Epaper_23-10-05 KHI

g I H C C J s a y s d o c u m e n t s w h i c h a r e t o b e k e p t c o n f i d e n t i a l w i l l r e m a i n s o

g C o u r t f i x e s h e a r i n g o f b a i l a p p l i c a t i o n o n O c t 9

g S p e c i a l c o u r t a l s o t e r m s i n - c a m e r a t r i a l ‘ u n c o n s t i t u t i o n a l ’

Pakistan buys first LNG spot cargo since 2022

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

THE Islamabad High Court

(IHC) rejected on Wednesday the Federal Investigation

Agency’s (FIA) petition to hold in-camera proceedings of ousted premier Imran Khan s bail plea in the cypher case

IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq had reserved his decision on the FIA s plea earlier this week

A n n o u n c i n g t h e v e r d i c t , t h e c o u r t said that the matter will be heard before a n o p e n c o u r t T h e d o c u m e n t s w h i c h are to be kept confidential will remain s o a f t e r c o n s u l t i n g w i t h t h e c o u n s e l s

said CJ Farooq

The court fixed the bail application for hearing on October 9 The cypher case concerns a diplomatic cable which reportedly went missing from Imran s possession His party the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had claimed that the cypher contained a threat from the United States to remove Imran from the Prime Minister ’s Office Imran was ousted through a vote of no-confidence in April 2022 He has been arrested twice since with the second arrest made on August 5, 2023, after a district and sessions court sentenced him to three years in prison in the Toshakhana case The sentence was later suspended by the IHC but it emerged that he had

May 9 attacks orchestrated to ‘remove army chief’, claims PTI’s Usman Dar

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

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

hearing of the case inside Adiala jail premises The hearing was held amid stringent security outside the prison premises, where Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf Chairperson Imran and former interior minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi are currently incarcerated Safdar stressed that if the trial is to be held it must be held before the public The counsel said he spoke to the ousted premier briefly today and the latter prohibited his legal team from entering into any kind of deal A more detailed conversation will be held with him tomorrow (Thursday), said Safdar

been sent on judicial remand in the cypher case The PTI chief faces over 150 criminal cases

t h e O ff i c i a l S e c r e t s A c t E a r l i e r t h i s w e e k t h e F I A h a d s o u g h t i n - c a m e r a proceedings of the PTI chief s bail plea in the cypher case arguing that an open c o u r t h e a r i n g c o u l d a d v e r s e l y a ff e c t P a k i s t a n ’s d i p l o m a t i c r e l a t i o n s w i t h other countries Earlier

in the today the federal body also

PR OFIT

Da n i ya l a h m a D

g o f r o m V i t o l f o r $ 1 5 . 9 7 / m m b t u Imran Khan’s attorney deems centur y-old in-camera trial law ‘unconstitutional’ RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t An in-camera trial of charges framed under a 100-year-old law – Official Secrets Act – cannot be held said ousted premier Imran Khan s lawyer Salman Safdar on Wednesday terming the Federal Investigation Agency s (FIA) request unconstitutional He was speaking to the media while a special court conducted

For the first time in over a year Pakistan has acquired a liquefied natural gas (LNG) cargo from the spot market The state-owned Pakistan LNG Ltd (PLL) has secured a single shipment for December from the global commodity trader Vitol at a hefty 13% premium to the current spot prices against the Japan/Korea Marker (JKM) PLL was seeking two shipments for December It received two offers from the commodity traders Vitol and Trafigura Vitol had proposed one shipment for delivery between 7-8 December at $15 97/mmbtu On the other hand, Trafigura had suggested two shipments for delivery between 7-8 December and 1314 December at $18 39/mmbtu and $19 39/mmbtu respectively To put these prices into perspective spot prices for LNG shipments are trading between $11 38/mmbtu on the Dutch TTF Natural Gas and $14 25/mmbtu on the JKM Vitol has offered a reasonable price We have to bear in mind that traders would charge a premium for country risk when supplying to Pakistan ” elucidates Shahid Karim CEO of LNGFlex and former CEO of Daewoo Gas But what is the reason for this premium?

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), and the Ministry of Commerce, in multiple notifications, have strictly tightened Pakistan’s policy stance on being a transit country of commercial imports to Afghanistan

The Ministry of Commerce by the means of SRO 1397(1), has banned various goods to be transited through Pakistan into Afghanistan This includes various categories of fabrics tyres black tea home appliances toiletries cosmetics, and nuts The banned items have been rendered prone to smuggling” by the ministry of commerce Moreover on the recommendation of the ministry of commerce FBR has imposed a 10 % process-

ing fee on major categories of Afghan transit commercial goods

According to the notification the federal government has imposed a processing fee at the rate of 10% ad valorem on the Afghan transit commercial goods imported into Afghanistan via Pakistan

Major categories include confectionery and chocolates footwear machinery (mechanical and electrical) blankets as well as home textiles and garments

In two separate SROs, the FBR has also put forward draft resolutions of stricter controls on the transit trades including checks and guarantees to ensure that the consignments reach their destinations

The FBR has proposed new conditions of increasing the incidence of scanning the consignments after the Goods Declaration (GD) has been signed

The FBR has also

floated draft resolutions for mandating a bank guarantee equal to duties and taxes of the consignment in order to ensure that the Afghanistan-bound goods reach their final destination These guarantees could be encashed in case the imported goods do not reach Kabul

What is the Reason?

Afghanistan is a landlocked country that does not have access to a port of its own Meaning that any major trade that happens in or out of Afghanistan, happens through another country Therefore any imports received at a Pakistani port meant for Afghanistan are transited through Pakistan to Afghanistan

The selling of in-transit goods inside the transit country (in this case Pakistan) is considered illegal and is under the ambit of smuggling

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

The offers from Trafigura and Vitol at exorbitant premiums, are the consequence of the twelve to eighteen months where Pakistan was on the verge of default, where import payments were delayed, and where dividends royalties were withheld ” expounds Mustafa Pasha Chief Investment Officer at Lakson Investments All of this has led to the supply chain for Pakistan being jeopardised globally It will take time for the confidence of those suppliers to be restored Until then, there will be fewer people willing to do business with you and those that do will demand terms that are harsh ” Pasha continues However Pakistan is also in a precarious situation financially Ignoring the fact that our sovereign risk has increased over Pasha s aforementioned time period, why did we pay the premium when we re also struggling?

WHY’D WE PAY THE PREMIUM?

Let’s make one thing clear Premiums are exorbitant for everyone not just the initial payment

The premium will trickle down to customers and will fuel inflation elucidates Ahsan Mehanti CEO at Rayaan Commodities Nevertheless, Pakistan needs LNG, Mehanti asserts Pakistan faced a cold shoulder when it solicited its tender for LNG cargoes in June and it spurned Trafigura’s offer in August as well when the trader proffered two cargoes for December and January at a 30% premium

Abandoning the tender after these repeated blunders could have spelled trouble for Pakistan

Aborting this tender would expose Pakistan to adverse repercussions in the LNG market Repeated tender cancellations and non-awards, whether due to foreign reserve constraints or premium pricing can impair Pakistan s credibility and bargaining power expounds Jawad Majeed General Manager at Tabeer Energy Would it matter if we jeopardise our relationship with commodity traders for LNG

POLICE SEEK ARREST AS COURT EXTENDS ASAD UMAR, IMRAN’S SISTERS’ INTERIM BAIL

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

TH E Lahore Police on Wednesday sought arrest of PTI Chief Imran Khan s sisters – Uzma and Aleema, and party leader Asad Umar in connection with the attack on Corps Commander House known as Jinnah House on May 9

However the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore extended the interim bail of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Asad Umar, the sisters of PTI chairman Imran Khan and others in the May 9 violence cases till October 16

The court also summoned the lawyers for final arguments in the case on October 16 The police made the request during hearing of bail pleas of the suspects in Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) presided over by Judge

Pakistan is key par tner of US for resettlement of Afghans: State Dept

WASHINGTON

S ta f f R e p o R t

State Department principal deputy spokesperson Vedant Patel while reacting to Pakistan’s decision to evict the illegal Afghan refugees from the country said that Pakistan has been an important stopover for the Afghan refugees who are fleeing Afghanistan Briefing the newsmen in Washington on Tuesday, Vedant Patel said:

“Pakistan has been an important partner when it has come to the resettlement of Afghans who are fleeing and looking to resettle They ve been an important stopover in that process and we ll just leave it at that

Replying to a question regarding Canada, India tension, Vedant Patel said: “US is deeply concerned about the allegations referenced by Prime Minister Trudeau and we remain in regular contact with our Canadian partners And it s critical that Canada s investigation proceed and the perpetrators be brought to justice

National Health Card app officially launched in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for National Health Services Dr Nadeem Jan launched an app of National Health Card in Islamabad on Wednesday stressing it is aimed at empowering the people to organize their visits to hospitals He said the App developed in cooperation with NADRA will also help get the feedback from patients on the services they received The Health Minister said we are trying to bring innovation in the health insurance scheme He said it is our effort to come up with a universal health insurance scheme after consultations with the provinces He said we also plan to incorporate OPD services in the health insurance scheme For the poorest of the poor, these services will be free of cost but those who can afford will have to make copayments He however clarified that this contribution will be modest in size Nadeem Jan said that it is also effort of the caretaker government to improve the quality of public healthcare services He said this will restore public confidence on the public health facilities The Minister for National Health Services said a two-day global health security summit is being hosted by Pakistan on the 1st of December with the aim to collectively respond to the pandemics

Abhar Gul As court proceedings commenced on Wednesday Investigating Officer (IO) Inspector Muhammad Sarwar informed the court that all three suspects had been found guilty during the investigation citing the findings of the joint investigation team (JIT) constituted to investigate the violent incidents The IO said that police required the arrest of all three suspects for further investigations into the case He further said that Aleema s presence at the scene had also been confirmed

However, Aleema s lawyer Burhan Muazzam argued that his client and her sister Uzma had not been nominated in the case

To this, the IO said that they could show all the statements recorded under Section 161 of the Code of Criminal Procedure Widespread violent incidents erupted after the arrest of PTI Chief Imran Khan

from Islamabad High Court by paramilitary force Rangers on May 9 in Al-Qadir Trust case During the course of violence i m p o r t a n t m i l i t a r y i n s t a l l a t i o n s c o m e u n d e r a t t a c k a n d C o r p s C o m m a n d e r L ahore known as Jinnah House was vandalized In the ensuing events, the state had launched a severe crackdown on the PTI leaders and workers Sarwar Road police had registered the case of the attack on Corps Commander Lahore during the riots In August both Aleema and Uzma had appeared before the joint investigation team (JIT) to join the probe into the attacks on the military installations

An official source said that the head of the JIT DIG (investigation) Imran Kishwar and other members of the team interrogated them During the questioning Uzma Khan reportedly confessed that

CHAMAN/ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Two people including a 12-year-old child were killed on Wednesday when an Afghan sentry opened unprovoked and indiscriminate firing on pedestrians at Chaman border-crossing in Balochistan, the military’s media affairs wing said

According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) a child was also injured during the firing

On October 4, at 1600 hours, an Afghan sentry employed at Friendship Gate of Chaman Border Crossing along the Pakistan-Afghanistan border in Balochistan opened unprovoked and indiscriminate firing at pedestrians moving from Pakistan to Afghanistan it said in a statement

The ISPR said the incident occurred at the outbound gate located on the zero line

“Own troops exercised extreme restraint and avoided any exchange of fire in the presence of innocent passengers to avoid collateral damage, it stated

The ISPR said the bodies have been shifted to the Chaman District Head-

quarters Hospital and the injured child, who was immediately evacuated by security forces, is under treatment “Afghan authorities have been app r o a c h e d t o i n q u i r e t h e r e a s o n f o r s u c h i r r e s p o n s i b l e a n d r e c k l e s s a c t apprehend and hand over the culprit t o P a k i s t a n i a u t h o r i t i e s , t h e s t a t ement said

It added that the interim Afghan government was expected to “exercise control over its troops and impart discipline to act responsibly in order to avoid recurrence of such incidents in future Pakistan remains committed to contributing towards peace, prosperity and development through positive and constructive bilateral relations, however such unpleasant occurrences have the potential to harm the sincere intent and purpose the ISPR statement concluded

Last year, six people were killed and 17 others sustained injuries in firing by the Afghan Border Forces at the Chaman border The incident was widely condemned by the then-government Foreign Office and diplomats

The cross-border attack had also led to the closure of the busy Chaman bor-

she was there at the Jinnah House on May 9 while her sister Aleema Khan denied her presence there

On September 19 a Lahore ATC had extended pre-arrest bail of all three in multiple cases pertaining to riots in the country on May 9 The suspects had filed bail petitions in cases of attacks on Jinnah House, Askari Tower in Gulberg, the torching of PML-N offices in Model Town and of a container near Kalma Chowk The court subsequently summoned the lawyers to make their final arguments in the case The court also extended the interim bails of all three suspects till October 16

At one point, Aleema came to the rostrum and urged the court to grant them justice as she highlighted how she appeared before the courts on a daily basis

If justice will be granted after being sent to jail then do it she said However

: I S P R

der crossing used for trade and transit

Today s incident comes a day after the caretaker government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants including Afghan nationals to leave Pakistan by October 31 or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries

The new policy announcement triggered concerns by several quarters, including the Afghan government which termed it “unacceptable”

C O N D E M N AT I O N S: In a statement released immediately after the crossborder attack was reported Interior Minister Sarfaraz Bugti said an elderly man and a child were martyred in the firing He added it was initiated by the Afghan side

“Such incidents are not acceptable in any way The Pakistani forces showed patience and tolerance on the unprovoked firing, and our soldiers avoided retaliatory firing due to the presence of civilians

“It is hoped that the Afghan government will take this incident seriously and ensure strict action he stated adding that such incidents had a negative impact on bilateral relations

linked with transparent elec tions, ECP must announce date: S iraj

LAHORE

S ta f f R e p o R t

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), Siraj-ul-Haq linking the stability to the conduct of transparent elections has urged the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce the date for the national vote

Addressing a press conference at Mansoorah on Wednesday he asserted that the caretaker government lacks the authority to make decisions on matters of policy, adding the increases in electricity and gas tariffs were outside their jurisdiction placing an undue burden on people Sirajul Haq stated that the JI would persist in its protest movement aimed at safeguarding the rights of the people and would stage a sit-in in front of the Governor ’s House in Karachi on October 6

Prior to this he chaired a meeting of the central leadership which discussed the JI s preparations for the upcoming general elections and other challenges confronting the nation He informed journalists that the JI had already nominated candidates for 80 per-

cent of the seats in both the national and provincial assemblies

In response to a query the JI chief argued that those who had repeatedly held power in the country for years had failed to bring about any meaningful change Instead, he contended that the former rulers bore direct responsibility for the current crises facing the nation Addressing another question he decried the allocation of substantial development funds for specific constituencies as a form of pre-election rigging, vowing to raise the issue with the ECP He stressed the importance of institutions maintaining their apolitical stance and adhering to the constitution emphasizing that the upcoming election must prioritize transparency over superficial appearances Siraj called for a forensic audit of Independent Power Producer (IPP) agreements, citing massive payments to private companies in the form of capacity charges He urged the government to address issues such as line losses electricity theft and the practice of the ruling elite enjoying free electricity usage, as well as the imposition of multiple

taxes on power bills

He pointed out that Pakistan had the highest inflation rates in the region leading to a decline in the purchasing power of the people Meeting basic expenses such as school fees for children and medical bills for families had become increasingly difficult for a common man he said The JI chief maintained that foreign loans were not a viable solution and instead urged the government to tackle corruption, improve governance, and promote equitable resource distribution He asserted that the JI was the sole party capable of presenting comprehensive solutions to the nation s myriad challenges

she was stopped from speaking further by her lawyer

Finally

I think PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif received medication, Asad Umar commented while speaking to the media outside the ATC, adding that the expremier should have returned to the country a long time ago

He said that on principle Nawaz should directly go to jail after arriving back in Pakistan Regarding elections he said that the PTI would fully participate in the upcoming polls

Meanwhile, Aleema told the media that the health of her brother who has been in jail since August in a graft case had suffered and that he also lost weight She said that the PTI chairman did not have any place to walk or exercise adding that a plea had been filed in this regard

She also relayed a message from Imran, which claimed that preparations were under way to keep him jail for a long time in connection with the cipher case

Kabul calls Pakistan’s decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals ‘unacceptable’

KABUL/ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Afghan Taliban spokesman Zabihullah Mujahid on Wednesday said Pakistan s decision to expel undocumented Afghan nationals was “unacceptable” and urged authorities to revisit the policy The statement comes a day after the caretaker government gave an ultimatum to all undocumented immigrants including Afghan nationals to leave Pakistan by October 31, or risk imprisonment and deportation to their respective countries The decision was taken in an apex committee meeting headed by Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar and attended by the army chief among others The committee also decided that movement across the border would be subject to passports and visas while electronic Afghan identity cards (or e-tazkiras) would only be accepted until Oct 31 After the passage of the deadline, the authorities would kickstart an operation targeting illegal properties and businesses owned by immigrants or those being run in collaboration with Pakistani nationals In a statement posted on social media platform X (erstwhile Twitter) in both Urdu and English today, Mujahid said the treatment of Afghan refugees in Pakistan was unacceptable and authorities should revise their policy in this regard “Afghan refugees are not involved in Pakistan s security problems he stated adding that as long as they leave Pakistan voluntarily, that country should tolerate them The Pakistani Foreign Office has yet to issue a statement on this matter Around 1 3 million Afghans are registered refugees in Pakistan and 880 000 more have legal status to remain according to the latest United Nations figures However the government claims that a further 1 7 million Afghans are in Pakistan illegally In addition to the Afghan spokesperson s criticism, the policy announcement has triggered concerns from several quarters In a post on X today former PPP senator Farhatullah Babar said the government was once again playing football with refugees and manipulating for some other objectives Doomed to end in a backlash Tripartite agreement allows only voluntary repatriation,” he added A day earlier, the Afghanistan Embassy in Islamabad accused Punjab and Sindh police of conducting a ruthless operation against Afghan refugees without distinguishing between genders and even arresting women and children In a statement posted on X on Tuesday, Afghanistan’s embassy said more than 1,000 Afghans have been detained in the past two weeks half of them despite having a legal right to be in Pakistan Moreover Amnesty International also called out the Pakistani government for creating a space of fear for refugees

SIFC Apex Committee reviews major macro - economic issues

ISLAMABAD a p p

The apex committee of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) on Wednesday reviewed major macro-economic issues affecting the investment climate including inordinate delays in restructuring/ privatisation of cash bleeding state owned enterprises (SOEs)

The committee also resolved with consensus on fast-tracking the privatisation process and hence, in the larger interest of the country, reduce recurring losses to the national exchequer

The SIFC convened 6th meeting of its apex committee to review various initiatives being spearheaded through the SIFC forum

The meeting was chaired by Caretaker

Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar and was attended by Chief of Army Staff General

Syed Asim Munir members of the cabinet provincial chief ministers and the high level government officials PM Office

Islamabad AC summons former Sindh CM Shah in Nooriabad plant case

Two d e a d i n ‘u n p rovo ke d ’ f i r i n g by Af g h a n s e n t r y o n p e d e s t r i

YES, DEPOSITS HIGHER THAN RS0.5 MILLION AREN’T ‘PROTECTED’ AND HERE’S WHY THAT’S NOT AL ARMING

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

TH E Deputy Governor State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Dr Inayat Hussain in a briefing to the Senate s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue, asserted that only deposits up to Rs 500,000 are protected by the Deposit Protection Corporation (DPC), a subsidiary of the SBP

He added that as per regulations deposits above Rs 0 5 million are not protected by the DPC if a bank goes bankrupt Misleading news reports in certain sections of the press caused some hue and cry amongst the depositors who got the impression that their deposits were at risk

However Profit explains how this is not a cause for concern Amongst the many duties of the State Bank of Pakistan is the protection of the interests of the depositors And the SBP, over the years, has done a good job at it As iterated by Dr Hussain in the session of the senate’s committee no depositor has ever lost their money in the financial history of the country Even in the cases of the worst bankruns, the SBP has managed to protect the money of the depositors In a story previously covered by Profit, even when the KASB Bank Limited’s capital adequacy

IHC orders open cour t hearing of Imran’s bail plea

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

In-camera trial under century-old law unconstitutional An in-camera trial of charges framed under a 100-year-old law – Official Secrets Act – cannot be held, said Imran s lawyer Salman Safdar earlier today, terming the FIA’s request “unconstitutional” He was speaking to the media while a special court conducted hearing of the case inside Adiala jail premises The hearing was held amid stringent security outside the prison premises where Imran and Qureshi are currently incarcerated, Safdar stressed that if the trial is to be held, it must be held before the public The counsel said he spoke to the ousted premier briefly today and the latter prohibited his legal team from entering into any kind of deal A more detailed conversation will be held with him tomorrow (Thursday), said Safdar

Imran Khan’s attorney deems centur y-old in-camera trial law ‘unconstitutional’

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He further said that charges under the Official Secrets Act are “serious” The matter of the PTI chief ’s arrest in this case was being kept secret and now attempts are being made to keep the trial secret as well said Safdar adding that this could not be The defence counsel stressed that the matter is pending before the high court and his team would appeal to the trial court to adjourn proceedings till it is decided on T H E H E A R I N G: In a first a special court set up inside the premises of the Adiala jail heard the cypher case against Imran and Qureshi on Wednesday Judge Abul Hasnaat Zulqarnain presided over the proceedings and directed the prosecution to provide copies of the case challan to the accused who are both currently incarcerated in the same prison and were produced before the court by jail authorities at the next hearing on October 9 2023 At the outset of the hearing, the Federal Investigation Agency s prosecutor submitted a plea before the court seeking in-camera proceedings At this, the court observed that citizens were not present in the courtroom as it is since the trial was being conducted inside the prison Meanwhile the court rejected the defence counsels plea to stay the proceedings

The court observed that the bail pleas are yet to be heard in the high court and the same has reserved its verdict on the matter of in-camera proceedings There is no final decision by the high court hence the proceedings cannot be stayed remarked the court

ratio (CAR) became negative and had the highest amount of Non-Performing Loans (NPLs), no money was lost by the depositor

Rather, the bank, along with its assets, was sold to BIPL in a transaction that was facilitated by the SBP itself

However to ensure the safety of the deposits of the small depositors further in 2018 the SBP formed the DPC

The DPC is a wholly owned subsidiary of the SBP, and it performs 4 major functions These functions are deposit insurance, financial stability risk monitoring and resolution & liquidation

To this day deposit insurance by the government is not a facility that is a standard practice around the globe The Rs 500,000 mark is the upper limit of the deposits to which the DPC provides insurance, which are 94% of the country’s total bank deposits

It is important to note here that even the esteemed senators on the standing committee for finance had to be briefed about the distinction between endangered deposits and insured deposits, during the committee session Senate Committee also deliberates over high interest rates and poor human rights policies of banks

In the session the senate committee also deliberated on high interest and its impact on the business community

Senator Zeeshan Khanzada remarked

that the unreasonable increase in interest has made it difficult for businesses to sustain, let alone growth

Deputy Governor SBP, Dr Inayat Hussain, apprised that the interest rate has been increased to control the rising inflation and it has bear significant results in the past few months

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla posed a question as to how the interest can be effective in controlling the growing inflation and how much benefit had been achieved thus far

He said that 22 % interest rate would be beneficial in a developing country like Pakistan adding that the Chairman Committee said that Deposits have increased to Rs 26 trillion due to increase in interest rates and these Rs 26 trillion should have been in the market instead of deposits

Senator Dilwar interjected that Inflation rate reached a record level in the country and factories have been closed due to interest rate The Deputy Governor of the SBP claimed that the central bank has taken the measures due to which inflation has reduced Prices of food items have seen a decline in recent weeks adding that a decrease in sugar prices has been observed, he added Inflation rate had crossed a record 38 % but in August the inflation rate reached 27% added the Deputy Governor State Bank He further said that the reasons for the increase in inflation in September were ex-

plained in the monetary policy

The committee directed the State Bank to submit a comprehensive report in this regard

The Committee was also briefed on difficulties confronted by Political exposed persons (PEP) in availing the financial services Deputy Governor SBP stated that the system is in place wherein a focal person has been deputed in every branch to sort such issues, however, the system has failed to provide desirable results due to unknown reasons

The Committee recommended to sensitise all banks to make the dedicated PEP officers in all commercial banks designated on the direction of this committee earlier

Moreover, the Senate body discussed the causes of reported low scores of Pakistan’s banks in terms of their human rights policies Representatives from Fair Finance Pakistan (FFP) emphasised that Fair Finance is committed to ensure that financial institutions in Pakistan prioritise the social and environmental welfare of local communities They highlighted the need for Pakistan to embrace a Green Banking policy that incorporates environmental and social concerns into financial operations

The Deputy Governor of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) mentioned that SBP is making dedicated efforts to align the banks with international standards, aiming to im-

Exper ts underscore early detec tion at Breast Cancer Awareness Day in SKMCH&RC

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

A breast cancer awareness day was organised at Shaukat Khanum Memorial Cancer Hospital and Research Centre (SKMCH&RC), which was attended by and a large number of young students from different private and government colleges

On the occasion senior health experts spoke on a range of topics related to breast cancer awareness including common signs and symptoms, advancements in treatment, research and the importance of early detection of breast cancer

Gulnaz Ayaz a breast cancer

survivor who was diagnosed in 2014 shared her inspiring journey of fighting cancer and encouraged women to go to the right place for diagnosis and to take any unusual symptoms seriously

Dr Sadia Abdullah Consultant

Radiation Oncologist said that early detection is key to improving survival Take out 5 minutes for yourself and regularly perform breast

self-examination If you know your normal, then you will be able to detect any unusual signs and symptoms of breast cancer Watch out for lumps, changes in size shape skin nipple discharge even lumps in the armpit area and tenderness that is persistent Don t be shy about it talk to family members and seek medical attention

The condition may be benign or cancerous but it is important to get it checked to rule out cancer ” she said Dr Zeeshan Tariq Consultant Medical Oncologist emphasised that breast cancer is very common as every 8th woman in the world is expected to get it during their lifetime and in Pakistan, every 9th woman will get breast cancer during her lifetime Early detection is important and his message was breast self-examination for women under 40 years of age and mammography for women above 40 Dr Amina Khan, Consultant Surgical Oncologist, highlighted de-escalation of treatment due to advancement in science and medicine She said that 70% of breast can-

cer surgeries being done at Shaukat Khanum Hospitals are without amputation or breast organ removal, which is equally effective and saves patients from psychological trauma

Dr Usman Rashid Senior Research Scientist discussed important breakthroughs in breast cancer treatment including precision medicine, genetic testing and screening, targeted therapies, liquid biopsies, immunotherapies and artificial intelligence and machine learning

I n t h e e n d D r A a s i m Yu s u f C h i e f M e d i c a l O ff i c e r o f SKMCH&RC, thanked all the part i c i p a t i n g c o l l e g e s a n d s p o n s o r s w h o m a d e t h e e v e n t p o s s i b l e a n d e n c o u r a g e d s t u d e n t s t o t a k e t h e life-saving message about early det e c t i o n o f b r e a s t c a n c e r b a c k t o their communities He also said that two specialist cancer hospitals cannot manage the entire burden of disease in Pakistan and for this reason, the third Shaukat Khanum Hospital is being built in Karachi which is expected to open next year

‘remove army chief ’ , claims PTI’s Usman Dar

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Subsequently the brother-in-law of the PTI leader through his lawyer had filed a petition before the Sindh High Court and contended that Dar was taken away by some persons in plain clothes and travelling in vehicles having no registration numbers on Sept 9

A day earlier the SHC had directed the police to register a case if a cognisable offence was made out about Dar s alleged disappearance However, in a surprising turn of events today, Dar appeared in Dunya TV programme ‘On the Front’ today almost 20 days after reports of his abduction had surfaced

At the outset of the interview Dar was asked about the masterminds of the May 9 violence when protests erupted across the country following the first arrest of PTI Chairman Imran Khan I have always praised the army our martyrs and I always appreciated them On May 6 I had left to

visit my family I believe that the May 9 incident did not occur in a day, Dar responded He claimed that after the PTI was ousted through a no-confidence vote last year “two mindsets” emerged in the party One mindset included Azam Swati Hammad Azhar, Murad Saeed and Farrukh Habib Although my friends, they were supporting the politics of confrontation,” he alleged “Then there was a mindset which had people like Asad Umar Omar Ayub Ali Muhammad Ali Shafqat Mehmood and I who were talking about reconciliation with the army Dar clarified that while May 9 might appear to be a specific date, the circumstances leading to the riots had been brewing and could have erupted at any time During PTI meetings discussions revolved around the potential targeting of state institutions, with Dar asserting that Imran endorsed this stance He stated, “There were talks about the possibility of attacking state institutions in the event

of Imran s arrest and we foresaw Imran s detention, which ultimately occurred on May 9

When questioned about his willingness to testify against Imran in court he responded “I am prepared to appear in court and evaluate the situation He observed that the lives of PTI workers underwent significant changes following the May 9 incident

In response to a query regarding responsibility for the present state of affairs Dar attributed the current situation to Imran Khan s decisions emphasising that the forthcoming elections would determine the direction of the party

He commented, The governments in two provinces were also dissolved; had they remained in power the events of May 9 might not have occurred He expressed that he initially viewed PTI as a platform for clean politics However, he lamented that after May 9, it had become a “disgraceful blemish” that would take considerable time to erase

Pakistan tightens control around Afghan Transit Trade; but why now?

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Recently, the Ministry of Commerce has asked FBR to take measures regarding smuggling-prone items imported by Afghanistan in transit through Pakistan

It was noted that due to a low amount of custom duties in Afghanistan and a restriction on the import of certain items in Pakistan, businessmen from both countries were colluding to illegally benefit from the transit

The phenomenon of arbitrage because of the lower custom duties of Afghanistan is not new to Pakistan Various studies, including reports from the FBR itself have pointed out the rampant smuggling occurring through this channel However, as reported by media sources an ultimate step has been taken only after the recent collaboration between the civil and military leadership under SIFC

While the aforementioned reason is one

reason for Pakistan to take these steps there have been other more urgent reasons to cater to these problems

One of these reasons is that during the recent regime of restricted imports, and a balance of payments crisis, the effect of this smuggling became too obvious According to the Ministry of Commerce the volume of Afghan Transit Trade (forward) via Pakistan increased by an abnormal amount of 67% during FY 2022-23 to US $ 6 71 billion from US $ 4 016 billion during FY 2021-22

The figure is strange because this rise in imports of Afghanistan is neither plausible nor understandable Keeping in view its limited exports and limited funding sources especially after the imposition of multiple types of sanctions on the interim Afghanistan government, the country has suffered an economic crisis This has caused both its GDP and aggregate demand to fall On top of that Afghanistan has had a growing trade deficit in the same period a fact that does not reconcile with an increase in

imports that too of more than 50%

A detailed comparative analysis of the major forward Afghan transit trade items of the previous two years gives a more believable explanation The growth of transit import through Pakistan can be attributed to low volume of imports by Pakistan of the very items that were being “imported to Afghanistan Why was Pakistan importing a lower amount of these goods?

The step was taken last year in an attempt to restrain the import of non-essential and luxury goods to improve Pakistan’s current account deficit This means that the substantial increase in incidence of smuggling of these items has not only caused loss of revenue for Pakistan but has also rendered the import curtailment measures of the government ineffective It has also curtailed legal business revenue and caused injury to the domestic industry With the balance of payments crises and looming danger of defaulting on its debt

prove the well-being of individuals

While deliberating on massive money laundering by solar panel importers, Member Customs apprised that seven companies that have been identified which were involved in money laundering and six FIRs have also been registered against them

Senator Saleem Mandviwalla remarked that Solar panel importers had succeeded in laundering 69 Billion Rupees in the last five years but the FBR didn’t notice anything suspicious He said that 25 Billion rupees were deposited in two different accounts without facing any queries He directed the FBR to conduct an inquiry of the matter and submit its report before the committee

Furthermore, the senate committee has taken up the matter of reportedly Rs 5 billion fraud in Bank Al-Habib Faisalabad

Dr Inayat Hussain Deputy Governor SBP apprised that the incident resulted due to uncertain mutual trust between the bank officials and the aggrieved party which forced the aggrieved party to perform their transactions outside the place of business

The SBP is in coordination with both the parties and the matter will be resolved soon The Committee directed the SBP to start an awareness campaign stating that Don t Perform Transactions with Banks outside the Banks so that any future incidents could be avoided

Pakistan buys first LNG spot cargo since 2022

CONTINUED FROM PAGE

Once self-sufficient in natural gas, owing to ample domestic reserves and low cost of production Pakistan is expected to become more dependent on imports as indigenous supplies decline The Oil & Gas Regulatory Authority estimates that Pakistan currently suffers from a gas deficit of about 38-40 billion cubic metres (bcm), which could climb to as high as 70 bcm within the next decade if development of infrastructure continues to lag behind Pakistan began importing LNG for the first time in 2015 following the inauguration of its first LNG import terminal Engro LNG in March 2015 According to forecasts, Pakistan s LNG imports are set to see a near 60% increase over the next decade Pakistan currently has access to LNG at approximately $11-$12 per mmbtu through its long-term contracts which include agreements with Qatar Energy Qatargas II T1 and a recent agreement with Azerbaijan Nonetheless Pakistan has not shied away from the spot market

According to data provided by the International Group of Liquefied Natural Gas Importers, Pakistan has obtained LNG cargoes from the spot market from Egypt Malaysia Oman Qatar the UAE and the USA The cancellation of these cargoes by PLL would highlight the pressing need for Pakistan to reevaluate its energy strategy However, we re still on the hunt for a second cargo Will we buy the second cargo from the spot market too then?

The short answer is that no one knows Azerbaijan seems to be the most plausible option Earlier this year, in June, Pakistan inked an agreement with Azerbaijan According to the agreement Azerbaijan would offer 12 low-cost LNG cargoes to Pakistan on flexible terms for a span of one year Crucially Pakistan has the prerogative to decline any offered cargo without incurring any penalties

Can we anticipate them to undercut the rate Trafigura proposed for the second cargo?

Perhaps, but there are no guarantees “The deal with Azerbaijan is a framework agreement without any price Moreover it is a governmentto-government arrangement whereas this tender is a market reality I doubt Azerbaijan would bid any lower if we approach them December is usually the peak season for the spot price, Karim elucidates

May 9 attacks orchestrated to

Jo Meray Bas Main Hai?

There is a lot within reach of the CM if he desires to serve instead of scoring publicity points

TH E Election Commission of Pakistan is still neither giving an election date itself nor allowing anyone else to do so, but it seems that the parties have switched to election mode and have started campaigning The PML(N) is apparently first out of the blocks with a bustle of activity centred around the planned return of party supremo Mian Nawaz Sharif to Pakistan and the grand reception he is to be given Just as an example of how reception activity translates into electoral the appointment of new entrant Bashir Memon the former FIA DG, has been followed at once by his appointment as convener of the Sindh reception which s expected to translate into his becoming provincial chief in time for the election At the same time it is a golden opportunity to touch base with ticket aspirants and local party organizations At the same time the party lacks a single overarching narrative on which to appeal to the voter Mian Nawaz tried to develop one by promising the accountability of those who had overthrown him, but that was hastily abandoned indicating one of the major fault lines within the party, between Mian Nawaz who wants to pursue the anti-Army narrative of the past and his brother Mian Shehbaz, who would like to continue the reconciliatory policy of the present

Meanwhile, the party which originated that policy, the PPP faces problems of its own While it remains secure in interior Sindh, it does not seem to have its old appeal in the rest of the country In 2018 its voters in Punjab turned to the PTI It no longer seems certain that that option remains not with the PTI lacking apparently the ability to fight an election after May 9, when its reaction to leader Imran Khan’s first arrest led it into shooting itself in the foot Apart from the loss of Mr Khan, its main campaigner the second-tier leadership is either behind bars, or on the run The PTI was never very strong on organisation but now it seems in so much shambles that it is in no shape to contest a general election

The smaller parties are not in the best of shape and are restricted to their pockets of influence No party is at the kind of stage the PTI was in after 2013: about to break out onto the national scene They are still aspiring to join whichever party wins as part of a ruling coalition All of these doubts can only be resolved by elections Instead of events convincing the caretakers that the best they can do is leave after holding elections, they are causing the very uncertainty the elections ae supposed to end by not even giving a date

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

MO H S I N N A Q V I the caretaker Punjab Chief Minister while visiting the patients whom a recent injection caused to go blind said, Jo Meray Bas Main Hai (What is within my reach) I will do for you ” The big question is; what is within his reach? As chief executive of the largest province of the country he must know the limitless powers he enjoys After the Chief of Army Staff the CM Punjab is the most important position in the land of the pure It was from this platform that Nawaz Sharif (NS) cornered Benazir Bhutto, the elected Prime Minister of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan

As COAS, Gen Qamar Bajwa pushed for his man to occupy this coveted slot of unlimited powers On the PM refusing he was very upset and turned against him The Sharif family has succeeded in monopolizing this position for several terms with disastrous consequences for the people BB, the most popular leader of her times, was deliberately kept away from this power base, resulting in the demise of her party in Punjab The PPP has now been reduced to a provincial political force losing its power base in Lahore the city of its birth In the first free and fair elections in 1970 it won big in the provincial metropolis Bhutto desired to be buried here the murder charge against him was also framed right here It was the Lahore High Court that sent him to the gallows

Personally I have interfaced with provincial bureaucracies across the board and find Punjab to be the worst while Azad Jammu and Kashmir stands out as the best when it comes to public welfare The CM House in Punjab is located in the GOR1 where public access is controlled No one can enter the cordoned area without permission

The diary system is non-functional Letters are neither acknowledged nor answered; at best the office acts as a post office that forwards complaints to the relevant departments that too after several reminders and then passes on the replies with no questions asked There are no reports or reviews bureaucratic abuse is rampant, with no relief to the public There is hardly any monitoring of vital departments Even office hours are not kept Building roads and underpasses is not enough Public needs relief not excuses

Keeping the Mughal traditions of Darbar the colonists build Darbar Halls in the princely residences of the Governors of the Raj The Governor s House Lahore also has one such hall which is now used for seminars and meetings but with no public contact I have had the opportunity of attending several functions in this beautiful wood-panelled structure but the last Darbar was perhaps held in the 1970s

As student leaders we demanded a change of the summer vacation schedule from July-August-September to June-July-August as the weather pattern had changed with an early onset of summers On refusal by the university administration we marched to the Governor s House The gates were kept open by Mustafa Khar

The next day we were invited to the Darbar Hall where the Vice Chancellor of Punjab University was also present While we sat on one side of the table the VC and his team were on the opposite side with Khar Sahibb at the head After a brief discussion in the presence of the Chancellor the schedule was changed which is still in vogue till today

Perhaps Comrade Muhammad Hanif Ramay was the last real CM who served his province well The CM Complaint Cell was very effective in resolving public complaints Letters were duly acknowledged with follow-up action Every ministry had visiting hours which had to be kept There was free access to the Civil Secretariat While the CM lived in GOR 1 his office was located inside the Secretariat Referrals to ministries were easy, and the public interest was well served As

an active artist and journalist he served the sector well Arts Councils were built all over the province at the tehsil level As a tribute to his services his Namaza-e-Janaza was held at the Art s Council Complex on the Mall

The rampant abuse of human rights and executive highhandedness in the largest province of the country calls for major review and action, not helplessness like; “ Jo Meray Bus Main Hai “

To start with the CM and Chief Secretary (CS) should have offices in the Secretariat with free access to the public The diary system of mail should be restored and strictly followed Heads of department should monitor public complaints together with follow-up action till resolution Passing the buck around does not get the job done

As CM Mohsin Naqvi is an outsider who should side with the public and watch its interests not go along with the bureaucratic tide set by the Sharifs due to their long stints in power in the province The interim set-up is expected to be neutral, for which complete neutrality of the administrative set-up is an essential requirement, which currently it is not There is a famous saying; ‘An ounce of prevention is better than a pound of cure’ Focus should shift towards preventive measures to avoid surprises and untoward events which are avoidable by timely action

Firing stationmasters will not fix the Railway network nor will the suspension of medical superintendents improve the Healthcare system Reforms followed by monitoring is the best way forward which is so far missing The administrative machinery in Punjab needs lubrication and oil change to start running again as it was under Comrade Ramay the last real CM of the province

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

Firing station masters will not fix the Railway network nor will the suspension of medical superintendents improve Healthcare system Reforms followed by monitoring is the best way forward which is so far missing The administrative machinery in Punjab needs lubrication and oil change to star t running again as it was under Comrade Ramay, the last real CM of the province

E d i t o r ’ s m a i l

research, and strong defence It introduces numerous businesses and technology, such as Waze, which was later acquired by Google

Labour reforms in need of direction

IN 1948 Israel was established in Palestine, and Arab countries refused to recognize the new Jewish state However, the USA recognized the state and provided $150 billion in aid, primarily in defence aid The USA still supports Israel’s military attacks on Palestine In 2017 the Trump Administration recognized Jerusalem as Israel s capital and moved its embassy to Jerusalem This action sparked a new Middle East conflict, and the US has vetoed at least 53 UN Security Council resolutions against Israel since 1972 Today relations between countries are bilateral and economic and defence relations depend on mutual benefit and loss

The USA was the first country to recognize Israel, but its policy towards Israel was not always clear For example, in the first Arab-Israel war, the US did not directly participate in ceasefire negotiations, hoping that instability in the Middle East would not upset the balance of power between itself and the USSR In 1956 Israel attacked Egypt France and Great Britain but the USA did not support Israel due to the Suez Canal nationalization The US threatened the aggressor countries with economic sanctions if they didn’t withdraw their troops leading to the withdrawal of British and French forces Israel eventually relinquished control of the Suez Canal to Egypt

The USA has opposed Israel s secret nuclear programme, but allowed it to set up a nuclear facility with France s help However, the Israeli government resisted this for years and prevented US nuclear inspectors from fully inspecting the site Since the establishment of Israel the USA and other countries have provided loans and financial aid to Israel but most of the aid was given to restore the destruction of war Over time, US-Israel relations have strengthened, and the scope of aid expanded to include economic and military aid In 1973, the US Congress approved $2 2 billion in emergency financial aid to Israel while the Arab countries also stopped oil supply to countries supported by Israel including the USA Great Britain, Canada, Holland, and Japan

The relationship between the US and Israel has been central to US-American policy for nearly five decades

After World War 2 the Middle East gained special status for world powers like the US and USSR due to its oil reserves and strategic waterways like the Suez Canal America needed a powerful ally to fill the void, and US-Israel relations entered a new era in 1967 when Israel defeated Egypt, Syria, and Jordan This victory made Israel a strong military power in the Mid-

dle East As the Cold War between the USA and the USSR continued US policymakers saw Israel as a strategic partner to counter Soviet influence in the Middle East The USA used diplomatic and military aid to entrench Israel in the anti-Soviet bloc and worked to prevent aggression and military actions against Israel by Arab countries The USA aimed to oppose the Soviet bloc and establish an American bloc in the form of a strong government of Israel accelerating US-Israel relations US support for Israel is not solely based on strategic issues or foreign policy interests It is a result of the long-standing friendship between the USA and Israel, as seen in the presidential election campaign After World War 2 public opinion softened towards Jews with over six million living in the USA Despite being less than two percent of the population most Jews are financially stable and influential in business, education, research, and politics

The Jewish community has provided numerous scientists, researchers, entrepreneurs, and celebrities such as Albert Einstein Nils Bohr and Calvin Klein which significantly shapes public opinion in favour of Jews and Israel

Israel is a powerful state with advanced technology, extensive production, education,

This helps the USA maintain financial benefits and also control over advanced technology Israel also assists the USA in countering security threats shares intelligence on terrorism nuclear proliferation and Middle East politics and develops the latest military technology, such as the Arrow-3 missile defence system and the David sling missile system

The US-Israel relationship is influenced by the strong Jewish lobby and influential organizations like the American-Israel Public Affairs Committee These groups influence US Jews and Christian churches through grassroots organizations and fundraising, making them politically engaged and wellrepresented in major political parties, including Democrats and Republicans Both groups are Pro-Israeli

The USA and Israel are both close to each other The USA provides diplomatic and financial aid to Israel, on the other hand, Israel is protecting the US interest in the Middle East The common interest of Israel and the USA lies in the domains of economics defence research and the business field due to which a friendly relationship between the two also exists

The writer is an advocate

The USA and Israel are both close to each other The USA provides diplomatic and financial aid to Israel, on the other hand, Israel is protecting the US interest in the Middle East The common interest of Israel and the USA lies in the domains of economics, defence, research, and the business field, due to which a friendly relationship between the two also exists

T H E working class is the backbone of the country’s industrial and economic development zs well as productivity growth and prosperity Social and economic wellbeing of the workers should be one of the principal objectives of any government but is that the case in Pakistan? Well the answer is too obvious to be stated Is it not?

A labour policy defines the funda-mental approach of the government towards peaceful industrial relations and protection of workers rights, and to provide guidance to the adminis-trative, legislative and judicial actions of the government

Since gaining independence six labour policies have so far been announced by the government All these labour polices basically laid down the parameters for the growth of trade unionism the protection of workers rights the settlement of industrial disputes and redressal of workers grievances The first labour policy was presented by the then Labour Minister Dr Abdul Motaleb Malik in 1955, the second was introduced in 1959 by Lt-Gen Wajid Ali Burki, Labour Minister in the Ayub Khan government The third labour policy announ-cement was made in May 1969 by Air Marshal Nur Khan Deputy Martial Law Administrator under another military regime The fourth policy was announced by Civilian Chief Martial Law Adminis-trator Zulfikar Ali Bhutto in 1972 after the Pakistan People s Party (PPP) came to power It was a comprehensive policy that was based on 23 points outlining several measures for the welfare and protection of the basic rights of the working class

Moving on, the fifth labour policy was announced in 2002 by the then Minister for Labour Umar Asghar Khan but this policy could not make much headway for a variety of reasons The sixth and the last labour policy was announced by Prime Minister Yousuf Raza Gilani in 2010

Unfortunately these labour policies have failed to achieve their objectives After the 18th Amendment to the Constitution in April 2010, the labour subject was abolished in the federal concurrent list and it was devolved to the provinces However due to lack of interest required machinery effective systems and resources no concrete steps could be taken by the provinces to protect the fundamental rights of the working class As we stand there is no labour policy in the country for the last more than 13 years Before the 18th Amendment, the federal government used to regularly conduct all-Pakistan tripartite labour conferences to resolve issues related to industrial relations faced by the working class, comprising represen-tatives of the government, employers and workers It is a fact that despite all the tall claims by the politicians the fundamental rights of the working class have been irreparably damaged as a result of the said consitutional amendment

According to the Federal Bureau of Statistics (FBS) Pakistan s current workforce stands at 78 million It is a pity that even after 76 years and despite the six labour policies announced by a variety of governments and a number of existing labour laws, the majority of the working class is still deprived of its fundamental rights, the United Nations Universal Declaration of Human Rights and various International Labour Organisation (ILO) conventions

Such rights include guarantee of employment decent work freedom of association right to collective bargaining daily eight-hour work fair wages, overtime for extra work, leaves, profit bonus, group insurance, provident fund, gratuity, compensation, health and safety at workplace, healthcare for self and families and cash benefits under social security schemes, children’s education, residential grant, dowry grant, death grant and other facilities under workers welfare fund and social security pension Due to the present political and economic crisis mounting inflation has affected the working class in the most severe and serious of manners In order to provide immediate relief to the downtrodden the country definitely needs labour reforms across the board, and that is only possible through a comprehensive national labour policy

y d o e s t h e U S A b l i n d l y

s e f u l n e s s b e y o n d i m a g i n a t i o n

munication to suit the context can improve the effectiveness of our message

h FEEDBACK: Giving and receiving feedback is an essential part of effective communication Constructive feedback helps individuals improve and being open to feedback from others can enhance our own communication skills

i CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Strong communication skills are crucial for resolving conflicts and disagreements The ability to express our concerns listen to others and work toward a mutually beneficial solution is key to conflict resolution

j CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: In a diverse world understanding and respecting cultural differences in communication styles is essential to avoid misunderstandings and promote effective cross-cultural communication

books and written materials more accessible to the masses This democratization of information had a profound impact on education culture and society

e TELECOMMUNICATION: The 19th and 20th centuries saw rapid advancements in telecommunication technologies including the telegraph telephone, and radio These innovations greatly increased the speed and reach of communication

f DIGITAL AGE: The late 20th and early 21st centuries have witnessed the digital revolution with the rise of the internet email social media and smartphones These technologies have transformed the way people communicate enabling instant global connections Thus, throughout history, effective communication has been a driving force behind human progress and civilization

C o m mu n i c a t i o n s k i l l s a r e a va l u a bl e a s s e t i n a l l a r e a s o f l i fe T h ey e n h a n c e o u r a b i l i t y t o c o n n e c t w i t h o t h e rs , r e s o l v e c o n f l i c t s , ex c e l i n o u r c a r e e r, a n d n av i g a t e s o c i a l s i t u a t i o n s w i t h c o n f i d e n c e a n d e f fe c t i v e n e s s

CO M M U N I C AT I O N skills are a set of abilities that enable individuals to convey information thoughts feelings and ideas effectively to others Effective communication is a fundamental skill in personal, professional, and social contexts, as it plays a crucial role in building relationships, resolving conflicts, and achieving many goals These goals whose aspects include:

a VERBAL COMMUNICATION: This involves using spoken words to convey messages It includes not only what you say but also how you say it including tone, pitch, volume, and pace Clear and articulate verbal communication is essential for being understood

b NONVERBAL COMMUNICATION: Nonverbal cues such as body language facial expressions gestures and eye contact play a significant role in communication They can reinforce or contradict verbal messages

c LISTENING: Effective communication is a twoway process, and active listening is a crucial component This involves not only hearing the words spoken but also understanding the message asking clarifying questions and showing empathy

d WRITTEN COMMUNICATION: Written communication skills are vital for various contexts including emails, reports, letters, and text messages

Clarity, grammar, and formatting are important in conveying ideas accurately

e EMPATHY: Understanding and empathizing with the emotions and perspectives of others is a critical aspect of effective communication It helps build trust and rapport with others and is essential for resolving conflicts

f CLARITY AND CONCISENESS: Communicating clearly and concisely ensures that your message is easily understood and reduces the likelihood of misunderstandings or misinterpretations

g ADAPTABILITY: Being able to adapt one s communication style to different audiences and situations is important Whether we are talking to a colleague, a client, or a friend, tailoring your com-

k ASSERTIVENESS: Being assertive means expressing our thoughts needs and feelings while respecting the rights and opinions of others It strikes a balance between passive and aggressive communication

C o m m u n i c a t i o n s k i l l s h a v e b e e n i n t e g r a l t o human society for millennia, evolving alongside the d e v e l o p m e n t o f l a n g u a g e a n d c u l t u r e I t s h i s t o r i c a l background include:

a EVOLUTION OF LANGUAGE: Language in the form of spoken and written communication has been a hallmark of human evolution It allowed early humans to share knowledge, coordinate activities, and build communities

b ORAL TRADITION: Before the advent of writing oral communication was the primary means of transmitting knowledge and stories from one generation to the next Oral traditions including storytelling and song, played a vital role in preserving cultural heritage

c WRITTEN LANGUAGE: The invention of writing systems, such as cuneiform, hieroglyphics, and later alphabets marked a significant advancement in communication Writing enabled the recording of information and the spread of ideas across time and space

d PRINT COMMUNICATION: The invention of the printing press by Johannes Gutenberg in the 15th century revolutionized communication by making

C o m mu n i c a t i o n s k i l l s o f fe r a w i d e r a n g e o f b e n e f i t s i n b o t h p e rs o n a l a n d p ro fe s s i o n a l a s p e c t s o f l i fe D ev e l o p i n g a n d h o n i n g t h e s e s k i l l s c a n s i g n i f i c a n t ly e n h a n c e o u r a b i l i t y t o i n t e r a c t w i t h o t h e rs a n d a ch i ev e o u r g o a l s

O z e m p i c c u t s a l c o h o l c r a v i n g s .

L i q u o r c o m p a n i e s a r e n ’ t r e a d y

TH E alcohol industry has been thriving despite a streak of threats: the legalization of marijuana, a trade war with China that has hampered U S exports the rise of the sober-curious movement Now a new risk one few investors or companies are publicly acknowledging could pressure sales: weight loss drugs Eli Lilly & Co s Mounjaro and Novo Nordisk’s Ozempic and Wegovy have gained popularity as a fast way to lose weight thanks to celebrities such as Khloe Kardashian and Elon Musk Most people who take GLPs shed at least 5% of their body weight and depending on the therapy, more than half can lose as much as 20% Newer drugs promise to push those numbers even higher

But they don’t only curb cravings for food

For some these new weightloss drugs also seem to dampen the rewards of addictive substances whether that s nicotine, opioids or alcohol America s longstanding favorite vice

Scientists have shown that rats, mice and monkeys drink less when given certain GLP1 therapies and are studying whether the same effect can be seen in humans and if so understand its scope

Early readings from Wall Street analysts suggest that could have a dramatic impact on the alcohol industry

Weight loss drugs may not carry the same threat to the alcohol industry as say Prohibition but companies and investors would be wise to start strategizing about how they will adapt as more people begin to take the drugs

A survey conducted by Morgan Stanley’s AlphaWise research unit found that people consumed 62% less alcohol while taking weight loss drugs

Among those consuming less 22% said they stopped drinking alcohol entirely Meanwhile, the firm expects the number of people taking obesity drugs to grow nearly fivefold over the next 10 years to about 7% of the U S population or 24 million people That’s roughly the size of Texas

Communication skills offer a wide range of benefits in both personal and professional aspects of life Developing and honing these skills can significantly enhance our ability to interact with others and achieve our goals

The key benefits of strong communication skills are:

a EFFECTIVE RELATIONSHIP BUILDING:

Good communication is the foundation of healthy relationships whether they are personal or professional It helps build trust rapport and understanding between individuals

b CONFLICT RESOLUTION: Communication skills enable us to address conflicts and disagreements in a constructive manner We can express our concerns, listen actively to others, and work toward mutually agreeable solutions

c IMPROVED PERSONAL LIFE: Effective communication fosters better connections with family and friends leading to more fulfilling personal relationships It allows us to express emotions, share experiences, and support one another

d CAREER ADVANCEMENT: In the workplace, strong communication skills are highly valued They are crucial for collaboration teamwork leadership and effective management Effective communication can lead to career advancement and increased opportunities

e ENHANCED LEADERSHIP: Effective leaders are skilled communicators They can inspire, motivate, and guide their teams with clear and persuasive

communication f INCREASED PRODUCTIVITY: Clear and concise communication in the workplace can reduce misunderstandings and errors, leading to increased productivity and efficiency

g CUSTOMER SATISFACTION: Businesses that prioritize good communication with their customers often enjoy higher customer satisfaction rates Clear communication helps address customer inquiries resolve issues and build brand loyalty

h BETTER PROBLEM-SOLVING: Effective communication is essential for identifying problems, brainstorming solutions, and implementing them successfully It encourages open dialogue and the exchange of ideas i EMOTIONAL INTELLIGENCE: Communication skills are closely tied to emotional intelligence which involves understanding and managing one s own emotions and those of others Emotionally intelligent individuals can navigate social situations more effectively j POSITIVE INFLUENCE: Strong communicators can influence and persuade others more effectively Whether in negotiations sales or public speaking effective communication helps convey ideas convincingly k PERSONAL GROWTH: Developing communication skills can lead to personal growth and selfawareness It allows us to articulate our thoughts and goals more clearly facilitating self-improvement l CULTURAL SENSITIVITY: Effective communication fosters cultural sensitivity and the ability to interact respectfully with people from diverse backgrounds m ACADEMIC SUCCESS: Strong communication skills are essential for academic success They enable students to participate in discussions, express their ideas clearly in essays and presentations and collaborate on group projects Communication skills are a valuable asset in all areas of life They enhance our ability to connect with others, resolve conflicts, excel in our career, and navigate social situations with confidence and effectiveness

The writer is a Youth Motivator presently Professor of Political Science along with Dean Student’s Welfare (DSW) at B N Mandal University Madhepura (Bihar) India His 25 books published in addition to about 1000 articles in national and international journals and daily newspapers from 25 foreign countries

No one has a true handle yet on the long-term impac t of these drugs

sumption from weight loss drugs For perspective the U S alcohol industry amounted to $197 billion in 2022 according to market intelligence firm IWSR A reduction of almost 2% could amount to a $3 5 billion loss in sales

To be fair, those are just estimates

No one has a true handle yet on the long-term impact of these drugs But obesity medicine specialists say many patients who take them mention an aversion to alcohol And even those who still drink socially consume a much more modest amount The desire simply isn’t there Moreover the feeling of fullness after say one beer makes a second round unappealing

Take the experience of Shannon Lee, an Oregon-based digital marketing professional who says that before going on Mounjaro, she’d drink about four glasses of wine or beer each week But any craving for alcohol pretty much vanished after her very first dose and she can count on two hands the number of drinks she s had in her 15 or so months on the drug

It s rendered me speechless, she says I looked forward to drinking beer, going out to dinner with friends and having a glass of wine

Now I’m the designated driver because I just have no interest in it

That could create a strong draw for people trying to manage their weight while also recognizing they ve slid into unhealthy drinking habits Recent data show women in midlife are increasingly struggling with alcohol; meanwhile a recent poll by KFF showed that the same group is more aware of and more interested in trying GLP1s than men

The potential threat of weight loss drugs to alcohol demand comes as the alcohol industry is flying high on pandemic-driven growth and renewed interest in premium spirits wine and beer

Brown Forman which produces spirits including Jack Daniels whiskey Herradura tequila and Woodford Reserve bourbon, increased its annual revenues between 2019 to 2023 by 27% to $4 2 billion

In the last four

years London-based spirits company

Diageo has seen its tequila business quadruple surpassing its vodka sales

Chief Executive Officer Lavanya Chandrashekar told investors in an earnings call earlier this month

Alcohol companies should redouble their efforts to test out new products as consumers become more mindful of health Nearly every large company has dabbled with nonalcoholic or low-calorie options such as Boston Beer Company s low-calorie

Truly Hard Seltzer or Molson Coors’ new mocktail line Roxie The dawn of the Ozempic era should only light the fire under them to bulk up their healthconscious offerings faster There are some caveats For starters, many forecasts optimistically assume significant and lasting uptake of the drugs While it’s true GLP1s must be taken chronically for maintenance a major unknown is whether people are willing or can afford to be on them for life or even for more than a year or two Insurance coverage for the treatments has been spotty and while increasing evidence of their health benefits could open up access for some consistent and affordable access will remain a near-term barrier

And these drugs won t necessarily change the way people eat or drink, but the amount they eat and drink For food and alcohol companies, that might mean doubling down on premiumization charging more for a higher quality product in a smaller container

Certainly alcohol companies aren t facing a cliff Even though consumers are increasingly moderating their alcohol, they re choosing low-alcohol drinks over nonalcoholic ones, according to IWSR Alcohol will likely continue to be a part of ritual gatherings for meals and time together with friends and family It just might play a smaller part

Lisa Jarvis and Leticia Miranda are Bloomberg Opinion columnists

NEW YORK POST

G l e n n H R e y n o l d s

IF they don t want you to know things, it s likely those things don t make them look good That rule applies to basically every organization from the federal government to universities to corporations And to the Big Tech corporations testifying in the federal government s antitrust suit against Google the first big monopoly trial in a quarter-century Google has spent the last couple of decades hoovering up everyone’s private information for its own use, but it wants to make sure the public knows as little as possible about what it’s doing to the public

Normally in litigation like this all sorts of information about the defendant s business practices would come out Google is doing its best to see that none does So what s Google hiding?

What little has leaked looks embarrassing, at the least One document the company unsuccessfully tried to keep behind closed doors Judge Amit Mehta made it public involved a Google vice president bragging about how addictive the search giant s services are, comparing them to tobacco and illicit drugs The executive, Michael Roszak said that means Google is free to “mostly ignore the demand side” i e consumers in favor of the supply side of advertisers ad formats and sales

In short Google s products are by design so addictive that it can exploit its users for economic gain without worrying about what the users themselves actually want or need (As a consumer of Google’s steadily worsening products over the past decade or so this claim is highly plausible ) Google now says Roszak s views don t reflect the company s but it d pretty much have to say that, wouldn t it?

This could prove damning in another lawsuit the feds have filed against Google that could go to trial next year on its online-advertising monopoly What else is being hidden? We don’t know because well it s being hidden Now every business has trade secrets and federal rules allow courts to keep vital business matters under seal But this case has angered experts in the field by allowing much more secrecy than in previous antitrust cases against Big Tech companies Federal antitrust suits against AT&T IBM and Microsoft all involved confidential

data But as numerous experts interviewed for a recent New York Times story indicated this case departs from previous standards The secrecy surrounding the proceedings is unprecedented in antitrust trials, Carnegie Mellon professor Diane Rulke declared, and the Times’ “other antitrust experts” also “described the proceedings as unusually opaque adding that the government s antitrust case against Microsoft more than 24 years ago was far more accessible to the public and the press One of secrecy s more destructive aspects is it invites speculation about what s being kept secret One possibility is that a more open approach would reveal just how closely Big Tech firms like Google have been working with the federal government to shape public opinion and even influence elections (Apple and Microsoft have joined Google in trying to keep this litigation under wraps )

Former Popular Mechanics editor and expert conspiracy-theory debunker James Meigs notes in City Journal this is no conspiracy theory: Newly released documents show White House and Centers for Disease Control and Prevention officials working hand in hand with tech companies and social-media platforms to censor views and reports about COVID and its origins that turn out to have been true Google’s video platform YouTube even removed a “roundtable discussion in which Florida Gov Ron DeSantis discussed COVID policy with a group of scientists including Stanford s Jay Bhattacharya

The sin: Some experts doubted the benefits of masks for small children

The Fifth Circuit Court of Appeals recently found that government officials engaged in an extensive program of coercion to censor search and social-media results And this paper s reporting on Hunter Biden s laptop just before the 2020 election was censored across many platforms Twitter (now X) didn t even allow users to share links to it via direct message

Of course, perhaps Google is just embarrassed about things it does to make its products addictive as Roszak bragged; that’s the sort of thing that got tobacco companies in trouble after all And there s certainly plenty of that going on in the tech sphere As I wrote in my book The Social Media Upheaval, not only do tech firms go out of their way to make their products addictive, one of the companies consulting on those techniques is actually called Dopamine Labs Well sunlight is the best disinfectant

Over the past few years huge tech companies like Google have assumed enormous economic and political power, often working hand-in-glove with unelected bureaucrats to suppress political opposition Antitrust law is, at core about unwarranted power and the American public deserves to know how those companies got that power and what they re doing with it Judge Mehta let the sun shine

Glenn Harlan Reynolds is a professor of law at the University of Tennessee and founder of the InstaPundit com blog

W h a t i s G o o g l e h i d i n g i n i t s u n p r e c e d e n t e d l y s e c r e t a n t i t r u s t t r i a l ?

Thursday 5 October 2023 | K AR ACHI 06 NEWS

Q U A N T U M D O T S T H AT B R I N G C O LO U R T O L E D L I G H T S

STOCKHOLM Ag e N c e s

CIENTISTS Moungi Bawendi

S

The prize-awarding academy said the scientists had added colour to nanotechnology – when matter is used on an atomic or molecular level in manufacturing – and that their findings held great potential in many fields

“Researchers believe that in the future they could contribute to flexible electronics tiny sensors thinner solar cells and encrypted quantum communication the academy said in a statement

The more than century-old prize is awarded by the Royal Swedish Academy of Sciences and is worth 11 million Swedish crowns ($1 million)

Earlier on Wednesday the academy appeared to have inadvertently published the names of the three scientists before the official announcement

Asked during a press conference how he felt to hear news of his award Bawendi said by phone from the United States: very surprised, sleepy, shocked, unexpected and very honoured ”

Louis Brus and Alexei Ekimov won the 2023 Nobel Prize in Chemistry for their discovery of clusters of atoms known as quantum dots, now used to create colour in flat screens, light emitting diode (LED) lamps and devices that help surgeons see blood vessels in tumoursOne of the “fascinating and unusual properties of quantum dots is that they create different colour lights depending on the particle size while keeping the atomic structure unchanged, said Johan Aqvist, Chair of the Nobel Committee for Chemistry

“There’s a lot of work that’s still being heavily researched on other potential applications including catalysis and quantum effects of all sorts Bawendi told a news conference It s a very exciting area of research I m sure something really interesting is going to come out this

In the early 1980s, Ekimov discovered that the colour of glass changes with the size of copper chloride molecules contained in it and that sub-atomic forces were at play A few years later Brus made similar ground-breaking discoveries on the colour of fluids In 1993, Bawendi revolutionised the production of quantum dots, made up of clusters ranging from a few hundred to a few thousand atoms

Bawendi is a professor at the Massachusetts Institute of Technology (MIT) Brus is professor emeritus at Columbia University and Ekimov works for Nanocrystals Tech-

nology Inc Brus was hired by AT&T Bell Labs in 1972 where he spent 23 years devoting much of the time to studying nanocrystals Bawendi was born in Paris and grew up in France, Tunisia, and the US Bawendi did his postdoctoral research under Brus then joined MIT in 1990 and became professor in 1996 Ekimov was born in the Soviet Union worked for the Vavilov State Optical Institute before moving to the United

States In 1999 Ekimov was named chief scientist at Nanocrystals Technology Inc

T h e t h i r d o f t h i s y e a r s c r o p o f awards, the chemistry Nobel follows those for medicine and physics announced earlier this week

Established in the will of Swedish dynamite inventor and chemist Alfred Nobel the prizes for achievements in science literature and peace have been awarded since 1901

K-Elec tric eyes $400m overseas funding to address growing energy demand

with a few interruptions primarily due to the world wars The economics prize is a later addition funded by the Swedish central bank While the chemistry awards are sometimes overshadowed by the physics prize and its famous winners such as Albert Einstein chemistry laureates include many scientific greats including radioactivity pioneer Ernest Rutherford and Marie Curie who also won the physics prize

PKR strengthens by Rs1.07 against USD in interbank trading

PR OFIT N e w s D e s k

K

PR OFIT M o N to r i N g D e s k

The Karachi-based power distributor is also seeking government approval for a substantial $2 billion capital expenditure plan spanning seven years This initiative aims to achieve key objectives, including raising renewable energy capacity to 30% by 2030, expanding overall generation capacity and reinforcing the power grid Furthermore with its monopoly in Karachi ending this year

K-Electric is

preparing for heightened competition The company is exploring options like acquiring minority stakes (below 20%) in new power plants to ensure a consistent electricity supply Additionally there are plans to convert fuel oil power plants to more sustainable coal-based operations according to CEO Moonis Abdullah Alvi These efforts respond to Pakistan s recent financial instability exacerbated by a fuel shortage following Russia s invasion of Ukraine, which sent energy prices surging and triggered nationwide protests due to increased household electricity rates K-Electric Ltd s proactive measures offer hope for addressing Pakistan’s energy challenges and steering towards a diversified and sustainable energy future amidst ongoing uncertainties

The Pakistani rupee continued its impressive run against the US dollar, registering a gain of 0 38% during Wednesday’s trading session in the interbank market At noon the rupee was trading at 284 65 against the US dollar marking an increase of Rs1 07 within the inter-bank market This follows a 0 36% appreciation on Tuesday when it settled at 285 72 The Pakistani rupee has also maintained its upward trajectory in the open market, with the gap between the interbank and open-market rates remaining within the limits set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) For customers the rupee was quoted at 282 for buying and 285 for selling purposes The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has played a significant role in this sustained appreciation Last month, the central bank implemented a series of “structural reforms” targeting exchange companies (ECs) to regulate and stabilise the currency exchange market reducing volatility The collaborative efforts of the SBP and the interim government have instilled confidence in the Pakistani rupee which has responded by appreciating consistently against the US dollar Data indicates that the Pakistani rupee continues to outperform most other world currencies on a daily basis, as many currencies continue to depreciate against the US dollar AR ACHI-BASED POWER DISTRIB UTOR IS ALSO SEEKING GOVERNMENT APPROVAL FOR A $2B C APITAL EXPENDITURE PL AN TO R AISE ITS RENE WABLE ENERGY C APACIT Y TO 30% BY 2030

No justication for PTI chief ’s in-camera trial as Cypher no more ‘secret ’: R aoof

ISLAMABAD s tA f f r e p o r t

Central Information Secretary Pakistan

Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Raoof Hasan has said that the Cypher had been declassified by the entire cabinet and the information contained in the communication could no longer be dubbed as secret ; therefore, there was no justification to hold in-camera trial of PTI Chairman in this fake and fabricated case

“If as is claimed unimpeachable evidence is available against the alleged criminals what are the prosecution and their patrons afraid of by conducting an open trial so that the people of this country could also ascertain the reality of this monstrous drama,” he questioned Raoof Hasan said that in-camera trial of PTI Chairman in the fake and fabricated Cypher case was brutal murder of

Dialogue, held in late September, the Chi-

BEIJING s tA f f c o r r e s p o N D e N t

The EU s anti-subsidy probe into Chinese new energy vehicles (NEV) is based on subjective assumptions, lacks sufficient evidence and goes against WTO rules, China s Ministry of Commerce (MOFCOM) said on Wednesday, responding to an EU decision to conduct the probe

We express strong dissatisfaction and firm opposition to the EU decision the MOFCOM said in a statement posted on its website on Wednesday China will closely follow Europe s investigative procedure and firmly safeguard the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese companies the MOFCOM said T h e E U r e q u i r e s n e g o t i a t i o n w i t h t h e C h i n e s e s i d e u n d e r e x t r e m e l y s h o r t n ot i c e a n d f a i l e d t o p r o v i d e e ff e c t i v e m a t er i a l s f o r n e g o t i a t i o n , w h i c h h a s s e r i o u s l y i n f r i n g e d C h i n a ’s r i g h t s , a c c o r d i n g t o t h e m i n i s t r y

nese side clearly stated that the EU s proposed probe is blatant protectionism and aimed at protecting the EU’s industry under the guise of “fair trade ” the moves of which will seriously disrupt and distort the global automotive industrial and supply chain of which the EU has a part and result in negative impacts on China-EU trade and economic ties

China urged the EU to exert caution in applying trade remedy measures considering the big picture of maintaining the stability of global industrial and supply chains and the China-EU comprehensive strategic partnership, the MOFCOM said The EU should encourage deepened cooperation in the new energy industry which has NEVs as one of its spearheads, and create a fair non-discriminatory and predictable market environment for the common development of the China-EU EV industry the MOFCOM said

In recent years, China s EV industry has

to its un-

and

justice The fact that the Cypher had been declassified by the entire cabinet is enough to drive a nail in the artificial balloon of this case as the information contained in the communication could no longer be dubbed as ‘secret’ after that,” he maintained He further stated “Yet the kangaroo trial has commenced because the agenda is to punish the one who resolutely defended Pakistan s right to safeguard its sovereignty and independence In the new parlance, such people are rendered liable for trial for treason ” “What disgrace, what utter sham! Beyond the immediate justice cannot be denied its ascendance It shall prevail much to the angst of the planners and perpetrators of this fraudulent enactment, he added Imran Khan shall rise Pakistan shall rise,” the PTI Information Secretary vowed

building up of a complete industrial and supply chain And Chinese EVs have been favored by consumers including those in the EU According to auto consultancy Inovev, 8 percent of new EVs sold in Europe as of September this year were Chinese up from 6 percent in 2022 and 4 percent in 2021

WASHINGTON

Ag e N c e s

The US has said that the Canadian allegations regarding India s involvement in the killing of a pro-Khalistan leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar are serious and need to be investigated fully John Kirby Coordinator for Strategic Communications at the National Security Council in the White House, addressing a news conference in Washington said, the claims made by Canada were discussed when visiting External Affairs Minister S Jaishankar and National Security Advisor Jake Sullivan met here last week We ve been clear these allegations are serious they need to be fully investigated and of course, as we ve said before, we urge India to participate actively in that investigation, he said The US State Department’s Deputy Spokesperson, Vedant Patel, at a separate news conference said it is critical that Canada’s investigation proceeds and the perpetrators are brought to justice We also have as we ve previously said publicly and privately urged the Indian government to cooperate in the Canadian investigation and cooperate in those efforts, he said Hardeep Singh Nijjar was killed in Surrey, British Columbia province of Canada in June, this year On September 18, the Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau in the Parliament announced the involvement of Indian government s agents in brutal murder of the Sikh leader

n e u t r velopment of the automotive industry needs fair competition not protectionism the CAAM said

Peshawar: KP Minister for Science Technology

Efficient impor t substitution should be par t of our economic reform agenda: Dagha

SINDH

s ta f f r e p o r t

Sindh s Minister of Industries and Commerce and Revenue Younus Dagha has said that we need to have efficient import substitution plan as part of our economic reform agenda because only increasing exports would help the national economy There is no such thing as free trade in the world which is divided into certain economic blocks and unless we have market space there we cannot increase exports," said Dhaga while speaking as the chief guest at the 38th Corporate Excellence Awards (CEA) Ceremony organized by the Management Association of Pakistan (MAP) here in Karachi on Wednesday He added that ASEAN and EU markets are for limited period of time and we don t have enough market access therefore stakeholders should work to upgrade Pakistan s economic mechanisms to align with global trends and foster development

IESCO continues indiscriminate action against running, dead defaulters

Circle collected 1 25 million from 32 defaulters

During the ongoing campaign from September 2023, a total amount of more than 316 3 million has been recovered from 20708 defaulters IESCO Chief Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan said that besides disconnecting the meters of non-paying customers the police have also arrested the defaulters

Merchant digitization emerges as key driver for Pakistan’s inclusive economic growth

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

A big opportunity for Pakistan resides in ushering its micro small and medium enterprises (MSMEs) into the digital age as revealed in a new report by the United Nations-based Better Than Cash Alliance, in support of its member, the Government of Pakistan, and the State Bank of Pakistan The fates of small businesses and national economies are intertwined If one thrives so does the other Pakistan s MSMEs account for 90% of enterprise in the country and nearly half of GDP Their growth remains perpetually hamstrung by a dependence on cash This tether to cash means that transactions - and horizons - are inevitably limited

KARACHI s ta f f r e p o r t

Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, paid a momentous visit to the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park (NASTP) a strategic project led by Pakistan Air Force The visit aimed to highlight the significance of this cutting-edge initiative and its potential to revolutionize the national landscape in the fields of aerospace, cyber and computing On his arrival at the National Aerospace Science and Technology Park the distinguished guest was warmly received by Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Baber Sidhu

Chief of the Air Staff Pakistan Air Force Principal Staff Officers along with high level civil and military officials were also present at the occasion

During his visit the Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee was given a firsthand glimpse of the state-of-the-art infrastructure research & development centers, and innovation hubs dedicated to emerging & disruptive technologies The Air Chief elaborated on the park's vision to become one of the world s premier Aerospace Cyber and Computing clusters fos-

tering an environment of cutting-edge design research and development Speaking at the occasion Chief of the Air Staff highlighted that National Aerospace Science and Technology Park under the patronage and support of the Government of Pakistan has evolved in a very short span of time through comprehensive planning focused efforts and mutual collaboration He ex-

BISP plans developing exit strategy, equipping beneficiaries' kids with IT, technic al skills

NOWSHERA s ta f f r e p o r t

Chairperson Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP), Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib has said that BISP is committed to serve the marginalized segments of society and actively working on an exit strategy for its beneficiaries with a prime focus on equipping the children of beneficiaries with professional training related to IT and other valuable technical skills He underscored that this vision is an evidence of the program's long-term commitment to empowering vul-

nerable communities While talking to media Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib shed light on the BISP's ongoing efforts to provide financial assistance to 9 3 million families across Pakistan He reiterated the program s dedication to transparency in payment mechanisms and its promise of improving the welfare of those in need

In a heartfelt plea to philanthropists, Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib requested individuals and not-forprofit organizations to join hands with the BISP in its mission to uplift the 9 3 million registered families He emphasized the authenticity of the BISP database and encouraged philanthropic contributions through transparent channels, believing that collective efforts are essential for societal progress

Chairperson BISP also stressed the collective duty to help the needy and underserved highlighting that a society's advancement depends on the efficient utilization of both state and individual resources He expressed gratitude for being given the opportunity by Almighty Allah to serve the underprivileged and reaffirmed the BISP s commitment to ensuring the respect and dignity of these women

Earlier in the day, Dr Muhammad Amjad Saqib visited Point of Sale (POS) retailers in Risalpur where he engaged in a productive dialogue with the retailers soliciting their valuable input on the challenges they face in providing services to BISP beneficiaries He encouraged them to suggest solutions to enhance the program s effectiveness and efficiency

Awareness seminar on development of marble, granite sector on international standards

QUETTA s ta f f r e p o r t

Trade Development Authority of Pakistan (TDAP) in collaboration with Pakistan Stone Development Company (PASDEC) and Quetta Chamber of Commerce and Industries (QCCI) organized an awareness seminar regarding development of Marble sector on international standards in Quetta

Mr Haji Abdullah Achakzai Preseident QCCI; Mr Haji Agha Gul Khailji, Sr Vice President QCCI; and Mr Abdul Ahad Agha, Vice President QCCI were part of this event All the speakers were unanimously of the view that the bountiful mineral reserves of Balochistan are being squandered away due to traditional mining techniques Participants mentioned that if modern mining techniques are used on a large scale wastage of these precious reserves can be reduced greatly Mr Brig Meraj Shami, CEO, PASDEC mentioned the role of PASDEC in bringing mecha-

nized mining in the country and assured the participants that PASDEC would assist them in getting mining and processing machineries and tools Mr Omer Hussan Bajwa Assistant Director TDAP comprehensively presented trade analysis indicating exports trends, potential markets, and areas of concern in marble and granite exports in the session It was mentioned that exporters should focus on exporting value added and finished marble slabs and tiles instead of raw blocks Participants were informed about the on-going activities of TDAP for the promotion of Marble sector

Participated requested TDAP for increased promotion and representation of marble and granite sector at international forums A request was also made to PASDEC to provide modern machinery on simple terms to promote mechanized mining Moreover it was requested that training related to mining cutting polishing and packing of marble products should be carried out on priority basis

Rank pinning ceremony of four SPs held

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan on Wednesday pinned the badges to Islamabad

Capital Police four Superintendent of Police (SP) after the completion of their eight years services a public relations officer said

He said that, a ceremony was held at the Central Police Office in which ICCPO Dr Akbar Nasir Khan and Capital Police Officer Headquarters formally pinned badges to the Superintendent of Police (SP) including Nowsherwan Ali Hassan Jahangir Khanzeb and Hamza Humayun

The ICCPO congratulated the officers on their p r o m o t i o n a n d w i s h e d t h e m a l l t h e b e s t f o r t h e i r f u t u r e e n d e a v o r s H e s a i d t h a t d e p a r t m e n t a l p r omotion and increase in rank in the police service a c t u a l l y r e f l e c t s a n i n c r e a s e i n r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s

therefore the promoted officers should make equal i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f l a w, o b s e r v a n c e o f m e r i t a n d b e s t s e r v i c e d e l i v e r y a n d p r o t e c t i o n t o c i t i z e n s their motto and goal H e f u r t h e r s a i d t h a t t h e r o l e o f s u p e r v i s o r y o ff i c e r s i s o f p a r a m o u n t i m p o r t a n c e i n m a i n t a i ni n g t h e w r i t o f s t a t e e r a d i c a t i o n o f c r i m e a n d e ns u r i n g t i m e l y m e a s u r e s f o r t h e s e r v i c e o f t h e c i t i z e n s a d d i n g t h a t t h e p r o m o t e d o ff i c e r s s h o u l d p l a y t h e r o l e o f b e s t t e a m l e a d e r i n o r d e r t o m a k e f u l l u s e o f a b i l i t i e s o f t h e i r s u b o r d i n a t e s s o t h a t t h e p r o b l e m s o f t h e c i t i z e n s c o u l d b e s o l v e d o n p r i o r i t y b a s i s T h e p r o m o t e d o f f i c e r s a l s o t h a n k e d t h e I C C P O a n d s a i d t h a t t h e y w o u l d s p a r e n o e ff o r t f o r t h e r u l e o f l a w m e r i t p o l i c y a n d s e r v i c e t o t h e c i t i z e n s T h e y f u r t h e r s a i d t h a t t h e y w o u l d w o r k h a r d a n d w i t h m o r e d i l i g e n c e a n d c o m m i t m e n t f o r t h e p u b l i c

tended his appreciation to General Sahir Shamshad Mirza Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee and General Syed Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff for their invaluable cooperation collaboration and personal commitment, which played a pivotal role in bringing the true essence of the NASTP concept to fruition Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee termed National Aerospace Science and Technology Park as a project of national and strategic significance that would reap multi-dimensional benefits for the country He emphasized that the NASTP project is poised to catalyze technological progress and enhance our national self-reliance General Sahir Shamshad Mirza praised the efforts of Pakistan Air Force and its skilled personnel in the achievement of this unprecedented milestone in record time

NCHR to unveil initiative to promote girls' par ticipation in spor ts

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) is all set to launch its unique four-month long campaign titled “Empower Her” to promote girls' participation in sports in Pakistan Supported by the Canada Fund for Local Initiatives the initiative will run from October 2023 to January 2024 and will include training camps tournaments, mentoring sessions, panel discussions, and a final exhibition match in Islamabad While talking about the initiative, Chairperson NCHR Rabiya Javeri

Agha said that promoting women in sports is not just about scoring goals on the field; it's about breaking barriers shattering stereotypes and championing equality

When we empower women in sports we empower society to strive for fairness and inclusivity she said Empower Her is an initiative designed to tackle the challenges that hinder girls and women from participating in sports, particularly in football, in Pakistan Despite significant progress in various fields girls and women in Pakistan still encounter numerous barriers to access and participate in sports

Jaz z spreads smiles at Alkhidmat's Aghosh Orphanage

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f r e p o r t

To reaffirm its purpose of improving the lives and livelihoods of Pakistani people a team from Jazz on Wednesday paid a courtesy visit to Alkhidmat Foundation s Aghosh Orphanage in Sheikhupura The visit reaffirmed Jazz's unwavering support for the Aghosh Homes project, widely regarded as Pakistan's premier orphanage initiative During their visit, the Jazz team spent quality time with the children engaging in activities that brought smiles to young faces The day was filled with joy as the team celebrated the birthdays of October-born kids cutting cake and distributing gift bags Earlier, the Jazz team also visited Alkhidmat Foundation's head office in Lahore where they received a detailed briefing on the foundation s operations and various humanitarian initiatives Jazz's enduring support for the Alkhidmat Foundation has been particularly impactful during times of crisis Following the devastating 2022 floods Jazz contributed generously to the Alkhidmat Foundation, aiding flood relief efforts The company's employees also voluntarily contributed to the foundation's efforts Sharing her thoughts on the occasion Fatima Akhtar Head of Communications and Sustainability at Jazz said "Jazz is honored to support the Alkhidmat Foundation in providing essential services to communities in need Our commitment to social welfare remains unwavering and is creating a positive impact on lives "

Ray of hope: Z ABA eye projec t aims to stem out visual impairment in youth

LAHORE

Visual impairments are a pervasive issue in Pakistan, affecting individuals across all age groups According to the Pakistan Medical Association, of a population of 230 million an estimated 10 million people in the country are visually impaired and a significant portion of this demographic includes school-age chil-