Epaper_23-09-11 LHR

TA S K F O R C E S ET U P T O D ET E R M I N E S I Z E O F

F E D E R A L , P R O V I N C I A L G O V T S : P M K A K A R

n c e , a d d r e s s r e a s o n s f o r i l l g o v e r n a n

PRIME Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar Sunday said a task force headed by the finance minister would determine the sizes of federal and provincial govern-

crease revenue In an interview with a private television he said We are convinced that there is a need to rationalise expenditure and increase the revenue of the government to create a viable state and lessen existential threats due to economic vulnerability ” He said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was attempting to help achieve appropriate governance and address the reasons for ill governance in the past

The civil institutions were laxed in their working in the past but now the army leadership with its organizational strength had increased the level of confi-

dence of civil service which had renewed energy to implement policies and achieve goals he added

The prime minister said the government was optimistic about investment from Saudi Arabia in the backdrop of talks between Crown Province of Saudi Arabia Mohammad Bin Salman and Pakistan s chief of army staff

The government was planning for a visit of the Crown Prince of Saudi Arabia, adding the visit would be aimed at fully exploiting economic opportunities in the country The prime minister informed that a Pakistani consortium of oil companies and Saudi oil company Aramco were in

US senator denies allegations of ‘political engineering’ in Pakistan

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

business talks for setting up an oil refinery in Pakistan The United Arab Emirates had also shown keen interest in the exploration of minerals in Pakistan, he mentioned PM Kakar said while citing skewed reasons for lack of industry and agriculture in Balochistan in the past a lenient approach was adopted towards the issue of smuggling which adversely affected the economy and the goods meant for border areas went to inner parts of the country Smuggling from border areas affected import policies and the economic management he remarked

Pakistan to respond resurgent ter rorism from across border befittingly: Bugti

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan on Sunday vowed to respond to resurgent terrorists attacks from across the border in a befitting manner, reiterating the call for Afghan interim government not to let its soil be used against any country

The call comes on the heel of an exchange of fire between the security forces and terrorists in which seven terrorists were killed and six others were critically injured in Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province on Sunday Addressing a press conference in Islamabad Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti urged the Afghanistan government to abide by the Doha Agreement which ensures that Afghan soil will not be used against any country

7 terrorists killed in Chitral gunfight: ISPR

The terrorists of TTP [Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan] entered from Afghanistan,” he said, vowing that Pakistan would respond firmly to terrorism and would defend every inch of the country Sarfraz Bugti further said that it was their responsibility to defend every inch of the country, adding that Pakistan Army was giving a befitting response to terrorists

The interior minister also lauded the people of Chitral for helping Pakistan Army in this ‘crucial time’ vowing that no one will be allowed to disturb peace by force Pakistan has witnessed an uptick in terror activities in recent months, especially in KP and Balochistan, after the outlawed Tehreek-iTaliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November last year

At least seven terrorists were killed and six others were critically injured during an exchange of fire with the security forces in Chitral district of KhyberPakhtunkhwa province the military said in a statement on Sunday According to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) the intense exchange of fire took place in general area Ursoon of Chitral district of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa province It said that the sanitisation of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area “Locals of the area appreciated the operation by the security forces and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country, the statement further said The fresh incident comes a couple of days after the Pakistan Army repelled a cross-border raid from Afghanistan by a large group of TTP terrorists equipped with modern weapons targeting the two military posts located in the general area of Kalash in the Chitral district

US Senator Chris Van Hollen on Sunday stated the US President Joe Biden-led administration has no intentions of interfering in the internal politics of Pakistan and denied all allegations of political engineering I have been in contact with the Biden administration for a long time and can confidently say that there was no attempt made to engineer anything related to Pakistani politics ” the senator said while speaking with Pakistan journalists during the annual meeting and gala dinner of the DC Maryland Virginia (DMV) chapter of the Association of Pakistani Physicians of North America The senator s statement comes as Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan is being investigated regarding a diplomatic cipher that the party chief claimed contained the evidence of alleged US involvement in his ouster from power in April last year through a no-confidence vote Senator Hollen was the guest of honor at the ceremony which was also attended by Pakistan s Ambassador to the US Masood Khan The event, meanwhile, became a platform for the American politician to address critical issues related to US-Pakistan relations and the role of the Biden administration in Pakistani politics He iterated that it is up to the people of Pakistan to decide their leaders and further expressed the need to ensure that the will of the Pakistani people is heard and reflected, advocating for free and fair elections Highlighting the global importance of transparent elections, the US senator said: “The US, other democracies, and the people of Pakistan have an interest in ensuring that elections are free and fair Commenting on bilateral relations between the two countries the senator affirmed the Biden administration s desire for a strong partnership with Pakistan He spoke about the recent assistance provided by the US after the devastating floods in Pakistan as an example of the American government’s commitment towards the calamity-stricken nation He also praised the US s role in supporting Pakistan to secure the $3 billion International Monetary Fund s (IMF) bailout package The senator underlined the significance of maintaining good relations with Pakistan, stressing that such relations were essential for global stability and security The cypher controversy first emerged on March 27 2022 when Khan just days before his ouster after a no-confidence motion against him brandished a letter claiming that it was a cipher from a foreign nation which mentioned that his government should be removed from power

UZBEK-AFGHAN-PAK RAILWAY PROJECT: A POTENTIAL ‘GAME-CHANGER’ FOR PAKISTAN

PESHAWAR

TH E Uzbekistan-Afghanistan-Pakistan railway project is poised to become a game-changer for Pakistan and emerge a key connectivity hub for Central Asian countries according to Ziaul Haq Sarhadi

Chairman Standing Committee of Sarhad

Chamber of Commerce and Industry

(SCCI) on Pakistan Railways and Dry Ports

This ambitious railway endeavor, spanning a total of 760 kilometers, is set to traverse through Termiz in Uzbekistan, Logar, and Mazar-i-Sharif in Afghanistan ultimately connecting with the Kohat railway track in Pakistan Sarhadi described it as a promising development that would not only grant Pakistan access to Central Asian and Russian markets but also reduce transportation costs from Uzbekistan to Pak-

Mushaal asks G20 to focus on ending HR abuses in IIOJK

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Special Assistant to Prime Minister on Human

Rights and Women Empowerment Mushaal

Hussein Mullick has urged the G20 countries to use the opportunity to force the worst human rights violations in the Indian Illegally

Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) and ensure a lasting solution to the Kashmir dispute

istan by 40% slashing delivery times by five days

He said this network is expected to enhance Pakistan s capacity for importing affordable energy and commodities from Central Asia and Russia while facilitating the export of Pakistani goods and services

Moreover it aligns with Pakistan s longstanding goal of strengthening trade political, and cultural ties with Central Asian countries

Sarhadi, who also serves as Director of

Pak-Afghan Joint Chamber of Commerce and Industry underscored the significance for landlocked Central Asian nations providing them with direct access to Pakistan s seaports in Karachi Gwadar and Port Qasim, thus facilitating connections to the Middle East and Africa

Afghanistan, heavily reliant on Pakistan for trade also stands to benefit as goods transported via rail to Mazar-i-Sharif

can be efficiently distributed throughout Afghanistan by road Moreover the construction and operation of the railway track are expected to generate employment opportunities, providing a positive impact on the local workforce

Projected for completion in 2027 the project is expected to catalyse trade and boost regional tourism by reducing travel costs

However, Sarhadi highlighted that the realisation of these benefits hinges on achieving lasting peace in the region and improving relations among neighbouring countries He noted that the involvement of neighboring countries would be crucial to overcoming obstacles in project implementation The three countries involved have finalised the shortest possible route for the railway track and signed a joint protocol This initiative is celebrated as a monumental event in Uzbekistan with the goal of enhancing regional trade and connectivity by

Kundi terms statements of Bilawal, Zardari on delimitations as same

providing landlocked Central Asia and Afghanistan with direct access to Pakistan s seaports By 2030, it is estimated that the railway could transport up to 15mn tonnes of goods annually

This railway link will address the challenge faced by businesses transportation costs Compared to the lengthy and hazardous existing roads this railway offers a safer and more efficient trade route, effectively reducing transportation costs

While this project promises numerous advantages, it must overcome certain challenges including the railway corridor ’s passage through the Salang Pass in Afghanistan known for heavy winter snowfall and the differing gauges of the railway lines between Uzbekistan, Afghanistan, and Pakistan Addressing these challenges will be crucial for the successful implementation of this transformative project

Chinese investor demands faster resolution of business disputes in Pakistan

ISLAMABAD G h u l a M a b b a S

In a startling revelation Chinese investor Zhi Cheng Li has voiced his concerns over business protection in Pakistan shedding light on challenges faced by foreign investors in seeking justice after encountering financial fraud in the country

Mushaal the wife of incarcerated Hurriyat Leader Yasin Malik in a statement on Sunday pressed the G20 member countries including US, UK, EU, China, France, Russia, Canada, Japan, Saudi Arabia, South Africa and Türkiye to play their proactive role to resolve the Kashmir dispute because regional peace could not possible without settlement of the issue She stressed that the international community should look at the ongoing human rights violations and massacres of innocent people instead of looking at their trade interests with India Mushaal demanded that the G-20 countries should make all political and social relations with India subject to the end of ongoing human rights violations in the occupied valley Let s say you had no G-20 statement headlines would say G-20 is finished, G-20 could be replaced by blocs like BRICS and G-7 So in a way by having a statement we keep the platform and the organisation alive ” she said The SAPM said the Indian fascist government crossed all limits of barbarism and state terrorism and the world powers were well-aware of the fact that the occupied valley was turned into a largest open prisoner and torture cell She said many of the political figures, human rights defenders and journalists, including Yasim Malik, the Chairman Jammu and Kashmir Liberation Front (JKLF) prominent political figures Shabbir Ahmad Shah Farooq Dar and Khurram Parvez the Program Coordinator of the Jammu and Kashmir Coalition of Civil Society (JKCCS) and the Chairperson of the Asian Federation Against Involuntary Disappearances (AFAD) and Irfan Meraj (journalist/human rights activist) were illegally detained in frivolous bogus and politically motivated cases Mushaal said the notorious occupation authorities unleashed a reign of terror and used the rapes of women as the weapon of war, besides committing the worst war crimes The SAPM on HR and Women Empowerment said that the people of Kashmir had been facing these inhuman treatments for over seven decades due to their struggle for the right to self-determination She recalled that since August 2019, the Indian government alarmingly intensified and continued its repressive policies to hide the world’s worst human rights abuses and war crimes being committed by brutal Indian forces in the valley However Mushaal said that the Kashmir was a disputed territory and this dispute had been acknowledged through the United Nations resolutions but Indian occupation forces were trying to suppress the people through brutalities She called upon the G20 members to exert pressure on the notorious Narendara Modi-led supremacist Indian government to release the Kashmir prisoners and allow the international human rights organizations and international media groups

Mr Li speaking to the media on Sunday detailed his harrowing experience with Pakistani partners in the oil and gas development sector He alleged that his local partners deceitfully registered a duplicate entity at the Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) using a strikingly similar name to his company Furthermore they opened parallel bank accounts through fake affidavits and forged signatures

Cheng Li s Hong Kong-based company had made a substantial investment of $178 million in a project aimed at supplying processing gas units an LPG recovery plant and related facilities at the Nashpa oil field in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa s Karak district

The Pakistani partners illicitly sold my shares and assets, depositing the proceeds of approximately $13 million

into the fraudulent bank accounts they had established, he lamented Despite filing a complaint in 2017, Mr Li expressed his disappointment with the lack of action by the financial crimefighting authorities

He reported that he had filed a complaint with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) against the fraud involving duplicate entities and fake bank accounts However, the agency had not conducted a thorough inquiry “As I am based in China I cannot attend hearings in Pakistan regularly The FIA kept the inquiry pending for over three years eventually closing it in 2020 without providing any explanation, Mr Li explained He also mentioned that he had requested the reopening of the inquiry in 2020 providing all necessary evidence to a new investigation officer

Mr Li disclosed a copy of the letter he submitted to the interior ministry in September 2021 and stated that he recently received contact from the FIA s investigation officer, Muhammad Mazhar, who requested his presence in Pakistan to conclude the case Now after being in Pakistan for over a month and several meetings with the IO I have been informed that an

FIR will be filed against the accused for financial fraud, fake bank accounts, and duplicate company registration, he revealed However, he expressed frustration as the case was transferred from the FIA’s Commercial Banking Circle (CBC) to the Anti-Corruption Circle (ACC) by Director FIA Islamabad Zone Abdul Jabbar Rana without affording him an opportunity to be heard

Mr Li emphasized that this was not a government case and, therefore, should not be under the purview of the anti-corruption circle

In response Muhammad Mazhar of FIA declined to comment on media queries and redirected them to the agency s spokesperson Notably, there is no official spokesperson for the FIA, leaving questions surrounding the case’s handling in limbo

Zhi Cheng Li s case serves as a stark reminder of the challenges faced by foreign investors in Pakistan and underscores the pressing need for a fasttrack forum to resolve business disputes and legal issues involving foreign investments The outcome of this case will undoubtedly influence the perception of Pakistan s investment climate among international investors

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

A report regarding smuggling of Iranian oil and hawala hundi business was submitted to PM House by a government agency on Sunday

The report provides details about Iranian oil smuggling and hawala hundi business “In Pakistan total 722 currency dealers have been involved in hawala hundi business and Punjab have maximum 205 hawala hundi dealers according to report In KP 183 and Sindh 176 hawala

dealers operating in this business report disclosed Moreover, 104 dealers working in Balochistan and 37 dealers involved in hawala hundi business in Azad Kashmir”

Apart of it 17 hawala dealers operating in federal capital Islamabad Iranian oil smuggling the government agency has also unveiled details of the officers, politicians and dealers involved in Iranian oil smuggling

According to report around 2 810 billion litres oil being smuggled from Iran to Pakistan in a year This oil smuggling inflicts 60 billion rupees revenue

losses per annum to the national exchequer Terrorists using the revenues generated from smuggling of oil from Iran, report stated The report further stated that 76 dealers in areas adjacent to border have been involved in oil smuggling

Moreover 995 petrol pumps selling Iranian oil across the country report disclosed In oil smuggling 90 government officials and 29 politicians have been involved,” according to report

“The oil smuggles into Pakistan in Iranian vehicles these vehicles are named Zamyad the report added

KARACHI

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) leader Faisal

Karim Kundi has termed the statements of party chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and former president Asif Ali Zardari on same issue with opposite viewpoints as same In a clarification statement on Sunday, the PPP leader said that it was mentioned in the constitution that delimitation would be carried out if the number of constituencies was to be increased Faisal Karim Kundi said that the process wasn t a much time-consuming and questioned why the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) wanted to drag the same till November Kundi expressed his suspicion that the general elections schedule might not be held even in December You are not giving the election date and are silent Then what does it mean? he questioned The PPP s entire party was united and consultations would be held on elections issue during the CEC meeting scheduled to be held in Lahore next week he added Earlier on Saturday Bilawal distanced himself from Zardari s statement that the ECP was bound to conduct fresh delimitation of constituencies Taking a differing stance on general elections, Bilawal talking to media in Badin, where he officially kicked off his party’s mass contact campaign, that holding elections within 90 days was a constitutional obligation Earlier in the day Zardari – who is also the PPP co-chairman –had said it was obligatory for the ECP to carry out delimitation after the census At the same time, Zardari said that the country s top electoral body must hold polls according to the constitution – in a marked contrast to Bilawal’s earlier statement in which had demanded announcement of the general election date

FIA gears up for crackdown on hawala hundi business abroad

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has decided to launch crackdown against people involved in the hawala hundi business abroad it emerged Sunday The FIA will collect data from mobile phones of the accused arrested in hawala hundi offence,” officials said Mutual Legal Assistance Wing of the investigation agency with the help of the Interpol will make contact with overseas authorities according to officials The FIA will seek identities of the accused involved in the hawala business their bank details and other information from the concerned authorities of other countries The FIA on Thursday claimed to arrest five suspects involved in the hawala hundi business in Karachi The FIA spokesperson said in a statement that initially $35 000 USD was recovered from five arrested persons – identified as Zaid Khan, Muhammad Irfan, Furqan Saleem, Muhammad Raza, and Osama The suspects failed to provide satisfactory explanation to the authorities regarding the sale and purchase of $23 000 USD During the investigation dozens of foreign currency-related messages including Hawala transactions were discovered on the mobile phones of the accused After registering the case against the arrested men under the Foreign Exchange Regulation Act, FIA initiated further legal proceedings

K ashmiri politic al prisoners facing illegal detention, isolation in Indian jails

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Over four thousand Kashmiris including All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) leaders human rights activists journalists youth, students and ulema have been facing illegal detention in jails of India and Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir for demanding their inalienable right to self-determination and raising the issue of human rights violations by Indian troops in the territory

According to a report released by

Father ’s D ays In City NoteS

Ithink the strategy being applied to Ch Pervaiz Elahi and son Moonis Elahi is counterproductive The story goes that Ch Pervaiz is doing the ins and outs of jails and has been arrested and released about 20 times already not just because he is wanted, as because Moonis is wanted, and Moonis, caring nothing for his father ’s plight, is living it up in Spain, in London off the ill-gotten wealth that the father and son garnered from Ch Pervaiz s stint in office before the Punjab Assembly was dissolved I don t know anything about the family, but I would suspect that one of the main forces keeping Moonis away from Pakistan would be his mother I would not be surprised to find that she was rather pleased with Ch Pervaiz being in jail because at least that meant he was away from that witch, that schemer, the Second Wife, who according to some reports, has gone back to

the USA since Ch Pervaiz was first arrested

The other main force would I suspect be Ch Pervaiz himself It s an old tactic for the police to arrest a relative of the person they want, and hold him or her until the wanted person surrenders If we ordinary civilians were to do something like that it would be called hostage taking but policemen call it good police work

Anyhow as a father myself I would rather spend time in jail, so long as my boys are free I think Ch Pervaiz would be the last person to blame Moonis for staying abroad while he was in jail Any extravagances by Moonis would be seen by Ch Pervaiz as the reason for which he got that wealth improperly Ch Pervaiz is really facing the range of the police s tactics His latest arrest was as one of the unknown persons who overflowed into the Islamabad Judicial Complex when PTI chief Imran Khan made his first appearance there There is the textbook example of why the police enter an FIR against unknown persons So that they can drag anyone into the case Does anyone remember that Ch Pervaiz’s uncle and father-in-law,

Kashmir Media Service today most of these detainees including women have been slapped with draconian laws, Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) and have been kept in complete isolation in the jails

Among these detainees some are residents of Azad Jammu and Kashmir who had mistakenly crossed over the Line of Control (LoC) on different occasions

It has been learnt that as part of the BJP-RSS regime’s vindictive policy more Hurriyat leaders activists and youth have been shifted from IIOJK to far-off jails in-

the late Ch Zahoor Elahi was arrested for buffalo theft in a case in which the FIR had been registered against unknown persons

The police has got his remand until October 22 They will use this time to find some evidence, such as an eyewitness, or CCTV footage to establish Ch Pervaiz’s presence in the judicial complex on March 18 Perhaps they will use this time to recover the teargas shells from Ch Pervaiz that were fired at the police defending the Complex Ch Pervaiz will also have an opportunity to produce witnesses who can give him an alibi for the designated time and show that he was in Lahore or Gujrat; in fact anywhere but Islamabad

If that is the quality of the cases that are being brought against him, he should be glad they haven t chosen a buffalo theft yet That is the kind of crime our police prefer to investigate Of course, a nice criminal assault or an unnatural offence has probably also been lined up Those are also offences cops like investigating especially while interviewing the victims While all of this is happening, the country is not going closer to elections In 1977,

side India The cruel move the report said is aimed at breaking their commitment to the ongoing freedom movement as well as hurting the families of the detainees emotionally and financially It is worth mentioning here that the BJP-led Indian regime has killed many imprisoned Kashmiri youth in staged encounters

Senior leaders of APHC including Muhammad Ashraf Sehrai and Altaf Ahmed Shah also died during their incarcerations Even a mentally challenged resident of Azad Jammu and Kashmir Tabarak Hussain who had inadvertently

crossed over the Line of Control in Rajouri district was not spared and killed in the custody of the Indian army

Earlier, another resident from AJK’s Rawalakot Zia Mustafa who had mistakenly crossed over the LoC on January 13 2003 was arrested and later killed in the custody of Indian occupation forces At that time, the family members of Zia had lodged a missing report at a local police station Zia Mustafa, an under-trial prisoner, who was in judicial custody was taken out of Kot Bhalwal jail Jammu and killed in a fake encounter near the LoC in October 2021

give a date within 90 days not order an election held within 90 days So while he dismissed Junejo on 29 May 1988 he announced elections for December 16 He didn t hold them, dying in the Bahawalpur crash, but that was the date on which they were held I wonder if the EXP is following his interpretation on giving a date

Re p o r t o n I r a n i a n o i l s m u g g l i n g, h awa l a h u n d i b u s i n e s s s u b m i t te d to P M Ho u s e

ILL-INFORMED DECISION-MAKING OF PAST FOUR DECADES

REAL CAUSE OF PREVAILING UNREST: JAMAL SHAH

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

CA R E TA K E R Minister for Culture and Nat i o n a l H e r i t a g e J a m a l S h a h h a s c a l l e d f o r initiating dialogue to resolve the issues and c o u n t e r c h a l l e n g e s f a c i n g t h e c o u n t r y a t present

In an exclusive interview with Radio Pakistan s News and Current Affairs Channel, he said we should also hold discussions and organize interactive sessions for promotion of cultural diversity so that people particularly the young generation can understand each other

He said such dialogue and sessions will also help curb growing tendencies of intolerance and hatred in the society The Minister said ill informed decisions making

Punjab govt to hand over 1, 000 schools to NGO for better educational facilities

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Syed Mohsin

Naqvi has said that the standards of education at government schools could be raised in collaboration with the private sector and welfare organisations He was talking to a sixmember delegation of Muslim Hands Pakistan, which, led by its Chairman Syed Lakht Hasnain, called on him at the Chief Minister ’s House on Sunday Briefing the CM about the activities of the organization the chairman said that Muslim Hands was running 117 schools in Punjab Out of these there are 18 schools of excellence while 35 are model schools, he explained Similarly, we are running different projects in health and education sectors in different districts of south Punjab ” he said and added “Market-based IT skills are being imparted to the youth so that they could become self-reliant The chief minister, on the occasion, ordered that 1, 000 schools of Punjab be handed over to the Muslim Hands Likewise, he ordered the concerned officials to make arrangements for signing a memorandum of understanding (MoU) between the Punjab government and the organisation within a week The meeting also discussed the suggestion to hand over orphanages to the Muslim Hands CM Naqvi told the visitors that with their cooperation the provincial government would consider upgrading emergency wards of Punjab’s large hospitals “We will encourage private sector ’s efforts for improvement in health and education sectors he announced Muslim Hands chairman said that the organization was ready to serve masses in collaboration with the Punjab government

Dozens of students arrested for using bluetooth devices in MD CAT Test

PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t

Dozens of students were arrested on Sunday for using Bluetooth devices to cheat in the MD CAT test in Peshawar The students were arrested by the Examinations and Training Department (ETA) at various examination centers in the city According to ETA spokesperson ETA Secretary Anila Mahfouz Durrani said that the students were caught red-handed using Bluetooth devices to communicate with each other during the test She said that the ETA had received information about a group of people who were helping students cheat in the test through Bluetooth devices Lakhs of rupees were being charged from the students for getting the paper out and solving it through the Bluetooth device, she said Durrani said that the ETA had increased the security at all the examination centers and had deputed staff to check for Bluetooth devices “During the special check the staff turned on the Bluetooth of their phones and traced the Bluetooth devices she said She said that the arrested students would be dealt with according to the law The MD CAT is a medical entrance test conducted by the University of Health Sciences Peshawar The test is held every year to admissions to the MD programs offered by the university The use of unfair means in examinations is a serious offense and the ETA has taken strict measures to curb it In the past, the ETA has arrested several people for cheating in examinations The ETA has urged the students to refrain from using unfair means in examinations and to play a fair game

particularly of the past four decades is the real cause of prevailing unrest intolerance and bigotry in different sections of society

He said the last sermon of Holy Prophet Hazrat Muhammad Rasool Allah Khatam-un-Nabiyeen SAWW, which is the guiding document, is the solution of all odds in the society particularly religious extremism

Replying to a question Jamal Shah said he is basically a sculpture maker and following May 9 incidents in which memorials and artifacts of Shuhada were destroyed, torched and disgraced, he was requested by the Capital Development Authority to make sculpture portraits and design monuments of Shuhada

He said poetry in all languages spoken in the country including Urdu has been written at the monuments to pay homage to the valiant Shuhada who sacrificed

their lives for the sake of the motherland and also to apprise the coming generations about valor of Shuhada

Answering another question the Minister said although their mandate is limited, however, he is focused to streamline some fundamental things to propagate art and culture because these values enable the society to look into themselves and towards their corrective perspective Jamal Shah said he will also make his best efforts to develop a robust infrastructure to foster different branches of art and culture and enable artist community to serve the nation in a better way and to facilitate them in earning their livelihood in a dignified manner To another query, he said Pakistan can lead from the forefront and make a significant headway if youth are engaged to give them utmost clarity of mind as our survival is in clarity in all spheres life

No p o l i t i c i a n o r p a r t y b e i n g v i c t i m i ze d i n S i n d h : Ho m e m i n i s te r

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Sindh Home Minister Brigadier (retd) Haris Nawaz Sunday denied allegations of political victimisaiton in the province, asserting that no action is being taken against any political leader The minister s statement comes amidst heightened political tensions in the province after a series of alleged reports began surfacing regarding politicians, particularly from the Pakistan People’s Party, being placed on a stop list and their homes being raided in a bid to uncover corrupt practices

Last month sources said that a PPP politician and former provincial minister, Mukesh Chawla, has been placed on the interim stop list following National Accountability Bureau’s (NAB) inquiry pertaining to misuse of authority and corruption in a vehicle registration scam However the anti-corruption authority was restrained from arresting him after he approached the Sindh High Court against his possible arrest Chawla’s plea stated that his residence was raided, although there had been no call-up notice issued to him in connection with any NAB inquiry

The sources added that the names of more than 60 government officials close

to the PPP have also been included in the stop list

Additionally the inquiries were expected to be opened in the anti-graft body s office in Karachi against government officers close to PPP, the sources added Chawla s name, as per the sources, was added to the list on NAB’s recommendation and all the names were included in different phases from the first week of August an act termed as political victimisation in the province Commenting on the aforementioned reports about Sindh politicians today, Brigadier (retd) Nawaz said only NAB investigations and criminal cases are underway

Don’t see Bilawal becoming countr y’s PM: Hafiz Naeem

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Political victimisation is not being done against anyone in Sindh,” the interim minister told the journalists

The caretaker home minister also refuted reports of politicians being placed on the stop list Following alleged reports of cash being recovered from residences of politicians in the province, the minister clarified that no money has been recovered from anyone’s house and no politicians’ residences have been raided in Sindh

Earlier this month fake news regarding a raid on the residence of PPP s former federal minister Shazia Marri s house began doing the rounds on social media, with claims of “confiscating Rs97 billion” in cash Marri rebutted the fake news and stated that no such raid by any official a u t h o r i t y h a d b e e n c o n d u c t e d T h e fake news garnered immense traction after a Lahore-based journalist posted i t o n h i s s o c i a l m e d i a a c c o u n t , a f t e r w h i c h M a r r i s l a p p e d h i m w i t h a defamation notice under Section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 and Section 20 of the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (Peca) 2016

However, the interim home minist e r s u g g e s t e d t h a t t h e a l l e g a t i o n s might be part of a deliberate campaign to malign the caretaker government’s reputation

7 terrorists killed in Chitral gunfight: ISPR

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

During an exchange of fire, at least 12 terrorists were killed while four Pakistani soldiers embraced martyrdom, according to the military’s media wing

The ISPR said owing to the heightened threat environment security was already on high alert

The valiant soldiers fought bravely and repulsed the attacks inflicting heavy casualties to the terrorists During the fire exchange, twelve terrorists were sent to hell while a large number has been critically injured

However during the intense exchange of fire four brave soldiers having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat Terrorists’ movement and concentration in Gawardesh, Pitigal, Barg-e-Matel and Batash areas of Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan had already been picked up and were timely shared with the Interim Afghan

government

It further noted that the interim Afghan government was expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan

Earlier, the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) claimed to have launched a “grand operation” in Chitral district A spokesperson of the TTP claimed that the terrorist outfit captured many villages in Chitral that shares border with Kunar, Nuristan and Badakhshan province of Afghanistan Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani said the Afghan government must not allow its soil to be used by banned TTP or any other group

He said that Pakistan was in contact with the interim Afghan government on the issue

S U R G E I N T E R R O R I S T AT-

TA C K S: The terror activities in recent months have witnessed a sharp surge

Pakistan to respond resurgent terrorism from across border befittingly: Bugti

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

It is pertinent to mention here that four Pakistan Army soldiers were martyred and 12 terrorists killed in Chitral attack on the Pak-Afghan border

The Army media wing said that there was information about the terrorists movement in Nuristan and Kunar provinces of Afghanistan The security forces timely action resulted in the killing of 12 terrorists A day earlier

Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas

Jilani confirmed that Pakistan had issued a demarche to Afghanistan following a terrorist attack in Chitral Pakistan registered a strong protest over the incident, summoned the Afghan charge d’affaires and handed over a protest note (demarche) to him ”

the foreign minister said while addressing a press conference in Islamabad FM Jalil Abbas Jilani said the Chitral incident was very unfortunate and said Pakistan was taking the recent rise in terrorism very seriously

“It is the responsibility of the Afghan government that if attacks are occurring in Pakistan from their soil then it should stop them he added

Speaking during the press conference today (Sunday), Interior Minister Sarfraz Ahmed Bugti announced to launch a massive crackdown on hoarders and said that there will be zero tolerance against smuggling and hoarding

He said all the state institutions and provincial authorities are committed to

especially in KP and Balochistan, after the outlawed TTP announced ending a ceasefire with the government in November last year

On August 22 six soldiers embraced martyrdom in an exchange of fire in South Waziristan district At least four terrorists were killed in the gun battle In July as many as 12 soldiers of the Pakistan Army embraced martyrdom in separate military operations in the Zhob and Sui areas of Balochistan

That was the military s highest single-day death toll from terrorist attacks reported this year Before this, 10 personnel were martyred in a ‘fire raid’ in Balochistan’s Kech district in February 2022

A report released in July by the think tank Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies said the first half of the current year witnessed a steady and alarming rise in terror and suicide attacks, claiming the lives of 389 people across the country

go to any extent to eradicate the menaces of smuggling and hoarding from the face of the motherland

The Interior Minister further said operation, against smuggling of wheat, sugar urea dollars and other commodities has been continuing and the government recovered sugar and urea worth thousands of metric tons in various parts of the country

He said 59 people involved in the illegal business of hawala hundi, have also been arrested However what an irony it is that now the elements involved in smuggling have started hoarding of various things

The minister made it clear that no one would be spared and the state machinery is determined to curb smuggling and hoarding

Bugti also announced price money for Pakistani citizens who will help the government authorities in identifying smuggling rackets He said action will also be taken against illegal immigrants in the country and soon price money will be announced in this regard

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Karachi Hafiz

Naeemur Rehman has said that he doesn t see PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari becoming the prime minister of country Addressing a press conference in Karachi on Sunday he said the PPP Chairman talked about conducting elections on time while Asif Zardari was talking about constituencies Hafiz Naeemur Rehman said that Bilawal and Zardari should stop making the people fool any further He said that KElectric was working with local mafias and no action was taken against it The JI demanded that the licence of K-Electric should be cancelled and K-Electric mafia should be caught first The JI leader said that they would point out the cruelty of KElectric in the Nepra hearing The elected councilor was martyred for raising his voice against kunda mafia in Sarjani Town

People stage sit-in against truck drivers abduction

KANDHKOT S ta f f R e p o R t

Citizens protesting against failure of police to recover truck drivers abducted last night here on Sunday People blocked the Indus Highway with hurdles and staged a protest sitin against abductions in the area, infamous for rampant kidnappings of common man by outlaws in cahoots with influential quarters The sit-in blocked traffic from Sindh to Balochistan and Punjab Large lines of vehicles can be witnessed on both sides of the road Another protest sit-in being staged at Bakhshapur Indus Highway to press for recovery of hostages from bandits “We will continue this protest till recovery of the last hostage ” protest leaders vowed Earlier on Wednesday people protested law enforcement agencies (LEA) failure to recover all hostages and restore law and order to crimeinfested Kandhkot-Kashmore district, were badly beaten by baton-wielding police and plain-clothed goons In an attempt to disperse protesters mayhem ensued as police resorted to baton-charging as a result of which several protesters were injured Some of the injured persons were shifted to a hospital However the protesters refused to end their sit-in despite baton-charging by police They said the sit-in will continue until the recovery of the last hostage Earlier police announced recovery of three abductees in Kashmore from bandits including Mukhi Jagdesh Kumar Jaideep and Dr Muneer Naich

US senator denies allegations of ‘political engineering’ in Pakistan

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He did not reveal the contents of the letter nor mention the name of the nation that had sent it But a few days later, he named the United States and said that Assistant Secretary of State for South and Central Asia Affairs Donald Lu had sought his removal

The cipher was about former Pakistan ambassador to the US Asad Majeed s meeting with Lu The former prime minister claiming that he was reading contents from the cipher, said that all will be forgiven for Pakistan if Imran Khan is removed from power” Then on March 31, the NSC took up the matter and decided to issue a “strong demarche” to the country for its blatant interference in the internal affairs of Pakistan

Task force set up to determine size of federal, provincial govts: PM K akar

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He said the current military leadership and caretaker government had a clear viewpoint that the movement of people and goods at the borders of Iran and Afghanistan should be regulated The prime minister said now due to the clarity of thought of the political and military leadership, the personnel of law enforcement agencies knew that borders were sacrosanct and this had led to successful efforts to stem the flow of smuggled goods To a question he said in the post-Cold war scenario the government was observing the

geostrategic situation in the region and international arena in relation to the vital interests of Pakistan Now Pakistan s foreign policy was driven by geoeconomics along with its core strategic goals, he noted To another question, he said the work of SIFC was focused on particular sectors of the economy including agriculture and the council was dealing with issues of per hectare water conservation technology transfer quality seed and job creation He agreed that there was an information vacuum on the issues taken up by SIFC and said the government was coming

up with a plan to keep the public informed and create awareness about taxation culture economic initiatives and strategic issues Relaying of information would kill rumours on its own, he remarked

He said the caretaker government would the make right decisions instead of resorting to populism and would try to lay a foundation for the next government

Replying to a query he said after the 18th constitutional amendment the incumbent President would continue in the office till his successor would replace him Under the prevailing law, constitution

and legislation done by political parties the Election Commission as a constitutional body would announce the date for elections he said adding general election should be held before March so Senate elections could be held to fill the seats made vacant by retiring Senators To a question about any leniency for the perpetrators of May 9 incident, he said political social and economic stability were linked to the sense of justice and did not revolve around the concept of amnesty Vandalism and arson could not be accepted as a norm, he continued He said the chequered political history

of the country could not be made a basis for claim for clemency as this approach was detrimental for the growth of democracy

Let us have an open debate on state institutions, nation-building and strengthening of democracy However, we cannot reward bad behaviour with amnesty ”

While talking about his upcoming visit to the United Nations General Assembly in New York he said it was decided that Pakistan should be represented at the highest level as it was a forum to articulate and reiterate Pakistan s position on issues of strategic importance

COMMENT

Behind the washout

TH E millions of fans on both sides of the border who were disappointed by the failure to complete the Pakistan-India match in the Super Four Group stage should blame the geniuses who scheduled the Group stage matches in Sri Lanka, solely to prevent a Pakistan-India clash occurring on Pakistani soil, as would have happened if the Super Four matches had been hosted in Pakistan, as was originally proposed when the two countries agreed to jointly host the Asia Cup However the Secretary of the Board for Control of Cricket in India is Jay Shah son of Indian External Affairs Minister and BJP President Amit Shah who is also the Asian Cricket Council Chairman At this time of year Sri Lanka is definitely a rain risk The monsoon is not over and only someone with a non-cricketing agenda would take such a risk The optimism proved misplaced, and the match had to be interrupted at an interesting juncture The disappointment was all the greater, after the previous clash between the two was washed out after only one innings

It is unfortunate that there has been another occasion when the BCCI has played the Pakistan Cricket Board for a fool Jay Shah has clearly deemed it more important to deny Pakistan the financial benefits that hosting entails, and that being one half of the India-Pakistan matches India might be a power in the game but the way it is riding roughshod over even international tournaments solely to do down Pakistan is go in to damage the game The PCB has of late become a political football with three chiefs in quick succession all reflecting political loyalty rather than administrative ability The PCB has generally tried to stand for the good of cricket and the need to keep the fans’ interest paramount Pakistan and India have not got an ideal relationship However, cricket should be used as a means to solving their mutual problems and furthering a productive knowledge, rather than having India use it as a means to play dominance games The result is that the game suffers, and the fans suffer, as they are suffering now, on both sides of the border

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

D e a l i n g e f f e c t i v e l y w i t h t h e

c l i m a t e c h a n g e c r i s i s

G o ve r n m e n t s a ro u n d t h e wo r l d a re n o t c o o p e r at i n g e n o u g h

ing the global temperature rise to below the desired threshold of 1 5°C therefore requires a much better commitment from countries and in turn makes the upcoming COP28 meeting in Dubai in the later part of 2023 that much more significant

Here, while the component of climate finance remains critical for making the green transition to much-needed more resilient, and environmentally responsible economies especially for developing countries and in particular highly climate vulnerable countries like Pakistan– which for instance went through catastrophic flooding last year causing both loss to life and billions of US dollars in damages– the loss and damage fund is moving at a very slow pace

mated its members already spend more than 20 percent of their combined GDP on loss and damage because of climate change

The chasm between the climate action being taken and the emissions cuts required is set out bluntly in the new global stocktake report from the UN, produced in collaboration with member nations As it stands, nations will belch out about 22 billion tonnes more carbon dioxide in 2030 than the climate can cope with if the global temperature rise is to be held to 1 5 C and the worst impacts of the climate crisis are to be avoided The 22 billion tonnes that must be eliminated is equivalent to the combined emissions of the top five polluters today: China, the USA, India, Russia and Japan Furthermore, the systemic transformation of every aspect of society that the report says is required needs to start kicking in quickly enough to halt the relentless rise of emissions seen since the Industrial Revolution within just two years An excerpt from a recently released Guardian published article Chasm between climate action and scientific reality laid bare in UN stocktake

AL R E A D Y at 1 1°C, it is essential to keep global average annual temperature rise to below 1 5 C a recent Financial Times (FT) published article World way off track to meet Paris climate goals says UN report highlighting the United Nation s stocktaking report on climate change, indicated that The world is way off track to tackle climate change and remains headed for a temperature rise of up to 2 6°C and must take urgent action

There is indeed a serious lack of commitment or progress towards achieving climate goals as the same article pointed out The UN report on progress by countries that pledged to cut their greenhouse gas emissions under the 2015 Paris Agreement found that there remained a vast gap between actions planned and what needed to be done Despite almost 200 countries promising to set out plans for net zero emissions many setting targets by 2050 the report said the world was not on track

Hence, given the fast-closing window of keep-

This was quite evident, given it was reportedly in November last year that this fund had been announced but the timeline of its operationalization had already made it clear that it would move slowly A November 20 2022 Al Jazeera-published article Historic loss and damage fund adopted at COP27 climate summit pointed out in this regard Countries at the United Nations COP27 climate summit in Egypt have adopted a final agreement that establishes a fund to help poor nations cope with the extreme weather events caused by global warming

G i v e n t h e cl i m a t e ch a n g e

c r i s i s i s a n ex i s t e n t i a l

t h r e a t t o l i fe o n e a r t h , a n d i s a l s o s t ro n g ly l i n k e d t o t h e Pa n d e m i c e n e p h e n o m e n o n , i t i s i n d e e d

Having said that while there is a lack of funding in terms of climate finance fossil fuel subsidies stand at a high level, as highlighted by an August 24 FT-published article Global fossil fuel subsidies and costs hit record $7tn in 2022, IMF reports’ as follows: ‘Global fossil fuel subsidies hit a record total of $7tn in 2022 as governments rushed to shield consumers from soaring energy prices sparked by Russia s invasion of Ukraine the IMF estimates The IMF study said subsidies for coal oil and natural gas in 2022 were equivalent to 7 1 percent of global gross domestic product This represented more than governments spent on education and two-thirds of what was spent on healthcare Given the climate change crisis is an existential threat to life on earth, and is also strongly linked to the Pandemicene phenomenon it is indeed important among other steps to quickly phaseout fossil fuel subsidies and also to substantially increase climate finance

i m p o r t a n t , a m o n g o t h e r s t e p s , t o q u i ck ly p h a s e - o u t

fo s s i l f u e l s u b s i d i e s , a n d a l s o t o s u b s t a n t i a l ly i n c r e a s e cl i m a t e f i n a n c e .

However, many of the more contentious issues regarding the fund were pushed into talks to be held next year when a transitional committee will make recommendations for countries to then adopt at the COP28 climate summit in November 2023

The recommendations will cover identifying and expanding sources of funding”, which refers to the vexed question of which countries should pay into the new “loss and damage” fund ’ Hence as anticipated there is a lack of financial commitment to this fund as an August 28 Al Jazeera–published article Are climate reparations finally on the way for vulnerable countries? pointed out in this regard Funds required for loss and damage are expected to reach $671bn annually by 2030 according to calculations by the Loss and Damage Collaboration Current funding stands at less than $500m annually The V20 a coalition of the 55 most climate-vulnerable countries has esti-

A f g h a n Ta l i b a n a n d P a k i s t a n :

F r o m t e n s i o n t o c o n f l i c t

The problem refuses to go away

muhammaD amin

TH E tensions and conflicts between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan have a complex history with its roots in the aftermath of the 9/11 attacks Pakistan faced a critical choice at that time: whether to align itself with the USA and its global coalition or follow in the footsteps of Mullah Omar ’s Taliban regime and reject international pressure General Pervez Musharraf chose the former path committing Pakistan to join the US-led alliance

Initially this alliance appeared to be beneficial for Pakistan The country received financial assistance, land routes, and drone bases in exchange for its support Pakistan even arrested and handed over key Taliban leaders to the USA such as Mullah Abdul Salam Zaeef and Mullah Abdul Ghani Biradar to demonstrate its commitment

However, behind the scenes, Pakistan continued to support the Afghan Taliban This dual policy led to contradictions: publicly, Pakistan was part of the US alliance, while covertly, it nurtured the Taliban This duplicity allowed the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) to thrive within Pakistan s border regions as Pakistan s military focused on its covert ties with the Afghan Taliban

Furthermore, Pakistani politicians and leaders, including those in the political party MMA and Imran Khan, advocated in favor of the Afghan Taliban while opposing US actions such as drone strikes This created a narrative that distinguished between the good Afghan Taliban and the bad Pakistani Taliban despite their shared origins

The USA consistently accused Pakistan of playing a double game, but Pakistan did not change its approach Even when Afghanistan, particularly the governments of Hamid Karzai and Ashraf Ghani implored Pakistan to stop providing sanctuary to their enemies (the Taliban) Pakistan remained unyielding despite

suffering significant casualties in its own border regions

A notable sentiment emerged among some in Pakistan that they had defeated two superpowers with US weaponry: first, the Soviet Union during the Afghan-Soviet War and now the USA during the War on Terror

The USA employed various tactics including luring and pressuring Pakistan but when it became clear that these strategies were ineffective and that the Taliban s resistance was not diminishing, the USA decided to withdraw from Afghanistan The Qatar Agreement formalized this withdrawal and handed Afghanistan back to the Taliban

Former US National Security Advisor John

Bolton revealed that President Trump questioned whether the USA would face the same threat as 9/11 if it left Afghanistan, and he received the answer that it would not This led to the decision to withdraw, leaving behind significant quantities of advanced weaponry that fell into the hands of groups like the TTP

The victory of the Afghan Taliban was also celebrated in Pakistan with leaders like Prime Minister Imran Khan hailing it as the breaking

The histor y of PakistanÊs relationship with the Afghan Taliban is marked by complex and contradictor y decisions, and the current tensions between the two par ties raise concerns about the potential for fur ther conflict It is imperative for all stakeholders to prioritiz e peaceful dialogue and resolution in the interests of regional stability and security

of the “chains of slavery ” Despite concerns from defense analysts and retired generals Pakistan did not change its stance In the aftermath of the US withdrawal, Pakistan s relations with the Afghan Taliban became complicated The new military leadership demanded action against the TTP, but the Afghan Taliban suggested that Pakistan negotiate with them instead This divergence in interests heightened suspicions that the TTP had the support of the Afghan Taliban potentially aiming to coerce Pakistan into compliance As a result, tensions have risen between P ak is tan an d th e A f g h an Talib an , w ith b o th s i d e s r e p o r t e d l y p l a n n i n g d r a s t i c m e a s u r e s a g a i n s t e a c h o t h e r T h e r e i s a g r o w i n g f e a r that these tensions could escalate into a fullblown conflict which would be detrimental to both parties

In this challenging situation, it is essential for both sides to consider their constraints and seek a peaceful resolution However, the prospect of such a resolution seems to be diminishing It raises questions about the moral responsibility of Pakistan s generals religious leaders political figures and intellectuals who supported the Taliban over the years Should they not actively engage in efforts to mediate between the Afghan Taliban and Pakistan or at least acknowledge the consequences of their past policies and analyses?

The history of Pakistan s relationship with the Afghan Taliban is marked by complex and contradictory decisions, and the current tensions between the two parties raise concerns about the potential for further conflict It is imperative for all stakeholders to prioritize peaceful dialogue and resolution in the interests of regional stability and security

A recent Guardian-published article ‘A critical moment : UN warns world will miss climate targets unless fossil fuels phased out pointed out in this regard Governments are failing to cut greenhouse gas emissions fast enough to meet the goals of the Paris agreement and to stave off climate disaster a major report by the UN has found Meeting the goals will require phasing out all unabated fossil fuels , the report says, in an acknowledgment that some oil-producing countries may find hard to take ’

The writer holds PhD in Economics degree from the University of Barcelona and previously worked at International Monetary Fund Prior to this he did MSc in Economics from the University of York (United Kingdom) and worked at the Ministry of Economic Affairs & Statistics (Pakistan) among other places He is author of Springer published book (2016) The economic impact of International Monetary Fund programmes: institutional quality macroeconomic stabilization and economic growth He tweets @omerjaved7

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Battagram chairlift incident

T H E cable car ordeal in Battagram has left many questioning the gross negligence of federal and provincial governments Private owners have installed cable cars in northern areas to provide people with a feasible and affordable means of transportation The frequent cable car accidents signal the provincial governments disregard for the safety of residents Clearly, no lessons were learnt from the mishap in Murree in January 2021 when 21 stranded motorists froze to death National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) and Provincial Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) remain largely absent during such incidents The military’s Special Service Group (SSG) arrived to rescue the stranded students and teachers It was a high-risk operation given the high elevation winds and obstruction Eventually the collective efforts of residents who regularly use these cable cars along with SSG personnel managed to rescue all individuals safely

Following the incident, the caretaker prime minister announced the suspension of cable cars However, the suspension will not last long as cable cars are the only mode of transport in many areas in the north Perhaps the provincial government should improve the inspection and maintenance of these cable cars to ensure people s safety People installing cable cars should seek formal approval from the relevant government department and ensure that they fulfil all safety protocols PDMA and NDMA should be instructed to form emergency response teams and recruit competent professionals with relevant training to handle high-risk emergencies These professionals should be on sight to assist people in case of an emergency MALIK TARIQ ALI LAHORE

Agriculture education

T H E higher education department of Punjab has expressed plans to reform agriculture education However, one cannot be optimistic about these plans considering the persistent issues in both agriculture and higher education

The decision to add new subjects to an already complex education system seems ill-advised The move might further confuse students and dilute their focus on essential subjects

One of the critical issues that remain is curriculum development

Crafting a comprehensive and relevant curriculum for agricultural technology and food technology requires thorough research and input from industry experts Without a carefully thought-out curriculum, the entire initiative may lack direction and fail to meet the needs of both students and the agricultural sector

The success of this endeavour heavily relies on the availability of adequate infrastructure and resources But many educational institutions in Punjab already face resource constraints Adding a new track without ensuring sufficient funding, well-equipped laboratories, and qualified instructors could compromise the quality of education and leave students ill-prepared for the challenges ahead

To ensure the success of this initiative it is crucial to invest in practical training and hands-on experience Collaboration between agricultural institutions and farms can allow students to gain valuable exposure to modern agricultural practices enabling them to apply their knowledge effectively in real-world scenarios Additionally, the authorities should prioritise industry-driven curriculum development, involving agricultural experts and professionals to ensure the subjects align with the current needs of the sector The government must allocate sufficient funds to establish well-equipped laboratories and provide the necessary resources By enhancing the learning environment students can thrive and develop the necessary skills for a successful career in agriculture

It ’s India’s stubbornness that made Sri Lanka host par t of the Asia Cup in the monsoon

Dr Omer JaveD

TH O U G H presumed as a national forum of editors, the Editors Guild of India (EGI) does not have representatives in all States The ongoing Manipur conflicts reflect that the EGI has not nurtured members in many parts of the vast country The controversy about a report by an EGI factfinding team after visiting Manipur attracts specific media attention as the working journalists abd editors of Manipur (mostly based in Imphal) have outrightly condemned the editor s guild, which was founded in 1978 with objectives of protecting press freedom and raising the standard of editorial leadership for newspapers and periodicals in the world’s largest democracy

Today the EGI faces allegations of making biased observations on ethnic conflicts in Manipur and even worsening the turmoil with its initiative The EGI even had to approach the Supreme Court for instant relief to its members, who were the part of a fact-finding mission and subsequently faced two police complaints lodged in Manipur The team members along with the EGI president were extended interim protection from any coercive action for some days

The debate began as the EGI released a report on 2 September after its three-member team visited Manipur from 7 to 10 August to study media coverages of the ongoing conflicts between the majority Meiteis and the Kuki-Chin-Zo community that has already snatched away the lives of over 150 individuals wounded many more residents and also displaced thousands of families as their villages were under attack since 3 May The report slammed the internet ban and criticized the State authorities partisan role during the conflict

The EGI observed that local media reporting was slightly inclined to the largely Vaishnav Meitei community which constitutes over 50 percent of Manipur ’s population and is primarily settled in Imphal valley (the rest belongs to mostly Christian Kuki and Naga people living in surrounding hilly areas)

There is a Meitei government, Meitei police and Meitei bureaucracy in Imphal and the tribal people have no faith in them, stated the EGI report, which invited strong reaction from the State government and also the local media fraternity terming it ‘incorrect and false’

Soon two police complaints were lodged against the EGI s fact-finding team members (Seema Guha Bharat Bhushan and Sanjay Kapoor) along with their president Seema Mustafa citing various IPC sections for provoking enmity between different communities and deliberate attempts to flare up religious sentiments

The FIRs were reportedly filed by Ngangom Sarat Singh (a retired government engineer turned social worker) and Sorokhaibam Thoudam Sangita a resident of Imphal Ms Sangita even urged the government to request for a Central Bureau of Investigation probe into the case

She argued that only a high level probe can unearth various elements associated with the process The use of terms like Meitei police or Meitei media was very unfortunate and condemnable, stated Ms Sangita, adding that after release of the EGI report situation turned more tense and it indirectly created more troubles in the State Pointing out that the EGI team was crowdfunded Ms Sangita asserted that the people of Manipur should know who contributed money for the initiative She stated that the EGI on 26 July asked for donations to organize the fact-finding mission to Manipur through its social media account

Two major media bodies of Manipur also denounced the allegations floated by the EGI in its report completed in four days All Manipur Working Journalists Union (AMWJU) and Editors Guild Manipur (EGM) took a strong exception to the ‘half-baked’ report where the Imphal-based journalists were misrepresented Both the organizations while releasing a joint media statement, urged the EGI to issue a clarification, otherwise they had resolved on legal actions against it

“The report has many contentions and wrong representations which are damaging to the reputation of the Manipur media fraternity, especially Imphalbased news outlets The EGI report claims that its terms of reference was not investigating the genesis of the problem but they all the same do so in a seemingly motivated manner

recently declared ‘reserved forest’ or ‘protected forest’ areas The last reserved forest was declared in Manipur in 1990 according to forest department records it added

It also stated that these declarations were meant to evict only one community (read Kuki) but records of eviction by the State government available with the forest department show otherwise From October 2015 to April 2023, the houses (altogether 413) evicted from those reserved and protected forest areas belonged to 59 Kuki, 143 Meitei, 137 Meitei Pangal (Muslim) 38 Naga and 36 Nepali families

The EGI team did not even bother to confirm this data from the relevant authorities alleged AMWJU and EGM

The visiting team also reported that the government withdrew from the tripartite suspension of operations agreement with the Kukis Although State chief minister

N Biren declared this abrogation with reference to two (out of 25 Kuki militant organizations in the SoO group) outfits at the 10 March cabinet meeting on the claim that these two groups were foreign organizations, the decision was never pursued Hence SoO agreements with all 25 groups are still intact The EGI again did not bother to cross check it before making the allegation

Q u e s t i o n i n g t h e n e u t r a l i t y a n d i n t e l l e c t u a l c a p a c i t y o f t h e E G I f a c t - f i n d i n g t e a m , S i n g h s a i d t h ey h a d n o i d e a a b o u t t h e c o u n t r y Ês fo r e s t l aw s a n d h e n c e s u m m a r i z e d m a ny i s s u e s a b r u p t ly. H e ev e n wo n d e r e d a b o u t h ow mu ch k n ow l e d g e t h e E G I t e a m h a d a b o u t n o r t h e a s t I n d i a a n d M a n i p u r Ês h i s t o r y.

The EGI ended up committing many factual errors in the process, said the joint statement, adding that the EGI’s team with no basic facts claimed that riots were initiated by the Meiteis on 3 May in Churachandpur locality There is a SC appointed fact finding committee which is also looking for it but not yet been able to do so even the committee started its mission on 7 August, asserted the statement, adding the EGI report referred to a certain Hill Area Committee Act 1972, even though there was no such Act The claim that the State government flouted the provisions of this Act to declare ‘reserved forest or protected forest at its whim is false There are no

The Office of the Direc tor of National Intelligence is throwing $22 million in taxpayer money at developing clothing that records audio, video, and location data

2002 and 2006 as important experience for his current role

In reference to the outrageous video of Kuki women being paraded naked, the EGI team did not confirm if there were two or three women victims as their report stated two in some places and three in different occasions It also claimed that a young woman was shown as raped in video, but the 26-second clip showed two women and no incident of rape was witnessed Parading and groping of both theladies were bad enough to be condemned but the EGI team preferred to dramatize the tragic episode to suit its motivated narrative

Again, in regard to a photograph of a burning building the EG I captioned it as belonging to a Kuki family but in reality the particular building was the office of the State forest department in Churachandpur The EGI has lately corrected the mistake The EGI report also claimed that many Kuki-Zo houses along with churches in Meitei dominated areas were destroyed on 3 May itself, but it was wrong as the riots spread to the Imphal valley only after some days It also claimed that most of the valley-based newspapers and news channels took dictations from the CM s

office, which is found highly objectionable by the office bearers of AMWJU and EGM

Speaking to this writer from Imphal Imphal Times

editor Rinku Khumukcham clarified that the Manipur government has not lodged any FIR against the EGI members as widely reported by various media outlets and journalists organizations based in New Delhi, Hyderabad and Mumbai He however admitted that CM Biren Singh during a press briefing on 4 September, after appealing to all residents to maintain peace and tranquility strongly condemned the EGI report Singh mentioned Union Home Minister Amit Shah s speech in Parliament highlighting the complexity of the present crisis of Manipur Despite this, it is strongly condemned that some vested interest groups are sending their fact-finding teams which are issuing reports as if they have brought a conclusion to the issue and which could further fuel the crisis he asserted He opined the EGI was intervening in a sub-judice manner as the Supreme Court (as well as the Union government) was monitoring various probe committees to understand the root causes of troubles

Questioning the neutrality and intellectual capacity of the EGI fact-finding team, Singh said they had no idea about the country’s forest laws and hence summarized many issues abruptly He even wondered about how much knowledge the EGI team had about northeast India and Manipur s history Before reaching any conclusion the EGI team should better understand different sensitive issues of the State Otherwise, the visiting team can be accused of arriving in Manipur to only spread communal venom in the time of crisis Condemning the incident where two women were physically attacked by a mob (whose video went viral on social media) Singh added that a group of Meitei women rescued the victims and shifted them to a safer place Talking about some media reports where it was described that a spokesperson of the Kuki Inpi threatened Meiteis to avoid coming to Moreh without a permanent solution to the present crisis and how many Tamil families in the border town were made to pay illegal tax for their survival Singh warned that the government will not allow such activities He also added that an FIR has been lodged against the concerned person

Even though the EGI expressed shock over the police complaints as well as Singh s harsh reactions to their report, it’s understood that the EGI team went there to study the role of Manipur media outlets in reporting the ethnic conflict but went beyond its mandate to analyze the causes of ethnic violence It even quoted an unidentified Kuki individual who alleged that the Imphal-based journalists took dictations from the CM s office Moreover, the EGI report criticized the Union government for not imposing President’s rule in Manipur after dismissing the BJP-led government

The writer is a freelance columnist

Is gold really a safe asset?

for example gold has been less volatile than technology-stock indexes but it nevertheless would seem to refute the engineer ’s claim Conventional analysis indicates that gold bullion is a relatively hazardous holding (The shares of goldmining companies are chancier yet )

But this investigation is insufficient

Thus these findings are deceptive because they are based on a single moment in a half-century of history Yes and no Although it is true that the worst longterm results derive from that year most who bought gold from 1979 until 1983 also lost money after inflation for the 20-year period

The federal government has shelled out at least $22 million in an effort to develop smart clothing that spies on the wearer and its surroundings Similar to previous moonshot projects funded by military and intelligence agencies the inspiration may have come from science fiction and superpowers but the basic applications are on brand for the government: surveillance and data collection

Billed as the largest single investment to develop Active Smart Textiles, the SMART ePANTS Smart Electrically Powered and Networked Textile Systems program aims to develop clothing capable of recording audio video and geolocation data the Office of the Director of National Intelligence announced in an August 22 press release Garments slated for production include shirts, pants, socks, and underwear, all of which are intended to be washable

The project is being undertaken by the Intelligence Advanced Research Projects Activity the intelligence community’s secretive counterpart to the military s better-known Defense Advanced Research Projects Agency or DARPA IARPA s website says it invests federal funding into high-risk, high reward projects to address challenges facing the intelligence community ” Its tolerance for risk has led to both impressive achievements like a Nobel Prize awarded to physicist David Wineland for his research on quantum computing funded by IARPA as well as costly failures

A lot of the IARPA and DARPA programs are like throwing spaghetti against the refrigerator,” Annie Jacobsen, author of a book about DARPA “The Pentagon’s Brain ” told The Intercept “It may or may not stick ”

According to the Office of the Director of National Intelligence s press release This eTextile technology could also assist personnel and first responders in dangerous, high-stress environments, such as crime scenes and arms control inspections without impeding their ability to swiftly and safely operate ”

IARPA contracts for the SMART ePANTS program have gone to five entities As the Pentagon disclosed this month along with other contracts it routinely announces, IARPA has awarded $11 6 million and $10 6 million to defense contractors Nautilus Defense and Leidos respectively The Pentagon did not disclose the value of the contracts with the other three: Massachusetts Institute of Technology SRI International and Areté IARPA does not publicly disclose our funding numbers, IARPA spokesperson Nicole de Haay told The Intercept Dawson Cagle, a former Booz Allen Hamilton associate serves as the IARPA program manager leading SMART ePANTS Cagle invoked his time

As a former weapons inspector myself I know how much hand-carried electronics can interfere with my situational awareness at inspection sites, Cagle recently told Homeland Security Today In unknown environments, I d rather have my hands free to grab ladders and handrails more firmly and keep from hitting my head than holding some device ”

Smart ePANTS is not the national security community s first foray into high-tech wearables In 2013, Adm William McRaven, thencommander of U S Special Operations Command, presented the Tactical Assault Light Operator Suit Called TALOS for short, the proposal sought to develop a powered exoskeleton supersuit similar to that worn by Matt Damon s character in Elysium a sci-fi action movie released that year The proposal also drew comparisons to the suit worn by Iron Man, played by Robert Downey Jr , in a string of blockbuster films released in the run-up to TALOS’s formation “Science fiction has always played a role in DARPA ” Jacobsen said

The TALOS project ended in 2019 without a demonstrable prototype but not before racking up $80 million in costs

As IARPA works to develop SMART ePANTS over the next three and a half years, Jacobsen stressed that the advent of smart wearables could usher in troubling new forms of government biometric surveillance

They re now in a position of serious authority over you In TSA they can swab your hands for explosives, Jacobsen said Now suppose SMART ePANTS detects a chemical o n y o u r s k i n i m a g i n e w h e r e t h a t c a n lead ” With consumer wearables already capable of monitoring your heartbeat further breakthroughs could give rise to more invasive biometrics

IARPA programs are designed and executed in accordance with, and adhere to, strict civil liberties and privacy protection protocols Further, IARPA performs civil liberties and privacy protection compliance reviews throughout our research efforts de Haay the spokesperson said

There is already evidence that private industry outside of the national security community are interested in smart clothing Meta, Facebook’s parent company, is looking to hire a researcher “with broad knowledge in smart textiles and garment construction integration of electronics into soft and flexible systems and who can work with a team of researchers working in haptics, sensing, tracking, and materials science

The spy world is no stranger to lavish investments in moonshot technology The CIA’s venture capital arm In-Q-Tel recently invested in Colossal Biosciences a wooly mammoth resurrection startup as The Intercept reported last year

If SMART ePANTS succeeds, it s likely to become a tool in IARPA s arsenal to create the vast intelligence, surveillance, and reconnaissance systems of the future ” said Jacobsen

“They want to know more about you than you ”

LA S T month The Wall Street Journal published an article entitled When Markets Get Scary Mom and Pop Buy Gold (The Journal s print version carries the more sober headline of “Individual Investors Seek Safety in Gold ”) Underlying the piece was the news that for the first time 10 years Gallup poll respondents preferred gold to stocks when asked to name the best long-term investment As gold has returned less than equities over the past 10, 20, 30, 40, 50, 60, 70 80 90 and 100 years counting both domestic and international stock markets one can interpret that answer as indicating either that the public believes that mainstream investments will soon collapse, or that, though it sacrifices totalreturn potential, gold offers a level of protection that stocks lack The Journal’s author favored the latter which strikes me as the correct choice Consequently the story featured investors praising gold s dependability In particular, its lead quote struck me: Precious metals are kind of what just makes it so I can sleep at night,” stated a middle-aged Massachusetts engineer “It’s impossible [if owning gold] that I’m going to end up in a bread line somewhere waiting for someone to drop something in my hand, so I can eat

Let s consider that statement

1) SHORT-TERM VOLATILITY Customarily financial risk is gauged by near-term movements There is good reason for that practice Assets that decline by 20% in a week are much likelier to suffer severe future losses than those that never fall by 5% (Assuming, of course, that Bernie Madoff is not the accountant ) Also many investments must be judged by what has occurred recently as they lack long-term histories Consider the annualized monthly standard deviations, since September

I used that start date because in August 1971 President Nixon announced the temporary suspension of the Bretton Woods accord That interruption soon became permanent thereby creating a new

gold

After all, the engineer did not fuss about monthly swings What worried him was the possibility of one-way movement, leading to the loss of his capital Although related the two items are not identical It could be that gold prices have fluctuated sharply in the short term but then reversed to the mean If so gold would indeed be a safe choice according to his barometer

2) LONG-TERM IMPAIRMENT

We can test that hypothesis by measuring the lowest long-term performance managed by gold through the study period

On an inflation-adjusted basis nominal returns are beside the point, as what matters is the preservation of purchasing power what was the weakest 10-year outcome for a $100 000 investment in gold bullion? For comparison s sake I included three other assets: intermediateterm U S bonds foreign equities and domestic equities

The engineer would be unhappy

During its worst decade, gold bullion shed almost half of its real value Stocks too sometimes suffered losses though at different times than gold s struggles but their trough was nonetheless higher For investors who needed their money back after 10 years, gold was the most dangerous of the four assets

The 20-year view was worse yet Gold dropped even further to only 41 cents on the dollar Meanwhile the real returns on the three competing investments were invariably positive Domestic stocks were especially spectacular, returning at least 154% through every 20year period They, not gold, were the overwhelmingly safe choice

It may be objected that gold’s 10and 20-year troughs each originated in early 1980 when bullion prices spiked

3) AMID CATASTROPHES

I have no chart for the third and final assessment: how gold performs when the normal investment rules no longer apply such as during bouts of total war or hyperinflation Not only have such calamities rarely troubled developed countries over the past century, but when they have, gold s barter rate has not often been documented The data permits only guesswork

However based on anecdotal evidence including my mother-in-law s experience as a World War II refugee when she survived on meals purchased with gold coins from her mother s attic I will grant gold its due Should complete disaster strike, gold should prove superior to both paper dollars and electronically stored cryptocurrencies Sometimes tangible assets beat intangible promises

But those seem to me highly unlikely scenarios However, I can neither deny the possibility nor the fact that if calamity does arrive I will regret my decision not to own precious metals Under those conditions the engineer s portfolio will outdo that of your humble (alleged) investment expert

In short, the decision to invest in gold comes down to 1) the probability that an investor assigns to the prospect of international catastrophe and 2) the investor ’s comfort level in ignoring that possibility As an optimist I find that an easy call: Forge ahead without it! However I appreciate that others have different views For them, a dollop of bullion may provide comfort worth its weight in well, gold

Based on this column’s evidence though I do not think the case for gold extends further than that

The decision to invest in gold comes down to t wo fac tors

B I D E N S AY S H E D O E S N O T

A N T T O C O N TA I N

C H I N A , ’ S E E KS A L L I A N C E S T O M A I N TA I N S TA B I L I T Y

ISTANBUL AG E N C E S

US President Joe Biden said on Sunday that he does not want to contain China but accused Beijing of changing the rules of the game

“Really what this trip is about, it’s less about containing China I don’t want to contain China ” said the US president after a bilateral meeting with Vietnamese Communist Party General Secretary Nguyen Phu Trong in Hanoi, Vietnam We are not looking to decouple from China

He emphasized that Washington does not stand to “hurt China ”

However, Biden said the US will not to sell material that would enhance their capac-

ity make more nuclear weapons, to engage defence capacity ”

“Having Vietnam close to

US” does not mean “containing China ”

Biden stressed

However he accused Beijing of having beginning to change rules of the games in terms of trade, other issues

Biden expressed his sincere intention to put US-China relations back on track

“This trip is not about containing China it is about having a stable base in

Indo-Pacific said Biden adding he wants relations with Beijing up and up (that)

everybody knows what it is all about

He said the US has been strengthening

alliances around the world to maintain stability The US president noted that his Chinese counterpart Xi Jingpin has “some difficulties right now ”

“He has his hands full ” said Biden adding Xi was facing economic difficulties including youth unemployment

While the US president said he is looking to meet his Chinese counterpart soon, Biden said he met Xi s Number 2 during his visit to India where they attended G-20 summit Biden apparently referred to Chinese Premier Li Qiang who attended the 18th summit of G-20 leaders in New Delhi

My team, staff still meets with President s people, said Biden

e z u e l a’s M a d u ro s ays s e e k i n g

C h i n a’s h e l p t o j o i n B R I C S

BEIJING

AG E N C I

E S

Venezuelan President Nicolas Maduro is seeking Beijing s support to join the recently expanded BRICS group of emerging economies as he makes a state visit to China The BRICS bloc Brazil

Russia India China and South Africa agreed at their annual summit last month to admit six new full members

In an interview with Chinese state news agency Xinhua on Saturday, Maduro said he aimed to secure “the entry of Venezuela into BRICS with the support of China with the support of all countries

Beijing Maduro said could help to achieve the accession of a country with the largest oil reserves in the world

“The enlarged BRICS could be defined as the great engine for the acceleration of the birth of a new world a world

Russia’s Lavrov says G20 summit a ‘success’

of cooperation where the global south has the leading voice ” Maduro told Xinhua

“The BRICS nations accelerate the de-dollarization of the world the emergence of a new international financial system, of a new just economic order, he said Maduro arrived in China on Friday and is expected to stay until Thursday for his first state visit to the country since 2018

Beijing is Venezuela s main creditor and has close ties with the diplomatically isolated inflation-ravaged socialist nation The BRICS group will welcome new members Argentina, Ethiopia, Iran, Saudi Arabia, Egypt and the United Arab Emirates from January 1 China views BRICS as a counterweight to multinational organisations it deems as dominated by the United States and other Western rivals Maduro s visit comes as Xi skips a meeting of the G20 major economies in India

K halistan veteran leader says Indian state killed Hardeep Nijjar on C anada soil

VANCOUVER, CANADA AG E N C I E S

Pro-Khalistan Sikh community leaders firmly believe that India cannot stifle their voices noting an exceptional tenfold increase in the community’s dedication to freedom particularly among the youth following Hardeep Singh Nijjar s assassination here three months ago by the suspected Indian agents Sikhs For Justice (SFJ) which is running the Khalistan Referendum voting campaign worldwide, decided to hold the voting for Sunday 10 September at Guru Nanak

Sikh Gurdwara-Surrey Delta where Nijjar was assassinated and he was also President of the same Gurdwara He was on India s most wanted list and the Indian govt had seized his assets back home and registered dozens of false cases against him

Dr Bakhshish Singh Sandhu, President of the Council of Khalistan, and Bhupinder Singh Hothi, Secretary-General of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara-Surrey Delta, anticipated a substantial Sikh community turnout for the rights of Sikhs

Dr Sandhu President of the Council of Khalistan highlighted that the Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara is a special place for the Khalistan referendum as it was the site where Hardeep Singh Nijjar leader of the Canadian Chapter of Khalistan Referendum assassinated by Indian agencies on June 18 2023

Dr Sandhu accused the Indian government of involvement in the assassination of Hardeep Singh Nijjar, a prominent Khalistani activist who was Khalistan Referendum’s Canada President and also local leader of SFJ Nijjar, aged 46, was tragically killed outside a gurdwara in Surrey Canada Notably a reward of Rs 10 lakh was placed on his head as declared by the National Investigation Agency (NIA) earlier this year The NIA had leveled charges against him for his involvement in terrorismrelated activities and his alleged role in waging war against India

Dr Sandhu welcomed the decision of Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau to initiate public investigations into foreign interference, including those linked to India, expressing his satisfaction During his visit to India for the G20 meeting, Justin Trudeau had previously announced in a statement that if granted the opportunity by Prime Minister Modi he would address the issue of eliminating foreign interference in Canada In response to a question Dr Sandhu pointed out that similar referend u m s h a v e a l r e a d y t a k e n p l a c e i n c o u n t r i e s l i k e t h e U K A u s t r a l i a I t a l y a n d

Switzerland Now it s happening in (another city of ) Canada where there is a significant Sikh population Bhupinder Singh Hothi, Secretary-General of Guru Nanak Sikh Gurdwara-Surrey Delta, confirmed that the Canadian police and intelligence services were investigating the killing of Nijjar He said that Nijjar ’s killing had further re-established the fact that the Indian Hindutva establishment didn’t like the Sikhs in any form and would go to any length to eliminate Sikhs

32 Russian drones attacked Ukraine, 25 downed: Kyiv

KYIV

AG E N C

E S

Thirty-two Russian drones attacked Ukraine, Kyiv military authorities said Sunday, adding that 25 were downed “The occupiers attacked Ukraine with 32 kamikaze drones of which 25 were destroyed by Ukrainian air defence forces The Russian occupiers directed most of the attack UAVs to the Kyiv region Ukraine s armed forces said in a statement Ukrainian air defence forces downed drones targeting Kyiv overnight, city authorities said Sunday morning Drones entered the capital in groups and from different directions,” Sergiy Popko, head of the Kyiv City Military Administration wrote on Telegram “Air defence forces managed to destroy more than two dozen enemy UAVs (unmanned aerial vehicles) he said Authorities had urged people to remain in shelters as the air defence system rained debris on the capital An AFP journalist in Kyiv heard around ten explosions In central Podilskyi district, doctors treated a person suffering from an “acute stress attack” after debris fell in an open area Mayor Vitali Klitschko wrote on Telegram Debris also fell on the districts of Sviatoshynskyi and Shevchenkivskyi damaging an apartment in a multi-storey building according to Popko Most of the debris landed in open, undeveloped territory, though several cars, trolleybus power lines and roads were damaged, Popko wrote on

NEW DELHI

AG E N C E S

Russian Foreign Minister Sergei Lavrov claimed diplomatic victory on Sunday declaring a G20 summit in India a success after the bloc shied away from direct criticism of Moscow s invasion of Ukraine We were able to prevent the West s attempts to Ukrainize the summit agenda,” Lavrov said as the two-day meeting of leaders closed “The text doesn’t mention Russia at all”

Russia’s veteran diplomat said “The Indian presidency has really managed to coalesce G20 members from the global south he added suggesting that Russian allies like Brazil, South Africa, India and China had made their voices heard G20 leaders on Saturday papered over deep divisions over Russia’s 18-month-old invasion of its neighbour alluding to the problems caused by the war but not blaming Moscow Russian President Vladimir Putin was forced to avoid the summit fearing political opprobrium and the risk of arrest on war crimes charges Kyiv s foreign ministry denounced the G20 statement as nothing to be proud of , but a top White House official said Washington was happy with the outcome

G20 SUMMIT AVOIDS CONDEMNING

RUSSIA FOR UKRAINE WAR –

The Group of 20 adopted a consensus declaration at a summit on Saturday that avoided condemning Russia for the war in Ukraine but called on all states not to use force to grab territory Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi announced that the Leaders’ Declaration had been adopted on the first day of the weekend G20 summit in New Delhi “On the back of the hard work of all the teams we have received consensus on the G20 Leaders Summit Declaration I announce the adoption of this declaration Modi told the leaders including US President Joe Biden and heads of government and state from across the world The consensus came as a surprise as G20 is deeply divided over the war in Ukraine, with Western nations earlier pushing for strong condemnation of Russia in the Leaders’ Declaration while others demanded a focus on broader economic issues We call on all states to uphold the principles of international law including territorial integrity and sovereignty

Ve n

Grateful to Hon Caretaker Minister for Energy Mr Muhammadd Ali for visiting KE today Briefed him on our progress & how we have halved T&D losses since privatization Minister also met various stakeholders & discussed possible solutions for the monumental challenges faced by KE and power sector During the briefing, the Minister expressed

his resolve to find solutions for all stakeholders that are sustainable, equitable and possible under the circumstances

Curbing illicit trade, tax evasion can help achieve quar terly tax targets

KARACHI p r

The government can meet its target to collect a quarterly tax revenue of Rs 1 9 trillion by cracking down on tax evasion and illicit trade in key sectors However strict enforcement of policies and reduction of pathways for illicit trade are essential for achieving this goal Under the IMF s Standby Arrangement (SBA) program of $3 billion, the government has been tasked with collecting Rs1,977 in taxes for the first quarter of the fiscal year 2023-24

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has managed to collect Rs 1207 billion in the first two months of the current fiscal year 2023-24 Nonetheless there remains an outstanding amount of Rs 770 billion that needs to be collected by the end of the current month to meet the target "Given the current dire economic situation, a sluggish business environment, and rising inflation, where people are struggling to meet their daily needs collecting the remaining Rs 770 billion will be a formidable challenge for the authorities said Yousuf M Farooq Director of Research at Chase Securities He said that the government must focus on plugging tax leaks and eliminating illicit trade, which significantly contribute to the decline in tax collection, instead of burdening legal businesses with additional taxes or imposing indirect taxes on consumers

Currency dealers, transit trade behind economic instabilit y: PEW

LAHORE p r

President of Pakistan Economy Watch (PEW) Dr

Murtaza Mughal said on Sunday that currency exchange companies and Afghan transit trade were behind the economic instability of Pakistan In a statement issued on Sunday, he said that many currency dealers provide all kinds of services to the corrupt elements and send the capital collected through plunder out of the country This sector has become a hotbed for money laundering he added Dr Murtaza

Mughal was of the view that the freedom given to exchange companies in Pakistan does not exist anywhere on earth The developed countries do not dare adopt such a system that a debtor country like ours has adopted which has shaken the foundations of the country He said that goods worth billions of dollars are being smuggled through the Afghan transit trade that has no consumption in Afghanistan

CDA committed to fulfilling religious needs of minorities

ISLAMABAD: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) has taken all possible steps to fulfill the religious needs of minority communities in the federal capital “The CDA has allocated two cremation grounds measuring 0 49 acres and 0 50 acres for the Hindu and Buddhist communities respectively in Sector H-9 an official in the authority told APP on Sunday Moreover, the official said that graveyards have been provided for Christians (9 01 acres), Bhais (1 70 acres) and Qadianis (3 424 acres) in Sector H-9 and Sector H-8 of the capital He said this move aims to ensure that all communities have access to appropriate facilities for their burial rites The CDA has also addressed the issue of sewage treatment and water recycling, highlighting its commitment to environmental sustainability p r

Cut in taxes on real estate sector to attract $5-6b foreign investment: ICCI

ISLAMABAD: President, Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari has called upon the government to reduce heavy taxes on the real estate and construction sector that would bring US$ 5-6 billion foreign investment within a short time and help revive the revive the economy He said that the business activities of around 70 allied industries are dependent on the real estate and construction sector, so its better growth would boost of the business activities of all allied industries and stimulate the economic growth of the country This was stated by him while addressing as chief guest at a reception hosted in his honor by the prominent real estate developer Sial Sarfraz The balloting of plots of his housing project was held and birthday cake of Ahsan Bakhtawari was also cut on the occasion Ahsan Zafar Bakhtawari said that the real estate sector is the major source of attracting remittances and foreign investment however the imposition of heavy taxes has caused significant decline in foreign remittances and the gap is increasing He said that this situation has stagnated the business activities in the real estate and construction sector due to which unemployment is rising Speaking on the occasion, Sarfraz Sial said that the overseas Pakistanis are interested in investing in the real estate sector but heavy taxes are discouraging them pr

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

CARETAKER Federal Minister for Commerce Industries and Production

Dr Gohar Ejaz said that the South Asian country was expected to sign a free trade agreement (FTA) with the United Arab Emirates (UAE) during the upcoming visit of an Emirati delegation in the last week of September

It is worth mentioning here that the UAE is Pakistan s third-largest trade partner after China and the United States

It is also viewed as an ideal export destination by policymakers in the South Asian country due to its geographical proximity to Pakistan which reduces transportation and freight costs The Gulf country is also home to an estimated 1 8 million Pakistani expatriates and after Saudi Arabia the second-largest source

of remittances for the South Asian nation of more than 240 million Emirates delegation is planned for end September to finalize the FTA between Pakistan and UAE, Ejaz said, adding the visit would be focused on trade, investment, and economy Arab News reported Pakistan’s ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi said both nations were optimistic about signing the agreement, officially known as the Comprehensive Economic Partnership Agreement (CEPA), during the upcoming visit “There are some issues which are being negotiated and we would like to finalize the deal when they come Tirmizi said

The UAE had already signed FTAs with around nine countries and was working with Pakistan on it, according to the ambassador A successful signing of the CEPA will potentially reduce trade tariffs that could significantly enhance Pakistan’s income and revenue ”

Pak-China ‘Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences’ to be set up in Oct

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

China and Pakistan will establish a joint research center in October to promote the study of Earth sciences and sci-tech exchanges

Hong Tianhua, an official in charge of the center ’s preparatory work addressing the 2023 China International Fair for Trade in Services said ChinaPakistan Joint Research Center on Earth Sciences will be established in Islamabad the capital of Pakistan, in October as a high-level scientific and technological innovation platform between the two countries to promote sci-tech cooperation and talent cultivation ”

“The center is being initiated by the Chinese Academy of Sciences (CAS) and the Higher Education Commission of Pakistan and supported by the Institute of Mountain Hazards and Environment under

the CAS and Quaid-i-Azam University in Pakistan,”

Xinhua reported

Its establishment also involves CAS-affiliated institutes and other Chinese research institutions as well as universities in Pakistan such as the University of Peshawar The center will carry out joint research in four areas: natural disaster and risk management; geological structures and tectonic activities; climate change and environmental effects; and resources, environment and green development The center will also serve as a matchmaker for the investment and technologies of Chinese and Pakistani enterprises and institutions

We hope to build a high-level platform for scitech cooperation between the two countries, and gradually extend it to neighboring countries to provide sci-tech and human resources support for the construction of the Belt and Road Initiative and the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor Hong said

Pak-Kyrgyz cooperation in health sector to be strengthened further: Dr Zhumaliev

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Bilateral ties between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan are at highest degree of mutual interest and bilateral trade relations particularly in the healthcare sector will be strengthened further

This was stated by Dr Zhumaliev, Member Kyrgyz Republic Parliament and leader of the delegation currently visiting Pakistan on Sunday while speaking at a reception hosted in his honour by Chairman Kyrgyzstan Trade House Meher Kashif Younis

Dr Zhumaliev said that the promotion of trade and industry between the two countries holds significant potential which needed to be availed

By identifying areas of common interest and fostering partner-

ships we can pave the way for increased economic cooperation and growth he added

The Member Kyrgyz Parliament said it was a significant and promising development in the realm of bilateral relations between Pakistan and Kyrgyzstan

“The possibilities for collaboration are vast and promising in the field of medical education both countries can benefit from knowledge exchange, joint research projects, and student exchanges”, he remarked

He said “It will undoubtedly contribute to the development of our respective healthcare systems

He said He believes that the Kyrgyzstan Trade House in Pakistan, plays a pivotal role in facilitating such collaborations and promoting trade ties and its expertise and resources will be invalu-

able in ensuring the success of these initiatives

Ulanbek Totuiaev Ambassador Kyrgyzstan Roza Amanova deputy leader of delegation, Dr Shahid Hassan, president of Kyrgyzstan Trade House, and other leading industrialists were also present on the occasion

Meher Kashif Younis in his welcome address said Dr Zhumaliev is a tycoon in the healthcare sector of Kyrgyzstan, academician of the National Academy of Sciences and winner of best awards brings with him a wealth of experience and knowledge

He said He looks forward to the positive outcomes this visit may yield and the lasting benefits it can bring to both countries

“He remains optimistic about the future of Pakistan-Kyrgyzstan collaboration ” he concluded

P I D E C o n fe r e n c e c a l l s fo r a b o l i s h i n g d i s t i n c t i o n o f f i l e r, n o n - f i l e r i n i n c o m e t a x

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Hosted by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) Macro Policy Lab, the Round Table Conference "Fixing Fiscal Policy" held in Islamabad addressed the persistent challenge of fiscal indiscipline in Pakistan and sought to chart a visionary path for the nation s fiscal policy

In his introductory remarks Associate Prof and Chief of Macro-Policy Lab PIDE Dr Nasir Iqbal said that the Round Table Conference, Fixing Fiscal Policy," aims to unite policymakers and thought leaders to foster collaboration and develop local solutions in the fiscal framework of Pakistan By bringing together academia and policymakers we seek to chart a visionary path of fiscal policy in Pakistan for the future transcending from short-term approaches and firefighting

Speaking on the occasion VC PIDE Dr Nadeem ul Haque said that three things need to be focused on for the fixation of fiscal policy Firstly, the role of the government is crucial in ensuring effective fiscal management Secondly taxation and expenditure must be carried out in a transparent manner with accountability

This includes how to collect taxes how to spend them

and where to allocate funds Lastly, debt management is also an important aspect that requires attention

Dr Ashfaque Hasan Khan Principal of the School of Social Sciences & Humanities NUST while speaking at the roundtable meeting said that to address economic challenges it is important to immediately reset the role of the government from being an active player to a facilitator This would involve eliminating the current regulation-based regime and transitioning towards a rule-based economy The use of a regulatory guillotine would help in the elimination of unnecessary No Objection Certificates (NOCs) A rule-based approach coupled with monitoring and evaluation would ensure a more efficient and effective economic system

Distinguished participants included senior economists, researchers, and fiscal experts from various institutions across the country, such as the Ministry of Planning Development & Special Initiatives P&D Baluchistan QAU SZABIST the US Embassy ADTMA P&D Punjab IIUI NUST and COMSATS

In the first session titled Role of Government and Economic Stagnation while presenting the detailed presentation Muhammad Shaaf Najib, Research Fellow, PIDE said that Interest Payments account for a significant portion of the targeted tax revenue amounting to 77 5%

trade events which we attended and Pakistani presence is increasing in every sector be it food health food pharmaceuticals and tourism the ambassador added

PIAF wants effective policy for promotion of demand-driven technical education

f

3,300 Pakistani companies join Dubai Chamber of Commerce

DUBAI s ta f f r e p o r t

A total of 3,300 Pakistani companies joined the Dubai Chamber of Commerce in the first quarter of 2023, making Pakistan the third-largest source of new company registrations in the emirate The increase of 59% from the first quarter of 2022 was welcomed by Pakistani Ambassador to the UAE Faisal Niaz Tirmizi who said it was a reflection of the dynamism of Pakistani businesses and the growing attractiveness of the UAE as an investment destination "This is indeed a positive development " Tirmizi said "Over the past year the number of Pakistani expatriates in the emirate has increased from about 1 6 million to 1 8 million, and this trend is likely to continue " The Dubai Chamber of Commerce said that the 3 300 new Pakistani companies represented a wide range of sectors, including trade, manufacturing, construction and services The diversity of Pakistani businesses in Dubai is a testament to the strength of the economic ties between our two countries " said the president and CEO of Dubai Chamber of Commerce He added e are committed to supporting Pakistani businesses in Dubai and helping them to grow and succeed "

PM&DC successfully conduc ts MDC AT-2023 exam at national, foreign venues

ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t

Pakistan Medical and Dental Council has managed to successfully conduct a paperbased MDCAT-2023 examination in a single day at national and international venues through provincial public admitting universities supervised by PM&DC

and our responsibility is to help them fulfill their dreams

He also informed that to facilitate the candidates a simple examination marking pattern is kept and no negative marking will be done on wrong answers

He said PM&DC staff has worked day and night to make all necessary arrangements to conduct MDCAT He also said students have been provided best facility to appear in the exam

B I L AW A L A D V I S E S P D M A L L I E S A G A I N S T F I N D I N G E S C A P E F R O M E L E C T I O N S

void by not participating in the electoral process the space left by it was occupied by another party

PAKISTAN Peoples Party (PPP)

Chairman Bilawal Bhutto

Zardari has advised his party’s allies in the outgoing PDM government that they should not shy away from participating in the elections just because they are frightened about the outcome

“It is said one who takes fright dies,” said Bilawal quoting a sub-continental adage while addressing the inauguration ceremony of 6 million gallons per day (MGD) filtration plant in Hussainabad area here on Sunday

He emphasized that it was necessary to compete in the general elections

”The PPP is alive today because our workers and leaders were martyred but we never bowed or backed out but we kept fighting while carrying our dead on our shoulders he underlined

We neither ran away from the elections before nor we will do so now, he added The PPP’s Chairman cautioned that whenever a political party created a

He referred to the local government elections in Hyderabad which were boycotted by Muttahida Qaumi Movement-

Pakistan (MQM-P) and in their absence

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) emerged successful in 2 out of 9 Town Municipal Corporations (TMCs) They also became frightened and so they died I tried everything to convince them I begged them to fight the LG elections from Karachi and Hyderabad,” Bilawal recalled

He reiterated that MQM-P’s decision to boycott the LG elections created a space which was occupied by an antiPakistan party like PTI which was responsible for the May 9 attacks on Jinnah House, GHQ and other places

“I told MQM-P that they should contest the polls and whatever the people decide by choosing your or our party we will accept the results he added

According to him he had been trying to convince all the coalition partners in Pakistan Democratic Movement s gov-

ernment that their politics and support among the people would suffer a setback if they opted to delay or stay out of the electoral process But, sadly our allies have become frightened They earlier tried to escape from the by-elections and then the LG polls and now perhaps they want to run away from the general elections he lamented However he asserted it was not in the training of the PPP to run away or to become fearful Bilawal vowed that the way PPP trounced the PTI in Sindh, the party would do the same against Imran Khan’s party in the rest of the country with the public’s support those doing politics of divide and hatred elsewhere in Pakistan and those trying to create rifts between the institutions and public of Pakistan, and those who attacked Jinnah House on May 9, we are coming for them and we will fight them ” he announced He requested his party s supporters to give a befitting response to that mudslinging by uploading videos on the social media reflecting the PPP s performance in Sindh

Bilawal said the PPP had not only established health facilities but quality health services were also being provided

Earlier, former Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah asked the people to give their mandate to the PPP so that the party could elect Bilawal as the next PM

He said his party dare to admit the unaccomplished works while appraising the people about the completed projects Shah recalled that the capacity of Hyderabad s filtration plants was only around 35 MGD when the PPP formed the government in 2008 but the same had now been doubled to 70 MGD

He expressed hope that the PPP’s Mayor Kashif Ali Shoro would change the appearance of Hyderabad by carrying out development and beautification works

“The people are waiting for the elections so that they can see their beloved leader Bilawal become the PM ” said Nisar Khuhro PPP Sindh s President Sharjeel Inam Memon former provincial ministers Nasir Hussain Shah and Jam Khan Shoro also expressed their views on the occasion

Countr y wide massive crackdown launched to combat power thef t

PESHAWAR/ISLAMABAD/LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

A massive crackdown has been launched by the Caretaker Government to combat the alarming surge in power theft and to take stern actions against the culprits involved power pilferage along with officials of the distribution companies facilitating the electricity theft

On the directives of the government, the Peshawar Electricity Supply Company (Pesco) has so far removed over 500 direct hooks during ongoing operations against electricity stealers in the province

More than 500 direct hooks have been removed so far while fines for more than 7 million have been charged against electricity theft, the spokesman for Pesco told APP on Sunday As per the Govt directives he said the anti electricity theft operations continued in the province on war footings basis and more than 250 requests to lodge FIR have been submitted

Meanwhile, 10 superintendent engi-

neers of Pesco were assigned the duties of focal persons with a direction to make contact with provincial task force and divisional commissioners to curb electricity theft and provide relief to all those consumers who pay electricity bills

The Provincial Task Force with an assistance of police district administration and other relevant departments were directed to remove direct electricity hooks and make recovery from defaulters on priority basis

In this regard, the deputy commissioners would led the task force at their respective districts and report regarding removal of direct hooks and recovery of outstanding dues would be submitted to the caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on daily basis

Directives were issued to the relevant authorities to take stern action against owners of hotels, traders, shopkeepers and vendors involved in taking illegal connections from the government departments schools hospitals railways pattak

FBR to auction proper ties of tax evaders

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has decided to launch an operation against tax evaders across the country The operation will target those who have been proved in cases and have received decisions in favor of the FBR from all legal forums says in media reports FBR has also instructed its field offices to speed up the recovery of taxes from these tax evaders In some cases the FBR may even auction properties to recover the stolen tax In the first phase, the FBR has prepared a list of more than 12,300 people from major cities including Islamabad, Lahore, Peshawar, Multan, Quetta, and Karachi The list includes industrialists mill owners traders property dealers and others The FBR has warned the people on the list that they must submit the required documents within a week of receiving the tax notice Failure to do so will result in legal action being taken against them The FBR s operation against tax evaders is a welcome move Tax evasion is a serious crime that robs the government of much-needed revenue The FBR’s action should send a strong message to tax evaders that they will not be tolerated The operation is also likely to have a positive impact on the economy When more people pay their taxes the government has more money to invest in development projects and social programs This can lead to increased economic growth and prosperity for all

POL prices likely to be increased next week

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The prices of petroleum products are likely to be increased by Rs 15 per liter from next week, according to a private TV channel The channel reported that the price of crude oil in the global market has increased by 5 dollars per barrel in the last one week The price of crude oil in the Gulf market has increased from 88 dollars per barrel to 93 dollars This increase in the price of crude oil is likely to have a cascading effect on the prices of petroleum products in Pakistan If the value of the dollar does not decrease further, the prices of petroleum products may increase further from September 16 The government is currently reviewing the prices of petroleum products and a decision on the new prices is likely to be taken in the next few days The increase in the prices of petroleum products will have a negative impact on the economy It will increase the cost of transportation and other essential commodities, which will put further pressure on the already high inflation

and others

The district administration and police were mobalized to assist Pesco field staff in removal of direct hocks and recovery of outstanding dues against domestic, agricultural and industrial consumers Strict disciplinary action were being taken against all those staff of Pesco involved in power stealing

Meanwhile the district administration of Khyber have registered FIRs against seven power stealers after they were caught red handed by stealing electricity through direct hooks

The videos of power stealers and direct hooks were being prepared as evidence so that strong action should be taken against them

IESCO DETECTS 105 ILLEGAL

CONNECTIONS

On the other, the Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has expedited the drive against power pilferage and caught 105 meters and imposed fine of Rs7 567 million for stealing electricity in various areas of the company in the cur-

rent month

IESCO chief Dr Muhammad Amjad said that during the current crackdown against electricity thieves the field formations checked 5,743 meters and found 105 meters of the electricity consumers involved in power theft through various means As many as 73 meters were found tampered while 22 were getting direct power supply he said and added that a fine of Rs 7 567 million was imposed on the power pilferers while charging over 177,000 units

He said on the directives of the Federal Minister for Energy, the IESCO launched the crackdown against electricity thieves and their facilitators in all circles including I s l a m a b a d - R a w a l p i n d i - A t t o c k - J h e l u m

and Chakwal circles All operation circles, including In-charge Executives and SDOs, were rigorously inspecting industrial commercial domestic and other tariff categories within their respective areas the IESCO chief said

Pak istan condemns so - called elec tions in Azerbaijan’s Karabak h region: FO

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan on Sunday condemned the so-called elections held in the territories of Azerbaijan s Karabakh region Pakistan considers Karabagh as the sovereign territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan and any attempt to conduct so-called elections by the illegally installed regime is legally and morally reprehensible Foreign Office Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said in a statement

“Such an attempt is also a grave violation of the UN Charter and principles of established international law

The polls have also been condemned by Turkey the EU Organisation of Turkic States, Ukraine and others

Responding to a query regarding the so-called presidential elections in the territory of the Republic of Azerbaijan the spokesperson said such an attempt was also a grave violation of the United Nations Charter and principles of established international law

Relations between Azerbaijan and Armenia have been tense since 1991 when the Armenian military occupied Nagorno-Karabakh a territory internationally recognized as part of Azerbaijan and seven adjacent regions

In the fall of 2020, Azerbaijan liberated several cities, villages, and settlements from Armenian occupation during 44 days of clashes The war ended with a Russia-brokered

peace agreement

Despite ongoing talks over a long-term peace agreement tensions between Azerbaijan and Armenia rose in recent months over the Lachin road the only land route giving Armenia access to the Karabakh region, where Azerbaijan established a border checkpoint in April on the grounds for preventing the illegal transport of military arms and equipment to the region

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No countr y recognizes Kashmir as par t of India: Jalil Abbas

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Minister for Foreign Affairs Jalil Abbas Jilani has said that Kashmir is a disputed territory and no country of the world has recognized it as a part of India Jalil Abbas Jilani in a media interview said Pakistan wants a peaceful neighbourhood and peaceful relations with all its neighbours including India He said for peaceful relations India must create a conducive atmosphere including withdrawing August 5 2019 actions in the occupied territory release of all illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyat leaders and activists languishing in different jails of India and the territory and withdrawal of troops from Kashmir To a question the foreign minister said the Kashmir dispute has been pending with the United Nations for the last several decades and legislation by India cannot affect its disputed status Meanwhile Chairman of Jammu Kashmir Self-Determination Movement International (JKSDMI), Raja Najabat Hussain, has said that his organisation will continue to expose the ugly and cruel face of India to the whole world Raja Najabat Hussain expressed these views while addressing a dinner given in his honour by the former Director General of Mangla Dam Housing Authority Chaudhry Zulfiqar Azam He said the international community, instead of looking at their trade interests with India, should look at the ongoing human rights violations and massacres of innocent people and make all political and social relations with India subject to the end of ongoing human rights violations in India The Chairman of Umeed Welfare Trust UK Raja Mehrban Hussain former Political Secretary to Azad Kashmir Prime Minister Amir Zeeshan Jaral former Councillor Syed Aftab Hussain Shah, Vice Chairman of Cantonment Board, Mangla Cantt, Tariq Khan, District Councillor Potha Bansi Tawkir Najeeb Advocate and other personalities also participated in the dinner

Millers agree to provide sugar at Rs140 per kg: CM Naqvi

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday the Sugar mill owners have agreed to sell sugar to the Punjab government at Rs140 per kg The announcement came after a delegation of sugar mill owners met with caretaker Punjab Chief Minister Syed Mohsin Naqvi on Sunday The breakthrough came after threeday-long negotiations with the government on the commodity price On the occasion, Chief Minister Naqvi said that the Punjab government would sell sugar at special stalls in shopping centers model bazaars and Sunday bazaars to give relief to the people We can feel the pain of the people due to the inflation and the reduction in sugar prices will directly benefit the people of the province , says Naqvi In the meeting, it was agreed to start the crushing season from October 28 The owners of sugar mills while briefing the Punjab Chief Minister said that there is an abundant stock of sugar in Punjab

Operation going on to secure release of 6 kidnapped footballers in Dera Bugti: Bugti

QUETTA S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Interior Minister Sarfaraz

Bugti on Sunday claimed that an operation for the recovery of six kidnapped footballers was underway in Balochistan s Dera Bugti who were abducted on their way to Sibi on Saturday

The footballers were abducted in Bair area of Dera Bugti while travelling to Sibi to participate in the qualifying round of the All Pakistan Chief Minister Gold Cup football tournament the officials confirmed Meanwhile official sources said armed men intercepted the vehicles in which the players were travelling and took the footballers away at gunpoint

Five of the six players were identified as Aamir Bugti Faisal Bugti Sohail Bugti Yasar Bugti and Sheraz Bugti

The footballers are residents of Dera Bugti and Sui according to the Dera Bugti deputy commissioner

Following their abduction, the provincial caretaker home minister, Mir Zubair Ahmed Jamali, said security forces had been dispatched to the area to launch a search operation and recover the kidnapped footballers as soon as possible Separately the interim interior minister told Geo News late on Sunday that an operation was being planned to recover the players, but he added that details could not be shared He said teams of Frontier Corps deputy commissioner commissioner and Levies Force were working to trace the suspects The interior ministry said in an update on social media platform X (formerly Twitter) on Sunday that the area had