Epaper_23-09-7 KHI

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P M K A K A R S E E S E L E C T I O N S I N ' T H R E E T O F O U R M O N T H S '

t A l v i ' c o u l d c o n t i n u e ' i n h i s o f f i c e t i l l n e x t e l e c t i o n s

g Vo w s t o c o m e u p w i t h s h o r t a n d m i d - t e r m s o l u t i o n s t o d e a l w i t h c h a l l e n g e s

CA R E TA K E R P r i m e M i n i s t e r Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar said that he was “certain” about the general elections being held in the country within the next three to four months The prime minister asked in an interview with a private television channel about his strategy if any future scenario demanded an extension in the caretaker setup, he said as per the legal arrangement, the government would move to the electoral process within three to four months I think within few months few months can be translated into three threeand-half or four that needs to be seen

this will conclude and we will go to the electoral process,” he commented

Asked again whether he expected the general elections to be held within four months he replied I am not (just) hopeful

Gov t announces ‘crackdown’ against electricit y thieves, those who don’t pay bills

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

(rather) I am certain He said considering the limited time, his government was mulling to prioritize certain policy issues to at least lay a foundation for any future government to enable that to carry forward the journey

To a question the prime minister explained that even after the expiry of the term, the President of Pakistan could continue in his office till the election of his replacement However the Senate chairman would fill the slot in case he voluntarily gives up the office Coming to the issue of electricity bills the prime minister said the government was coming up with short and mid-term solutions including the planning to convert the oilbased power plants to run on local coal

Besides the process for the privatization of one or two power Discos will also be fi-

Official Secrets Act, Ar my Act challenged in SC

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Sindh Bar Council (SBC) on Wednesday approached the Supreme Court against the trial of civilians in military courts It has also challenged the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act, 2023 and the Official Secrets (Amendment) Act, 2023

The development comes days after President Dr Arif Alvi stirred controversy by claiming that he had not signed the Official Secrets (Amendment) Bill and the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Bill, attributing the confusion to his staff ’s actions The revelation plunged the country into a state of chaos

In a social media post the president vehemently denied giving his assent to the two bills He admitted, however, that his staff failed to return the bills to parliament within the stipulated 10-day time frame mandated by Article 75 of the Constitution

He accused his staff of not only deceiving him but also undermining his authority, effectively concealing the fact that the bills had not been returned

The SBC in its petition stated that the charging the accused persons in relation to the various acts of violence during the May 9 and 10 attacks throughout Pakistan under the Official Secrets Act 1923 and the Pakistan Army Act

1952 is, apart from being unconstitutional, patently beyond the scope of the said acts and is a colourable exercise of power and without jurisdiction

The petitioner urged the court to declare that the trial of civilians under military laws and before military tribunals violates the Constitution and Pakistan’s international treaty and convention obligations and cannot be countenanced under any circumstances

The petition asked the top court to strike down Sections 2(d), 59 (4) and 94 of the Pakistan Army Act 1952 and Section 2 (dd) 71 (3) and 123 of the Pakistan Air Force Act 1953 and Section 2 (3) 78 (3) and 107 of the Pakistan Navy Ordinance 1961

The purported Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2023 and

the purported Official Secrets (Amendment) Act, 2023 lack presidential assent under Article 75 (1) of the Constitution and are a nullity and may not be accorded the status of law under Article 75 (3) of the Constitution it said

Alternatively, it urged the court to declare that the Pakistan Army (Amendment) Act 2023 and the Official Secrets (Amendment) Act 2023 are “ultra vires” (beyond the powers) of the Constitution as they purport to further extend the reach of military laws and military tribunals over civilians (including retired military personnel) and to this extent are of no legal effect

OFFICIAL SECRETS ACT

According to the Official Secrets (Amendment) Act, a person will be guilty of an offence if he intentionally creates a problem of

The government announced plans on Wednesday to launch a crackdown on electricity theft, which federal ministers said lead to combined losses of hundreds of billions of rupees and higher bills for the common citizen Power Minister Muhammad Ali and Information Minister Murtaza Solangi made the announcement and outlined the measures they would be taking during a press conference in Islamabad It comes amid a full force crackdown planned against electricity theft across the country to tame mounting technical and commercial losses being faced by the power distribution companies The interim government, facing the ire of agitated masses over inflated electricity bills in August, has been mulling its options although limited to placate the people who have been out on streets across the country “The background is that in our country some domestic consumers steal electricity and others don t pay bills the power minister said in today s news conference as Solangi looked on

nalised soon which would help curb power theft through the introduction of new technology, and would also attract investment

Regarding the sugar price hike, Kakar said the government had asked the provinces to activate the price control committees and that the hoarders would be cracked down

The prime minister said through the legislation the previous government had empowered the caretaker setup which necessitated them to act differently from the normal caretaker setup

public order or acts against the state

In addition if a person attacks or damages a prohibited place and the purpose of this is to directly or indirectly benefit the enemy, then it is also punishable Under the said law the accused will be tried in a special court and a decision will be taken after completing the hearing within 30 days

ARMY ACT

The Army Act has provisions relating to retirement of military personnel According to this law no military personnel will be able to participate in any political activity for two years after retirement, resignation or dismissal, while military personnel or officers performing duties related to sensitive nature of duty shall not participate in political activities for five years after termination of service

A retired army officer found guilty of violating the Army Act will be punished with imprisonment for a term of up to two years Also if any serving or retired army personnel scandalises or ridicules the army on digital or social media, he will be punished under the Electronic Crimes Act

According to the said law, any serving or retired officer who causes defamation of the army or spreading hatred against it will be punished with imprisonment of two years and fine under the Army Act

The prime minister told the interviewer that the Special Investment Facilitation Council had been formed as a forum to address the concerns impeding the investment projects He said Saudi Arabia, UAE, Qatar and Bahrain had sent proposals and due diligence was being done which would follow the signing of formal agreements by November or December

To a question, the prime minister said the government and the military had a very comfortable working environment

Pakistan successfully foils TTP terrorists’ incursion at Pak, Afghan border

RAWALPINDI

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan’s valiant armed forces on Wednesday thwarted a terrorist incursion in Chitral on Pakistan Afghan border killing a dozen terrorist suspects of the banned Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) Four brave soldiers also embraced martyrdom during the gunfight On 6 September 2023 a large group of terrorists equipped with latest weapons attacked two Pakistani military posts located closer to Pakistan Afghanistan border in general area Kalash, District Chitral, an official handout of military s media wing, ISPR said 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 Interim Afghan Government ” the statement said “Owing to heightened threat environment own posts were 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, the statement added However, during the intense exchange of fire, four brave soldiers, having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area ” the statement said “Security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our soldiers further strengthen our resolve The brave people of Chitral also stand firmly with the security forces in not allowing the terrorists to ruin peace of the area, said the statement, adding that the interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan

ATC grants police 2-day remand of Per vaiz Elahi in ‘newly emerged’ ter ror case

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

An Islamabad anti-terrorism court (ATC) on Wednesday granted the capital police twoday physical remand of PTI President Pervaiz Elahi in a newly emerged terror case dating back to March 18

The development comes a day after Elahi was re-arrested hours after the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had suspended his detention under Section 3 of the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) ordinance and directed his release The PTI leader has now been arrested at least 11 times in various cases since the start of June and after a statewide crackdown was launched against the PTI in the aftermath of the May 9 violence The posts on X (formerly Twitter) by the Islamabad police on Tuesday announcing Elahi’s release and his subsequent re-arrest had a time difference of a mere eight minutes Police had said Elahi was detained in a case registered at the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) police station

The PTI had shared footage of the latest episode and criticised authorities for Elahi’s latest arrest

Per vaiz Elahi’s re-arrest: LHC seeks reply from Punjab Police

District Police Officer (DPO) and the Central Police Officer (CPO) to submit their replies within seven days implying that a thorough investigation was necessary before any decision could be made Superintendent of Attock Jail was noticeably absent from the proceedings In response to the court’s inquiry about his absence Police officials cited security concerns surrounding Pervaiz Elahi in Attock Jail Chairman PTI is in jail and his security was an issue, Superintendent of Attock Jail stated before the court The court question, “whether the security concerns had been resolved?” The court issued another directive to the jail superintendent to submit a response before the court

lice sought 14-day physical remand of the former Punjab chief minister while his lawyers opposed it and urged the court to discharge Elahi from the case However the court rejected the lawyer ’s

plea and handed Elahi over to the police instead on two-day physical remand

During an informal conversation with reporters at the FJC Elahi said I was kept at the Crime Investigation Agency police station the entire night

“Why would anyone meet me? I am the one who doesn’t want to meet anyone,” he said while responding to reporters

When asked by a reporter if he planned to hold a press conference an apparent reference to the manner in which dozens of PTI leaders quit the party following the May 9 incidents Elahi replied, “Absolutely not” The ATC today handed him over to the capital police on two-day physical remand

At the outset of the hearing Elahi s lawyers submitted a power of attorney Razzaq informed the court that it was his client s wish to go to the courtroom himself

The judge then directed that Elahi be seated, after which he came to the rostrum Subsequently the police urged the court to grant them 14-day physical remand of the PTI leader Here Razzaq began presenting his arguments to the court, opposing the police s request A laughable case has been made against Pervaiz Elahi He is being made the target of a political vendetta ” he argued

He lamented that his client was discharged in numerous cases but was then re-

arrested repeatedly He also highlighted the IHC’s verdict of suspending Elahi’s detention under the MPO as well as the LHC s order preventing further arrest of the PTI leader The court ordered that Parvez Elahi be dropped off at his home with security, Razzaq stated, adding that the Islamabad police had “abducted” his client Recalling the LHC’s order from September 4 the lawyer said that it had ordered that Elahi be presented in court Citizens human rights are being violated he said Razzaq further said that the IHC had written in its order that the arrest was in violation of the LHC verdict and read the IHC court order out loud

PAKISTAN’S US EMBASSY REJECTS ALLEGATIONS OF REFUSING VISAS TO PAKISTANI-AMERICANS

WASHINGTON S ta f f R e p o R t

TH E Pakistan Embassy in the United States (US) has rejected the reports claiming that Pakistani Americans are being denied visas to visit their homeland

There is no truth to the rumours the embassy said in an X post The embassy s spokesperson clarified This is a misinformation and disinformation

The clarification came following the US State Department’s press briefing wherein a question was raised regarding visas of Pakistani-Americans being rejected for travelling to their homeland

Decision to issue visas made solely by Pakistani embassy: State department

Earlier in the day, the US State Department told media it was up to the consular officials at the Pakistan Embassy to

FIA arrests 28 for running hundi business in operations across KP

The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) arrested 28 suspects allegedly running hundi hawala business and recovered millions of rupees during operations conducted across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during 24 hours

According to details the FIA intensified crackdowns against people involved in illegal currency exchange During operations conducted in various cities of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, the FIA arrested suspects involved in hawala business The FIA also recovered Rs12 7 million rupees of hawala hundi during the operations

Social media trolls

Sindh minister over keeping phones in ‘hidden pockets’ remark

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Sindh’s caretaker Home Minister Brigadier (r) Haris Nawaz has become the subject of many memes after he advised people of Karachi to keep their cell phones in places where they can t get stolen On Monday, the minister spoke to the media during a visit to Nishtar Park to review security arrangements for Chehlum Talking to the media there he said that the people should not keep their phones in their front pockets Keep your mobile phones in those places where they can t get stolen Another piece of advice is to keep your phones in hidden pockets, the minister remarked The minister ’s statement resulted in an outcry on social media as he was criticised over what many described as a ridiculous suggestion X formerly Twitter user Junaid Raza Zaidi tweeted that he went to his tailor and asked him to sew an inside pocket each in his 11 trousers

Such types of people suit the caretaker setup,” he posted “The street criminal is doing his job Why are you roaming with your phone ” an ‘X’ user with handle @shairlockholmed tweeted Bring back pockets in shalwar another user commented

@MalikAsmat posted on X: The robbers will also be seeing this statement and now they will check inside as well Incidents of street crime have become a matter of routine in the provincial metropolis In many cases muggers shot citizens over slightest resistance

issue or reject a visa request by a US citizen, and it did not relate to them

At a news briefing in Washington on Tuesday the department’s Deputy Spokesperson Vedant Patel was asked if those US citizens whose visas were rejected approached the State Department

The issue was raised after recent media reports claimed the Pakistan Embassy had “denied visas to US citizens of Pakistani origin because of their links to PTI

The reports added that some US citizens were also detained in Pakistan for participating in political activities State Dept spokesman refuses to specify if Congress has asked for probing cipher issue “I am not aware of this Obviously if there are any issues that arise in this area certainly it would be something for Pakistani consular officials to speak to and not anything that relates to the State Department

We will just leave it at that, said the US official when a reporter sought more clarification Mr Patel was also asked if the US Congress has asked the State Department to probe the cipher dispute that has initiated legal proceedings against former prime minister Imran Khan

We consult our congressional partners on a number of issues, We will not speak about something specifically but we are continuing to monitor the situation

closely replied the official

At the briefing another journalist asked Mr Patel if the US was helping those American citizens who have been subjected to house arrests in Iran

“In any circumstances when an American citizen is detained or an American national is detained we of course assess the situation for indicators that would be consistent with the wrongful detention designation, he added

P C B s e e k s c o m p e n s at i o n f ro m ACC ’s

J ay S h a h ove r A s i a C u p s c h e d u l i n g

LAHORE ag e n c e S

Pakistan Cricket Board (PCB) Management Committee Chairman Zaka Ashraf on Wednesday wrote to Asian Cricket Council (ACC) President Jay Shah seeking compensation for losses pertaining to the washed-out games during the ongoing Asia Cup 2023

In a letter addressed to the ACC president, PCB objected to the arbitrary and unilateral decision of holding the Super 4 stage of the ongoing Asia Cup 2023, in Colombo instead of Hambantota despite concerns over bad weather “The question again arises as to who is making these decisions unilaterally without following due process and without consulting the host for the event, the letter read

Demanding a clarification over the matter the letter further said: “It is still not clear who has taken this decision and in this regard a clarification is demanded Accentuating the financial loss due to the haphazard scheduling of the tournament, the PCB said: Who will be responsible for the loss of gate receipts to the PCB and the adverse impact on the ACC Event’s brand value should the

matches be rained out in Colombo? The ACC will have to take responsibility for the washed-out matches, incremental costs if any, and also reimburse PCB for the losses of gate revenue ” The development comes as earlier, the ACC president made a mockery of the Asia Cup 2023 after it emerged on Tuesday that the Super 4 matches will be held in Colombo as originally planned, instead of Hambantota

On Monday, the ACC decided to shift all the Super 4 matches of the Asia Cup 2023 to Hambantota as a long rain spell is expected in Colombo for the next 15 days The decision was taken

Gov t to resolve issues of traders of Karachi on priorit y basis: PM Kakar

KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t

Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq

after closely looking at the weather forecast and the possibility of rain disturbing the matches The decision was also conveyed to all members of the Shah-led ACC through an email However, soon after, the email was retracted with the ACC saying that the matches would be held in Colombo as per schedule The PCB is also facing logistical issues due to the sudden change in venue for Asia Cup 2023 matches Shah, who is also the secretary of the Board of Control for Cricket in India (BCCI), was also involved in making late changes to the ICC World Cup 2023 schedule which led to criticism from cricketing circles

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Federal Interior Secretary Abdullah Khan Sumbal passed away in Lahore on Wednesday after a period of prolonged illness

According to details, Sumbal had been unwell for some time and had taken charge as the interior secretary on August 20 He was being transferred to a hospital due to his deteriorating health Unfortunately he succumbed to his illness on the way to the hospital Minister for Interior Sarfraz Ahmed

Bugti expressed his heartfelt condolences to Sumbal’s family on this sombre occasion May his soul find eternal peace and may his family and loved ones find strength during this difficult time, he prayed

Bugti said that Sumbal was a brilliant officer and his demise was a big loss for his family and civil service of Pakistan Former prime minister and Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) President Shehbaz Sharif also expressed his

grief over the sad demise of the veteran bureaucrat Can t believe this saddest of the news about the passing of Abdullah Khan Sumbal I have known him for about two decades He worked very closely with me as my Secretary as well as in other key field positions I found him a thorough gentleman whose professional and personal integrity was beyond any iota of doubt,” he added Shehbaz said that Lahore Ring Road was one of the best achievements where Sumbal worked as a project director His passion for reading distinguished him from the rest of his colleagues His sad demise is not just the loss of his family but also of the country that has been deprived of a dedicated and capable civil servant My heartfelt condolences to his family ” he further said

Kakar has said that the federal government will resolve the problems faced by the business community of Karachi on priority basis This was stated by the caretaker prime minister while talking to Governor Sindh, Kamran Khan Tessori who called on him in Karachi on Wednesday During the meeting the Governor Sindh briefed Anwaar-ul-Kakar in detail about the administration matters and the overall law and order situation of the province Tessori also presented the recommendation about the power tariff prepared by Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry (KCCI) and the city s traders Premier Kakar thanked the Governor Sindh and issued directives to the relevant authorities to work on the recommendation and present a report as soon as possible Earlier on Saturday, the Pakistani traders went on strike against the soaring cost of living including higher fuel and utility bills and record depreciation of the rupee against the dollar which has led to widespread discontent among the public The traders pulled their shutters down across the country, while protesters burned tires on roads to express their anger

Torkham border shuts after Pakistan, Afghanistan skirmish

PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t

The main point of transit for travellers and goods between Pakistan and landlocked Afghanistan Torkham border crossing was closed on Wednesday as security forces from both countries exchanged fire, security sources said Local residents reported the sound of gunfire by the Torkham crossing and said people around the busy border area near the Khyber Pass had fled once the firing started Security officials from the area who spoke on condition of anonymity said that Taliban and Pakistani forces had exchanged fire but there had not yet been any casualties A spokesman for the local government in Afghanistan’s Nangahar province where the crossing is located and a spokeswoman for Pakistan s foreign office did not immediately respond to request for comment Disputes linked to the 2,600 km (1,615 miles) border have been a bone of contention between the neighbours for decades The crossing has been closed several times in recent years including a closure in February that saw thousands of trucks laden with goods stranded on each side of the border for days

SCCI demands reduc tion in elec tricit y tariff by reviewing IPPs deals

PESHAWAR a z z B u n e R i

Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry acting president Ijaz Khan Afridi urged the government to reduce electricity prices by reviewing agreements with Independent Power Producers (IPPs) Ijaz Afridi while talking to different traders’ delegation here on Wednesday said that the country’s economy still stands at a crossroads He held IPPs responsible for the prevailing energy crisis and increase in electricity tariff and asked the government to conduct a thorough audit of IPPs and re-

duce electricity prices

The SCCI s acting chief warned a new wave of inflation will come if prices of electricity and petroleum products increase further He went on to say that the cost of doing business and industrial production have increased exponentially after consistent increase in electricity gas tariff and fuel prices

He said rising prices of electricity, gas and petroleum commodities are unfavorable for the national economy

Therefore he urged the government to frame business-friendly policies in consultation with chambers traders and relevant

stakeholders KP is producing low-cost electricity but the same electricity is sold at high rates, which is completely unjust with people of the province, Afridi said He maintained giving electricity to KP with high-tariff was sheer violation of the 18th constitutional amendment Electricity was unavailable to consumers in KP despite paying power bills with heavy tariffs, he added The SCCI’s acting president said the country’s economy cannot afford any further increase in prices He emphasized that the government should adopt business-friendly policies to

bring economic stability prosperity and development in the country

On the occasion, Mr Afridi sought a special fiscal relief package for the traders of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa He also demanded reforms in the taxation system and bringing new people under the tax-net

The SCCI s acting president assured the traders to raise issues with relevant high-ups/officials and departments at central and provincial level

Earlier, members of delegation apprised the chamber ’s acting President Ijaz Khan Afridi about issues that were faced by local traders

2023 CIFTIS forum held to promote TCM development along BRI

BEIJING S ta f f R e p o R t

“At this cortical juncture where tradition and modernity intersect it is essential to acknowledge that our partnership in TCM is not just about medical techniques; it is also about cultural exchange, people-to-people contacts, and mutual understanding ”

This was stated by Pakistani Ambassador to China Moin ul Haque while addressing the 6th Belt and Road Forum for Traditional Chinese Medicine Development held here

As 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the Belt and Road Initiative, results of international cooperation in Traditional Chinese Medicine was released on the occasion

Over the past decade we have promoted

the inclusion of TCM in a number of bilateral agreements, intergovernmental cooperation mechanisms and summit outcomes

We have also established 30 overseas TCM centers in countries along the Belt and Road set up 31 national TCM service export bases highlighted Yu Yanhong head of the State Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine Participants acknowledged the development TCM achieved for the last ten years They reached the consensus that the cooperation between China and the BRI countries in this field reflects the shared commitment to promoting holistic healthcare and the well-being of the people The world can learn and use TCM, and learn how China integrates TCM in health system as a break through, said Martin Taylor,

WHO Representative to China China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Wednesday

Take Pakistan as an example the two countries established a Pakistan-China Health Corridor last November This corridor offers enormous opportunities for both countries to deepen cooperation in the health sector to leverage advancement Earlier in 2017, Pakistan and China signed an MoU to promote cooperation in the field of TCM Themed “Deepening Cooperation of Belt and Road Traditional Chinese Medicine Development and Jointly Creating a Global Community of Health for All the forum is jointly hosted by National Administration of Traditional Chinese Medicine the Chinese People s Association for Friendship with Foreign Countries, and People s Government of Beijing

I n t e r i o r S e c r e t a r y A b d u l l a h K h a n S u m b a l p a s s e s away

s o l a r i z at i o n i n f u l l s w i n G i n G w a d a r

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

mO TIVATED by the solar donation drive launched by China in Gwadar in phases over the last few years that facilitates more than 4 000 locals and helps mitigate their power outage woes the solarization of Gwadar is gaining momentum

In the Dashti market and Airport Road market , two main electronic markets in Gwadar, there used to be a considerable rush of customers battered by long-hour power breakdowns since the onset of the sweltering season of summer

Three years back these markets did not have solar panels batteries or operating sys-

e-gates to be installed at new Gwadar international airport

GWADAR

S ta f f R e p o R t

New Gwadar International Airport (NGIA) is soon to be equipped with Electronic Gates (Egates) in line with international high-tech standards for the facilitation of passengers This is part of the project of Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA) to make installation of egates across Pakistan in phases Other airports that will have e-gates include Islamabad

Allama Iqbal and Jinnah International Airport

This project will be completed under the supervision of the Aviation Secretary and the Director-General of the Civil Aviation Authority (DGCAA) Sources indicate that suggestions have also been obtained from different national institutions including the National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA), etc Meanwhile, tenders will be sought for the E-gate project, according to a report published by Gwadar Pro on Wednesday The installation of E-gates will eliminate the hassle for travelers as they don t need to wait in queue to get boarding pass and can obtain their boarding cards through the E-gate by scanning their passport and ticket The sources within CAA (Civil Aviation Authority) mentioned that the E-gate uses the data embedded in the Passport’s biometric chip This new technology will provide international travel convenience to passengers Under this system passengers undergo biometric authentication through facial, fingerprint, iris recognition or overall procedures, after which the gate will automatically open for the passenger

Pakistan railways to lay fibre optic cables along railway tracks

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Railways is planning to lay fibre optics cables along its railway tracks across the country in a joint venture with private sector investors According to the officials sources from the Ministry has said that the move is aimed at generating revenue for the department which is facing financial difficulties Pakistan Railways has a network of 7,791 kilometers across the country, which passes through highdensity population areas and connects major cities in the four provinces The department believes that laying fibre optics cables along its tracks would be an excellent opportunity for digital connectivity across the country The cables would be laid on railway land and the department would charge right-of-way fees to the private investors The Ministry of Railways has already sent a summary to the concerned quarter for adoption of the business model The concerned quarter has agreed to the proposal and directed the Ministry of Railways to prepare a new draft policy in consultation with all stakeholders The new policy is expected to have a positive impact on developing the digital economy in Pakistan The plan is still in the early stages and it is not clear when the work will begin However the move is a positive step for Pakistan Railways and could help to improve its financial health

tems according to Gwadar Pro After China unveiled the initiative of distributing solar systems among the most deserving groups in Gwadar that turned their electricity nightmares into pleasant life, awareness started gripping the people of Gwadar with insights that solar system is a key solution to power outages

According to an official of the Gwadar Chamber of Commerce and Industry, sales of solar panels and systems are booming in Gwadar as residential and commercial buildings are being solarized Wasim Baloch a trader of Dashti Electronic market told Gwadar Pro that among his customers 40 percent are interested in buying solar systems for homes or outlets When Noor Muhammad, a customer at

Airport Road Market was asked about his reason for purchasing solar sets he said that perpetual power failure has become a pain in the neck Going solar is the sole solution for him to get rid of the load-shedding menace, he added Locals who are the beneficiaries of solar systems donated by China said Power breakdown is no problem now we are rescued as China s solar systems continue to serve the unserved people of Gwadar, said Abdul Rashid, fisherman and resident of the Gazarwaan area near Masjid-e-Aqsa in Gwadar old City

The Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and China s Ministry of Ecology and Environment donated 4,000 sets of solar photovoltaic systems and LED lights last year

Law yer deplores ‘pathetic condition’ of facilities provided for Imran Khan at Attock Jail

ISLAMABAD ag e n c e S

Sher Afzal Marwat, the counsel for the PTI chairman Imran Khan told Chief Justice of Islamabad High Court Justice Amer Farooq that the recent rain and thunderstorm had blown away the temporary roof of Imran Khan s jail cell and soaked bedding and flies did not allow the former premier even to sleep the entire night

During the hearing of Imran Khan s petition for shifting him from Attock to Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi

Sher Afzal argued that the government had kept his client in the Attock jail on the pretext that security was better Adiala Jail IHC Chief Justice (CJ) Justice

Aamer Farooq heard the former prime minister s petition But truth of the matter is that the former premier has been kept in the Attock Jail only to torture him mentally On the contrary, security arrangements at Adiala Jail are better; the jail also has a B class in it,” he said adding “It is Imran’s right to

get B class in the Adiala Jail

Advocate Marwat told the court that when Sardar Latif Khosa had met PTI chairman in the jail the other day and he saw that the cell in which Khan had been kept was without rooftop exposing him to rain and sun Khosa Sahab had further said that Imran Khan could not sleep all night since there was no rooftop and flies following the rain did not allow him sleep,” he informed Justice Farooq remarked if these

at lhC, iG Punjab promises ‘good news’ in imran riaz recover y case

were the conditions in the ‘Better

Class what kind of agony ordinary prisoners would be going through in other classes of the jail Assistant Advocate General (AAG) Punjab told the Islamabad High Court (IHC) that the issues former prime minister and PTI Chairman Imran Khan was confronting in District Jail Attock had been resolved

The AAG said that the PTI chairman had been given Better Class in the jail since there was no B Class in it He claimed that walls of the washroom of the cell in which PTI chairman was spending his prison term had been raised He has also been provided a bed a chair a 21-inch television set and five newspapers in the jail, he said, adding, the former prime minister is also served meals of his choice Furthermore five doctors have also been arranged for him ” Imran he went on to say was given chicken and mutton cooked in desi ghee twice a week Later, the case s hearing was adjourned until September 12

ATC grants police 2- day remand of Per vaiz Elahi in ‘newly emerged ’ terror c ase

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The police have shredded the court s orders into pieces [ ] There is not a single incident against Pervaiz Elahi yet he is being arrested for the past three months ” He alleged, “Pervaiz Elahi was brought to Islamabad on the pretext of having a medical checkup at Pims (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) and was put behind bars

The lawyer went on to inform the court that he went to the Police Lines, taking the IHC order with him “The police made Pervaiz Elahi sit in my car and did not even let him meet his family he asserted

When we reached the Police Lines gate Islamabad police arrested Parvez Elahi The police made his lawyers come out of the car and took him to the police station after arresting him ” Razzaq apprised the court

He further said that neither did the police inform them of the reason behind the arrest nor did they show an arrest warrant Here, Elahi, while addressing Razzaq, said, I was not allowed to sleep at the police station the e n t i r e n i g h t ” T h e l a w y e r t h e n s a i d “ A n a t t e m p t i s b e i n g m a d e t o g e t Elahi to change his political association Razzaq then contended that the former Punjab chief minister s name w a s n o t e v e n i n c l u d e d i n t h e M a r c h 18 FIR as it was filed against unidentified suspects

He said that the incident concerned the day when PTI Chairman Imran Khan was presented before a court at the FJC saying that Elahi was in Lahore at that time Unknown men are those who cannot be identified Pervaiz

Elahi has served as chief minister twice and belongs to a renowned political family how can he be unknown?”

the lawyer asked

“Even a common man can see that state terrorism is being committed against Pervaiz Elahi If you do not have to obey the courts then shut them down All cases against Elahi have come to an end [but] their hearts were not satisfied so they filed a terror case ” he added Razzaq urged the court to discharge the PTI president from the case and concluded his arguments Then defence counsel Bukhari started presenting his arguments: The court has to decide whether this is actually a remand case or a political case,” he said He argued that the LHC orders were also applicable to other courts Pervaiz Elahi was in police custody

What did the investigation officer do in 24 hours? he asked Bukhari contended that the police

request of physical remand had no mention of investigation and that the police did not have “anything to investigate against Elahi”

“The court will have to see whether an investigation is even required or not

What will be the reason for requiring remand? They would have to recover a cane, car, or matchstick [but] there is nothing as such in the case” “The situation is such that tomorrow lawyers will be pleading for each other ’s bail ” Bukhari quipped as he urged the court to discharge Elahi from the case

Subsequently, prosecutor Tahir Kazim began his arguments He contended that Elahi’s lawyers had twisted the facts He noted that the IHC had suspended Elahi’s detention order under the MPO The IHC order said Elahi should be released if he was not wanted in any other case he said He was wanted in this case which is why we arrested him, the prosecutor said

Pervaiz el ahi’s re-arrest: lhC seeks rePly from Punjab PoliCe

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The Lahore High Court (LHC) decided to adjourn the hearing until September 18 providing all parties involved with ample time to present their arguments

It is worth mentioning here that just one day ago the Islamabad High Court (IHC) issued a suspension of PTI President Pervaiz Elahi s detention under the Maintenance of Public Order (MPO) Ordinance mandating his immediate release But shortly after his release from the police custody, Pakistan Tehreeki-Insaf (PTI) president Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi re-arrested by the Counter Terrorism Department (CTD) in the judicial complex attack case The case was registered against Pervaiz Elahi at CTD police station on September 3 and he will be presented before the ATC today [Wednesday]

Govt announces ‘crackdown’ against electricity thieves, those who don’t pay bills

ONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He began by specifying that there are 10 distribution companies or Discos in Pakistan at present and K-Electric which provides the utility to Karachi, has its own distribution network “In every area, there are varying levels of theft and there are different percentages of recovery [payments] ” Ali said revealing that the annual loss due to electricity theft and failure to pay bills is Rs589 billion He said because of the electricity thieves and those who refuse to pay bills, others have to pay higher bills “Until this is stopped, electricity prices will not come down ” the minister added

He announced that the prime minister has issued directives to crack down on this end electricity theft and [ensure] recovery from those who don t pay bills

The minister said the total loss in the Discos where recovery is relatively better than the rest of the country in Lahore Faisalabad Gujranwala Multan and Islamabad amounted to 79 billion units which amounts to a loss of Rs100bn out of

billing of Rs3 044bn estimated at 3pc

The Discos in Peshawar Hyderabad Sukkur Quetta and Azad Jammu and Kashmir had losses as high as 60pc Ali said explaining that his purpose was to inform the people which suppliers were recording higher losses “We have all the data on areas where electricity theft is more and where it is less we will take steps on the basis of this data he announced

In areas where electricity theft is greater, we will pay more attention there and initiate a crackdown to end electricity theft ” For this purpose, the government is taking various steps he said “Where theft is less up to 30pc we will curb it through technological intervention Where the loss is 30-60pc we are considering whether we should involve the private sector in management, Ali added “For areas [where losses are] above 60pc, we will take enforcement measures,” he said The minister also mentioned government plans to improve the management of Discos We are looking at their board of governors; we will make changes in those and the management

The power minister said the government has communicated with chief secretaries and police chiefs in provinces and we have their full support in implementing this [plan to curb electricity theft]

The measures also include reining in officials who aid the pilferage of electricity “We have prepared a list of officers who are involved in the theft ” the minister said They are being reshuffled and they will be removed from field jobs We have sent the list to the Election Commission of Pakistan for their approval for the transfers ” He further said the government will be constituting taskforces at the provincial level which would be led by home secretaries and include provincial energy secretaries a federal government officer and police officers Similar taskforces will be led by commissioners at the divisional level, deputy commissioners at the district level and assistant commissioners at the tehsil level The minister said the operations to curb electricity theft will be monitored by his ministry from Islamabad We have established a control room and developed a dashboard at PPMC

(Power Planning and Monitoring Com-

pany) to manage the performance of Discos on a day-to-day and hour-to-hour basis

We will monitor the operations from here but the implementation and execution will be carried out on ground at the provincial, district and tehsil level, he explained The minister also announced that work was in progress on a new electricity theft control act under which infrastructure of enforcement will be established across the country and special courts will be setup to hear complaints and give penalties

Our target is to finalise the draft of this ordinance in the next two to three weeks and send it for approval ” he said

In response to a question the minister said work was also in progress on reducing capacity payments But he added this cannot be achieved overnight and would take time Answering another question, he said the government was also considering the options of “provincialisation and privatisation” of Discos “We will soon make a decision with the cabinet on which is the right way forward he added Speaking alongside him Power Division Secretary Rasheed Langrial said, Eventually, our way is through privatisation ” There was “serious thought” for an initial public offering (IPO) for three companies he said adding that Discos making massive losses because of low recovery rates due to theft and line losses would need work to become privatisation ready

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

The Lahore High Court (LHC) on Wednesday granted 13 days time to the IG Punjab to recover anchorperson Imran Riaz A high court bench comprises of Chief Justice Ameer Bhatti heard a petition of the missing journalist’s father seeking recovery of his son whose whereabouts remain unknown since his arrest in Sialkot on May 11 A positive progress has been made towards recovery of Imran Riaz, IG Punjab Usman Anwar informed the court Seeking more time from the court, police chief assured: “We will give the good news in next 10 to 15 days ” “You are seeking more time there must be progress in the matter top judge said OK give us 10 days and we will give a good news IG Punjab assured We are allowed to hold a meeting for one hour with the IG Punjab, counsel of the petitioner pleaded to the court “IG Punjab should meet with Imran Riaz’s father and the legal team at 5:00 in the evening today Chief Justice Bhatti instructed the police chief An abduction FIR had been registered at the Civil Line police station on the complaint of the father of the missing anchorperson The DPO Sialkot said that the abduction sections are included in the FIR against unknown persons

Police finalize foolproof securit y arrangements for chehlum

RAWALPINDI

S ta f f R e p o R t

Rawalpindi District Police here on Wednesday

finalized foolproof security arrangements for Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA)

According to a police spokesman the police on the directives of City Police Officer (CPO) Rawalpindi Syed Khalid Hamdani finalized foolproof security arrangements for the Chehlum of Hazrat Imam Hussain (RA) and the martyrs of Karbala He informed that the CPO had directed the police officers to ensure foolproof security arrangements for the Chehlum and utilize all available resources to provide tight security cover to the mourners More than 4,000 police personnel would be deployed for the security of the processions while 250 Traffic Wardens and City Traffic officers would also be on duty to regulate traffic on city roads he added The police spokesman said that a control room would be set up in the office of the City Police Officer in Rawalpindi to ensure implementation of the security plan He further informed that CCTV cameras were installed to monitor the processions Three-layer security would be provided to the processions and walk-through gates would be installed at the entry points of the processions he said adding the participants would be allowed to join the main procession after a full body search According to CPO, under the security arrangements, no one will be allowed to stand on the rooftops of commercial and residential buildings situated along the procession routes Snipers will also be deployed for the security of the main procession he said

The CPO informed that searching and sweeping of the main procession route would be carried out and streets, roads, diversion points and other routes along the main procession route would be sealed All available resources are being utilized to ensure foolproof security for Chehlum the CPO added

eCP to invite foreign obser vers, media for General elections

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has decided to invite foreign observers and media for the upcoming general elections “All preparations for invitation to foreign election observers and media have been completed and a code of conduct has been finalized election commission sources said According to ECP sources, the foreign observers will be issued invitations as and when the election schedule will be announced “The election commission will issue cards to election observers and the media with special security features sources said The cards with special security features for foreign observers, have already been prepared, sources said Foreign observers and media will be given access to enter the polling stations ” according to sources “Foreign observes could also inspect transparency of the vote counting and compilation of the election results ECP sources added

Will the expec ted investment solve Pakistan’s problems?

TH E United Arab Emirates and Saudi Arabia are expected to provide investment of $25 billion which is undoubtedly welcome news for a country short of the foreign exchange it needs to service a considerable debt but which raises a set of questions on its own The first is that of timelines The expected investment will be made in the next three to five years

This flow is not necessarily going to match Pakistan’s debt servicing needs, but will be determined by the investors’ needs That the investment is coming through the Special Investment Facilitation Council is not necessarily reassuring to investors who would like to deal with a permanent government not the caretakers presently in office With the absence of an elected government there is no guarantee to the investor that the SIFC will continue to be as dominant as it is today

What is happening is that businessmen are being asked to invest in a cash-strapped country with no knowledge of whether there will be foreign exchange available to repatriate profits The country is hardly an investment magnet anyway and there seems to be no assurance that this investment will lead to the generation of exports and thus to the sort of relief Pakistan needs to service its foreign debt This investment may bring many benefits, but it does not seem to offer, except in a very convoluted fashion the sort of structural reforms that Pakistan needs to be able to compete globally in the future One of the most immediate questions for example is where the investor is supposed to get the skilled labour needed for these investments

The sort of triumphalism being shown makes it seem as if the pleasure of bringing in these investments has made stakeholders in the SIFC forget the more immediate tasks which would make Pakistan a more attractive recipient of investment, as well improve its ability to service the humongous debt it has accumulated This would include things like tax reform proper supervision of foreign exchange dealers, investing in education and healthcare so as to have an educated and healthy workforce, and so much more FDI is good, but is not enough alone for the country s problems For that, there has to be a source of foreign exchange large enough and reliable enough to pay off the country s debt It does not seem that the investment coming in will do that

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

TH E former Prime Ministers of the ‘Sharif Business Empire’ (Nawaz Shahbaz) claim that they have been given a ‘clean chit’ by the courts Finally they have been baptized of their previous sins It is perhaps the highlight of their 16 months of misrule (April 2022 to August 2023) that recently ended Though the government of PTI is blamed for the witch-hunt against them, the fact is that most cases were filed on reciprocal basis against each other PML(N) against PPP and vice versa tried to uncover the corruption of the other side to cover their misdeeds

The first showdown took place in November 1989 when the PML(N) moved a vote of no-confidence against the government of Benazir Bhutto Fully backed by the establishment, BB was being cornered by PML(N) Asif Zardari came into action Nawaz Sharif as Chief Minister Punjab rounded UP his loyal MNAs in the forest of Changa Manga while Zardari flew his bounty to Swat Valley When the votes were counted BB survived by 12 votes Zardari s buying spree prevailed over the arm twisting of Nawaz It was a showdown of the corrupt

Initially Zardari was given the title of Mr 10 Percent but later on he took on the mantle of 100 Percent to effectively deal with the other side When Pervez Musharraf the fourth usurper decided to go against the corruption of both the parties the Accountability Czar of the Sharifs tendered an unconditional tearful apology to AZ While in exile both BB and Nawaz met in London to sign the Charter of Democracy

They agreed to establish the ‘Truth and Reconcillation Commission’ to seek apology for their previous misdeeds With the assassination of BB in December2007 Zardari took control of the party to start a fresh race of wealth accumulation which has continued unabated since then with both parties taking turns (PPP 2008 to 2013, PML(N) 2013 to 2018)

Originally this clean chit business was started by President Farooq Leghari after he dismissed the government of his own party using the draconian Zia Amendment of Article 58(2-b) He formed the Ehtesab Bureau (EB) under Justice (retd) Mujadd i d M i r z a C a s e s w e r e f i l e d f o r c o r r u p t i o n w i t h great fanfare Judge Sahib was very upbeat As the interim Law Minister Justice (retd) Fakharuddin G Ibrahim wanted to nail the loan and utility bills defaulters Right to Information Act was also passed Politicians across the board were in serious trouble as they did not meet the constitutional requirements The establishment was also solidly behind the President Fearing PPP victory, Leghari Sahib despite having serious reservations developed a soft corner for the PML(N) Loans were rescheduled installments were allowed for utility bills enabling the ‘looters’ to contest the elections The PML(N) won an absolute majority

Once in power they established cases against Zardari He was arrested for corruption and extortion The President, Chief Justice and Army Chief were cornered and sent home For effective accountability Musharraf created the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) to replace the EB It had widespread powers to arrest the accused

Nawaz promised on the floor of the House that he would present the entire money trail but then he backed off as it did not exist. The IPPs continue to haunt the nation with unaffordable power g eneration. Zardari was the key player in signing one-sided contracts with IPPs in 1994 which have expanded since then, taking the total to 75. While the Power produced at Thar costs around Rs 8 to 10 per unit, the IPPs are touching Rs 50. The so-called Âclean chitÊ is so stained and soiled with the sweat and blood of the people that the electricity bills are being burnt across the countr y.

ISRO versus the Pakistani Space Programme

TH E Indian Space Research Organisation (ISRO) is the Indian space agency founded in 1969

Its main mission is to advance space technology space programmes satellite systems television broadcasting, disaster warning and the Indian Remote Sensing (IRS) for various national tasks ISRO’s headquarters is in Bengaluru, headed by the Chief Executive (Chairman), also chairman of the Indian Government’s space mission ISRO has launched numerous space systems since its establishment It launched its first Satellite Radar Imaging Satellite a geosynchronous satellite called GSAT 1988 It developed its second Satellite in 2012, named RISAT-1 Some other satellites, like Altika and Argos, were launched by ISRO in 2013 It was an endeavour to put a satellite into geostationary orbit and a Polar Satellite Launch Vehicle (PSLV) was launched This organization launched LVM3 which is the heavy-lift version of GSLV

Some earth Observation satellites and missions to the moon were named Chandrayaan-1 and 2, launched in 2008 and 2019 by ISRO The Mars Orbiter Mission of 2013 was launched to put astronauts into orbit This one is the future project of ISRO which will be completed under the mission Gaganyaan Spacecraft in 2024

There are so many missions of ISRO that have taken place; However, earlier in 2013, the first Interplanetary mission to Mars, known as Mars Orbiter or Mangalyaan was achieved by ISRO successfully Currently India s Chandrayaan-3 mission

It is to be assumed that giving a chance to a neighbouring enemy will ultimately break your state into pieces The government of Pakistan should take the next step to activate SUPARCO again. Failure to do this will bring catastrophic chang es in the region

was completed by two vehicles named Pragyan and Vikram, which landed in the southern polar region of the moon This mission has made India the first country to reach this part of the lunar surface and the fourth country in the world to land on the moon While landing on the moon scientists have noted that the distance from the Earth to the moon is about 384 400 km (238 855 miles)

However, the Indian probes landed successfully and ISRO stated they had landed about 370 miles from the south pole and at about 70 degrees south latitude The landing on the moon was viewed by 7 5 million people on YouTube and all news channels in India telecast the whole event live to attract more people to this milestone in history made by the Indian Government A report has asked S Somanath, the current director of the ISRO, how much cost was spent on this project He replied that he would never disclose this secret; however its cost equals Chandrayaan-2 which was reported as $46 million when launched in 2019

The World Space Program like NASA and other Space Technology counterparts, warmly congratulated the ISRO team for achieving this milestone Bill Nelson, a veteran administrator of NASA, congratulated ISRO for the successful soft landing on the moon He also articulated that NASA is glad to be the partner on this mission Some experts believe that NASA sponsored it when Modi visited the USA the last time and decided to have a co-partnership in Space technology The Tweet of Bil Nelson shows that NASA has fully supported the ISRO in its Deep Space Network of Radio antennae for communication with India’s Chandrayaan-

3 It shows that India could only reach the moon with NASA s support

The ISRO faces the same challenges as the Suparco (Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission) in Pakistan has faced, despite ISRO having shown dedication by launching Chandrayaan-3 and still moving to pursue its goals They plan to set some strategies to overcome its weaknesses like resource

allocation international collaborations and technical capabilities

Contrary to ISRO in this region, Pakistan started its Space Programme in 1960, named Space and Upper Atmosphere Research Commission (SUPARCO) It was marked as an official project of the government of Pakistan to improve research in space technology satellite development, and related fields Pakistan made its first endeavour in space technology by launching Rahbar-1, which was launched on 7 December 1961, using a U Scout rocket Several other projects like suborbital flights and sounding rocket the Launch of Badr Satellites on July 16 1990 Remote Sensing and Earth Observation (PRSS-1) which was launched in 2018, are few worthy projects of SUPARCO, a Pakistani-based space centre, still the country is endeavouring to make a significant contribution in the space programme but political turmoil a crumbling economy and depreciating currency have diverted Pakistan to a state of chaos

Some external and internal factors have badly affected the SUPARCO space programme These are limited funding by the government, lack of political and public support, technological challenges, brain-drain, limited international collaboration technical and operational challenges and the changing priorities of stakeholders The political turmoil and internal security dynamics are a few hindrances to SUPARCO The SUPARCO can make significant discoveries if the government of Pakistan and the people who are part of the brain drain sit together and make a roadmap for SUPARCO to become progressive

It is to be assumed that giving a chance to a neighbouring enemy will ultimately break your state into pieces The government of Pakistan should take the next step to activate SUPARCO again Failure to do this will bring catastrophic changes in the region

The writer is a freelance columnist based in Islamabad He can be reached at rashidmehmoodkayani@gmail com

While investigation and prosecution remained weak Shock and Awe was created with unnecessary arrests Political engineering was also carried out by issuing Clean Chits to those who betrayed their parties The PML(Q) came out of the PML(N), the PPP (Patriots) out of PPP (Parliamentarians) Services of MQM were made available The religious parties formed the MMA to form a government in KP Serious corruption charges were filed against the politicians across the board While Zardari refused to leave the Sharifs left the country under an agreement with the dictator After the resignation of Musharraf both Zardari and Nawaz took turns in office but the cases remained NAB laws were not changed, the ‘Shock and Awe’ continued unabated against the opponents The PTI government inherited most of these cases of corruption filed in reciprocity against each other setting the stage for Corrupt against the Corrupt As the charges were serious there were no chances of a Clean Chit unless the NAB laws were changed and prosecution neutralized The upright investigation officers were either sidetracked or fell sick and perished as did the important witnesses There is a famous Punjabi saying about a smart blind man who distributed sweets only amongst his own family members Once charged for a legal infringement there can be only two outcomes; Guilty or Not Guilty, but in this case the fangs of law were drawn to render the judges helpless which resulted in ‘clean chits’ but the ‘stains’ remained To travel between Lahore and Islamabad on M-2 Motorway one has to travel about 100 km extra with the present toll rate of Rs 3 per Km it comes to Rs 300

It is widely alleged that the kickbacks in the construction of M-2 were used to purchase Avenfield Apartments in London Nawaz promised on the floor of the House that he would present the entire money trail but then he backed off as it did not exist The IPPs (Independent Power Producers) continue to haunt the nation with unaffordable power generation Zardari was the key player in signing one-sided contracts with IPPs in 1994 which have expanded since then, taking the total to 75 While the Power produced at Thar costs around Rs 8 to 10 per unit the IPPs are touching Rs 50 The so-called ‘clean chit’ is so stained and soiled with the sweat and blood of the people that the electricity bills are being burnt across the country The clean chit is surrounded by dirt and stench

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

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively

Unfair PHL charge

AS a resident of Karachi and having read your recent letter to the editor titled ‘Naked Oppression’, I would like to share my opinion by stating that this recent electricity price hike is putting an immense pressure on many customers However at the same time I would also like to draw your attention to the PHL charge which has been making rounds and has also been the bone of contention between certain political parties representing Karachi and the Federal Government This charge is being levied on the electricity customers of Karachi even though KE has no contribution to circular debt as per their own claims Provided if it is true then it appears quite unfair that the residents of Karachi must pay up to Rs 3 per unit extra for electricity and to service costs which the federal government has undertaken This is adding to an additional burden and needs to be reconsidered at a time of harsh economic conditions and unrest prevailing throughout the country considering the recent protests taking place It is vital that decisions be made that are in the best interest of the customers otherwise we will witness more people refusing to pay their bills which will only aggravate the problem further

TANZEEL KHANZADA KARACHI

Addiction of screens

A LT H O U G H digital devices such as mobile phones laptops and tablets have made life more convenient for everyone excessive usage of these devices can have serious consequences on people especially children Nowadays, most children have digital devices, which they can be found using most of the time This is affecting their academic performance as well as disrupting daily routines If their use is restricted, they become aggressive hyperactive and disobedient Excessive usage of electronic devices among children can cause hyperactivity and impatience hindering brain development Prolonged usage can also lead to physical ailments such as poor posture eyestrain back pain sleeplessness and mental stress which can ultimately hurt overall well-being Children and teenagers prefer spending time on their devices than with their family or friends, which affects their cognitive development The failure to interact with people in person is eroding their ethical and moral values A viable solution to reduce the usage of electronic devices is by replacing them with other activities and establishing a structured routine Educational institutes and parents should work collectively on changing children s habits and activities For instance children should be encouraged to adopt different hobbies such as reading, participating in sports, undertaking art, etc

Scholarships

A C C E S S to quality education remains a challenge for many students particularly those from economically disadvantaged backgrounds Scholarships serve as a lifeline for these talented individuals enabling them to pursue their dreams and reach their full potential without the burden of financial constraints Scholarships not only alleviate financial stress but also promote educational diversity and inclusion By offering opportunities to students from diverse backgrounds, we enrich our academic institutions with a variety of perspectives, fostering an environment of creativity, collaboration and innovation When students are given the chance to excel academically they become agents of positive change within their families neighbourhoods and beyond Empowered by education they are better equipped to contribute meaningfully to society address societal challenges and uplift those around them It s heartening to see organisations, institutions and individuals stepping up to provide scholarships SYED MUHAMMAD OWAIS

Rashid MehMood

a d i n g d r e a m s o f t o l e r a n c e i n P a k i s t a n

The constitution must be operationalized

TH E vision of the founding Father of the Nation

Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah for Pakistan was a nation where all people irrespective of their religion, caste, creed, and ethnicity could live freely Unfortunately, this vision remained imaginary and unfulfilled like other dreams of a prosperous Pakistan

The Constitution provides protection to religious minorities but still the authorities failed miserably to control the waves of extremism and prevent the deteriorating security and well-being of minorities This article aims to highlight the need to impose strict laws to save the country from religious extremism and ensure fair prosecution

Religious extremism is an unreasonable and unacceptable violation of other people’s rights in the name of the protection of one s own belief system It operates outside the structure of a noble society; it is a belief that harms society s national integration Religious extremism, in any form, that is verbal or physical, threatens the structural fabric of the nation and imposes coercive ideologies that preach intolerance

In Pakistan the right-wing Muslim-majority outfits are indulging in extremism and have even become intolerant against those who speak for reforms in blasphemy laws For instance Salman Taseer the former Governor of Punjab, was assassinated by his bodyguard in January 2011 as a result of his outspoken opposition to the blasphemy law and support for blasphemy convict Asia Bibi Several extremist organizations praised Taseer ’s killer as a hero He was later executed in February 2016 and his funeral was attended by more than 100 000 people

This was not the vision of the founder of Pakistan the Quaid-e-Azam, who in his address to the first constituent assembly in 1947 stressed the preservation of the fundamental rights of minorities Under the Constitution, Articles 25, 26(1), 27(1), validate un-discriminatory

safeguards for non-Muslims In the later chapter of “Principle of Policy” Article 36 also authorizes state institutions to provide protection to minorities

However due to weak legislation on the framework provided by the constitution governmental authorities passed the Senate Bill in the year 2020 on Protection of Religious Rights of Minorities It called for the eradication of violence against religious minorities Clause 26 and 27, states that any act of violence, and hate speech by a majority group is strongly condemnable and will be met with the penalty of three years in jail

Despite governmental efforts the blasphemy law of Pakistan can still be considered contrary to Jinnah s ideals of freedom According to a 2018 report of the United States Commission on International Religious Freedom”, blasphemy in Pakistan has been wildly implausible as it is mainly used for outright false accusations stemming from personal conflicts interests or hatred against other communities

For instance authorities detained Sunny Mushtaq and Noman Asghar two Christian teens from Punjab on 29 June 2019, for allegedly receiving blasphemous photographs of the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) through WhatsApp They were sentenced to death by hanging on 30 May However police and authorities took no action against Bilal Ahmed who was the sender of blasphemous pictures According to the lawyer of NGO The Voice which deals with the legal defence of these boys the magistrate ignored all evidence that was in favor of the young boys She claims that the judge only wanted to fulfill his sacred duty by punishing all non-Muslim alleged blasphemers

After 2018 these incidents gained momentum as not a single month passed without the news of either anonymous killings of minorities or mobs attacking their religious sites These developments significantly contributed to a 46 percent increase in overall cases of abuse, including rape, forced conversions, destruction of properties, and target killing of the non-Muslim Pakistanis The US Report on “International Religious Freedom” in 2021 stated that local law enforcement agencies failed to protect the rights of religious minorities who were accused of blasphemy on abstract evidence

Within the same year a Sri Lankan man Priyantha

W i t h o u t a d d r e s s i n g t h e s e c o r e c o n c e r n s , t h e c o u n t r y r i s k s i n c r e a s i n g d i v i s i o n a n d i n s t a b i l i t y, p u t t i n g i t s s o c i a l f a b r i c a n d s u s t a i n a b l e g row t h i n d a n g e r V i o l e n c e a g a i n s t m i n o r i t i e s i s u n d e r m i n i n g t h e r u l e o f l aw, i n h i b i t i n g c r e a t i v i t y, i m p e d i n g e c o n o m i c p ro g r e s s , c r e a t i n g b r a i n d r a i n , a n d u n d e r m i n i n g r e l i g i o u s a n d c u l t u r a l d i v e rs i t y. T h e s t a t e mu s t d e f e n d m i n o r i t y r i g h t s , e n c o u r a g e t o l e r a n c e , a n d u p h o l d t h e i d e a l s o f f a i r n e s s a n d e q u a l i t y fo r a l l i t s r e s i d e n t s i n o rd e r t o a c c o m p l i s h a h o l i s t i c a n d s u s t a i n a b l e s o c i e t y

Kumara was lynched by a mob in Sialkot over allegations of blasphemy One of the witnesses of the incident said that he was asked to clean floors and walls of the factory wher he was working As he did not understand the local language well, he unintentionally ripped off the posters with Islamic verses The local supervisor, despite understanding the situation gathered people against him and the conflict later resulted in his death

The recent Jaranwala incident is distressing but not new Akmal Bhatti Chairman of Minorities Alliance Pakistan, condemned the violence, and rightly highlighted how the anger-fueled mob used blasphemy laws to justify their false accusations and destructive actions against innocent people The aftermath of the catastrophe also demonstrates the impact on the evolution of society towards extremism

There is a dire need to make pragmatic legal reforms for the protection and safety of minorities of Pakistan It is imperative for the Government to safeguard rights of non-Muslims by articulating Article 36 of the Constitution in fundamental rights rather in ‘Principle of Policy’ which is subject to availability of resources

Second to incorporate the Quaid s vision of Pakistan the minority quota in Parliament civil services and other decision-making positions must be increased so their rights can be guaranteed For elections to Parliament, the principle of separate electorate can be introduced for the fair representation of these communities It will empower them to speak for their fundamental rights and could result in legislation for their better protection

Third Government should enact an amendment to the blasphemy law making it a bailable offense This amendment could help prevent situations in which individuals are arrested without adequate evidence It would also uphold the principle of “innocent until proven guilty,” which is consistent with fundamental principles of justice

Without addressing these core concerns the country risks increasing division and instability putting its social

The recent Jaranwala incident is distressing but not new Akmal Bhatti, Chairman of Minorities Alliance Pakistan, condemned the violence , and rightly highlighted how the ang er-fueled mob used blasphemy laws to justify their false accusations and destructive actions against innocent people The aftermath of the catastrophe also demonstrates the impact on the evolution of society towards extremism

fabric and sustainable growth in danger Violence against minorities is undermining the rule of law inhibiting creativity impeding economic progress creating brain drain, and undermining religious and cultural diversity The state must defend minority rights, encourage tolerance, and uphold the ideals of fairness and equality for all its residents in order to accomplish a holistic and sustainable society

The writer is a Researcher at the Balochistan Think Tank Network

WHEN EXPORTERS L AUNDER CRORES

Ensure all involved are brought to book

DAILY STAR

LAW AND LIBERTY

A l e x Z u t t

FO R one hundred years in what became known as the Great Game Britain and Russia competed for influence in Central Asia Russia wanted new territories and markets with which to secure her great power status Britain wanted to protect her most valuable colonial possession, India, against what she feared was a long-term Russian expropriation plan The two empires sent spies into the vast square stretching from the Strait of Hormuz and the Caspian Sea in the west to Xinjiang and Tibet in the east to map invasion routes procure allies among the warring local factions and train proxies in the art of modern warfare In Britain s case this led to two ill-fated invasions of Afghanistan, across whose Wakhan Corridor the two empires, originally separated by over a thousand miles, almost touched

This epic struggle came to an end in 1907 as both parties recognized Germany to be the greater threat but the definitive account is Peter Hopkirk s The Great Game published some eighty years later It was the 1980s, the Soviets had occupied Afghanistan, the Americans (and others) were supplying the mujahideen, and the Great Game 2 0 seemed to have started in earnest My mother, for one, felt as though she were stepping right into the pages of Kim her favorite book as a young girl when in 1988 she followed friendly mujahideen across the mountains above the Khyber Pass It had been Kipling who first introduced her a New Yorker with European parents to Tibet, Nepal, and Afghanistan, and gave her the longing for adventure that ultimately led her to become a foreign correspondent And now, for her first story on foreign soil she was sneaking into Kabul to spy on the Russians!

A similar sense of history doubling back on itself invests Sheila Miyoshi Jager s The Other Great Game published this year but obviously the fruit of at least a decade of research Jager s subject is Northeast Asia, from roughly 1860 to 1910, and in particular the competition among China, Russia, and Japan over the control of Korea, with Britain and America in supporting roles It is a story very much the equal of Hopkirk s in terms of suspense high stakes and sheer intrigue and one that has as grave implications for the geopolitics of this decade as its namesake had for the geopolitics of the 1980s

The signal events in the story deserve to be retold in brief In 1860, the Qing Empire handed the Russian Empire 350 000 square miles of territory a deep water harbor in the Pacific Ocean and a border with Korea Japan was first to take the alarm Korea was a vassal of the Qing Empire though one that had historically preserved maximum autonomy and isolation (outside of the payment of tribute) The Qing Empire was in no position to protect it from expanding Russia Russian Korea could spell doom for Japan, squeezed between her and the other European Empires to the south and east Japanese Korea could set the island nation on its path towards parity with the West securing the mainland augmenting the natural resources and labor at its disposal and providing it with a stage upon which to prove the moral quality and administrative capacity of Japanese civilization

These nuclear weapons threaten a loss of life so great and sudden, and forebode conditions so unpredic table, that both China and the China Containment Coalition would rather keep such conflic t as might spread to S outh Korea within stric t limits, limits that prevent the emergence of a peninsula-wide war

the Sick Man of Asia recognized the Russian threat, and its own inability to protect Korea singlehandedly Thus it co-sponsored the opening of Korea to Japanese commercial and diplomatic ties Japan would counterbalance Russia or so the Qing thought But the influence of these two outside powers on Korea soon led to internal strife

The traditional Qing and the modernizing Meiji had different visions of and interests in Korea; the Korean public was divided; civil war broke out, and quickly broadened into the Sino-Japanese War of 1894–95, which ended in victory for Japan

Until this point Russia and Britain had been mostly distracted by the original Great Game Now they took sides in earnest In the Triple Intervention Russia intervened to deprive Japan of the most valuable concession it had won in the war the Liaodong Peninsula with its well-fortified Port Arthur For this good service, the Qing Empire awarded her the right to build a branch of the trans-Siberian railroad through Manchuria The need to protect this railroad during the Boxer Rebellion soon morphed into a de facto Russian annexation of the entire region and Russian influence in the Korean court grew steadily, nursed by resentment of the Japanese Meanwhile, Britain moved closer to Japan, promising that if she were to go to war with Russia and win, Britain would prevent another ‘’Triple Intervention ”

In 1903 Russia for the second time postponed its withdrawal from Manchuria and Russian soldiers were discovered in northern Korea pursuant to a secret lumber concession dating back to 1898 Japan defeated Russia in the 1904–5 Russo-Japanese War, and in 1910 officially annexed Korea, which would remain a Japanese colony until 1945

Throughout this saga Jager shows how much Korea dominated the foreign policy and even the internal politics of the countries surrounding her In the first stage of the long painful birth of modern East Asia the rise of Meiji Japan and her reprisal of the European imperial role the Korean question was ever paramount It is not for nothing that all three of Japan’s invasions of Manchuria in 1894, 1905, and 1931 began on the peninsula

As China grows more aggressive South Korea and Japan seek to bolster their own capabilities in order to resist her pressure both by cooperating more closely with the United States and by investing directly into their means of defense

Jager also draws attention to the ways in which the first stage of East Asia’s modernization sowed the seeds of the second I was surprised to learn for instance that the proposal to divide Korea along the 38th parallel was first put forward by Japan in the lead-up to the RussoJapanese War In other cases her achievement is more of emphasis than of discovery, as when she reminds us that Japan gained Taiwan in the pursuit of Korea, just as the United States later pledged her protection of Taiwan in the same breath as her assistance to South Korea Finally, Jager rightly emphasizes the extraordinary toll that the Other Great Game took on the Korean population in halting development the indignity of subjugation and the sheer bloody loss of life

This brings us to the unnerving prospect that Jager s book calls up before us today, as China and the U S -led China Containment Coalition seem more and more likely to go to war: The Other Other Great Game

The Korean peninsula has not moved and remains the obvious second theater into which a war over Taiwan would spill

First, there are the American troops and equipment stationed in South Korea, which China would seek to destroy before they can come to Taiwan’s defense But that is just the beginning Seoul is equidistant between Beijing and Tokyo between the industrial and military bases of Japan and those of northeastern China The Korean coasts lie on the Yellow Sea the East China Sea and the Sea of Japan

From the peninsula either side could restrict the movements of the other s navy considerably, launch many more attacks on planes and ammunition stockpiles, and cripple their adversary’s ability to repair or replace the systems and weapons damaged and destroyed in the course of the fighting

Moreover since the easiest place from which to attack South Korea is North Korea it is hard to imagine its vigorous use in the war not bringing about a peninsula-wide conflict This in turn raises the prospect of a severe border crisis or even of the opening of a second front on the 840mile-long China-North Korea border, an additional incentive to both sides to take the war to North Korea first Or so we would expect were it not that North Korea possesses nuclear weapons And that is oddly the ultimate lesson of Jager s book a lesson that should probably never sit easy with us: that of the pacifist effect of nuclear weapons

To be sure, the short-term effect of North Korea s nuclear weapons is to escalate tensions in Northeast Asia As China grows more aggressive South Korea and Japan seek to bolster their own capabilities in order to resist her pressure both by cooperating more closely with the United States and by investing directly into their means of defense This gives North Korea reason or cover to expand and showcase her military capabilities, both to deter the two democracies and to guard her independence from China This in turn gives South Korea and Japan reason or cover to expand and showcase their military capabilities which no law of nature prevents them from using against China

In the long term however these nuclear weapons threaten a loss of life so great and sudden, and forebode conditions so unpredictable, that both China and the China Containment Coalition would rather keep such conflict as might spread to South Korea within strict limits limits that prevent the emergence of a peninsula-wide war

It is the classic nuclear tradeoff In exchange for a very small probability of many millions dying by nuclear weapons, one gives up the much larger probability of many hundreds of thousands dying by conventional arms And if you doubt that the numbers would run that high, then consider just this: the Koreas together are six times as densely populated as Ukraine

IN what seems like a story straight out of a Netflix crime drama a whopping Tk 821 crore has been laundered out of Bangladesh by 33 readymade garment factories and buying houses, over a period of six years According to a report by this daily, the criminals recorded prices that were up to 10 times lower than the actual rate in their invoices or used the wrong code with exports worth hundreds of crores of taka shown as samples These findings were revealed after a six-month investigation was carried out by the Customs Intelligence and Investigation Directorate (CIID) We applaud the CIID for unearthing what is one of the biggest known money laundering scams in the country but we also urge the authorities to ask some crucial questions now that the crime has come to light

To begin with, how is it that a forgery of such a massive scale went on undetected for so long? The CIID analysed the export data of these companies from January 2017 to May 2023 which means that for at least six years the fraudsters have been submitting false documents without anyone noticing anything suspicious For instance, Dhaka-based buying house shipped 14 085 tonnes of clothing items worth Tk 308 crore to the UAE Singapore and Malaysia in 2022 but showed 1 342 consignments as sample goods which don t fetch any export earnings Is it logical for one buying house to send so many sample goods without raising any red flags? We cannot help but wonder what kind of monitoring systems are in place in the customs department to ensure that dishonest exporters are not regularly and easily swindling them

The more alarming assumption would be that insiders within the customs department assisted the criminals in carrying out the long con The CIID – and if needed external investigators from law enforcement agencies – must investigate the serious possibility of involvement of customs officials in the scam Furthermore, moving forward, it must be ensured that the investigators can carry out their work without undue pressure from high-ups According to a CIID official many powerful organisations and individuals at home and abroad are involved in the crime and they must be named and brought to book no matter how high-profile they are, or how much money they have

The export forgery should come as a wake-up call for the authorities to bolster their inspection and monitoring and to weed out dishonest collaborators within their fold The Tk 821 crore forgery may only be the tip of the iceberg

T h e r a c e f o r A s i a n h e g e m o n y

L I C A L L S F O R O P P O S I N G N E W C O L D

W A R , P R O M O T I N G C O O P E R AT I O N

CHINESE Premier Li Qiang said at the 26th China-ASEAN Summit in Jakarta Indonesia Wednesday that as long as China and ASEAN countries keep to the right path whatever storms may come their cooperation will be as firm as ever and they can press ahead against all odds, and analysts said that China-ASEAN ties remain close and will continue to develop to withstand the impacts of any external interference that attempts to instigate tensions and conflicts

Li said that China-ASEAN cooperation has come a long way thanks to their keen understanding about hardships China and ASEAN countries have been committed to the unwavering pursuit of peace with a strong aspiration for development and both take real actions to safeguard regional stability he said at the summit the Xinhua News Agency reported on Wednesday

The Chinese premier also said that China and ASEAN countries have properly handled disagreements by seeking common ground while shelving differences through dialogue and consultation

“The two sides have been deepening practical cooperation in the traditional and non-traditional security fields and have upheld the five principles of peaceful co-existence and the purpose of the TAC (Treaty of Amity and Cooperation in Southeast Asia), Li remarked

Xu Liping director of the Center for Southeast Asian Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Wednesday that facing rising turbulence among the international community and the challenge of reverse globalization, China continues its attendance at the multilateral event held by ASEAN and chaired by Indonesia where it presents China’s solutions to global challenges with sincerity despite interruptions brought by external forces These have shaped an image of China as a responsible major power

The US is making great efforts to use disputes among regional countries on the South China Sea issue to instigate new tensions interrupting the stability and development of the region to ruin the process of negotiation experts said These acts are not welcomed by the majority of ASEAN members, and with more pragmatic cooperation and dialogues with China, ASEAN is able to maintain peace and stability for the region to

withstand external interruptions they noted

For ASEAN the key is to see whether China or the US is sincere in its support of ASEAN s centrality in the region Xu said While it openly expresses support, the US actions show its duplicity The Biden administration is trying to promote its Indo-Pacific strategy over and over again It wants to force ASEAN members to join its small clique and to have unnecessary but dangerous tensions with China while offering no meaningful support to boost regional integration or economic development It is only interested in costly security cooperation This in fact weakens ASEAN’s centrality and shows that the US’ purpose is different from what ASEAN wants Xu noted China has proven its respect and support for ASEAN by actions and notable cooperation projects like high-speed rail construction China has always insisted on seeking solutions to disputes via diplomacy with relevant countries in the region and China has never established any new multilateral platforms in the region to weaken the ASEAN s position ASEAN members are crystal clear about these differences between China and the US, experts said Premier Li took a test ride Wednesday on Southeast Asia’s first high-speed railway,

the Jakarta-Bandung High-Speed Railway which connects two Indonesian cities as part of China-proposed Belt and Road Initiative media reported

ASEAN’S WISDOM

According to Indonesian media

TEMPO, Indonesian President Joko Widodo hailed the importance of China-ASEAN mutual trust as he opened the summit on Wednesday He stressed the need for ASEAN and China to realize concrete cooperation that is mutually profitable This can only be done if we have trust in each other, which of course needs to be developed and maintained by all parties,” Jokowi said at the Jakarta Convention Center on Wednesday

On Tuesday at the 43rd ASEAN Summit Widodo stated that ASEAN would continue to uphold equality As the world faces all kinds of issues, greater challenges will come, and there will be things leading to a tussle for influence by the superpowers “ASEAN has agreed not to become a proxy for any power ” Jokowi said TEMPO reported Chinese analysts said as a major power in ASEAN, Indonesia realizes that with the rising tensions caused by the US-launched containment against China, as well as the tensions between the West and Russia over

the Ukraine crisis ASEAN is facing a danger of becoming an arena for confrontation between great powers Marzuki Alie former speaker of the House of Representatives of the Republic of Indonesia, told the Global Times in an exclusive interview that “The relationship between China and the United States has a very complex and growing effect on Southeast Asian conditions To attain stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia it is essential that countries in the region maintain a balance and establish mutually beneficial relations with the two countries, as well as promote constructive dialogue and cooperation to achieve stability and prosperity in Southeast Asia In some respects China s contribution to ASEAN is greater than that of other nations including the United States, Marzuki said

CORPORATE CORNER

Shaukat Khanum Hospital becomes cer tified for high qualit y cancer care

PR OFIT

r e u t e r s

Oil prices held steady on Wednesday after rising over 1% in the previous session on a stronger dollar and as investors remained firm after jitters arising from supply cuts from Saudi Arabia and Russia Brent crude futures were up by 10 cents to $90 14 a barrel at 1346 GMT

U S West Texas Intermediate crude (WTI) futures traded at $86 92 a barrel, up 23 cents

Against a basket of currencies the dollar was at 104 68 not far off the sixmonth high of 104 90 touched overnight

A stronger dollar can weigh on oil de-

mand by making the fuel more expensive for holders of other currencies

The reason the market gave back half of the gains and is listless this morning is because within the language of the joint announcement there is a caveat that these cuts will be reviewed on a monthly basis ” said John Evans of oil broker

PVM “This flexibility add-in allows for wiggle room but the market smells a taper he said citing conditions like anti-inflation battles in the U S and other countries, whether crude prices near $100 a barrel, or the effect on Saudi oil revenues

A general view shows the oil refinery of the Lukoil company in Volgograd

A general view shows the oil refinery of the Lukoil company in Volgograd Russia April 22 2022

REUTERS/REUTERS PHOTOGRA-

PHER Acquire Licensing Rights

Reflecting near-term supply concerns, front-month Brent futures had traded on Wednesday near 9-month highs at $4 13 a barrel above prices in six months U S WTI futures equivalent spread was as much as $4 88 a barrel also hovering near nine-month highs Saudi Arabia and Russia on Tuesday extended their voluntary oil cuts to the end of the year, the former to the tune of 1 million barrels per day (bpd) and the latter by 300 000 bpd These are on top of

the April cut agreed by several OPEC+ producers running to the end of 2024

Both countries will review their decisions monthly to consider deepening cuts or raising output depending on market conditions However, analysts warned that price rises could meet with obstacles as demand may dip when U S refineries enter their September-October maintenance period while potentially higher supply from Iran Venezuela and Libya could also weigh Research company IIR Energy said on Wednesday it expects U S oil refiners to increase available refining capacity by 274 000 bpd for the week ending Sept 8

urged to dump Trump - era tariffs, maintain stabilising ties with C hina

INDIA

Ag e n c i e s

India was buzzing with speculation on Tuesday over rumoured plans to scrap the official usage of the country s English name after a state-issued invite sent to world leaders referred to it as Bharat Prime Minister Narendra Modi s government has worked to remove lingering symbols of British rule from India’s urban landscape, political institutions and history books but its next move could be the biggest such action yet Modi himself typically refers to India as Bharat a word dating back to ancient Hindu scriptures written in Sanskrit and one of two official names for the country under its constitution Members of his Hindu-nationalist ruling party have previously campaigned against using the country’s better-known moniker India which has its roots in Western antiquity and was imposed during the British conquest This weekend India hosts the G20 summit of world leaders capped with a state dinner that invitation cards said would be hosted by the President of Bharat The government has called a special session of parliament for later in the month while remaining tight-lipped about its legislative agenda But broadcaster News18 said unnamed government sources had told it that Bharatiya Janata Party lawmakers would put forward a special resolution to give precedence to the name Bharat

Trump loses key ruling ahead of writer Carroll’s defamation trial

NEW YORK

Ag e n c i e s

A federal judge on Wednesday said the writer E Jean Carroll s second trial against Donald Trump stemming from her claim that he raped her will be limited to damages only, in a defeat for the former US president US District Judge Lewis Kaplan in Manhattan said Trump defamed the former Elle magazine columnist in June 2019 by denying he raped her in a Bergdorf Goodman department store dressing room in Manhattan in the mid-1990s and claiming she concocted the attack to boost sales of her memoir Kaplan also said a May jury verdict in a separate civil case where Trump was ordered to pay Carroll $5 million for sexual assault and a similar Oct 2022 defamation eliminated the need to relitigate what took place and whether Trump defamed Carroll “The jury considered and decided issues that are common to both cases and its verdict and the undisputed facts establish that Mr Trump s 2019 statements were made with actual malice, the judge wrote Kaplan also rejected Trump’s claim that any damages awarded to Carroll, who is seeking $10 million, should be reduced because the earlier verdict covered some of them and she did not deserve to recover twice Carroll 79 has argued that Trump s first defamation caused her more harm including to her reputation, than his second Lawyers for Trump did not immediately respond to requests for comment Roberta Kaplan, a lawyer for Carroll, said she looked forward to the scheduled Jan 15 2024 trial She and the judge are not related

BEIJING

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

Following several high-level US official visits to China over the past few months bilateral ties that were at the lowest ebb started to thaw and show signs of stabilising and maintain stabilising ties with China

The Biden administration, however, should show sincerity by taking substantive moves to maintain the hard-won atmosphere instead of coercing China with its hysterical political campaign, which has been heating up experts said

The comment came after US Commerce Secretary Gina Raimondo who has just concluded her China visit said on Tuesday she does not expect any revisions to US tariffs on China imposed during former US president Donald Trump s administration until an ongoing review is completed by the office of the US Trade Representative (USTR) according to an interview with CNBC

The commerce chief said it is not clear when the USTR will conclude the review In May 2022 the USTR commenced the statutory four-year review process The ongoing Section 301 tariffs on some $350 billion worth of Chinese imports should have expired in the summer of 2022, but the USTR extended them

The Biden administration expects to complete the review this fall USTR chief Katherine Tai told the Senate Finance Committee in written responses to questions US media outlet Politico reported in July

The current momentum of stabilizing China-US ties following recent frequent bilateral exchanges has created a good atmosphere for the two countries to resolve the trade dispute around tariffs, which was unilaterally initiated by the US ” Gao Lingyun an expert at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences in Beijing told the Global Times on Wednesday urging the US to show sincerity and take pragmatic moves

It is unlikely that the Biden administration will make

major tariff changes given the mounting political pressure it faces amid a heating-up presidential election campaign, Gao noted But some subtle revisions in a technical way could be expected, possibly an exemption or suspension of tariffs on certain products ” he added Wu Xinbo director of the Center for American Studies at Fudan University agreed saying big breakthroughs in US economic policy on China including trade can t be expected and China has no illusions about that

Yet some loosening signs are likely to be released, dealing with a small piece of the big picture,” Wu told the Global Times on Wednesday

In December last year the USTR announced a ninemonth extension of 352 product exclusions in the China Section 301 Investigation that had been scheduled to expire at the end of 2022 The products ranged from pumps and motor vehicle components to backpacks

The exclusions were initially reinstated on March 28, 2022 Now with the tariff extension set to expire on September 30 experts said there is high possibility that the USTR will announce a further extension

As part of this review we are considering the existing tariffs structure and how to make the tariffs more strategic in light of impacts on sectors of the US economy as well [as] the goal of increasing domestic manufacturing,” Tai said The US unilaterally initiated additional tariffs on certain imports from China starting from 2018 which have made US importers bear almost the entire burden the US International Trade Commission a bipartisan entity that analyzes trade issues said in a report published in March

Separately, according to an article published on the website of the US Council on Foreign Relations, it said “those tariffs, put in place when Trump invoked Section 301 of the Trade Act of 1974 have not only failed to achieve their objectives but have hurt US businesses and consumers along the way

Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre received certification by the Quality Oncology Practice Initiative (QOPI®) Certification Program which is associated with the American Society of Clinical Oncology (ASCO) This recognition by ASCO makes Pakistan the first country in South Asia and the sixth country in the world to have obtained this certification, outside of the USA

The QOPI® Certification Program provides a threeyear certification for outpatient haematology-oncology practices that meet internationally recognised standards for quality cancer care The certification for SKMCH&RC demonstrates the hospital s commitment to providing high-quality care for all patients, irrespective of their ability to pay SKMCH&RC voluntarily participated in a comprehensive site assessment and successfully met the standards and objectives of the QOPI® Certification Program This is a proud moment not only for the hospital but also for the country

New Pakistani-American Company RevSoft Enters the Emerging Tech Sector

LAHORE p r

Helmed by accomplished technology leader

Saima Ali RevSoft Global an emerging Pakistani-American IT company has entered the rapidly growing IT and software development sector in Pakistan, with the aim to match regional IT powerhouses RevSoft is looking to secure international investments to propel Pakistan's IT industry forward while making gender diversity and empowerment a central pillar of its philosophy Pakistan s IT sector has been gaining significant traction globally with projections indicating even more remarkable growth Pakistani freelancers alone attracted export remittances of nearly $400 million in FY22 and rank fourth on Payoneer s list of top freelancing countries Additionally the country annually produces more than 35 000 graduates in IT and other related fields thanks to the government s ongoing investments in education RevSoft s commitment to inclusivity is represented in its innovative business model RevSoft offers 100% remote opportunities, opening a spectrum of possibilities for women seeking flexible work schedules ensuring that talented individuals regardless of their circumstances have the opportunity to contribute to the tech landscape RevSoft aims to achieve a 20% increase in tech gender diversity, surpassing the current industry average of 17 08% and has pledgef that 10% of all its proceeds will be dedicated to scholarships training programs and grants for women in the tech sector

Asia Cup: Green Shir ts thrash Tigers in one -sided contest

LAHORE s tA f f r e p o r t

Pakistan on Wednesday thrashed Bangladesh in the Asia Cup Super 4 s match at Gaddafi Stadium on Wednesday with 10 overs to spare Pakistan were chasing a target of 194 which Green Shirts achieved quite comfortably Mohammad Rizwan sealed the victory with a boundary

the boundary during the 30th over Following Shakib s departure, Bangladesh s next five batsmen struggled to cope with the relentless pace attack led by Haris Rauf and Naseem Shah They only managed to add a mere 36 runs to the scoreboard, ultimately resulting in the team being bundled out for a total of 193 runs Speaking after winning the toss Bangladesh captain Shakib Al Hasan said that the team would put pressure on the Green Shirts if they managed to put runs on the board

SQUADS

Pakistan: Babar Azam (C) Fakhar Zaman, Imamul Haq, Mohammad Rizwan, Agha Salman, Iftikhar Ahmed, Shadab Khan, Faheem Ashraf, Shaheen Shah Afridi, Naseem Shah, Haris Rauf BANGLADESH: Shakib Al Hasan (C) Mohammad Naim Mehidy Hasan Miraz Litton Das Towhid Hridoy Mushfiqur Rahim Shamim Hossain Afif Hossain Taskin Ahmed, Shoriful Islam, Hasan Mahmud

India abuz z over rumoured plans to change countr y’s name to ‘Bharat’

US

CCP approves two mergers – home health care and insurance sectors

PA K I S TA N N AV Y C E L E B R AT E S D E F E N C E D AY

W I T H R E V E R E N C E

KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t

PAKISTAN Navy celebrated Defence Day of Pakistan with reverence and effervescent spirit The day was observed to commemorate supreme sacrifices of our Armed Forces Shuhada Ghazis and national heroes who stood against the enemy with unparalleled display of unity and tenacity during 1965

Indo-Pak War

In his message on the occasion, Chief of the Naval Staff, Admiral Muhammad Amjad Khan Niazi paid homage to the Shuhada and Ghazis who repulsed blatant aggression of enemy and foiled its nefarious designs with support of our people The day displays the spirit of unity and sacrifice in the defence of our motherland and glori-

IGNITE par ticipates in 23rd ITCN Asia with promising star tups

KARACHI

p r

September 6, 2023: Continuing with its tradition of supporting Pakistan s startup ecosystem, Ignite National Technology Fund, a public sector company with Ministry of IT & Telecom participated in this year ’s ITCN Asia with 16 promising startups from its network of National Incubation Centers ITCN Asia is renowned for bringing together tech enthusiasts, industry leaders, and innovators to celebrate the advancements in information technology and telecommunication 23rd ITCN Asia was held at Expo Center Karachi from 31st August to 2nd September 2023

Dr Umar Saif

Caretaker Federal Minister for IT & Telecom graced the inaugural session as Chief Guest The three-day event showcases solutions with a focus on networking, knowledge-sharing, lead generation, and a series of conferences that create a learning environment for like-minded people to share knowledge and experiences

fies the indomitable bond of our Nation and the Armed Forces to stand together in the face of adversity and belligerence The Admiral reiterated that Pakistan Navy maintains perpetual readiness to deter war ensure maritime defence and proactively contributes to nation building initiatives

The day dawned with special prayers offered in all naval mosques for preservation of integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan Quran Khawani were held for interminable peace of Shuhada of the 1965 war Chief of Staff Vice Admiral Naveed Ashraf laid floral wreath at Shuhada s Monument at Naval Headquarters Islamabad, interacted with the families of Shuhada and offered Fateha Wreath laying ceremonies and Fateha Khawani were also held at Shuhada’s memorials at Field Command Headquarters lag hoisting ceremonies were held at

all naval units and establishments wherein Commanding Officers of all units and establishments addressed special gatherings of officers and men and highlighted the significance of the day

Askari Bank announces introduction of its WhatsApp banking services

KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t

Askari Bank is a pioneer in providing cutting-edge and customer-focused banking solutions This strategic initiative which aligns with Askari Bank's objective to modernise the bank s digital platforms intends to transform the client experience by utilising WhatsApp the most popular messaging service in the world

With WhatsApp Banking, customers can now enjoy a seamless and secure banking experience directly from their smartphones They can access a wide range of banking services including checking their account balance requesting mini statements tax certificates and account statements They can also manage their debit cards register for Roshan Digital Accounts and even chat with Askari Bank s designated agent for personalized assistance Additionally, customers can conveniently lodge their complaints and submit service requests through this digital channel Mr Khurshid Zafar Chief Operating Officer at

Askari Bank, expressed his excitement about this groundbreaking initiative stating "At Askari Bank we are committed to leveraging technology to enhance the overall banking experience for our customers The introduction of WhatsApp banking not only simplifies banking processes but also demonstrates our dedication to staying at the forefront of technological advancements in the industry We believe that this innovative service will provide our valued customers with unparalleled convenience and accessibility

PDMAs & IRC join forces to build climate resilience initiatives in Sindh, Balochistan

KARACHI S ta f f r e p o r t

For strengthening of climate resilience initiative the Provincial Disaster Management Authorities (PDMAs) of Sindh and Balochistan are proud to announce their collaborative initiative with the International Rescue Committee to promote resilience in the aftermath of floods This groundbreaking endeavor is set to drive climate action and preparedness to new heights reinforcing collective commitment to building a resilient and disasterresilient future

The International Rescue Committee (IRC) is spearheading this collaborative effort in partnership with the PDMAs of Sindh and Balochistan The event served as a platform for experts, officials, and stakeholders to discuss vital topics related to climate change, emergency preparedness and response Shabnam Baloch Country Director International Rescue Committee delivered the opening remarks, setting the stage for a day

of insightful discussions In her address Shabnam Baloch underscored a pressing reality that resonates across the globe: the urgency of investing in climate-resilient interventions She explained the unprecedented challenges Pakistan faces due to the ever-escalating threat of climate change She termed this threat as an immediate and tangible concern She emphasized that the battle against climate change necessitates a collective effort, both nationally and globally She stressed on the need of unity, cooperation, and concerted action to combat the challenges that lie ahead The event featured a panel discussion that delves into the needs

and priorities within the provinces and districts exploring strategies for resilience building and charting a way forward

Mr Jahanzeb Khan, DG PDMA Balochistan, remarked, "This collaborative initiative is a testament to the power of working together to address the challenges posed by climate change and disasters It s inspiring to see NDMA, PDMAs, and the IRC coming together to find solutions that will protect our communities " He further added, “A crucial lesson can be learned through the PDMA s experiences: the need to prioritize infrastructure in contingency planning

All ships and establishments were decorated and illuminated in accordance with naval traditions Other activities of the day included various sports matches in Pakistan Navy units

ISLAMABAD p r

Watella, the bottled drinking water brand of Nordica Health Products has won the Brands of the Year Award for ‘Fastest Growing Brand of the Year ’ in the water industry in Pakistan Photo shows Mr Fahad Bin Hilal Chief Operating Officer receiving the award from Raja Pervez Ashraf Speaker of the National Assembly of Pakistan

Defence Day celebrated at NAVTTC-Center of Excellence

SINDH p r

The Defence Day of Pakistan under the directions of Federal Minister for Education and Professional Training Mr Madad Ali Sindhi was celebrated with zeal and zest by National Vocational and Technical Training Commission- Center of Excellence to pay tribute to the martyrs of 1965 war Various Defence day activities were also organised at NAVTTC-CoE including the singing of the national songs speeches poetry etc 6 September marks a remarkable event in Pakistan’s history that showcased an enduring power of unity in diversity Pakistanis on this day not only celebrate the valour of Pakistan s armed forces but also honour the strength of unity in its diversity The Defence day celebrates the resilience of a country that unites a nation to defend its sovereignty, integrity and protect its people

Saad Niaz , Health Minister of Sindh, Inaugurates Free Filter Clinic at The Kidney Centre

Dr

Chairman HEC pays tribute to mar tyrs of nation in Defence Day ceremony at IIUI

ISLAMABAD S ta f f r e p o r t

A special ceremony was held at International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) on Tuesday to pay tribute to the martyrs of the country on Defense Day Chairman Higher Education Commission (HEC), Dr Mukhtar Ahmed graced the ceremony as chief guest that was held in the council hall of the new campus of the university It was also attended by President IIUI Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi Vice Presidents of the university, Deans, senior faculty members, students and other relevant officials Dr Mukhtar said that on the occasion that on September 6th 1965 our brave forces crushed the enemy “The special feature of the 1965 war was the spirit of

2nd National Media fellowship launch event aims to combat gender-based violence, child marriages

ideal love for the Pakistan Army and the people of Pakistan Chairman HEC said He said today there is a crucial need to awaken and re-energize that spirit again He said we are proud of the brave sons of the soil, especially the Shuhada who laid down their lives but did not let the enemy move an inch to fulfil its nefarious designs “The day exudes the spirit of unity and sacrifice in the defense of our motherland” he said Dr Mukhtar added that families of the martyrs are very important to us

KARACHI: The official launch of the second National Media Fellowship (NMF) - an innovative step aimed at addressing and raising awareness about the pressing issues of gender-based violence (GBV) and child marriages in the society – held on Wednesday The fellowship a collaborative effort made by the Centre for Excellence in Journalism at the Institute of Business Administration (CEJ-IBA), the National Commission on the Status of Women (NCSW) and the United Nations Population Fund (UNFPA), and it is set to make a significant impact on the discourse surrounding these critical issues The Caretaker Federal Minister for Human Rights Mr Khalil George attended the launch as the chief guest for the evening He congratulated NCSWUNFPA and CEJ-IBA for making efforts to curb the violence against women and to create awareness on the issue of child marriage p r

KARACHI p r

Dr Saad Niaz, the Health Minister of Sindh, officially opened The Kidney Centre's (TKC) Free Filter Clinic today This new facility is dedicated to offering free consultation laboratory tests and ultrasound services to patients suffering from kidney and bladder diseases For those in need of further medical assessments, referrals to consulting clinics will be provided for comprehensive treatment The Free Filter Clinic stands as a testament to TKC’s commitment to providing accessible healthcare services to the community During the ceremony Dr Saad Niaz praised TKC for its commitment to making healthcare accessible to underprivileged members of the community He also acknowledged TKC s remarkable 38-year legacy in providing high-quality care to individuals suffering from renal diseases Notably over the past year the Patient Welfare Programme at TKC extended financial assistance to over 100 000 patients Mrs Marriana Karim, Chairman of the Board of Governors, and Dr Rashid Jooma, Chief Executive Officer, expressed their gratitude to Dr Saad Niaz for his visit to TKC and his role in inaugurating the Free Filter Clinic

CEO GFS Builders, Chairman of Chase Value inaugurate C T Sc an Unit at Shed Foundation

the most effective way which is a big deal indeed in today's era The philanthropists who cooperate in such divine causes deserve appreciation The world is secured because of the virtuous and good people All our support is with the Shade Foundation

Governor Sindh meets caretaker PM

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f r e p o r t

Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori met caretaker Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar at PM House here today Governor Sindh infirmed him about administrative matters and overall law and order situation in the province in detail He also presented various proposals about electricity tariff on belalf of traders and members of Karachi Chamber of Commerce and Industry(KCCI)to Caretaker Prime Minister He thanked Governor Sindh for the proposals and directed concerned authorities to hold detailed consultation on the matter and submit comprehensive report in this regard

Watella wins fastest growing brand award in bottled water industr y

X C H A N G E C O M PA N I E S T O B E C O N S O L I D AT E D

I N T O O N E C AT E G O R Y U N D E R S B P R E F O R M S

ure 2AI and 2AII of Exchange Companies

company or merge with other category B exchange companies to form a single exchange company

with a well-defined mandate

Thus, the central bank has given category B exchange companies three options: merge into an existing exchange company upgrade from category B to an exchange

The SBP has also raised the minimum capital requirement for exchange companies to Rs 500 million (free of losses), saying this will strengthen their solvency and infrastructure Category B exchange companies have been given one month to approach the SBP and obtain a no-objection certificate (NOC) for one of the three options All such applications for NOC must contain a conversion/merger plan proposed shareholding structure particulars/information/affidavit of shareholders and directors as per Annex-

Manual (ECM) and board resolution(s) of the relevant company(ies), where applicable, the circular stated After receiving the NOC, category B exchange companies will have three months to complete the regulatory and legal requirements for a formal licence to begin operations If they fail to do so their licences will be cancelled

Meanwhile franchises of exchange companies have been offered

S enate committee shows concerns over PSQC A recruitments

g C o m m i t t e e o n S c i e n c e a n d Te c h n o l o g y c o n v e n e d a p i v o t a l s e s s i o n a t t h e P a r l i a m e n t H o u s e d e l v i n g i n t o a r a n g e o f i s s u e s vital to Pakistan’s scientific and technological landscape At the forefront of the discussions were concerns related to the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) and its recruitment process A significant portion of the session w a s d e d i c a t e d t o a d d r e s s i n g a p u b l i c petition submitted by Mr Waleed bin Mushtaq which brought to light glari n g i r r e g u l a r i t i e s i n t h e r e c r u i t m e n t process conducted by the PSQCA Mr Wa l e e d s t e s t i m o n y r e v e a l e d a t r o ub l i n g n a r r a t i v e : c a n d i d a t e s w e r e l e f t uninformed about critical details, such a s t h e d a t e a n d t i m e o f w r i t t e n t e s t s

F u r t h e r m o r e , s o m e c a n d i d a t e s w h o h a d q u a l i f i e d f o r i n t e r v i e w s r e c e i v e d i n t e r v i e w l e t t e r s a f t e r t h e i n t e r v i e w s had already taken place a day earlier To compound matters Mr Waleed all e g e d d i s r e s p e c t f u l t r e a t m e n t b y t h e P S Q C A a d m i n i s t r a t i o n w h e n h e s o u g h t c l a r i f i c a t i o n r e g a r d i n g t h e e ntire recruitment process Chairman Senator Sardar Muhammad Shafiq Tareen expressed deep concern over this situation acknowledging that he had received numerous complaints of a similar nature In response to these concerns, the secretary of the ministry assured the committee that the entire recruitment process had been annulled and a thorough inquiry was underway The report of this investigation will be shared with the committee within one month, promising a step towards rectifying the systemic issues within the PSQCA’s recruitment process

d u c e d b y S e n a t o r Z a r q a S u h a r w a r d y Ta i m u r O ff i c i a l s c o n f i r m e d t h a t t h e p r o p o s e d a m e n d m e n t s h a d a l r e a d y b e e n i n c o r p o r a t e d i n t o t h e R u l e s a n

crackdown against exchange companies on apprehensions that they were not selling foreign currency to customers despite availability, leading to exchange rate volatility and a wide difference in rates offered in the interbank market and those quoted by the companies and commercial banks

DEFENCE DAY 2023

Nation stands with armed forces to defeat ‘evil designs’

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Commemorating Defence Day and Martyrs Day on Wednesday Interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir and President Dr Arif Alvi paid tribute to valiant soldiers of the armed forces State media reported that Kakar laid a floral wreath at the Pakistan Monument in honour of Yadgar-e-Shuhada to “pay homage and tribute” to the brave soldiers of the country’s armed forces

deferral of further deliberations on the bill until the next meeting These developments underscore the Senate Committee s commitment to enhancing governance and transparency within the country’s scientific and technological sector The issues related to PSQCA recruitment and the passage of these critical bills reflect their dedication to addressing crucial concerns and advancing Pakistan s technological landscape

In his message on the occasion PM Kakar said that the entire nation stands with Pakistan s armed forces to defeat those with evil designs against Pakistan s integrity and prosperity Our martyrs who embraced martyrdom for the sake of their people and the country can never be forgotten and will always remain in our hearts,” he said, adding that the Holy Quran also mentions martyrs with great reverence Referring to the last moments of soldiers who lost their lives on the battlefield Kakar said This is the moment that appears to be death but actually it is the moment of meeting with the immortal The Prime Minister s Office shared pictures of the ceremony on X, formerly Twitter In a similar statement made on X, President Alvi also honoured the sacrifices of the armed forces