistan because of political tensions Pakistan India and Nepal are in Group A while title-holders Sri Lanka Bangladesh and Afghanistan are in Group B Sri Lanka and Bangladesh meet in Pallekele on Thursday Nepal, playing in the Asia Cup for the first time, had bowled well to keep the home team down to 124-4 in the 28th over but were clueless in the final overs against the onslaught from Azam and Ahmed

The pair added a robust 214 off 131 balls for the fifth wicket which took Pakistan to a formidable total Azam cracked 14 boundaries and four sixes while Ahmed hit 11 boundaries and four sixes, helping Pakistan to 129 runs in the last 10 overs, including 67 in the final five Azam was dropped on 55 when Karan Chhetri

put down a caught-and-bowled chance, while Nepal s ground fielding also often faltered Pakistan lost opener Fakhar Zaman for 14 in the sixth over while Imamul Haq was run out for five to leave Pakistan tottering at 25-2 Azam added 86 for the third wicket with Moham-

mad Rizwan (44) before Rizwan was also run out Agha Salman fell for five, leaving Azam and Ahmed to mount a rescue operation Ahmed’s previous best ODI score was 94 not out against New Zealand in Karachi this year Fast bowler Kami was the best for Nepal with 2-85

O il rises on US stockpile draw and hurric ane jitters

of U S oil output and about 5% of natural gas production, according to the Energy Information Administration Oil major Chevron Corp (CVX N) evacuated some staff from the region but production was continuing U S oil refin-

Donald Trump accuses President Biden of ‘going mad’ and warns of imminent World War III

NEW YORK Ag e n c e s

Former President Donald Trump who is actively preparing for a potential run in the 2024 US Presidential Election launched a scathing attack on the current President Joe Biden accusing him of incompetence and suggesting that his policies could lead the nation into World War III In a video released today, Trump didn’t mince words as he took aim at Biden’s leadership, labeling him as “dumb,” a “lunatic ” and “incompetent ” Trump’s fiery rhetoric also extended to Biden s policies particularly in the areas of border control and the Department of Justice and FBI s actions Crooked Joe Biden is not only dumb and incompetent, Trump stated, I believe that he has gone mad – a stark raving lunatic –with his horrible country-threatening environmental open borders and DOJ FBI weaponization policies He is a mental catastrophe that is leading our country to hell that will end up in World War III because of this man and for no reason whatsoever

ers meanwhile are expected to register a 119 000 barrel per day (bpd) drop in refining capacity in the week ending Sept 1 compared with a week earlier, research company IIR Energy said on Wednesday Elsewhere analysts expect Saudi Arabia the world s biggest oil exporter to extend its voluntary output cut into October, keeping oil supply tight Based on that expectation refining sources surveyed by Reuters forecast that Saudi Arabia s official selling prices

n e x p o r t e d a m o n t h l y a v e r a g e o f 1 6 0 0 0 0 b a r r e l s p e r d a y t o A s i a f r o m M a y t o July, Kpler ship-tracking data showed Oil’s gains were capped however by concerns over fuel demand and the mixed economic situation in China the world s biggest oil importer

BEIJING

s tA f f c o r r e s p o n d e n t

Economic and trade cooperation is the foundation for the sound and steady development of China-UK relations, Chinese Vice President Han Zheng said on Wednesday Han made the remarks when meeting with James Cleverly the Secretary of State for Foreign Commonwealth and Development Affairs of the United Kingdom in Beijing Han said China and the UK have established diplomatic relations at the ambassadorial level for more than half a century and achieved positive results in practical cooperation in various fields

Faced with the risks and challenges of the current international situation the two sides as permanent members of the UN Security Council and major economies in the world, should uphold the spirit of mutual respect and win-win cooperation, accommodate each other ’s core interests and major concerns maintain communication in international and regional affairs and jointly promote world peace and development he added Han said the two governments should create a sound business environment and actively explore new growth points for practical cooperation Noting that China

is an important country with global influence and is playing an increasingly important role in international governance, Cleverly said the UK appreciates China’s important contribution to the world economy and poverty reduction

The UK is willing to strengthen highlevel exchanges and strategic communication with China to build consensus and deepen cooperation, said Cleverly

The UK government has also sent w i t h i t

Chinese delegation from Institute of South Asian Studies at Sichuan Universit y visit NIMA

A Chinese delegation from Institute of South Asian Studies (ISAS) Sichuan University China visited National Institute of Maritime Affairs (NIMA) Islamabad on 28 August 2023, with the objective to exchange views about on-going research activities and future avenues for collaboration The delegation comprised Associate Professor Dr Zeng Xiangyu Lecturer Gao Ling along with their two postgraduate students including He Xiangyi and Li Jialun Meeting session was co-chaired by Cdre (Retd) Baber Bilal Haider, Deputy Director General NIMA and Dr Zeng Xiangyu Insightful discussions were held on issues of mutual interest and decided to enhance bilateral cooperation between NIMA and ISAS through a formal MoU

23rd ITCN Asia begins today

KARACHI: The 23rd edition of ITCN Asia, the flagship event of the IT and telecom sector, will be held from August 31 to September 02 in Karachi at the Expo Center Caretaker Federal Minister Dr Umer Saif will be the chief guest Tech Destination Pakistan will be the title partner of this event for the first time Google, P@SHA, and UNIFONIC are also leading partners Over 450 organizations are participating in the event, including 100 foreign delegates from eight countries: China Singapore Azerbaijan UAE KSA USA etc For the first time the mobile phone companies are participating under a separate Telecom Pavilion promoting Made-in-Pakistan mobile devices The CIO Global Forum will also organize its exclusive event in Pakistan The event will host more than 400 booths showcasing global brands Companies such as Special Communications Organization InoTech Solutions Systems Limited Abacus Consulting Transworld UNIFONIC S I Global Solutions etc are participating in the event The event is supported by the Ministry of IT & Telecom, the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) and Pakistan IT Industry Association (P@SHA) Various conferences will take place on Cybersecurity E-commerce Fintech Agile Digital Education Gaming etc ; it is expected that more than 35,000 trade visitors will be attending the event during the three days Umair Nizam P R

Breakthrough in Brucellosis Research: Promising vaccine developed for cattle, buffaloes

PA K I S TA N C E L E B R AT E S R E M A R K A B L E

R I U M P H I N H U AW E I I C T C O M P E T I T I O N 2 0 2 3

ISLAMABAD

G h u l a m a b b a s

THE culmination of an inspiring journey, the Huawei ICT Competition 2022-23, orchestrated in partnership with the Government of Pakistan reached a crescendo at the prestigious Aiwan-eSadar This event marked a significant celebration of the triumph of Pakistani teams, whose exceptional achievements shone brightly in the regional competitions The event was a testament to the unwavering commitment to excellence in the field of information and communication technology

Distinguished by their remarkable performance, Pakistani students secured the second and third prizes in the Network Track, as well as the third prize in the Innovation Track at the Huawei ICT Competition 2022-2023 Global Final held at the illustrious Huawei Headquarters in Shenzhen China This Global Final marked a momentous occasion as the first in-person event since 2019 The competitive landscape encompassed 146 teams from 36 nations,

all vying for supremacy The lead-up to the grand finale was characterized by the participation of more than 120 000 students from over 2000 universities across 74 countries and regions globally in the ICT Competition

The esteemed presence of the Honourable President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan, Dr Arif Alvi, graced the closing ceremony as the Chief Guest His presence underscored the significance of the achievements of Pakistan s brightest young minds Earning laurels on the global stage, Pakistani students Muhammad Faeez Ali and Asad Anwer from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro along with Maryam Fareed from Lahore College for Women University secured the second prize certificate in the Network Track a testament to their relentless dedication and exemplary skills Dr Arif Alvi acknowledged the robust friendship between Pakistan and China emphasizing the pivotal role of Huawei in fostering growth and nurturing talent He lauded the consistent excellence displayed by Pakistani students, un-

derscoring their contribution to the nation’s pride Dr Alvi also recognized the symbiotic relationship between industry and academia which forms the cornerstone of future progress in the realms of Digital Transformation and Artificial Intelligence

Mr Shunli Wang, Vice President of Huawei Middle East & Central Asia, lauded Pakistan’s achievements highlighting the government’s vision and determination in fostering ICT talent and innovation He extended his gratitude to the President, Ministry of IT and Telecommunication, and Higher Education Commission for their unwavering support, underscoring their pivotal role in motivating and inspiring generations to come

The Huawei ICT Competition is an integral part of Huawei s commitment to nurturing a robust ICT talent ecosystem

Alongside the Huawei ICT Academy, the Innovation Competition, Seeds for the Future program and joint university labs this initiative equips young minds with advanced skills necessary for leading digital transformation efforts This commitment resonates with the ongoing ef-

OGDCL achieves significant production enhancement at siab-1 well in Kohat

ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e P o R t

The Oil & Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Wednesday announced a remarkable achievement in its pursuit of production optimization initiatives The company has achieved an impressive enhancement in production at the Siab-1 well, situated within the Baratai Block in the Kohat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province

Siab-1 a collaborative effort under a joint venture where OGDCL operates with a substantial 97 5% share in partnership with the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Oil & Gas Company Limited (KPOGCL) holding the remaining 2 5% share has showcased the potential of Pakistan's energy sector

Since its inception on January 13 2022 the Siab-1 well has consistently demonstrated its capability by achieving remarkable flow rates Initially recording 125 barrels per day (BPD) of condensate and 6 2 million standard cubic feet per day (MMSCFD) of gas at a well head flowing pressure (WHFP) of 1700 PSI from the Lockhart formation, Siab-1 has

now exceeded all expectations

Through the strategic and successful implementation of a rigless intervention within the Lockhart formation OGDCL has unlocked a new era of hydrocarbon production This intervention has led to an astounding increase in output, with the well now producing an additional 265 BPD of oil and an impressive 14 3 MMSCFD of gas at a WHFP of 4300 PSI The enhanced production at Siab-1 officially started on August 28, 2023

Since then, the well has consistently delivered exceptional results contributing to a cumulative production of 20 5 MMSCFD of gas and 390 BPD of oil

It is noteworthy that this substantial increase in gas production is injected into the SNGPL network, contributing significantly to the country's energy resources This achievement is a testament to OGDCL s commitment to innovation and excellence in the field of oil and gas exploration and production

IMC continues investment in Pakistan

challenges

used car imports are more than the production of some OEMs (Original Equipment Manufacturers)

Chief Executive Indus Motor Company Ali Asghar Jamali has said that despite registering a 55% reduction in production they have not gone for any layoffs yet

The automobile sector of the country faces major challenges including weak demand rapid price escalation expensive auto financing higher taxes and deteriorating macros said Mr Jamali

He added that despite uncertainty regarding supply-side recovery, they have not opted for any layoffs which shows their commitment to the country and the wellbeing of their employees

He shared that IMC faced a 58% decline in its volumetric sales from January to June 2023 alone

Jamali said that the local auto industry has been facing the issue of LCs for quite some time making it difficult for the industry to meet its production targets which in turn is badly affecting sales

Besides, he added, the import of used cars is gaining momentum, severely impacting the already affected local auto industry as total

He added that more than six thousand used cars were imported in the financial year 2022-23 with more than 1 800 units being imported only in May and June this year

In the presence of minimum foreign exchange reserves held by SBP, the government should refrain from permitting the policy of importing of used cars and instead support the local auto industry which is producing cars locally said Mr Jamali

He added that the industrial growth of the auto industry is essentially linked with a properly designed planned import policy and the growth of the local auto industry can never be achieved if import of used cars is freely allowed by the government

This issue of used car imports is also nullifying the plausible localization achieved by the local auto industry in terms of parts and also future localization plans ” he shared Jamali said that Pakistan is one the worst victims of climate change and needs strategic measures on every front to address these

According to Global Carbon Budget 2022, annual CO2 emissions in Pakistan stood at 229 51 million tons in 2021, which was 9 percent higher than 210 38 million tons in 2020

HEVs are the most sustainable solution to the country s economic problems, as it would help achieve macroeconomic goals, employment generation, exports boost and imports reduction as well ” he opined

He said that HEVs are the most logical option to reduce carbon dioxide emission in fossil fuel reliant countries like Pakistan and India, which have 62% and 75% share of fossil fuel in their energy mix respectively Toyota has made an investment of $100 million to produce HEV vehicles in Pakistan and Toyota Cross, Pakistan s first locally manufactured HEV SUV is to be launched soon,” he highlighted

He said that the adoption of hybrid technology will also result in the reduction of import bill as 30 thousand units of HEVs will save around $37 million per annum

forts and successes in Pakistan, providing numerous avenues for the youth to excel Dr Umar Saif Federal Minister of IT & Telecom echoed the sentiments of pride acknowledging the invaluable contributions of Pakistani students He emphasized that Digital Transformation and AI are pivotal components of Pakistan s vision for the future, applauding Huawei’s role in shaping this trajectory

As the festivities unfolded Asad Anwar a triumphant member of the winning team from Mehran University of Engineering and Technology, Jamshoro, expressed his gratitude for the direct linkages created by Huawei’s Talent Ecosystem program This program has not only honed their skills but also enabled them to represent their beloved country on the global stage

The Huawei ICT Competition 202223 stands as a testament to Pakistan s burgeoning talent, solidifying its position as a global contender in the realms of networking and innovation With the collective efforts of academia industry and government the nation propels itself forward into an era of boundless technological prowess and unbridled success

Power utilities have no role in setting prices: KE

KARACHI P R

K-Electric spokesperson reiterated that the company understands the prevailing concerns regarding the rising electricity prices and shed light on the fact that power distribution companies operate in a regulated environment in the country and that electricity rates and applicable taxes are determined by NEPRA and the honourable Government of Pakistan As such any stipulated changes will be applicable across the board on all DISCOs (Distribution Companies), including K-Electric Further, he mentioned that KE s profitability or loss is not linked with an increase or decrease in electricity prices or taxes and in fact the former is associated with investments and an improvement in performance The spokesperson also emphasized that timely payment of bills is essential in ensuring an uninterrupted supply of electricity while power theft illegal connections and non-payment collectively become a hindrance, thus adversely affecting supply KE staff is working tirelessly to overcome the issue of power theft; however, they are being met by hostility in some areas and are prevented from fulfilling their duties which may affect essential services which KE confirms to The company has therefore requested concerned government departments for ensuring the well being and safety of its staff so that electricity services are not affected where they may potentially be vulnerable to harassment of any kind KE values its people and will not accept violence against them KE continues to support and encourage all customers and area representatives who are creating a positive difference in the society through their persevering efforts in curbing power theft and ensuring that fellow citizens are facilitated when it comes to the provision of electric supply

Teenage girl abducted from Murree, raped for 10 days

ISLAMABAD

I N P

A teenage girl was kidnapped from mountainous area of Murree, Phagwari police station jurisdiction and allegedly raped for 10 days Addressing a press conference in National Press Club (NPC) Islamabad on Wednesday, 17-year-old Mah Noor Arshad stated that she was in contact with key accused Hamad Irshad who telephoned her on morning of August 14 to meet her Mah Noor said that when she reached the scene accused Hamad along with his friends Junaid and Zubair abducted her and took to a rented house in Shakryal area of Rawalpindi The victim girl further stated the Hamad raped her for 10 consecutive days and later handed her over to his friend Zubair who also attempted to rape her but she resisted foiling the attempt She appealed the Chief Justice of Pakistan Punjab Chief Minister Mohsin Naqvi IG Punjab Dr Osman Anwer to take notice of the incident, providing her justice by bringing culprits to court of justice

In a significant stride towards combatting brucellosis, Dr Saeed-ul-Hassan Khan from the Department of Zoology, Quaid-i-Azam University, and his dedicated research team have achieved a breakthrough Supported by a grant from the Pakistan Science Foundation their pioneering work has led to the development of a novel vaccine targeting brucellosis in cattle and buffaloes Rigorous trials involving mice and cattle have yielded promising outcomes, showcasing the new vaccine's superiority over the conventional S19 vaccine This remarkable achievement marks a turning point in the battle against brucellosis The vaccine exhibits tremendous potential as a live vaccine candidate for local cattle and buffalo populations As we anticipate further advancements and approvals, this breakthrough brings hope for effectively curbing the spread of brucellosis in both livestock and humans Brucellosis a significant bacterial infection affecting cattle buffaloes and various livestock species has garnered global concern due to its widespread occurrence and potential human transmission In several countries, including Pakistan, the prevalence of this disease is on the rise, impacting both animal and human populations P R

Standard Char tered launches a comprehensive digital-banking solution

practices in partnership with local service providers under the digital drive of the State Bank of Pakistan With this digital innovation the Bank strives to deliver an end-to-end, scalable digital experience The all-encompassing Digital Banking Suite is designed to empower clients with seamless and secure access to banking services from any-

where at any time It also includes the digital onboarding journey where clients can open bank accounts and complete transactions within minutes Rehan Shaikh, Chief Executive Standard Chartered addressing the media stated, “I am delighted to celebrate an important milestone today in our transformation journey as we integrate cutting edge technology innovation global expertise and learnings into our digital offerings to empower customers with seamless access to their finances, offering real-time insights, personalized services, and convenient transactions By embracing technology we endeavor to revolutionise the customer experience making financial management more intuitive and enabling individuals to achieve their goals with greater ease Our SC Mobile App is prepared to break barriers and set new benchmarks for in-

novation in financial services This is an important step in our aspiration to help lift participation and drive financial inclusion across Pakistan The role of the State Bank of Pakistan has been instrumental in pushing the frontiers in the digital space by fueling innovation to advance an integrated digital banking ecosystem Going forward we will continue to invest in our People Technology and Infrastructure to go even further and faster in achieving our ambitions of offering complete client-centric banking solutions Saadya Riaz, Head, CPBB, Standard Chartered added “Standard Chartered recognises that technology-driven enablement and partnerships can facilitate the resolution of challenges faced by our clients in various sectors and accelerate economic growth for different market segments Through enhancement in dig-

ital capabilities the Bank is committed to working with the Central Bank local and financial technology players to innovate and develop especially curated products for multiple segments Existing and potential clients now have access to banking facilities with a tap through our SC mobile App We are truly grateful for the patronage of our clients who are the driving force to keep us motivated persuading us to challenge ourselves as we continue to grow and break barriers With this launch, Standard Chartered Bank Pakistan once again combines its international expertise in digital banking with its local knowledge to bring forth a unique offering in the digital banking and financial landscape Building on this shift the Bank intends to enhance client experience and cater to an even larger client base with flexibility, convenience and security at their fingertips

Mr Xu Zhaoqun, Director, CGTN visited China-Pakistan Study Centre Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad along with Mr Danial Khan, Correspondent CGTN in Pakistan

M O R E T H A N 1 2 0 L I F E - S AV I N G M E D I C I N E S

VA N I S H F R O M L A H O R E P H A R M A C I E S

PR OFIT

a R e e b a fat m a

MORE than 120 life-saving medicines are currently unavailable in pharmacies all across Lahore The shortage of crucial drugs in the provincial capital has patients and their families running from pillar to post in search of the medicines

The missing drugs include in particular

Glucophage which is a fundamental medication for diabetes patients The only alternatives are also facing supply issues Other essential blood-thinning medications for cardiac patients and Hepa-Merz, which is commonly used to treat liver diseases like jaundice hepatitis and hepatic cirrhosis are also short in supply Medicines for treating diarrhea and stomach aches are either entirely out of stock or in short supply Furthermore, there is a severe shortage of the life-saving insulin known as Novomix

What is most concerning about this shortage is that it has recently become a distressingly common occurrence Pharmaceutical companies argue that the escalating inflation and manufacturing costs have hin-

dered their ability to procure these medicines promptly In contrast, DRAP attributes the underlying cause of these medicine shortages in the market to hoarding and profiteering by pharmaceutical companies

LAHORE S SUPPLY AND DEMAND PROBLEM

Dr Alia Haider a healthcare professional at Lahore General Hospital, said that Lahore was already a high-risk area for medicine shortages because the city has a very serious water contamination problem which requires more than the usual supply of medicines required to treat hepatitis diarrhea and gastrointestinal diseases

She emphasized that this ongoing problem of water contamination in certain areas of Lahore has been consistently overlooked As a result there has been a notable increase in the number of patients suffering from these disorders The scarcity of available medicines to treat these conditions only exacerbates the already dire situation Dr Haider s insights highlight the urgent need for attention to water quality and infrastructure improvements to ensure the health and well-being of the local population Dr Haider also said “When pharmacies

in government hospitals are provided with life-saving medication in bulk, they only use 20% of the stock on real patients coming to these hospitals almost 80% of this stock is sold in the black market leading to a severe shortage of life-saving equipment in government hospitals and also leading to a rise in the market price of these products

INSIDE THE MEDICINE

BLACK-MARKET

In November 2022, the anti-corruption unit in Punjab took action by registering a case concerning the suspected embezzlement of Rs 80 crores during the procurement of medicines and surgical equipment at Lahore s Mayo Hospital This serious matter led to accusations against twelve doctors and hospital officials, all stemming from a complaint lodged by a pharmacist

The complaint provided detailed insights into the situation revealing that the Finance department of Punjab had allocated a substantial budget of Rs 130 crores for the procurement of an extensive range of items, which included critical life-saving drugs and essential surgical disposables Astonishingly, out of the 6000 items earmarked for procurement the hospital had only initiated a tender

process for a mere 21 of them

This revelation underscores the importance of transparency and accountability in the allocation and utilization of public funds for healthcare Such incidents not only raise concerns about financial mismanagement but also potentially jeopardize the provision of essential medical supplies and services to those in need

Health experts and medical practitioners have raised concerns that this appears to be a stage of hoarding that occurs just before these drugs are released into the market at inflated prices When essential life-saving medications vanish from the market, it triggers a surge in demand for these products Subsequently, after a period of hoarding pharmaceutical companies may reintroduce these products into the black market but this time at significantly elevated prices

This unfortunate situation leaves patients with no choice but to purchase these overpriced yet vital products AS THINGS STAND IN LAHORE

The news regarding Lahore came to light on August 28 2023 The very next day the Medical Device Board (MDB) of DRAP published the minutes of its 59th meeting which took place on August 8 2023 During this meeting, a list of 186 pharmaceutical products was denied permission for import, with various degrees of insufficient disclosures cited as the reasons behind these refusals

The insulin shortage in Pakistan is an extremely pressing and alarming issue A

g N E P R A o f f i c i a l s a i d S a h i w a l c o a l p l a n t s h a d i m p o r t e d c o a l w h e n p r i c e s w e r e a s h i g h a s $ 4 0 0 p e r t o n

ISLAMABAD a h m a d a h m a da n i

As protests continue over inflated electricity bills attributed to the higher cost of power, consumers should get ready for another increase of Rs 1 58 per unit in electricity rates on account of fuel adjustment for month of July 2023

On behalf of power distribution companies (DISCOs), the central power purchasing agency (CPPA) earlier requested an increase of Rs 2 06 per unit that was revised to Rs 1 579 per unit

NEPRA on Wednesday conducted a public hearing regarding FCA of July 2023 for DISCOs except K-Electric

During the hearing it was revealed that the Sahiwal coal plant had been claiming Rs 27 per unit, while NEPRA had set its tariff at Rs 16 per unit

The CPPA-G officials informed that the management of Sahiwal coal power

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Special Court established to hear cases filed under Official Secrets Act on Wednesday sent PTI Vice-Chairman Shah Mahmood Qureshi on 14-day judicial remand to Adiala Jail in the cypher case The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested the former foreign minister earlier this month in connection with a case registered on August 15 under the Official Secrets Act 1923 against former premier Imran Khan and Qureshi

The FIR alleged that Imran, Qureshi and their other associates were involved in the communication of information contained in a secret classified document (cypher telegram received from Parep Washington dated March 7 2022 to the

plant had imported coal at rate of $400 per ton but it was never used because of possible violation of merit order

Power regulator officials said that prices of coal had come down to $100 per ton

The government officials suggested to allow weighted average cost of coal so that the plant could be operated to generate cheaper electricity

The power regulator regretted that cheaper option of electricity generation was not being utilized whereas the expensive electricity was being generated to burden the consumers Further scrutiny revealed that two coal-based power plants had a generation capacity of 3900 MW yet the dispatches were only 2200 MW indicating a significant shortfall NEPRA emphasized that the system could indeed generate cheaper electricity, as originally envisioned, with coal priced at Rs 16 as the base tariff The regulatory authority has reserved its judg-

Secretary Ministry of Foreign Affairs) to unauthorised persons by twisting facts to achieve their ulterior motives and personal gains in a manner prejudicial to the interests of state security”

The case was registered after an American news outlet The Intercept recently published what was claimed to be the contents of the diplomatic cable that had reportedly gone missing from Imran’s possession Imran had persistently claimed he was ousted from office last year under a “US conspiracy” The PTI alleges that cypher contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran from power Imran had since walked back on that narrative The FIA was initially investigating Imran for revealing the contents of a confidential diplomatic cable and keep-

‘Arrests no less than drama’: LHC summons DG NAB to explain Per vaiz Elahi’s rearrest today

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Lahore High Court Justice Muhammad Amjad

Rafiq on Wednesday expressed his ire over the arrest of PTI President Ch Pervaiz Elahi, saying these arrests one after the other of politicians are no less than a “drama” and summoned the National Accountability Bureau DG on Thursday (today) to explain arrest of the ex-Punjab CM

How was an inquiry initiated during the night and why was Pervaiz Elahi arrested A detention order was issued and two new FIRs were lodged but why was the court not intimated about these cases when asked about all disclosed undisclosed and blind inquiries and investigations remarked Justice Rafiq Justice Muhammad Amjad Rafiq was hearing a petition filed by PTI President Ch Pervaiz Elahi challenging his arrest by the top graft watchdog The court expressed displeasure over the repeated issuance of detention orders and multiple FIRs often despite court orders to the contrary in seemingly politically motivated cases

The court summoned the NAB DG in person at the next hearing tomorrow and directed the anti-graft bureau s prosecutor to submit a comprehensive report Additional Advocate General of Pakistan

Ghulam Sarwar Nihung appeared before the court on behalf of the federal agency

ment on these matters, as stakeholders navigate the intricate web of challenges within the electricity sector NEPRA official said that the Sahiwal coal based plants had imported coal when prices were high at $400 per ton CPPA-G officials said that Sahiwal coal plant was bound to maintain inventory of 90 days but it had maintained 45day inventory when it imported coal at $400 per ton The power plant can not use the inventory due to higher prices and only solution was that price should be set in weighted average format to clear the inventory The power regulator also raised issue of violation of economic merit

The issue of low demand of electricity by DISCOs was also raised that resulted in higher capacity payments The power regulator also noted that DISCOs were not presenting accurate demand of electricity and sought a report from the DISCOs regarding im-

ing it in his possession However after former principal secretary Azam Khan disclosed that the cypher went missing from Imran’s custody, the investigation agency also started looking into this aspect After Qureshi’s arrest on Aug 19 a local magistrate in Islamabad had remanded the PTI leader in FIA custody for a day Later a special court had again handed him to the agency twice and had declared the proceedings as in-camera

On Saturday, a six-member FIA team grilled the PTI chief in Attock Jail where he has been incarcerated following conviction in the Toshakhana case for over an hour

Earlier on Wednesday, Special Court Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain presided over Imran’s in-camera hearing, which was held at the district jail in Attock

provement in performance within 15 days The authority will hold a hearing after three weeks to assess the performance of the DISCOs while on Wednesday NEPRA only heard the stakeholders, did not take any decision

The authority will issue its detailed decision after further scrutiny of the data, NEPRA said During the course of hearing NEPRA officials also raised issues of delay in the laying of transmission lines by NTDC that also caused failure in evacuating the electricity

It was noted that consumers had paid investment cost for stabilizing the grid, while the country was facing issues since 2017 as there was not stability in the grid NEPRA also sought report regarding the investment made for grid stability but so far no work was done in this regard Power regulator also raised question of falling down 138 towers of NTDC during the last five years

After the hearing Judge Abual Hasnat Zulqarnain returned back to Islamabad, where he presided over Qureshi s in-camera hearing

In the afternoon upon the completion of his two-day physical remand the PTI vice-chairman was presented before the special court amid high security Special prosecutors Zulfiqar Naqvi and Shah Khawar appeared before the court while Qureshi’s legal team comprising Advocate Babar Awan, Shoaib Shaheen and Umair Naizi was present as well During the hearing prosecutor Naqvi urged the court to grant the FIA further physical remand of the PTI leader, which the court rejected and instead, sent the PTI vice chairman back to the Adiala jail on a 14-day judicial remand

2022 study revealed that a staggering 26 7% of adults in Pakistan suffer from diabetes, making it the country with the highest number of diabetic patients worldwide

On August 26 2023 reports emerged that insulin valued at Rs 10 lakh had been stolen from Lahore s government-run Said Mitha Teaching Hospital Dr Kashif the Medical Superintendent, informed the media that insulin for diabetic patients had been stolen from the hospital and transported in rickshaws In response, a police operation was launched resulting in the apprehension of the driver An official inquiry into the matter was initiated

However as the police s post-arrest photographs were being taken, the entire stock, worth 10 lakh rupees, was left exposed to direct sunlight Insulin necessitates storage within a specific temperature range of 2 to 6 degrees Celsius while the temperature that day soared between 36 to 38 degrees Celsius

This unfortunate incident epitomizes the frequently occurring crisis of medicine shortages and artificially created price hikes DRAP has initiated a helpline at drugshortage@dra gov pk and a mobile application called ‘Drug Shortage Reporting’ on Play Store Through public input DRAP aims to maintain a database regarding drug shortages in markets across the country But in a country where over 90 million people can not read or write and 15% of the population still lacks access to any mobile or telecom services, this kind of band-aid problem solving will lead the country nowhere

The frequent disappearance of essential medicines from the market and the transfer of the stockpile to the black market is a result of a confluence of negligence on the part of the government

Battle preparedness of army personnel commendable: COAS

RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t

Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Syed Asim Munir has commended the battle preparedness of Pakistan army personnel Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) said According to the military s media wing the Army Chief on Wednesday visited Tilla Field Firing Ranges, near Jhelum and witnessed Field Fire and Battle Drills COAS General Asim Munir was briefed on training objectives, set for the exercise with a view to validate operational readiness of the formation in the challenging environment Army Chief appreciated the synergy displayed by Air Force Army Aviation and ground troops in the execution of various operational drills He lauded the troops for their combat proficiency and offensive spirit He also appreciated the high morale and battle worthiness of the troops Earlier on arrival, the COAS was received by Lieutenant General Syed Aamer Raza Commander Four Corps

FM Jilani, Iranian envoy discuss bilateral ties

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and Ambassador of Iran to Pakistan Dr Reza Amiri Moghaddam, on Wednesday, reviewed the bilateral relations between the two countries The Iranian ambassador called on the foreign minister Foreign Office Spokesperson posted on X During the meeting they agreed to maintain positive momentum in the bilateral dialogue and exchanges and to further strengthen PakIran cooperation in trade investment energy security and regional connectivity

g D i s c u s s e s w i t h F M J i l a n i U S - Pa k i s t a n p a r t n e r s h i p, e c o n o m i c s t a b i l i t y, c o n t i n u e d e n g a g e m e n t w i t h I M F

WASHINGTON/ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Senior US diplomat Victoria Nuland spoke on Tuesday with Pakistani Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani and discussed the importance of “timely free and fair elections” in the South Asian nation the US State Department said

Acting Deputy Secretary Nuland and Foreign Minister Jilani discussed the importance of timely, free and fair elections in a manner consistent with Pakistan’s laws and constitution,” the US State Department said in a statement

According to a statement issued by the US State Department today Nuland congratulated FM Jilani on his appointment

They discussed broadening and deepening the US-Pakistan partnership on issues of mutual concern, including Pakistan’s economic stability prosperity and continued engagement with the IMF (International Monetary Fund) it said

The talks focused on Pakistan s eco-

nomic stability, prosperity, and its continued engagement with the IMF ” the department s spokesperson Matthew Miller stated The leaders discussed the importance of timely free and fair elections in a manner consistent with Pakistan s laws and constitution, he added Separately, in a post on social media platform X (erstwhile Twitter) Nuland said: “Appreciated our call today on our

shared commitment to our bilateral relationship and Pakistan’s economic stability security and prosperity The foreign minister is expected to accompany the interim prime minister to the 78th UNGA in New York next month The Pakistani delegation, which will also include Shamshad, is hoping to have a series of meetings with US officials during their stay in New York At the same United States (US) Ambassa-

dor in Pakistan Donald Blome on Wednesday expressed his optimism the general elections in Pakistan would be held according to the timeframe given in the Constitution It is hoped that elections will be fair and transparent and in accordance with the law ” he said “It is hoped that the people of Pakistan will elect their future leadership through elections he added Pakistani politics has been in a crisis for over a year, with former Prime Minister and PTI chief – who was ousted in a parliamentary vote of no confidence last year – being at the center of it A Pakistani high court on Tuesday suspended the jailed former prime minister s sentence on corruption charges but he will remain behind bars as a judge had already ordered his detention in another case The conviction of PTI chief, who remains Pakistan s most popular leader according to opinion polls, has also barred him from contesting elections for five years Pakistan swore in a caretaker cabin e t u n d e r i n t e r i m P r i m e M i n i s t e r A nw a a r u l H a q K a k a r i n m i d - A u g u s t tasking it with running the country until fresh elections, which may be delayed b e y o n d N o v e m b e r a s c o n s t i t u e n c y boundaries are redrawn