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UN LEADERS CALL FOR AN END TO ISRAEL’S WAR ON GAZA AS DEATH TOLL TOPS 10,000

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Tuesday, 7 November, 2023 I 22 Rabi us Sani, 1445

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SAY ENOUGH IS ENOUGH. WE NEED AN IMMEDIATE HUMANITARIAN CEASEFIRE

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GAZA REUTERS

N agency leaders saying “enough is enough” demanded a humanitarian ceasefire on Monday nearly a month into Gaza’s war, as health authorities in the enclave said the death toll from Israeli strikes now exceeded 10,000.

Israel has rebuffed mounting international pressure for a ceasefire, saying hostages taken by Hamas fighters during their rampage in southern Israel on Oct. 7 should be released first.

“An entire population is besieged and under attack, denied access to the essentials for survival, bombed in their homes, shelters, hospitals and places of worship.

This is unacceptable,” the UN chiefs said in a joint statement. “We need an immediate humanitarian ceasefire. It’s been 30 days. Enough is enough. This must stop now.” The 18 signatories include the UN High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk, World Health Organization head Tedros Adhanom Ghebreyesus, and UN aid chief Martin Griffiths.

The reported number of fatalities in Israeli strikes on Gaza since Oct. 7 has now surpassed 10,000, with the health ministry in the Hamas-controlled enclave saying at least 10,022 Palestinians were killed including 4,104 children.

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ISRAEL AGAIN REBUFFS MOUNTING INTERNATIONAL PRESSURE FOR CEASEFIRE

A Reuters journalist in Gaza said an overnight bombardment by air, ground and sea was one of the most intense since Israel began its offensive following the Oct. 7 attack in which Hamas killed 1,400 people and seized more than 240 hostages.

Israel, which says its forces have encircled Gaza City, faces mounting pressure over civilian casualties.

A US diplomatic push in the region is intended to reduce risks of the conflict escalating.

The health ministry in Gaza said dozens of people were killed by the Israeli air strikes in Gaza City and further south in Gaza neighbourhoods such as Zawaida and Deir Al-Balah. Hamas-affiliated Al-Aqsa TV quoted medical sources as saying at least 75 Palestinians were killed and 106 hurt in the attacks.

Palestinian health officials said eight people were killed in an air strike overnight on Gaza City’s Rantissi cancer hospital. Israel’s military said it was looking into the report. The Israeli army said its strikes hit “tunnels, terrorists, military compounds, observation posts, and anti-tank missile launch posts”. Ground troops killed several Hamas fighters while taking a compound containing observation posts, training areas and underground tunnels, it said.

Gaza border officials said the Rafah crossing has resumed operations to allow foreign passport holders and critically wounded Palestinians into Egypt. Hundreds of foreign nationals and wounded were allowed to leave Gaza for Egypt last week but no such exits have been reported since Nov. 3.

Blinken in Turkey, CIA chief may visit Israel Turkish Foreign Minister Hakan Fidan told his US counterpart Antony Blinken in a meeting in Ankara that a ceasefire needed to be declared urgently in Gaza, a Turkish foreign ministry source said.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Pakistan ‘appalled’ by Israeli minister’s threat to ‘drop nuclear bomb’ on Gaza

ISLAMABAD: Pakistan Monday expressed severe anger over an Israeli minister’s statement that his nation was considering dropping a nuclear bomb on Gaza, the strip where the Israeli forces and Hamas have been engaged in over a month-long battle. “We are appalled by statement of an Israeli minister threatening nuclear force against Palestinians,” the Ministry of Foreign Affairs said in a statement on X, formerly known as Twitter. Israeli Heritage Minister Amichai Eliyahu said on Sunday that dropping a “nuclear bomb” on the Gaza Strip is “an option,” according to local Anadolu Agency. The Foreign Office mentioned that the statement reflects an intention for ethnic cleansing and genocide. “This is a wake up call for int’l community to the threat posed by Israeli aggression to regional peace, security & stability,” the foreign ministry added.

Eliyahu, a minister from the far-right Otzma Yehudit party, said: “One of Israel’s options in the war in Gaza is to drop a nuclear bomb on the Strip.” The minister also voiced his objection to allowing any humanitarian aid into Gaza. “We wouldn’t hand the Nazis humanitarian aid,” the minister said, adding: “There is no such thing as uninvolved civilians in Gaza.” “Anyone waving a Palestinian or Hamas flag shouldn’t continue living on the face of the earth.” Following his remarks, Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu suspended the junior member from the cabinet. STAFF REPORT

Nawaz Sharif directs PML-N leaders to start preparing for elections LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PMLN) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday directed the party leaders to begin their preparations for the elections — scheduled to take place on February 8, 2024.

The directions were issued in a meeting at the PML-N’s central secretariat in Lahore where the three-time prime minister was welcomed by party president Shehbaz Sharif, PML-N Senior VicePresident and Chief Organiser Maryam Nawaz and other leaders.

Khawaja Muhammad Asif, Ahsan Iqbal, PML-N Election Cell Chairman Senator Ishaq Dar and Central Information Secretary Marriyum Aurangzeb also attended the meeting.

The PML-N’s election campaign has entered a new phase as Nawaz starts his meetings with party members, said the party on its official X account, formerly Twitter.

In the meeting, the members also discussed the future political activities of the party and the current political situation in the country.

Speaking to the leaders, Nawaz said that they will start the journey to development from where it was left off.

This was the first meeting of the

PML-N supremo at the central secretariat after his return to Pakistan. He arrived in the country on October 21 after four years of self-exile in London.

Following the meeting, Asif while speaking during a press conference said that Nawaz Sharif will contest in the upcoming elections.

The former defence minister also addressed the concerns raised by the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) about the level playing field.

“Everyone has a level playing field, there is no unfairness,” he said.

As the time of general elections drew nearer, the rift between the former allies grew with the PPP persistently voicing con-

cerns regarding the absence of equal opportunities to prove itself ahead of the polls.

‘Nawaz Sharif will contest in upcoming polls’ Aurangzeb, while speaking during a press conference after the meeting, said that Nawaz will contest in the February 8 elections and will become the prime minister for the fourth time.

“Nawaz Sharif has started conducting meetings from today and met the senior leadership of the party,” she said, adding that the party is ready for elections under Nawaz’s leadership.

Marriyum also said that the PML-N has formed a committee to work on the party’s manifesto.

“If anyone can steer the country out of crisis, it is Nawaz Sharif. We are ready to end inflation from Pakistan under Nawaz’s guidance,” said the former information minister.

Marriyum said PML-N was ready to bring peace and unity to the country.

Speaking about the rising rifts between PPP and PML-N, Marriyum said that the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) alliance is still established today.

“Asif Ali Zardari, Nawaz Sharif, Fazlur Rehman and others have played their role in the service of the people,” she said. Marriyum told the PPP to “stop whining about the level-playing field and come to the election field”.

She further said that the demand for a level playing field shows that the people of Pakistan have already given a decision in favour of Nawaz Sharif on October 21.

Taking a jibe at PPP, the former federal minister said that their demand signifies their defeat in the polls. “On one hand, PPP says there is no level-playing field, while on the other hand, it says it will clean sweep the elections,” she added.

The Supreme Court has ordered the government to ensure the conduct of general elections on February 8. The orders during the hearing of multiple pleas seeking timely elections within 90 days of the dissolution of the assemblies.

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PM extends PCB Chairman’s tenure for three months

irfan.farooq@pakistantoday.com.pk

ISLAMABAD

SHAHZAD PARACHA

The Caretaker Prime Minister has extended Pakistan Cricket board (PCB) Chairman’s as well as Management Committee tenure for another three months with the direction to finalize Board of Governors (BoG) and conduct election of Chairman PCB at the earliest.

Document shows that the Ministry of Inter Provincial Coordination has asked Prime Minister to consider, as capacity as Patron-PCB, extending the tenure of the incumbent Management Committee and its Chairman’s for a period of 03 months with the direction to finalize BoG and conduct election of Chairman PCB at the earliest. In a summary moved to cabinet, the ministry of IPC has also asked to approve the Constitution of an interim management committee of Pakistan Cricket Board and nomination of 2 members of BoG PCB. The Prime Minister’s Office has conveyed approval for considering the extension of the tenure of the Management Committee PCB with the following stipulations: The Management Committee shall perform the primary task of finalizing the BoG and conduct election of Chairman PCB at the earliest.

The Management Committee shall perform day to day affairs of PCB only and shall not make any policy decisions or high level appointments. The Management Committee shall not be granted extension beyond three months. It is pertinent to note that PCB was established as a Board under the Sports (Development & Control) Ordinance, 1962 by the Federal Government. In order to restore the departmental sports and to enhance the role of departments, the Federal Government vide SRO No. 2313(1)12022 dated 22 December, 2022 restored the PCB Constitution, 2014.

After restoration of PCB Constitution, 2014, a Management Committee (MC) of PCB was constituted to run the -.lay tr day affairs of PCB and for conduct of elections of Chairman, PCB. Upon completion of its extended tenure and failure to conduct the elections of Chairman, PCB, the same was dissolved.

A new Management Committee was constituted with the primary responsibility of finalizing the composition of the Board of Governors of the PCB for Elections of the Chairman, PCB for a period of 04 months expiring on 4° of November, 2023.

Despite all out support by MA, IPC including appointment of Election Commissioner & Adjudicator, PCB, the MC is still struggling to provide a roadmap for conducting the elections of Chairman, PCB till date.

The Lahore High Court, Rawalpindi Bench in Writ Petition No. 2376/2023 vide its judgement dated 19.

July, 2023 ordered the elections of the Chairman, PCB within three weeks.

Imran Khan, Qureshi’s bail pleas adjourned without any hearing RAWALPINDI

STAFF REPORT

An anti-terrorism court on Monday postponed the hearing of bail pleas filed by PTI Chairman Imran Khan in three cases of vandalism registered against him under the provisions of terrorism till November 14 without conducting court proceedings.

The court also adjourned the bail petitions submitted by PTI Vice Chairman Shah Mehmood Qureshi till November 14. ATC Judge Abul Hasnat Muhammad Zulqarnain heard the cases.

PTI lawyers Khalid Yousaf, Sardar Masroof, and Mirza Asim Baig appeared in the court. However, the prosecutor did not appear as he was on leave. Due to the absence of the prosecutor, the court adjourned the hearing till Nov 14 without conducting proceedings. The Islamabad High Court has restored Imran Khan’s bail pleas in these cases. The high court directed the trial court to again hear the PTI chairman’s bail applications.

SC moved seeking restraining order against Afghans’ repatriation ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

A petition has been filed before the Supreme Court seeking a restraining order against the forceful deportation of Afghan nationals from Pakistan.

Former senator Farhatullah Babar and other petitioners, represented by advocate Umar Gilani, urged the apex court’s registrar’s office on Monday to allot a case number and schedule a date for hearing.

The plea was moved four days ago but it is yet to be registered. The request submitted on Monday states that thousands of people are facing eviction and suffering on a daily basis.

The petitioners have prayed to the top court to “protect the fundamental rights of millions of people” residing in Pakistan under Article 4,” states the request.

The federal government has initiated a crackdown against “undocumented” Afghan nationals – essentially persons seeking

refuge in the country and awaiting legal formalities. Since November 1, 2023, the state has begun a campaign to forcibly evict around 1.3 million such persons under the garb of addressing the issue of “illegal migrants” on whom it has placed the unfair burden of the country’s worsening economic and security concerns.

The petitioners’ counsel contends that the “impugned directive” being undertaken by the “apex committee” of the caretaker cabinet “effectively amounts to a reversal of a 45-year-old Pakistani state policy of hospitality and leniency towards refugees, asylum-seekers and other migrants from the Afghan borders”.

It further notes that “being a major policy decision, it [the move to evict and deport] exceeds the powers of the caretaker cabinet as provided under Section 230 of the Elections Act, 2017”.

“Besides, it is causing massive violations of fundamental rights and rulings of Superior Courts including Aamir Aman vs.

Federation of Pakistan (PLD 2020 Sindh 533), Rahil Azizi versus The State (W.P. No. 1666/2023) and Hafiz Hamdullah Saboor versus Government of Pakistan (PLD 2021 Islamabad 305,” it adds.

Advocate Gilani urged the registrar’s office to “take urgent notice of the matter and to take all steps necessary for upholding the laws and the Constitution, and providing inexpensive and expeditions justice”.

Around 1.3m are registered refugees and 880,000 more have legal status to remain in Pakistan, according to the latest United Nations figures.

Police and politicians have said a recent round-up targets only those without legal status and is in response to rising crime and poor regulation of immigration that is straining resources.

At least 700 Afghans have been arrested since early September in Karachi alone – 10 times more than in August – and hundreds more in the other cities, according to official police figures.

Afghans say the arrests have been indiscriminate. They accuse police of extorting money and ignoring legal documents while pointing to rising anti-Afghan senti-

ment as prolonged economic hardship burdens Pakistani households and tensions rise between Islamabad and Kabul’s new Taliban government.

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PTI SENATOR SANIA NISHTAR’S RESOLUTION REJECTED BY SENATE

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Tuesday, 7 november, 2023 | IsLAMABAD

news

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

HE Senate of Pakistan on Monday rejected a resolution of Senator Sania Nishtar of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) for setting up a cross-sectoral task force to identify gaps in financing for the food system.

Chairman Senate Muhammad Sadiq Sanjrani, on behalf of the minister concerned, urged the mover to defer the resolution as the minister wanted to respond to it personally.

Sanjrani said that the minister could not attend the session due to some government obligations. However, Senator Sania Nishtar insisted to proceed with the resolution and called for a vote. The outcome of the vote showed that only 11 senators voted in favour and 22 against the resolution.

The resolution reads as:

“Acknowledging that Article 38 of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan stipulates that the State shall secure the well-being of the people and provide them with necessities of life, irrespective of sex, caste, creed or race, by raising their standard of living; “Observing that in pursuance of Goal No. 2 of the Sustainable Development Goals, Pakistan has committed to achieving “zero hunger”; “Noting with concern that despite being an agrarian economy, Pakistan is far from reaching this goal, with the country being positioned at number 84 out of 113 countries in the Global Food Security Index 2022 and currently facing record food inflation of 46.8%.

“Recognizing Pakistan’s growing vulnerability to climate change, which will further threaten food security, as demonstrated by the devastating 2022 flood which resulted in an additional 7.6 million people experiencing food

Sirajul Haq lands in Tehran on four-day visit to discuss Palestine issue TEHRAN

Staff RepoRt

Ameer Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Sirajul Haq arrived in Tehran on Monday on a four-day visit to discuss the Palestine situation in the wake of aggression of Israeli forces. According to the Secretary Information JI Qaiser Sharif, the JI chief during his visit will meet Iran’s political and religious party leaders. The meetings will focus on the Palestinians’ genocide by the occupation forces of Israel in Gaza. Siralul Haq will also attend different programs meant for the unity of the Muslim Ummah. Meanwhile, Jamiat Ulema-eIslam-Fazl (JUI-F) chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman held a farewell meeting with Hamas leader Khaled Mashal and others in Qatar.

According to Aslam Ghauri, JUI-F spokesperson, Maulana Fazlur Rehman along with a delegation held different meetings with the Hamas leadership in Qatar. The meetings focused on the current situation of Palestine as Israel has waged war on the innocent residents of Gaza. The meeting urged the Muslim leaders to play their role in Gaza ceasefire. Hamas leaders thanked Maulana Fazlur Rehman for showing solidarity with the people of Gaza.

Meanwhile, US Secretary of State Antony Blinken on Sunday paid a surprise visit to the Israeli-occupied West Bank to meet Palestinian President Mahmud Abbas.

Lahore Bar bans police’s entry into sessions court LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The Lahore Bar Association (LBA) on Monday banned the entry of policemen in sessions courts for ‘unjustified cases’ against lawyers. “No policeman is allowed to enter the session court.

Only the police cannot enter the court premises.

Courts will perform their work as per routine,” the LBA said. The LBA president also condemned the registration of cases against lawyers by police.

Lahore court seeks FIA’s record in Khadija Shah case LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

An Additional District and Sessions Judge on Monday summoned the Federal Investigation Agency’s record against designer Khadija Shah in an FIR related to the May 9 riots. This came in response to Khadija’s plea for a post-arrest bail in response to an FIR registered against her for “controversial tweets” on May 9. Her counsel argued that she was not involved in the cases linked to the May 9 riots and requested the court to grant her bail. Consequently, the judge directed FIA to submit its records by November 7. Earlier this week, Khadija filed a plea in the Lahore High Court, seeking contempt proceedings against high-ranking police officials following her arrest in a third case. This was based on a report submitted earlier in response to her plea seeking details of the FIRs registered against her. The police initially mentioned two FIRs, in which, she was granted bail by the division bench of the LHC. However, she was later arrested in a third FIR. On November 3, the Inspector General Police (IGP) Punjab, Dr Usman Anwar, failed to satisfy the court with repeated queries. The court questioned her arrest, lack of police interrogation while in custody, and a guarantee to avoid further arrests. The court then directed IGP to submit a comprehensive written reply by November 10. On October 18, LHC granted post-arrest bail to Khadija in two cases involving the Askari Tower fire and the Jinnah House attack. The bench granted bails to the petitioner Khadija Shah after it was noted that during the investigation, the Investigation Officer (IO) had not recovered any material to connect the petitioner with the incident of fire or attacks on the properties mentioned. In the Askari Tower case, it was noted that the complainant had not specifically named the witnesses who disclosed the petitioner Khadija’s name and role during the protest.

Prosecution witnesses in their statement did not state a single word that they informed the complainant about the involvement of the petitioner in the instant case.

insecurity with 48 percent of households losing their stored cereal stock; “Acknowledging that apart from the good work done in the shape of formulating the National Food Security Policy of 2018, Pakistan needs an action plan to unify, consolidate, and streamline all efforts toward the goal of ensuring adequate, affordable, safe, and nutritious food for all through sustainable food production, improved land use and reduced food wastage.

“The Senate of Pakistan, therefore, urges upon the Government to immediately create a cross-sectoral task force in the country to identify gaps in financing towards our food system and develop a clear understanding of the country’s financing needs in line with Pakistan’s global commitments ahead of COP-28.

“The House also demands that Pakistan should engage with global partners to unlock investments from public, private,

and multilateral development banks and philanthropic sources to shift to good food finance and to actively participate in the co-

PIA flight operations ‘fully normalised’ KARACHI

After weeks of fuel issues, the Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) spokesperson on Monday said that the national flag carrier’s flight schedule is fully restored after restoration of fuel supply from Pakistan State Oil (PSO).

The spokesperson said in a statement that not a single flight of PIA from Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad, or any other airport is canceled today. All flights are on time and as per schedule, the statement added.

The financial crunch and the fuel crisis forced PIA to cancel over 800 flights in the last three weeks. Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) suffered a ‘loss’ of Rs10 billion.

Earlier on Wednesday, Pakistan International Airlines suspended total of 24 flights including 16 international and 8 domestic scheduled.

The PIA spokesperson stated that 24 flights were suspended amid no fuel supply.

Pakistan State Oil (PSO) set a condition of Rs100 million in daily payment for Pakistan International Airlines to resume fuel supply.

The Pakistan International Airlines spokesperson said the fuel would be supplied to the national airline upon payment of Rs100 million daily.

However, airlines will inform the PSO to provide fuel to their aircraft. The aircraft would get the fuel after approval from the national airline.

ATC grants Sheikh Rashid interim bail RAWALPINDI

An anti-terrorism court in Rawalpindi granted interim bail to former interior minister Sheikh Rashid on Monday against surety bonds worth Rs50,000.

The ATC judge restrained Waris Khan Police from arresting Rashid for at least one week in connection with a case pertaining to May 9.

During the proceeding, the judge remarked on Rashid’s health, observing that he appeared to have lost significant weight.

Rashid, who heads the Awami

Muslim League (AML) and was a close aide of ousted prime minister Imran Khan during the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf’s tenure in the federal government, replied that he lost 31kgs in the 40 days he spent on a ‘Tableeghi mission’.

Rashid was purportedly abducted from a private housing society in Islamabad on September 17, with his family and lawyer claiming he had been arrested.

Rashid’s unlawfully whereabouts remained undisclosed and the police denied involvement in the former interior minister’s reported arrest.

He resurfaced over a month later

and maintained he had been on a 40day preach mission (tableeghi), where no one harmed him.

During his time off the grid, Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and Evacuee Trust Property Board (ETPB) teams in Rawalpindi had attempted to seal Rashid’s residence Lal Haveli.

Since his return, the AML chief has voiced his unequivocal support for the armed forces and vowed to get amnesty for those who made the “mistake” of being involved in protests that broke out on May 9 against Imran’s arrest by the paramilitary Rangers.

Less than 20% of Pakistan’s issues addressed in manifestos of major parties: PIDE ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

In the wake of upcoming general elections, the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE) has drawn a comparison of manifestos amongst three mainstream political parties – Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N), Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) – that have been front-runners in formulating governments during the last three tenures.

The aim was to evaluate if the manifestoes have any substance and concrete plan or do they just comprise hollow promises and sweeping statements, without any homework for the future.

In this regard, PIDE has been proposing reforms in various dimensions for quite a long time.

These targeted reform proposals are based on years of research and evidence and are in line with the global best practices.

For the purpose of the research, PIDE picked 18 key issues/sectors that it thought were fundamental.

These included: local government, parliament, elections, cabinet, police, bureaucracy, budget making, debt management, PSDP, real estate, agriculture, energy, taxation, tariffs, trade, state-owned enterprises (SOEs) and internet. Each indicator had a maximum of 100 points.

PPP scored zero in 17 indicators, PTI in 13 and PML-N in 12. Overall, the three major political parties scored less than 20%, which means that they have some solid ideas about only 20% of the key economic and policy issues of Pakistan.

Further dissecting the figure 20% tells us that only 12% of these find space in the PML-N manifesto, 7% in the PPP manifesto and 1.5% in PTI.

Eyewitnesses identify MQM target-killer in Tahir Plaza fire case KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

Staff RepoRt

Staff RepoRt

investment platform for food systems transformation that is to be launched at COP-28.”

This demonstrates that manifestos in Pakistan, don’t have any substance at large on key issues of the nation.

This also means that political parties don’t have any concrete blueprint to work on if they come into power. The lack of substance in manifestoes leads to a myopic approach to governance, ad-hocism and serving vested interests only, without any regard for doing something for the long-term development of the country.

For instance, strengthening local government is merely a promise without a plan hence scored as zero.

In contrast, allowing the property tax regime to serve as the primary revenue generator for local government is a concrete point. Thus, this point had been given a defined score.

Besides this, the Institute, in another research product, has also compared if there is any convergence between what is mentioned in manifestoes and the digital narratives by the party leaders. The stark disparity between pre-election promises and the reality of online discourse in the post-election landscape, as unveiled by the Pakistan Institute of Development Economics (PIDE), reveals a critical disconnect.

PIDE’s analysis reveals a concerning neglect of fundamental issues like economic disparities, infrastructure,

unemployment, education, healthcare, governance, corruption, security, environment, and human rights on digital narratives by party leaders, which are pivotal for the country’s progress.

Twitter, identified as a significant influencer in shaping political conversations, remains largely underutilised in addressing Pakistan’s socio-economic challenges.

Leveraging Latent Dirichlet Allocation (LDA) to analyse a party leaders’ tweets from 2018-2022, PIDE found no convergence between the vision chalked out in manifestoes and the propagation or discourse on Twitter.

The comprehensive analysis shed light on a worrying trend in the online discourse of opposition leaders.

PPP and PML-N leadership focused mostly on family legacies and political conflicts, while PTI’s leader’s discussions primarily revolved around Indian-occupied Jammu and Kashmir overshadowing other essential national concerns PIDE’s call for realigning political discourse with manifesto commitments echoes the urgency for leaders to prioritise substantive policy matters for Pakistan’s development and prosperity. Manifestoes shouldn’t remain as mere paper promises; they should guide the nation’s trajectory, providing a clear roadmap for governing parties and feasible policy alternatives for the opposition.

The institute stresses the need to shift conversations from personal grievances, familial legacies and political mudslinging to tangible policy matters, urging leaders to recenter discussions and leverage social media tools like Twitter for more focused, relevant, and policy-based communication, to address the perpetual challenges faced by Pakistan.

In an important development, two eyewitnesses Monday identified three terrorists including Muttahida Qaumi Movement’s (MQM) notorious target-killer Saeed Bharam in the Tahir Plaza fire case. “Saeed Bharam and his accomplices opened fire and set ablaze the lawyers’ offices in the plaza in Karachi,” the eyewitnesses stated in their testimonies during the hearing of the case in an anti-terrorism court (ATC). Statements of eyewitnesses, witnesses, the rickshaw-driver and the gunman of the murdered lawyer were also recorded. “On the day of the incident, I was near Tahir Plaza,” the rickshaw-driver said. “Suddenly, there were gunshots and a stampede. I myself saw Saeed Bharam and other accused firing shots,” he added. “I had also identified them during the identification parade in front of the judicial magistrate,” he stated. “Saeed Bharam and other accused had entered Tahir Plaza. These are the same suspects who had set fire to the lawyers’ offices in Tahir Plaza. I had seen them setting fire to the lawyer’s office with my own eyes,” he added. The court summoned other witnesses in the case at the next hearing. “MQM’s Saeed Bharam, Imran Saeed, and Faisal Javed alias Mama are arrested in the case,” police said. “Imran Saeed confessed to setting Tahir Plaza on fire in his 164 statements and the statements he recorded to the joint investigation team (JIT),” they added. “The accused set fire to Tahir Plaza at the behest of MQM Karachi Tanzeemi Committee (KTC) Incharge Hammad Siddiqui,” they stated. “In front of the magistrate, Imran Saeed confessed to setting fire to the plaza at the behest of Hammad Siddiqui and Saeed Bharam,” they added. According to police, the accused also disclosed his involvement in the Tahir Plaza fire incident during the police interrogation. Accused Faisal Mama was arrested in 2021. On April 9, 2008, six people, including Altaf Jafri Advocate, died in a fire in Tahir Plaza.

The case of the incident was registered at Rasala police station.

Pakistani handicrafts debut at China International Import Expo SHANGHAI

Staff RepoRt

Pakistani exhibitors present new handicrafts at the 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE) taking place in Shanghai from Nov. 5 to 10, set to attract and amaze strings of visitors from China and other parts of the world. Camel skin lamps, made from the skin of sacrificial camels from Eid ul Adha and Eid Ul Fitr, shine at CIIE with their attracting luster, exquisite patterns, and rich cultural connotations, China Economic Net (CEN) reported on Monday. With a history of 900 years and having been recognized by 25 countries, this intangible art and craft of Pakistan is sold at a lucrative price of RMB 50200 at CIIE. Habib Ur Rehman, an exhibitor at the booth, told CEN reporter this was his second time at this grand expo. “Last time in 2021, our Himalaya Salt Lamps were warmly received by Chinese consumers, which made us realize the huge potential of Pakistani handicrafts in the Chinese market”, Habib said.

Around the world, camel skin lamp only exists in Pakistan. “There is a group of only 30 to 60 people who are making this in Pakistan”, Habib told CEN reporter, adding, “normally it takes about ten days to make such a lamp from the very first process of cleaning the skin, drying the skin, modeling, till the painting of the patterns on the lamp”.

Imran Khan’s close aide quits politics, condemns May 9 violence ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

A close aide of PTI Chairman and former prime minister Imran Khan has announced quitting politics while condemning the May 9 violence. In a video message, Nadeem Haroon Khan from Kasur said he is leaving politics. “May 9 was a national tragedy and that is why I am quitting politics as I prefer Pakistan to politics,” Nadeem Haroon, who was once PTI’s candidate from NA131 Kasur, added. He further said he condemned the May 9 violence and he and his circle of friends regretted it.

NEW DG RESHUFFLES KEY OFFICIALS IN PSQCA Tuesday, 7 November, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

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ISLAMABAD

Ghulam abbaS

HE new Director General of PSQCA, who assumed additional charge of the authority a week ago, has made a major reshuffling of key officials in order to streamline and improve the affairs of the institution.

Through notifications issued here on Monday, officials holding key posts like Deputy Director Finance/Admin and Director Import/Exports were transferred or repatriated, with their positions filled by other officials within the authority.

PSQCA has faced criticism for its previous failures in performance, cases of corruption, irregularities, and illegal appointments/promotions.

As per the notifications, Ali Muhammad Muhammad Bukhari, Deputy Director Finance, who also held the charge of Deputy Director Admin, was transferred to Deputy Director SDC

Lahore with immediate effect and until further orders. Audit officer Ahsan Karim has been given the charge of Deputy Director (Office)/signature at Karachi Office.

Through another notification, Ejaz Panwar, Director Imports/Exports, has been repatriated to his parent department PCSIR, while Ali Bux, Director Standards, has been assigned the additional charge with immediate effect.

Another notification reveals that Abdul Waheed Memon, Deputy Director (Internal Audit and Technical Regulations), has been transferred and posted as Deputy Director Admin for three months or until further orders.

Similarly, some other lower-ranking officials have also been transferred within the authority.

It’s worth noting that the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) recently assigned the additional charge of DG PSQCA to Ms. Ismat Gul Khattak, in response to directives from the Islamabad

High Court. With the federal cabinet’s approval, the Ministry issued a notification (No. F. 1(6)/13-PSQCA) formally assigning this responsibility to Ms. Ismat Gul Khattak for a three-month period.

The Islamabad High Court had directed the federal government to expedite the process for appointing a regular Director General for PSQCA, responding to a writ petition by Dr. Shehzad Afzal, an employee of PSQCA, alleging violations of the Management Position Scales Policy 2020 in the appointment process.

Barrister Munawar Iqbal Duggal, the additional attorney general, informed the court that the initial appointment process had begun, but the candidates who had applied did not meet the qualification criteria. The MP1 scale position stipulated that candidates must possess a master’s degree in the relevant field, whereas all the candidates held bachelor’s degrees.

Subsequently, the Ministry of Science and Technology decided to restart the entire selection process.

The court assigned the responsibility to the Secretary of the Ministry of Science and Technology to ensure that the advertisement and scrutiny of candidates were completed within six weeks. The case is set to be reviewed again on December 12, 2023.

Dr. Afzal argued in his petition that the Ministry of Science and Technology had repeatedly initiated and abandoned the hiring process, demonstrating a lack of commitment to appoint a regular Director General. PSQCA has been without a regular DG since September 2021, with Dr. H.U. Khan holding the acting charge.

Ms. Ismat Gul Khattak, currently the Director General of the Pakistan National Accreditation Council (PNAC), is a seasoned professional who has served with distinction in various governments, including Pakistan, the UAE, and the UK. She possesses significant expertise in quality infrastructures, particularly in the fields of technical regulations, standardization, industrial and legal metrology, accreditation, certifications (including halal certification), laboratory management, inspection, proficiency testing providers, and personnel certification schemes.

UN leaders call for an end to Israel’s war on Gaza as death toll tops 10,000 CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Blinken made an unannounced visit to the West Bank on Sunday to meet Palestinian Authority President Mahmoud Abbas, who joined international calls for an immediate ceasefire. Blinken reiterated US concerns that a ceasefire could aid Hamas and Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu ruled one out for now.

US CIA Director William Burns was also set to visit Israel on Monday to discuss the war and intelligence with officials, the New York Times reported.

Burns also will make stops in other regional states, it quoted an unnamed US official as saying.

The CIA did not respond to Reuters‘

request for comment.

Israel said 31 soldiers had been killed since it began expanded ground operations in Gaza on Oct. 27, fighting thousands of Hamas fighters who believe they can hold off Israel’s advance from a warren of tunnels under the enclave.

Israel has called on civilians in north Gaza – the heart of Hamas’ forces – to evacuate for their own safety and announced that it would enable free passage on a southbound highway for four hours every day.

However, UN monitoring showed thatless than 2,000 did so on Sunday, citing fear, heavy damage to roads and lack of information due to limited communications, a UN humanitarian briefing said.

Lieutenant-Colonel Jonathan Conricus, an Israeli military spokesperson, showed reporters what he said was aerial footage of Hamas tunnels and rocket sites at two hospitals in northern Gaza, saying this showed Israel was not responsible for “what’s happening now in northern Gaza”.

A Hamas statement called on UN Secretary General Antonio Guterres to form a committee to visit Gaza hospitals to verify Israel’s “false narrative” that Hamas uses hospitals as sites.

On average, a child is killed and two are injured every 10 minutes during the war, the UN relief agency for Palestinians said. The agency’s shelters in south Gaza are overcrowded and unable to take new arrivals, and many

displaced people are sleeping in the streets, the UN humanitarian office said.

‘TORN-APART FLESH’ Telecoms provider Paltel said services were resuming after they were disconnected from the Israeli side on Sunday.

US Central Command, which covers the Middle East, said on X a nuclear missile submarine had arrived in the region – an unusual announcement seen by some analysts as a message to Iran, an Israeli foe.

The Iranian foreign minister Hossein Amirabdollahian told state TV the US has sent a message to Iran in the past three days saying it sought a ceasefire in Gaza, but in practice Iran had seen only US “support of genocide in Gaza.”

Chinese envoy for greater China-Pakistan media cooperation CONTINUED FROM BACK PAGE

Chairman Senate Defense Committee, Senator Mushahid Hussain in his keynote speech emphasized on the miracle that CPEC has been for Pakistan and how its wonderous outcomes have trickled all the way from mega-projects to the very lives of the women and other communities and areas like Thar.

Caretaker Federal Minister Caretaker for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi shared in his remarks that the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is keen to play a greater role in extending all possible cooperation to the Chinese enterprises for developing a greater understanding and establishing

rapport in the areas of mutual interest.

The event also featured the screening of an exclusive video documentary on the significance and contributions of CPEC as the flagship project of the “Belt and Road” Initiative, recounting the hallmark transformation of BRI from an ancient vision to a modern reality. Among the many achievements secured in the wake of CPEC, Gwadar is the zenith and the focal point of CPEC. It is also the link between the One Belt, One Road and the Maritime Silk Road project.

The video highlighted this geographic and geostrategic importance of Gwadar port with scenic shots. It also gave a bird’s-eye view at the major

contributions of CPEC projects via facts and figures.

To commemorate these ten years of unwavering support and cooperation lovingly extended by the Chinese brethren, a special feature report titled, “Thousands of Miles with CPEC: The Symbol of Pakistan-China Relations” was also launched. This report sketches the narrative of CPEC, hails its achievements as a landmark on the road of Pak-China relations, and recounts the timeless instances of the Chinese companies fulfilling their Corporate Social Responsibility (CSR).

It explores the depth of Pak-China friendship that is spread over creating sustainable futures, fostering sustainable

bonds, and nurturing sustainable environments that can thrive the ironclad partnerships between the people of both nations.

Furthermore, Chinese enterprises located all over Pakistan and belonging form multiple sectors have shared mini documentaries comprising short videos of their project employees’ and local people’s testimonials, personal accounts, inspiring experiences as a contribution to this promotional venture. These will be released as docuseries under the umbrella of Thousands of Miles with CPEC with thousands of more miles to cover on the road towards Pakistan and China’s prosperous and promising future.

4,000 illegal Afghans leave Karachi amid HRCP fear of humanitarian crisis KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

Sindh Caretaker Home Minister Haris Nawaz on Tuesday disclosed that around 4,000 Afghan nationals illegally staying in Karachi, had returned back to home so far amid the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) concerns that deportation of undocumented foreigners — most of whom comprise Afghans — will “trigger a humanitarian crisis.”

Talking to media here, the caretaker minister said that illegal Afghan immigrants in batches of 300 to 400 will be sent to Chaman border-crossing within two to three days.

It is to be noted that October 31, is fixed by the government as the last day of the immigrants illegally staying in Pakistan to leave voluntarily.

The home minister said that illegal immigrants will not be kept in the country for more days. “An operation will be launched against illegal immigrants from tomorrow,” caretaker minister said.

“Pakistan has host Afghan brethren for long time,” he stated. “Those staying legally in the country, wouldn’t have any problem. Those without travel papers will be sent back to their country,” he said.

“There are 1,70,000 Afghan citizens in Sindh, around one Lac in Karachi,” Nawaz said. He said that illegally staying Indian and Bangladeshi citizens will be sent back to their countries by trains.

“A crackdown will be launched against those who won’t leave the country voluntarily,” he further said.

“Those harbouring illegal immigrants would also face legal consequences,” provincial minister said. The government

has setup refugee camps in KP and Balochistan with arrangements of food, medical treatment and other basic necessities.

DEPORTATIONS CAN TRIGGER A ‘HUMANITARIAN CRISIS’ The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) on Tuesday expressed concern over the government’s decision to expel undocumented foreigners — most of whom comprise Afghans — and urged the United Nations High Commissioner for Refugees (UNHCR) to ensure protection for Afghan refugees.

In a letter addressed to the UN High Commissioner for Refugees Filippo Grandi on Tuesday, HRCP Chairperson Hina Jilani said the move to expel Afghans could “trigger a humanitarian crisis”.

“The decision amounts to forced repatriation, which is not recognised under international customary law, and will invariably affect vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers, which include women, children, the elderly, persons living with disabilities, persons from low-income groups, and Afghans at risk because of their professions — many of whom fled Afghanistan after the Afghan Taliban took over the government in August 2021,” the letter stated.

It noted that despite criticism from human rights organisations, the government had not shown any signs of reconsidering its decision and had gone so far as to prevent civil society members from expressing their views on the matter.

It highlighted that the interim interior minister had announced that the current phase of expulsion would be followed by the deportation of foreign with legitimate

documents, including Afghans who hold proof-of-residence cards.

The HRCP, the letter went on to say, had also received reports of harassment, intimidation, extortion and arrests of Afghans while media reports suggested that 77 Afghan refugees with legitimate documents had already been deported.

“While HRCP recognises that the government may have legitimate security concerns tied to a small number of foreign nationals resident in the country illegally, we believe that humanitarian concerns must override security interests,” it said, adding that such a decision did not fall within the mandate of an unelected government.

“We also believe that refugees and asylum seekers should be allowed to thrive along with their hosts and that the rights of both are not mutually exclusive.”

The commission further regretted that Pakistan was not a signatory of the 1951 Refugees Conventions, lacked a national asylum system and addressed issues pertaining to Afghan refugees through “ad hoc and discretionary policies”.

It highlighted that Pakistan was bound by universal customary laws of non-refoulment which prohibit deporting anyone to a place where they would face a real risk of persecution, torture, illtreatment or life threats.

“HRCP believes that the Pakistan government’s actions in this context amount to violations of international customary law, given that the prevailing circumstances in Afghanistan are not at all conducive to the safe return and reintegration of vulnerable refugees and asylum seekers,” the letter said.

It subsequently urged the UNHCR to

call on the government to extend the Nov 1 deadline, ensure that no migrants or refugees with legitimate documentation were expelled, ensure refugees were treated with dignity and facilitate their access to documentation.

The letter also suggested that the government should devise a “rightsbased domestic policy” on refugees, revisit the “flawed” Foreigners Act of 1946 and sign the 1951 Refugees Convention and the 1967 Protocol Relating to the Status of Refugees.

NCSW ISSUES URGENT STAY APPEAL FOR VULNERABLE AFGHAN WOMEN Meanwhile, the National Commission on the Status of Women, in a letter written to Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti today, said there were approximately 2.5 million widows in Afghanistan, some of whom came to Pakistan in search of livelihood.

“These women are journalists, doctors, software engineers, and others who are undocumented due to various circumstances beyond their control,” it stated. Quoting unofficial sources, the commission said there were around 30,000 Afghan women at risk. “These women sought refuge in Pakistan due to the inhuman treatment of women in their country,” it said, expressing concerns that their “compelled return” to Afghanistan posed threats of persecution, abuse and death.

The letter urged Bugti to review the cases of undocumented Afghan women on an individual basis taking into account specific challenges and vulnerabilities.

“By doing so, we can ensure that those who genuinely need protection are not forced back into a highly perilous and dangerous situation,” it added.

NEWS

03

FIA recovers Azerbaijan women being exploited sexually in Islamabad RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

In a major operation, the FIA Anti-Human Trafficking Circle, Rawalpindi has recovered seven foreigners including four women and three children from a house in Islamabad on Monday. The victims belong to the Central Asian state of Azerbaijan. Reportedly, some human smugglers brought the Azerbaijan women to Pakistan on the pretext of giving them employment. But the accused were found involved in the sexual exploitation of the foreign women. The victim women came to Pakistan on visit visas. The visas of the victims had expired and they were residing illegally in Pakistan.

The FIA team raided a flat situated in Islamabad’s E-11 area and recovered the foreigners. It also recovered the passports of the Azerbaijan women. The FIA Anti Human Circle, Islamabad registered a case against three human traffickers. Raids are being conducted in different areas to arrest the accused. Special raiding teams have been formed to arrest the human smugglers.

The government has launched a strict crackdown against illegal aliens residing in Pakistan.

Sindh LG By-election: PPP emerges as major political party KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) has emerged as a majority party in local bodies’ by-election in Sindh province. As per unofficial results, the PPP has secured six out of 10 seats in five districts of Karachi division including all the three seats of Union Committee Chairmen in South, Kiamari and Malir districts. Karachi Mayor Barrister Murtaza Wahab and Deputy Mayor Salman Abdullah Murad are among the winners who won a Union Committee Chairman seat each in Saddar and Gadap towns to meet legal requirements for retaining their respective offices.

Meanwhile, Jamaat-e-Islami won two seats from central and East districts while PTI secured one seat. An independent candidate also secures a seat of councilor.

Zhob-DI Khan national highway blocked due to landslide QUETTA

Staff RepoRt

The Zhob-DI Khan national highway has been closed at Dhana Sar point in Sherani district, Balochistan, since last night due to a landslide on Monday. People have been facing a great deal of inconvenience due to the closure of the road. They have been waiting for the road to be cleared in vehicles lined up in long queues. All the people in Sherani district have been advised to avoid travel on the national highway till it is opened. The National Highways Authority (NHA) and the district administration have been busy clearing the road.

According to the district administration, the road can be opened by this evening. No loss of life or property has been reported so far, the district administration said.

Feb 8 sun will rise with PPP’s victory, say Zardari and Bilawal KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

The PPP chairman and co-chairman have extended congratulations to the party candidates who won the local body by-elections in different cities of Sindh. In a post uploaded on X platform on Monday, PPP CoChairman Asif Ali Zardari expressed his gratitude to the people for party’s victory in the LB by-elections in Karachi and other parts of the province. The heart of Sindh also raised the slogan of Jeay Bhutto, Zardari said, adding the success of Murtaza Wahab and Salman Abdullah Murad is a special message for PPP’s rivals in Karachi. Asif Zardari paid rich tributes to party workers for victory in by-elections, saying “Every PPP worker should start the election campaign by becoming the ambassador of Ms Benazir Bhutto Shaheed.” Zardari said the sun of February 8 will rise with the message of Bilawal Bhutto Zardari’s victory. “There are few days left and PPP will end people’s problems,” he added. In his tweet, PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari also extended congratulations to the successful candidates in the LB by-elections, showering praise on Karachi Mayor and Deputy Mayor Murtaza Wahab and Salman Abdullah Murad, and Deputy Mayor Sukkur Arshad Mughal on their success in the elections.

Corrigendum

Apropos of an inadvertent mistake made in the publication of a photograph attributed to the late son of Maulana Tariq Jamil in his obituary on October 30, 2023. PT Staff regrets the mistake after necessary correction.

04 COMMENT

On strong opinions And their inverse proportionality with knowledge

To a land they don’t know

T

The Afghans’ forced exodus continues

HEY’RE not going back where they came from. As you read this, hundreds of thousands of human beings who have never even seen Afghanistan are being sent to the country of their ethnic origin.

Brace yourselves as news of one of the largest cases of forced migration on the planet unfolds, because sad stories abound. We are not merely talking about the political activists, artists and people associated with the erstwhile Afghan regime, who have a target painted on their backs as soon as they go back. But we are talking about the ordinary people who have absolutely no bearing in that country and do not know the lay of the land to begin with. In fact, some who have married non-Pashtun Pakistani nationals and who have lived outside the Pashtun belt within Pakistan, have begotten children who don’t even know Pashto, what to speak of Dari.

We are sending scores of little girls and young women to perhaps the only country on the face of the planet whose (de facto) government has banned female education.

Plenty of activists are rightly talking about the need to provide nationality, and therefore retain, individuals born in Pakistan. But a case can very well be made even for those who weren’t born in Pakistan but have stayed here for decades, on humanitarian grounds, especially considering the nature of the current regime in Afghanistan.

Of those Afghans that have Proof of Registration (PoR) cards, there are reports of some being bussed out because of clerical and bureaucratic errors.

As the world watches with horror the genocide that is happening in Gaza by the fascist Israeli state, we need to take stock of our own sins, as responsible citizens of the world. Speaking out against atrocities on the other side of the world, though important, is easy. To have the moral fortitude of calling it out in our own backyard is difficult.

O

HasaN aFTaB saeeD

NE of the many paradoxes of life is that opinions are stronger in proportion to one's ignorance of the facts of the matter. Facts have a way of making matters that seemed black-and white (when one was blissfully unaware of the facts) look a lot greyer in comparison.

This is especially the case in political/historical matters, although is by no means confined to them.

The inimitable Shafiq-ur-Rehman expressed it best. In his characteristic way, he makes one of his fictitious characters to boast that he can speak for hours on end on subjects he knows absolutely nothing about. As one increases in knowledge of one's subject, it become that much more difficult to make simplistic, grand and sweeping statements; and one becomes that much more careful and cautious before venturing an opinion. Political and historical issues especially call for a nuanced analysis, usually leading to subtle conclusions.

Take any such controversy at random. The chances are that those among your acquaintances and friends who could not be more vocal and whose minds could not be more made-up on the issue would also be the most ignorant of the history and the facts of the matter. But they make up for this deficiency of knowledge on their part by a dazzling surplus of passion and emotion. The next time you see a man who is sermonizing on the basic structure the constitution; just ask him what the first constitutional amendment

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami

Foreign funding in Pakistan Editor Umar Aziz M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

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Executive Editor

The need to have effective checks Yusra Naeem

ITH the rapid onslaught of technology and information warfare by Foreign Intelligence Services & Entities (FIS&Es), States are facing multi-tiered hybrid challenges, targeting national and ideological boundaries. Foreign interference and funding through International Non-Governmental Organizations (INGOs), think tanks, Civil Society Organizations (CSOs) and welfare entities have become a cause for concern, as they fall prey to FIS&Es. Hostile external players use such organizations for lobbying and influencing governments or populations to serve their own interests.

Owing to its geo-political / geo-strategic significance, Pakistan is also confronted with such challenges of foreign interference. Host of foreign funded entities/ organisations are working in Pakistan without any declaration of source and purpose of foreign funding, due to absence of requisite legislation and legal framework. This void has created opportunities for espionage, subversion and influence ops in Pakistan by inimical elements.

The cases of organizations like Save the Children and ActionAid, both of which were banned in Pakistan, exemplify this challenge. Save the Children was found participating in anti-state activities, led by Dr. Shakil Afridi, who was working as a spy for the American CIA. Similarly, in 2018 ActionAid was found "working against the state" with unverified funding sources and its 17 foreign employees were deported from Pakistan.

To counter the threats and challenges surrounding arcane foreign funding of these organisations / entities, many countries have enacted legal framework to ensure transparency, especially in monetary dealings. For example, the United States has the Foreign Agents Registration Act (FARA), which requires individuals and organizations to register with the Department of Justice if they act as agents of foreign governments or principals. FARA promotes transparency and provides information about relationships between individuals, entities, and foreign entities, helping safeguard national security and political integrity. Failure to register or provide accurate information can result in civil or criminal penalties.

In the United States, several high-profile cases have raised concerns regarding foreign influence on domestic entities. One notable case involved Georgetown University, where faculty members and researchers were accused of receiving $10 million gift from a Thai corporation with extensive links to Chi-

nese Communist Party (CCP) to launch an "Initiative for U.S.-China Dialogue on Global Issues".

Another case in regards to FARA is Qatar's unaccountable foreign lobbying by a leading American think tank, the Brookings Institution, whose president, Gen. (Ret.) John Allen, was implicated for non-adherence to existing rules of foreign lobbying in USA. Similarly, USA’s Cornell University quietly accepted millions in research contracts from the Chinese telecom firm “Huawei”.

The university's refusal to disclose details about these contracts further intensified worries. Resultantly, Congressman Bergman proposed Think Tank Transparency Act of 2023, which required submission of all contracts and agreements between non-profits and foreign entities to the Department of Justice.

In the context of Pakistan, drawing inspiration form FARA, "National Foreign Agents Registration Act (NFARA)" is proposed to tighten control over foreign funding and regulate the activities of foreign agencies, NGOs, think tanks, and educational organizations within the country.

NFARA is envisioned as a mechanism to ensure public interest and national unity. It can adopt the definition of "Foreign Agent" from FARA, categorizing anyone receiving funding, direction, and control from foreign entities.

NFARA will require individuals and organizations in Pakistan to declare their association with foreign entities and fulfill necessary reporting and disclosure obligations within 90 days.

The proposed act will work in tandem with existing legal provisions, such as the

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is. The chances are that you will draw an equally spectacular blank.

The same can be said of the folks who are the noisiest on say, the separation of East Pakistan or the Kashmir dispute. To take the last one as an example, it is a safe bet that the most passionate proponent of a particular solution to the problem would not know the answer to any of the following questions: How many princely states were there at the time of the Independence? How many of those decided to join Pakistan or India? What was the Muslim League's position regarding the principle according to which a state was supposed to go one way or the other, or to remain as a part of a confederation?

What was Congress's position on the whole princely states issue?

Also, this man will likely have very little idea (if any) about the 3-point terms of ceasefire of the 1947-48 war, Operations Gibraltar, Grand Slam and Desert Hawk, and the Tashkent Declaration. He would hardly be so certain about the validity of his opinion (even if its bottom line remains the same as before) if he had some familiarity with facts.

Not that the typical individual across the border would be any better. He is likely to be equally indoctrinated, equally convinced of the ‘correctness’ of his opinion, and equally unwilling to listen to anything that even suggests otherwise. What each side needs to do is focus on forming opinions based on facts; what each side does instead is keep complaining that the other side continuously fails to do that.

Knowing the relevant facts before forming one’s opinion has at least two benefits: First: one’s opinion is an informed one; and second: appreciating that a differing view is at least possible, one is likely to be less rigid and uncompromising about it and, as a result, markedly less upset with people not agreeing with it. It is for this second merit that Bertrand Russell argued that pleading a cause that one disagreed with must be made an integral part of every educational program. It is for the same reason why it is imperative to state the opposing view in the most compelling and honest way possible before one pro-

The author is a connoisseur of music, literature, and food (but not drinks). He can be reached at www.facebook.com/hasanaftabsaeed

Editor’s mail

Yusra Naeem is a researcher and MS Scholar and can be reached on yusran.281998@gmail.com

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ceeds to criticise it.

This article does not aim to put the historical record straight on the Kashir issue, much less to propose a solution to it. Instead, the point is to highlight man's tendency to judge himself qualified to speak on subjects he has yet to acquire the requisite competence in. Not only does he do this with impunity, but is so convinced about the soundness of his opinions that he is exasperated when somebody fails to see eye to eye with him. That somebody, who is typically equally incompetent when it comes to the issue at hand, experiences an equal amount of frustration on the former holding such foolish views.

This can be quite funny from an objective point of view; but there is much bad blood that ensues, which does nothing to make the average mortal look at the human species with any degree of fondness.

It is the simpletons that are usually thought to be guilty of overvaluing their opinions about everything.

And for very good reasons.

But accomplished and otherwise intelligent types are by no means immune to it either. In fact, men who are experts of one subject area are extremely susceptible to the temptation of overestimating their eligibility to opine on subjects they are very far from competent in.

Human beings will do one another an immense favour by realizing that there is no shame whatsoever in not being knowledgeable about everything under the sun. What is certainly beneath the dignity of any self-respecting man however is to hold a passionate opinion on an issue without having bothered to read up on the fundamental facts concerning the issue.

Unlike facts, opinions are not correct or incorrect – they are well-founded or otherwise. Even when the superstructure (reasoning) beneath them is impeccably constructed (the argument is valid), if the foundation (facts) on which they are supposed to be based happens to be faulty or (worse) non-existent, then the finish (conclusion) is expected to be shaky at best.

The Green Silk Road within the BRI represents a forwardlooking 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

"Pakistan Army (Amendments) Act - 2023," focusing on unauthorized disclosure, conflict of interest prevention, and restrictions on electronic crimes. Similarly, the “Official Secrets (Amendments) Act, 2023” can also be taken as supporting legal regime for NFARA as “Amendment of Section 2, Act XIX of 1923” permits action against “any person who is directly or indirectly, intentionally working for or engaged with the foreign power, foreign agent, non-State actors, organization, entity, association or group guilty of a particular act tending to show a purpose that is prejudicial to the safety and interest of Pakistan”.

To expedite legislation, a committee comprising representatives from the Ministries of Defense, Law & Justice, Interior, Education, the Security and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP), and the National Commission for Social Welfare along with other Directorates / Divisions of Ministry of Human Rights is recommended to be established which will develop a mechanism to prevent foreign funding that can influence Pakistan's political or social landscape.

A legal body like NFARA's is the need of hour for Pakistan. Its comprehensive approach will enhance counterintelligence capabilities and broaden the national security spectrum to include issues related to foreign lobbying and developmental aid in detail. It will also be impactful in countering threats emerging from subversion, espionage and influence operations by hostile foreign actors and will help stop harassment of individuals / organisations

by LEAs/ Intelligence Agencies.

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Tuesday, 7 November, 2023

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Send your letters to: Letters to Editor, Pakistan Today, 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah, Lahore, Pakistan.

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

Gas shortage

I am writing to express my deep concerns about the ongoing gas shortage that has been affecting our community in recent months. It is becoming increasingly difficult for individuals and businesses alike to access the fuel they need to go about their daily activities, and this situation demands our immediate attention. The repercussions of this gas shortage are widespread and alarming. Firstly, the rising gas prices are putting a significant financial strain on families who rely on their vehicles for commuting to work, school, and other essential activities. Moreover, local businesses, especially those in the transportation and logistics sectors, are grappling with increased operational costs that could ultimately result in layoffs or price hikes for consumers. Furthermore, the environmental impact of this gas shortage cannot be ignored. With limited access to public transportation options in our area, many people have no choice but to continue using their personal vehicles, contributing to increased air pollution and greenhouse gas emissions.

I urge our local and state authorities to take immediate action to address this crisis. Exploring alternative energy sources, investing in public transportation infrastructure, and implementing fuel conservation measures are some steps that can be taken to alleviate the strain on our gas supply and promote a more sustainable future.

Additionally, I encourage our community members to consider carpooling, using public transportation when possible, and adopting fuel-efficient driving practices to reduce their individual carbon footprint. It is my hope that by bringing attention to this issue, we can work together to find practical solutions and ensure that our community does not suffer further due to this gas shortage.

REEBA SALEEM KARACHI

Population dynamics

PAKISTAN is a country known for being star-crossed. Whenever a star appears over this byzantine country, it is invariably viewed as a foreboding omen. Albeit, to this day, the very source of discord that led it from economic collapse to severe inflation, political instability to civil polarisation, water shortage to land degradation, academic shortcomings to underage labours, and rural urbanisation to deforestation is unbridled population growth quietly drawing unseen meteors.

In Pakistan, the population is burgeoning rapidly at a growth rate of 2.55% annually and, according to United Nations estimates, is ranked as the 5th most populated country in the world. The growing population has proven to be an agent of meteors’ arrival; one of them is child labor. Middle-class families having multiple children later in life have no choice but to be unable to nurture their children properly, depriving them of the right to education and making them do hazardous labour work. As the saying goes, “for a nation, children are shining stars in the sky,” but in our sky, stars don’t shine anymore because it has clouded itself with labour and scrounging. The reasons are pretty obvious because these families are unable to make ends meet, let alone provide children with basic amenities in a comet-stricken country that is about to collide with several catastrophic comet clusters. Uncontrolled population surge plays the role of gravitational force in escalating the velocity of falling meteorites. To stop meteorites from falling, dealing with the gravity of a burgeoning population is more of a concern. Implementing comprehensive family planning campaigns tailored to specific regions can play a pivotal role in raising awareness about contraceptive methods. Simultaneously, fostering gender equality empowers women to make informed decisions about their reproductive lives. Promoting widespread education and creating economic opportunities even further contribute to averting the impending collision. However, overcoming the gravitational pull of a surging population remains a theoretical endeavour; for that, let us rewrite the cosmic narrative, steering away from the collision course through these campaigns that are akin to winds that disperse the clouds in the sky, allowing our children to once again shine like the stars they are meant to be.

TAHIR JAMAL NAWABSHAH

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 05

Kurti and Vucic

Tuesday, 7 November, 2023

The odd couple who made oddity a science

S

aloN BeN meir

INCE Kosovo declared its independence from Serbia nearly 15 years ago, the two countries have remained at odds with one another. In spite of the continuing efforts by the EU to mitigate the conflict between them, little if any progress has been made. The contentious point is that Serbia is simply unwilling to recognize Kosovo’s independence and still considers it one of Serbia’s provinces. The EU’s chief diplomat, Josep Borrell, who has been leading the efforts, believes, for good reason, that a resolution to the Serbia-Kosovo conflict not only serves the national interests of Pristina and Belgrade but also enhances the stability of the Balkans, which is of great concern to the EU, especially as the Ukraine war continues to rage.

The EU has all along made the accession of Serbia and Kosovo conditional upon their mutual recognition.

The European Council believed all along that such a precondition would motivate both countries to make the necessary concessions, which would have made them begin the process of integration into the EU. Sadly, the European Council’s hope did not materialize.

Neither side has agreed to modify their principal position in spite of the fact that both countries want to integrate into the EU. Following arduous back and forth negotiations and scores of meetings between Vucic and Kurti, the leaders remain at odds with each other to a point where they managed to make oddity a science. They often appear as if they have agreed on a range of issues but then it turns out that their interpretation of what they have supposedly

agreed upon fundamentally differs from one another.

A case in point is their acceptance of the Franco-German plan, which focuses on the normalization of relations from the perspective of a common EU future, the most critical element being the exchange of permanent missions, similar to embassies but at a lower level. Vucic subsequently refused to abide by the agreement and the Franco-German plan remains frozen.

Another earlier example is the EU mediation of an agreement between Pristina and Belgrade in 2013 that called for the formation of the Association of Serb Municipalities that would allow the Serb-majority communities in Kosovo to have limited self-rule but remain solidly as an integral part of Kosovo. Since then, the Association still has not been established. Prime Minister Kurti opposed the plan when he was in the opposition.

Recently he came to accept it conditionally upon Serbia recognizing Kosovo’s independence, because he needed to demonstrate to his public that he can receive something significant in return from Belgrade.

Vucic, who initially agreed not to oppose Kosovo’s membership in several international organization in exchange for the Association of Serb Municipalities, reneged on his promises stating that Serbia is “ready” for the formation of the association, but it does not accept Kosovo’s membership in international organizations, including the United Nations, nor its independence.

The European Council expressed deep concerns about the lack of genuine interest of both parties to implement any agreement that could lead to normalization and implementation of the Association, along with other EU-facilitated dialogue. The EU’s call on Kosovo and Serbia to implement the agreement without any further delay or preconditions was another shout in the wilderness that no one could hear.

On October 27, France’s President Macron, Germany’s Chancellor Scholz, and Italy’s Prime Minister Meloni called on Serbia to “deliver on de-facto recognition” of Kosovo, to which Vucic simply paid no heed.

From his perspective, de facto, which translates to recognizing Kosovo’s territorial integrity, is tantamount to recognizing Kosovo’s independence, which for him is a non-starter. Recently, Borrell stated, “Unhappily, the parties were not ready to agree on that, without preconditions that were unacceptable to the other party. We will continue insisting and working in order to get an agreement.”

It is rather puzzling that after so much trial and error, the EU has failed get the two sides to agree on anything.

The reasons are clear: For Kurti, the preservation of Kosovo’s independence is sacrosanct. Even though scores of countries have

not recognized Kosovo, those are not as critical as Serbia’s recognition because it is Serbia that considers Kosovo as one of its provinces and has categorically refused to recognize Kosovo’s independence or even accept its de facto independence by recognizing its territorial integrity.

For Vucic, the current geopolitical environment in the Balkans is not conducive to take such a momentous step for three reasons. First, he wants to maintain good relations with both Russia and the EU. Second, the close cultural, religious, and commercial relationship between Serbia and Russia coupled with the raging war in Ukraine risks raising the ire of Putin at a time when he is eager to maintain Serbia’s economic and political stability. Third, Vucic is not in hurry, and as long as Putin is in power and is breathing down his neck, he can wait knowing that the EU seeks to distance Serbia from Russia, feeling assured that the EU will always welcome Serbia into its fold.

The above strongly suggests one glaring fact. The EU’s decade-long strategy of making Serbia and Kosovo’s integration conditional upon mutual recognition of their independence has failed. It is now time for the EU to adopt a new strategy anchored on rewarding the party who is willing to make the necessary concessions without punishing the party that refuses to concede any ground but will be under intense pressure to do so.

This approach will take away from Vucic the “veto” power that he exercised, which prevented Kosovo from becoming even a candidate for integration into the European community.

The following are the four steps Kosovo should take, with the support of the EU, to break the impasse.

First, Borrell should work with Kurti and schedule new elections in the majority-Serb municipalities in northern Kosovo. This first step will dramatically reduce the tension between the ethnic Serbian communities and Pristina, which has been building up since the beginning of the year. It started with the license plate dispute, to the municipal elections that were boycotted by ethnic

Nasrallah & the future of the war An Israeli newspaper commented that Nasrallah succeeded in tearing the nerves of Israelis

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CONSORTIUM NEWS as`aD aBuKHalil

HE expectations for Hizbullah leader Hasan Nasrallah’s speech on Friday were very high; even the U.S. National Security Council’s spokesperson at the White House admitted that they too were awaiting the speech. In the Arab world there was anticipation or a general wish that Nasrallah would declare an official entry into the larger war, thereby igniting a regional conflict that would change the shape of the Middle East.

Hizbullah, unwisely, increased expectations by releasing video teasers showing Nasrallah walking or seated. Israelis and much of the world were holding their breaths. Lebanese were nervous but hopeful that Nasrallah would take their plight into consideration.

But Nasrallah does not operate in a vacuum. There is a very complex context in which he does. In the Arab world, the Western-Gulf alliance has spent billions to demonize Nasrallah and to undermine his standing in the Arab and Muslim worlds; and his standing reached new heights in the wake of the 2006 war with Israel.

Hizbullah’s involvement in Syria, and the circulation of slogans that were sectarian and religious in nature, aided the Gulf regimes’ campaign against Nasrallah and the party, portraying them as purely Shiite and merely puppets of Iran. The Gulf’s mission was to push the party into a sectarian corner, and the party — through its political behavior in Lebanon — unintentionally aided that mission.

Since the Lebanese economic collapse in 2019, Hizbullah has pursued political options focusing on solidifying Shiite political ranks. This is only understandable from the perspective of the party protecting itself from a GulfIsrael plot to instigate a Shiite, intrasectarian, civil war.

Thus it’s not easy to assess the speech with disregard to the political context in which it took place. Nasrallah was addressing many audiences: the party’s rank-and-file, the Lebanese scene, the Arab scene, and his enemies in the West and Israel.

The video teasers before the speech would have worked if there was a dramatic announcement in the form of a major escalation or a declaration of war. When that did not materialize, it made those teasers feel

hollow even though they succeeded in a form of psychological warfare against the Israeli enemy (an Israeli newspaper commented that Nasrallah succeeded in tearing the nerves of Israelis).

Hizbulllah is the first Arab political party, or even state if we add them to the mix, which devotes energy and resources to engage in psychological warfare against the Israelis. The PLO had no notion of that, and the speeches of its leaders (and of Arab leaders) were bombastic and emotional and did not rely on a base of military power and preparedness. Nasrallah is an expert on Israel; he spends hours reading about Israel and its politics and military.

Nasrallah must have felt enormous pressure before the speech. For a leader who uniquely (in the history of Arab leaders and of Israel) makes decisions on the basis of a cost-benefit analysis, Nasrallah’s hands were a bit tied in Lebanon. Half of the country (at least) is under the influence of Gulf regimes and have relatives in the Gulf and fear for their expulsion (Gulf regimes remind Lebanon regularly that if Lebanon were to take stands against the Gulf regimes, those Lebanese im-

Israeli leaders make weekly threats that they would turn Lebanon back to the pre-industrial age or that they would threaten to eliminate Lebanon altogether.

Those genocidal statements don’t get covered in the Western press, but they alarm the Lebanese population; Lebanese know full well that in war Israel targets civilians first and foremost.

Most of the casualties in Israel in the July 2006 war were combatants, while most of the casualties in Lebanon were, typically, civilians.

Lebanese infrastructure is in decrepit shape and Israel in the past consistently targeted Lebanese hospitals, power stations, airports, schools, and refugee camps. That must weigh heavily on Nasrallah’s mind when he makes the cost-benefit analysis.

But there are also the party-stalwarts who have been raised on the slogan, nay expectation, of the liberation of Palestine. They genuinely believe that Israel would reach its demise in the next war. Those supporters of the party needed to hear from their leader to understand the regional ramifications of the war.

And Nasrallah, it must be pointed out, is now probably the most senior

migrants would be expelled en masses).

Furthermore, there is an enormous U.S. media apparatus headquartered in Dubai that coordinates with Israel and Gulf countries in the war on enemies of Israel, especially those who are engaged in resistance against Tel Aviv.

Weeks before Nasrallah’s speech, journalists on the payroll of Gulf regimes and journalists who work for media funded by NATO governments and George Soros came together and promoted a petition rejecting the war between Lebanon and Israel, insisting that Lebanon is too fatigued to participate in a war against Israel. Money was mysteriously made available for those people to buy billboards sending the same message: that Hizbullah should keep Lebanon out of the war.

The movement did not spread much, but it registered with people who are worried about their living conditions, in the wake of the economic collapse and the elimination of people’s life savings. It did not help that

figure in the “axis-of-resistance” in the Middle East. Even Qassim Suleimani (murdered by the U.S.) was lower in rank than Nasrallah (footage of meetings between the two men confirm that Nasrallah was the senior person in the relationship). Photos of family mourning in Suleimani’s home show a picture of Nasrallah in the house).

Even Ayatollah Khamenei, who is the most senior religious figure in the hierarchy of the axis, defers to Nasrallah on strategic matters (Iranian officials regularly briefed Nasrallah on nuclear negotiations with the West). So he knew expectations were high and that this was a historic moment with the Arab people unified in support of Palestine. He could not stand by or act indifferently. He has not only opened (since the Hamas attack on Israel) the front in the South where his party lost 55 members so far in clashes with the Israeli occupation army, but he also allowed Palestinian factions (namely Hamas and Islamic Jihad) to use Lebanese territories to fire short range

missiles at Israel targets.

The entire political class in Lebanon (in the form of the government and the prime minister) has said that Lebanon does not want war with Israel. So Nasrallah did not declare war, but sent out these important signals: He made it clear that the planning and the timing of the Hamas operation was entirely Hamas and Hamas alone. He said that not even allies of Hamas in Gaza (clearly a reference to Islamic Jihad) knew of the operation because Hamas maintained absolute secrecy. Iran was not involved and that was important to stress because in the Western media all Iranian allies are presented as mere puppets of Iran. The picture is more complicated. In 2011, Hamas supported the Syrian revolt against the Syrian regime although the regime provided Hamas with sanctuary and military support. That stance poisoned the relationship between Hamas and Iran, and even between Hamas and Hizbullah. Hamas later reconciled with Hizbullah, but the Hizbulalh leadership still refuses to meet with Khalid Mishal, the leader behind Hamas’ decision to support the Syrian armed rebellion (he took that decision consistent with the stance of Qatar and Turkey, with which he is very close).

Moreover, even the US has finally concluded (according to CNN) that Hizbullah does not merely follow Iranian orders in its decision making.

Nasrallah wanted to make clear that the front from Lebanon to Syria to Gaza is one and that all members of the resistance camps will be fighting together. He made a reference to the Iraqi allies of Hizbullah.

Nasrallah was preparing the Lebanese for the next phases of the war. He all but made it clear that a larger war is inevitable but he did not want to be the one to announce it, thereby opening the door for the Gulfpaid media to blame him for that decision. He spoke about phases of this war and reminded the audience about Israeli losses and Hizbullah’s successes in clashes in South Lebanon.

Nasrallah sent a message to the U.S.: His group won’t be intimidated by the presence of the fleet in the Mediterranean and reminded the U.S. that some of those who fought against the U.S. in Lebanon in 1982-84 are still alive and trained others. He made it clear that Hizbullah would retaliate against U.S. forces if the U.S. strikes Lebanon.

It was not Nasrallah’s best speech, and it did not meet the very high expectations by many. But it achieved what he wanted from the occasion: to put the enemy on notice that Hizbullah would not rule out a major confrontation with Israel and that such eventualities are related to developments on the ground in Gaza.

As`ad AbuKhalil is a LebaneseAmerican professor of political science at California State University, Stanislaus.

Serbs, to the violence that erupted following the failed elections. Kurti should make it clear time and again that he considers every person within the country’s borders a Kosovar, and embrace the ethnic Serbs like any Albanian Kosovar, which is consistent with and required by the EU charter.

Second, Kurti should immediately begin creating the Association of Serb Municipalities, irrespective of whether or not Vucic reciprocates. Against this step, the leading EU member states, Germany, France, and Italy, should work diligently to persuade the five remaining EU member states – Greece, Romania, Cyprus, Slovakia, and Spain – to recognize Kosovo, which is a prerequisite for Kosovo’s eventual full accession.

Third, Kurti should declare that Kosovo will accept the Franco-German plan as it stands and will act on its implementation as soon as Serbia also agrees to follow suit. The EU should reward Kosovo by making it a candidate for EU membership. The above three steps will exert tremendous pressure on Vucic to change his tune, because the last thing he wants to see is Kosovo advance toward integration while he is left behind.

Fourth, Kurti should focus on strengthening Kosovo’s economy, weeding out corruption which would encourage foreign investment, creating job opportunities for those who graduate with university degrees to prevent brain drain, and improving healthcare and certainly the entire education system. The greater progress Kosovo makes to meet the EU standard in these areas, the closer it comes to integration.

The EU mediation between Serbia and Kosovo has hit a brick wall. By no longer conditioning Serbia’s and Kosovo’s integration into the EU unless Serbia recognizes Kosovo’s independence, it will dramatically change the dynamic of the conflict and end the impasse.

Dr Alon Ben-Meir is a professor of international relations at the Centre for Global Affairs at NYU. He teaches courses on international negotiation and Middle Eastern studies. alon@alonben-meir.com

US quietly expands secret military base in Israel

On October 7, when thousands of Hamas rockets were launched, Site 512 saw nothing — because it is focused on Iran, more than 700 miles away

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INTERCEPT

KeN KlippeNsTeiN aND DaNiel Boguslaw

WO months before Hamas attacked Israel, the Pentagon awarded a multimillion-dollar contract to build U.S. troop facilities for a secret base it maintains deep within Israel’s Negev desert, just 20 miles from Gaza. Code-named “Site 512,” the longstanding U.S. base is a radar facility that monitors the skies for missile attacks on Israel. On October 7, however, when thousands of Hamas rockets were launched, Site 512 saw nothing — because it is focused on Iran, more than 700 miles away. The U.S. Army is quietly moving ahead with construction at Site 512, a classified base perched atop Mt. Har Qeren in the Negev, to include what government records describe as a “life support facility”: military speak for barracks-like structures for personnel. Though President Joe Biden and the White House insist that there are no plans to send U.S. troops to Israel amid its war on Hamas, a secret U.S. military presence in Israel already exists. And the government contracts and budget documents show it is evidently growing. The $35.8 million U.S. troop facility, not publicly announced or previously reported, was obliquely referenced in an August 2 contract announcement by the Pentagon. Though the Defense Department has taken pains to obscure the site’s true nature — describing it in other records merely as a “classified worldwide” project — budget documents reviewed by The Intercept reveal that it is part of Site 512. (The Pentagon did not immediately respond to a request for comment.) “Sometimes something is treated as an official secret not in the hope that an adversary would never find out about it but rather [because] the U.S. government, for diplomatic or political reasons, does not want to officially acknowledge it,” Paul Pillar, a former chief analyst at the CIA’s counterterrorism center who said he had no specific knowledge of the base, told The Intercept. “In this case, perhaps the base will be used to support operations elsewhere in the Middle East in which any acknowledgment that they were staged from Israel, or involved any cooperation with Israel, would be inconvenient and likely to elicit more negative reactions than the operations otherwise would elicit.”

Rare acknowledgment of the U.S. military presence in Israel came in 2017, when the two countries inaugurated a military site that the U.S. government-funded Voice of America deemed “the first American military base on Israeli soil.” Israeli Air Force’s Brig. Gen. Tzvika Haimovitch called it “historic.” He said, “We established an American base in the State of Israel, in the Israel Defense Forces, for the first time.” A day later, the U.S. military denied that it was an American base, insisting that it was merely a “living facility” for U.S. service members working at an Israeli base. The U.S. military employs similar euphemistic language to characterize the new facility in Israel, which its procurement records describe as a “life support area.” Such obfuscation is typical of U.S. military sites the Pentagon wants to conceal. Site 512 has previously been referred to as a “cooperative security location”: a designation that is intended to confer a low-cost, light footprint presence but has been applied to bases that, as The Intercept has previously reported, can house as many as 1,000 troops. Site 512, however, wasn’t established to contend with a threat to Israel from Palestinian militants but the danger posed by Iranian mid-range missiles. The overwhelming focus on Iran continues to play out in the U.S. government’s response to the Hamas attack. The history of the U.S.–Israel relationship may be behind the failure to acknowledge the base, said an expert on overseas U.S. military bases. “My speculation is that the secrecy is a holdover from when U.S. presidential administrations tried to offer a pretense of not siding with Israel in the Israeli-Palestinian and Israeli-Arab conflicts,” David Vine, a professor of anthropology at American University, told The Intercept. “The announcement of U.S. military bases in Israel in recent years likely reflects the dropping of that pretense and a desire to more publicly proclaim support for Israel.

06 NEWS

AROUND 200,000 AFGHAN REFUGEES RETURN FROM PAKISTAN: KABUL

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ISTANBUL

ANADOLU AGENCY

T least 200,000 Afghan refugees have returned to the war-torn nation from Pakistan since Nov. 1, a spokesman for the interim Afghan administration told Anadolu.

Suhail Shaheen, who is also Taliban admin’s nominee to the UN, told Anadolu: “By estimates, some 200,000 Afghans have returned.”

Shaheen, however, said he cannot confirm the exact number of refugees who have returned to Afghanistan since Nov. 1. Pakistan had set Nov. 1 as a deadline for undocumented foreigners to leave the South Asian nation. Nearly one million people are targeted under what

Shaheen said Afghan businessmen and the war-torn nation’s diaspora have come forward to help the Taliban administration. “The incoming Afghans will be settled in their native provinces, townships, and cities,” Shaheen said.

On Pakistan’s accusations of outlawed Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) operating from Afghanistan, Shaheen said the innocent refugees have nothing to do with the TTP. “Security forces of Pakistan have to deal with them (TTP) and attacks by the TTP are launched from inside Pakistan,” he claimed.

Shaheen called the eviction of the undocumented refugees from Pakistan “pressure tactics used against Taliban.”

“Pakistan should treat Afghanistan on equal basis … on the basis of brotherhood,” he said, adding: “Pressure does not work.”

Islamabad calls the “Illegal Foreigners Repatriation Plan.” The UN has urged Islamabad to halt such plans.

Convoys of Afghan refugees made beelines on their way back to Afghanistan and the interim Taliban administration has set up two main camps on their side of the border in Torkham and Spin Boldak.

Shaheen, who is a member of a media commission to oversee the repatriation of refugees to Afghanistan, said: “There are thousands of Afghan refugees facing forcible expulsion from Pakistan and their properties are taken from them unlawfully, unfortunately.”

At least 12 committees have been set up by the Taliban. They have installed tents inside the Afghan territory for the incoming people.

He said the 12 committees formed by the Taliban are responding to the needs of the returning refugees.

“There is a need for medicines, tents, food, and drinking water. Then comes resettlement and construction of houses for the refugees. It needs funds,” he said.

Islamabad said it has no plan to extend the deadline and all undocumented foreigners would be deported regardless of their nationality.

Pakistan has been hosting a large number of Afghan refugees since the 1979 Soviet invasion of its northern neighbour. According to the UN Human Rights Office, more than 2 million undocumented Afghans were living in Pakistan, including at least 600,000 who left Afghanistan after the Taliban returned to power in August 2021.

Saudi Arabia urges Pakistan to engage Sinopec in $10bn green refinery project g

SIFC DIRECTS PETROLEUM DIVISION TO ASSESS CHINESE COMPANY'S INTEREST IN INVESTING IN GREEN REFINERY ALONGSIDE SAUDI ARAMCO PROFIT

NEWS DESK

Prominent Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi arrested during Israeli raid WEST BANK AFP

The Israeli army said on Monday it had arrested prominent 22-year-old Palestinian activist Ahed Tamimi during a raid in the occupied West Bank.

“Ahed Tamimi was arrested on suspicion of inciting violence and terrorist activities in the town of Nabi Salih” near the city of Ramallah, an army spokesman told AFP. “Tamimi was transferred to Israeli security forces for further questioning.”

The activist was arrested during an Israeli army raid “aimed at apprehending individuals suspected of being involved in terrorist activities and incitement to hatred” in the north of the West Bank, the spokesman added. When AFP inquired about the reasons for her arrest, a security source forwarded an Instagram post, which has circulated widely on social media and is attributed to the young activist.

According to the post, written in Arabic and Hebrew, she called for the massacre of Israelis in explicitly violent terms, referring to Hitler.

The activist’s mother, Nariman al-Tamimi, denied she wrote the post. “There are dozens of (online) pages in Ahed’s name with her photo, with which she has no connection,” Tamimi told AFP. She added that her husband, Bassem al-Tamimi, was arrested on October 20 and since then there has been no news about his whereabouts.

AFP was not immediately able to verify whether the Instagram account in question, which was blocked on Monday morning, actually belongs to Tamimi.

Tamimi became famous at age 14 when she was filmed biting an Israeli soldier to prevent him from arresting her brother who had his arm in a cast.

She has become an icon of the Palestinian cause and a large portrait of her has been painted on the Israeli separation wall with the West Bank in Bethlehem near Jerusalem. She was arrested in 2017 and held for eight months for slapping two Israeli soldiers in the courtyard of her family home in the West Bank as she asked them to leave.

Since the start of Gaza bombing on October 7, Israeli security forces have carried out large-scale arrests of Palestinians suspected of links to Hamas or of inciting violence. A spike in tensions and violence has claimed the lives of more than 150 Palestinians in the West Bank since then, most killed by Israeli soldiers or by settlers, according to the Palestinian health ministry.

To expedite the establishment of a $10 billion green refinery in Pakistan, the Kingdom of Saudi Arabia (KSA) has called upon Pakistani authorities to involve China’s Sinopec.

As per reports, the KSA has also expressed a desire for the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC) contract to be awarded to China Sinopec. In line with this, Pakistan State Oil (PSO), nominated by the Government of Pakistan, is in communication with the Bank of China and Sinopec.

Sinopec has a track record of providing services to Saudi Arabia, including rig services, well servicing, geophysical exploration, pipeline construction, road and bridge projects, and other EPC endeavors.

Furthermore, the Executive Committee (EC) of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has directed the Petroleum Division to assess Sinopec’s interest in investing in the green refinery alongside Saudi Aramco.

This directive was given dur-

ing the EC’s meetings held on October 23 and 24, 2023, at the Prime Minister’s Office.

The EC also urged the Petroleum Division to identify other credible parties interested in the project and share updates with the Apex Council (AC) in their upcoming meeting.

In the context of the petroleum sector, the Executive Committee of SIFC has instructed relevant ministries, divisions, and authorities to assess the capacity, resource, and investment requirements for both greenfield and brownfield refinery projects to enhance refining capacity.

The Petroleum Division has also been tasked with identifying other credible parties interested in investing in the refinery sector.

The refinery, set to be located in Hub, Balochistan, is anticipated to produce 8 million tonnes of diesel and 6 million tonnes of gasoline annually, meeting stringent 5-euro specifications.

Notably, on July 27, 2023, the China Road and Bridge Corporation (CRBC) signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) with the Pakistani government to construct the $10 billion

Saudi-backed refinery based on the CPC-F model. Now, Pakistan aims to attract Sinopec’s involvement at the request of the KSA. The project is planned to have a 30:70 equity-loan ratio, with $3 billion in equity and $7 billion in loans. Pakistan and Saudi Aramco will each share 50 percent of the equity, amounting to $1.5 billion each.

Saudi Aramco will secure the remaining $7 billion in loans through international financial institutions. The CRBC will also arrange loans from Chinese banks under the engineering, procurement, and construction (EPC-F) model.

Of Pakistan’s 50 percent equity share, PSO will hold 25-30 percent, while OGDCL, PPL, and GHPL will each have a 5 percent share. Notably, the Pak Arab Refinery Company (PARCO) did not sign the MoU. Saudi Aramco has conducted a pre-feasibility study and marketing assessment and will proceed with a detailed feasibility study before launching the project. Front End Engineering Design (FEED) will also be completed.

Chinese Vice Premier He Lifeng to visit the U.S. next week BEIJING

STAFF CORRESPONDENT

Member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee, Chinese vice premier and Chinese lead person for China-U.S. economic and trade affairs He Lifeng will visit the U.S. from November 8 to 12 at the invitation of U.S. Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen, China’s Foreign Ministry announced Monday.

Separately, Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Monday said China will continue to support and encourage sub-national and people-to-people exchanges to bring together all forces to develop sound China-U.S. relations.

Noting that the fifth China-U.S. Sister Cities Conference was held in Suzhou City in east China’s Jiangsu Province on November 3, Wang said sister provinces or states and sister cities are important carriers for deepening the friendship between the two peoples and achieving mutual benefit and win-win results.

For more than 40 years, sister provinces/states and sister cities between the two countries have maintained close cooperation and achieved fruitful results, bringing tangible benefits to the two peoples, Wang said.

He said the cooperation between the sister cities was

born with the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and the U.S., adding that the two countries have established 284 pairs since 1979, providing strong support for the development of bilateral relations.

Under the theme of “Build Green Cities for the People,” participants from both sides had in-depth discussions and shared experiences, which fully demonstrates the enthusiasm and vitality of sub-national and people-to-people exchanges between the two countries, he said. The spokesperson added it is hoped China and the U.S. will meet each other halfway and create favorable conditions and a good atmosphere for sub-national and people-to-people exchanges.

Tuesday, 7 November, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

Fury over US’ support for Israel may ‘add fuel to 2024 election’ WASHINGTON AGENCIES

The mounting disappointment and fury over the Biden administration’s one-sided support for Israel may add more uncertainty to the 2024 US election, with US President Joe Biden’s support among Arab Americans reportedly plummeting to an all-time low.

Analysts said that the Palestine-Israel conflict has accelerated the split in the US and also highlighted its crippled and falling strategy and credibility in the Middle East. A series of polls from the New York Times released on Sunday showed Biden trailing former President Donald Trump in five of six battleground states among registered voters.

Moreover, in recent days, the Arab American Institute think tank released a study showing a staggering 42 percent drop in support among Arab American communities since 2020. Respondents also overwhelmingly said they had a negative attitude toward Biden, with his approval rating tumbling to 29 percent, according to media reports.

Though Arab Americans and other Muslims make up a small part of the electorate in the US, their population is growing, and these voters can be a critical voting bloc in tight elections, particularly in a few swing states, for example, Arizona where Biden had been a slight favorite to win the state in 2020, Diao Daming, an associate professor at the Renmin University of China in Beijing, told the Global Times.

If more Muslims in crucial swing states make the decision to vote against Biden, the outcome of the 2024 election will not be what Biden wants to see.

However, since the election is still a while off and the Palestine-Israel conflict might not last that long, it is still unclear how much the war will affect the outcome of the election, said Diao.

The majority of Muslim Americans, who are unhappy with the Biden administration’s backing of Israel, may decide not to vote for either candidate because of Trump’s strong support for Israel, said Yuan Zheng, deputy director and a senior fellow of the Institute of American Studies at the Chinese Academy of Social Sciences. Yuan also noted that how the Palestine-Israel war will affect the US presidential election remains unclear given the great influence of Jewish groups in politics, finance and other sectors in the US. But one thing is certain – the divide in US society is further deepening, posing a greater challenge to future governance.

Although the Biden administration has subtly changed its tone from throwing firm support behind Israel to urging protection of civilians, criticism toward Biden for refusing to call for a cease-fire has grown. On November 4, tens of thousands of pro-Palestinian protesters took to streets across the US and accused Biden of enabling “genocide” against Palestinians.

For Biden, the current urgent issue is to stabilize the situation as soon as possible, and this is why he is pushing for a “humanitarian pause” to appease Americans who are showing sympathy for Palestinians and the boiling anti-US sentiment in the Arab world, analysts said, noting that Biden wants to show that he is capable of managing the whole situation, while the reality tells the opposite.

The past week witnessed an embarrassing moment for the US as Secretary of State Antony Blinken issued one of the Biden administration’s strongest warnings to Israel in a blunt call to pause military operations in Gaza to allow for the immediate and increased delivery of aid during his visit to Israel, while Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu said Israel would be “going full steam ahead.”

The US is losing ground in the Middle East. While there is a bipartisan consensus to support Israel, Diao pointed out that there are differences between the Democratic and Republican parties toward the country. The Netanyahu administration will not submit to the US as it is aware of this division and is using it to gain leverage in dealings with the US. On the heels of Blinken’s visit, the director of the Central Intelligence Agency (CIA), William Burns arrived in Israel on Sunday, the latest in the Biden administration’s push to engage with key parties to bring about a humanitarian pause while Israel continued its ground offensive in Gaza, with the death toll there approaching 10,000, according to media reports.

Analysts noted that the Biden administration’s predicament in the Palestine-Israel war highlighted US’ failure in its Middle East strategy, and with a worsening humanitarian crisis unfolding before the eyes of the international community, the US’ credibility as well as the values it touts are futher shattered, the analysts said.

CIIE reaffirms China’s commitment for high-level reform, opening-up: says Li Qiang BEIJING STAFF CORRESPONDENT

The 6th China International Import Expo (CIIE), the world’s biggest import fair, kicked off in Shanghai on Sunday, with more than 3,400 global exhibitors gathering at the expo.

In his letter sent to the event, Chinese President Xi Jinping said the world’s economic recovery lacks momentum and it requires the solidarity and cooperation of all countries. China will always be an important opportunity for global development, Xi said, according to Xinhua News Agency.

President Xi’s letter underlined China’s unswerving commitment to further opening up its market, said Chinese Premier Li Qiang, who delivered a key note speech at the opening ceremony of the 6th CIIE and the Hongqiao International Economic Forum.

Over the next five years, China’s imports in goods and services are expected to reach $17 trillion in cumulative terms, Li said, noting that China will continue to promote the greater opening-up of market opportunities.

Li said the country will actively expand imports, promote coordinated development

of trade in goods and services, implement negative lists for cross-border service trade, support innovation in foreign trade formats and models, and boost digital trade.

China sincerely hopes that countries around the world will meet each other half way in the grand stage of openness, and be partners for mutual success, said Li. WARM RECEPTION: The stance by the Chinese government on further opening up has been well received by the international organizations and global company executives.

“This expo is a powerful and well established platform, and a symbol of China’s commitment to balance trade relations with the rest of the world, and especially with the developing countries and the small and medium-sized enterprises,” Rebeca Grynspan, secretary-general of the United Nations Conference on Trade and Development (UNCTAD), said in her speech at the event. “It is a marketplace of ideas, a confluence of cultures and a starting point for a new paradigm in global action and international cooperation.”

“China will continue to play a pivotal role in powering the global economic

growth. China has clearly demonstrated its commitment to promoting global development, that is something we hope to continue to play a part in,” said Australian mining giant Rio Tinto Chief Executive Jakob Stausholm, according to a statement sent to the Global Times.

“China’s opening-up has brought opportunity to the world, and also ushered in the world’s advanced technology and large volumes of foreign investment to China. Cooperation has promoted the continuous expansion of international exchanges, driven more and newer technological applications to take root in China, and thus promoted social development,” German conglomerate Siemens AG said in a statement sent to the Global Times.

“The CIIE is actually very successful for us as a company. Over the years, it has moved from being more of a product promotion to more and more of a very good stage for us to develop with the authorities and present our strategy as a company,” Maximilian Foerst, president of ZEISS Greater China, which has attended CIIE six times, told the Global Times in an exclusive inter-

view on Sunday.

COMMON DEVELOPMENT: Cao Heping, an economist from Peking University, told the Global Times on Sunday that the CIIE, as a major offline trade expo returning to full strength this year, will help bolster China’s foreign trade.

Based on the achievements of the 134th China Import and Export Fair, or Canton Fair, which churned out higher value of deals than last year, the 6th CIIE is likely to see even more deals, Cao said, noting that Chinese consumers’ willingness to spend has not been dented.

The Canton Fair logged export deals worth $22.3 billion in total signed offline, according to organizers on Saturday.

As China is the major trading partners for more than 140 countries, it is great news for the global economy, Cao said, noting that as Chinese economy recovers from the impact of the pandemic, the gap between exports and imports are expected to narrow further.

China’s matrix of exhibitions, which include the Canton Fair, the CIIE and China International Supply Chain Expo in recent

weeks, left a deep impression on foreign company representatives.

“Exhibitions have become a perfect venue for foreign companies to showcase their products. The Chinese exhibition infrastructure is very advanced in design and tech,” Kevin Chen, a manager with Australian honey brand ANB, told the Global Times.

The CIIE enjoys the highest profile among all major Chinese trade fairs in recent years, Hu Qimu, a deputy secretary-general of the digital-real economies integration Forum 50, told the Global Times on Sunday.

The emphasis attached to the CIIE means that the nation is pursuing more balanced growth in both imports and exports, Hu said, noting that China has already gone beyond simply eyeing driving up its exports, even as it still being a major driving force for boosting the economic development.

Rather than engaging in the trade protectionism or “small yard and high fence” strategy, the CIIE serves to showcase China’s welcome attitude toward the inflow of global investment and resources and willingness to share its growth dividends from development.

Tuesday, 7 November, 2023 | ISLAMABAD

CORPORATE CORNER Bata Pakistan transforms SOS village in Lahore, inaugurated

by MD Imran Malik

LAHORE: In a landmark initiative to support the well-being and education of underprivileged children, Bata Pakistan, under the visionary leadership of Managing Director Muhammad Imran Malik, has not only transformed the SOS Village in Lahore but has also undertaken significant community development initiatives. In addition to the unveiling of the renovated SOS Village, the commitment to the well-being and education of underprivileged children is exemplified by the renovation of 6 schools and 1 home this year.

During the inauguration ceremony attended by key figures, including HR Director Ali Kazmi, Mr. Malik emphasized the pivotal role of education in children's lives, stating, "It is our duty to provide them with a space that fosters growth." This sentiment was echoed by HR Director Ali Kazmi, underlining Bata's dedication to actively creating homes for those in need in the coming years. PR

Unbeatable Deals Await on tCL and Iffalcon this Daraz 11.11 Sale

LAHORE: Get ready to revolutionize your shopping experience, with TCL and iFFALCON at the Daraz 11.11 Grand Sale happening from November 11th to November 21st. We are excited to announce the collaboration between TCL Pakistan, the leading LED TV brand in the country and Daraz Pakistans premier e commerce platform.

During this event you can enjoy incredible discounts of up to 20% on a wide range of TCL and iFFALCON products. Discover the TVs and home appliances at prices that will surpass your imagination. Whats even better is that many items come with shipping, Easy Monthly Installments (EMIs) and Mega vouchers ensuring you save like never before. PR

the 22nd Shaukat Khanum Cancer Symposium Concludes in Peshawar

PESHAWAR: The 22nd Shaukat Khanum Cancer Symposium concluded on Sunday, November 5, 2023. This largest oncology meeting of Pakistan was attended by over 2,000 people and included talks by international and national speakers from 12 different countries. The topics included breast cancer, oncological nursing, paediatric oncology, pathology, palliative medicine, anaesthesia & pain medicine, oncological pharmacy, infectious diseases in cancer, bone marrow transplant, haematological malignancies, and research. This was the first time that the symposium was organised in the historic city of Peshawar, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. The plenary talk was delivered by Professor Syed A. Hussain from the University of Sheffield, UK, who spoke about “Precision Medicine in Oncology”, sharing the latest updates on liquid biopsies and circulating tumour DNA. PR

Mediatek’s New All Big Core Design for Flagship Dimensity 9300 Chipset Maximizes Smartphone Performance and Efficiency

KARACHI: MediaTek today announced the Dimensity 9300, its newest flagship mobile chip with a one-of-a-kind All Big Core design. The unique configuration combines extreme performance with MediaTek’s industry-leading power efficiency to deliver unmatched user experiences in gaming, video capture, and ondevice generative AI processing. “The Dimensity 9300 is MediaTek’s most powerful flagship chip yet, bringing a huge boost in raw computing power to flagship smartphones with our groundbreaking All Big Core design,” said Joe Chen, President at MediaTek. “This unique architecture, combined with our upgraded on-chip AI Processing Unit, will usher in a new era of generative AI applications as developers push the limits with edge AI and hybrid AI computing capabilities.”MediaTek’s next generation APU 790 AI processor is integrated into the Dimensity 9300 and designed to significantly improve generative AI performance and energy efficiency for faster and more secure edge computing. The APU 790 doubles the integer and floating-point operations performance, while reducing power consumption by 45%. By adapting the Transformer model for operator acceleration, the processing speed of the APU 790 is 8 times faster than the previous generation, with image generation within one second using Stable Diffusio. PR

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PIA resolves $26mn dIsPute wIth AACl through out-of-Court settlement NEWS

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PAKISTAN’S NATIONAL FLAG CARRIER WAS RESPONSIBLE FOR PAYING RENT, AND MAINTENANCE COSTS FOR TWO A320 AIRCRAFT IT LEASED FROM AACL IN 2015 PROFIT

NEWS DESK

AKISTAN International Airlines Corporation Limited (PIACL) has reportedly resolved a $26 million dispute with Asia Aviation Capital Limited (AACL) through an out-ofcourt settlement. This decision was reached following legal counsel advice, as it was believed that PIACL’s position in the case was not particularly strong.

Ministry of Aviation informed the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) on October 27, 2023, that the PIACL leased two A320 aircraft registered as AP-BLY (MSN 2926) and APBLZ (MSN 2944) from AACL in 2015 for a year period. According to a previ-

ous report by Profit, the two planes were leased at a monthly rent of nearly $550,000 including rent, maintenance costs and insurance for the aircraft. For the next six years, the planes flew as part of PIA’s fleet. These two A320s were flown for a while as part of AirAsia – the Malaysian multinational air carrier.

In typical aircraft lease agreements, the lessee is responsible for returning the aircraft in its original condition. When it was time to return the planes, AACL could not send their team to Pakistan for inspection due to COVID 19 restrictions. Instead, they engaged FL Technic, a global aircraft maintenance provider based in Lithuania, to conduct the inspection in Jakarta. It was planned that the aircraft will be redelivered in six to eight months after repairs. However, this

schedule could not be followed. This led to exchange of claims and counterclaims between AACL and PIA as to the responsibility for the delay, actual amount of the lease rent, penalties and interest to be paid to AACL. Even a year later, the aircraft was not repaired and remained undelivered and the PIA bled of $5 million just on paying the rent for two planes they were not even using. The dispute on lease rent led to litigation on two previous occasions, in 2019 and 2021, as a consequence of which PIA was forced to pay $12.058 million to AACL. Since April 2022, PIA tried to reach out to AACL through inter alia visits by senior officials to their headquarters at Kuala Lumpur, but they remained largely unresponsive.

However on September 11, PIA re-

Bank of Khyber to set up exchange company with Rs1bn initial capital PROFIT

NEWS DESK

The Bank of Khyber (PSX: BOK) announced on Friday that it will set up a wholly-owned Exchange Company with an initial paid-up capital of up to Rs1 billion.

In a stock filing on the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX), the BOK stated that its board had approved the establishment of an exchange company during their meeting held on November 03, 2023. However, the board’s decision is subject to approval and clearance by the SBP and the completion of other regu-

latory compliance requirements.

Read This: Big banks are all set to run the open market. What does it solve and what it doesn’t BOK’s initiative is a crucial component of a wider campaign by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) aimed at curbing illicit activities within the underground market.

The SBP has recently introduced structural reforms within the exchange company sector to enhance regulatory oversight, bolster governance frameworks, fortify internal controls, and tighten compliance protocols. Furthermore, the SBP has raised the min-

imum capital requirement for exchange companies from Rs 200 million to Rs 500 million, with the additional stipulation that the capital must be unencumbered by prior losses.

Earlier, major banks including United Bank Limited (UBL), Meezan Bank, MCB Bank Limited (MCB), Bank AL Habib (BAHL), Allied Bank Limited (ABL), Faysal Bank Limited (FABL), Bank Alfalah (BAFL), Habib Metropolitan Bank, Askari Bank Limited and Bank of Punjab announced their plans to establish their own forex companies.

ceived a Court Notice through AACL’s UK-based counsels Herbert Smith Freehills for immediate payment of $31.3 million against outstanding rent, redelivery rent, maintenance costs and interest charges for the two aircrafts.

PIA’s UK-based counsel Norton Rose & Fullbright sought time from High Court of Justice, England and Wales, London to reply to AACL’s claims. Accordingly, the next date of hearing is now for October 30, 2023.

At the same time, PIA’s counsels have categorically opined that PIA’s position in this matter was quite weak. They have recommended that PIA may find an out-of-court resolution with AACL, which could be one of the three modes i.e. payment of cash, maintenance buyout or purchase of one or both aircraft.

JazzCash Pioneers Responsible Nano-Lending with Free Life Insurance

ISLAMABAD: JazzCash, in partnership with EFU Life Assurance Ltd., has marked a significant milestone by introducing free life and health insurance for nano-loan customers. This initiative redefines responsible lending practices and ensures that individuals and families have access to essential protection, safeguarding their financial future.Nanoloans, like JazzCash’s ReadyCash loan, play a pivotal role in empowering communities. These small, short-term loans profoundly impact individuals, small-scale vendors, and microentrepreneurs, providing them access to formal credit in line with our financial inclusion goal. PR

Unity Foods Limited and Pakistan Environment trust Join Forces to Achieve Net Zero Emissions by 2050

Caretaker Federal Minister for National Food Security and Research, Dr Kausar Abdullah Malik attended the round table conference held at FCCU on the 6th of November 2023. PR

Mr. Mohsin BALCI, Head of delegation TIKA visited RDF head office on 1st November 2023 to meet president RDF Brig r Muhammad Aslam Khan and other staff of RDF. A comprehensive presentation was given to Mr. Mohsin BALCI by Director Projects Mr. Zil ur Rehman Qureshi. Mr. BALCI appreciated RDF role in rural development and showed interest in developing cooperation with RDF in future.

President RDF also presented RDF shield to honorable guest. PR

COMSAtS elected as member of ANSO Governing Board KARACHI: Unity Foods Limited (UFL) and its affiliated companies have embarked on a transformative journey towards a more sustainable and environmentally responsible future. In a landmark initiative, UFL has teamed up with the Pakistan Environment Trust (PET) to commit to achieving Net Zero emissions by the year 2050, solidifying their dedication to combat climate change and reduce their carbon footprint. PR

HBL - A tiktok Global Success Story!

KARACHI: TikTok, the leading destination for short-form mobile video has published a case study on HBL’s campaign for HBLPSL Season 8 on its global website. The case celebrates the #JahanFansWahanStadium campaign and highlights the ground-breaking achievements of HBL. During the campaign, 8.9 million videos were created, generating over 8.7 billion views on the platform and it reached an incredible 97% Pakistani TikTok users. HBL is Pakistan’s no. 1 bank on TikTok with over 550,000 followers. #JahanFansWahanStadium invited cricket fans to showcase and celebrate their passion for HBLPSL by posting interesting videos using the hashtag. Influencers were also engaged to create interest in the campaign. The popular and catchy HBLPSL anthem served as the perfect soundtrack, enhancing the atmosphere of every celebratory moment. PR

Fostering stronger ties between Pakistan and Spain through knowledge exchange

LAHORE: LUMS and IE University Spain formalised a Memorandum of Understanding, marking the initiation of a collaboration in the field of education. The high-level delegation was headed

by H.E. Jose Antonio De Ory, the Ambassador of Spain to Pakistan, accompanied by Dr. Manuel Muniz, Provost IE University, Dr. Angeles Figueroa, Executive Director for Partnerships and Mr. Jalal Salahudin, Honorary Consul of Spain for Punjab. They were welcomed by LUMS leadership including Mr. Shahid Hussain, Rector and Dr. Tariq Jadoon, Acting Vice Chancellor and Provost. The MoU between LUMS and IE University aims to open avenues of collaboration for knowledge exchange. Dr. Muniz mentioned that IE University is currently undergoing a significant expansion and thus, opening doors to a number of collaborative opportunities including a possible exchange between the faculties of LUMS. PR

The Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS), being an international/ intergovernmental organization, has been elected as a Member of the Governing Board of Alliance of International Science Organizations (ANSO). The decision was made during the 3rd ANSO General Assembly, held in Chongqing, China, on 4-5 November 2023. The six elected members of ANSO Governing Board also include two Centres of Excellence of COMSATS, the Scientific and Technological Research Council of Türkiye (TUBITAK), Türkiye, and the National Research Centre (NRC), Egypt. ANSO is an international scientific organization in China, aligned with China’s ‘Belt and Road Initiative’ of shared development and achievement of the UN SDGs. ANSO members include research institutes and international organizations besides the academic institutions. COMSATS is a member of ANSO PR

Health Ministry of Balochistan launches State Life Health Card Program for its Citizens

QUETTA: A historic milestone for the residents of Balochistan unfolds today as the State Life Insurance Corporation of Pakistan (SLIC) Health Card Program is officially launched in the province, ensuring healthcare accessibility for all 2.3 Million families. Mir Ali Mardan Khan Domki, Chief Minister of Balochistan inaugurated the province’s health card program where Amir Muhammad Khan Jogezai, Health Minister of Balochistan and Shoaib Javed Hussain, CEO of State Life Insurance Corporation also graced the event. Mr. Hussain, CEO of SLIC emphasized the significance of the Balochistan Health Card program, stating, PR

PSX Launches the PSX WhatsApp Service

KARACHI: Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) has introduced a brilliant new service called the PSX WhatsApp Service to make available a whole host of information to capital market customers at their finger tips. This exciting offering provides customers all the basic information they need regarding investment, issuances as well as basics of financial literacy such as articles & blogs, My Portfolio virtual trading web-app, Knowledge Center and market details such as market report, market summary, daily quotations and daily announcements, among several other options and sub-options. The PSX WhatsApp Service is accessible through a simple and convenient process. Users can scan the following QR code or click on the given link. Thereafter they will get a “Hi” message on their WhatsApp message box which they will need to send to initiate the PSX WhatsApp Service. PR

Innovative wins gold for ‘Iengage’ at ICt awards

KARACHI: Innovative Pvt Limited (IPL) has been recognized as a trailblazer in the FinTech industry by securing the Gold Award for their groundbreaking innovation, iEngage, at the prestigious Pakistan IT Industry Association, P@SHA ICT Awards 2023 held recently.iEngage, the brainchild of IPL, represents a drastic shift in the landscape of ATMs and Self-Service Channels, reimagining them as true replacements for conventional brick-and-mortar branches. This innovative solution comes with features, including an Enhanced User Interface (UI/UX), Contextual Marketing, and the ability to enable new transactions on ATMs. iEngage empowers banks to usher in a new era of innovation and customercentric service through its flexibility and power. PR

Tuesday, 7 November, 2023

envoy for GOVT TO ENSURE COMMON MAN’S ACCESS Chinese greater China-Pakistan TO BASIC HEALTH FACILITIES: PM KAKAR media cooperation PRAYER TIMINGS

NEWS

C

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

ARETAKER Prime Minister Anwaar-ul-Haq Kakar has said the government will ensure the common man’s access to basic health facilities.

He was talking to World Health Organization’s Representative in Pakistan Dr. Palitha Mahipala who called on him in Islamabad on Monday.

The Prime Minister was appreciative of the initiative taken by the World Health Organization (WHO) for the up-gradation of primary health centers in Pakistan including Gilgit-Baltistan and Azad Kashmir. He noted that mobile health clinics and ambulances donated by the WHO will bring basic health facilities to the doorsteps of common people.

views at the social media platform, X after holding a meeting with the officials of the Ministry of Interior and the Inspector General of Police.

Premier Kakar said that Interior Minister Sarfraz Bugti would personally supervise the efforts to eradicate the use of narcotics at educational institutions.

Caretaker Prime Minister also has directed the authorities concerned to extend maximum facilities to the Sikh Yatrees intending to attend their religious festivals in Pakistan.

Chairing a meeting held here on Monday to review the visa facilities being provided to the Sikh Yatrees by the Government of Pakistan, he said the Sikh pilgrims coming to the country to visit their holy places were the guests in Pakistan.

Premier Anwaar-ul-Haq was briefed on the Sikh festivals being held through-

He said mobile health units are of key importance to deliver basic health services to people living in remote areas. The Prime Minister was informed that the upgradation of 464 primary health centers in Pakistan is a mega project on which the work will be completed in a short period of two months. The Prime Minister was further told that the mobile health units will not only provide basic treatment facilities to the people, but under the digital system, these will also be connected to the central health system for referral of the patients to major hospitals.

Caretaker Prime Minister has warned that elements involved in supplying narcotics in educational institutions would be dealt with iron hands. Sellers of narcotics were detrimental to the future generation of the country, he stated.

The prime minister expressed these

NADRA cancels over 18,000 illegal identity cards ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) has canceled over 18,000 illegal identity cards through a robust system, coordinating with other stakeholders, says in media reports. The step has been taken to address the issue of counterfeit identity cards and fake documents, which pose a threat to national security.

New measures include biometric verification of parents and relatives during the processing, SMS alerts to family heads, and two-stage verification for data access.

Disciplinary actions are also taken against facilitators of forgery. NADRA has also strengthened its accountability and inquiry system, leading to penalties and dismissal of those involved in illegal practices.

PTI to participate in polls with full force: Core Committee ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

While paying glowing tribute to Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan for facing the unjustifiable incarceration with the steadfastness, courage and perseverance, PTI Core Committee made it clear that the party would take part in the long-awaited general elections with full might and Imran Khan would lead the party’s election campaign across the country.

PTI core committee, in its meeting, paid tribute to PTI Chairman for creating an unprecedented history of greatness, courage, bravery and perseverance, who was a metaphor of struggle, resistance and determination due to his fight of ‘Haqeeqi Azadi’ of his nation.

The forum said that the PTI Chairman had been in jail for over 100 days without any legal justification, who was being mere subjected to political revenge; however, even then he remained steadfast and was not ready to budge an inch from his stated and principled position.

“Imran Khan’s courage, steadfastness and determination not to compromise on the real freedom of his nation is becoming a source of inspiration for over 240 million people of the country,” they maintained.

They were of the view that the people would trample and burry the politics of those forever, who begged for deals and returned to the country under the umbrella of NROs to save their theft, personal interests and dirty politics.

The participants of the meeting vowed that no state tyranny could prevent PTI from entering into the election field with the agenda of supremacy of the constitution, restoration of democracy, upholding rule of law and putting the country on the path of progress and prosperity.

The PTI core committee announced that on the instructions of the PTI Chairman, the PTI would participate with full might in the elections of the national and provincial assemblies despite all kinds of state suppression and oppression, adding that the party would nominate its candidate in each constituency for the national and provincial assembly elections across the country come what may. They expressed optimism that Imran Khan would be released from the jail before the election and he would lead his nation in this historic election campaign.

The forum highlighted that the state was afraid of the terrible fate of its puppets; hence he might be kept in prison illegally; however, even then Imran Khan would lead his nation from behind the bars, vowing that he with the support of the people would inflict a crushing defeat on the tyrannical forces.

PTI core committee strongly condemned the state coercive measures and reprisal actions against PTI leaders and workers and the illegal fascist measures against peaceful political activities before the elections.

They made it clear that the nation would not accept rigged polls held in such uneven electoral field and with state interference, adding that after fixing the polls date, the reprehensible attempts to force PTI out of the electoral arena and deprive it of a level playing field have become more prominent before the nation and the world.

out the year, and the facilities for issuance of visas provided to the pilgrims.

He instructed the relevant authorities to extend all-out facilities to the Sikh Yatrees for carrying out their religious rituals and visiting their holy places.

The prime minister also directed to accelerate the visa issuance process while ensuring the transparency in the system.

He said the Sikh Yatrees coming to Pakistan via Kartarpur Corridor must be provided with the facilities of international standards. The interior ministry briefed the meeting on the visa facilities for Sikhs, time duration required for visa issuance, administrative affairs of Kartarpur Corridor and annual festivals of Sikhs.

PM Kakar also instructed the authorities to present a comprehensive strategy for facilitation of Sikh pilgrims coming via Kartarpur Corridor or from other countries.

Finance Minister hopes to complete first review of SBa with iMF g

NEGOTIATIONS PROGRESSING POSITIVELY; POLICY LEVEL TALKS TO BE HELD SOON: FM SHAMSHAD AKHTER PROFIT

STAFF REPORT

The Caretaker Finance minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar portrays hopefulness of the successful completion of the first review of the Stand By Agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF).

The finance minister on Monday, in an interaction with the media, highlighted the satisfactory performance of all institutions involved in implementing the lender’s targets for the current program.

She emphasized that negotiations with the IMF have been progressing positively, with the economic team actively engaged in the process.

Finance minister said that she will participate in policy-level talks with the lender, underscoring her dedication to achieving successful negotiations with the IMF. She expressed satisfaction with the recent developments in her meetings with both the IMF and the economic team.

Sources said that the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has insisted on a detailed report on the financial losses incurred by state-owned enterprises (SOEs) during the first quarter of the ongoing financial year.

The Finance Ministry has appealed to the lender for an extension on the request, with a commitment to provide the comprehensive report by December 2023.

Sources also said that the IMF mission has made it clear that they would not accept outdated data on

the financial performance of the SOEs, underscoring the importance of having the most recent and precise statistics for relevant assessment.

The IMF delegation has also inspected the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU), which is responsible for assessing the losses incurred by government-owned enterprises. This inspection is part of the broader effort to improve data accuracy and reporting.

Furthermore, the IMF mission has called upon the CMU team to deliver their initial assessment report as soon as possible. Notably, the team is currently scrutinizing newly acquired data related to SOEs, with the expectation that this task will be completed expeditiously.

During the negotiations, the caretaker government submitted a report that included data up to the year 2020. This report revealed staggering losses incurred by SOEs, mainly DISCOs, Pakistan International Airlines, and Pakistan Steel Mills, totaling approximately Rs. 500 billion.

It is pertinent to note that the talks with the IMF commenced late last week with both sides sharing critical data for fast-tracking the ongoing review. So far, the lender has focused mainly on Pakistan’s fiscal framework for 2023-24, with an emphasis on converting Pakistan’s primary deficit into a surplus.

The IMF has also sought a monthly collection plan from the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) for Rs. 6.667 trillion of the remaining revenue during the current fiscal year.

army officer among four soldiers martyred in Kp anti-terror operation

RAWALPINDI STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Army’s Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hassan Haider and three other soldiers were martyred in an exchange of fire with the terrorists during an intelligence-base operation (IBO) in Khyber District of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP), the Inter-Services Public Relations said on Monday.

The security forces led by LtCol Haider conducted the IBO in the general area of Tirah in Khyber District and killed three militants and injured three others.

“During the conduct of the operation, own troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hassan Haider, effectively en-

gaged the terrorists’ location as a result of which three terrorists were sent to hell, while three terrorists got injured,” the military’s media wing stated.

The soldiers martyred in the operation were identified as Naik Khushdil Khan, 31, from Lakki Marwat District; Naik Rafique Khan, 27, from Charsadda District; and Lance Naik Abdul Qadir, 33, from District Murree.

The ISPR also said that the security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve Sanitisation operation is being carried out to eliminate any terrorists found in the area, it concluded.

FUNERAL PRAYERS OF-

FERED: Later in the evening, funeral prayers of Lieutenant Colonel Muhammad Hassan Haider, Naik Khushdil Khan, Naik Rafique Khan and Lance Naik Abdul Qadir, who embraced Shahadat while fighting gallantly against terrorists in Intelligence Based Operation in general area Tirah, Khyber District were offered in Peshawar Garrison.

Shuhada will be laid to rest with full military honours in their respective hometowns. Corps Commander Peshawar, and a large number of serving officers & Jawans, civil officials and general public attended the funeral.

Armed Forces of Pakistan stand resolute and committed to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the motherland at all cost.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

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ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Chinese Ambassador Mr Jiang Zaidong Monday called for the need of greater cooperation in the fields of information and media, saying that more cooperation would be made between Pakistani and Chinese media outlets.

He expressed these views while addressing the audiences at the launch event of “Thousands of Miles with CPEC: The Symbol of Pakistan-China Relations”. The Thousand Miles reiterates the vision of BRI and CPEC for having an inclusive and open global corridor, a green pathway, a road to connectivity, and shared prosperity; which are now turning into concrete realities.

The All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises’ Association (APCEA), in collaboration with Pakistan-China Institute (PCI), successfully held the launch event of the former’s promotional endeavor here at Pakistan Institute of Parliamentary Services (PIPS).

The envoy also emphasized on enhancing cooperation under the existing projects of CPEC and propelling it further to the fields of sustainability and technology.

The launch ceremony of this event was in attendance by dignitaries representing both Chinese and Pakistani leadership including Mr Jiang Zaidong, Ambassador of the People’s Republic of China to Pakistan, Mr Murtaza Solangi, Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting, Mr Li Yong, Counsellor for Commercial Affairs, Senator Mushahid Hussain, Chairman Senate Defense Committee. It also had significant participation from Chinese enterprises and companies as well as from both local and Chinese journalist community.

The event commenced with introductory remarks from Executive Director PCI, Mr. Mustafa Hyder Syed, who welcomed the guests by emphasizing on the strong and enduring friendship between Pakistan and China. In his welcome remarks, Chairman of the All-Pakistan Chinese Enterprises’ Association (APCEA) and Country Representative of POWERCHINA, Mr. Yang Jianduo, reiterated the contributions of key CPEC projects and recounted the recent instances of unwavering support extended by the Chinese community for their Pakistani brethren via CSR in the fields of disaster management, education, and other forms of social welfare, etc.

In a defiant mode, Bilawal says no PM from Lahore this time

Continued on page 03

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto-Zardari on Monday took an apparent dig at Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif on Monday, asserting that this time, the people of Pakistan would not choose a prime minister from Lahore. Interestingly, this statement by the PPP leader came on the heels of a telephonic conversation between his father, Asif Ali Zardari, and Nawaz Sharif, during which the former extended congratulations on Sharif’s return to Pakistan.

Talking to the media at Gizri’s Football Stadium in Karachi, Bilawal emphasised that the recent local body by-elections in Karachi, where his party emerged victorious, were a prelude to the upcoming PPP success in the general elections to be held in February, 2024. He contended that the PPP’s victory in these local by-polls was indicative of the people’s support for the party, even when they were not in the Sindh government.

Bilawal underscored that the PPP was positioned to tackle the country’s problems, including economic challenges, poverty, and inflation. He claimed that only a PPP-led government could effectively address issues related to poverty alleviation and employment.

Regarding the contact between Zardari and Sharif, Bilawal noted that this news was not new, affirming that the PPP remained open to engagement with various political parties, aligning with their manifesto.

He went on to express the PPP’s ambition to form government at the federal, local, and provincial levels, asserting that the upcoming election on February 8 would confirm the party’s strength.

Bilawal asserted this time the prime minister of Pakistan would not hail from Lahore.

He also criticised President Arif Alvi for allegedly violating the Constitution. He said the PPP from the day one had been asking the president to step down, adding the PML-N just started to seek his resignation.

However, he said the Constitution allowed the president to remain in office until the Electoral College was completed.

By this he referred to Alvi’s tenure as the president which expired on September, 2023. As the general elections are impending for national and provincial assemblies, the president could continue to serve his term until the new assemblies are formed.

Bilawal made it clear that those involved in the incidents of May 9 would not be pardoned. He highlighted alleged disparities in the Election Commission of Pakistan’s approach to development schemes in different provinces.

Judges not entitled to get monetization of 2000 electricity units, Finance ministry g

MONEY SAVED DUE TO SOLAR PANELS INSTALLED BY RETIRED JUDGE, NOT TO BE REIMBURSED PROFIT

SHAHZAD PARACHA

Finance ministry has informed the Supreme Court that the rules do not provide for monetization of the 2000 units, at the government’s expense, to a retired judge or their widow.

The Ministry of Finance’s Regulation wing stated this in its reply to the Supreme Court on reimbursement of the cost of the consumed units of electricity adjusted through net metering. It stated that presently, the rules do not provide for monetization of the facility of 2000 electricity units, which is to be provided in the form of

electricity alone.

As per Paragraph 25(1)(c) of the Supreme Court Judges (Leave, Pension and Privileges) Order 1997, “a Judge on retirement and after his death, his widow, shall be entitled to 2000 units of electricity at government expenses.”

This is the prescribed ceiling of consumption as per the finance division. The MoF categorically informed that the rules do not provide for monetization of the above facility.

Earlier, the top court had asked the Ministry of Finance to furnish an opinion regarding reimbursement of the cost of the

consumed units of electricity adjusted through net metering (solar system) of retired Chief Justice of Pakistan’s electricity bill.

Former CJP Anwar Zaheer Jamali wrote a letter to SC that former CJP more than three years ago installed a 15 KV solar system at his residence to meet the challenges of skyrocketing electricity consumption charges.

The immediate benefit of this was that each year, during many months a substantial sum was already being covered by way of adjustment of electricity units sold to K-Electric by the consumer, through net metering on grid supply. Till recently, he was in the dark, that the office is misinterpreting the

above provision of the 1997 order in the payment of consumption charges of electricity units as consumed per entitlement, by him.

This fact came to the knowledge when a letter dated 31.05.2023, a cheque for payment of electricity dues was received showing an amount of electricity consumption charges from January to April 2023 (four months) at only Rs 6,608, as opposed to the actual sum paid through adjustment of units and cash to Rs 78,935.

When further probed, it came to light that this erroneous practice was being followed by the office for more than 3 years causing heavy financial loss to the national exchequer.

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

It is pertinent to mention that the monthly electricity bills issued by K-Electric contain all details about net-metering of on grid supply by the consumer and adjustment of such due payment towards electricity consumption charge as per their policy in vogue. Therefore, no further documentation is required for this purpose.

It may also be mentioned here that payment of electricity bills to the concerned department of K-Electric is the sole responsibility of the consumer and reimbursement of such consumption charges, as per entitlement is the duty of the office as per Presidential Order 1997.