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Pakistan, China to 1,900 PALESTINIANS KILLED IN BRUTAL AIR sign addendum on STRIKES AS ISRAEL STARTS RAIDS INTO GAZA ML-1 railway project

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Sunday, 15 October, 2023 I 28 Rabi ul Awwal, 1445

THERE IS AN ELECTRICITY CRISIS, FOOD CRISIS, WATER CRISIS, A CRISIS OF EVERYTHING, SAY OFFICIALS

GAZA

UN, OTHER ORGANISATIONS WARN OF DISASTER IF PEOPLE FORCED TO FLEE, SEEKING END TO SIEGE OF ENCLAVE TO LET IN AID

ISRAELI RESERVE SOLDIERS GETTING READY FOR NEXT STAGE OF OPERATIONS, SAYS IDF SPOKESPERSON

AGENCIES

T least 1,900 Palestinians have been killed in the blockaded enclave of Gaza in a brutal air campaign of reprisal attacks by Israel as infantry forces from the IDF made their first raids into the Gaza Strip. Israeli military spokesperson Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari claimed troops backed by tanks had mounted raids to attack Palestinian rocket crews and seek information on the location of hostages, the first official account of ground troops in Gaza since the crisis began. Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said a campaign of retaliation had ‘only just begun’. Israel has vowed to annihilate Hamas after its fighters burst out of Gaza a week ago and carried out operation in southern Israel. Since then Israel has placed the Hamas-run Gaza Strip, home to 2.3 million Palestinians, under a total siege and bombarded it with unprecedented air strikes. On Friday, more than a million residents of northern Gaza received a notice from Israel to flee south within 24 hours, a deadline that expired at 5 a.m. (0200 GMT). Hamas vowed to fight to the last drop of blood and told residents not to go. “We have seen a significant movement of Palestinian civilians towards the south,” Israeli military spokesperson Lieutenant Colonel Jonathan Conricus told a video briefing early on Saturday. “Around the Gaza Strip, Israeli reserve soldiers in formation (are) getting ready for the next stage of operations,” he added.

“They are all around the Gaza Strip, in the south, in the centre and in the north, and they are preparing themselves for whatever target they get, whatever task. Several thousand Gaza residents took to roads heading out of the northern part of the Gaza Strip, but it was impossible to assess their numbers. Gaza authorities said 70 people were killed and 200 were wounded when Israel struck cars and trucks carrying people fleeing the north of the strip for the south. Many others said they would not leave. “Death is better than leaving,” said Mohammad, 20, standing in the street outside a building reduced to rubble in an earlier Israeli air strike near the centre of Gaza. Mosques broadcast the message: “Hold on to your homes. Hold on to your land”.

Army officers inducted into NAB ‘to deal with added workload’ ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The process of appointing serving military officers in the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) has resumed with the induction of four senior army officials as the anti-graft watchdog grapples with added workload. The inductions were made days before NAB filled the key positions of deputy chairman and prosecutor general. According to Establishment Division notifications issued on Oct 10, Brig Mohammad Khalid (Infantry) has been appointed as director (BS-20), Lt Col Nadeem Muzaffar (Intelligence Staff College) has been inducted as an additional director (BS-19), Maj Waleed Khalid (Military Intelligence) as a deputy director (BS-18) and Maj Qais Kamran Syed (MI) as a deputy director (BS18) on secondment basis. The notifications stated that these officers will remain in NAB till further orders. A source in the bureau said more army officers were likely to be inducted soon. After the Supreme Court struck down the amendments made by the PDM government to the NAB law, over 1,800 cases were reopened. But the anti-graft watchdog didn’t have enough officers to deal with the added load of cases as over 30 NAB officers were already sent to other departments on deputation during the past 10 months. Following the departure of the officers who were assigned to NAB on deputation, there was a need for personnel in the areas of forensic audit and investigation, and tax matters. NAB’s Intelligence and Vigilance Cell (IVC) was previously headed by a serving intelligence officer, but a number of officers who had been serving on deputation were sent back to their parent departments after the government clipped the watchdog’s powers.

Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 105 I 8 Pages I Islamabad Edition

“We tell the people of northern Gaza and from Gaza City, stay put in your homes, and your places,” Eyad AlBozom, spokesman for the Hamas Interior Ministry, told a news conference. US President Joe Biden said consultations were under way with regional governments on the humanitarian crisis in Gaza as trapped Palestinians endured a power blackout and shortages of food and water amid fierce Israeli bombing. The United Nations and other organisations warned of a disaster if so many people were forced to flee, and said the siege of the enclave should be lifted to let in aid. The situation in Gaza has reached a “a dangerous new low”, UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres said on Friday. “We need immediate humanitarian access throughout Gaza, so that we can get

fuel, food and water to everyone in need. Even wars have rules.” Earlier, a UN spokesperson Stephane Dujarric said it would be impossible for Gazans to obey Israel’s order to leave the north without “devastating humanitarian consequences”, prompting a rebuke from Israel that the UN should condemn Hamas and support Israel’s right to self-defence. “The noose around the civilian population in Gaza is tightening. How are 1.1 million people supposed to move across a densely populated war zone in less than 24 hours?” UN aid chief Martin Griffiths wrote on social media. ‘DISTANCE YOURSELVES’: White House national security spokesman John Kirby said such a huge evacuation was a “tall order”, but that Washington would not second guess Israel’s decision to tell civilians to get out. “We understand what they’re trying to do and why they’re trying to do this – to try to isolate the civilian population from Hamas, which is their real target,” he said on MSNBC. Mahmoud Abbas, president of the Palestinian Authority that is a rival of Hamas, told US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Jordan that the forced displacement of Palestinians in Gaza would constitute a repeat of 1948, when hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fled or were driven from what is now Israel. Most Gazans are the descendants of such refugees. Gaza is already one of the most crowded places on earth, and for now there is no way out. Israel has imposed a total blockade, and Egypt, which also has a border with the enclave, has so far resisted calls to open it to fleeing residents.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

FM Jilani, UAE counterpart discuss escalating situation in Gaza ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

In wake of the escalating situation in Gaza, Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani engaged in a telephonic conversation with the Foreign Minister of the United Arab Emirates, Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, on Saturday. The discussion primarily revolved around the urgent need for a cessation of hostilities and the protection of civilians in the region. They also emphasised the importance of a coordinated response to address the crisis. Caretaker Foreign Minister Jalil Abbas Jilani took to social media to share details of the conversation, posting on X, “Received a call from HH Sheikh Abdullah bin Zayed, Foreign Minister of UAE. We discussed the escalating situation in Gaza, the urgent need for cessation of hostilities, and protection of civilians. A coordinated response was emphasized.” The UAE’s outreach to Pakistan comes at a critical juncture as Saudi Arabia prepares to convene an extraordinary meeting of the Executive Committee of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) on October 18. The meeting is set to take place at the General Secretariat headquarters in Jeddah Governorate and

aims to address the ongoing military situation in Gaza, reflecting the collective concern among OIC member states about the deteriorating conditions in the region. It is worth noting that the United Arab Emirates had previously recognised Israel and established diplomatic relations with Tel Aviv under the historic Abraham Accords, a groundbreaking development in the Middle East peace process.

Meanwhile, reports indicate that Saudi Arabia was moving closer to normalising ties with Israel before recent hostilities erupted. Hamas initiated what was termed a “surprise attack” on Israel, prompting retaliatory actions by the Israeli occupational forces. This chain of events cast a shadow over the prospects of a peace process that could have potentially led to Saudi Arabia officially recognising Israel.

PAKISTAN TO PROPOSE CUT OF $3.3BN IN COST PROFIT

SHAHZAD PARACHA

Pakistan and China will sign an addendum on ML-1 during the upcoming Belt and Road Forum to be held on October 16 and 17 in China. The ML-1 is a multibillion dollar railway project connecting Karachi to Peshawar. Sources have said that Pakistan has proposed reducing the cost of ML-1 by a staggering $3.3 billion, from $9.8 billion to $6.6 billion by an amended project design. In 2017 Pakistan and China agreed on a framework agreement of the ML-1 project worth $9.8 billion; however, now the Ministry of Railways has redesigned the project to reduce its cost to $6.6 billion. According to the initially proposed scope, the total length of the project was estimated at around 1700 KM. Under the new proposal, the total cost is divided into three phases. The cost of the first package is estimated at $2.7 billion and will be completed in five years. Under the first package, 183 km Nawabshah-Rohri track, 339 km Lahore-Multan track, and 132 km Lahore-Lala Musa section will be upgraded. Similarly, the cost of the second package is estimated to be $2.6 billion and it is expected to be completed in the next seven years. 182 km Kemari-Hyderabad, and 556 km Hyderabad-Multan section will be upgraded. As per the proposed plan, the revised cost of the third package is around $1.2 billion which will be completed in the next four years. The 165 km LalaMusa-Rawalpindi section, and the 176 km Rawalpindi-Peshawar section will be upgraded under the third and final phase of the project, as relayed by sources.

Head rolls as six labourers shot dead during sleep in Turbat

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

QUETTA

STAFF REPORT

Unidentified gunmen fatally shot six labourers in Turbat in Balochistan’s Kech district in the early hours of Saturday while Caretaker Chief Minister Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki taking notice of the incident, suspended the Superintendent of Police (SP) concerned. District Police Officer (DPO) Imam Bux informed the media that the incident occurred in early hours of Saturday when a group of armed men barged into a residence in Turbat’s Satellite Town area and indiscriminately killed the labourers. The victims had been based in the house of a local contractor and were there for construction work when they became the target of the attack, the officer added. “Upon being alerted, the police arrived at the scene promptly.” DPO Bux said that a case would be registered at the CTD Police Station, and an investigation was underway to establish the motive behind the incident. The injured were identified as Rizwan, Shehbaz, Wasim, Shafiq Ahmed, Muhammad Naeem, Ghulam Mustafa and Touheed, with the police confirming that Shehbaz and Wasim were siblings. Interim Balochistan Chief Minister Ali Mardan Khan Domki expressed his deep sorrow over the loss of lives and called for an official report from the relevant authorities. He strongly condemned the incident, emphasising that the targeting of innocent labourers was reprehensible. He asked the investigators to thoroughly examine the incident from all perspectives and provide a comprehensive report, underscoring the need to utilise all available resources to apprehend those responsible. In an official statement issued here, it has stated that Ali Mardan Domki has taken strict notice of the incident and contacted the divisional and district administration. On the instructions of the chief minister, the helicopter of the Balochistan government has reached Turbat to transfer the dead, their families and the injured to Quetta and will be sent to Multan by tomorrow morning. In that regard, the government of Balochistan is in contact with the Commissioner, Multan Division, District Administration Multan and the government of Punjab. The Balochistan government has made all arrangements to ensure better treatment facilities to the injured workers. The Chief Minister has also ordered a high-level inquiry into this tragic incident. All transfer matters are being taken seriously and the matters are being scrutinized with full attention at the administrative level.

Pakistan borrows $3.527 billion in first quarter

BORROWING MARKS ALMOST 60% INCREASE AGAINST SAME PERIOD OF PREVIOUS YEAR PROFIT

SHAHZAD PARACHA

Pakistan borrowed $3.527 billion from multiple financing sources during the first quarter (July-September) of the current fiscal year 2023-24 (FY24) compared to $2.234 billion borrowed during the same period of last fiscal year. According to the Economic Affairs Division (EAD), Pakistan received $490.48 million from multilaterals and $324.05 million from bilateral funds during July-September 2023-24. The non-project aid was $2.653 billion including $2.253 billion for budgetary support and project aid was $873.97 million. China disbursed $508.34 million under the head guarantee for the JF-17 B project funded by China National Aero-Technology

Import and Export Corporation (CATIC). China further disbursed $0.35 million in JulySeptember against the government budgeted of $18.54 million for the current fiscal year. Pakistan also received $204.51 million under the head of “Naya Pakistan Certificates” during the first three months of the current fiscal year 2023-24. Asian Development Bank (ADB) also disbursed $61.75 million during the period, compared to the budgeted $2.086 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24. Meanwhile, Pakistan has obtained $320.92 million in September 2023 compared to $625.86 million in September 2022. The data further shows that the government had budgeted estimates of $4.5 billion from the foreign commercial banks for the current fiscal year 2023-24, however no money was received under this head during

the first three months of the current fiscal year. The government had budgeted $1.5 billion from issuance of bonds. However, the government is yet to issue the bonds, hence no amount has been received so far. The government has budgeted $2.4 billion from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for the current fiscal year 2023-24 and received $1.2 billion as the first tranche of the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) in July 2023. There is also no mention of $1 billion disbursed by the UAE. If the IMF and UAE inflows are added, the total inflows would reach $5.727 billion during the first three months of the current fiscal year. Data shows that the government has also received $2 billion out of the budgeted $3.527 billion from Saudi Arabia in July 2023. The government has budgeted $17.619

billion from multiple financing sources for the current fiscal year including $17.384 billion loans and $234.60 million grants.

From the current outlook, the government will have to pace up if it is to meet the budgeted targets.

HIGH-LEVEL COMMITTEE EVALUATES LHC ORDERS IN HASSAN MUAWIYA CASE

Sunday, 15 October, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

NEWS

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

high-level committee, devised by the prime minister, on Saturday held a meeting in the Ministry of Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony to review progress on the Lahore High Court (LHC) orders in the Hassan Muawiya case. The meeting, chaired by the Minister for Interior, Sarfraz Bugti, included key representatives from the religious affairs, law, foreign affairs, education, and information and broadcasting ministries, along with members from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority, provincial chief secretaries, and law enforcement agencies. Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti emphasized the importance of ensuring that all provinces fully implement court rulings to maintain the rule of law. He directed the

law enforcement agencies, particularly the Punjab Police to ensure that unregistered publishers and those involved in the unauthorized dissemination of non-Muslim or defamatory Quranic texts face immediate legal actions. He said the non-Muslim community should be more effectively informed about the laws related to the respect and sanctity of the Holy Quran. He made it clear that Pakistani Ahmadis were a minority community, and they must be informed about the relevant laws as no one was allowed to interfere with the law on any ground. He said the protection of every minority population living in the country must also be ensured. He expressed his anger over the non-participation of the Inspector General, Punjab in the meeting. Religious Affairs Minister, Aneeq Ahmed, reiterated that faith and love for the Prophet Muhammad (Peace Be Upon Him) could not be separated from a Muslim’s

heart. He stressed that all provinces should collaborate to establish the writ of the state in line with court orders. He said every province should submit their progress reports to facilitate court proceedings. Minister Aneeq said according to the Constitution, Ahmadis were non-Muslims, and they were not allowed to build their worship places like mosques. He directed to take immediate legal actions against unauthorized publishers of the Holy Quran and make all ‘Quran Boards’ of provinces more active in their roles. In the meeting, the concerned bodies presented their progress reports on the Lahore High Court’s directives on accurate printing of the text and translation of the Holy Quran and informed the committee that several cases had been registered against violators of the law, dozens of offending websites on Google had been shut down and immediate legal action was being taken against such websites and publishers.

President calls for intensifying eﬀorts to empower virtually-impaired individuals ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi has called upon the government departments, non-governmental organizations, civil society, media and all other stakeholders to intensify efforts for addressing the issues faced by visually impaired individuals and take every possible measure to empower them to lead happy and independent lives. In a message on the eve of International White Cane Safety Day being observed on Sunday (today), the president said that the observance of the Day served as a reminder of their collective responsibility towards those individuals who face visual disabilities. It was also an opportunity to raise awareness about

Pakistan Railways unveils revised timings for winter ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The management of Pakistan Railways has announced its winter timings, which will come into effect across the entire country from Sunday (today). According to PR, several adjustments have been made in the latest timetable and one significant change is the introduction of a new stop for Pakistan Express (45-Up) at Khairpur Railway Station, providing improved accessibility to commuters in the region. Additionally, various temporary stops for various train services have been made permanent in the new timetable. The Allama Iqbal Express (9 Up/10 Dn) will now make a stop at Lodhran Railway Station, while the Quetta Express will halt at Toba Tek Singh Railway Station. To further accommodate passengers, the duration of stops for specific trains has been extended. Notable instances include the Green Line (5 Up/6 Dn) at Rohri Railway Station, the Rohri Express (33 Up/34 Dn), the Musa Pak Express (115 Up/116 Dn) at Khanewal, and the Thal Express (129 Up/130 Dn) at Kundian Railway Station. Moreover, departure timings for numerous trains have been adjusted for the convenience of travelers. These trains encompass the Tezgam (7 Up), Allama Iqbal Express (9 Up/10 Dn), Karachi Express (15 Up/16 Dn), Multan Express (17 Up), Rahman Baba Express (47 Up), Rawal Express (121 Up), Thal Express (129 Up), Kohat Express (133 Up), Chenab Express (135 Up), Mehran Express (150 Dn), Narowal Passenger (211 Up/212 Dn), Shaheen Passenger (225 Up/226 Dn), Rawalpindi Passenger (268 Dn), and Mianwali Express (148 Dn). Passengers are urged to consult the updated timetable for specific departure and arrival times, as these modifications take effect this coming Sunday. Pakistan Railways remains committed to providing efficient and convenient travel services throughout winter.

Mercury dips as rain, hailstorm lash many Punjab cities LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Rain, hailstorm and strong winds on Saturday lashed different parts of upper Punjab which brought down temperature shapely but left several areas without electricity. According to the administration, everything – roads, streets and rooftops of homes in Wazirabad and its suburbs turned white after a hailstorm. Similarly, hail and heavy rain inundated low-lying areas, bazaars and streets in Narowal. The situation was no different in Tala Gang and Kharian where heavy rain and hail disturbed routine life. There was smog in Lahore and its outskirts in the morning as the air quality index (AQI) rose to 179. However, strong winds started blowing in the morning turned the weather pleasant. The humidity level was recorded at 79 percent. The inclement weather is likely to negatively affect rice crop in these areas. RAIN, HAIL, SNOW PREDICTED IN KP, PUNJAB, AJK, GB On the other hand, the Pakistan Meteorological Department has predicted heavy rain and hailstorm for Rawalpindi and Islamabad, the plains of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) and Punjab during the next 72 hours.

the challenges and needs of visually impaired individuals and to intensify efforts to address these challenges, he added. “It is a day to redouble our efforts in establishing the necessary legislative, administrative, and infrastructural mechanisms required to help and facilitate the visually impaired persons,” he said, adding the white cane should never be seen as a symbol of disability or impairment; instead, it stood as a beacon of courage and bravery. It represented the strong human spirit that confronts challenges and hardships head-on. The president called upon everyone to show greater consideration for visually impaired individuals and to take steps to ensure their full integration into society. “We must also benchmark the level of care we provide to visually impaired individuals against that available in

other civilized countries and take immediate and practical steps to achieve similar standards in their care. Let us contribute both individually and collectively to establish the necessary mechanisms and facilities that cater to the needs of the visually impaired,” a press release quoted him as saying. President Alvi also commended all individuals and organizations involved in the vital task of rehabilitating the persons with disabilities. He said that they all needed to intensify their efforts in addressing the challenges faced by visually impaired individuals. “I also wish to reassure our brothers and sisters with visual disabilities that the government will continue to take all possible measures to protect their rights and enable them to lead successful lives,” he added.

IIOJK witnessed new height of Indian atrocities in last 4 years: KIIR ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

A latest report revealed that Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) has witnessed new heights of erasure of its socio-political, religious and cultural identity since the abrogation of special status of the region by the Narendra Modi-led Indian government in August 2019. According to Kashmir Media Service, the report ‘4 years of annexation of Indian occupied Kashmir’ by Kashmir Institute of International Relations (KIIR) in its findings painted a very grim picture of the ground situation of the occupied territory. It said the reign of lawlessness in the IIOJK has reached to climax and occupied Kashmir has witnessed a wholesale exploitation of its resources at an unprecedented scale since 2019. The report maintained that innocent civilians continue to bear the brunt of state terrorism in IIOJK where crackdown on free expression and ruthless suppression of dissent and reprisals against human rights defenders and dissenters continue unabated. It said thousands of Kashmiri prisoners including journalists, human rights defenders, political activists and dissenters continue to rot in jails and detention centers of IIOJK and India. It deplored that the Indian authorities continue to use black laws such as Public Safety Act (PSA) and Unlawful Activities (Prevention) Act (UAPA) as tools to persecute Kashmiris and prolong

detention periods of the detainees. The report said the loss of special status and subsequent legislation has resulted in further marginalization and disenfranchisement of the indigenous population in the region. The report said redrawing of political landscape under the guise of delimitation has led to further exclusion of the region’s Muslim majority from political representation and their role in political decision making process in the legislative assembly. The report pointed out that the forced annexation of IIOJK with India by the Modi regime has given an impetus to the BJP’s dream project of erasing the region’s distinct identity as a Muslim majority area and rewriting its history. It said redefinition of

IIOJK’s age-old domicile law and other related laws has lent an additional impetus to BJP’s settler colonialism campaign to completely erase Kashmir’s distinct identity. The report maintained that contrary to the Indian government’s claims of so-called development, the unemployment rate in Kashmir has swelled to 23.1% in 2023. “Substantial increase in the unemployment rate in the restive region tears apart Modi’s mantra of so-called economic development in the region. Over 218600 Kashmiri people lost jobs in just four months, soon after the region was subjected to a crippling siege followed by abrogation of Article 370. Scores of government employees have been terminated from their services on

UoG hosts training workshop to build capacity of mediamen GUJRAT

Staff RepoRt

As many as 70 local journalists and members of the Gujrat Press Club were invited to learn the ropes of modern media trends and practices by the Directorate of Press, Media & Publications of the University of Gujrat that organized a two-day training workshop titled: “Learn the Ropes of Modern Media” here at Hafiz Hayat Campus on Saturday. The resource persons of the workshop, which was organized in collaboration with the Gujrat Press Club, were well-known anchors and journalists Mutiullah Jan, Aezaz Syed and Habib Akram. The guests of honour included President Gujrat Press Club (GPC) Bisharat Lodhi, Dean Prof Dr Zahid Yousuf, General Secretary GPC Raja Riyaz Rasikh, Dr Muhammad Yousuf and others. Director Media Sheikh Abdul Rashid was in the host’s chair. Mutiullah Jan, highlighting the revolutionary changes in the journalism practised today, said that the

main duty of a journalist is to report the facts in good faith. “Freedom of writing, freedom of speech and freedom of opinion is the first right of not only a journalist but every citizen of Pakistan. True journalism strengthens people’s trust and confidence in democracy,” he said. Mutiullah Jan underlined the need for the political process to take its course for the sake of welfare of the people of Pakistan. “A journalist is, in a manner of speaking, a public spokesperson who stirs people’s consciousness. A new wave of public awareness has emerged thanks to the modern means and techniques of communication,” Aezaz

Syed said. He, however, expressed dissatisfaction over the mainstream media neglecting to support the ‘marginalized sections’ of society. Shedding light on the development of electronic media, Aezaz Syed said that modern communication gadgetry will define new parameters of journalism in Pakistan. Habib Akram, speaking on electoral reporting, shed ample light on the role of a journalist as the watchdog to prevent election rigging. Independent media can become a barrier to prevent election rigging. Social media can play a decisive role in the forthcoming elections, as it directly influences public opinion.

Sepoy embraces martyrdom as security forces kill six terrorists in Mir Ali RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

Security forces during an Intelligence-based Operation (IBO) on Saturday killed six terrorists in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan District while a a sepoy also embraced martyrdom in the operation. “On 14 October 2023, security forces conducted an intelligence based operation in general area Mir Ali, North Waziristan District on reported presence of terrorists. During the conduct of operation, intense fire exchange took place between own troops and terrorists as a result of which six terrorists were sent to hell, while eight terrorists got injured,” said an official handout issued by the ISPR. “Weapons and ammunition were also recovered from killed terrorists who remained actively involved in terrorist activities against security forces and target killing of innocent civilians. However, during intense exchange of fire, Sepoy Abdul Hakeem (age 33 years, resident of District Naseerabad) having fought gallantly, embraced Shahadat,” the handout said. “Sanitization of the area is being carried out to eliminate any other terrorists found in the area. Locals of the area appreciated the operation and expressed their full support to eliminate the menace of terrorism,” the statement added.

Abid Boxer booked for obstructing arrest of ‘fugitives’ hiding in his home LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

Abid Hussain, better known as Abid Boxer, a former police officer infamous for his involvement in extrajudicial killings and fake encounters, was recently booked on charges of resisting the arrest of proclaimed offenders who were allegedly hiding in his residence. The incident took place in Lahore, and Inspector Waqas ul Hassan Bukhari of the Organised Crime Unit (OCU), formerly known as the CIA, on Saturday filed a formal complaint at Faisal Town Police Station against the accused. The OCU team received a tip-off about the presence of proclaimed offenders, who had been evading the authorities, taking refuge in Abid Boxer’s home. In response, a raid was conducted by the OCU to apprehend the wanted individuals. However, during the operation, Abid Boxer reportedly obstructed the police personnel by issuing threats and instructing his security guard to prevent them from entering his premises. The complaint also alleged that one of Abid Boxer’s guards managed to snatch a rifle from one of the police officers. The First Information Report (FIR) filed against Abid Boxer invokes serious provisions of the Pakistan Penal Code (PPC), charging him with dacoity, terrorism-related offenses, aiding fugitive suspects, and obstructing the police from carrying out their duties. Despite the resistance, the police eventually succeeded in apprehending the suspected criminals and proclaimed offenders who had sought shelter in Abid Boxer’s house. During the operation, illegal weapons were also recovered from their possession. Abid Boxer, who previously served as an inspector in the Punjab Police, has been linked to a range of criminal activities, including extrajudicial killings, fake encounters, kidnapping for ransom, murder, and land grabbing. He had fled to Dubai in 2007 to evade arrest by the police and potential retaliation from his adversaries. Interpol apprehended Abid Boxer at Dubai airport on February 8, 2018, and subsequently handed him over to Pakistani authorities on February 20 of the same year. Abid Boxer initially joined the Punjab Police as an Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) through a sports quota. Through promotions, he eventually rose to the rank of inspector and held positions as the Station House Officer (SHO) at various police stations in Lahore.

Sunday, 15 October, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

SAUDI VISION 2030: KSA URGED TO INTAKE ONE MILLION PAKISTANI WORKFORCE ANNUALLY

ISLAMABAD

StAff report

N a significant development aimed at bolstering the execution of Saudi Vision 2030, Jawad Sohrab Malik, the Special Assistant to the Prime Minister (SAPM) on Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development (OP&HRD), engaged in a fruitful meeting with Nawaf bin Said Al-Malki, the Ambassador of the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) on Saturday. The meeting focused on harnessing the

potential of a substantial Pakistani workforce to aid the realisation of Saudi Vision 2030’s objectives. During the meeting, SAPM Malik formally proposed that the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia employ a substantial number of Pakistani workers to contribute to the Saudi Vision 2030, the initiative aimed at diversifying and enhancing the Saudi economy. The proposal has the potential to bring about a significant increase in the number of Pakistani expatriates in Saudi Arabia, further strengthening the economic ties between the two countries.

Currently, approximately 5 million Pakistanis travel to Saudi Arabia annually, serving various roles across the country’s industries. Jawad Sohrab Malik noted the potential for this number to surge even higher, possibly reaching over one million, considering the diverse skill sets and labour force Pakistan can offer. He highlighted the invaluable contributions of Pakistani workers, spanning from skilled professionals to semiskilled and unskilled labourers, in helping Saudi Arabia meet its diverse workforce needs. SAPM Malik emphasised Pakistan’s

ability to supply more than one million individuals with a range of skills, aligning with the job opportunities created by Saudi Vision 2030. He informed the Saudi envoy of the Pakistani government’s efforts to build a skilled Labour Force Pool, effectively tapping into the immense potential of the country’s youth in areas such as digitisation, services, and tourism. In response, the Saudi ambassador expressed support for the proposal presented by SAPM Jawad Sohrab Malik. The Kingdom of Saudi Arabia recognises the vital role Pakistani workers can play in the

India’s involvement in state-sponsored terrorism in other countries stands exposed ISLAMABAD

StAff report

The recent assassination of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Canada by Indian notorious intelligence agency Research and Analysis Wing (RAW) has exposed India’s involvement in statesponsored terrorism at global level. A report released by Kashmir Media Service, today, said India raised ‘Establishment 22’, a Special Frontier Force, in November 1962 mainly consisting of the Tibetan refugees settled in India. It was trained for covert operations behind Chinese lines in case of another China India war. Presently

there are reports of their deployment in eastern Ladakh, in the areas bordering China. The report said that India had a history of violating the territorial integrity of other countries by carrying out overt and covert operations there. On 9 June 2015, Indian Army crossed over the border into Myanmar and attacked the bases of the Naga freedom-fighters in retaliation against an ambush in Manipur. In 2009, India had also carried out operations in Nepal, Bhutan, and Bangladesh to capture wanted Indian militants. The report said similar operations have been conducted by Raw in different

Establishment of Women Commission a historic milestone for the women of Gilgit Baltistan

the murder of Nijjar. Khalistani leader Ripudaman Singh Malik was also assassinated in Surrey on June 15, 2022. Paramjeet Singh Panjwar was killed in Lahore in May 2023. Avtar Singh Khanda was found dead in mysterious circumstances in the UK. His family claimed Khanda was poisoned in June 2023. The Johar town blast in Lahore was also planned and executed by the agents of RAW already confirmed by intelligence agencies. All these assassinations and terrorist acts across the globe are linked with the Doval Doctrine of defensive-offensive, conceived by Indian National Security Advisor, Ajit Doval.

1,900 Palestinians killed in brutal air strikes as Israel starts raids into Gaza CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

ISLAMABAD

StAff report

countries to eliminate the leaders of Kashmir and Khalistan freedom movements. Some prominent Kashmiri leaders like Riaz Kashmiri, Bashir Ahmed and Syed Khalid Raza were assassinated this year in Pakistan by the agents of RAW. The report said, the recent killing of Hardeep Singh Nijjar in Surrey city in the British Columbia province of Canada is the latest example of Indian state-sponsored terrorism in other countries. The Canadian Prime Minister, Justin Trudeau, confirmed to the Parliament that the Canadian government has credible evidence of the Indian government’s involvement in

“The GB Commission on the Status of Women will play a key role to protect them from violence, and will help to get economically empowered”, said Chairperson of NCSW, Nilofar Bakhtiar. On Saturday, a signing ceremony of establishment of Gilgit Baltistan Commission on the Status of Women held at GB House Islamabad and Chief Minister Gilgit Baltistan, Haji Gulbar Khan signed the launching of the Gilgit Baltistan Commission on the Status of Women. On this occasion Ms. Nilofar Bakhtiar, Chairperson NCSW said “We proudly succeeded in framing the law for GB Commission followed by the Bill approved by GB Assembly last year.” She further added that NCSW and its national and UN Partners jointly achieved this milestone and now every province and region of Pakistan have Commissions on the Status of Women. Our target and mission is to strengthen these commissions to ensure the safeguarding women rights. Baktiar further added that we believe that by working together, we can make significant progress in securing a safer and more equitable environment for all. NCSW particularly wants to acknowledge the continuous and unconditional support of Ms. Dilshad Bano, Minister for Women Development GB. During the ceremony, Chief Minister GB reassured his commitment to provide every possible support for the promotion and protection of the rights of women and girls of Gilgit Baltistan. He marked this day as a great success for those struggling for decades to create an enabling environment for all the weak and vulnerable segments of our population.

Austin said military aid was flowing into Israel but that this was the time for resolve and not revenge. On Friday Blinken travelled to Jordan where he met King Abdullah as well as Abbas, whose Palestinian Authority exercises limited self-rule in the Israeli-occupied West Bank but lost control of Gaza to Hamas in 2007. Blinken later travelled to Qatar, a US ally. In the West Bank, demonstrators supporting Gaza fought gun battles with Israeli security forces. Palestinian officials said 11 people were shot dead. There have also been fears of hostilities spreading to new fronts, including Israel’s northern border with Lebanon, where clashes this week have already been the deadliest since 2006. Reuters news videographer Issam Abdallah was killed on Friday while working in southern Lebanon. Reuters said it was seeking more information and working with the authorities in the region. Earlier, Reuters reported that Israeli shelling had struck a Lebanese army observation post at the border. The Israeli military said it fired in response to a suspected armed infiltration, which it later said had been a false alarm. Lebanese state media reported that shells struck near Alma Al-Shaab and

Dhayra, sites of repeated clashes in the past week. Israel’s UN envoy said it would investigate what had happened in the area following the journalist’s death. “We always try to mitigate and avoid civilian casualties. Obviously, we would never want to hit or kill or shoot any journalist that is doing its job,” Gilad Erdan said. GAZA BAKERIES RUN OUT OF BREAD, WATER RUNS LOW Bakeries in Gaza were running out of bread, drinking water was in short supply and power outages left families without charged phones to find out if fleeing relatives were safe. Thousands of Palestinians fled the north of the Gaza Strip from the path of an expected Israeli ground assault, while Israel pounded the area with more air strikes and said it would keep two roads open to let people escape. “There is an electricity crisis, food crisis, water crisis, a crisis of everything,” Eyad Abu Mutlaq, 45, said in Khan Younis in south Gaza, a region filling up with thousands of people fleeing the north for fear of an Israeli invasion. “It is only God who can resolve it,” he said after touring four bakeries to find long queues or no supplies. The flood of people arriving in south Gaza after Israel told them on Friday to leave an area in the north

has stretched resources that were already strained to breaking point. “I was looking for basic food, eggs, rice, canned food, even milk for the children and I couldn’t find them,” said Khan Younis resident, giving only her nickname of Um Salem. “This is how Israel is fighting us, through starvation of our children. They either kill children by bombs or soon by starvation.” Those who have fled say many roads and streets are often difficult to use, and some impassable, because of damage. “Where to go?” asked Umm Hossam, 29, who was among the thousands fleeing. “How long will the strikes and death last? We have no homes left, every area of Gaza is under threat,” said the 29-year-old, her face streaked with tears. In Gaza City’s Tel Al-Hawa neighbourhood, in the area Israel ordered evacuated, warplanes bombed a residential area during the night hitting several houses, according to residents who took refuge at the nearby Al Quds hospital and planned to flee south in the morning. “We lived a night of horror. Israel punished us for not wanting to leave our home. Is there brutality worse than this?”, a father of three said by telephone from the hospital, declining to give his name for fear of reprisals.

An interesting miscellany of news book review Syed AfSAr SAjid Muhammad Saeed is a veteran bureaucrat who retired as Chief Customs, FBR, Karachi. Associated with many an economic project of global importance like the EU Needs Assessment Project, Islamabad, USAID Trade Project, Islamabad, and the ADB Trade and Transport Project, he also edited and published the fortnightly ‘The World Trade Review’, Islamabad. The aforementioned book (‘Pakistan’) is a compendium of news, views, and ads that appeared in four English dailies viz. The Pakistan Times, Lahore, the Daily Gazette, Karachi, The Civil & Military Gazette, Lahore, and the Daily Dawn, Karachi during the period from Aug 1, 1947 to Dec 31, 1947. The learned compiler claims to have dug out these papers from the National Archives in the year 2014 with a view to sorting out the collective thinking of the political leaders, local populace and the migrants/displaced persons on both sides of the border of the two newly-emerging dominions of India and Pakistan within the orbit of the British Commonwealth. No Urdu newspaper covering the year 1947 was available in these archives. The book despite its huge volume, is a crisp read. It is like a chronicle incorporating a vast but varying data of facts and figures pertaining to the incipient history of the Indian Sub-continent undergoing an unprecedented demographic, as also geographic, turmoil and turbulence involving mammoth internecine bloodshed and carnage, at and around the time of

Partition. A cursory though selective survey of the contents of the book, in a chronological order, would greatly interest the common reader as well as the connoisseur. 1-8-47 to 15-8-47: Maj. Ashiq Hussain Qureshi, MLA, Member All India Muslim League Council was gunned down by a police constable near Chowburji, Lahore. Lecturers in different subjects wanted in Zamindara College, Gujrat @ Rs.150/- pm. Viceroy House, Delhi has announced the appointment of the three services chiefs for each dominion separately. Gold rate in Karachi swung between Rs.108/13/6 and Rs.108/11/- per tola. The Red Fort in Delhi tipped as the HQ of the Indian Army. The UN Security Council appealed for a cease-fire in Indonesia. Gandhiji during his tour of Kashmir met the State premier twice. A 16-hour curfew was imposed in Lyallpur in the wake of communal violence in and outside the town. Curfew in Lahore extended until 15 th August. A public feast for 20,000 people to be hosted on 15 th August in Karachi to celebrate the independence day. The Naga tribesmen in India demanded total autonomy for themselves. The offices of the Pakistan government started functioning in Karachi. The governorgeneral-designate of Pakistan Mr. M. A. Jinnah was given a standing ovation by a thumping crowd of around 100,000 people on his arrival from Delhi, at Mauripur airport, Karachi where prime minister– designate Liaquat Ali Khan and Area Commander Maj. Gen. Akbar Khan were also present to greet him. He was accompanied by Mohtarma Fatima Jinnah and his ADCs Lt. Ahsan and Flt. Lt.

Rabbani. Gandhiji while in Lahore, expressed his desire to live in Pakistan for the rest of his life. 13 persons were killed in Calcutta in the wake of the prevailing communal frenzy. Zahid Hussain, VC, Muslim University Aligarh appointed High Commissioner of Pakistan to India. KLM to start once-a-week flight between Karachi-New York via Amsterdam, in 45 hours. Liaquat Ali Khan moved a resolution in the Constituent Assembly proposing the title of ‘Quaid-eAzam’ for Mr. Muhammad Ali Jinnah w.e.f 15th August, 1947. Faiz Ahmad Faiz is the acting editor of the daily The Pakistan Times (price: two annas). Murder and arson continued in Amritsar entailing a toll of a dozen innocent Muslims. Military force

NEWS

successful implementation of Saudi Vision 2030 and the diversification of the Saudi economy, he added. Malik expressed his gratitude to Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman for his unwavering support to Pakistan in various economic, strategic, and bilateral matters, highlighting the dynamic and visionary leadership of the Kingdom. Both sides agreed to further explore the possibilities of creating new employment opportunities for Pakistanis in Saudi Arabia. A forthcoming meeting, scheduled to be held in Saudi Arabia, will bring together SAPM Malik, with the labour minister and other high-ranking officials of the Kingdom. These discussions aim to solidify the collaboration between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in enhancing manpower resources for the Saudi Vision 2030, setting the stage for a brighter future for both nations.

Plantation only way to avoid global warming: Commissioner MULTAN

StAff report

Commissioner of Multan division, Engineer Aamir Khattak, said on Saturday that the treeplantation was the only way to avoid global warming.He expressed these views while inaugurating a plantation of big shady trees to beautify the entrance and exit ways and to eliminate smog. Deputy Commissioner Rizwan Qadeer, and entrepreneur Khawaja Anees also planted trees.Divisional administration has adopted an environment-friendly policy to eradicate smog as 1600 shady trees were being planted around the busy road Bilal Chowk to Naag Shah Chowk.The commissioner further said that mature trees were being planted in collaboration with entrepreneur Khawaja Anees and PHA will be responsible for the nurturing of the trees.He said that it was a dire need to promote plantation for the elimination of air pollution on a permanent basis and urged the philanthropists to contribute to making Multan green.Director Development Rubina Kausar, AC City Seemal Mushtaq also planted saplings and prayed for the prosperity of the country.

Pakistan, China to sign addendum on ML-1 railway project CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

The Havelian Dry Port will also be upgraded under the third package of the project. Sources said that the government is planning to build overhead bridges and underpasses in city areas for the railway track besides a double track only in the area (Rohri to Hyderabad) where it would be necessary. The Ministry of Railways has also proposed to reduce the operational speed of the trains on ML-1 from 160 & 140 to 120 km per hour.The mega project will be completed in sixteen years through three phases, according to the revised design. The project is likely to start from next year and will be completed by 2040. Sources said that the number of trains after the ML-1 will surge to 134 from 34. Sources also revealed that the sovereign guarantee on the project would be the main challenge for the Pakistani government to get international financing. The government of Pakistan will have to provide a sovereign guarantee of at least $3 billion for the first phase of the project. As per the rules, the Pakistan government can only give sovereign guarantees worth $2 billion from the GDP. It is pertinent to note that the former PTI government had also proposed a $6.6 billion project cost, however reportedly the Chinese government did not agree at that time.

eliminated a gang of 61 armed rioters. M/s Gandhi and Hussain Shaheed Suharwardy to launch a joint peace mission. US President Truman sent a goodwill message to Quaid-e-Azam. Communal riots in Lahore causing 22 casualties. PBS to take over the management of Lahore, Peshawar and Dacca (Dhaka) radio stations. Quaid-eAzam took the oath of allegiance to the British monarch followed by an oath of office of Governor General under the provisional constitution of Pakistan. 16-8-47 to 31-12-47: Governor General Lord Mountbatten, Prime Minister Pandit Nehru and other cabinet members took oath of office in India. Zafarul Ahsan (ICS) appointed DC Lahore. The first cabinet of Pakistan comprising PM Liaquat Ali Khan (Defence & Foreign Affairs). I.I. Chundrigar (Commerce & Industies), Ghulam Muhammad (Finance), Sardar Abdur Rab Nishtar (Communications), Ghazanfar Ali Khan (Agriculture & Health), Jogindar Nath Mandal (Law & Labour), and Fazlur Rahman (Interior & Education), sworn in. Junagarh State announced accession to Pakistan. The Boundary Commission award announced. Disagreement among members of the Commission led Sir Radcliffe to pronounce his own mandatory recommendations on the mechanics of physical partitioning of India. The budget deficit of India shot up to Rs.29 crore. Nizam of Hyderabad (India) announced an independent status for his State. Governor NWFP Sir George Cunningham dismissed Dr. Khan Sahib’s provincial government, inviting ML leader Khan Abdul Qayyum Khan to form a new government. An 18-hour curfew imposed in Lyallpur. Gandhiji called off his hunger strike in

Calcutta. According to Sri Prakasa, Indian High Commissioner to Pakistan, around 200,000 people were killed on both sides of Punjab, in the Partition riots. As a sequel to the Partition, some 10 lac people from the four districts of West Punjab viz. Montgomery, Lyallpur, Sheikhupura, and Sialkot left for India whereas 11 lac 70 thousand people replaced them from India. Ad: An Opel Car 1938 model, recently overhauled, offered for sale for Rs.5,000/-. GM Syed appealed to Hindus not to abandon their hearth and home to migrate to India. Cricketer Fazal Mahmud declined to join the Indian cricket team shortly touring Britain, in preference to his home team. Amritsar received an unprecedented 27-hour incessant downpour. Pakistani government dispelled the impression that only Muslims were eligible for government jobs. 1,000 people drowned in high floods in rivers Ravi, Sutlej and Bias. FM Sir Claude Auchinleck, Supreme Commander India and Pakistan (1947-48) visited Karachi on official business. 50,000 Muslim refugees entered Pakistan from Amritsar via Wagah. Freedom enthusiast Iqbal Shedai (18881974) returning to Karachi in October 1947, ending a 27-year long self-exile. Khairpur State signed the instrument of merger with Pakistan. Finance Minister Ghulam Muhammad appealed to the Hindu population not to leave Pakistan. 90,000 Muslim refugees from Rohtak, Hisar, Gurgaon, and Patiala heading for Pakistan. Pakistani military authorities repatriated 57 non-Muslim female abductees to India, after recovery. The number of central cabinet ministers to be increased to 9. PCS (Executive) exam to be held in March, 1948. Cotton price in West Punjab fixed at Rs.18 per maund. The book needs to be widely introduced and circulated in the academia as it is a store of invaluable information on the genesis and practicality of the idea of Pakistan.

04 COMMENT

Sunday, 15 October, 2023

Why the BRI is not a danger for environment

Inflation news

SPI inflation shows troubles ahead

he latest weekly inflation figures, as measured by the Sensitive Price Index, show that the reduction brought about in the rupee-dollar parity has not yet translated into bringing prices down, and has not yielded the desired result, which is to cause a decline in the overall inflation rate. With a fortnightly fuel price adjustment due, the previous reduction has not yet had the result of reducing inflation. Apart from direct fuel prices, the price of power has not come down, though the government hopes that the bills will come down as consumption decreases in winter as fans, water-coolers and ACs are turned off. Inflation is still dangerously high, at a year-on-year 38.2 percent, which keeps the economy in the danger of falling into runaway hyperinflation. however, there is a hope that it will begin to come down. That is something the government will look forward to anxiously, for one of the main results of inflation so far has been to drive up the interest rate, and thus the government’s cost of borrowing. That cost has to come out of revenue. Further, that cost affects the parity ultimately, and thus has an inflationary effect. Therefore, the government has a vested interest in keeping inflation, not because of the effect it has on the common man, but because of the effect on government finances. Because of this, domestic debt threatens to become as much of a problem as external debt, with the same disastrously explosive consequences if not handled properly. While the caretaker government and its backers are concerned about inflation. The main measure taken, to reduce the value of the dollar by what amounts to arm-twisting, will not work forever. AS is shown by the problems of dea;ing with smuggling, individuals in every institution are corruptible, which means that anti-smuggling efforts must have a buy-in from the common man.That is not possible for the caretakers, no matter they have such figures as Dr Shamshad Akhtar and Dr Gohar ejaz in the caretaker cabinet. The only way is for the government to have credibility, something which can only be conferred if they have a five-year tenure, and smugglers and currency speculators know they aren’t going anywhere soon. even if they prolong their tenure, as the present caretakers seem to have done, there is no way of predicting how long they intend to remain in office.

Giving renewable energy the priority

spective of the BRI's existence. hence, the demand for environmentally friendly policies should not be limited to the BRI alone. China, the driving force behind the BRI, is actively transitioning towards a green economy. This commitment reflects China's leadership in balancing economic development with environmental responsibility on a global scale. China, the driving force behind the BRI, is actively transitioning towards a green economy. This commitment reflects China's leadership in balancing economic development with environmental responsibility on a global scale. As the BRI continues to shape the global landscape, its expansion into various dimensions, including the Digital Silk Road, health Silk Road, and Polar Silk Road, underscores the initiative's evolving nature dr iMrAn KhALid and commitment to addressing pressing global challenges. Among these dimensions, the Green Silk Road stands out as a beacon of hope for a world grapVeR since 2013 when China launched its pling with environmental crises and the urgent need Belt and Road Initiative, some Western pow- for sustainable development. ers, driven by misplaced apprehensions, have The world is increasingly prioritizing sustainable been persistently fueling a campaign of dis- development as the need to address climate change information against the initiative. In the pre- and environmental degradation becomes more urgent. vailing discourse on the BRI, Western think tanks The Green Silk Road serves as an effective solution have blamed China's large-scale investment in coal for implementing the UN's 2030 Agenda. To fulfill and other fossil fuels for possible intensification of these ambitious targets, China recognizes the imporcarbon emissions. tance of promoting sustainThey claim that the BRI ability not only within its must align with the Paris borders but also in the reAgreement and prioritize gions connected through the environmental sustainabilBRI. China has actively ity. For instance, an article The Green Silk Road within the promoted the Green Silk published by the U.S.-based through the establishBRI represents a forward-looking Road Council on Foreign Relament of guidelines and parttions accused the BRI of commitment to sustainability, nership agreements. being "dominated by fossil The Green Investment fuels." "BRI's fossil fuel inenvironmental protection, and Principles (GIP) for the vestments will make comBRI, introduced in late global cooperation. Contrary to 2018, bating climate change more provide a framework difficult. The U.S. needs to the negative framing by Western for greener investments in offer developing nations an BRI participant countries alternative means of acquir- critics, the actual reality of the BRI and regions. In 2021, China ing clean energy," the article published the Green Develis quite different from this said. opment Guidelines for yet, Western media, narrative. China's dedication to Overseas Investment and driven by misplaced appreCooperation. These prohensions, has been persist- sustainable development through grammes focus on managently fueling a campaign of the Green Silk Road offers a ing environmental risks disinformation against the associated with overseas initiative. These myopic compelling vision for the future of BRI projects and supply narratives against the BRI chains, further underlining global infrastructure and often disregard its transforChina's commitment to susmative potential, neglecting connectivity tainability. the countless opportunities A key aspect of China's for cooperation and commitment to sustainabilprogress it offers to the ity within the BRI is the world. shift away from coal-related It is crucial to evaluate the BRI from a balanced investments. Conversely, China has significantly instandpoint that recognizes its immense potential ben- creased its investments in renewable energy, includefits, as well as China's steadfast dedication to envi- ing solar, wind, and hydropower within BRI-involved ronmental safety. While environmental concerns are regions. valid, it is essential to recognize that construction and In 2022, investments in these green energy secdevelopment projects are ongoing worldwide, irre- tors saw a 50 percent year-on-year increase. China's

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor Umar Aziz M. A. Niazi

The India-Middle East-Europe Economic Corridor (IMEC): Courting the BRI Joint Editor

Executive Editor

A in the US-China conflict

Another Aren rAshid MehMood

he India-Middle east-europe economic Corridor (IMeC) is a new plan of the USA and its allies, which was announced in the G20 leaders summit. The project was launched to stop the Chinese rise in the region. If the project is completed, it will ultimately harm China's Belt and Road Initiatives. The BRI is a massive project of China which has been interlinked with at least three continents. The IMeC is a transitional rail and shipping route spread across two continents, which is a product of the USA and India and will play the role of mediator. The USA expects that launching this project will energize economic development through connectivity and economic integration between Asia, europe and the Arabian Gulf. US President Joe Biden, in his visit to Vietnam, told a reporter that the USA did not need to contain China and wanted to see her succeed, but this diplomatic narrative always heartened China. In his speech to the G20 summit, Indian PM Narendra Modi said that IMeC is not necessarily replacing China's BRI and that they had good terms with China. But both countries are playing a dual game with China. The new trade route is a good omen for the USA and Saudi Arabia because they want to expand their trade with the european Union, Italy, Germany and France. This corridor has two separate routes: the east corridor, which links India to the Gulf Arab states and the Northern route, which connects europe to the Gulf States. Mohammad Baharoon, the Director General of Dubai Public Policy Research centre, in a TV interview, articulated that It is not a project of competition with China's BRI but an attempt to facilitate the movement of goods (including energy), data, money and develop people-to-people connections. The recent summit brought many ideas for the participants to empower the Gulf states and

europe. Many scholars believe that Biden's main agenda under this initiative is to defeat China in europe and the Gulf. Mr Modi, during his speech at the summit, said that this milestone will make the trade between India and europe 40 percent faster with a rail link. The White house, in a statement, said that the USA’s approach through this project aimed to unlock new investments from partners in order to create more jobs and strengthen the private sector. The IMeC plan took place at the G7 leaders meeting in May, which was held in Japan. In the meeting, it was decided that the world's seven wealthiest countries pledged to collectively mobilize $600 billion (€558 billion) by 2027 to counter the BRI. Many scholars opined that BRI is more extensive in scale than IMeC, and countering China is not an easy feat. China's mega project of BRI was signed in 2013 with more than 150 countries and over 30,000 international organizations to be completed by 2049. The purpose of BRI was to mobilize nearly $1 trillion and create over 3,000 projects. however, the IMeC has not announced its cost and completion plan. The US wants to count its Middle east allies through its IMeC project to counter China, however, the Gulf states are trying to find a balance between traditional partners like the USA, and China. Some International relations scholars have their views that some signatories of IMeC are also part of the BRI, like UAe, Italy and Saudi Arabia, however there are signs China, due to its flagging economy, is slowing down BRI. Some scholars believe that Italy has indicated that it

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

aims to leave BRI. experts believe that IMeC is a game changer for India, like BRI for China. They also have their views that the goal of the USA and europe to compete with China in global infrastructure is to boost the economy of the USA and curtail Beijing in the Middle east. Alka Acharya, honorary director of the Institute of Chinese Studies in New Delhi, told TV that countering China's BRI is a difficult challenge for India and it should piggyback on the Americans and other players equally ranged against China. She added that India looks at these projects to push its infrastructure projects. Some experts in international politics believe that IMeC is a good idea economically and strategically, which will facilitate speedy transportation of goods between India, the Gulf States and europe, bypassing the troubled territories of Pakistan and Afghanistan. This project is based on the hypocritical behaviour of India and the USA to counter China. According to an article in the Chinese press, there is no industrial manufacturing bloc that can compete with BRI, and there needs to be a clear policy for human capital, labour policy, government system and efficiency. The USA can not afford as long-term a project as China can afford its BRI. Both significant players are trying to counter each other. Let's see what will happen in future.

According to an article in the Chinese press, there is no industrial manufacturing bloc that can compete with BRI, and there needs to be a clear policy for human capital, labour policy, government system and efficiency. The USA can not afford as long-term a project as China can afford its BRI. Both significant players are trying to counter each other. Let's see what will happen in future

Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

dominance in renewable energy manufacturing, accounting for 72 percent of global solar manufacturing and 50 percent of global wind turbine manufacturing, positions it as a crucial contributor to low-carbon technologies for BRI countries and regions. In 2021, China's total renewable energy use reached 750 million tons of standard coal, leading to a reduction of 2.1 billion tons of carbon dioxide emissions. At the same time, China holds the distinction of being the global leader in the production of solar panels, wind turbines, batteries, and electric vehicles. This status uniquely positions China to facilitate the delivery of cutting-edge, low-carbon technologies to the emerging markets and developing economies engaged in the BRI. Collaboration between Chinese officials, local governments, and corporations in BRI-participating countries and regions has also led to the development of green infrastructure. In the sphere of environmental conservation, China has demonstrated its commitment by engaging in approximately 50 agreements with stakeholders within the BRI framework over the past decade. China's Lancang-Mekong Sweet Spring Project, for instance, has provided safe drinking water to thousands of individuals in Cambodia, Laos, and Myanmar, underscoring China's ecology dedication in vulnerable communities. China's huge investment in borehole drilling is serving as a vital lifeline to water-scarce communities across Africa as well, where the availability of clean and safe drinking water remains an enduring challenge for many. In Zimbabwe, China has built 1,000 wells since 2012, benefiting over 400,000 local people. China-built wells are "gifts of lives" for locals. The Green Silk Road within the BRI represents a forward-looking commitment to sustainability, environmental protection, and global cooperation. Contrary to the negative framing by Western critics, the actual reality of the BRI is quite different from this narrative. China's dedication to sustainable development through the Green Silk Road offers a compelling vision for the future of global infrastructure and connectivity. The writer is a freelance columnist

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Mosquito-born diseases surge

The health department in Sindh province has confirmed a significant increase in malaria cases, with more than double the number compared to the past two years. Simultaneously, dengue cases have recently started to emerge. Official statistics indicate 31,000 malaria cases in hyderabad division in August alone, along with 828 dengue patients, although no fatalities have been reported. Both diseases are transmitted by different mosquito species, and several factors contribute to their prevalence. Ignorance, unfavourable climatic conditions, poor sanitation, and inadequate preventive measures in rural areas foster mosquito breeding. Malaria and dengue tests are expensive, making them inaccessible to the economically disadvantaged, earning malaria the label of a “disease of the poor.” Dengue fever cases are also on the rise in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, and Islamabad, with expectations of further increases in the next two months. The ongoing monsoon season has left stagnant rainwater in many areas, necessitating immediate drainage. In rural regions, a significant portion of the population sleeps with open windows and doors or in open spaces during the summer, creating vulnerability to mosquito bites. To address these issues, health departments and local authorities must conduct mosquito-spraying efforts. Additionally, citizens should protect their homes with mosquito repellents and ensure that clean water containers are well-covered to prevent the breeding of the specific dengue mosquito. AMIN WASTOO HOSHAB

Gender gap in Pakistani politics

DeMOCRACy in Pakistan has often been tenuous, marked by interventions and low voter turnout. however, there has been positive progress, with over 21 million new voters, including 11.74 million women, added to the electoral rolls. This narrows the gender gap from 11 million in 2018 to 10 million. Despite these gains, women’s participation in politics faces chal lenges, including the fear of harass ment and societal taboos. In some areas, women are still prohibited from voting. Local authorities must ensure women’s voting rights are protected. Some political parties have also barred women from vot ing, perpetuating misogyny. Fortunately, updated election laws now require women’s votes to constitute 10% of the total votes in any constituency, giving them a stronger voice. Social me dia and increased access to tech nology have also empowered young women voters. Climate ‘countdown clock’ report launched ahead of key UN talks In 2023, it is crucial to address these issues, as women constitute 49% of the population. encour aging women’s participation in politics is essential for Pakistan’s democratic future, especially in a challenging political landscape. MUHAMMAD AMIN KECH

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Yom Kippur; New players

COMMENT 05

Sunday, 15 October, 2023

Greater stakes define scorched earth policy Naqi akbar

AST weekend’s Hamas incursion into the Israeli mainland took the Zionist entity by surprise. A surprise the entity experienced exactly 50 years ago in 1973. Then the governments of Hafez Al Assad in Syria and of Anwar Sadat in Egypt, going for their respective geostrategic objectives, went to war. Egypt was able to make a few gains in Sinai; the gains which it cultivated for the final cession of escalation with the entity. Syria to date could not get back the Golan Heights, lost in 1967 during the Six-Day War. The two surprises were different on many counts. Obviously, the finales are bound to be different. It can be safely forecast that the stakes now are much higher and consequent scale of destruction and the radius of war cannot be predicted to be ‘manageable’. The 1973 Yom Kippur was a payback orchestrated by the two Arab governments who were humiliated in June 1967, when their air forces were devastated while still parked on the respective tarmacs. In 1967, much was lost by Jordan, Syria as well as Egypt at the hands of the Israeli Defence Forces (IDF). Making use of the surprise element as well as the overconfidence of the IDF, the Arab forces were able to make some gains. Here it may be pointed out that the Arab governments were structurally incapable to strike Israel as they could have. They left much of the job to the foreign operations sections of their elite intelligence agencies. Their job did not go beyond a few hit-and-run guerilla operations without any decisive value. The modus operandi of the intelligence outfits was like that. They would maintain an operational cadre for these operations, preferably in Lebanon. The local handlers would be lured into the trap on the promise that fallen heroes would be compensated. The poor and destitute sections of Lebanese society and the Palestinian diaspora, already living in subhuman conditions, were easily lured by these incentives. For the Arab governments, there was the benefit of being in the news headlines courtesy this or that operation. For the local handlers, Palestinian leadership as well as the human fodder, there were free arms, meals and compensation if killed in the line of fire. Revolutionary Iran’s first defence minister, nuclear Physicist Dr Mostafa Chamran (1932-1981), who spent a few years as exiled political dissident in the civil war-ridden country has chronicled these happenings in his memoir on his stay in Lebanon. Practically, neither the Palestinian movement achieved any benchmarks, nor were the Arabs interested

in solving the case, as it should have been. The outcome of that situation was individual arrangements between the respective Arab governments and the Zionist state. Jordan, one such kingdom created out of the Ottoman Empire, was most compliant with the Israeli government, despite a general image of being opposed to occupation. Here it may be pointed out that the ethnic Jordanians are much closer to the ethnic Palestinians than other Arabs. That historical context and American uneasiness with the same precipitated the famous Black September 1970 massacre of the Palestine Liberation Organization (PLO), mass devastation of the Palestinian refugee camps. That crackdown in Jordan and the Palestinians’ next diaspora to Lebanon, which culminated in the last big incursion into any neighbouring country, the 1982 Lebanese Invasion by Israel. That diaspora in a way laid the ground for what can be termed as an alternate current in the Palestinian political map. The militants of the past and the pragmatists of today, found it okay to cooperate with the global guarantors and through them with Israel. The PLO leadership, which was angry with the Egyptian military leadership in 1978 over its compromise with Israel, was itself a stakeholder in the 1993 Oslo Accord. During the period under discussion, came the rise of the radical Islamist group Hamas on the sidelines of the 1987 Intifada. The intifada was unique on the count that it happened within the Israeli borders in places where the Palestinian were in majority. The Hamas political leadership laid its hopes on PLO and consequently the two pieces of land, Gaza strip and the West Bank, were awarded to the Palestinian Authority as part of the physically coexisting states of Israel

That ongoing Yom Kippur, October 7, is different or can be different, provided the key players, stakeholders remain on the ‘scene’, kill disinformation, shun an apologetic posture and go beyond ‘routine’. For the resistance axis, the stakes are more critical. Mere lip service will prove to the Palestinians that they are not different from the previous franchise leaders. If anything decisive comes out of the uprising, the resistance narrative might be saved for another day, otherwise another global plan like Oslo will be tabled for further compromise

Is the US denying China a bigger voice at the IMF? China accounts for about 18% of the global economy, yet it enjoys just a little over 6% of the IMF's voting share. This discrepancy means Beijing would be the biggest beneficiary of a quota realignment

ashutosh PaNdEy

HINA says its voting power at the Fund doesn't mirror the economic clout it has built over the past two decades. But the US, the IMF's biggest shareholder, isn't ready to change the status quo just yet. China might have to wait longer to enjoy a bigger voice at the International Monetary Fund (IMF), the world's foremost lender of last resort, thanks to a US proposal that's gaining traction among the IMF's 190 members. The review of IMF quotas — the money that member countries commit to the multilateral body — was one of the main topics on the agenda at the annual meetings of the IMF and the World Bank Group this week in Marrakech, Morocco. Sidestepping growing clamor from China and other emerging countries for a larger shareholding in the IMF, the US has proposed an "equiproportional" increase in IMF quotas. That means member countries should make higher contributions in proportion to their existing quotas without expecting a change in their voting shares, which were last revised in 2010. US Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen said in Marrakech the US was committed to a new "fair and simple" quota formula that reflects the economic size of IMF members, but "regrets that agreement on a new formula" remains elusive. "In the absence of a new formula, an equiproportional increase is the only viable outcome that avoids arbitrarily picking winners and losers," Yellen said. IMF QUOTAS OUT OF SYNC WITH ECONOMIC REALITIES The IMF says it needs more money to continue extending financial help to needy countries in a world that's becoming increasingly prone to geopolitical and environmental shocks. Quotas contributed by IMF members account for more than 40% of the Fund's lending basket, with bilateral and multilateral borrowing making up the rest. Quotas are a reliable and predictable source of funding, a reason why IMF

members repeatedly reiterate the need to boost quota contributions and reduce the institution's reliance on borrowed funds. The last increase in quotas was agreed in 2010 and took effect six years later. Countries like China, India and Brazil agree that the IMF's lending pot needs to grow with larger contributions from its members — especially given the lender's key role as the first responder to global economic shocks, as seen during the COVID-19 pandemic and the war in Ukraine. But they have also been pitching for a proportionate rise in voting rights to reflect their growing economic clout. "Quotas determine voting power and voting power has to add up to 100%. If somebody rises, somebody has to go down. Even if people agree that certain countries deserve to go up, nobody's willing to pay for that increase," Mark Sobel, US chairman at OMFIF think tank and a veteran US Treasury official, told DW. "In a way, it's a microcosm of geopolitical power and rivalries." IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva has been backing quota reforms that would redistribute shareholdings at the IMF to reflect the growth of China and other emerging countries. In Marrakech, she called on members to set a deadline for the realignment of the shareholding structure, Reuters news agency reported. WASHINGTON'S POLITICAL COMPULSIONS Experts say the US's reluctance for a quota reform that includes a realignment of voting shares stems from concerns that such an exercise would inevitably give more voting power to China. China accounts for about 18% of the global economy, yet it enjoys just a little over 6% of the IMF's voting share. This discrepancy means Beijing would be the biggest beneficiary of a quota realignment. Currently, the US is the biggest shareholder with a 16.5% share, effectively giving it veto power since major decisions need 85% approval. The US administration has to seek congressional approval for any IMF quota reform. It took the government years to get Congress to put its stamp on the 2010 reform that increased China's voting at the expense of European countries. "Bringing anything to Congress right now in this very polarizing environment, both domestically and internationally, that includes more weight for China, I think would be impossible," Karen Mathiasen from the Center for Global Development think tank told DW. CHINA NOT ADHERING TO SHARED PRINCIPLES US officials have been arguing that China doesn't deserve more voting power at the IMF until it takes on more

and an independent Palestinian state. Here it is pertinent to note that there are two trends within the Palestinian diaspora as well as the Muslim world in general. One calls for a two nation-solution, which means the Oslo Accord. The other trend, generally called the ‘Rejectionist’ front, has been previously composed of the left-of-centre Baathist dictatorships in Syria and Iraq. After 1979, Iran seems to have wrested the mantle from the Left front. The growth of Islamist groups in Palestinian diaspora during the Intifada and after filled the necessary gap within the Palestinian line up. Hamas since its coming to limelight courtesy martyr Sheikh Yassin (2003) has been able to form the government in the PA areas in 2006. Much of the tenure was marred by street level killing of its cadre by the Israeli air force. It would not be an exaggeration that the IDF air arm stands out as the unique one with ability to target slow moving four-wheelers on Gaza streets on board fastmoving flying machines like F-16s. The coexistence trend seems to be politically hibernating after getting the Palestinian Authority. The rejectionist Palestinians best represented by Hamas automatically found a common cause with the states like Iran and groups like Hezbollah. It was no coincidence that Ismail Hanieh, one time Prime Minister of the PA, was one of the speakers at the funeral ceremony of slain IRGC commander Qasem Soleimani. Unlike the previous arrangements between on-thespot Palestinian resources and the funding government, a sort of independence of action and indigenization seems to exist. It is no more a cache of arms supplied by the benefactor government, rather the combatants on ground have their own ways and methodology to plan

responsibility in aiding global debt relief efforts and becomes transparent about its foreign exchange practices. Beijing, one of the biggest bilateral lenders in the world, has been blamed for stalling progress on debt restructuring for poor countries, delaying their return to sustainable debt. It has also been criticized for offering loans often shrouded in secrecy. In September, US Treasury Undersecretary for International Affairs Jay Shambaugh said it was important that "all countries — especially those that would see an increase in share — are respecting the roles and norms of the IMF and working to strengthen the international monetary system." SUPPORT FOR THE US PROPOSAL To make its proposal more palatable to emerging market economies and lowincome countries, the US has called to add a fifth deputy managing director position at the IMF to ensure better representation for those countries. It also backed the creation of a third chair on the IMF Executive Board for sub-Saharan Africa. The US proposal has seen increased backing from IMF members in Marrakech, including European countries led by France and the UK. Brazil said it would support the US proposal if it were coupled to an "adhoc" share increase for the most "blatantly underrepresented" IMF members, Reuters reported. "The US proposal in some ways politically suits the US," Sobel said. "The vast bulk of emerging markets or developing countries, they're not performing well. Their share in the global economy isn't rising. So they too are not going to fuss about it." IS THE IMF'S LEGITIMACY AT STAKE? The G24, a diverse grouping of developing and low-income countries with China as a special invitee, warned in Marrakech that the "legitimacy and effectiveness of IMF hinges on quota realignment." "This process is crucial for bolstering the voice and representation of LICs [low-income countries] and MICs [middle-income countries] within the IMF," it said in a statement. In April, the governor of the Chinese central bank, Yi Gang, said the quota reform was needed "to fundamentally enhance the Fund's legitimacy, effectiveness and representativeness." Sobel says a failure to implement a realignment of quotas now won't hurt the IMF's relevance and legitimacy, while adding that multilateral lenders backed by China, like the New Development Bank and the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank "wouldn't be able to replicate the IMF's impact." "Everybody, including China and the US, has an interest in global financial stability," Sobel said. "If a country somewhere in the world is having a balance of payments crisis, who do you turn to? You turn to the IMF. That is true, whether there's a realignment or not." The ongoing 16th review of IMF quotas is scheduled to be completed by mid-December 2023.

and execute operations. It is with the logic of imagination that that much firepower from Hamas displayed over the Israeli skies could not have come in ‘containers’ from the Islamic Republic, but was assembled or developed within the Palestinian territories. As things stand, with the President of PA Mahmood Abbas, a mere symbolic head of PA, the Hamas movement seems to be the political force on ground in the Palestinian lands. If that had not been the case, the PLO controlled PA with active encouragement from the other stakeholders might have neutralized the movement long ago. The relentless IDF bombing draws a clear line that the PA and IDF stand on one side and Hamas alone on the other side. Given the fact that the Hamas movement is holding on against the internationally supported onslaught despite a very small piece of land and danger of complete wipe-out, the situation can escalate into a much wider conflict, despite restraint by the key players. Any participation of Hezbollah or any Israeli strike on Iranian targets can force other players to jump into the fray. Any decisive stalemate from the Palestinian side can be the basis for talk on the table with a better stake in hand. Given the 57-member-strong Muslim polity, which seems to agree with Abraham Accord ‘blessings’ as dictated by the west, a lot still depends on the Arab and Muslim streets, not the streets of Tehran or Beirut only, to politically knock out the Abraham Accord. That ongoing Yom Kippur, October 7, is different or can be different, provided the key players, stakeholders remain on the ‘scene’, kill disinformation, shun an apologetic posture and go beyond ‘routine’. For the resistance axis, the stakes are more critical. Mere lip service will prove to the Palestinians that they are not different from the previous franchise leaders. If anything decisive comes out of the uprising, the resistance narrative might be saved for another day, otherwise another global plan like Oslo will be tabled for further compromise. The writer is a freelance columnist

Israel is losing its value as an ally for the West, Arab states If Israel cannot even protect its own fortified borders, what security can it realistically provide for its allies and partners?

AL JAZEERA

GhassaN Elkahlout

N Saturday, October 7, Hamas forces in the Gaza Strip embarked on a multipronged attack on Israel, dubbed Operation Al-Aqsa Flood, firing a barrage of thousands of rockets and infiltrating areas in the south of the country. The unprecedented operation had profound ramifications both for the Israelis and the Palestinians. In Israel, some 1300 people were killed and over 3,300 others were injured. In Gaza, Israel’s retaliatory attacks claimed over 1500 lives and wounded 6500 others. Israel also cut off the electricity supply and blocked the entry of food and fuel to the Gaza Strip as part of an unlawful “total siege” strategy adopted on Monday. With an Israeli ground invasion of the Gaza Strip imminent, the scale of the violence, disproportionately targeting Gaza’s 2.3 million inhabitants, is expected to magnify. As a Palestinian who has grown up within the confines of a refugee camp in the Gaza Strip, I believe we are now at a turning point in our struggle. Operation Al Aqsa Flood, born out of the instinctual drive for survival of a people subjected to decades of unjust and inhumane humiliation and ill-treatment, has proved yet again that Israel cannot erase Palestine and put an end to the Palestinian people’s righteous struggle for liberation. It also demonstrated the increasing power and surprising resourcefulness of the Palestinian resistance. Although its specifics are yet to be fully unveiled, the operation showed that, despite facing nothing but oppression, ethnic cleansing, blockades and massacres for many years, the Palestinians are still able to stand up to Israel using the few resources available to them. The operation is a testament to the significant evolution Palestinian resistance has undergone over the past three decades, progressing from small and unorganised groups throwing basic Molotov cocktails in refugee camps to armed fighters paragliding into Israel and rockets infiltrating the “Iron Dome”. These recent incursions also had a profound impact on Israel’s self-image and standing in the international arena. Israel has long been presenting itself as the best and most efficient defender of American and wider Western interests in the Middle East, against threats from Iran and others. Recently, the Israeli regime has also been working to normalise its relations with Arab powers, promising to help them protect themselves from the aggressions of their regional rivals. However, the October 7 incursion, which demonstrated Israel’s inability to safeguard its own highly fortified borders, set within one of the most closely surveilled and controlled territories on Earth, put these assumptions and promises to a serious test. Indeed, after finding itself under an organised attack, instead of relying on its own much-advertised military capabilities and prowess, Israel immediately turned to its colonial backers for material and symbolic support. It was highly ironic

that the United States had to promise further military assistance to a nation that is already heavily fortified and supported by an annual $3.8bn in aid. Despite the US President and European leaders all rushing to reaffirm their support for Israel after Saturday’s operation, it is hard to deny that the events of the past week, which saw Israel fail to protect itself against a group that has been under siege and under attack since its very inception, raised important questions about Israel’s value as an ally to the West. After all, a state unable to protect its own borders, despite being in possession of the best surveillance technologies and military equipment, could hardly help resolve its allies’ security concerns in a highly volatile region. Operation Al-Aqsa Flood raised serious questions about the future of normalisation efforts between Israel and its Arab neighbours as well. The Abraham Accords, the US-mediated agreements between Israel and several Arab states signed in 2020, were presented to the international community as a pathway to sustainable peace in the Middle East. Since the October 7 incursion, and Israel’s disproportionate retaliatory attacks on the Gazan population that followed, however, the Arab public made it clear to the international community that there can be no enduring peace in the region until Palestinians find justice and freedom. Thousands took to social media or to the streets across the Arab world in solidarity with Palestinians under total siege and relentless bombardment in Gaza and demanded from their leaders that halt to any efforts for normalisation with Israel until the oppression, occupation and abuse in Palestine comes to an end and millions of Palestinian refugees scattered around the region are allowed to return to their ancestral homelands. Now the leaders interested in normalisation with Israel have to consider both the revelations about Israel’s limited capabilities to protect its own borders and their constituents’ clear wish that they prioritise the wellbeing of Palestinians above anything that can be gained from a partnership with Israel. Furthermore, as Israel gears up to launch yet another devastating and deadly attack against a besieged population in the form of a ground invasion, there is a distinct possibility that armed groups in the region with strong ties to Hamas, such as Hezbollah in Lebanon, may join in the conflict. This would lead to the conflict in Palestine expanding to a larger section of the region, making it even more difficult for any Arab nation to maintain normal relations with the government of Israel. After enduring 16 years of blockade, several bloody wars, and gradual strangulation, Palestinians in Gaza are now facing the threat of a genocidal land invasion. Israel’s ongoing acts of disproportionate violence and war crimes against Palestinians in Gaza are aimed not only at avenging the Hamas incursion but also at showing strength to the international community. The tragic events of the past week exposed Israel’s many weaknesses, revealing to its supporters that it is not the indispensable ally and security partner it purports to be. We have also seen how the Arab street is still firmly behind Palestinians and would not agree to normalisation between their states and Israel unless all Palestinians are safe, free and allowed to return to their homeland. Israel is trying to repair its image as a security leader with its attacks on Gaza’s besieged population, but all it is doing is to highlight the strength of Palestinian resistance.

Ghassan Elkahlout is the Director of the Center for Conflict and Humanitarian Studies. He is an Associate Professor at the Doha Institute for Graduate Studies.

06 NEWS

ChInA stResses MAjoR poweRs’ IMpARtIAlIty, RestRAInt on pAlestIne-IsRAel ConflICt

BEIJING

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

HINA’s top diplomat Wang Yi on Saturday had a phone call with US Secretary of State Antony Blinken at the latter’s invitation, during which Blinken briefed Wang on the escalating situation in the Middle East during his ongoing visit, and the US position on the current Palestine-Israel conflict. The Chinese Foreign Minister, who is also a member of the Political Bureau of the CPC Central Committee and Director of the Office of the Central Commission for Foreign Affairs, noted that when dealing with international regional hotspot issues, major powers should adhere to objectivity and impartiality, maintain calm and restraint and take the lead in abiding by international law. China will continue to promote peace and dialogue, adding that the US should play a constructive role and push for the issue to return to the track of political settlement, Wang said. Wang stated that the Palestine-Israel conflict is escalating and facing the risk of spiraling out of control. China opposes any actions that harm civilians and condemns any practices that violate international law. China believes that safeguarding its own security should not come at the expense of innocent civilians. Military means do not represent a way out, and resorting to violence will only lead to a vicious cycle. Wang pointed out that an immediate priority is to achieve a ceasefire and deescalation as soon as possible, to avoid exacerbating the humanitarian disaster. It is necessary to adhere to international humanitarian law and open up humani-

tarian aid channels, as well as support the UN in consolidating international consensus and the UN Security Council in playing its due role. Wang emphasized that the fundamental solution to the Palestine issue lies in implementing a “two-state solution” and establishing an independent Palestinian state, achieving peaceful coexistence between the two sides. Without reconcilia-

US urges Israel to use every possible precaution to avoid harm to civilians in Gaza

TEL AVIV: US Secretary of State Antony Blinken has urged Israel to minimize civilian casualties in the Gaza Strip. Also, while defending Israel’s right to respond to what he termed “unconscionable” attacks by Hamas, Blinken emphasized the need to protect innocent Palestinians during his visit to Tel Aviv. After a visit to Tel Aviv, Blinken, currently on a six-nation tour of Arab countries, addressed the recent breach of Israel’s southern border by Hamas militants on October 7, resulting in the shocking loss of over 1,300 lives, including children, the elderly, and attendees of a music festival. But Blinken said that Israel was within its rights after the “unconscionable” attacks by Hamas. “What Israel is doing is not retaliation. What Israel is doing is defending the lives of its people. Any country, faced with what Israel has suffered, would likely do the same thing.” Despite acknowledging Israel’s right to respond, Blinken urged restraint in the face of the ongoing conflict that has claimed at least 1,799 lives in Gaza. “We have urged the Israelis to use every possible precaution to avoid harm to civilians,” Blinken told a news conference in Qatar. “We recognise many Palestinian families in Gaza are suffering through no fault of their own and that Palestinian civilians have lost their lives.” During his visit, Blinken praised Qatar for its urgency in negotiating the release of an estimated 150 hostages held by Hamas. AGENCIES

saudi calls out Israel’s attacks on Gaza, displacement RIYADH

AGENCIES

tion between the Arab and Israeli nations, there can be no peace in the Middle East. China calls for the prompt convening of an international conference to promote the achievement of broad consensus. Blinken said that the US supports a “two-state solution” to the Israeli-Palestinian issue, supports the UN in playing a role in easing the situation and providing humanitarian assistance, and is will-

ing to strengthen communication and coordination with China. Wang and Blinken also exchanged views on bilateral relations. China and the US have conducted a series of highlevel contacts, and bilateral relations have shown signs of stabilizing and recovering, which is welcomed by the people of both countries and the international community, Wang said. It is hoped that the US will meet China halfway, implement the consensus reached by the two heads of state at the meeting in Bali, Indonesia to overcome interference, remove obstacles, expand the positive list and shorten the negative one, respect China’s core interests and major concerns, and promote the return of China-US relations to a stable and developing track, said the Chinese Foreign Minister. Blinken said that the US is willing to work with China to implement the important consensus reached between the two presidents at the Bali Summit, responsibly manage US-China relations, and promote stability of bilateral relationship.

Saudi Arabia has strongly criticized Israel for the displacement of Palestinians from Gaza and the attacks on “defenceless civilians,” in the kingdom’s most scathing condemnation since the outbreak of the recent conflict. Riyadh “affirms its categorical rejection of calls for the forced displacement of the Palestinian people from Gaza, and its condemnation of the continued targeting of defenceless civilians there”, the kingdom’s foreign ministry said in a statement. Thousands of Palestinians sought refuge in southern Gaza following Israel’s call for over a million to evacuate the northern part of the besieged enclave in anticipation of an imminent ground offensive. The Saudi statement, denouncing the actions in Gaza, coincided with the arrival of US Secretary of State Antony Blinken in Riyadh as part of his sixnation tour of Arab countries. The visit comes amid continued Israeli strikes on Gaza in retaliation for a surprise weekend attack by Hamas, which has been deemed the deadliest in Israel’s history. The ongoing war has complicated efforts by the Biden administration to foster normalization between Israel and Saudi Arabia, a significant player in the region and the home of Islam’s two holiest sites. Saudi Arabia, historically not recognizing Israel, has issued multiple statements in the past week reaffirming its support for the Palestinian cause. In a notable development, Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman engaged in a discussion with Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi on the “current military situation in Gaza and its environs”. This conversation follows a surprise Chinabrokered rapprochement between Saudi Arabia and Iran in March, marking the first call between the two leaders since the diplomatic breakthrough. Friday’s Saudi foreign ministry statement also included a call for the international community “to quickly move to stop all forms of military escalation against civilians, prevent a humanitarian catastrophe, and provide the necessary relief and medical needs for the residents of Gaza.” “Depriving them of these basic requirements for a decent life is a violation of international humanitarian law and will exacerbate the depth of the crisis and suffering that this region is witnessing,” it added. At the Grand Mosque in Makkah on Friday, Sheikh Osama bin Abdullah Khayyat, the imam, visibly moved, led prayers, expressing concern for the well-being of Muslims in Palestine: “May God protect the Muslims in Palestine.”

Ferrari to accept crypto as payment for its cars in US PROFIT

REUTERS

Ferrari (RACE.MI) has started to accept payment in cryptocurrency for its luxury sports cars in the U.S. and will extend the scheme to Europe following requests from its wealthy customers, its marketing and commercial chief told Reuters. The vast majority of bluechip companies have steered clear of crypto as the volatility of bitcoin and other tokens renders them impractical for commerce. Patchy regulation and high energy usage have also prevented the spread of crypto as a means of payment. These include electric carmaker Tesla (TSLA.O), which in 2021 began to accept payment in bitcoin, the biggest crypto coin, before CEO Elon Musk halted it because of environmental concerns. Ferrari’s Chief Marketing and Commercial Officer Enrico Galliera told that Reuters cryptocurrencies had made efforts to reduce their carbon footprint through the introduction of new software and a larger use of renewable sources. “Our target to reach for carbon neutrality by 2030 along our whole value chain is absolutely confirmed,” he said in an interview. Ferrari said the decision came in response to requests from the market and dealers as many of its clients have invested

in crypto. “Some are young investors who have built their fortunes around cryptocurrencies,” he said. “Some others are more traditional investors, who want to diversify their portfolios.” While some cryptocurrencies, such as the second-largest, ether , have improved their energy efficiency, bitcoin still attracts criticism for its energy-intensive mining. Ferrari shipped more than 1,800 cars to its Americas region, which includes the U.S., in the first half of this year. Galliera did not say how many cars Ferrari expected to sell through crypto. He said the company’s order portfolio was strong and fully booked well into 2025, but the company wanted to test this expanding universe. “This will help us connect to people who are not necessarily our clients but might afford a Ferrari,” he said. The Italian company, which sold 13,200 cars in 2022, with prices starting at over 200,000 euros ($211,000) and going up to 2 million euros, plans to extend the crypto scheme to Europe by the first quarter of next year and then to other regions where crypto is legally accepted. Europe, the Middle East and Africa (EMEA) is Ferrari’s largest region, accounting for 46% of its total car shipments in the first half of this year.

“Interest is the same in the U.S. and Europe, we don’t see huge differences,” Galliera said. Countries where cryptocurrencies are restricted include China. Ferrari has turned to one of the biggest cryptocurrency payment processors, BitPay, for the initial phase in the U.S., and will allow transactions in bitcoin, ether and USDC, one of the largest so-called stablecoins. Ferrari might use other payment processors in different regions. “Prices will not change, no fees, no surcharges if you pay through cryptocurrencies,” Galliera said. Bitpay will immediately turn cryptocurrency payments into traditional currency on behalf of Ferrari’s dealers, so they are protected from price swings. “This was one of our main goals: avoiding, both our dealers and us, to directly handle cryptocurrencies and being shielded from their wide fluctuations,” Galliera said. As the payment processor, BitPay will ensure that the virtual currencies come from legitimate sources and not derived from criminal activity or to be used to launder the proceeds of crime or evade tax. Ferrari’s marketing and commercial chief said that the majority of its U.S. dealers have already signed up, or are about to agree, to the scheme “I am confident others will join soon,” Galliera said.

Sunday, 15 October, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

Religious minorities in India facing targeted attacks, says IAMC report WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The Washington-based Indian American Muslim Council (IAMC) has said that India has been witnessing a distressing surge in communal violence, targeted attacks, and hate speeches directed against religious minorities, particularly Muslims and Christians. The third quarter report (July-September) the IAMC said violence was exacerbating an atmosphere of persecution and discrimination faced by minority groups. It pointed out that violent cow vigilantism targeting Muslims has considerably increased as selfproclaimed cow protectors continue to engage in targeted attacks, ostensibly in the name of preventing beef consumption and cattle transportation. Additionally, there was a notable uptick in the illegal demolition of Muslim homes and targeting of religious structures, resulting in the displacement of entire communities, particularly in regions of Manipur and Haryana. These incidents are deeply troubling and require immediate attention, the report said. The report by IAMC, the largest advocacy organisation of Indian Muslim diaspora in the US, said during the third quarter of 2023, Muslims and Christians remained particularly vulnerable to violent incidents, persecution and discrimination. The escalating violence and intolerance have sounded a resounding alarm among human rights organisations, it said. The report said in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir human rights violations persisted unchecked. It highlighted widespread abuses targeting journalists, political activists, and the local population. “Effective action is crucial not only for safeguarding democracy but also for promoting tolerance and upholding human rights within India,” it said. The IAMC report cited a research paper prepared by the US-based journalist Raqib Hameed Naik, scholar Abhyudaya Tyagi and Paris-based journalist Aarushi Srivastava, documenting all verified instances of hate speech events organised by Hindu far-right groups against India’s Muslim minorities in the first half of 2023. The report revealed that in the first 181 days of 2023, there were 255 recorded instances of hate speech gatherings targeting Muslims across 17 regions, including Delhi and occupied Jammu and Kashmir. “This alarming statistic highlights an average of over one hate speech event occurring daily. Overwhelmingly, 80% of these hate speech events occurred in BJP-ruled states and union territories. Maharashtra, Karnataka, Madhya Pradesh, Rajasthan, and Gujarat witnessed the highest number of hate speech gatherings, with Maharashtra alone accounting for 29% of such incidents, while seven out of the top eight states with the highest number of hate speech events are governed by the BJP and its coalition partners. Around 42% of all hate speech gatherings were organised by RSS-affiliated groups,” it said. The report found that 51% of all the hate speech gatherings featured anti-Muslim conspiracy theories such as “love jihad,” “land jihad,” “mazar jihad,” “halal jihad,” and others. The IAMC report also shed light on persecution of the Christian community. It enumerated several attacks on Christians across the country including an incident involving Alexander Coates Reed, the principal of DY Patil High School in Talegaon in Maharashtra state. In view of the sustained attacks on religious minorities, IAMC urged the Indian government to prioritise enacting and enforcing robust legislation that specifically protects their rights. This legislation should address hate speech, communal violence, and targeted attacks, holding perpetrators accountable for their actions. It should also guarantee the right to freedom of religion, ensuring that individuals can practice their faith without fear of persecution or coercion.

China’s economy remains engine in global post-Covid recovery despite scarring eﬀect: IMF ISLAMABAD

MIAN ABRAR

China remains the largest engine of global economic growth, contributing one-third of the global economic growth, which is still dragged by the lingering scarring effect from the COVID-19 impacts, IMF economists said on Friday. “China is projected to grow 5 percent this year. As a result, China is going to contribute roughly one third of the global GDP growth,” Steven Barnett, IMF Senior

Representative for China, said at the launch of IMF World Economic Outlook 2023 in Beijing on Friday. The global economy is resilient in 2023, but it still grapples with widespread scarring effect in post-pandemic recovery, Barnett said. In its latest World Economic Outlook 2023 report, the IMF forecasted the global GDP to grow by 3 percent in 2023 and 2.9 percent in 2024. The scarring effect is more prominent in low-income developing countries after the pandemic, with the least developed countries bearing the brunt. China ranks

Reuters journalist killed, six wounded in Israeli strike on lebanon BEIRUT

AGENCIES

A Reuters journalist Issam Abdallah has been killed and six other journalists from different media outlets including Al-Jazeera, AFP and AP were wounded in shelling by Israeli forces in southern Lebanon. A group of journalists from different media outlets were near Alma al-Shaab close to the border with Israel when they were caught up in cross-border shelling, one of the two wounded. The Reuters news agency confirmed on Friday that its videographer Issam Abdallah was killed in the attack. Reuters said in a statement, “We are urgently seeking more information, working with authorities in the region, and supporting Issam’s family and colleagues,” It said that two other Reuters journalists, Thaer AlSudani and Maher Nazeh, had sustained injuries. Ali Hashem said in another message, “This video is from the instagram of one of the journalists .

at the global average of the scar effect, Barnett said. The inflation rates of many economies across the world, excluding China, have reached their highest levels in decades in 2022, according to IMF economists. Most countries will have difficulty returning to their inflation targets by 2025, IMF forecasted. China’s inflation is different from other countries as it has not experienced a significant increase, but has instead maintained at a relatively appropriate level, Barnett said.

CUSTOMS FOIL BID TO SMUGGLE IPHONES SNGPL cuts 687 more illegal WORTH RS130M AT KARACHI AIRPORT connections during

Sunday, 15 October, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

CORPORATE CORNER

anti-theft drive in Punjab, KP and Islamabad

During the ongoing crackdown against gas pilferers, SNGPL continued raids in Punjab, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Islamabad, disconnecting another 687 connections while imposing fine of Rs.12.9 million and 583 under billing cases processed In Lahore, the regional team disconnected 18 connections on illegal use of gas, another 07 connections on the use of compressor,24 under billing cases have been processed and Rs. 1.5 Million have been booked against gas theft and Rs.0.1 Million against under billing cases. In Bahawalpur, the regional team disconnected 538 connections on illegal use of gas, 347 under billing cases processed and 5.0 amount have been booked. The company disconnected 09 connections on illegal use of gas, another 03 connections on the use of compressor and 05 under billing cases have been processed in Multan and amount of Rs 0.04 Million have been booked against gas theft and Under billing cases. In Sheikhupura, 17 connections were disconnected by the region and 50 under billing cases processed, the team also booked Rs.3.204 million against gas theft and under billing cases. PR

Adamjee Insurance honoured at Best Corporate & Sustainability Report Awards for third consecutive year

KARACHI: Adamjee Insurance Company Limited, Pakistan’s leading insurance company, has been honored with the first position in the Insurance category at Best Corporate & Sustainability Report Awards 2022 by ICAP & ICMAP for the third consecutive year. Muhammad Asim Nagi – Chief Financial Officer received the Award from ICAP and ICMAP Council Members on behalf of Adamjee Insurance. The award recognizes Adamjee Insurance’s commitment to presenting accurate, transparent, relevant and timely corporate information in compliance with regulatory requirements to its shareholders and stakeholders. Muhammad Ali Zeb – Chief Executive Officer commented, "We are extremely honored to receive this distinguished award, which demonstrates Adamjee Insurance's unwavering dedication to corporate governance, openness, and effective reporting systems. I would like to use this opportunity to express my sincere gratitude to all of the hardworking Adamjee Insurance stakeholders and employees, as they have been the foundation of our success.". PR

Telenor Pakistan to celebrate Customer Day to renew commitment to customers

ISLAMABAD: Telenor Pakistan is gearing up to celebrate the Customer Day 2023 next week, reaffirming its unwavering commitment to enhancing the customer experience. The occasion and activites will be graced by the presence of Petter-Børre Furberg, Telenor's Head of Asia, who is making his first visit to Pakistan in his new role.Telenor Pakistan, with its 46 million plus customers, considers its customers the most valuable asset. The upcoming Customer Day will underscore the organisation's dedication to its customers and the importance of understanding their evolving needs and preferences. This commitment is pivotal to Telenor Pakistan's mission of empowering soceities and connecting people to what matters most. PR

KE’s crackdown on theft in full swing; 24,000 cases identified in September

KARACHI: Approximately one month since the caretaker Minister for Energy announced a nationwide campaign against electricity theft. KE has reported that it identified around 24,000 cases of illegal usage accumulated to 40 million units of theft with the dedicated efforts of its distribution teams. Anti-theft activities are already a part of the company’s business operations. It is dedicated to keeping the network safe and reducing the impact of line losses. Since the start of 2023, KE’s distribution teams have conducted over 14,000 kunda removal drives – an average of 60 per day across the city – and successfully removed over 130,000 kgs of kundas.Additionally, in line with the directives of the Government of Pakistan and Government of Sindh and in coordination with civil administration and all law enforcement agencies, the company has also lodged 759 FIRs across various local police stations. These are against severe cases of electricity theft through prohibited hydrants, generator and kunda mafias, and individuals using electricity illegally where an amount of PKR 41.5 million has been recovered against the FIRs. Furthermore, PKR 192 million has been paid across 500+ instances where customers were apprehended for electricity theft but settled their bills before an FIR was lodge. PR

NEWS

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

AKISTAN Customs successfully intercepted an attempt to smuggle a cache of valuable iPhone sets worth approximately Rs130 million at Jinnah Terminal, Karachi Airport. Deputy Director of Customs Intelligence, Inam Wazir, revealed that acting on a tip-off, customs officials promptly thwarted the smuggling operation involving 168 precious iPhone sets. These iPhones were seized from passengers arriving in Karachi on an Air Arabia flight from Sharjah. Typically, inbound travelers using the green channel are not subject to thorough checks by airport officials, provided they have no dutiable items in their possession. However, in this case, passengers who purportedly obtained clearance through the green channel were attempt-

ing to evade customs scrutiny. Authorities, who had received advance information about the smuggling attempt, swiftly took action, arresting the individuals and recovering the high-value iPhone sets. The arrested passengers are believed to be part of an organised smuggling net-

work, and investigations into their activities are now underway. This incident follows a similar interception earlier in the week when Pakistan Customs officials at Karachi’s Jinnah International Airport successfully thwarted an attempt to smuggle iPhones worth millions into the country.

In that case, three individuals were apprehended, thanks to a prior tip-off. It was revealed that these individuals, returning from Umrah pilgrimage, were the intended carriers of the smuggled iPhones. Security at the airport was heightened, leading to their capture and the seizure of the contraband. Authorities disclosed that organised smuggling networks often exploit individuals by convincing them to carry iPhones with promises of discounted airfare and financial incentives. The seized iPhones included models such as the iPhone 15 Pro Max and 14 Pro Max. In a separate operation, Customs officials had previously seized contraband valued at Rs61.8 million at Jinnah International Airport, taking four passengers into custody. The consignment had been brought in from Dubai, UAE, highlighting the ongoing efforts by Pakistani authorities to combat smuggling and illegal trade activities at the nation’s airports.

CTD lassoes MQM-L ‘target-killer’ from Karachi’s Surjani town KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The Sindh Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) on Saturday claimed to have apprehended an alleged targetkiller of Muttahida Qaumi Movement-London (MQM-L) during an operation carried out following a tip-off. CTD in-charge Chaudhry Safdar stated that the accused identified as Mansoor alias ‘Danish Kala’ was arrested during an operation carried out following a tipoff operation in Surjani town near 4K Chorangi area. The accused, Wasim Khan alias Kashif, during the investigation, made significant revelations, stating that back in 2014 when the linguistic riots and killings were

on the rise across Karachi, Mansoor received an instruction from the sector office of MQM-L after he with his accomplice shot down two Lyari Gang war members who later identified as Abdul Wahid and Danish Achham. Following the murder of the Lyari gang war members, a case was registered in the New Karachi Industrial Area police station against the accused murderer Danish. According to the CTD’s officials, Danish was named the prime suspect in the case, after which he ran into hiding in Hyderabad and became a fugitive. He added that Danish recently returned to Karachi, and was arrested on a tip-off operation. Meanwhile, the suspect is being investigated regarding MQM London’s setup.

Upgradation of Raikot-Thakot Highway to guarantee world-class travel throughout KKH

As Pakistan's Prime Minister, Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar, gears up for a pivotal visit to China next week, the stage is set for a significant development in the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC). The visit promises to be a harbinger of a new era for CPEC projects, particularly in the acceleration of the Thakot-Raikot section.The Thakot-Raikot section, a critical segment of the Karakoram Highway, is set for a substantial transformation. This route, bridging Thakot and Raikot, plays a pivotal role in the broader KKH and even CPEC infrastructure network, which acts as a vital link between Pakistan and the expanding realm of Chinese trade and commerce.The Karakoram Highway, known as the Friendship Highway in China, is a testament to the enduring partnership between Pakistan and the People's Republic of China. Constructed over a span of 16 years, from 1962 to 1978, it spans a breathtaking 1,300 kilometers, with 806 kilometers of it weaving through Pakistan's majestic landscapes.In 2005, Pakistan and China embarked on an ambitious endeavor to upgrade this iconic highway. Phase I of the Karakoram Highway up gradation, from Raikot to Khunjerab, encompassing a remarkable 335 kilometers, reached completion in November 2013, marking a significant milestone in its transformation. PR

PTCL group illuminates Islamabad’s Ufone Tower with pink colors to mark “Pinktober’ as an expression of support in fight against breast cancer and to honor survivors of life-threatening disease. PR

KU, Turkish Culture, Language Centre celebrate centennial of Republic of Turkiye

CCP approves Coca Ccola Icecek (Turkiye) acquisition of Coca Cola (Pakistan) in a transaction worth $300 million

ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has granted approval to the acquisition of Coca Cola (Pakistan) under phase-1 review of the Competition Act, 2010, and the Competition (Merger Control) Regulations, 2016.Coca-Cola İçecek (Turkey) acquired 49.67 percent shareholding of Coca Cola (Pakistan) through CCI International Holand (one of its subsidiaries) from Atlantic Industries. The transaction involves total consideration of USD 300 million. After this transaction, Coca Cola Turkey will own majority of shareholding in Coca Cola (Pakistan) with management. This is significant vote of confidence that Pakistani economy has great potential for above-average returns on their capital for international investors. The Chairman and Mergers team has streamlined, merger system and process to expedite mergers/acquisitions applications to facilitate international investors. PR

Revolutionary Thriller 'In Flames' by Zarrar Kahn sparks a cinematic revolution

KARACHI: Renowned filmmaker Zarrar Kahn is poised to unveil a tantalizing glimpse of his globally recognized psychological thriller masterpiece, "In Flames," with the release of its teaser today. This highly anticipated film is set to captivate audiences in Pakistan with an exclusive 10-day screening at the Atrium Mall, Karachi, from the 20th of October to the 31st of October, 2023.Anam Abbas, the film's producer, whose earlier film Dagh Dagh Ujala is about Pakistan’s contemporary activists, believes that the Karachi-set 'In Flames' advocates for a compelling, revolutionary narrative in the Pakistan film industry. This is a truly trailblazing film, carving out a new space in Pakistan.Executive Producer Shant Joshi, is an award-winning producer and president of Fae Pictures, based in Los Angeles and Toronto, who has garnered acclaim for his outstanding projects internationally.Directed and written by the talented Pakistani filmmaker, Zarrar Kahn, 'In Flames' aims to explore the consequences of living in the confines of a fiercely patriarchal society. It seeks to illuminate the psychological impact of oppression and the complexities of young love in Pakistan. 'In Flames' intends to immerse you in the dusty beauty of Karachi, allowing you to witness the difficult choices that must be made to survive another day. PR

PSQCA awareness walk at Press Club on World Standards Day with vision for better world

KARACHI: Pakistan is celebrating Worlds Standard Day today with a theme of Vision for a Better World" in this connection PSQCA Awareness walk arranged with the Citizens, NGOs, and appreciate the role of PSQCA at Karachi Press Club.The walk was started from Sindh Assembly to Press club and led by Aijaz Panhwar Director PSQCA Import Export , Syed Ali Muhammad Bukhari Director PSQCA Admn Advocate Rehmatullah Memon of Consumers Lawyers Forum , Uzma Sabir CEO Icon PR & Communication, Noor Ahmed Jamali Media Adviser PSQCA, where all the participants were carrying Banners with different slogans to spread awareness among public regarding the Quality Standards Day, Whereas the participants also chanted slogans to create awareness on standards , Each year on 14 October, PSQCA the members of the International Electrical Commission (IEC), PR

AKU joins hands with Synapse, Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, NAPA to promote mental health positivity

KARACHI::Synapse - Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, National Academy of Performing Arts (NAPA), British Asian Trust, and Aga Khan University’s Brain and Mind Institute (BMI) to tackle mental health challenges and empower the youth of Pakistan, Synapse Pakistan Neuroscience Institute, the National Academy of Performing Arts, the British Asian Trust, and AKU’s Brain and Mind Institute joined hands to create a positive and enriching experience for all to celebrate mental health and prioritize wellbeing through positive behaviours, self-care, understanding mental health as a basic human right, its impact on our holistic health and wellbeing through panel discussions, poem segments, policy dialogues, fireside chats with fun and recreational activities that included art therapy, meditation, informative short films, storytelling and creative expression walls.Jashn e Nur: Celebrating the Light Within, is a one-of-its-kind event dedicated to promoting mental wellness and advocating mental health as a universal human right for all, regardless of age, gender, socio-economic status, culture, ethnicity, and religion. PR

The University of Karachi and Yunus Emre Institute for Turkish Language in Pakistan jointly organized a one-day international seminar on ‘Turkiye— Pakistan Relations’ to celebrate the centennial of the Republic of Turkiye at the KU’s Chinese Teachers’ Memorial Auditorium on Friday.On this occasion, a special pictorial exhibition was also held for the audience which covers different stages of past and present Turkiye. The Ambassador of the Republic of Turkiye in Pakistan Mehmat Pacaci along with the Consul General of Turkiye in Karachi Cemal Sangu, CG of UAE in Karachi Bakheet Ateeq Al Remeithi, Director of Yunus Emre Institute for Turkish Language in Pakistan Dr Halil Toker, and the KU Vice Chancellor Professor Dr Khalid Mehmood Iraqi inaugurated the exhibition. Mehmet Pacaci and other guests were briefed in detail about the backgrounds and era of the pictures presented in the exhibition. The Turkiye Ambassador Professor Dr Mehmat Pacaci talked about the strong relationship between the people of the two countries and how they are connected with the hearts of each other. PR

NHA envisages HRTC to be formally propelled during PM’s visit to China

ISLAMABAD: As Prime Minister of Pakistan’s visit to China approaches, it is imperative to underscore that the Highway Research & Training Centre (HRTC) stands as one of the pivotal projects, prominently taking center stage as the primary highlight of this significant visit. It is to recall that HRTC is a subsidiary of NHA for carrying out indigenous research in various faculties of Highway Engineering, including but not limited to Pavements, Bridges, Tunneling Environmental Engineering, Hydraulics and Geotech. It also imparts technical training to NHA engineers also.HRTC also affiliates various Engineering institutes in research, especially in Pavements, including NUST. NHA has also proposed to FWO Tunneling Institute to become an associate in research in tunneling. An Agreement in this regard can be signed. Under the ambit of CPEC, there's a promising Joint Research Program envisioned with the Government of China from 2023 to 2027. This program aims to foster collaboration and innovation in various domains of highway engineering. A formal memorandum of joint research extension will be finalized and entered into during the PM’s visit to China next week. We anticipate its significance in furthering the infrastructure cooperation between China and Pakistan. This extension is poised to be a cornerstone of joint cooperation in the road infrastructure with the National Highway Authority being a vanguard of such mutual cooperation. PR

Sunday, 15 October, 2023

Competition Commission approves CoCa-Cola turkey’s aCquisition of CoCa Cola pakistan NEWS

coca-cola İçecek (Turkey) seT To acquire 49.7% in $300 million PROFIT

GHULAM ABBAS

HE Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has given the green light to Coca-Cola İçecek (Turkey) for the acquisition of 49.67 % shareholding of Coca Cola (Pakistan) in a transaction valued at $300 million. As per details shared by CCP, under the phase-1 review of the Competition Act, 2010, and the Competition (Merger Control) Regulations, 2016, Coca-Cola İçecek (Turkey) successfully acquired the majority shares through its subsidiary, CCI International Holland, from the previous owner Atlantic Industries, which in turn is a subsidiary of the original “The Coca Cola Company” (TCCC). The Share Purchase Agreement

(SPA) was signed in December 2022 and has only just been approved by the CCP. The purchase price in this case was determined through bilateral nego-

pakistan’s diesel imports surge following crackdown on smuggling

dip in diesel prices, TighTer border securiTy measures anTicipaTed To bolsTer oil sales in coming monThs

PROFIT NEWS DESK

Pakistan has witnessed an increase in high-speed diesel (HSD) imports during September, as a result of the crackdown on smuggling through the Iranian border. According to oil industry officials, Pakistan imported a total of 120,954 tonnes of HSD in September, a substantial rise from the 109,745 tonnes imported in August. This surge comes after Pakistan refrained from importing any HSD in July, relying instead on domestic production and smuggled Iranian fuel to satisfy its needs. The HSD import figures for August and September combined stand at 230,799 tonnes, reflecting a shift in Pakistan’s energy dynamics. This shift is attributed to the government’s crackdown on smuggling and a burgeoning demand from the formal sector, encompassing transportation, industry, and agriculture. Smuggling, particularly the influx of lower-priced Iranian diesel, has long been a challenge for Pakistan’s oil sector, impacting local oil marketing companies’ sales. However, the renewed emphasis on border security and declining diesel prices have contributed to the recent growth in diesel imports. Notably, HSD sales in Pakistan plummeted to 394,000 tonnes in September, marking the lowest level since the onset of the Covid-19 lockdown in March 2020. These sales figures experienced a 24 percent yearon-year drop and a 28 percent month-on-month decline. Several factors are cited as contributors to this decline, including record-high diesel prices, reduced agricultural activity, and decreased power generation. HSD prices surged by 12 percent in September, dissuading consumers from purchasing diesel. Despite these challenges, industry officials remain optimistic about the future, expecting that the HSD imported in September will drive increased sales in October. The recent dip in diesel prices and tighter border security measures are anticipated to bolster oil sales in the coming months. In a broader context, Pakistan’s overall petroleum product sales recorded a significant decline in September, totaling 1.06 million tonnes. This figure represents a year-on-year reduction of 31 percent and a monthon-month drop of 25 percent, underscoring the evolving dynamics within the country’s energy market.

tiations with TCCC in reference to an independent valuation report. CCBPL’s valuation indicates an Enterprise Value (“EV”) of USD 635 million.

Following the share transfer, CCI (Turkey) will, directly and indirectly, own a 99.34% stake in CCBPL. This strategic acquisition firmly places CocaCola Turkey in the driver’s seat, making it the majority and largest shareholder in Coca Cola (Pakistan), granting them the managerial reins. “This development signifies a significant vote of confidence in Pakistan’s economic capabilities and growth prospects” stated CCP chairman, Dr Kabir Sidhu. “Our streamlined merger systems and processes have facilitated this transaction, emphasizing our commitment to fostering international investments in Pakistan, ” he added. According to CCP this strategic maneuver reflects the ongoing efforts of the Pakistani government and regulatory bodies to attract foreign investments.

Human rights minister supports PM Kakar’s statement on 50 missing persons from Balochistan ISLAMABAD

NEWS DESK

Caretaker Human Rights Minister Khalil George has backed interim Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar’s claim that around 50 people have been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan. In a TV interview, when asked if he thought that the number of missing persons was “not as many as reported” but 50 as stated by PM Kakar, George replied: “My opinion cannot be different from the prime minister’s because we are part of the cabinet and the prime minister would have more knowledge on this than me.” “What he said would definitely be the case,” he added. Earlier this month, in an interview with BBC News, the interim premier had claimed that according to a UN sub-committee’s estimates, around 50 people have been forcibly disappeared in Balochistan. When asked if he had data regarding the number of missing persons across the country, George recalled that a commission had been formed to look into the matter and that a “party leader” from Balochistan was also part of it. The Parliamentary Commission on Missing Persons was established

by the Balochistan government in December last year to review each case of missing persons and play a role in their recovery. George went on to state that he did not have a “correct figure” but the matter was being looked into, noting that he hailed from Balochistan and the matter was a “sensitive” one. The minister added that the issue had been raised for a long time — prior to when he assumed his role in the ministry. “So, on this… I have not sought a briefing as such to this extent that we are able to provide you with great detail on this,” he said. Answering whether he was satisfied with the commission’s performance, George said it had only been two months since his appointment and did not know what

the commission had achieved yet. “We have not received any such report since I have assumed the office. If there was any before I came, I do not know about it.” When inquired whether he thought he should have data on the “sensitive matter”, he said, “The data must have been present before me [assuming the role] but no such report has been released before this during my time in office.” The human rights minister also responded to a query about journalist Mudassir Naru, who went missing in 2020 while on a trip to the northern areas and regarding whom a case is pending before the Islamabad High Court (IHC). George said he did not know about Naaru’s whereabouts and then went on to emphasise that the caretaker government’s “duty is to oversee the [general] elections”. “We want that the democratic governments formed… their ministers come. Actually, they are the ones who can legislate on this. Our authority is to conduct elections and supervise them.” A day ago, the Peshawar High Court directed the federal and provincial governments to file replies in all the cases of “missing persons” and to inform the court as to who among them was in the custody of any of the law enforcement agencies.

Donors eager to extend $7.4b aid, bureaucratic hurdles impede Pakistan’s flood-hit projects g

in Terms of regional allocaTion, sindh is expecTed To receive lion's share of financing, amounTing To $7 billion PROFIT

MONITORING DESK

Foreign nations and international donors are set to provide Pakistan with $7.4 billion in financial support, but flood-hit development projects are facing delays due to provincial capacity and bureaucratic issues. During the Geneva Donor Conference in January 2023, the commitment from different countries and international donor agencies comprised a total of $10 billion, of which $7.4 billion was designated for development projects spanning 17 sectors. Major contributors at the Geneva conference included the World Bank with $2.1 billion, the Asian Development Bank with $1.5 billion, the Asian Infrastructure Investment Bank with $1 billion, and Saudi Arabia with an additional $1 billion. Other nations also joined in the substantial funding commitment. As reported by BR, a senior official from the Ministry of Planning expressed concerns during a

casual conversation with a group of journalists. He emphasized that while international donor agencies are enthusiastic about supporting development projects, significant hurdles, particularly in Balochistan province, are impacting their execution. A specific instance cited was the inability to initiate a $400 million development project in floodaffected areas of Balochistan due to these capacity constraints. Regarding grants for these projects, the official mentioned that there is an $850 million grant allocated for development initiatives. In terms of regional allocation, Sindh is expected to receive the lion’s share of financing, amounting to $7 billion, primarily to aid flood-affected regions. Additionally, an allocation of $500 million has been set aside for housing-related projects. When questioned about the delays in project implementation, the official acknowledged that capacity limitations and bureaucratic hurdles in various provinces are impeding progress.

PRAYER TIMINGS FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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Haleon pakistan to invest $10m to accelerate panadol production g

6:05

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This is in addiTion To $2m being spenT on enhancing manufacTuring faciliTy of flagship brand cac 1000 plus To caTer To local needs PROFIT

NEWS DESK

Haleon Pakistan Limited, formerly known as GlaxoSmithKline Consumer Healthcare Pakistan Limited, has announced an investment of $10 million to accelerate the production of commonly known tablets Panadol and CaC 1000 Plus at its manufacturing facility in Jamshoro, Sindh. The company said in a stock filing that the investment was aimed at bringing the latest manufacturing technology to Pakistan and enhancing the production capacity to 8 billion tablets. This will help the company to ensure smooth supplies of Pakistan’s largest pharmaceutical over-the-counter medicine to consumers and patients in need. The board of directors of Haleon Pakistan approved the investment and associated financing for the production of the Panadol base portfolio, including Panadol 500mg and Panadol Extra tablets. This is in addition to the investment of $2 million being spent on enhancing the manufacturing facility of the flagship brand CaC 1000 Plus to cater to local needs and export opportunities. Haleon Pakistan Limited was incorporated in Pakistan as a publicly listed company under the provisions of the repealed Companies Ordinance, 1984 (now Companies Act, 2017) on 31st March 2015. It is a subsidiary of Haleon Netherlands B.V and is ultimately owned by Haleon plc. The company is principally engaged in the manufacturing, marketing and sale of consumer healthcare and over the counter health products. Haleon Pakistan reported a 13 percent increase in its profit after tax for the first half of 2023, reaching Rs313 million, compared to Rs277.28 million in the same period last year.

taliban to join China’s Belt and road forum, elevating ties KABUL

REUTERS

The Taliban will attend China’s Belt and Road Forum next week, a spokesman said on Saturday, underscoring Beijing’s growing official ties with the administration, despite its lack of formal recognition by any government. Taliban officials and ministers have at times travelled to regional meetings, mostly those focussed on Afghanistan, but the Belt and Road Forum is among the highest-profile multilateral summits it has been invited to attend. The forum in Beijing on Tuesday and Wednesday marks the 10th anniversary of President Xi Jinping’s ambitious global infrastructure and energy initiative, billed as recreating the ancient Silk Road to boost global trade. The Taliban’s acting minister for commerce and industry, Haji Nooruddin Azizi, will travel to Beijing in the coming days, ministry spokesman Akhundzada Abdul Salam Jawad said in a text message to Reuters.“He will attend and will invite large investors” to Afghanistan, he said. The impoverished country could offer a wealth of coveted mineral resources. A mines minister estimated in 2010 that Afghanistan had untapped deposits, ranging from copper to gold and lithium, worth between $1 trillion and $3 trillion. It is not clear how much they are worth today. China has been in talks with the Taliban over plans, begun under the previous foreign-backed government, over a possible huge copper mine in eastern Afghanistan. China’s foreign ministry did not immediately respond to a request for comment. Azizi will continue discussions in Beijing on plans to build a road through the Wakhan corridor, a thin, mountainous strip in northern Afghanistan, to provide direct access to China, Akhundzada said. Officials from China, the Taliban and neighbouring Pakistan said in May they would like Belt and Road to include Afghanistan and for the flagship China Pakistan Economic Corridor to be extended across the border to Afghanistan. The Taliban has not been formally recognised by any government since taking control of Afghanistan two years ago as US and other foreign forces withdrew. A series of restrictions on women’s access to public life and the barring of many female NGO staff from work has increased roadblocks to recognition, especially by Western countries, officials and international relations analysts say.

World Cup 2023: India thrash Pakistan by seven wickets ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

India outclassed Pakistan in all departments of the game as they beat the Green Shirts by seven wickets at the Narendra Modi Stadium in Ahmedabad, improving their ICC Men’s World Cup tally against their arch-rivals to 8-0. Pakistan were routed by seven wickets in a disappointingly one-sided clash. They collapsed from 155-2 to be all out for 191 before India coasted home to their target with 117 balls to spare. Skipper Rohit Sharma’s 86 and an inspired bowling display helped India hammer Pakistan, who were bowled out for 191. They overhauled the total with 117 balls to spare to extend their unbeaten streak against their neighbours to eight in the 50over showpiece tournament. Rohit stood out in his 63-ball knock laced with six fours and six sixes to keep

India, who began the event as favourites to win the title, unbeaten in their three matches in this edition. Pakistan now have two wins and one defeat in the 10-nation tournament. “It felt good,” said man of the match, Indian fast bowler Jasprit Bumrah who had figures of 2-19 off nine overs. Rohit hit the ball to all parts of the ground with his delightful flicks and pulls to entertain an almost all-Indian crowd at the world´s biggest cricket stadium after Pakistanis were effectively banned from attending. India lost Shubman Gill and Virat Kohli — both for 16 — before Rohit and Shreyas Iyer, who hit the winning four to reach 53, put on 77 runs for the third wicket and placed India comfortably on course for victory. Rohit fell attempting another hit off Shaheen Shah Afridi to get caught at midwicket, but Iyer and KL Rahul took the team home with ease.

Bowlers set up victory after India elected to field and Mohammed Siraj, Jasprit Bumrah, Hardik Pandya, Kuldeep Yadav, Ravindra Jadeja took two wickets each. Pakistan were bowled out in 42.5 overs, losing eight wickets for 36 runs in 80 balls. The total was Pakistan’s third lowest against India in the World Cup after their 173 in Sydney (1992) and 180 at Manchester (1999). Pakistan started strongly but lost their openers before skipper Babar Azam (50) and Mohammad Rizwan (49) attempted to rebuild and hit back in their stand of 82. Azam reached his fifty off 57 balls with a boundary but fell in the next over, bowled by Siraj as the crowd roared to see the back of the world´s number one ODI batsman. Kuldeep Yadav soon struck twice in an over to send back the left-handed Saud Shakeel and Iftikhar Ahmed, bowled around the legs for four after the ball deflected off the batsman´s gloves.

7:15

Bumrah denied Rizwan his fifty with a slower-off cutter that rattled the stumps as Pakistan slipped to 168-6. Bumrah, playing in front of his home

Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 051-2204545. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk

crowd, had a spring in his step and struck again in the next over to get Shadab Khan out for two before Pandya and Jadeja combined to wrap up the tail.