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PM DUBS BRAIN DRAIN PART OF TALENT HUNT TO EVENTUALLY BECOME STRENGTH
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TERMS EXPORT OF HUMAN RESOURCES AN IMPORTANT COMPONENT OF COUNTRY’S GDP
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URGES EDUCATED CLASS TO ALSO DEBATE THEIR POLITICAL ATTITUDES BESIDES ASSERTING RIGHT TO AGITATE
STAFF REPORT
ARETAKER Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq on Wednesday, calling the brain drain, a part of talent hunt, said those leaving Pakistan for better opportunities would eventually become a strength for the country, which ought to be encouraged. The prime minister, in an interactive session with the students of Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering, Science and Technology, exemplified the Indian nationals who had left their country and returned as an asset to contribute to their country. Responding to a question about the measures taken by the government to stop the brain drain, he said those leaving the country were not going to vanish, rather they would seize better economic opportunities and skills, which should be encouraged. He said after improving their skills and qualifications, they would become a valuable asset and product as the world was in search of talent. “I consider their journey a part of the talent hunt,” he added. He said there was no evidence of any dramatic surge in brain drain in the prevailing circumstances rather it was a continuous process of skilled, semi-skilled, and non-skilled people moving abroad
for better economic opportunities. He said the export of human resources was an important component of the country’s GDP. To a question about the arrest of Imran Khan, he said the state had an inherent right to apprehend those who violated the laws. He was arrested under certain laws, not by the PML-N, PPP or JUI, he added. He urged the educated class to also debate their political attitudes besides asserting their right to agitate. Prime Minister Kakar called for adopting the “all of us” approach, in ad-
Dr Alvi, Raisi stress for coordinated efforts by Islamic states to end Gaza massacre ISLAMABAD
STAFF REPORT
President Dr Arif Alvi and his Iranian counterpart Ebrahim Raisi during a telephonic conversation on Wednesday underscored the need for coordinated efforts by the Islamic countries to bring an end to the ongoing massacre and crimes against humanity in Gaza. The president in 45-minute telephone conversation voiced deep concern over the dire situation in occupied Palestine including Gaza as a result of ongoing Israeli aggression and occupation. Despite the deaths of over 19,000 Palestinians including women and children, the UN Security Council has failed to impose a ceasefire and bring an end to the unspeakable Israeli atrocities, he regretted. President Alvi reiterated that a just solution to the Palestinian question based on an independent and contiguous Palestinian State with Al-Quds-Al-Sharif as capital was critical for lasting peace in the Middle East. The president reaffirmed Pakistan’s support for all diplomatic initiatives to this end and appreciated Iran’s concerns and initiatives about the ongoing situation. He also appreciated the Iranian leadership for its principled stance on the Jammu and Kashmir dispute and its support for the Palestinian cause. President Alvi conveyed his heartfelt condolences to the government and people of Iran over the heinous terrorist attack on an Iranian police station in SiestanBaluchistan on December 15. He expressed Pakistan’s resolve to work with Iran to combat terrorism. As the two leaders discussed bilateral economic cooperation, the president termed the joint inauguration of Mand-Pishin Border Sustenance Marketplace and Gabd-Polan Electricity Transmission Line as tangible developments that would further strengthen bilateral ties between the two brotherly countries. The two leaders agreed that Pakistan and Iran were brotherly Islamic countries, sharing the same culture, religion, and history. They agreed to work together to further improve economic, trade, and cultural relations between the two brotherly countries.
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dition to encouraging qualitative discussions for betterment of the society. He said democracy should morph towards the performing democracy as the performance was the key indicator to judge the success of the democratic system. He said transitional democracies like Pakistan could not turn into settled democracies for not giving due focus on performance. To another question, he said every individual was responsible for defending the ideological frontiers of the nation. He said Islam was not the name of a
reactionary movement but a reformist movement that encouraged any type of dialogue that otherwise would impact society negatively. Responding to another query, he said no one, including the state, could suppress critical thinking, but being a critical thinker did not necessarily require being abusive in conversation. “Unfortunately, critical thinkers are not being born. This is the tragedy. I am trying to find my Rousseau and Voltaire of my time,” he remarked. Asked about the reasons behind the low ratio of girls’ education, he said the situation would not change unless the people built influences voluntarily and started taking pride in the accomplishments of the girls as well, not merely the boys. He said the change in the society’s attitude was of paramount importance as the government’s intervention alone would not suffice to overcome the situation. He assured that the State of Pakistan did not discriminate, on the basis of gender and the challenges of primary and higher education could only be tackled by the State through collaborations at the district and Tehsil levels. The prime minister said the academia-industry linkage was crucial for reaping the economic dividends as well as establishing an ecosystem to create opportunities for the graduates and fulfill corporate requirements.
Pakistan wishes to develop itself as connectivity hub, gateway to Central Asia: COAS g
SHARES DESIRE TO BROADEN BILATERAL ENGAGEMENT WITH US THROUGH LONG-TERM MULTI-DOMAIN PARTNERSHIP RAWALPINDI
STAFF REPORT
Chief of the Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir has said that Pakistan wishes to develop itself as a hub of connectivity and a gateway to Central Asia and beyond, a statement released by the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) said on Wednesday. Speaking to media and think tanks in the United States during his maiden trip, the army chief further highlighted that the country “eschews bloc politics” and believes in maintaining balanced relationships with all friendly countries, adding that “Pakistan is a country of consequence both from the geopolitical and geoeconomic perspectives”. According to the military’s media wing, General Munir also discussed matters of regional security, transnational terrorism and the importance of maintaining strategic stability in South Asia from Pakistan’s perspective. The army chief shared Pakistan’s desire to broaden bilateral engagement with the US through a long-term multi-domain partnership. The COAS highlighted that his interactions with the political and military leadership of the US were very positive and that he
looked forward to further strengthening the relationship, the military’s media wing added. In his interaction, the COAS held that Pakistan has continuously stood as a bulwark against transnational terrorism for decades, ensuring regional stability and global peace as well as security. He maintained that the nation “has made unparalleled contributions and sacrifices in its enduring fight against terrorism and will continue to fight till the logical end, in line with the aspirations of the people of Pakistan”. On the other hand, the COAS stressed the need for the resolution of the Kashmir issue as per the as-
piration of the people of Kashmir and the United Nations Security Council (UNSC) Resolutions, the ISPR stated. “Kashmir is an internationally accepted dispute and no unilateral action can alter the nature of this dispute against the wishes of millions of people of the area.” The military’s media wing further said that the COAS also emphatically emphasised the immediate need to end the suffering in Gaza, the provision of humanitarian assistance and the implementation of the two-state solution for enduring peace in the region. General Munir was received by the Ambassador of Pakistan to the US on his arrival.
Top BNA commander, 70 associates lay down arms QUETTA
STAFF REPORT
Top commander of the banned militant organization Baloch National Army (BNA), Sarfraz Bangulzai along with 70 other associates on Wednesday surrendered to the state of Pakistan, expressing his wishes to integrate into the national fold. Bangulzai made the announcement during presence of Balochistan Caretaker Information Minister Jan Achakzai at a press conference in Quetta on Wednesday. He accused New Delhi of funding violence in the province, claiming that women were exploited for inciting youth into joining the movement. “The blood of Baloch people is being shed by Baloch hands. Innocent lives were lost for resisting extortion. Families are living in fear, and the youth are paying the price,” expressed Bangulzai. He said that thousands of Baloch youth were killed during the past 20 years, adding that only in 2014, 155 innocent Baloch people were killed as they refused to give extortion. “What I have done for the past 15 years… I have nothing but regret,” he said. Bangulzai asserted that India funds terrorism and unrest in Balochistan, having personally witnessed the situation during his time in Afghanistan. “I have seen with my own eyes how India funds terrorism in Balochistan. The so-called Baloch leaders abroad are living comfortable lives while our people suffer,” revealed the ex-BNA commander. He stated that both past and present Afghan governments support Baloch separatist leaders, and sympathisers still exist in the neighbouring country. “Indian money has provided [BNA] commanders with luxuries. I realised they are enemies of the state, and that’s why I decided to disassociate from the Baloch National Army,” explained Bangulzai. He recalled his past as a government employee in the food department in Balochistan, owning a home and a car until he was misled by a few individuals in 2009. “I had a stable life until I was misled. I urge others to lay down their arms and return to a normal life. We need a state policy for reintegration,” urged Bangulzai. Regarding the tragic helicopter crash in which six army officers, including Quetta Corps Commander Lt General Sarfraz Ali embraced martyrdom, he said that it happened due to a technical fault and he was a witness to it but BLA accepted its responsibility on India’s directions. Meanwhile, Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar has welcomed the development, saying that peace and stability were the government’s top priority. “The surrender of Sarfraz Bungulzai alias Mureed Baloch (the head of BNA) along with his companions/families is a very welcome development for Pakistan & Balochistan. This comes at the heels of another major re-integration in which Gulzar Imam Shambay (the previous head of BNA) was arrested and mainstreamed in the recent past,” he wrote on his X handle. “Embracing peace through inclusivity, our state and institutions are championing an accommodative approach, actively working to reintegrate estranged militants.” PM Kakar said that this strategic move seeks lasting peace, fostering understanding, and rebuilding communities. “Together, we pave the way for a harmonious and secure future for our next generations. I appreciate the efforts of our Law Enforcers and Intelligence Agencies, especially ISI that planned, executed and led this complicated clandestine operation. May Allah be with you all! Ameen,” he concluded. In April, the founder of BNA, Gulzar Imam alias Shambay, was arrested in a high-profile intelligencebased operation. Since Shambay’s arrest, BNA attacks have almost halted, though other militant groups continue to operate in Balochistan. Speaking on the occasion, Jan Achakzai emphasised the need to bridge misunderstandings and gaps. He called for the inclusion of disgruntled Baloch individuals into the national mainstream.
‘Shared e-KYC’ introduced for banks as PBA and SBP move towards more open banking
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SBP ADVISES BANKS TO JOIN A SHARED E-KYC PLATFORM, WHICH WILL USE BLOCKCHAIN TECHNOLOGY TO STORE AND SHARE CUSTOMERS’ IDENTITY INFORMATION ACROSS BANKING INDUSTRY PROFIT
MARIAM UMAR FAROOQ
The Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) has introduced a new platform that allows banks to share customer data across the industry, in an effort to improve the onboarding experience for new customers and lower costs for banks. In a circular issued on December 18, the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) announced the launch of the platform, also called “Shared Electronic Know Your Customer (e-KYC) Platform”. This platform, initiated by the PBA and guided by the SBP, aims to improve the efficiency of the KYC process. The SBP has advised banks to join this shared platform and allocate dedicated resources for its effective implementation.
Financials institutions, such as banks, use KYC to verify the identity of their clients. This is typically conducted in two stages: during the onboarding of a new customer, and periodically for existing customers. For instance, individuals in Pakistan wishing to open a bank account must submit identification documents, proof of income, and contact details, among other things, as per SBP guidelines. The shared e-KYC platform, built on distributed ledger technology, allows customers’ KYC and customer due diligence (CDD) related information to be stored with the banks themselves, eliminating the need for a central entity to hold this crucial data. To safeguard customers’ rights, the data can only be accessed with their explicit consent. This new platform offers numerous ben-
efits to banks, such as the timely exchange and updating of customers’ KYC or CDD information across the banking industry via a secure digital channel, the standardisation of KYC or CDD data, improved customer onboarding experience, and cost savings for banks. The initiative is also likely to ease the process of switching for customers. This is now possible because according to the circular, the SBP has over the years bolstered the Anti-Money Laundering (AML) and Combating the Financing of Terrorism (CFT) regime, including KYC and CDD processes. To further optimise these processes, the SBP has permitted banks to rely on third-party institutions for efficient and effective KYC or CDD. Raza Matin, CEO and co-founder of Brandverse, applauded the move. “After
RAAST, this may be the single greatest driver of FinServ (financial services) quality in Pakistan. Shared KYC means faster account opening and not putting up with poor service. Real money mobility,” Matin tweeted. PBA works on e-KYC project Earlier, the PBA, representing all its member banks, signed a contract with the Avanza Group for the development and execution of Pakistan’s first blockchain-based national e-KYC banking platform. The signing ceremony took place at the PBA office in Karachi on March 2, 2023. The e-KYC project is part of the SBP’s ongoing efforts to strengthen the AML and CFT control infrastructure in the country. The PBA has managed the project planning on behalf of the banking industry, under the auspices of the State Bank of Pakistan.
The Avanza Group spearheaded the project from the development end with its e-KYC platform, ‘Consonance’, being implemented for the PBA. The distinguishing feature of the platform is that it leverages blockchain technology to allow banks to standardise and exchange their details via a decentralised and self-regulated network, with the consent of their customers. Shared e-KYC in other countries According to the “Central KYC (CKYC)” report by PwC published in August 2020, the C-KYC registry as a concept has been implemented in India. Additionally, countries such as Singapore, Sri Lanka, and the Bahamas, are in the process of implementing C-KYC.
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