Epaper_23-09-08 KHI

O V T B R I N G S D O W N

TH E R E is no such thing as a quick fix when it comes to the economy of a country Yet in the very small mandate it is supposed to have the country’s current caretaker government showing it was going to try and trudge through the chaos that is Pakistan s broken economy

So what is happening? There is a lot to unpack from Thursday Perhaps most notably the rupee found a leg to stand on rising in the interbank market rising Rs2 04 against the dollar to come to 304 94 from yesterday’s close of 306 98 Perhaps more importantly according to the Forex Association of Pakistan (FAP), the dollar was selling for Rs307 in the open market down by Rs5 from the previous day’s Rs312

The bridging of the gap between the interbank and open market rates comes after the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) on Wednesday decided to introduce

structural reforms in the exchange companies’ (ECs) sector Prime Minister Kakar told a delegation of businessmen that the government was reforming the tax system through digitisation and underscored the need to boost tax collection for economic development On the same day the State Bank of Pakistan also stepped up supervision of the foreign exchange market ordering banks to set up separate entities to conduct forex transactions and extending a clampdown on hard-currency hoarders and smugglers

On the SBP front many brokerage houses said they were expecting the SBP to hike the key policy rate by 150 basis points (bps) in its upcoming Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting on September 14 as it looks to tame runaway inflation in the country

At the same time it must very much be remembered that the caretaker government has a helping hand from the Pakistan army The SBP s decision to crack down on money exchanges came

Clashes between border forces: Torkham crossing remains closed for 2nd day

The Torkham border crossing between Pakistan and Afghanistan remained closed for the second day on Thursday, leading to a build-up of trucks laden with goods, after clashes between security forces from the two countries

The busy border crossing had been closed on Wednesday after Pakistani and Afghan Taliban forces started firing at each other according to local officials

Officials in Pakistan had blamed the other side for starting the midday firefight, which lasted for around two hours and came after the Afghan authorities started building a checkpoint on their side in a prohibited area, close to the main border crossing

The officials said the Afghan authorities already had a checkpoint in the vicinity commonly known as the Larram Post but they started building another post over a small hill without discussing it with the Pakistani side

They said border security officials had also held a meeting minutes before the crossfire began However, it could not be ascertained what the meeting’s agenda was and what prompted both countries border forces to open fire

Apart from the FC official a Customs clearing agent had also been critically injured when he was hit by a speeding vehicle pulling back to safety after the firing started Abdul Basir Zabuli, a spokesman for the Taliban-led police in Afghanistan’s eastern Nangarhar province, where the crossing lies said today that authorities from both countries were trying to determine the reason for the clash

F L O W O F T R A D E D I S R U P T E D: The Torkham border point is the main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan

Ziaul Haq Sarhadi, director of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry, said hundreds of trucks laden with fruit vegetables and other goods were stuck due to the closure “The traders are suffering heavy losses after the border in Torkham was closed on Wednesday following a firing incident there he told Reuters The entire flow of trade had been affected and the loading of goods in the southern port of Karachi had been disrupted Disputes linked to the 2,600-kilometre border have been a bone of contention between the neighbours for decades

BLAME GAME: Jamshed Khan a Customs agent at Torkham had told Dawn on Wednesday that everyone near the Torkham border crossing immediately vacated their workplaces and ran for cover when the firing started

He said that it was not clear which side initiated the firing

“First, we heard the sound of firing from small weapons and then heavy weapons were also used from both sides ” he said adding that the incident caused panic among clearing agents transporters and ordinary people with drivers of loaded and empty vehicles trying to flee the troubled spot Sabir Khan, a resident of the Bacha Maina residential compound near the border, had told Dawn that people had sent their families to safer locations in Landi Kotal when some projectiles fired from the Afghan side landed inside some homes He said the projectiles left minor marks on some houses but no one was injured

Law yers to obser ve strike across Pakistan on September 14

ISLAMABAD

only a few days after Chief of Army Staff General Asim Munir in a slew of meetings with leading businesspersons assured them that there would be transparency in the rates of foreign exchange in due time

On Thursday the 259th Corps Commanders’ Conference at the General Headquarters (GHQ) in Rawalpindi resolved to wholeheartedly assist the government in curbing all illegal activities that hamper economic growth stability and investor confidence With the military already actively involved due to its presence in the Special Investment Facilitation Council it is quickly becoming clear that the economy is now being very carefully managed The good news in this is that there is now a clear direction in which the economy is being managed Backed by the military leadership the caretakers have decided to increase OMC margins which will increase the price of petrol as well Normally governments wait for the OMCs to threaten a strike until giv-

‘ I C E - M E LT I N G’

ing them a small increase in margins

The government is also set to increase gas prices despite rising inflation

During the PDM coalition government Ishaq Dar s blundering and the threat of default left the economy in tatters Decision making was slow, indecisive, and put Pakistan in a position where there was no clarity as to the future Perhaps because the caretakers do not have the worry of re-election in mind they are not concerned about making these tough calls that will lead to further inflation in the short term and difficulties for everyday people

The bad news however is that while these are decisive and tough decisions the caretakers can only do so much in the time they have The

S e n a t o r D u r r a n i h o l d s q u i e t m e e t i n g w i t h D r A l v i , c a l l s f o r ‘ p o l i t i c a l r e c o n c i l i a t i o n’

ISLAMABAD M I A N A B R A R

In a dramatic move, former information minister Senator Mohammad Ali Durrani held a quiet meeting with President Dr Arif Alvi and discussed with him the matters of mutual interest

The meeting was important in the background of two previous meetings held in the presidency which failed to yield any positive results While Presidency did not issue any press statement about the meeting however sources privy to the meeting details said that Senator Durrani met President Alvi with a message of political reconciliation and harmony” in the country

“Senator Durrani is an old friend of Dr Alvi and both have worked together to support Imran Khan s campaign to collect donations for Shaukat Khanum Memorial Hospital from 1992-1996

Today’s meeting was held in a very pleasant manner and both the old comrades exchanged pleasantries besides agreeing to the need of promotion of reconciliation and harmony in the country, a source close to Senator Durrani told this scribe

The source said that Senator Durrani told President Alvi to play his role in bringing down political temperature so as the ailing economy of the country could be restored

“Both the leaders agreed that political temperatures should be brought down and political reconciliation

should be given a chance More such meetings would be held in next few days to help normalise the political tensions the source said Asked whether there was any proposal under discussion to normalise tensions and former prime minister Imran Khan could be released the source said that it was quite “premature” to talk about such an opening as the meeting was just an ice-melting move and future discussions may help decide such crucial matters

Though there was no official conformation of the meeting well-placed sources told Pakistan

Today that Senator Durrani s car entered Presidency around 12:40pm and came out at 2:10pm Pakistan Today was also able to obtain official photograph of the

meeting held between Senator Durrani and Dr Alvi Senator Durrani is a senior politician and has served as Minister for Information and Broadcasting; and Minister of State for Culture and Youth Affairs He has close links with the military establishment and these days he is senior vice president of Pir Pagaro-led PML-F

In the recent past it was none other than Senator Durrani who had held meetings with Shehbaz Sharif who was in jail in year 2021-22 when Imran Khan was Prime Minister of Pakistan Later Durrani also had met with Maulana Fazlur Rehman and these meetings had helped release Shehbaz Sharif and later he became Prime Minister of Pakistan

The All Pakistan Lawyers Convention convened by the Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) in Islamabad announced on Thursday that lawyers will observe a countrywide strike on September 14 to defend and uphold the Constitution, rule of law, and human rights”

A statement issued by the SCBA after the convention said lawyers across the country would hold peaceful protests within their respective bar associations in the form of rallies on September 14 Earlier today the SCBA also released a list of resolutions passed at the convention, including the demand to hold the general elections “within the constitutionally prescribed time frame of 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies”

Earlier this week the Pakistan Bar Council (PBC) also passed a resolution urging President Arif Alvi to fulfil your constitutional responsibility and announce a date for general elections which are to be pushed beyond the constitutionally mandated cutoff date of November 9 if the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) sticks to its timeline for fresh delimitation of constituencies” Addressing a press conference outside the Supreme Court PBC Chairman Hassan Raza Pasha had also announced a countrywide strike of lawyers on September 9 for the fulfilment of this demand

The calls for strikes come as the president, ECP, political parties and other stakeholders take differing stances on the time frame for holding general elections and who has the authority to decide the final poll date

The ECP has ruled out elections this year while the 90day limit for holding polls following the dissolution of the National Assembly (NA), as mandated under Article 224 of the Constitution, ends on November 9 It reasons its decision to push elections beyond November 9 on the basis of the notification of results of the new digital 2023 census and Section 17(2) of the Elections Act which states: The commission shall delimit constituencies after every census is officially published However President Alvi invited Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja last month for a meeting to fix an appropriate date” for general elections

In his letter to the CEC the president quoted Article 244 of the Constitution saying he was duty-bound to get the elections conducted in the 90 days prescribed period as the NA was dissolved prematurely on August 9

But a recent amendment to the Elections Act 2017 empowered the ECP to announce the dates for polls unilaterally without having to consult the president Citing this change to the law the CEC responded to the president saying that participating in a confab with him to decide the election date would be of scant importance

Subsequently the president sought the law ministry s advice on the matter, and the ministry communicated to the president that the powers to announce the poll date rested with the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) after he sought its advice on the matter

Two days ago the president discussed matters pertaining to elections with caretaker Law Minister Ahmed Irfan Aslam and stressed the need to make decisions in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution Asserting the stance, lawyers convention convened by the SCBA adopted a resolution today, stating: “The general elections are required to be held within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies and the Election Commission of Pakistan and all other institutions required to act in aid of the ECP are under constitutional duty to do so The resolution also highlighted that no caretaker government could go beyond 90 days and becomes unconstitutional and illegal subsequently”

The caretaker governments in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa have already become unconstitutional and are liable to be removed it added

The resolution further stressed the importance of civilian supremacy the rule of law and the independence and integrity of constitutional institutions as fundamental pillars of our democracy” It underlined that “the armed forces and their officials of all ranks are bound by their constitutional oath not to indulge in any political activity whatsoever”

Moreover the government or any of its institution or officials should not be allowed to induce pressurise or influence any judge for obtaining desired judicial verdicts it said, adding that those found attempting to make such a demand should be strictly punished under the law It further said that all citizens “being kept in custody of military or intelligence agency be transferred to the custody of the relevant civil law authorities for their presentation before civilian courts Specifically mentioning the arrest of females in the recent times the resolution said all arrests detentions and harassment of ladies for the last few months or so are strongly condemned and those found responsible for such acts be punished under the law ”

E l e v e n L H C j u d g e s t o g e t i n t e r e s t - f r e e l o a n s

LAHORE

The Punjab caretaker government has approved interest-free loans totalling Rs360 million for eleven judges of the Lahore High Court (LHC) including one of the justices who issued a stay order against a government decision regarding sugar mills

The Punjab Cabinet s Standing Committee on Fi-

nance recently granted approval for these loans, which the judges sought to use for constructing residences or purchasing properties

These interest-free loans will be repaid by the judges over a twelve-year period with each judge receiving approximately Rs30 million, equivalent to 36 times their basic monthly salary of Rs912,862

T h e j u d g e s s e t t o r e c e i v e t h e s e l o a n s a r e J u st i c e R a s a a l H a s a n S y e d J u s t i c e S h a k e e l A h m e d

J u s t i c e M u h a m m a d Ta r i q N a d e e m , J u s t i c e M u h a m m a d A m j a d R a f i q J u s t i c e A b i d H u s s i a n C h a t t h a J u s t i c e A n w a a r H u s s a i n J u s t i c e A l i Z i a B a j w a J u s t i c e M u h a m m a d R a z a Q u r e s h i J u s t i c e R a h e e l K a m r a n J u s t i c e A h m e d N a d e e m A r s h a d a n d J u s t i c e S a f d a r S a l e e m S h a h i d I t i s w o r t h n o t i n g t h a t t h e r e h a s n o t b e e n a n y p r e v i o u s i ns t a n c e o f g o v e r n m e n t o f f i c i a l s r e c e i v i n g i n t e r e s tf r e e l o a n s

IMF gives green signal for electricity relief plan for consumers with 200 units or less g NOD PROVIDES MUCH NEEDED RELIEF BOTH TO INTERIM SET-UP AND TO BELEAGUERED MA SSES FACING INFLATED BILLS

P O L I T I C A L T U R M O I L , R I S I N G T E R R O R I S M , U N A B AT E D

C R O S S - B O R D E R AT TA C KS A L A R M I N G : P T I

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

KEEPING in view of the fast growing political turmoil in the country rising scourge of terrorism as well as the precarious security situation at borders

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Spokesperson urged the state and the government to take urgent course correction steps and redefine their priorities to tackle these looming threats, posing serious threats to national security with collective wisdom In a statement on Thursday PTI

Spokesperson expressed deep concerns over the widespread despondency disenchantment and political uncertainty

Rumours regarding ban on Rs5000 currency note unfounded: Solangi

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

coupled with the resurgence the menace of terrorism

He stressed the need that the state and the government should take immediate course correction measures and shun the repressive policy of political victimization and adopt a serious and unified approach to protect the national security PTI Spokesperson paid glowing tributes to the soldiers who bravely and successfully fought and repulsed the terrorists attack on the Pak-Afghan border He said the soldiers, who sacrificed their lives while foiling the evil designs of the terrorists, were the heroes of the nation “We salute our martyrs and express our heartfelt sympathy and solidarity with their families ” he added

Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi has termed the rumours regarding the ban on Rs 5 000 currency notes as unfounded and baseless Taking to X (former twitter) on Thursday, the minister ruled out fake notification about banning Rs5000 currency notes Murtaza Solangi warned that the government would take strict action against those spreading such fake notifications

Cour t extends bail of Bushra Bibi in Toshakhana case till Sept 12

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

An Additional District and Session Court in the capital on Thursday extended the interim bail of the wife of PTI Chairman Imran Khan Bushra

Bibi in Toshakhana case until September 12 The former first lady showed up in the court of Additional District and Sessions Judge Tahir Abbas Sipra along with her legal comprising:

Salman Safdar Intezar Panjotha and Naeem

Panjotha During the hearing the investigation officer (IO), who also appeared in the court, requested to the judge to allow the arrest of former first lady, adding her audio had already been sent to the Federal Investigation Agency for the forensic Bushra’s lawyer Salman Safdar on the other hand complained to the court that investigators called his client and made her sit for hours My client has already told them that the audio in question was not hers, he added The judge asked when the case was related to fake receipts, where did the audio came from? He asked the IO to confine himself to text of the FIR

The IO requested the court to give time to match Bushra s voice with the audio At this the court adjourned the case s hearing until September 12

The former first lady has been accused of keeping a locket, chain, earrings, two rings and bracelet from the Toshakhana gifts She is also accused of keeping gold, diamond, necklace, and bracelet, as well as gold and diamond rings earrings and bracelet The NAB has maintained that the gifts were not submitted to the Toshakhana to calculate their prices The Toshakhana issue became a major sticking point in national politics after the Election Commission of Pakistan disqualified the PTI chief for making “false statements and incorrect declaration” The reference which alleges that Imran failed to share details of the gifts he retained from the Toshaskhana (during his time as the prime minister) was filed by lawmakers from the ruling coalition last year Later, the IHC suspended the conviction of the PTI chief and ordered to release him on bail from Attock Jail but special court ordered to keep the PTI chairman in judicial lockup in cipher case

Digital Silk Road to stimulate Pak-China e-commerce

collaboration: Lin Jianming

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Digital Silk Road will help to stimulate Pak-China

e-commerce collaboration said Lin Jianming Chairman and CEO of Chinese sci-tech enterprise

Samoyed Cloud Technology China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Thursday Next we re going to make full use of AI tools to promote technological innovation and learn from successful experience, integrating into Pakistan’s national digital strategy to effectively facilitate the shared prosperity of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) he said China s digital trade has developed vigorously for the past few years

According to the data released by the China Academy of Information and Communications Technology, the scale of China’s digital economy increased by USD 4 1 trillion, with an average annual compound growth rate of 14 2 percent from 2016 to 2022 The dividend of China s booming digital trade has provided a pool of business opportunities and injected fresh hope into countries along the Belt and Road Up to November 2022, China had established the Digital Silk Road cooperation mechanism with 16 countries and advanced Silk Road e-commerce bilateral cooperation mechanism with 26 countries including Pakistan Samoyed Cloud Technology focused on artificial intelligence (AI) big data, mobile Internet, and cloud computing, exploited the vast potential of Pakistan s digital economy and launched its e-commerce platform

EZTRADER to provide digital trade services for the local retailers importing Chinese products

Recently Lin called on Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque to reach an important consensus on continuing to deepen the digital transformation of Pakistan

P T I s p o k e s p e r s o n s t a t e d t h a t n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y w a s t h e m o s t s e n s i t i v e a n d s e r i o u s m a t t e r t h e c l o u d s o f u n c e r t a i n t y h o v e r i n g o v e r i t w a s a m a t t e r o f c o n c e r n f o r t h e s t a t e a n d t h e g o v e r n m e n t , a s a l a r m i n g u p s u rg e w a s w i t n e s s e d i n t h e n u m b e r o f t e r r o r i s t s ’ a t t a c k s a c r o s s t h e c o u n t r y, e s p e c i a l l y i n t h e b o r d e r a r e a s o f K h y b e r P a k h t u n k h w a P T I s p o k e s p e r s o n s a i d t h a t t h e s ouring tens ion on the P ak-A fghan border a n d t h e a r m e d a t t a c k s f r o m a c r o s s t h e b o r d e r s w e r e c o n c e r n i n g b e c a u s e t h e n a t i o n , t h e l a w e n f o r c e m e n t a g e n c i e s a n d the forces had made great sacrifices in the l o n g - d r a w n - o u t b a t t l e t o f l u s h o u t t h e scourge of terrorism and restore normalcy i n t h e c o u n t r y

He alarmed that the terrorism was rearing its ugly head again in the bordering areas which was posing a great challenge to the hard-won peace PTI spokesperson highlighted that owing to the worst economic disaster and political uncertainty, anarchy and chaos were spread from Kashmir to Gilgit and from Karachi to Gwadar that further aggravated the national security situation

PTI spokesperson said that the worst deviation from the constitution the brutal violation of human rights and the stubbornness of the state to run the country’s politics through coercion and unlawfully were the main contributors to the prevailing widespread uncertainty and mayhem in the country

He emphasized that the economic revival, borders security and protection of national security warranted extraordinary concentration of state resources and energy as well as complete and unified national approach

PTI spokesperson underlined that the state and the government should realized the sensitivity of the situation and should change their current approach so as to get the country out of the quagmire of problems

He advised that instead of sowing the seeds of chaos hatred and division in the nation through extra-constitutional and unlawful steps along with the worst repressive actions it was high time to make efforts to unite the nation

He said that a politically united nation and a government with public mandate and trust could steer the country out of complex challenges

PTI spokesperson believed in supremacy of the constitution, the rule of law and the restoration of democracy in its original spirit because these were the major sources to unite the nation

LHC orders special units at distric t level to investigate rape cases

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

What is being described as a landmark judgment, the Lahore High Court on

Thursday ordered the Punjab government to establish special units in all districts in the province to investigate rape cases

In a nine-page verdict issued on Thursday LHC judge Justice Tariq

Saleem Sheikh directed the Punjab government to constitute special units in all the districts to impart training to the

police officers for the investigation of rape cases

The jugement was issued upon completion of hearing on a petition filed by a female rape victim

The victim woman had challenged the police s action to change the provisions of rape with Zina in the FIR

In his judgment, the Justice regretted in many cases the accused have escaped punishment due to faulty investigation

During the case hearing the court was told that no special units under the Anti-

Rape Act were established in many districts If this is the case, then the government must establish special units and impart training to the police officers

The LHC ruling further directed that it is mandatory to include a woman police officer in the special unit because the female victim would feel comfortable in the presence of a woman police officer during the rape investigation

In cases involving children the inclusion of a female police officer becomes even more important

C TD guns down five ‘ T TP terrorists’ in Quetta’s Aghbarg IBO

A thorough investigation must be made in the rape and sexual assault cases on the pattern of criminal cases The case becomes weak if medical tests or DNA samples are not sent to the laboratory on time and the accused gets the benefit of the weak case, the judgment reads

During the hearing, the Sialkot DPO informed the court that a special unit completed its investigation into the aforesaid rape case under Section 9 of the Anti-Rape Act After that the court disposed of the case

Dr Shamshd, KSA envoy discuss economic ties, investment oppor tunities

S

QUETTA

According a CTD statement, an operation was conducted following information extorted from an arrested TTP terrorist namely Naseebullah During the course of investigation the TTP operative revealed the presence of his accomplices in Quetta and divulged that they were in advance planning of carrying out a terrorist activity in the provincial metropolis

An operation was planned and terrorists were identified through information provided by the arrested accused who was nominated in FIR number 84-2023,” the statement said Elaborating on the details of the operation the CTD statement said when police were setting up a security cordon outside the terrorists hideout they resorted indiscriminate firing and attempted to escape Two terrorists tried to escape on a motorcycle but the raiding party took precautionary measures and retaliated,” it added “Additional force was called in and the fleeing terrorists were contained ”

As a result the CTD said four TTP militants were killed while the arrested accused person was severely injured by the firing of his associates

He was rushed to the hospital but he succumbed to his injuries, it said, adding that a sizeable quantity of

ammunition and explosives were recovered from the crime scene including one suicide jacket five hand grenades, two pistols, one rifle, two motorcycles, and explosive material

The statement highlighted that the killed alleged terrorists were involved in the killing of officials of the Eagle Squad and CTD in Kuchlak and Frontier Corps personnel on Kuchlak Bypass

This is a huge success for the CTD and law enforcement agencies as their efforts have prevented terrorists from carrying out another terror activity in Quetta,” it further said

The statement concluded that further investigation was under way On Sep 2 the CTD said it had killed eight TTP and IS members in two intelligence-based operations conducted in Balochistan s Quetta and Washuk districts on Saturday The counter-terror police had said the first operation was conducted in a mountainous area near Kurragi village of Basima tehsil in Washuk, a district bordering Iran

As soon as counterterrorism officials cordoned off the area and launched the operation the armed militants opened fire and lobbed hand grenades prompting the raiding party to take positions and return fire

A heavy gun battle continued for an hour, resulting in the killing of five armed terrorists, the CTD spokesperson had said, adding that the killed militants belonged to the outlawed TTP and had previously launched attacks on forces and citizens

However three militants had managed to escape under the cover of darkness

R ising elec tricity tariff drives KP ’s marble industr y to brink of collapse

PESHAWAR a z z B u n e R i

The rising fuel and electricity prices and slowdown in the construction sector have brought the marble industry of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to the brink of collapse

UoG, RRI ink deal on research collaboration

GUJRAT S ta f f R e p o R t

With a view to boosting research through collaboration regarding ‘Nutritional Analysis of Newly-Developed Rice Varieties a memorandum of understanding (MoU) was signed here at Hafiz Hayat Campus between the University of Gujrat (UoG) and the Rice Research Institute Kala Shah Kaku (RRI-KSK), Lahore the other day

s n o w been granted the status of a special e c o n o m i c z o n e a n d i s i n c l u d e d i n t h e C h i n a - P a k i s t a n E c o n o m i c Corridor (CPEC) This presents an opportunity to leverage Pakistan’s h i g h - q u a l i t y m a r b l e i n d u s t r y f o r t h e b e n e f i t o f t h e n a t i o n a l e c o n o m y S t i l l i t n e c e s s i t a t e s u rg e n t a t t e n t i o n a n d i n c e n t i v e s f r o m t h e a u t h o r i t i e s , a s M a h a r a j s u g g e s t s , t o u n l o c k i t s f u l l

However Khan points out that the government s decision to increase power tariffs coupled with additional taxes, resulting from fuel adjustments surcharge in electricity bills, has pushed the industry to the brink These additional taxes include sales tax, withholding tax, and general sales tax (GST), making it increasingly challenging for marble factories to remain operational Additionally the marble industry is struggling with increased in transportation costs due to soaring fuel prices Hassan, a marble dealer, attributes the slowdown in construction activities across the country to broader economic challenges particularly inflation which has eroded the purchasing power of consumers He sid that despite the rich and diverse deposits of marble in the Mohmand tribal district of KP, the development of the Mohmand Marble City has been sluggish for various reasons However there is a glimmer of h o p e a s t h e M a r b l e C i t y h a

The MoU was signed by Vice Chancellor Prof Dr Muhammad Mushahid Anwar on behalf of the UoG and Chief Scientist Syed Sultan Ali on behalf of the Rice Research Institute The MoU seeks to promote research and analytical links between the teachers and students of the varsity and the scientists of the Rice Research Institute in a more coordinated manner Prof Dr Muhammad Mushahid Anwar said that a better awareness of scientific research and scientific thinking among students would go a long way towards achieving our national economic development goals He lauded the role of the Rice Research Institute in developing the rice crop in the country Syed Sultan Ali said that the intensive research and innovation carried out at the Rice Research Institute had produced better quality seeds for achieving high yield in a short period of time Director ORIC Prof Dr Audil Rashid, Manager Shahzada Babar, Associate Prof Dr Muhammad Zubair Dr Sajjad Sumra Dr Arshad Makhdoom Mohsin Ali Raza and others attended the MoU signing ceremony Dr Mohammad Zubair and Mohsin Ali Raza have been appointed focal persons by the UoG and the RRI respectively

B O R D E R S M U G G L I N G F U E L S P R I C E H I K E S I N P E S H AW A R ’ S M A R K ET S

TRADERS in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) have attributed the phenomenon rising prices of essential commodities to the ongoing smuggling of food items across the Pakistan-Afghanistan border

According to sources at the border, various food items are being smuggled to Afghanistan, causing an increase in prices and shortages in KP As a result items such as sugar flour and others are in short supply due to this smuggling operation

Traders claim that the local authorities are not taking action against influential figures involved in this illicit trade Instead, these influentials are manipulating prices by hoarding and profiteering from the supply of essential food items

Mujib Rahman the President of KP

Traders Association revealed that traders from both Pakistan and Afghanistan have been involved in this lucrative operation of smuggling They profit not only from smuggling goods to Afghanistan but also reimporting the same food items at higher prices from other countries The government has remained silent on this matter focusing solely on actions against small traders said Rehman He further said that it would be challenging for the government to regain control over prices as long as it refrains from taking action against those involved in smuggling

Peshawar a hub for Afghan exports and transit trade witnesses millions of rupees worth of Chinese ceramics rice various pulses and wheat being smuggled daily into Afghanistan

President of Peace and Justice Programme, Pir Syed Ahmed Shah, revealed that huge quantities of goods including

wheat sugar rice pulses and other essentials are being smuggled beneath export items heading to Afghanistan through Peshawar s Ring Road and other areas

He stated that government officials are complicit in the smuggling, causing artificial shortages of wheat sugar ghee pulses and other items in Peshawar and across the province resulting in skyrocketing prices and pushing the necessities of life beyond the reach of the poor H e a p p e a l e d t o t h e F e d e r a l I n v e s t i g a t i o n A g e n c y ( F I A ) , t h e D i r e c t o r o f t h e A n t i - C o r r u p t i o n D e p a r t m e n t , a n d other authorities to intervene in this

Pak-China enterprises cooperation project showcases impressive plaque distribution

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

In a remarkable display of partnership and economic cooperation the China-Pakistan Double Hundred Enterprises Cooperation project took center stage at the China-Pakistan Technology and Innovation Conference held in Beijing at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS)

Plaques were distributed to commemorate the milestone achievements of this initiative

The event held in Beijing highlighted the commitment of both nations to enhance economic connectivity and foster development according to a report published by China Economic Net (CEN) Khan Muhammad, Science Counselor at Pakistan s

Clashes between border forces: Torkham crossing remains closed for 2nd day

CONTINEUD FROM PAGE 01

Irshad Mohmand a local administration official in Pakistan told AFP that Afghan forces tried to establish a checkpoint in an area where it was agreed that both sides would not establish a post “After an objection from the Pakistan side, the Afghan forces opened fire ” he said adding that Pakistan border forces responded with retaliatory fire However the Afghan Taliban government had blamed Pakistan Pakistani forces attacked the Afghan side when Afghan forces wanted to reactivate their old outpost with an excavator,” said Quraishi Badloon an official for the information and culture directorate in Afghanistan s eastern Nangarhar province The attack has resulted in casualties but the exact figures are not known yet, he said However, a Taliban government interior ministry spokesman, Abdul Mateen Qani, had said on Wednesday that efforts were being made “to prevent the causes of this clash and the recurrence of such incidents AFP reported A local Pakistan police official told the news agency that the shooting stopped by late Wednesday afternoon, but the border remained shut, he said The atmosphere is tense” and “forces on both sides are alert” he said Another local government official said light and heavy weapons as well as mortars were used in the incident The crossing has been closed several times in recent years, including a closure in February that saw thousands of trucks laden with goods stranded on each side of the border for days It was also temporarily closed last month after a scuffle between the border guards of Pakistan and Afghanistan Both nations are in dire economic straits with Afghanistan reeling from a drop-off in aid following the end of the US-backed occupation and Pakistan crippled by a domestic downturn and runaway inflation

Embassy in Beijing told China Economic Net that the Double Hundred Enterprises Cooperation project is a significant bilateral undertaking between China and Pakistan, aimed at promoting economic growth, trade, and investment

The project focuses on fostering collaboration between two hundred startup enterprises from each country across various IT sectors including IoT clouding technology and others He further said that the China-Pakistan cooperation project was prominently featured, with a special ceremony dedicated to the distribution of plaques that recognized the outstanding contributions made by these enterprises

This gesture not only celebrated the achievements of the project but also underscored the strong and enduring friendship between the two nations

FIA accelerates crackdown on currency smugglers

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

This massive infrastructure project under CPEC has significantly improved connectivity between the two nations and is expected to stimulate trade and investment along its route , he added Khan said that 100 Pakistani startup IT enterprises would set up offices here and 100 Chinese enterprises would set up offices in Pakistan

Hamza Saeed Director of Special Technology Zones Authority (STZA) Pakistan said that this project would help knowledge exchange and facilitate technology transfer to enable the development of Special Technology Zones across Pakistan This collaboration will also help create an enabling environment where innovators scientists and entrepreneurs from both countries can work hand in hand and reap maximum dividends

Consultation with IMF on relief in elec tricity bills under way: S olangi

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Caretaker Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi on Thursday said consultation with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) was underway for the relief in electricity bills

Talking to a private channel the minister said some final decisions for the purpose were taken during the last meeting of the Cabinet presided over by Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar the other day He said the prime minister had directed the relevant stakeholders to hold a consultation with the IMF which was underway The minister said the position on the relief in the electricity bills for the masses would be clear within a few days

He said energy-saving measures were under consideration as multiple factors involved in the prevailing

energy crises The caretaker government had limited mandate authority and tenure he said while emphasizing on cooperation of all the political parties in holding free fair and transparent elections in the country

Our job is not to criticize but to play our role in resolving issues,” Solangi remarked

He said the caretaker government would assist the Election Commission of Pakistan in holding the election in accordance with its schedule The caretaker government has been performing its functions in line with its mandate he said adding We have taken an oath to protect the Constitution He said everybody had the right to peaceful protest and freedom of expression “Under Article 218(3) of the Constitution, the Election Commission has the authority to hold free fair and impartial elections in the country ” Murtaza Solangi said in response to a query

C hinese entrepreneurs invited to benefit from Pakistan’s human resource

BEIJING s ta f f r e p o r t

Commercial Counselor of the Embassy of Pakistan in China, Ghulam Qadir has invited Chinese entrepreneurs to invest in Pakistan and benefit from young & skilled human resources in Pakistan

Addressing the China International Economics and Technology Administration Forum (CIETAF) at the China International Fair for Trade in Services (CIFTIS), Ghulam Qadir said the theme of this forum empowers entrepreneurs, especially small businesses, and marginalized communities, providing them with a level playing field to compete and succeed in the local and global markets

According to China Economic Net (CEN) he said that 91% of Pakistani products come to China at zero customs duty, and he hopes to increase exports to China by providing special incentives to investors from China “Pakistan is the 5th most populous country in the world and enjoys a huge demographic advantage as over 65% of

the population is between the age of 18 and 35 Our youth is tech savvy and playing an active part in the digital initiatives in the country he added Q a d i r s a i d t h a t P a k i s t a n o ff e r s a h u g e e - c o m m e r c e m a r k e t w i t h a s p e c i a l f o c u s o n e x p o r t - o r i e n t e d i n d u s t r y I n A u g u s t t h i s y e a r, m o r e t h a n 2 0 0 C h i n e s e b u s i n e s s m e n v i s i t e d t h e 1 s t F o o d a n d A g r i E x p o i n K a r a c h i s h o w i n g a l o t o f i n t e r e s t i n b u y i n g P a k i s t a n i a g r o a n d f o o d p r o d u c t s a n d d o i n g b u s i n e s s o n Ec o m m e r c e p l a t f o r m s China and Pakistan had incorporated IT and science and technology under the CPEC framework We have established two Joint Working Groups for this purpose We have also launched China-Pakistan Digital, Green, and Health Corridors to harness the potential of our two countries in these fields We are establishing linkages between our academic institutions research organizations and IT companies for practical implementation of our vision and for going forward on a shared journey of the digital era , he added

European Union-funded projec t to enhance migration management in Silk Route and Central Asia

ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a s

Dr Riina Kionka Ambassador of the European Union Delegation in Pakistan, underscored the alignment of the “Improving Migration Management in Selected Silk

Routes and Central Asian Countries project with the EU Pact on migration and asylum during the project s launch by the International Centre for Migration Policy Development (ICMPD)

The launch of this project coincides with ICMPD s threedecade journey as a migration management organization, with a steadfast focus on research, policy development, capacity building, and facilitating migration dialogues

Dr Kionka emphasized the project’s pivotal role in promoting orderly safe regular and responsible migration all while addressing the root causes of migration and regional displacement crises

ICMPD s Director General, Dr Michael Spindelegger, presented an overview of the project and highlighted Pakistan s crucial role as a longterm partner for ICMPD He emphasized the strong strategic cooperation between ICMPD and Pakistan, particularly in areas such as labor migration, skills development integrated border management and the fight against irregular migration

The project is generously funded by the European Union and aims to expand the reach of Migrant Resource Centres

(MRCs) across Pakistan and in South and West Asia This expansion has a multi-pronged approach focusing on strengthening awareness campaigns delivering timely and accurate information to potential migrants, and ensuring the long-term sustainability of MRCs

At its core the project seeks to support migration management and governance ultimately enhancing the global labor market competitiveness of Pakistanis while simultaneously safeguarding their rights, wellbeing and interests This ambitious initiative builds upon the lessons learned from previous EU-funded projects and extends its reach to include countries such as Kazakhstan, Uzbekistan, and

Kyrgyzstan Notably, the United Nations Office on Drugs and Crime (UNODC) is a coimplementer with a particular focus on the anti-trafficking in persons component Mr Jawad Sohrab Malik Special Assistant to the Prime Minister on Overseas Pakistanis & Human Resource Development addressed the evolving dynamics of migration during the launch event He emphasized the critical importance of fostering skill partnerships between countries, establishing legal pathways to Europe and adopting a rightsbased approach Mr Malik stressed the significance of aligning education and training systems with labor market demands, both in sending and receiving

The Federal Investigation Agency has accelerated its crackdown against the smuggling of foreign currency on Thursday The Peshawar zone ranks first in the crackdown against Hawala/Hundi During the last 20 days, as many as 27 actions have been taken against the Hundi references During the crackdown the FIA Khyber Pakhtunkhwa zone arrested 28 accused and recovered more than Rs102 million from the accused The FIA took the mobile phones of the accused and sent them for forensics Cases were registered against all the accused under currency smuggling The investigators are expecting to unearth more networks during the investigation

Gov t announces closure of markets at sunset

LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t

The caretaker government has ordered measures to conserve energy including closing all malls and markets at sunset to mitigate the effects of energy crisis A similar announcement was also made by the previous Shehbaz government regarding the closure of markets by 8pm across the country under the ‘energy conservation plan’ On June 6 the former federal minister made the announcement while talking to journalists after a meeting of National Economic Council (NEC) chaired by then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif The NEC has approved an energy conservation plan under which shops and commercial centres would be closed by 8pm,” he had announced, noting that energy has become a huge challenge for Pakistan due to global prices However no implementation was made on the measures announced by the previous govt The closure of markets at sunset would save 1500MW of electricity sources say Meanwhile, consultations have also been started with all the chambers federation and business communities to close the markets early

Pakistan, Turkmenistan agree to enhance economic, trade ties

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t P a k i s t a n a n d Tu r k m e n i s t a n o n T h u r s d a y a g r e e d t o e n h a n c e e c o n o m i c a n d t r a d e r e l a t i o n s a n d e n h a n c e t h e e c o n o m i c i n t e g r a t i o n b e t w e e n t h e r e g i o n I n a m e e t i n g C a r e t a k e r M i n i s t e r o f C o m m e r c e a n d I n d u s t r i e s P r o d u c t i o n D r G o h a r E j a z a n d A m b a s s a d o r o f Tu r k m e n i s t a n A t a d j a n M o v a l a m o v d i s c u s s e d i n c r e a s i n g b i l a t e r a l t r a d e s a i d a p r e s s r e l e a s e i s s u e d h e r e T h e m i n i s t e r s a i d t h i s m e e t i n g w a s a n i m p o r t a n t s t e p t o s t r e n g t h e n t r a d e a n d e c o n o m i c r e l a t i o n s b e t w e e n P a k i s t a n a n d Tu r k m e n i s t a n O p e n i n g u p t r a d e r o u t e s a n d e x p a n d i n g b u s i n e s s r e l a t i o n s i s o u r t o p p r i o r i t y h e a d d e d E j a z s a i d t h e t w o c o u n t r i e s h a v e l a i d t h e f o u n d a t i o n f o r j o i n t c o o p e r a t i o n w i t h e a c h o t h e r A m b a s s a d o r A t a d j a n M o v l a m o v i n v i t e d P a k i s t a n t o p a r t i c i p a t e i n t h e $ 5 b i l l i o n A r k a d a g S m a r t C i t y P r o j e c t P a k i s t a n h a s b e e n o ff e r e d t o e x p o r t c o n s t r u c t i o n m a t e r i a l s a n d e q u i p m e n t f o r t h e p r o j e c t T h e a m b a s s a d o r e x p r e s s e d t h e n e e d f o r a g r i c u l t u r a l p r o d u c t s l i k e r i c e s u g a r p o t a t o e s a n d o n i o n s f r o m P a k i s t a n D r E j a z e n s u r e d P a k i s t a n s a c t i v e p a r t i c i p a t i o n i n e x h i b i t i o n s i n Tu r k m e n i s t a n

countries, to ensure that migration remains a mutually beneficial endeavor

In addition to the PROTECT project ICMPD actively implements other initiatives in Pakistan spanning border management, policy development, and capacity building These collaborative efforts are rooted in a cooperative agreement signed between ICMPD and the government of Pakistan

The launch event served as a platform for critical discussions surrounding migration and highlighted the shared commitment of ICMPD the European Union and Pakistan towards enhancing migration management and governance for the benefit of all stakeholders involved

Fall of the dollar does not represent any intrinsic economic turnaround

TH E r i s e b a c k o f t h e r u p e e , a f t e r a p e r i o d o f f a l l i n g r e p r e s e n t e d t h e s o r t o f a d m i n i s t r at i v e m e a s u r e s n e e d e d b e c a u s e t h e m a r k e t w a s n o t f u n c t i o n i n g o p t i m a l l y B a s i c a l l y, w h a t r ea l l y h a p p e n e d w a s t h a t t h e d o l l a r s o p e n - m a r k e t r a t e w a s b r o u g h t w i t h i n t h e 4 5 p e r c e n t b a n d t h a t i t i s a ll o w e d t o e x c e e d t h e i n t e r b a n k r a t e T h a t b a n d h a s b e e n s e t b y t h e I M F a s o n e o f t h e c o n d i t i o n s i n t h e c u r r e n t S t a n d - B y A r r a n g e m e n t W h i l e i t d o e s r e f l e c t t h e h o p e t h a t t h e v a l u e o f t h e c u r r e n c y t o b e d e t e rm i n e d b y t h e m a r k e t i t s e e m s t o h a v e l e f t o u t a n i m p o r t a n t p a r t o f t h e m e c h a n i s m , t h e r e g u l a t o r I t h a s g i v e n t h a t r o l e t o t h e S t a t e B a n k o f P a k i s t a n , b u t w h i l e i t h a s d e v o t e d m u c h e f f o r t t o g e t t i n g i t i nd e p e n d e n c e f r o m t h e g o v e r n m e n t i t d o e s n o t s e e m t o h a v e g i v e n i t a n y t e e t h a g a i n s t t h e k i n d o f c o l l us i o n a m o n g s t c u r r e n c y e x c h a n g e d e a l e r s t o a l l o w t h e s o r t o f s p e c u l a t i o n t h a t i s i n d i s t i n g u i s h a b l e f r o m g a m b l i n g w h i c h c u r r e n c i e s s e e m t o a t t r a c t w h e n l e f t t o t r a d e f r e e l y A p a r t f r o m i t s i n d e e d b e i n g a p r o b l e m t h a t a pp r o v e d c h a n n e l s o f r e g u l a t i o n c a n n o t b e r e l i e d o n t h e m a r k e t - d r i v e n p a r i t y w i l l c o m e u n d e r p r e s s u r e s o o n , a s t h e b a l a n c e o f p a y m e n t s d e t e r i o r a t e s T h e p r o b l e m w i t h a d m i n i s t r a t i v e m e a s u r e s , a s t h e I M F s e e m s t o r e a l i z e i s t h e y a r e n o t b a s e d o n s o m e e c on o m i c r e a l i t y a n d t h o u g h t h e y m i g h t w o r k f o r t h e t i m e b e i n g , t h e y c a n n o t w i t h s t a n d e c o n o m i c r e a l it i e s P a k i s t a n ’s b a s i c p r o b l e m r e m a i n s u n t o u c h e d : t h e c o u n t r y d o e s n o t p r o d u c e e n o u g h g o o d s o r s e r vi c e s f o r t h e r e s t o f t h e w o r l d , s o a s t o p a y f o r w h a t i t b u y s

This latest deflation of the rupee also does not address the question of why there are two markets One way of ending the difference between open and interbank rates would to ensure that there is a single market Some currency dealers might face problems entering that market and some banks might have teething problems, but it would help stabilize the rupee on a more solid footing that is afforded by the present arrangement IMF attempts, presumably well meaning, to end market inefficiencies seem only to have introduced different ones It has to be realized that when a currency is allowed to trade without any regulation, the problems observed develop: insider trading and speculation amounting to gambling

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

PRIME Minister Anwarul Haq Kakar might think that the protests against the electricity bills were blown out of proportion but they were quite serious True a revolution was not sparked off but that was not because there was any lack of desperate anger among people

Lack of leadership did pose a problem The protests could be contained because of this lack of leadership, and it also meant that there was no impetus to the protests to continue so as to bring about a change At the moment it seems no one is offering the kind of solution that would justify getting support Only the Jamaat Islami among the traditional political forces is trying to put itself at the head of the movement, but its relative lack of success reflects how it does not have a solution that seems viable, and the low level of public trust in the party

The caretaker governments had their moment and Kakar may well have lost it for them His statement which confirmed that made by the caretaker Finance Minister, was that the government would be giving no subsidies In short, the IMF s conditions were going to be fulfilled That included a hike in petrol prices, caused by the recovery of oil prices on the international market This increase is going to be made worse by the decline of the rupee This means that the price of furnace oil in rupee terms is going to go up That means the fuel adjustment surcharge is going to go up It means that power bills are going to go up further

Normally, a caretaker government would not really have to deal with such a crisis In office for three months a caretaker government would do its best to kick the can down the road and leave the crisis to come crashing down on the head of the newly elected government, which would have to handle it as soon as it came into office

It might seem unfair to any new government, particularly one which might depend on support from smaller parties (as has been the case with all governments in the past except for the rare occasions where one party achieved an absolute majority on its own) However no one has come into politics because it is easy At the same time, while all of the parties are willing to accept the task, none has shown any sign that it has any solution

It should not be forgotten that this was one of the planks of Imran’s campaign: he too burned power bills during his 2013 dharna and blamed government corruption for the high bills The corruption argument seems to have collapsed, but non one else has a new narrative

At this point, all parties have got a track record, and none have shown the ability to escape the IMF

Its SBA expires in March next and will probably be followed by an ESAF There is a broad consensus that recourse to the IMF is a necessary evil and its conditions must be obeyed It is almost as if the next election will determine which party will have the privilege of selling IMF conditionalities to the elec-

torate However, the caretakers are also performing that task at present The problematic thing about that is that this task is open-ended It is not as if the caretakers are handling the task better than any government that might be elected The caretakers may be hapless but they are hardly worse than any other government that might be elected However while there is some chance that an elected government might find a way out of the mess, there is the virtual certainty that the caretakers do not have a solution The big difference is that elected governments have some hope of reelection and govern accordingly; caretakers face no elections thus are held accountable by much murkier organisations than the electorate

It does not seem that the hybrid experiment in the good old days when Imran Khan and the PTI were on the same page has had that much effect That should have taught the lesson that there should be no further interference in politics but that interference seems to be continuing Apart from the ouster of Imran Khan and the withdrawal of those assets which had been given to the PTI for the 1998 elections, in the shape of highly publicized press conferences and the formation of the Istehkam Pakistan Party there has also been a combination of a hounding of the PTI after May 9 and of the putting off of elections That putting off by the Election Commission of Pakistan has been to allow it to carry out delimitations in accordance with the census earlier this year The only reason the ECP is able to carry out the delimitations is that the census does not require a constitutional amendment The provincial allocation of seats is laid down in the Constitution and after various censuses has been adjusted to reflect the new demographic reality That adjustment is made by a constitutional amendment, which only Parliament can carry out Probably because this year ’s census was carried out earlier than needed, there was no change in provincial allocations If there had been would it have meant that elections were never to be conducted or would the ECP have put off the delimitations until after the election?

The ECP might be aware that the path it is following suits a political convenience. That might explain why it is getting tangled with the law and constitution while trying to use them to justify its deviation from them

for the elections about two weeks by changing the date for completing delimitations from December 15 to November 30 After delimitations, the ECP will need about 45 days for holding elections, because that period is provided in the Election Law The 90-day limit expires on November 9 The ECP would have to complete delimitations by September 25 to meet the constitutional deadline That might well lead to rushed delimitations and loud squawks of protest from intending legislators That could be avoided by carrying out the delimitation procedure after the elections That might lead to the objection that the members sit according to old delimitations while new ones have come into existence, but so long as by-elections are conducted according to old delimitations there would be no problem

The problem is not so much the timeline as the ECP s willingness to fall in with others’ plans Unless those others learn to accept the verdict of the people and that it may be different from what they want, it will not be possible to have a genuinely democratic system

It should be remembered that the desire to put off elections is essentially not just political but partisan because it benefits one party or another It does not really affect candidates (except those who might need time to live down a personal scandal), because though they hate elections their personal support is if not timeless at least multigenerational However the party vote which often provides the victory margin fluctuates with time

That the delimitations have to be conducted is a clear constitutional requirement, but there is no time limit given in the Constitution, as there is for holding elections The ECP has also brought forward the date

The status of women's education in Balochistan

IT is tragically true that some women in the world are left beyond education and are totally caged But scientifically, women have a better mental ability to understand the taught things in institutions than men But they have been ignored in one way or another in the whole world Because gender discrimination is very common in this part of the world; men can wander anywhere while females are trapped; men can freely get education, but women have to fight with their families and convince them; men are asked for women’s decisions; etc

Pakistan is a federation of four provinces among them one is Balochistan the richest province by natural resources but it is hit dismally with 75 percent of children as out of school and women s education does not get attention because all are, to a great extent, struggling for their fundamental rights According to the report of UNICEF Pakistan only 27 percent of Balochistan’s women go to schools Women s education in Balochistan is the worst in the whole world

Disappointingly most families in Balochistan are suffering from severe poverty After working very hard, they rarely get food two times a day In such circumstances, it becomes hard for families to hire transportation to send their children to schools and no educational institutions within the areas becomes the cause of making children drop out

Further investigating about this bitter issue, I got to know about a village namely Khairabad where women’s education declines because of no institutions and poverty Khairabad a very far-flung area situated in the eastern part of Balochistan has been deprived of education due to deterioration of educational and fundamental needs for females in particular Khairabad has a very vast population of females Unfortunately, a very small number of females are enrolled in educational situations while the majority of them had not been entertained to get education

Sammi a very desirous student resided in Khairabad was very curious to continue her education after matriculation and was prepared to fulfil her future's goals but all dreams went in vain when her parents did not afford to send her out of city so that she could continue her education Hence she gave up being one of the victims A p a r t f r o m l a c k o f i n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h i n t h e a r e a a n d p o v e r t y, a n o t h e r m a i n r e a s o n w h i c h m a k e s t h e g i r l s d r o p o u t f r o m e d u c a t i o n i s early marriage In Balochistan, six percent of g i r l s a g e d 1 5 a n d 2 3 p e r c e n t o f w o m e n a g e d 2 0 a r e m a r r i e d a r u i n i n g p r a c t i c e f o r h u nd r e d s o f g i r l s A c c o r d i n g t o a r e p o r t M a k r a n h a s t h e h i g h e s t n u m b e r o f e a r l y m a r r i a g e a with 23 percent and Nasirabad carries 22 perc e n t o f e a r l y m a r r i a g e s m a k i n g i t s e c o n d h i g h e s t o n t h e l i s t T h i s c a l a m i t y i s y e t t o b e

p r e v e n t e d i n t h e p r o v i n c e w h i c h d e s t r o y e d t h e e d u c a t i o n a l l i f e o f I q r a , o n e o f t h e v i ct i m s o f e a r l y m a r r i a g e Iqra, a very hardworking and dedicated student to her study, was forcibly married by her parents The early marriage ruined her dreams of getting higher education Iqra is not the only unheard story there are thousands of unheard stories who were forcefully married off in Balochistan F u r t h e rmore long distance leads far from education Rural areas of Balochistan are also facing similar problems In most villages a large number of women are not a t t e n d i n g classes due to lack of schools for women However one can find schools but at long distances which make it tough for the women to attend them on a regular basis According to Alif

One wonders whether we are living in a country where laws have no validity To prove their competence, the current government of Balochistan needs to step forward to curb the educational woes of women in Balochistan It becomes an ultimate test as to how the government deals with women’s education in the region

A d d i t i o n a l l y i n D e r a B u g t i a n d P a n j g u r d i s t r i c t s o f B a l o c h i s t a n , w o m e n a r e k e p t o u t o f s c h o o l s b y r e l i g i o u s e x t r e m i s t s w h o c o mp l e t e l y f o r b i d e d u c a t i n g w o m e n I n s t i t u t i o n s w i t h c o - e d u c a t i o n w e r e e v e n t a rg e t e d a n d t h r e a t e n e d t o b e c l o s e d c o m p l e t e l y a n d p e rm a n e n t l y E v e n t h o u g h a s c h o o l v a n w a s b u r n t o n i t s w a y t o s c h o o l , a n d t h e n t h e e x t r e m i s t s a tt a c k e d t h e g i v e n s c h o o l A f t e r t h i s i n c id e n t , t h e s c h o o l r em a i n e d c l o s e d f o r a c o u p l e o f years which res u l t e d i n t h e e l i m i n a t i o n o f a t e a c h e r w h o w a s p r o m o t i n g w o m e n ’s e d uc a t i o n i n t h e s e r e g i o n s a n d w a s e v e n a l i tt l e s u c c e s s f u l W h e n h e w a s k i l l e d , h i s s t r i v i n g f o r p r o m o t i n g w o m e n s e d u c a t i o n e n d e d , a n d i t r e t u r n e d t o i t s o l d s p o t E x t r e m i s t s d o n o t a l l o w w o m e n t o g e t

Ailaan's report (2017) a primary school almost appears after every 30 km in Balochistan; a middle school after every 260 km and a high school after every 369 km

Hoshab a sub-Tehsil of District Kech falls in eastern Makran, experiences the issue of long distances In Hoshab, girls must cover the distance of 17 km to reach the school and continue their education Residents lodged so many grumbles and grievances To add more no transportation in rural areas makes it tough for girls to cover a long distance to attend the classes regularly and it is also unsafe for girls to go by foot

and the reason behind it is not dist i n g u i s h e d y e t

The ECP might be aware that the path it is following suits a political convenience That might explain why it is getting tangled with the law and constitution while trying to use them to justify its deviation from them

The writter is member of staff

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

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

Open manholes

OPEN manholes are a common sight in Karachi and pose a grave threat to pedestrians, cyclists and motorists alike Accidents caused by open manholes result in traumatic injuries, medical expenses and legal complications, imposing significant burdens on individuals and the already strained healthcare system The risks are amplified during adverse weather conditions or in areas with poor lighting where the visibility of these open manholes is severely compromised Pedestrians are especially vulnerable as a simple misstep could lead to a fall into an uncovered manhole resulting in injury or worse Vehicles traversing our roads are also at risk as an open manhole can cause accidents that not only damage vehicles but also endanger the lives of passengers and drivers Beyond the immediate threats to safety, open manholes reflect poorly on the overall state of our city’s infrastructure and governance They send a message of neglect and mismanagement undermining public trust and confidence in local authorities

There is a dire need for a comprehensive inspection and maintenance programme Regular and rigorous inspections can identify open manholes damaged covers, or potential hazards before they lead to accidents These inspections should be carried out by trained professionals who can efficiently assess the condition of manhole covers and ensure their proper installation Stricter regulations and penalties should be enforced to ensure that utility companies’ staff take the necessary precautions and properly secure manholes after their work is completed

UMM E HABIBA KARACHI

Illegal sales and promotion

ILLEGAL cigarette brands are breaking the law despite the government s ban on advertising and reward schemes for cigarette sales These illicit cigarettes are being sold at much lower prices than the government s regulated minimum price They also lack health warnings on the packaging A recent market survey discovered that tobacco companies in major cities across the country are openly using advertisements and rewards to lure customers The Statutory Regulatory Orders issued by the federal government strictly prohibit the promotion and advertisement of cigarettes through mass media This includes posters displayed inside and outside shops as well as other digital advertisements Despite these regulations, no action has been taken against the violators by the district administration and provincial governments This has increased the illegal trade of tobacco These violations pose significant challenges to the government’s health policy and result in substantial losses to the national exchequer The government must rigorously enforce the laws and crack down on companies and vendors involved in the illicit trade of cigarettes and advertising violations

USAMA GHULAM RASOOL KARACHI

Untold stories

A shop owner who had a shop on the main road by the Swat River disappeared after the floods last year Earlier this month, I saw him again selling fruits at a stall Remembering his kind and warm behaviour with customers, I visited his stall to inquire about his sudden disappearance He informed me that his shop was damaged during the floods and he lost all his savings and stock Initially a few well-intentioned locals and non-governmental organisations involved in relief support provided him with essential items and some money However this help lasted for just two months leaving the retailer in a desperate position Therefore, he was compelled to take loans and set up a fruit stall to support his family His story is just one among the 33 million who were affected by the floods last year Many people lost everything and still have not received help from anywhere Pakistan received a large amount of aid from the international community but it is rather unclear where that aid went The former Prime Minister also formed a cabinet committee to monitor the distribution of aid UBAID

A Crisis of Malnutrition and Star vation in Pakistan

sumption can lead to health risks such as kidney and liver issues and dehydration Just as excess macronutrients pose health risks excessive or suboptimal consumption of micronutrients can lead to disorders

For instance, high calcium consumption can cause kidney stones, excessive sodium can lead to high blood pressure iron excess can cause liver and kidney problems magnesium excess can result in diarrhea and stomach cramps and potassium excess can cause improper heart rhythms and kidney problems

MAlNUTRITIoN may be defined as poor or inadequate nutrition Malnutrition refers to a condition in which the body lacks essential nutrients and calories

It occurs as a result of insufficient intake of carbohydrates protein minerals and vitamins

People need to consume all essential nutrients in adequate quantities; adverse effects occur when these essential nutrients are consumed in either too small or excessively high quantities All nutrients are necessary for the growth, maintenance, and proper functioning of the body

When the body s requirements for both micronutrients and macronutrients are not met it can lead to severe malnutrition

Malnutrition does not simply refer to low body nutrients and lower body weight; it can also occur when nutrient levels and weight exceed the required levels overnourished individuals consume more macronutrients and micronutrients than required in their diets leading to adverse effects on their health Carbohydrates are essential for providing an energy boost, and sources such as fruits, vegetables, and sugary items are good sources of carbohydrates

Excessive carbohydrate intake can lead to high blood sugar levels obesity and cardiovascular diseases Consuming excessive fats especially saturated fats from animal sources can cause high blood cholesterol levels, high blood pressure, and heart diseases

Protein is crucial for body growth and development but excessive protein con-

Vitamins must be consumed in appropriate quantities; otherwise, they can lead to disturbances such as excessive vitamin D intake causing hypercalcemia excessive vitamin C causing diarrhea and excessive vitamin B causing nerve damage This condition is more common in industrialized or developed countries where people have easy access to food but may over-consume it, often coupled with a lack of physical activity due to less education and awareness

Undernourished people lack a proper diet for extended periods resulting in a deficiency of the essential protein and calorie intake required for proper nourishment As a result they suffer from major health issues Mostly people in underdeveloped countries face health hazards due to financial crises, as they cannot afford a healthy diet Food is inaccessible for nearly 800 million people worldwide with the majority being children and the elderly About 30 percebt of children worldwide are underweight due to inadequate nourishment

rickets of vitamin B12 causes anaemia and of vitamin A causes night blindness Minerals are essential for various biological processes, and their deficiency can have adverse effects For instance, iron deficiency causes anaemia, calcium deficiency weakens bones potassium deficiency causes muscle weakness and iodine deficiency leads to goitre starvation refers to an extreme and prolonged lack of food resulting in suffering and death Poverty economic crises low income, government instability, war, forced migration, droughts, and natural disasters are all factors contributing to starvation starvation is a major cause of malnutrition and the inability to access food leads to unhealthy lives and loss of life Most child deaths worldwide are due to malnutrition According to the Global Hunger Index 2022, Yemen is the most affected country by hunger and malnutrition, with conflict, economic crises, political instability poverty and corruption being major reasons behind food insecurity Unemployment increases with higher illiteracy rates and lack of education

In Pakistan children under the age of five experience extremely poor growth

Pregnant and lactating mothers also suffer from malnourishment, increasing the risk of its spread Micronutrient deficiencies, such as iron, vitamin D, and A deficiencies, are widespread among children in Pakistan with iron deficiency leading to alarming rates of anaemia Medical consultation and aid are required to combat malnutrition Punjab is the largest province in Pakistan, with a population of over 100 million people but approximately 49 percent of them suffer from malnutrition

Illnesses can reduce appetite and lower immunity, especially in those undergoing treatment for other diseases Hospitalized patients, particularly those undergoing surgery, often require longer hospital stays, which can increase the risk of malnutrition due to weakness or medication side effects

Surgical patients should be particularly careful

A diet low in carbohydrates can lead to insufficient body weight and appetite Conditions like Kwashiorkor and Marasmus are the result of a lack of body protein Inadequate fat intake results in an energy deficit and can lead to a deficiency of fat-soluble vitamins (A, D, E, K) All vitamins play essential roles in body functioning, and a deficiency in any vitamin can lead to health hazards For example, a deficiency of vitamin C causes scurvy of vitamin D causes

Agricultural production is a significant source of income for people in Yemen and various social economic and political disturbances contribute to this dire situation

The Central African Republic is the second most affected country by malnutrition in Africa with a rapidly increasing ratio of stunted children less education unemployment overpopulation climate change war political conflicts and economic crises are all issues affecting food resources in Africa

Nearly 10 million of these people are children under the age of four, and they represent the most malnourished group in Pakistan

Maternal health plays a crucial role in this context as many women in Punjab suffer from anaemia due to insufficient iron intake While breastfeeding is essential for providing various nutrients and boosting a child's immunity many children suffer due to their mothers poor health Raising awareness and providing proper education are necessary to empower women to take better care of their health sindh has a population of nearly 54 million people, with a surprisingly high malnutrition rate of 36 percent The poorest districts in sindh including Badin Umerkot Tando Muhammad Khan and Tharparkar are the most affected by malnutrition Almost 37 percen of sindh's rural population

The US dollar has become a big problem for the world

lives below the poverty line and it s worth noting that nearly half of sindh s population resides in rural areas The poverty in sindh is a major cause of malnutrition and requires urgent attention There are various reasons for the body's inability to access essential nutrients leading to malnutrition loss of appetite due to medications and improper diet consumption is one primary cause Chewing and swallowing problems can hinder proper food intake our sense of smell and taste enables the body to produce digestive secretions, aiding digestion Weakened smell or less active taste buds can contribute to improper food intake or indigestion Digestive disorders or disturbances can cause slow or improper digestion Improper functioning of digestive organs due to aging and certain medications can result in poor food absorption in the digestive tract Malnutrition is associated with several other diseases such as cancer diabetes heart diseases chronic pain gastrointestinal diseases Parkinson s disease Alzheimer s disease and dementia Individuals over the age of 65 are more vulnerable to malnutrition With aging, immunity decreases, leading to muscle and bone weakness, fractures, disabilities protein deficiency and other health issues that contribute to malnutrition

Illnesses can reduce appetite and lower immunity especially in those undergoing treatment for other diseases Hospitalized patients, particularly those undergoing surgery, often require longer hospital stays, which can increase the risk of malnutrition due to weakness or medication side effects surgical patients should be particularly careful

The writer may be reached at fatimaseerat916@gmail com

Row over renaming India comes

at a volatile G20 moment

“ I f t h e I N D I A a l l i a n c e h o l d s a m e e t i n g a n d re n a m e s t h e a l l i a n c e B h a r a t , w i l l t h e y [ t h e B J P ] c h a n g e t h e n a m e B h a r a t t o o ? ” s a i d A r v i n d K e j r i w a l , l e a d e r o f t h e o p p o s i t i o n A a m A a d m i p a r t y i n a b r i e f i n g o n Tu e s d a y “ W h a t k i n d o f j o ke i s t h i s ? ”

s , c u r re n c y t u r b u l e n c e w i l l re m a i n , t h e d o l l a r w i l l re m a i n a p o w e r f u l d e s t a b i l i s i n g f o rc e f o r o t h e r e c o n o m i e s FINANCIAL TIMES

SYDNEY MORNING HERALD

S t E p H E N B a R t H O l O m E u S z

AsURGE in the value of the Us dollar is crushing other currencies and setting off alarm bells in China and Japan The strength of the dollar, and China’s weakening economy, have had a marked impact on the Australian dollar, which has slumped more than 10 per cent against the greenback since the start of this year to trade below Us64¢

In Japan the vice minister for international affairs, Masato Kanda, foreshadowed government intervention if the yen continues its slide against the Us dollar, saying no option would be ruled out and that Japanese officials were watching the market with a high sense of urgency The yen has depreciated against the Us dollar by almost 11 per cent this year

In China, the yuan, also known as renminbi, is down nearly 6 per cent despite the efforts of its central bank to stabilise it through fixings against the Us dollar (China has a managed exchange rate) that have been continuously higher than the markets have expected

The People s Bank of China has been urging China s state-owned banks to sell dollars in offshore markets, lend less yuan in the Hong Kong market and hold fewer foreign exchange deposits in their reserves to try to tighten liquidity in the currency and help slow the depreciation

In Russia the rouble started the year at just over 71 roubles to the Us dollar It s now about 98 roubles to the dollar

A slump in the value of the rouble last month forced Russia’s central bank to lift its policy rate by a massive 3 5 percentage points, from 8 5 per cent to 12 per cent to try to stabilise the exchange rate and dampen the inflationary implications of the rouble s decline

Recent dollar strength – on a trade-weighted basis the dollar has surged about 5 per cent since mid-July – is being driven by the relative strength of the Us economy and by significant interest rate differentials with other major economies

The 10-year bond rate in the Us for instance is 4 28 per cent and the two-year rate

5 02 per cent Across the entire yield curve Us real interest rates (after inflation) are positive

In Japan, the same nominal rates are 0 65 per cent and 0 01 per cent respectively In China the 10-year rate is about 2 6 per cent and the two-year rate 2 2 per cent In Australia the

10-year rate is 4 16 per cent and the two-year

3 85 per cent In most jurisdictions other than the Us and China, which is experiencing deflation, real interest rates are negative

It’s not just the rates that are diverging The Us economy has remained quite robust despite the Federal Reserve’s aggressive cycle of rate rises over the past 18 months Its policy rate has risen from effectively zero to just over 5 3 per cent over that period and may have one more 25-basis-point increase to go in this cycle

Even if the federal funds rate has peaked, it is expected to remain elevated well into next year unless economic growth slows markedly Japan while loosening the cap it has on 10year bond yields earlier this year has maintained its yield curve control policy and the ultra-low to negative rates it produced in an effort, unlike most other major economies, to induce sustained (but moderate) inflation and economic growth after decades of economic stagnation

China battling deflation from the severe economic fallout from the collapse in its property sector high levels of debt and over-capacity in its economy that restrict policy responses and the slowdown in the global economy, might have been expected welcome a weaker exchange rate and the increased export competitiveness – and inflation – that it would generate

With record outflows of foreign capital –about $Us12 billion ($18 billion) last month –

the authorities focus is more about stabilising the exchange rate and heading off what could develop into a destabilising full-scale capital flight rather than extra income from exports

The plunge in the rouble relates to a collapse in Russia s current account surplus which is running at levels about 85 per cent lower yearto-date than it was over the same period last year lower revenues from sanctioned oil and gas exports and higher import costs related to its military spending on the war in Ukraine, associated social programs and the withdrawal of foreign companies from its economy have been major influences on the currency

The Australian dollar trading at its lowest levels against the Us dollar in 11 months, is

being impacted not only by the interest rate differentials with the Us albeit that they are more modest than most, but also because it appears that the Reserve Bank s rate cycle has plateaued amidst a slowing economy

It’s also being influenced by its role as a way for foreign institutional investors to get an exposure to China s economy that they regard as safer given the openness of the capital markets and confidence in the legal system than direct investment in China

The economic turbulence China is experiencing is affecting, and will continue to affect, the price of the key resource commodities that provide that exposure to China so China’s woes make Australian dollar assets less attractive to offshore investors

The combination of the Us dollar s surge and China s weakness will increase the pressures on other economies, particularly (but not exclusively) those in the Asia-Pacific region, especially those with high levels of sovereign debt and trade deficits

Imports will cost more and the cost of servicing and repaying Us dollar-denominated debt will blow out even as China, the biggest engine of growth for developing economies in recent decades, slows

That makes Us dollar strength as the responses from Japan China Russia and some of the smaller economies in this region suggest a destabilising and threatening force and one that will deter central banks from doing what they would normally do when confronted with weakness within their own economies

Interest rates will have to be maintained at levels higher than warranted by the states of their economies to avoid more significant and disruptive plunges in their currencies and an exodus of foreign capital

Unless and until Us economic growth tapers and expectations of Us rates shift towards lower settings, currency turbulence will remain the dollar will remain a powerful destabilising force for other economies and central bankers and other policymakers will be forced into responses they would prefer they didn t have to make

Is India India, or is it Bharat? Indians have been arguing passionately this week over the rightful name for their country after a government invitation was sent out using India s Hindi-language one Attendees at this week’s G20 summit of world leaders in New Delhi have been invited to a dinner this saturday by Droupadi Murmu India s head of state in an invitation that called her the President of Bharat The Indian internet promptly exploded with speculation that Narendra Modi s government was poised to change the country s official name exclusively to Bharat, as some nationalists in his rightwing Bharatiya Janata party have been urging

“The president has given priority to ‘Bharat’,” education minister Dharmendra Pradhan told local news agency ANI seeming to confirm India’s transition towards a name change “This is the biggest statement to come out of the colonial mindset Journalists quickly identified references to Bharat in recent documents relating to Modi s visits to south Africa and Greece last month and to Indonesia this week

Rival politicians rounded on Modi, claiming he was nervous about the recent formation of an alliance of the BJP’s fragmented opposition, who regrouped under the acronym INDIA with the aim of ousting Modi in the next election “If the INDIA alliance holds a meeting and renames the alliance Bharat will they [the BJP] change the name Bharat too? said Arvind Kejriwal leader of the opposition Aam Aadmi party in a briefing on Tuesday What kind of joke is this?

The opposition s formation in July of INDIA (which stands for the Indian National Developmental Inclusive Alliance) was hailed by commentators as tactically brilliant, as the acronym instantly generated news headlines about Modi opposing India, and vice versa But then this week, as word of a possible name change to Bharat spread some Indians felt Modi had one-upped the opposition at their own game by reframing the discussion as a struggle between India vs Bharat Rumours of a renaming could not have dropped at a more volatile moment In addition to presiding over the G20 summit, his government has called an extraordinary session of parliament later this month, prompting speculation it is readying major legislation or even an early election since taking power nine years ago, Modi’s Hindu nationalist government has taken vigorous steps to purge the public square of the trappings of past foreign domination This drive has extended to both British colonial rule and i t s M u s l i m d y n a s t i e s t h o u g h t h e l a t t e r l i b e r a l I n d i a n s p o i n t o u t a r e n o w firmly part of India s cultural and human DNA

As part of a makeover of New Delhi s British-designed government quarter, Rajpath ( Royal Path , previously Kingsway under the British) was last year renamed Kartavya Path (“The Path of Duty”) The Mughal Gardens outside President Murmu’s official residence were renamed Amrit Udyan (“Garden of Nectar”) in January Government officials for their part frequently use the words colonial mindset when deflecting foreign criticism of any kind

Were Modi to remake India as Bharat he would be following in the footsteps of nationalist leaders elsewhere: Recep Tayyip Erdoğan last year asked the international community to begin calling Turkey Türkiye Myanmar s military leaders, in their own drive to cast off colonial nomenclature, changed the country’s name from Burma in 1989 “Bharat” is in fact already enshrined in the national constitution which makes clear reference to “India that is Bharat” Documents in Hindi have long routinely called India Bharat as do the bilingual roadside banners welcoming delegates to the G20

But discarding the name India entirely would incur costs critics say and could alienate states in the non-Hindi-speaking more prosperous south Indian officials rowed back the notion of an imminent name change in conversations with journalists, giving this week’s controversy the feel of a culture war a baiting tactic for the opposition or possibly a trial balloon “India that is Bharat it is there in the constitution ” s Jaishankar the external affairs minister told ANI in an interview on Wednesday Please I would invite everybody to read it

TOP US, CHINESE AND RUSSIAN OFFICIALS GATHER AT SOUTHEAST ASIA SUMMIT

JAKARTA

A G E N C I E S

US Vice President Kamala Harris Chinese premier Li Qiang and Russian foreign minister Sergei

Lavrov attended an East Asia summit in Indonesia on Thursday, offering an opportunity for direct, highlevel diplomacy between the rivals

The meeting brought Washington and Beijing into contact a day after Premier Li Qiang warned major powers must manage their differences to avoid a new Cold War , ahead of the G20 summit in New Delhi this week where Chinese President Xi Jinping will be absent

Interactions between the officials from the world s top two economies will be closely watched as they seek to control tensions that risk flaring anew over issues ranging from Taiwan to ties with Moscow and the competition for influence in the Pacific

“I ask the leaders of East Asia Summit to make this a forum for us to

strengthen cooperation and not sharpen

rivalries

Indonesian President Joko Widodo said in opening remarks

Harris and Li held their own separate talks with Southeast Asian leaders on Wednesday where the US second-in-command discussed “upholding international law in the South China Sea a statement from her office said the disputed waterway where Chinese claims have angered several Southeast Asian nations

Thursday’s 18-nation summit is the first time top US and Russian officials have sat around the same table in almost two months after US and European officials condemned Lavrov at a July ministerial meeting over Russia s invasion of Ukraine

It comes as US Secretary of State

Antony Blinken announced $1 billion in new assistance to Ukraine in a surprise visit to Kyiv on Wednesday Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi Japanese PM Fumio Kishida South Korean President Yoon Suk Yeol Canada s Justin Trudeau and Australian PM Anthony Albanese are all attending the summit, as

Defence and Mar t yrs Day commemorated in Ankara

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan’s Defence and Martyrs Day was commemorated in Ankara with enthusiasm and patriotism paying tribute and homage to the indomitable courage of the armed forces and martyrs who sacrificed their lives in successfully defending the motherland The event was organized by the embassy of Pakistan in Turkiye and was attended by Turkish Minister of Trade Prof Dr Omer Bolat who graced the occasion as chief guest and Commander Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Metin Gurak as guest of honour a message received from the embassy said on Thursday

Highlighting the significance of September 6, at Defence Day reception hosted at Pakistan House, Ankara, ambassador Dr Yousaf Junaid said that the 16-day war left a lesson that peace-loving brave and self-respecting nations determined to sacrifice lives for their country could not be defeated by force and belligerence Over the last 76 years three major wars, several skirmishes and numerous rounds of unprovoked clashes have been imposed on Pakistan India continues its illegal and immoral military occupation of Jammu and Kashmir and denies the right of self-determination to Kashmiris against every norm of international law and the resolutions of the United Nations Security Council the ambassador added Ambassador Junaid reiterated that Pakistan is committed to regional peace and security and has contributed significantly in global campaigns against terrorism and peace-keeping missions all over the world The ambassador stated that Pakistan believes in constructive engagement resolving issues through dialogue and peaceful co-existence and thanked the Turkish nation for standing with Pakistan and Pakistani people through thick and thin In his remarks, Turkish Minister of Trade Prof Dr Omer Bolat appreciated exemplary and historic bilateral relations in particular flourishing defence ties and excellent cooperation between the armed forces of the two countries He underscored that strategic and comprehensive Pakistan Turkiye bilateral relations are an important factor towards promoting peace and stability in the region and beyond While highlighting the strategic Pakistan Turkiye partnership, Commander Turkish General Staff (TGS) General Metin Gurak paid tribute to the sacrifices of the martyrs and valour of the Pakistan Armed Forces The nation commemorates Defence Day on 6th September each year to honour the sacrifices of Pakistan s valiant armed forces, the professionalism, dedication and devotion with which they have served the nation The 1965 war stands out in Pakistani history as a symbol of unwavering national resolve courage strong will and unmatched spirit of sacrifice

well as leaders from the Association of Southeast Asian Nations (ASEAN) Albanese met with Li on the sidelines of the summit, confirming he would visit China “later this year” as Canberra seeks to stabilise ties with Beijing

G20 host Modi addressed ASEAN leaders on Thursday morning telling them it is essential to build a post-Covid rules-based world order and make collective efforts to ensure a free and open Indo-Pacific”, using another term for the Asia-Pacific region Thursday’s talks come several months after Blinken travelled to Beijing the first visit by the top US diplomat in nearly five years where he met Xi as well as former foreign minister Qin Gang

The meeting was not expected to be a fiery affair despite the differences between the major powers according to a Southeast Asian diplomat who will attend They will state their positions these meetings are not tense Especially at the leaders level where some degree of decorum will be observed

The group will issue a negotiated joint statement after the summit

While the gathering can bring major players together, its ability to help resolve a range of regional and global disputes is limited experts say “It’s a sign of the ASEAN convening power but lately we can say that the East Asia summit is broken It has been turned into a forum for talking points, said Aaron Connelly, senior fellow at Singapore-based think tank IISS

While Thursday’s meeting will be more geopolitical in scope big powers used earlier talks in Jakarta to shore up alliances and lobby the Southeast Asian bloc Li travelled on a Chinese-funded high-speed train project between the capital Jakarta and the Javan city of Bandung with a senior Indonesian minister on Wednesday Harris held separate meetings with Indonesian President Joko Widodo and Philippine President Ferdinand Marcos Jr both ASEAN members on the sidelines of the summit

Japan launches ‘Moon S niper ’ mission

TANEGASHIMA

A G E N C I E S

Japan s Moon Sniper mission blasted off Thursday as the country s space programme looks to bounce back from a string of recent mishaps, weeks after India’s historic lunar triumph

Only the United States Russia China and as of last month India have successfully landed a probe on the Moon, with two failed Japanese missions one public and one private Watched by 35 000 people online the H-IIA rocket lifted off early Thursday from the southern island of Tanegashima carrying the lander which is expected to touch down on the lunar surface in early 2024

To cheers and applause at mission control, the “SLIM” Moon probe and the XRISM space research satellite developed with the US and European space agencies both separated soon afterwards

The launch had already been postponed three times because of bad weather

The Smart Lander for Investigating Moon (SLIM) is nicknamed the Moon Sniper because it is designed to land within 100 metres of a specific target on the surface

That is much less than the usual range of several kilometres

By creating the SLIM lander humans will make a qualitative shift towards being able to land where we want and not just where it is easy to land,” Japanese space agency JAXA said before the launch

By achieving this it will become possible to land on planets even more resource-scarce than the Moon

Globally, there are no previous instances of pinpoint landing on celestial bodies with significant gravity such as the Moon ” the agency added XRISM will perform high-resolution X-ray spectroscopic observations of the hot gas plasma wind that blows through the galaxies in the universe”, according to JAXA

These will help study “the flows of mass and energy revealing the composition and evolution of celestial objects

The lander is equipped with spherical probe that was developed with a toy company

Slightly bigger than a tennis ball it can change its shape to move on the lunar surface

India last month landed a craft near the Moon s south pole, a historic triumph for its low-cost space

programme Its success came days after a Russian probe crashed in the same region and four years after a previous Indian attempt failed at the last moment India on Saturday also launched a probe carrying scientific instruments to observe the Sun s outermost layers in a fourmonth journey

Japan s past attempts have also gone wrong, including last year when it sent a lunar probe named Omotenashi as part of the United States’ Artemis 1 mission

The size of a backpack Omotenashi would have been the world s smallest Moon lander but it was lost

And in April, Japanese startup ispace failed in an ambitious attempt to become the first private company to land on the Moon losing communication with its craft after what it described as a hard landing Japan has also had problems with its launch rockets, with failures after liftoff of the next-generation H3 in March and the normally reliable solid-fuel Epsilon last October

In July the test of an Epsilon S rocket an improved version of the Epsilon, ended in an explosion 50 seconds after ignition

D e a d l y R u s s i a n s t r i ke o n m a r ke t i n

targeting civilians and said there were no military units anywhere near the scene

exchanges organised by Pakistan-China Friendship Association (PCFA) at KP House Islamabad Chinese Cultural Counsellor in Pakistan Mr Zhang Heqing, PCFA Secretary General Syed Ali Nawaz Gilani are prominent among others PR

Pakistan Air Force pays homage to mar tyrs

A Russian strike killed at least 17 people at a market in east Ukraine officials said in an attack that President Volodymyr Zelensky described as deliberate and heinous Following the attack the US has announced $1b aid to Ukraine

Projectiles tore through the centre of Kostiantynivka a town of nearly 70,000 people in the Donetsk region hours after America’s top diplomat arrived in Kyiv to announce new wartime aid

Ukraine s newly appointed defence minister meanwhile vowed to liberate every centimetre of territory occupied by Russia in his first comments in the post

Rescue workers picked through the debris and carried some of the wounded for treatment past charred vehicles and kiosks torn to pieces in the blast, according to images distributed by officials Kremlin accuses Washington of ’ keeping Ukraine in a state of war

Seventeen people were killed and 32 injured as a result of the Russian shelling, Interior Minister Igor Klymenko said, announcing the rescue operation had ended

Prime Minister Denys Shmygal said a child was among those killed in the attack, which took place about 20 kilometres from the front line

Anyone in the world who is still dealing with anything Russian simply ignores this reality said Zelensky Heinous evil Brazen wickedness Utter inhumanity He later accused Russia of deliberately

Li says China ready to resume exchanges as Australia PM confirms China visit

S

Australia s prime minister confirmed on Thursday he will visit China later this year after talks with China’s premier, who said Beijing was ready to resume bilateral exchanges after years of friction

The announcement by Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese on the sidelines of a Southeast Asia summit in Indonesia came after a years-long break in relations over political and economic issues including Chinese sanctions on Australian imports

“I confirmed the invitation from President Xi,” Albanese told reporters after talks with Chinese Premier Li Qiang adding he will visit China later this year at a mutually agreeable time

The trip would be the first to China by an Australian prime minister since 2016

Li told Albanese China was ready to work with Australia to resume exchanges in different areas, Chinese state news agency Xinhua reported without mentioning specific areas

The attack came as US Secretary of State Antony Blinken visited Ukraine with Washington set to unveil more than $1 billion in fresh aid to battle Russia

During a meeting with Foreign Minister Dmytro

Kuleba, Blinken reiterated Washington’s support for Kyiv in its fight to liberate territory in the south and east

We want to make sure that Ukraine has what it needs not only to succeed in the counteroffensive but has what it needs for the long term to make sure that it has a strong deterrent, he told Kuleba

Blinken is expected to announce more than a billion dollars in new US funding for Ukraine”, said a senior State Department official

The Kremlin dismissed Blinken’s Kyiv visit arguing US aid would not influence the course of the special military operation Moscow s term for its offensive

Kremlin spokesman Dmitry Peskov accused Washington of wanting to “keep Ukraine in a state of war, to wage this war till the last Ukrainian”

Kyiv’s army has said it is pressing on with “offensive operations towards eastern Ukraine s warbattered town of Bakhmut which fell to Russian forces in May and the southern Moscow-occupied city of Melitopol

The US has supplied key weaponry to Ukraine that allowed it to launch its counteroffensive this summer and Blinken told Kuleba that “we’ve seen some good progress”

He said the Asia-Pacific region was the shared home of both countries and Beijing would work with Australia to safeguard peace and stability in the region, according to Xinhua

China’s foreign ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said Beijing welcomed the planned visit and that “a healthy and stable China-Australia relationship serves the fundamental interests of the two peoples Albanese thanked President Xi Jinping for the invitation and said his talks with Li were constructive and positive , adding the two countries needed more dialogue to improve relations

“This was an important meeting I told premier Li that we would continue to cooperate where we can disagree where we must and engage in our national interest, he said Albanese last met Xi on the sidelines of the G20 summit on the Indonesian resort island of Bali in November Australia sent a delegation of industry, government academic media and arts representatives to Beijing on Thursday for talks with their Chinese counterparts

Such exchanges were stopped in 2020 and their resumption is the latest sign of a thaw Australian Foreign Minister Penny Wong said last week those renewed discussions illustrated “another step towards increasing bilateral engagement and stabilising our relationship with China”

E x p e r t s f r o m 9 0 co u n t r i e s t o a t t e n d 3 r d B e l t a n d R o a d Fo r u m

BEIJING

M I A N A B R A R

Representatives from more than 90 countries have confirmed their participation in the 3rd Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation (BRF), which will be held in Beijing in October, Mao Ning, a spokesperson of the Chinese Foreign Ministry, told a press conference on Thursday

According to Mao leaders ministers and other official representatives from partner economies of the China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative (BRI), as well as people from various fields such as business, think tanks and civil society who actively support and participate in BRI cooperation, will attend the forum Heads and representatives of many international organizations have also confirmed their participation and it is believed that more attendees will confirm their participation, Mao said The BRF is the grandest event of the 10th anniversary of the BRI this year and an important platform for all par-

ties to discuss and build BRI cooperation with high quality she noted

Ahead of the forum, some foreign media have been consistently badmouthing the BRI, claiming that certain leaders of developed countries will not attend the forum, before detailed information about the event is released

A source familiar with the event preparation told the Global Times earlier that the vast majority of invitations were extended to developing countries, while some developed countries will not be included Whether it s the invitation of leaders or related cooperative arrangements China is pursuing not scale and quantity but quality and effectiveness the source said

According to the source the core purpose of the forum is to collaborate on development, with the majority of participants of the BRI being emerging economies Consequently, invited leaders will come mostly from developing countries

Over the past 10 years the BRI has changed the rules of the game contributing to the maintenance of multilateralism creat-

ing better development conditions for developing countries and providing countries along the BRI with China s development model and experience The BRI has become the world’s most popular public good, as it brought hope and a new development path to the global economy ” Liang Haiming dean of Hainan University s Belt and Road Research Institute said

Data from China s customs showed on Thursday that in the first eight months of this year, China s trade with economies along the BRI totaled 12 62 trillion yuan ($1 72 trillion) up 3 6 percent year-on-year

A report from the World Bank showed that the construction of the BRI has increased trade among participants by 4 1 percent and raised the GDP of low-income countries by 3 4 percent Benefiting from the BRI, the GDP share of emerging and developing economies increased by 3 6 percentage points from 2012 to 2021 The World Bank estimates that by 2030 the construction of the BRI will generate annual benefits of $1 6 trillion for the world

accounting for 1 3 percent of global GDP A total of 7 6 million people will be lifted out of absolute poverty and 32 million out of moderate poverty from 2015 to 2030

“Moreover, the BRI, which is aimed at maintaining world peace and development, is fundamentally different from the zero-sum

logic of the West Liang noted

Contrary to what the West claims the initiative is neither a geopolitical nor a military alliance, nor an exclusionary bloc or a “high-class club,” but a process of openness, inclusiveness and common development the expert said

CORPORATE CORNER

SNGPL detec ts 325,000 gas pilferage c ases, recovers Rs2.4b during crackdown

Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has announced launch of crackdown against gas theft In a press conference held at SNGPL Head Office in Lahore, MD SNGPL Amer Tufail said that the company has always dealt strictly with gas theft cases but the drive has been sped up on the special directives of Federal Government MD SNGPL said that the company lodged 803 FIRs in the last three years against gas theft During the same period, more than 325,000 gas theft cases were detected and a recovery of Rs 2 4 billion has already been made from those involved in the act He added that the company has made remarkable progress in UFG reduction during the last four years MD SNGPL Amer Tufail informed journalists that the federal government had assigned a UFG reduction target of 18 BCF during 3 years i e from FY 201920 to FY 2021-22 whereas the company surpassed the target and reduced it by 23 BCF saving around Rs 12 5 billion of the national kitty PR

TCL’s Cricket Fiesta: Massive discounts on 85’ and 55’ big screen LED T Vs for ultimate cricket experience!

L A H O R E: TCL, Pakistan’s No 1 LED TV brand and The Official Associate Partner of the Pakistan Cricket Team is gearing up for an exhilarating cricket season with the announcement of their highly anticipated Cricket Fiesta Sale This exciting limited time offer brings unmatched discounts on TCL's top of the line LED TVs including 85' P735 and 55' P635, ensuring that cricket fans can enjoy the game like never before TCL is offering the spectacular 85-inch P735 LED TV at an irresistible price of just PKR 549 900 This remarkable offer includes a massive discount of PKR 200 000 providing an incredible 26% off its original price The TCL 85 P735 boasts cuttingedge features such as Google TV, Dolby Audio, Dolby Vision, Micro Dimming, 4K Ultra HD resolution, and MEMC technology, guaranteeing an immersive cricket-watching experience Allowing you to enjoy cricket match with friends and family on the big screen PR

LUMS welcomes 1,200 students for orientation 2023

L A H O R E: LUMS recently welcomed a diverse cohort of 1 200 students from cities towns and villages across Pakistan at its Orientation The Orientation featured a series of engaging events designed to help students transition to university life Dr Arshad Ahmad, Vice Chancellor, LUMS welcoming the new batch, said, “The LUMS community is committed to foster an environment where you can explore your passions engage with exceptional faculty and collaborate with peers from diverse backgrounds Your time here is about immersing yourself in all aspects of university life, growing as an individual and becoming a responsible and innovative leader ”Orientation 2023

PM ASSURES TO ADDRESS ISSUES OF BUSINESS COMMUNIT Y ON PRIORIT Y BASIS

AH S A N Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) leading a delegation held a meeting with the Caretaker Prime Minister Anwar-ul-Haq Kakar and presented their proposals to revive the economy Addressing the delegation, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar ul Haq Kakar said that solving the issues of the business community is among the top priorities of his government He welcomed the proposals of the ICCI delegation and assured the implementation of feasible proposals among them

The Prime Minister said that soon after assuming the duties of the Prime Minister he started holding meetings with the business community so that steps can be taken to solve their problems He said that despite the current economic conditions of the country, the business community is playing its important role in the development of the country s economy as well as providing employment opportunities He said that the government is ensuring reforms in the tax system for which the tax system is

being digitized He said that unless the tax collection in Pakistan increases, the improvement of the country's economy is not possible He informed the delegation that an operation has been started across the country especially in the border areas to prevent smuggling He said that crackdowns have been done during the last 48 years to prevent smuggling, and positive results of this move are being received He said that the neighboring countries have also welcomed the operation against smuggling He said that by restoring the confidence of businessmen

PM&DC registers 274,994 doc tors in nine months

I S L A M A B A D: The Pakistan Medical Council right after assuming the charge & in very short span of time started working dedicatedly for doctors students and relevant stakeholders and took all necessary steps to resolve their genuine and relevant issues Under the umbrella of the President PM&DC the licensing Department for the last nine months issued more than 41004 renewals,13208 provisional registrations to new graduates and 13888 full registrations to doctors who completed their house jobs successfully Almost 9440 good standing certificates were issued to doctors who intended to proceed to work abroad PM&DC has issued 2806 registrations to doctors with additional postgraduate qualifications 197 deleted postgraduate qualifications have also been readded in the registration certifi197 deleteddent PM&DC Prof Dr Riwan said that the department's priority is to facilitate doctors students and other stakeholders in the larger interest of Pakistan He also added negligence of any sort will not be tolerated He added that all doctors are advised in their own interest to revalidate their registration certificates in time PR

industrialists and investors the government will further stabilize the country's economy He said that the process of reforms in the electricity sector is going on rapidly and strong action will be taken against the power theft

The Prime Minister said that consultation with all the stakeholders is necessary to solve the country s problems and issued instructions to the Ministry of Commerce to start consultation with the Chambers of commerce across the country to get the input of the business community for revival of economy He

Message of C hief of Naval S taff Admiral Muhammad Amjad Niazi on Nav y D ay

Pakistan Navy celebrates

8th September as the Navy Day to pay tribute to the sacrifices of its Officers and Men who demonstrated self-belief, grit-n- guile and absolute faith in Allah SWT to venture into enemy waters and bombarded coastal town of Dwarka

On this day, we acknowledge the sacrifices of our Shuhadas & Ghazis and honour their bravado and valiant spirit which lifted the morale of the nation against a sinister enemy during the 1965 War During Operation Dwarka codenamed Operation

directed the concerned authorities to submit an early report regarding the expansion of the scope of point of sales of FBR He said that the performance of commercial attachés posted in Pakistani embassies will be improved He stressed that the CDA performance should be improved and the business community should be made a part of the consultation process He said that CDA should digitize all the facilities provided to citizens and land records Secretary Commerce Secretary Industries Chairman FBR Chairman CDA and relevant senior officials were also present on the occasion Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari, President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry said that the business community will fully cooperate with the government in efforts to revive the economy He congratulated Anwaar ul Haq Kakar on assuming the charge of Prime Minister and briefed him about the key issues of the business community with proposals to their solution

Faad Waheed Senior Vice President Engr Azhar ul Islam Zafar Vice President

ICCI Group Leader Khalid Iqbal Malik Zafar Bakhtawari Mian Akram Farid Muhammad Ejaz Abbasi, Khalid Javed, Tariq Sadiq, Sardar Yasir Ilyas Khan and others were included in the ICCI delegation Rd red red red

Sastaticket.pk partners with Product Soch to foster product management excellence in Pakistan

at Sundar Industrial Estate in Lahore The engagement comprised of a detailed business overview and discussion on strengthening of U S -Pakistan bilateral business and trade ties, advancing sustainability through mutual best practices and streamlining gender equity for economic inclusion and empowerment of women in Pakistan Ambassador Blome PR

PTA

held to discuss areas of mutual interest

SOMNATH Pakistan Navy s seven major warships proceeded on an audacious mission inside enemy territory and destroyed significant shore installations including Indian radar station and a radio beacon at Dwarka PN Flotilla’s attack took the enemy by surprise and dealt a severe blow to the morale of the Indian Navy that not only rattled its defences but paralysed its response Furthermore PN Submarine GHAZI posed PR

Defence D ay celebrations held at Pakistan High Commission in London

A B A D: A delegation of the Cable Operators Association of Pakistan (CAP) visited PTA Headquarters today The delegation met with Chairman PTA Major General (R) Hafeez Ur Rehman to discuss matters of mutual interest The primary focus of the meeting was to deliberate on regulatory matters and concerns regarding provision of internet services by cable operators in Pakistan Chairman PTA extended a warm welcome to the delegation and listened to their concerns He emphasized that PTA is proactively reviewing the current CVAS License (Class Value Added Services) regime through a stakeholder consultation process to address issues related to the provision of internet services, taking into account the ever-evolving dynamics of the digital market and technological advancements PTA is committed to providing support and facilitation to the cable industry within the legal parameters PR

IBA K arachi, NCSW and UNFPA launch second National Media Fellowship to counter gender-based violence and child marriages

The Centre for Excellence in Journalism (CEJ-IBA) at the Institute of Business Administration Karachi; the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW); and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA) collaboratively launched the second National Media Fellowship (NMF) This official launch is an innovative step aimed at addressing and raising awareness about the pressing issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriages in the society This fellowship is set to make a significant impact on the discourse surrounding these critical issues PR

The

High Commissioner, on this momentous occasion, paid rich tributes to the Armed Forces and the people of Pak who rendered great sacrifices in Pakistan's fight against external aggression PR

Shahid Ashraf Tarar presides over 44th meeting of NHC, NHA to focus on increase in revenue through various schemes

I S L A M A B A D: Federal Minister for Communications and Railways Mr Shahid Ashraf

K A R A C H I: Sastaticket pk Pakistan s leading online travel and tourism platform, is excited to announce its partnership with Product Soch, a distinguished Product Management community The collaboration aims to fortify the practice of product management in Pakistan creating an environment where both emerging and seasoned professionals can connect collaborate and collectively enhance their expertise At the core of this partnership Sastaticket pk will serve as the Venue Partner for Product Soch, facilitating a dynamic platform for product leaders, practitioners, cross-functional managers and forward thinkers to converge share insights and advance the Pakistani Product Management community PR

Ministr y of C limate C hange, UNDP in collaboration with NED University hold awareness c ampaign for World Ozone D ay – 2023

K A R A C H I: On 5th Sep 2023 Awareness Raising Campaign: World Ozone Day – 2023 was organized by the National Ozone Unit (NOU) of Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC), Government of Pakistan along with the United Nations Development Programme (UNDP), and NED University, Karachi under the Monteral Protocol (MP) National Ozone Unit (NOU) and Montreal Protocol (MP) are led by Dr Saleem Janjua who is the Head of Montreal Protocol (MP) and the Chief of National Ozone Unit (NOU) of the Ministry of Climate Change (MoCC) & UNDP The NOU is performing various important activities at the national and international levels in the domain of environment ozone and climate change PR

Fertilizer industry can drive agricultural transformation under Green Initiative Pakistan

K A R A C H I: Pakistan is the only country out of the top five major urea consumers – including China, Brazil USA and India - that is unfortunately not investing in capacity growth over the next five years even though it is facing a rapid surge in population A robust domestic fertilizer industry can prove to be an invaluable partner for the Government to help achieve greater food security and agricultural exports under the Green Initiative Pakistan “As the fertilizer production in Pakistan has stagnated over time the Government is forced to spend increasingly significant amounts of valuable foreign exchange to import urea To transform the agriculture sector under the Green Initiative, it is crucial to prioritize sustainable PR

GOVT READY TO SUPPORT ECP FOR ELECTIONS LIKELY BEFORE FEB NEXT YEAR: PM K AK AR

g ASSURES PUBLIC CAN CHOSE LEADERSHIP WITH POWER OF VOTES WITHOUT ANY INTERFERENCE

R E TA K E R Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar on Thursday said that general elections in the country might be held ahead of February next year, but the Election Commission of Pakistan was the relevant forum to take a decision in this regard

The ECP was mandated to take a decision in this regard and the caretaker government would fulfill its constitutional obligation by extending all possible support to the ECP for holding of elections the prime minister expressed his views during an interview with a private Tv channel (Aaj News) programme

To a question the prime minister said that the Supreme Court was an apex body and if it announced any decision over the polls matter, it would be binding upon the interim government to implement its verdict in letter and spirit

Let me assure all the voters across the country that they can chose the leadership of their choice with the power of their votes and there will be no institutional interference, the prime minister asserted Prime Minister Kakar further

elaborated that they would ensure a level playing field for all political parties who would have the freedom of expression and holding of processions He said that he himself would keenly observe the parties and would vote for the one that could give a suitable economic revival agenda

To a question, the caretaker prime minister said that the interim government was working under a synchronized manner The government and other institutions including the military leadership were working together for the achievement of the economic objectives, he added PM Kakar emphatically said that it was the domain of the political parties to forge an economic charter and take the issue to the public and made it clear that the caretaker set up

IHC indicts Islamabad DC, three police officers for contempt over PTI leaders’ detention

ISLAMABAD

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday indicted Islamabad Deputy Commissioner (DC) Irfan Nawaz

Memon and three others for contempt in a case pertaining to the prolonged detention of PTI leaders –Shehryar Afridi and Shandana Gulzar under the

Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance

Justice Babar Sattar presided over the hearing during which the court also indicted Senior Superintendent of Police (SSP) operations Jamil Zafar Superintendent of Police (SP) Farooq Buttar and Margalla Station House Officer (SHO) Nasir Manzoor

The development comes a day after the IHC stripped Islamabad’s district magistrate of his powers to detain suspects under the MPO while hearing the same case

The PTI leaders had been held by the police in connection with the May 9 violence with Afridi first arrested on May 16 and Gulzar taken into custody on August 9

On August 16 the IHC had allowed Afridi and Gulzar to be released and decided to indict the DC and SSP for contempt after deeming their responses to the court as “unsatisfactory” A day prior to this, the IHC had also issued show-cause notices to the city police chief chief commissioner and other police officials for criminal contempt of court for abuse of authority to obstruct dispensation of justice and cause diversion to the course of justice

During today s proceedings, DC Memon furnished an unconditional apology and urged the court to not indict him The DC and the three other officers denied the charge after they were indicted with SSP Zafar seeking time to defend himself

At the outset of the hearing Advocate General Ayaz

Shaukat presented his arguments against indicting the officials He urged the IHC to not indict them as the officers have furnished an unconditional apology “How can we not indict them? The matter of contempt of court was under way here yet you issued an MPO order ” Justice Sattar remarked

Addressing the officials Justice Sattar said If you are sentenced you will be sent to jail at the most

It is a six-month sentence You may also live in jail and see how those who you send to jail live there, he remarked At this, the DC replied, The aim of this [detention] order was not to violate the court order at all ” He then furnished an unconditional apology to the court which was rejected

Subsequently DC Memon s indictment order was read out aloud and he was indicted Then the proceedings to indict SSP Zafar were initiated Justice Sattar read out aloud the SSP s indictment order and he was charged with the offence, which he denied At this, the IHC asked him if he wished to defend himself for which he sought more time from the court

Similarly SP Buttar and SHO Manzoor were also indicted with them denying the charges as well and the hearing was adjourned

M P O D E T E N T I O N S: Afridi was first arrested on May 16 from his Islamabad residence under Section 3 of the MPO Ordinance, 1960 He was rearrested on May 30 under the same section soon after his release from prison On July 31 Afridi was granted bail by the Lahore High Court s Rawalpindi bench but was picked up a few days later by the Rawalpindi police soon after his release from Adiala jail

could not give such an agenda

It should be an indigenous programme of all the political parties who should opt to hold consultations among themselves and it was not the responsibility of the interim government, he reiterated With regard to the electricity issues, the prime minister said that it was unjustified that those power consumers who had been contributing with payment of their bills were burdened at the cost of the power thieves

He said that the interim government could not resolve the power issues in the short period, which included theft, losses, DISCOS privatization and stressed upon a midterm plan to address these The prime minister said that privatization of DISCOS was being commenced as the private sec-

tor had to run the business activities adding that the caretaker government had given a plan for implementation He also expressed the confidence that his government would achieve something in this regard by the end of its tenure

To another query he maintained that during their discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) there was no opposition to targeted subsidy to the poor power consumers

The prime minister further said that they were holding negotiations with the provinces over the markets closures timings for energy conservation and emphasised upon reversal of attitude in this regard

The prime minister said that the country could attract $25 to 50 million investment in diverse sectors in the next few years, as the United Arab Emirates, Saudi Arabia and Qatar had expressed their interests in various ventures

By the end of December they could foresee certain agreements as there were different proposals on the table in this respect, he added About National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) rules, the caretaker prime minister said that data collection had been very sensitive and security linked issue throughout the world especially in countries like Pakistan which faced terrorism

Article 6 should be applied on CEC for violating Constitution: SCBA president

In a hard-hitting speech Supreme Court Bar Association (SCBA) President Abid Zuberi on Thursday said that Article 6 of the Constitution which deals with treason should be applied on Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Sikandar Sultan Raja for violating the top court’s order and the Constitution as he failed to hold elections within 90 days after an assembly s dissolution

On March 1 the SC in a split verdict, ruled that elections for Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab assemblies should be held within 90 days The direction was given by the apex court in the suo motu notice verdict which was announced by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial In light of the SC s ruling, President Arif Alvi announced April 30 as a date for the Punjab polls after consulting the ECP Later the electoral watchdog announced the postponement of the elections in Punjab citing security reasons as the major cause behind the change of plan The ECP postponed the polls till October 8

In April, the SC declared the ECP’s decision on the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) election null and void ordering to hold snap polls a persistent demand forced by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan after

he dissolved the assemblies in both the provinces The top court ordered the ECP to hold elections in Punjab on May 14 The ECP, however, could not comply with the top court’s order

Addressing the Lawyers Convention organised by SCBA Zuberi lashed out at the ECP saying that the top court s order could not be implemented so far The ECP is violating the SC s order and the Constitution, said Zuberi He also announced that the SCBA would challenge the recent amendments to the Official Secrets Act and the Pakistan Army Act in the SC Aitzaz terms CEC facilitator

Firing a fresh salvo at the CEC veteran lawyer Aitzaz Ahsan termed Raja as a facilitator and “violator of the Constitution” for not holding general elections in the country on time

Last month the Council of Common Interests (CCI) approved the results of the 2023 digital census, making it almost certain that general elections may not be held on time

Then prime minister Shehbaz Sharif had chaired the meeting to decide the fate of the 2023 census Addressing the lawyers convention via a video link Ahsan said, The CEC has become a facilitator for not holding election [on time] He is a violator of the Constitution ” Stressing the need for holding the upcoming general

PTI lashes at PDM ‘mafia’ for spending Rs10b on media ads

The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lashed out at the previous PDM government of ‘crooks’ for spending around Rs10 billion on advertisements during the past 16 months long rule so as the media could not raise voice against the rising fascism and economic disaster in the country

In a statement, the PTI spokesperson strongly reacted to the massive spending by the PDM government on media advertisements and said that the shameful PML-N-led PDM government used the taxpayers’ money to silence the media

He said that the details of the expenditure incurred by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting in the name of advertisements were shameful and embarrassing because the country was reeling under severe financial crisis

PTI Spokesperson stated that the information that came to light showed as how the criminals used advertisements as a means of political bribery and lies to provide state patronage

He said that incompetent and inept group spent around Rs10 billion on misleading propaganda in just 16 months, adding that the criminal rulers of PDM lied to the Supreme Court and refused to give money for the elections to deny the right of 17o million voters of Punjab and Pakhtunkhwa

elections on time the prominent lawyer termed the fresh delimitation as delaying tactics

Ahsan said that the caretaker set up does not have power to make administrative decisions He urged the chief justice of Pakistan (CJP) to take decisions on the military courts ahead of his retirement

On his part Sardar Latif Khosa while referring to the current political situation in the country, said, Neither is there law nor the Constitution ”

He criticised the authorities over the elevator incident

Last month the senior lawyer and 16 others were trapped in a malfunctioning elevator at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) when he was returning after giving his arguments on a plea seeking suspension of Khan’s three-year jail sentence in the Toshakhana case

There is no rule of law in the country Court verdicts are not being obeyed, he said and asked if everyone had gone blind, can t everyone see what is happening in this country “If you don’t raise your voice for your rights today then your destiny is slavery Khosa warned the people Lawyers’ convention demands elections within 90 days

The All-Pakistan Lawyers Convention demanded that the next general elections be held within 90 days in the country

Imran, Q ureshi ’s bail pleas in c ypher c ase fixed for hearing on S aturday

The hearing on the bail petitions filed by former premier and PTI Chairman Imran Khan and Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi in the cypher leak case registered under Official Secrets Act was adjourned till Sept 9 (Saturday) Since, Special Court Judge Abul Hasnat Zulqarnain is on leave due to which hearing of the case was adjourned on Thursday without any proceedings The judge is on leave till September 8

The PTI lawyers appeared in the court They requested the court staff to fix their petitions for Sept 9

But the staff told them that Judge Zulqarnain would be back on duty on Monday (Sept 11) and it would be better if their petition was fixed for Monday

But the PTI lawyer said that if the judge was available on Saturday (Sept 9) they would give their arguments So on the PTI lawyers insistence the court staff fixed their pleas for Sept

lamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday terminated a contempt petition regarding the re-arrest of PTI President Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi During hearing the case, Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri remarked that this court had not issued such order to stop the arrest of petitioner in any other case How the order of this court was violated when the former CM was released he questioned

The lawyer of petitioner argued that his client was arrested again after being released on court s direction

Justice Jahangiri remarked that it could be a contempt if the petitioner was not released on court s order

The lawyer said that the Lahore High Court (LHC) had also stopped arrest of former CM in any other case to which the bench said that then the contempt case should be filed to the same forum Justice Jahangiri remarked that the court had ordered release of the petitioner if he was not wanted in any other case If he had been arrested in any other case then the trial court would view the matter, he said The court, subsequently, terminated the contempt case filed by Pervaiz Elahi

PTI spokesperson went on to say that after causing the worst political constitutional and economic disaster in the country the media was silenced through advertisements, as these hefty amounts were transferred to the coffers of the owners of certain TV channels and newspapers and journals in total disregard of merit and transparency

He stated that with these Rs10 billion the media was mobilized to divide the nation fuel hatred discredit the judiciary and to make the worst attack against the constitution and democracy successful PTI spokesperson said that under the guise of advertisements, the media was persuaded to remain silent on the serious violation of civil liberties and restrictions on communication and expression

He stated that after the promotion of bribery in politics the criminal attempts to promote the culture of bribery in the media was a shameful example of mafia politics

However, PTI spokesperson, said that the nation rejected all the tactics of lies and crime with its political consciousness He said that PTI would advance the agenda of freedom of expression and communication and the welfare of journalists in accordance with the spirit of the Constitution

New Chinese Ambassador takes charge, vows to work for bolstering Sino-Pak friendship

ISLAMABAD S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T

The newly-appointed Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan Jiang Zaidong will work for bolstering the robust friendship and enduring strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan

The recently appointed Chinese ambassador to Pakistan, Jiang Zaidong, arrived in Islamabad on Wednesday to officially assume his role,” the Embassy posted on social media

In the statement the Embassy emphasized Ambassador Jiang Zaidong s dedication to bolstering the robust friendship and enduring strategic cooperation between China and Pakistan Amb Jiang Zaidong was nominated as the new ambassador to Pakistan in July to succeed Ambassador Nong Rong who has been elevated as Assistant Minister for Foreign Affairs of China

During this interim period the Charge d Affaires of the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan Ms Pang Chunxue had been diligently performing the ambassadorial duties Ms Pang was duly assisted by Ms Bao Zhong, Counsellor for Political & Media section, Chinese Embassy Islamabad

Born in February 1970, Amb Jiang was appointed as Chinese Ambassador to Laos in October 2018

Mr Jiang joined the foreign service in 1992 and has served primarily in Vietnam In 2017 he was appointed deputy director of Department of Asian Affairs He remained in that position until October 2018, when he was appointed Chinese Ambassador to Laos according the National People’s Congress decision

T TP terrorists not using Americ an weapons in cross-border raids on Pakistan: US

The United States on Thursday said it is ready to work with Pakistan to counter the threat it faced from Afghanistan border, strongly rejecting suggestions that terrorists are using weapons left behind by American US National Security Council spokesman John Kirby reacted sharply to the suggestion that military equipment left by American forces in Afghanistan fell into the hands of militants and created security problems for countries in the region including Pakistan However the spokesperson said that Washington would work with Pakistan to counter the threat it faced from Afghanistan border

The US reaction came amid rising incidents of cross-border terrorist attacks inside

Pakistan from Afghanistan In the latest attack on Wednesday, Pakistan troops repelled a cross-border raid from Afghanistan by hundreds of Taliban militants

The ensuing four-hour intense gunbattle left behind 12 terrorists dead and four Pakistani soldiers martyred

At a briefing in Washington on Wednesday, US NSC Coordinator for Strategic Communications John Kirby discussed Biden-Harris Administration goals and priorities at the upcoming G20 Leaders Summit and US-ASEAN and East Asia Summits

At one point a journalist said Groups like ISIS, Al-Qaeda, and Tehrik-i-Taliban Pakistan, many others, also gained control of the military equipment, about $7 billion, left behind by American forces ”

John Kirby interrupted him with “whoa whoa whoa say that last part again?

When the journalist said that militants gained the control of the military equipment left behind by American forces in Afghanistan Kirby stopped him there: Just let me stop you right there

He then vociferously rejected the notion that the US abandoned military hardware in Afghanistan There was no equipment left behind by American forces There was a small amount of equipment and some aircraft at the airport when we finished our evacuation efforts but they were all rendered unusable as we left In fact the only thing that we left – we left that the Taliban could take advantage of was some airport mechanic capabilities: tow trucks and trucks with ladders on them, and that kind of things; I think some firefighting equipment ” Kirby did admit that military equipment fell into the hands of militants saying the

equipment that you’re talking about, and I don’t mean to get pugilistic here, but it’s an important point – the equipment that people are saying the Americans left behind that was equipment that was transferred well in advance of our departure to the Afghan National Security Forces It belonged to the Afghan National Security Forces, because that was part of the mission that our troops were involved in Afghanistan to do in the first place which was to train up and to support Afghan national security forces as they took charge of security in their country And they needed equipment to do that and so there – yeah, there was turnover of American equipment to them Kirby said that Afghan forces abandoned that equipment not the United States “Sorry to interrupt you but that’s an important point and I wanted to make sure I made

that,” he said

In response to another question about President Biden’s remarks that Pakistan is the most dangerous country with the nuclear weapons John Kirby said the Biden administration would work with Pakistan to mitigate threat from Afghanistan border We know that the Pakistani people continue to suffer the threat from terrorism, particularly along that border, that border with Afghanistan And we’re going to continue to work with Pakistan – to the degree that they re comfortable with of course – to help address those kinds of security threats to their own people and to their own borders because it s not an insignificant threat There’s a – there is a lot of danger that’s still posed to the Pakistani people and the President understands that and he’s committed to continue to work with Pakistan