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GOVT FREE ALL WOMEN, KIDS AFTER SCATHING CRITICISM OF BRUTE POLICE ACTION Friday, 22 December, 2023 I 8 Jamada Al-Sani, 1445

CARETAKER MINISTER CLAIMS SITUATION WAS g HR BODIES, ANALYSTS AND POLITICIANS DEVELOPED ON PURPOSE WHERE POLICE CONDEMN ‘VIOLENT STATE CLASHED WITH BALOCH PROTESTERS CRACKDOWN’ ON BALOCH PROTESTERS

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Rs 15.00 | Vol XIV No 173 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

OLLOWING scathing criticism of the Islamabad police’s batoncharging and arrests of Baloch protesters, the caretaker government on Thursday announced release of all women and children without any exceptions.

Addressing a presser here in Islamabad, caretaker Privatization Minister Fawad Hasan Fawad alongside Information Minister Murtaza Solangi and Culture Minister Syed Jamal Shah, informed that on the directives of Premier kakar, it was decided that all women and children, without any exceptions, will be released.

He added that all men who had been identified were also been released.

The development came hours after unanimous condemnations from human rights organisations, analysts and politicians had poured in criticizing the “violent state crackdown” on the Baloch protesters.

Islamabad police had arrested dozens of Baloch men and women last night during a demonstration against enforced disappearances and extra-judicial killings.

Videos of the arrests shared on social media showed security officials firing water cannons and tear gas on the protesters. They could also be seen dragging Baloch men and women into police vans and beating them with clubs.

The police also dismantled camps and loudspeakers set up by the demonstrators outside the National Press Club.

Following the outcry, the government had formed a negotiating team comprising Solangi, Fawad and Shah to hold talks with the families of the protesters.

During the press conference, Fawad said that a situation was developed on purpose where police clashed with protesters. He further said that the Islamabad police chief Akbar Nasir Khan had also presented the facts before the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

He said that the IG told the court that protesters were present from beforehand and they did not instigate the chaos. Fawad said that there were some people present who had already made sure to cover their

IHC turns down Imran’s plea for suspension of Toshakhana case verdict ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Tuesday turned Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan’s plea, seeking suspension of trial court’s verdict in the Toshakhana case. A two-judge IHC bench, comprising Chief Justice IHC Aamer Farooq and Justice Tariq Mehmood Jahangiri announced the decision. In its ruling, the court stated that there is no provision in the law for reconsideration or modification of orders related to suspension.

It stated that the Supreme Court had clarified that the suspension of a sentence did not mean the suspension of a decision. “In the instant case, no specific plea was raised and subsequent application has been made to cover up the omission. Even no extraordinary or exceptional circumstances were mentioned in the earlier application though they existed in the form of the notification dated 08.08.2023 when the application for suspension of the sentence was filed,” the court stated in its verdict.

The ruling has effectively eliminated the possibility for the ex-PTI chairman to participate in the upcoming general elections, scheduled to be held on February 8, 2024. “Imran Khan’s request to suspend the decision in the Toshakhana criminal case was rejected so that the disqualification would remain,” Khan’s lawyer and spokesman on legal affairs, Naeem Haider Panjutha, said on X. Earlier this month, IHC had rejected a plea by Imran Khan to withdraw his appeal against his disqualification in the Toshakhana case.

PTI’s lawyer Barrister Ali Zafar informed the courtroom that the former prime minister wanted to withdraw the appeal against the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) regarding his disqualification to refile it in the Lahore High Court (LHC).

Justice Farooq, however, decided to retain Imran’s appeal against the ECP in the federal capital’s court.

The Toshakhana is a state department which retains gifts given by state officials, foreign diplomats and heads of different governments. According to the Constitution of Pakistan, the recipient of the gifts must report them to the cabinet division and pay an appropriate amount if the said recipient wants to keep it personally.

PHC directs ECP to decide on PTI intra party polls, electoral symbol by today PESHAWAR

STAFF REPORT

Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday directed the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to announce a decision on Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf’s (PTI) election symbol and recently-held intra-party polls by Friday (today). In the intra-party elections held earlier in December on the directives issued by the electoral body, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan was elected as the party’s new chairman. Gohar was nominated by Imran Khan, the founding chairman of PTI who is now incarcerated in Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail.

A two-member bench of PHC heard the case related to PTI’s intra-party elections and election symbol.

In today’s hearing, Justice Shakeel Ahmed questioned PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar, asking why they had not filed a case in the Islamabad High Court.

faces and had planned what to do.

The minister said that the protesters had been advised to demonstrate at another location. “However, they did not pay heed to this advice and when they advanced, the local element which had plans to exploit the situation did so and created such a situation,” he said.

The minister said that the government negotiating team met the protesters, who stated that they had no intention of creating a law and order situation. “As I said before, our conviction is that the protesters from Balochistan were not responsible [for this],” he said, adding that there were locals that wanted to exploit the situation. Fawad said that there were some people who were still being identified and investigated. He said that the

IHC had directed the Islamabad police chief to inform it about the process by tomorrow morning.

“We have also asked the Islamabad IG to try and not seek more time tomorrow and to identify them. Because we think that a lot of things will come forward after [the process of] identification.

Their origin and their identity will help to determine whether they were supposed to be present there or not or whether they were there for a particular purpose.”

Fawad said that more than 90 percent of the men who were detained had been released. He further said that the government had also noted the “separate grievances” of the people and would bring them to the premier’s attention.

He said that the “peaceful protest” had been ongoing for 23 days, and the Islamabad police and administration did not interfere as long as it was ongoing.

“So to say that there is no permission for peaceful protests is not correct.

Peaceful protests and any other kind of protest are restricted to the parameters of the law,” he said.

The minister said that Pakistan’s security situation was in front of everyone.

“The administration, police and intelligence agencies had clear and credible evidence that if people were gathered on a main street for an extended period of time, the situation would be exploited.”

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

IHC serves notice on FIA on Imran’s plea against in-camera trial CYPHER CASE

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday issued a notice to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on a petition filed by former prime minister Imran Khan challenging in-camera proceedings of the cypher trial at Adiala Jail.

In his plea filed a day ago, the former premier challenged his trial in jail and subsequent developments, including the framing of charges and a gag order on the media.

The Special Court (Official Secrets Act) had begun the cypher trial afresh last week at the Adiala district jail after Imran and former foreign minister Shah Mehmood

Qureshi were indicted for a second time in the case on Dec 13.

The cypher case pertains to a diplomatic document that the Federal Investigation Agency’s charge sheet alleges was never returned by Imran. The PTI has long held that the document contained a threat from the United States to oust Imran as prime minister.

The former premier and his aide Qureshi, who is also behind bars, were first indicted in the case on Oct 23. Both had pleaded not guilty. The trial was being held at Adiala Jail and four witnesses had already recorded their statements when the IHC termed the government’s notification for a jail trial “erroneous” and scrapped the entire

proceedings. The IHC had endorsed Imran’s indictment, disposing of his plea against the same, but had also instructed the special court judge to ensure a “fair trial”.

On Dec 20, the IHC issued a detailed judgement explaining reasons for scrapping the earlier round of proceedings of the special court due to a lack of transparency and openness. The court linked the open court proceedings with the independence of the judicial system.

On Tuesday’s hearing Imran’s legal counsel Barrister Salman Akram Raja appeared in court as Justice Miangul Hasan Aurangzeb began hearing the petition. Additional Attorney General Munawar Iqbal Duggal was also in attendance.

General elections to be held on Feb 8: Gen Asim Munir KARACHI

MONITORING REPORT

In a meeting with the Pakistani-American business community in the United States last week, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) General Asim Munir assured them that elections “will be held on February 8”.

The army chief’s remark came hours before the Supreme Court verdict on the conduct of polls on February 8 was issued on Friday evening.

The issue was raised during General Asim Munir’s interaction with overseas Pakistanis at a dinner reception hosted by the Pakistan Embassy in Washington when a businessman posed the question to the army chief. Speaking with Geo News, Tanveer Ahmed, a Texas-based Pakistani businessman who was among the participants, quoted the army chief as saying, “As far as I know general elections will be held on the 8th of February.” While referring to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaaf (PTI) petition, which at the time was heard in the Lahore High Court (LHC) against the ECP, the army chief said, “If elections get delayed due to that it won’t be beyond the limit when Senate elections are to be held,” Ahmed shared. The next Senate elections in Pakistan are likely to be held in March 2024. The LHC had suspended the electoral body’s notification to requisition returning officers (ROs) from bureaucracy on December 13, which created doubts over the holding of elections on time. However, the apex court suspended the high court verdict and directed the commission to proceed as per plan.

PML-N also seeks extension in deadline for filing nominations LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

After MQM-P and JUI-F, the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) has sought a two-day extension in the December 22 deadline to file nomination papers for the upcoming general elections. As per the election schedule, nomination papers could be filed with respective returning officers by the candidates from December 20 to 22, while names of all nominated candidates would be published on December 23.

According to guidelines issued by the electoral body, a candidate must be accompanied by two voters of the same constituency who would propose and second his nomination. However, no individual can become a proposer or seconder for more than one candidate.

In a letter penned down to Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), Ishaq Dar – who is the chairman of the party’s election cell – noted that the election commission enjoys the power to make necessary “amendments in the schedule without affecting/changing the polling date”. The PML-N senator highlighted that a three-day deadline had been allocated for the filing of nomination papers while seven days had been given for the scrutiny of the same.

“The process of filing nomination papers requires multiple details as well as documents to be annexed with the same which also includes NOCs/NECs from various public sector department. Such exercise is indeed time consuming and any lapse can lead to rejection of nomination papers,” Dar contended. “It is therefore requested that in order to facilitate thousands of candidates desirous to take part in elections, it would be appreciated if only two days’ extension is granted in filing of nomination paper by amending the schedule issued on December 15 without changing the polling day,” he concluded.

02 NEWS

PAKISTAN’S EXPORT-IMPORT BANK FORMALLY LAUNCHED

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Friday, 22 December, 2023 | LAHORE

CARETAKER MINISTER FOR FINANCE STATES INSTITUTIONS LIKE EXIM HAVE A GLOBAL IMPACT, NOTING THAT THEY DISBURSED A SUBSTANTIAL $2.5 TRILLION IN TRADE FINANCE LAST YEAR, BENEFITING EXPORTS ACROSS MORE THAN 60 COUNTRIES PROFIT

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ARETAKER Minister for Finance, Revenue, and Economic Affairs, Dr Shamshad Akhtar, formally inaugurated Pakistan’s Export-Import Bank (EXIM) on

Thursday.

The move is aimed at strengthening external trade, attracting investments, and fostering

Pakistan demands probe into banned TTP acquiring advanced weapons

broader economic growth in the country.

During the inaugural ceremony, the finance minister expressed the importance of EXIM’s operationalization, highlighting its potential to reshape Pakistan’s trade finance landscape. She cited the global impact of similar institutions, noting that they disbursed a substantial $2.5 trillion in trade finance last year, benefiting exports across more than 60 countries.

Dr Akhtar emphasized the diverse port-

folio of products offered by EXIMs, particularly underscoring the significance of export credit loans that provide competitive-rate financing to exporters.

She stated that as EXIM Pakistan grows, it will play a crucial role in promoting trade finance through a well-structured institutional framework and effective policies.

The finance minister stressed the need for streamlining export policy frameworks to contribute to the sustainability of the balance

‘Shift in stance’: Pakistan outlines new approach to engaging with Afghan Taliban

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan has demanded a probe to determine how the banned out-fit Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan acquired advanced weapons, used in recent terrorist attacks in the country.

The demand was placed by Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram to UN Security Council during a debate on the situation in Afghanistan. He said TTP and its affiliates have carried out a series of organized crossborder terrorist attacks on Pakistan’s soil.

He further said the terrorist group has access to weapons originating in the stock left behind by foreign forces. Munir Akram said Islamabad has clear evidence that the TTP receives support from Pakistan main adversary. He called on United Nations to conduct a thorough investigation to elicit how these weapons got into the hands of the TTP and to identify ways of retrieving them.

SBP raises Rs397b through PIBs auction

of payments, addressing historical challenges related to low levels of export earnings.

Dr Akhtar outlined EXIM’s potential to enhance Pakistani exporters’ global competitiveness through services like lending, credit insurance, and guarantee services.

Notably, EXIM will introduce export insurance products in Pakistan to protect exporters against credit default risks, empowering them to participate in international infrastructure projects.

with the Afghan interim government to be contingent on their actions against terrorist organizations, including the Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP).

Akram also drew attention to the issue of terrorist groups finding refuge in Afghanistan, particularly the TTP, and their attacks on Pakistani soil. He called for a thorough investigation into how the TTP acquired advanced military equipment and demanded action by the Afghan interim government against

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

In a clear shift in its traditional stance and approach towards Kabul, Pakistan’s Permanent Representative to the United Nations, Munir Akram, on Thursday outlined the country’s new approach to engaging with the Afghan Taliban.

Speaking at a UN Security Council debate on Afghanistan, Akram emphasized the need for any future engagement

all terrorist groups in Afghanistan.

Furthermore, Akram urged the international community to adopt a comprehensive, long-term approach to normalizing Afghanistan. He emphasized the importance of human rights, political inclusivity, and neutralizing various terrorist organizations, not just Daesh but also the TTP and others posing security threats to neighboring countries.

In addition to security concerns, Akram addressed the issue of Afghan refugees in Pakistan. While Pakistan has hosted a significant number of Afghan refugees for decades, the country has faced economic and security challenges due to the presence of undocumented Afghans. Akram explained Pakistan’s efforts to repatriate undocumented Afghans in a humane manner while highlighting the strain it has placed on the country’s economy and job market.

Pakistan’s new conditions for engaging with the Afghan Taliban reflect a shift in policy, with a focus on addressing security concerns, combating terrorism, and managing the impact of Afghan refugees on Pakistan. The country’s new approach signals a more proactive and assertive stance in addressing the complex challenges emanating from Afghanistan.

Pervaiz Elahi wants to contest polls from three national, as many provincial constituencies PROFIT

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The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) raised Rs396.572 billion through the sale of fixedrate Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) on Wednesday, setting a record for the highest borrowing in years in one auction.

The amount raised exceeded the target of Rs190 billion, showing strong market demand even at the end of December.

The central bank received bids for three tenors: 3 years, 5 years, and 10 years. It accepted Rs151.7 billion for 3 years, Rs39.5 billion for 5 years, and Rs103.96 billion for 10 years bonds through competitive bids. It also picked up Rs101.411 billion from noncompetitive bids, taking the total amount raised to Rs396.57 billion. The cut-off yields for the PIBs declined from the previous auction held on November 29, 2023. The yields for the 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year PIBs recorded a notable decrease of 19, 7, and 10 basis points (bps) respectively, indicating market participants’ expectations that interest rates have peaked and are expected to fall in the coming months. The high level of investor interest reflects their confidence in long-term bonds, driven by the anticipation of a rate cut in early 2024. The government took advantage of this opportunity and opted for long-term borrowing, which will help reduce rollover risks and lower its dependence on short-term funding in the future. However, the SBP did not receive any bids for the 15, 20, and 30-year PIBs, nor did it allow any short selling during the auction. The PIBs auction was conducted by the SBP on behalf of the Ministry of Finance, as part of the government’s borrowing plan to finance its fiscal deficit.

The PIBs are long-term, fixed-rate government securities that offer investors a higher return than treasury bills. The next PIBs auction is scheduled for January 24, 2024, with a target of Rs200 billion.

RAWALPINDI

Staff RepoRt

Former Punjab Chief Minister Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi on Thursday officially announced his intention to contest upcoming elections from three national and three provincial assembly constituencies.

During an informal conversation with the media following a court appearance, Pervaiz Elahi expressed his determination to participate in the electoral process.

Responding to a question about a level playing field, Pervaiz Elahi remarked that the field was not as level as it should be. When asked about any objections to the party chairman, he clarified that his election was unopposed.

Addressing concerns about fair and impartial elections, Elahi, who is also the central president of Tehreek-e-Insaf, warned that a lack of fairness could lead to significant consequences for the

country. He emphasized the importance of allowing elections to take place based on good thinking and work.

Pervaiz Elahi criticized the actions of political figures Nawaz and Shehbaz, accusing them of causing hardships for the poor. He highlighted recent increases in gas and electricity prices, expressing concern about the state of the country. Pervaiz Elahi also mentioned personal challenges, stating that he had

experienced two attacks but was denied access to the hospital, questioning the prevailing law of the jungle.

In a surprising turn, Pervaiz Elahi revealed his longstanding relationship with a prominent figure, Sheikh Sahib.

He advocated for allocating NA 56 and 57 constituencies to Sheikh Sahib, engaging with senior leaders and seeking the founder of PTI’s support for this proposal. Pervaiz Elahi pledged full efforts to ensure Sheikh Sahib’s success.

Acknowledging the plight of individuals such as Marwat Sahib and Gohar Sahib, Pervaiz Elahi commended their dedication and noted that the founder of PTI had appointed Gohar Sahib as the party president.

As the political landscape continues to evolve, Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi positions himself as a formidable candidate, navigating the complexities of party dynamics and advocating for what he believes will lead to a more just and prosperous Pakistan.

The minister underscored the importance of balancing export growth, risk diversification, and industry sustainability in EXIM’s operations. She highlighted its role in gradually managing export finance schemes in compliance with legal constraints.

Acknowledging the collaboration between EXIM and the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), Dr Akhtar emphasized their partnership until the SBP smoothly phases out of export finance operations. She also stressed the significance of EXIM adhering to international practices while playing a crucial role in disbursing global trade finance.

CPEC Balochistan Forum to equip journalists in under-developed areas: Solangi ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) Media Forum Balochistan Initiative was launched on to equip the journalists in underdeveloped areas of Balochistan with information of the Chinese investment in the region and its positive impacts. In an exclusive interview with Gwadar Pro, Caretaker Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Murtaza Solangi said that the CPEC Media Forum Balochistan Initiative will equip the local journalists of Balochistan with the right information about CPEC projects. He said, “CPEC starts from Gilgit-Baltistan to Gwadar, and it cannot be completed without the development of Balochistan, especially Gwadar.

We should encourage more journalists to join the media industry especially focusing on the region’s developmental projects and will give them the right information to encounter the negative propaganda against the corridor.” On asking about the availability of media education at the University of Gwadar one of the University students Samaa who was present at the forum told the correspondent that journalism has not been introduced at Gwadar University as yet, and introducing media education at the university level will help youth play their role in this field. Adding to the role of the media industry in Balochistan Chairman Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) Senator Mushahid Hussain Sayed elaborated that the local media channel journalists from print as well as electronic media should be supported by both Chinese and Pakistani governments to convey the right information to the locals. Ad powered by advergic.com “Supporting journalists in underdeveloped areas of Balochistan through this initiative will not only empower them but will also play a crucial role in promoting transparency, accountability, and civic engagement,” he said.

The focus of the 8th CPEC Media Forum jointly organized by Pakistan-China Institute (PCI) and China Economic Net (CEN) was “Next decade of CPEC: Opportunities & learning from past decade”. The Forum conducted in-depth exchanges and discussions on topics including “3rd Belt and Road Forum: Opportunities for Green Development”, “Challenges and opportunities in CPEC media reporting: Synergizing efforts for countering propaganda against CPEC” and “A Decade of CPEC: achievements and the way forward”.

ECC approves Rs320b for power sector, phases out export finance scheme PROFIT

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The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet has approved a payment of Rs320 billion to public sector power plants and K-Electric through supplementary grants and has decided to phase out the Export Finance Scheme of the State Bank of Pakistan, as per the International Monetary Fund (IMF) condition.

The ECC, chaired by caretaker Finance Minister Dr Shamshad Akhtar, met on Wednesday and discussed various issues related to the power sector, wheat procurement, and Pakistan Steel

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VOICES DISCONTENT WITH PAKISTAN STEEL MILLS BOARD FOR MISHANDLING OF MILL'S ASSETS

Mills (PSM).

The ECC approved a summary of the Power Division for settlement of Rs262.075bn payables to governmentowned power plants (GPPs), which were outstanding as of Nov 11, 2020.

The ECC was informed that Rs182.465bn had already been released to GPPs in FY23, out of the total Rs444.5bn liabilities that were sought in March 2022.

The ECC also approved another summary of the Power Division for the

release of Rs57bn advanced subsidy for payment of K-Electric arrears and a technical supplementary grant to meet the operational requirements of the power sector.

The ECC agreed to initiate the phase-out of the Export Finance Scheme of the State Bank of Pakistan, which was a requirement of the $3bn Stand-By Arrangement with IMF. To operationalise this requirement, the ECC approved the release of

Rs3.87bn to Exim Bank for the current fiscal year.

The ECC also reviewed a report on its decisions regarding PSM’s liabilities towards the government and expressed its dissatisfaction with the PSM board for mismanaging the mill’s assets, including its land.

The finance minister directed the Ministry of Industries to conduct a diagnostic survey to determine the reasons for PSM’s persistent liabilities and the allocation of its land to housing companies and other industries without due process. The ECC recommended that the Industries Division take further action on this issue.

Pakistan’s IT exports soar 9% MoM to $259m in November g

SBP POLICY AND STABLE CURRENCY BOOST IT SECTOR, WHILE COMPUTER SERVICES LEAD GROWTH PROFIT

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Pakistan’s Information Technology (IT) exports recorded a growth of 9% month-onmonth (MoM) in November 2023, reaching US$259 million. This is also 11% higher than the same month last year and above the last 12-month average of $222 million.

On a year-on-year (YoY) basis, IT exports for November 2023 also rose by 11% YoY to $259 million, due to a 20% YoY in-

crease in the export of computer services. In the first five months of the fiscal year 202324 (5MFY24), IT exports have increased by 6% YoY to clock in at $1.2 billion.

According to a report by Topline Pakistan Research, the main driver of this growth was the relaxation in the permissible retention limit by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP), which increased it from 35% to 50% in the Exporters’ Specialized Foreign Currency Accounts, and the stable local currency, which encouraged IT companies to

repatriate their foreign income and deposit it in local accounts.

The reported IT export number indicates the amount remitted back to Pakistan by technology companies. As per the IT Minister, IT companies have parked an estimated $1-2 billion outside of Pakistan, which could be brought back if the government provides more incentives and facilities for the sector.

Segment-wise, computer services showed the highest growth of 14% MoM, followed by information services with 3% MoM, while telecom services declined by 11% MoM. Among computer services, other computer services and exports of computer software increased by 28% MoM and 14% MoM respectively.

Net IT Exports (Exports-Imports) for November 2023 reported an increase of 11% MoM and 7% YoY to $226 million.

In 5MFY24, Net IT Exports recorded a growth of 6% YoY to $988 million. Net IT Exports on trailing twelve months (TTM) basis as of November 2023 also have increased by 10% YoY to $2.4 billion.

In 5MFY24, gross IT exports as a percentage of total exports was reported at 7.4%, compared to 7.3% in 5MFY23. Telecom services/computer services export mix for November 2023 was recorded at 17%/83% respectively, compared to 24%/76% mix in November 2022. In 5MFY24, Telecom Services/Computer services export mix was recorded at 19%/81%,

compared to 20%/80% in 5MFY23.

According to Gartner Inc., a Technology Research and Consulting firm, worldwide spending on software is expected to grow at 13.8% and spending on IT services is expected to increase by 10.4% in 2024. MENA software spending is expected to record double-digit growth of 12.3% in 2024, followed

by IT services spending growing at 11.1% next year, to accelerate digitalization and increasing automation, as per Gartner.

NEWS 03

Friday, 22 December, 2023 | LAHORE

ECP RULES OUT KPBC’S STATEMENT ABOUT REDUCTION OF NA SEATS IN KP

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ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

he Election Commission of Pakistan on Thursday ruled out the statement of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Bar Council (KPBC) regarding reduction of National Assembly seats in the province.

Terming the statement as baseless and contrary to facts, the ECP said it was meant to create confusion in the minds of the people. The erstwhile FATA was

Sherry rules out possibility of seat adjustment with JUI-F

merged in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa in 2018 in light of the 25th Constitutional Amendment, the Commission said adding that 12 National Assembly seats of FATA were abolished and instead six seats of the Lower House were reserved for that area.

The ECP said those six seats were added to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s quota, raising the province’s representation from 39 to 45 seats in the National Assembly.

Similarly, sixteen general seats were increased in the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa As-

as per law. It said all the four members of the commission has reposed their unwavering trust in the Chief Election Commissioner and reiterated that all the decisions, taken so far, by the commission were made with mutual consultation.

The commission further said that seats quota of all the districts was also decided with mutual consent and in view of the legal requirements. It said that the objections regarding District Hafizabad were also decided by the five-member bench of the commission with complete harmony.

KP ‘safer’ for PTI leaders as compared to Punjab: Barrister Gohar PESHAWAR

Staff RepoRt

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Former minister senior leader of Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP), Sherry Rehman has ruled out any possibility of seat adjustment with Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam Fazal (JUI-F) alleging the later did not want to timely general elections. Talking to a private news channel on Thursday, she said, “The JUI-F was part of the collation government; however, this time the situation is different, but PPP doors are always open to other political opponents.” Sherry Rehman said that the PPP was committed to launch a vigorous electoral campaign from Garhi Khuda Bakhsh on December 27, on the death anniversary of BB Shaheed. The PPP was the only party that stresses the need for holding timely elections in the country, she claimed adding the other political parties in the country were seemingly running away from the polls. She deplored that different tactics were used in the past to create rifts in her party; their all attempts went in vein, and the PPP raised the slogan ‘Pakistan Khappay’ (Long live Pakistan). “We would never let anyone break Sindh,” said Sherry. The PPP leader urged the politicians to abstain from politics of division as the country is going through tough conditions. She emphasized that the national interest must be above everything else. Sherry Rehman was optimistic to form next government, saying that the PPP would contest elections from all constituencies across the country, and results in Punjab would be different. She noted that the PPP wanted a level playing field for all the parties to contest the next polls in a free and fair manner. In response to a query, she remarked PPP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto is a young politician and he will be the candidate of her party for the slot of prime minister in the upcoming elections.

Pakistan announces public holiday on December 25 ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

sembly after which the number of seats surged from 99 to 115.

The Election Commission made it clear that increasing or decreasing seats of national and provincial assemblies is not possible without amending the Constitution, which is a sole prerogative of the Parliament.

It said the ECP is performing its duties according to the constitution and law without any pressure. Regarding another matter, the ECP also made it clear that it takes all decisions with mutual consultation and

The government has officially declared December 25, 2023, a public holiday to commemorate the birthday of the nation’s founder, Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah. This coincides with Christmas Day, observed by the Christian community in Pakistan. This announcement, issued by the Cabinet Division, reflects a double celebration on December 25th. Official ceremonies and events will be held throughout the country to honor Quaid-e-Azam Jinnah’s life, political struggle, and pivotal role in the creation of Pakistan. These observances are expected to include television and radio broadcasts focusing on his legacy, along with school processions, marches, and scouting rallies.

Meanwhile, the Christian community will celebrate Christmas alongside the national holiday. The iconic landmarks of Mazar Quaid, Quaid-e-Azam Museum, and Flagstaff House in Karachi will be illuminated in tribute to both occasions. This public holiday announcement follows the release of the official 2023 public holiday schedule by the Cabinet Division earlier this year.

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Thursday claimed that Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa (K-P) was ‘safer’ for the party’s leaders than the province of Punjab.

While speaking to the media in Peshawar after his appearance at the high court, the newly elected PTI chairman said that he hoped that a party having “70 per cent popularity” across the country would not be kept out of the upcoming elections. “If this happens, a question mark would be raised over the polls,” he added.

“The judiciary is responsible for the protection of rights,” he maintained.

Today, a two-member bench of the Peshawar High Court (PHC), including Justice Shakeel Ahmed and Justice S.M. Atiq Shah presided over cases

pertaining to the intra-party elections within the party as well as the PTI’s official symbol for the elections.

Presiding over the hearing, Justice Shakeel Ahmad questioned Barrister Gohar why he had not filed a petition in the Islamabad High Court (IHC). To this, the party head alleged that as PTI leaders cannot go to Punjab, K-P remains ‘safer’ for them, adding: “The reality is that our leaders are arrested there”.

Meanwhile, Justice Shah remarked: “You are the chairman now. Such statements are not expected from you”.

Taking a stand, the PTI chairman informed the courtroom that intra-party elections were held in Peshawar.

“That’s why we are here,” he said. “The election commission is everywhere. We can do it anywhere,” he maintained.

On December 8, PTI’s intra-party elections were thrust into uncertainty

after the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) issued the party a notice on a plea seeking to have the polls declared null and void.

A five-member bench, presided over by the chief election commissioner, held a preliminary hearing on 14 applications, seeking nullification of PTI’s intra-party elections. In the hearing, estranged PTI founding member Akbar S Babar’s legal representative asserted that all parties conduct intra-party elections, citing the election commission’s directive to the PTI. Last week, the electoral body raised further questions over the PTI intraparty polls, stating that the party did not fulfil the legal requirements under the party’s constitution Rules 2020 and the Election Act 2017. The ECP had summoned PTI Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) Niazullah Niazi yesterday, seeking an explanation from him.

Punjab voter roll booms with 11.6 million new registrations since 2018 LAHORE

Staff RepoRt

The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has announced a significant uptick in the number of registered voters in Punjab province, highlighting a jump of over 11.6 million new voters compared to 2018. This rise marks a 16.3% increase in voter participation, potentially shaping the upcoming 2024 general elections.

The data reveals a notable increase in female voter registration, with over

6.5 million women added to the rolls since 2018. This represents a growth of 18.3%, suggesting a potential shift in political engagement among women in Punjab. Male voter registration also saw an increase of 5.04 million, but at a slower pace of 13%.

With 6.72 million registered voters, Lahore district boasts the highest number in Punjab. Murree, on the other hand, holds the distinction of having the lowest, with just under 291,000 registered voters.

The ECP spokesperson reiterated

that the upcoming general elections on February 8, 2024, will solely be conducted based on the current voter lists.

This emphasizes the importance of ensuring accuracy and completeness of the rolls before the critical polls. The substantial increase in voter registration, particularly among women, injects a dynamic element into the upcoming elections. This surge in participation could potentially alter voting patterns and influence the political landscape in Punjab, making the 2024 polls one of the most anticipated in recent years.

GILGIT

Staff RepoRt

Former Gilgit-Baltistan chief minister Khalid Khursheed has been disqualified for life from heading the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) GB chapter. Earlier on July 4, the GilgitBaltistan Chief Court disqualified Khalid Khursheed Khan as chief minister GB in a fake degree case. Chief Election Commissioner (CEC) GB in a verdict released on Thursday, disqualified Khalid Khursheed for life from heading the party. A threemember bench announced the verdict on a petition filed by a member of the GB Assembly Shahzad Agha against the chief minister. The petitioner had argued that Khursheed’s law degree was fake and he should be disqualified under Articles 62 and 63. Khursheed claimed to have received a law degree from London but it could not be verified. He had been in office since December 2020 and had been a close aide of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder and former prime minister.

Pakistan calls for holding Israel accountable for evil actions ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan has called for holding Israel accountable for its evil actions and urged the United Nations Security Council to take immediate effective action to impose a ceasefire and lift the inhumane siege against Gaza. At her weekly media briefing in Islamabad on Thursday, Foreign Officer Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said Pakistan remains deeply concerned over the ongoing campaign of brutality and large-scale massacre unleashed upon the Palestinian people. She said we strongly condemn Israel’s ongoing war on hospitals and its barbarous bulldozing of tents in the courtyard and vicinity of the Kamal Adwan Hospital in Gaza that crushed to death numerous Palestinians including women, children and wounded patients under treatment. She said the crimes against humanity in occupied Palestine are a haunting stain on the conscience of humanity.

The Spokesperson said Pakistan is also deeply concerned over the recent statements made by senior Israeli officials, rejecting the creation of a viable and independent Palestinian state. She said such statements, especially the comments on the “Oslo Accords”, reflect the true intentions of the Israeli occupation authorities, their disregard for International law and commitments and rejection of a just resolution of the Palestinian question.

Govt free all women, kids after scathing criticism of brute police action CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

He said that sometimes the state was compelled to take steps in order to prevent a major incident, asserting that his heart beat with the province of Balochistan.

He said this was the reason the protesters were asked to relocate to H-9 ground or F-9 park. “This was a credible fear. It was not something prepared and sent by a lower official from the Special Branch. It was a credible fear and it was very important to prevent such a situation from arising,” he said. He further said that stones were thrown by individuals who were not with the Baloch protesters and had hidden their faces, after which police had to take action.

‘INEXCUSABLE TREATMENT’: The long march led by Baloch women — which started in Turbat on Dec 6 after the alleged “extra-judicial killing” of a Baloch youth by the Counter-Terrorism Department officials — had reached the federal capital on Wednesday. However, the police blocked entry points of the city along with major arteries to prevent the protesters from reaching the National Press Club.

Initially, police blocked Jinnah Avenue and other routes leading to the press club.

They also blocked Srinagar Highway, causing massive traffic jams on the busy road across the federal capital.

In a statement issued late last night, an Islamabad police spokesperson claimed that “masked men carrying batons” were among the protesters. “A non-lethal method to prevent protesters from entering high-security zones is being adopted,” he said, adding that the use of forces was “completely avoided”.

In another statement, the spokesperson

said the protesters threw stones at police officials near Chongi No. 26 and Ayub Chowk. “In response, the police arrested and detained several protesters,” he stated.

He added that legal action would be taken against those who blocked roads.

The detained protesters were later moved to the Aabpara, Kohsar, Secretariat and Margalla police station. Meanwhile, women demonstrators were taken to the Women Police Station. Mahrang Baloch, one of the long march organisers, was also taken into custody.

In a post on social media platform X today, the Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) strongly condemned the “violent police crackdown” on Baloch protesters in Islamabad.

It noted that women, children and the elderly were subjected to “unwarranted force” and separated from their male relatives and allies.

“This treatment of Baloch citizens exercising their constitutional right to peaceful assembly is inexcusable. It also reflects how little the state thinks of the protesters’ demand that their right to life and liberty be upheld,” it said.

The HRCP demanded that all those detained must be released unconditionally.

“Once again, we urgently call on the government to organise a delegation to meet the protesters and give their legitimate demands a fair hearing,” it added.

Amnesty International South Asia, a non-governmental organisation focused on human rights, said it was deeply concerned by the excessive use of force by law enforcement against the Baloch protestors.

It stated that the police action was a violation of their rights to liberty, security and protest. Amnesty demanded that the

protesters should be immediately released and charges against them for “solely exercising their right to freedom of expression” be dropped.

“Conduct an impartial investigation of all extrajudicial killings and enforced disappearances, particularly in Balochistan, in line with international standards,” it said, adding that families of victims of extrajudicial killing and those “forcibly disappeared” should be compensated.

Meanwhile, BNP-M chief Sardar Akhtar Mengal said he was calling an emergency meeting on last night’s actions.

“What happened in Islamabad last night was a clear example of how the authorities want to deal with the most sensitive issue of Balochistan,” he said on X. “These families are seeking justice for their loved ones, not demanding anarchy. I condemn this abhorrent treatment by authorities against our women and children and will raise my voice shoulder to shoulder in every way possible,” he vowed, urging everyone in Balochistan to raise their voices.

Activist Ammar Rashid said the images of Baloch women, children and youth being beaten and arrested on Islamabad’s streets “will live on in infamy”.

“This unelected anti-people regime is playing dice with both the federation and constitution to keep itself in power,” he said. The PTI also condemned the arrests and called on the state to “analyse its decisions and make the most serious efforts to solve the problems, especially the concerns of Baloch citizens”.

Former human rights minister Shireen Mazari called the police action condemnable, adding that it won’t resolve the real issues of the Baloch people.

Activist Ammar Ali Jan said the scenes

China, Pakistan sign MoU on biodiversity conservation BEIJING

Staff RepoRt

China Biodiversity Conservation and Green Development Foundation (CBCGDF) and Raptor Centre for Conservation and Rehabilitation Pakistan signed a memorandum of understanding (MoU) to collaborate on biodiversity conservation.

The two parties have agreed to enhance their cooperation in building community-level biodiversity conservation networks and raising awareness about the conservation of raptor biodiversity.

They also aim to improve in-service training and specialty courses on raptor identification, conservation, and habitat assessment, as well as to assist in the ca-

Khalid Khursheed disqualified from heading PTI GB

pacity building of professionals.

In accordance with the guiding principles of the Convention on the Conservation of Migratory Species of Wild Animals (CMS), the parties will formulate a multi-species action plan for raptors. They will also establish es-

sential facilities for the rescue, rehabilitation, and breeding of raptors, and devise a plan to raise awareness about raptor conservation.

These efforts will significantly contribute to preventing the extinction of raptors.

China and Pakistan have long shared prosperity and adversity, supporting each other in coping with major challenges such as natural disasters. CBCGDF responded promptly and initiated cooperation with Pakistan and its scientific community.

It has participated in the “Monitoring and Assessment of Desert Locust Plagues in Asia and Africa” project of the Chinese Academy of Sciences, conducted remote sensing monitoring of biodiversity in Pakistan, and offered early warning of invasive species to assist Pakistan in safeguarding food security.

Under the Memorandum, the two parties will collaborate to initiate a new approach to global biodiversity governance that is fairer and more equitable.

from last night were “another nail in the coffin of our federation”.

“When peaceful marchers led by women are brutalised on streets of the capital, the state annihilates the possibility of peaceful agitation. Baloch did not choose war. The state imposed it upon them,” he wrote on X. ‘EXERCISED RESTRAINT FOR 6 HOURS,’ SAYS ISLAMABAD IG: Meanwhile, Islamabad police posted a video of Inspector General Dr Akbar Nasir Khan speaking outside the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI). “Islamabad is the federal capital and there are still many foreign delegations present in the city. No one wants their lives to be in danger,” he said.

He asserted that the “use of water is not deadly”, saying that there were “neither children nor women” among the protesters.

“There were some individuals present in the Red Zone with their faces covered and armed with sticks,” he said.

“We exercised restraint for six hours and refrained from using force. But when force was used against the police, we had to resort to all this for our own protection,” he said. “The steps taken to disperse the protesters were unpleasant,” he said. He noted that outsiders often came to Islamabad, adding that such individuals were also responsible for the recent death of a constable and his son.

“Those who try to go toward the Red Zone will be dealt with according to the law,” he said. The Islamabad police chief said that the protesters were told to go to H-9 or F-9 park. “The security of protestors is also our responsibility. The protestors should have obeyed the law and protested peacefully,” he said.

04 COMMENT

When officials are ROs

Election fever

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The first day of obtaining nominations saw the February 8 elections become more certain

ROs can do much less than is thought

HE election schedule issued by the Election Commission of Pakistan became operational on Wednesday, the first day when nomination papers became available. As nomination papers may be filed on the same days as they may be obtained, some candidates were quick of the mark, and were able to fill out the form and file it the same day, including 16 candidates for Karachi, one of whom was Mustafa Kamal, the former Nazim. Many prominent politicians obtained forms, including Mian Nawaz Sharif and Mian Shehbaz Sharif.

However, the situation will become much clearer after Friday, when both the issuing and receipt of nomination papers will come to a halt.

The main point of interest is PTI chief Imran Khan.

Even though he is in jail, the new PTI Chairman, Barrister Gohar Ali Khan, has announced that Mr Khan will be contesting from three constituencies, in Mianwali, Islamabad and Lahore. He has contested before from Mianwali and Lahore, but Islamabad will be unexplored territory for him. However, there is a doubt over whether he can contest any constituency at all. He was disqualified in the Toshakhana case, and subsequently disqualified, but the suspension of that sentence had left him free of that disqualification. However, he is presently being tried in the cipher case, and an unfavourable verdict would create problems. At least he will get his nomination papers. PTI Vice President Shah Mahmood Qureshi, who is also in Adiala Jail and undergoing the same trial, had his nomination papers confiscated. According Barrister Gohar, PTI candidates are facing such difficulties. Piling on the misery, on Wednesday, the Rawalpindi police obtained arrest warrants for 63 people nominated in the May 9 attacks case, and said that they would write to all Returning Officers urging them to reject their nomination papers, and to arrest them. The list includes five former ministers, six ex-MNAs and seven ex-MPAs. The PTI will thus enter the contest without its leader, or even the next tier of leadership.

The polls will take place, and the campaign will take place, but without the PTI allowed to compete unhindered, it is possible that the election campaign will not witness the traditional verve and enthusiasm. The Code of Conduct which the ECP issued may have called for not abusing other candidates, or for caretakers to stay out of the polls, but of itself it will not guarantee the kind of election that all will accept.

However, the Balochistan delimitations have not been allowed to act as a barrier for elections. The way has been cleared for ROs to begin issuing nomination forms, which is the first step of the electoral process. Pakistan will go to the polls again

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor Editor Umar Aziz M. A. Niazi Joint Editor

M

Executive Editor

M A NiAzi

HE Election Commission of Pakistan has issued an election schedule to follow on its issuing of an election date. Just as with the date, the schedule was announced only after the Supreme Court intervened. The issuing of the schedule was not the same as issuing an election programme, which is done just before nomination forms are made available to the candidates by the Returning Officers.

The Returning Officers have been taken from the executive, repeating something which had been done in 2018. The PTI had no objection at that time, but it has one now. If one was to agree with its allegations against the ROs’ boss, caretaker CM Mohsin Naqvi, one could see the PTI’s point. It could also argue that though the 2018 elections were supervised by executive officers, the party had not got the sort of favours from the caretaker CM that Naqvi has been giving to the PTI’s opponents. It could once again repeat the earlier allegations that Naqvi had been involved in removing the Imran government.

It is interesting whether he can influence officials.

He might not find officialdom very compliant, unless it becomes clear that he speaks, acts and orders on behalf of more permanent institutions. It should be remembered that Naqvi does not formally represent an institution the way Usman Buzdar represented the PTI and Shehbaz Sharif the PML(N). Even Ch Parvez Elahi, in his brief second tenure, could be seen as representing the PTI. The only institution he could be said to represent has said that it will no longer be influencing politics, so that is out The issuing of the schedule that will form the election programme is not illegal, but is unusual. One effect will be to reduce the speculations by those who claimed that the elections would be put off yet again.

It should be remembered that elections are not taking place when the Constitution prescribed they had to.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Yousaf Nizami

At Penpoint

Thank You Sir

Actually, the first violation occurred when the ECP did not obey the Supreme Court’s orders to hold local body elections in Islamabad. Then elections to two provincial assemblies, those of Punjab and KP, were not held on time. As a matter of fact, all those elections have not been conducted. While the national elections on February 8 will be accompanied by elections for all four provincial assemblies, it will mean that two caretaker governments will have held office for over a year, which is a considerable period (ask Hamza Shehbaz, who held office for only 87 days, and Parvez Elahi, whose last tenure lasted less than six months).

The federal caretakers will have held office, by election day, since August, for six months, and will probably have another two weeks before a new PM actually takes oath. All of them can been congratulated on their good fortune, for they did not deserve to hold office for more than 90 days.

The caretaker experiment was undertaken because of the 1977 election, which was widely decried as rigged. Incidentally, that election is the reason for the demand for the judiciary to act as Returning Officers. However, elections have been taking place in India under outgoing governments acting as caretakers. There have been no complaints against them, though there are complaints aplenty against opponents.

Bangladesh experimented with the caretaker idea, using it as a means of transition from military ruler Hussain Muhammad Ershad to an elected government in . It then formalised the arrangement through a constitutional amendment, and there was an alternation of power between the Awami League and the Bangladesh National Party. However, when the BNP government completed its tenure in October 2006, elections were not held until December 2008. This is the so-called ‘Bangladesh Model’. An important component was that the caretakers had the backing of the Army, and were supposed to be the government of all the talents that would solve the country’s problems.

Whether it did so or not, can be debated.

Bangladesh has not lifted itself out of poverty, but its metrics have improved. The election of 2008 have resulted in an Awami League government. It ma naged to pass the necessary constitutional amendment abolishing it in 2011, and the Awami League has won the next two elections. The BNP has boycotted the election being held in January, but before the boycott had demanded caretakers supervise the polls.

The caretaker arrangement, going by the Bangladesh example, is one of those you-can’t-livewith-it you-can’t-live-without-it kind of things. By itself, it does not guarantee an acceptance of the results by the losers. Without it, election results may be managed. It is not simply that the caretakers conduct fairer elections. An election must be accepted by even the losers if it is to reflect the will of the people. That is one reason why winners in democracies accommodate losers, at least to the extent of giving them legal rights.

However, the caretaker mechanism, as both Bangladesh and Pakistan have seen, is subject to manipulation. The danger sign is of the caretaker government running on beyond its constitutionally fixed

AskAri rAzA MAlik

Y bed was being wheeled to the operation theatre. As I was about to be ushered in, a nurse asked, “Are you retired?” “Yes”. “What were you doing before?” “I was a soldier” and before I could clarify, in Pakistan Army, the nurse said, “Thank you sir”, believing that I had been a US Army soldier. Instantaneously her companion followed, “Thank you very much sir for your service”. Next, for a fleeting few seconds the young beautiful face of my anaesthetist was the only thing I saw before the lights were no more.

Once I watched a magic show. A young African-American entered. The host escorted him to the centre of the stage. How long you have been in this profession? Seven years he answered. What were you doing before? I was a Marine. She held his hand and turned towards the audience. ‘Ladies and gentlemen, he was a Marine’. The huge auditorium, filled to capacity, was on its feet. They cheered and cheered without stopping. My eyes welled up. Acute nostalgia overwhelmed me.

Almost four proud decades in uniform and 20 years after retirement, all of us still relish the Nation’s response to the thundering President, supposedly the usurper Ayub Khan, “Countrymen we are at war”. It was 1965. The Indian Army had stealthily entered Pakistan without formally ‘declaring war’, a tradition of the brave. The Pakistan Army rushed to occupy its defences.

As the Army raced towards the borders the people came out in force, a tremendous cheer, shouting ‘God is the greatest’. If they happened to touch a jeep, a tank or a gun, they kissed that hand, touched their eyes with it. If we paused for a while, they threw everything they had brought with them in our open vehicles, eatables of all sorts, cookies and homemade traditional sweets the mothers all over Pakistan cook and the sons love. The slogans carried all; prayers, motivation and exhortations to smash the invading enemy to a pulp.

In 1971, two scheming politicians had led a credulous general up the jungle path. Pakistan was bifurcated. The people were in total shock.

Dacca surrendered, followed by two longest years of our lives in the Indian prisoners’ camps.

Nobody ridiculed the Army except for a brief spell of hate spewing by Bhutto, the arrogant feudal lord. The nation believed the fact that we had given more than our best.

Zia’s evil could not significantly undermine the Army’s prestige. The media had been successfully gagged. In the absence of social media, the people never got wind of Zia’s black deeds.

Musharaff’s political naivety, unbridled ambition and incessant impetuosity considerably degraded the armed forces’ standing in the nation.

We saw for the first time the soldiers hesitant to

mandate. In the case of both countries, the caretaker set-ups have not been some sort of self-willed automata which would decide whether or not to prolong their stay. In both cases, the Army played a key role in backing the caretakers. In both countries, caretakers have been used as a kind of Martial Law Lite.

That caretakers do not necessarily stop Martial Law can be seen by the example of Pervez Musharraf, who held election in 2002 without using the caretaker mechanism, retaining the office of Chief Executive for the polls.

It should not be forgotten that, among other things, including the creation of Bangladesh, that flowed from the 1971 polls, they were conducted by ROs drawn from the executive. The tradition which had by then developed was for rigging to be committed by favoured candidates with the help of the district administration and the police. The ROs were mostly drawn from the Local Council Service, could not do much. That is why it made more sense to suborn or terrorise the polling staff at the level of the polling station. They were mostly drawn from the Education Department, which employed the largest number of persons, but even such federal departments as nationalized banks could be used.

Those who object to the use of officials need to ask why the 1970 elections are counted as fair, even though the ROs came from the executive. And why did the opposition claims of rigging in 1977 win such acceptance? In both cases, it was because of public perception. In 1970, the candidates did not complain, and the public experience was of fair polling. In 1977, PNA candidates claim there had been widespread rigging, a claim which squared with the experience of enough voters for the PNA to launch a movement against the government.

Going by that relatively rough standard, the post1985 elections were fair. It must be accounted a coincidence that they always turned out the way the establishment wanted. The ruling party was generally ousted, and the opposition won. These were all twoway elections, with a three-way election occurring only in 2018, when, again as the establishment wanted, the PTI won. It was unceremoniously ousted in 2022, but it seems that the elections would not allow all that the establishment wants done, even though the parties are all willing to play ball.

However, the Balochistan delimitations have not been allowed to act as a barrier for elections. The way has been cleared for ROs to begin issuing nomination forms, which is the first step of the electoral process.

Pakistan will go to the polls again.

The writer is a member of staff

Editor’s mail

May 9 was a mark of how respect for the armed forces has deckined

appear in uniform in public places. It was a shameful comedown. It was still only a temporary phase. Raheel Sharif’s dignified demeanour had won him the honour of being the most popular personality in the country. As the nation stood firmly behind him, the sleazy politicians had no option but to support the Army chief’s resolve to root out terrorism from the country.

It amused me to hear Indian PM Narendra Modi plead with his nation to respect the Indian soldiers like the Americans who on seeing their soldiers always gave them a standing ovation.

To the Pakistanis it came as a genetic urge to cheer their soldiers destined to be either Ghazis (Victors) or Shaheeds (Martyrs).

In the 1971 War, Indian generals were genuinely impressed with the exceptional valour of Pakistani officers and men fighting and embracing martyrdom on the battlefield. One general officer commanding flew in a chopper to just see Major Bahadur Ali Shah who had walked through a minefield, knowing it to be such, without leaving a single casualty behind. As a mark of respect, the general had carried the major’s belongings left in his bunker. One could recount innumerable instances that would make the nation proud of its soldiers fighting a losing battle in the erstwhile Eastern Wing. The soldiers received and the nation gave them the love they deserved.

But 9 May came as a bolt from the blue, the darkest day in the history of civil-military relations. With COAS Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa’s egocentricity the Army had already hit the nadir of public acceptability. The retirees were left askance at the open admission of their COAS to be seriously meddling in the governmental affairs and his self-assumed role of king-making. Still,

Friday, 22 December, 2023

May 9 was unimaginable, disgraceful and totally unacceptable. The oldies like me were shellshocked. The isolated incidents of insult and despising had caused a complete moral break-own.

The matter did not end there. That fateful day has left a plethora of ambiguities, mysteries and misgivings behind. The Military may not be able to share the entire truth with the media. But it is our duty to remove all the perplexities, dispel prevailing doubts and ominous misperceptions.

The mainstream media is tactless, rash and myopic. The social media stinks. Prematurely retired disgruntled young officers are having a field day giving vent to their disappointments and sense of deprivation in career at the cost of the military they never learnt to love and own.

Genuine thinkers, few and far between, offer a balanced critique but are unfortunately bundled with those on social media who speak the unmentionable language of the street to unload their filth against the military. The mediocrity of the caretakers adds to the price we have to pay.

Fading dreams, dwindling hopes, one tempest after another, indeterminate course, hazy destination and conflicting emotions verging on panic, sweet memories of the past experiences and deep gloom on the outrageousness of the scornful ground realities, the dilemma continues to creep into human conscience. The all-pervasive mischief remains a perpetual ill omen. Let ‘all the king’s horses and all the king’s men’ join hands to put Humpty Dumpty together again.

We owe it to the nation and especially owe it to our great institution.

The writer retired as a major general from the Pakistan Army

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

Auhar Chowrangi

AFTER the completion of Zia Mohiuddin Flyover and Underpass in Gulistan-i-Jauhar, Karachi, the main Jauhar roundabout has become crowded and noisy due to heavy traffic and various stalls that have been established along the roadside. The smooth flow of traffic and beauty of the newly-built flyover and underpass are much affected. I request the authorities concerned to look into the matter, cleanse the area to avoid rush and noise, and preserve the vanishing beauty of the said roundabout.

SYED SADAQAT HUSSAIN KARACHI

Website improvement

THE Sindh Public Service Commission (SPSC) is a constitutional body that conducts tests for different jobs for the provincial government. Unlike its counterpart in Punjab, the SPSC does not have an effective website with a modern outlook. The candidates’ record of written test and interview are not uploaded as part of their profiles, or accounts. The commission should upload complete record of candidates and should also post upcoming employment opportunities well ahead of time.

DR KASHIF MASTOI NAWABSHAH

Wrong priorities

I recently noticed a signboard near the Justice Cornelius Underpass in Lahore, notifying commuters that beautification work was under progress.

It was quite perplexing that a completely unnecessary project has been undertaken during these challenging times. While people are suffering from hunger, the government appears to be allocating resources to facilitate the elite. The funds earmarked for the project could surely have been better utilised in education and health sectors. But, it seems, that education and health are not the primary priorities of governments in Pakistan.

KAMRAN SALEH JOYIA LAHORE

Attendance of teachers

THE Project Management System (PMS) application was introduced for marking the attendance of teachers in Sindh, and identifying ghost teachers. But it has become a nuisance for dedicated teachers. The app takes up more than half-an-hour every time one has to sign in or out. It also needs an internet connection which is a major challenge in rural areas of Sindh. The scenario actually facilitates ghost teachers by giving them an opportunity to hide their crime behind a weak system. In essence, the most appropriate way to monitor the attendance is to fix a biometric device in each school instead of wasting resources on faulty systems.

SYED FARMAN ALI SHAH SAMARO

Fading dreams, dwindling hopes, one tempest after another, indeterminate course, hazy destination and conflicting emotions verging on panic, sweet memories of the past experiences and deep gloom on the outrageousness of the scornful ground realities, the dilemma continues to creep into human conscience.

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

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Karachi – Ph: 021-35381208-9

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Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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Drug addiction

THE availability of opioids and stimulants in Balochistan’s Mashkay area has pushed the vulnerable towards the menace of addiction. Buying drugs has become easier than buying vegetables in the area. Those involved in and practising the malicious business are so powerful that no one dares to defy or raise their voice against them. The law-enforcement agencies must initiate action before things get any worse.

BILAL MUSTAFA SAJIDI MASHKAY

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 05

Is USA selective in applying human rights?

Friday, 22 December, 2023

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US selectivity has enabled the Israeli massacre of Palestinians Ali ZubAir Soomro

OLLOWING the recent resolution of an immediate ceasefire between Israel and Hamas put forward by many nations but vetoed by the USA, the USA seems selective in its embrace of human rights. For the USA, the lives of Palestinians do not matter, which are being taken on a daily basis under the pretext of jus ad bellum.

However, the USA’s response to alleged violations of human rights in other countries, including China, and in the RussiaUkrainian war, differs from the response to Israel’s atrocities. Here the question arises: does the USA only embrace those violations of human rights that are committed in or by its antagonist countries or others, but not by the USA or its allies? The answer is obvious from the conduct of the USA. To add, the recent resolution passed by the United Nations General Assembly was just a recommendation, not binding like the decisions of the United Nations Security Council’s.

In the war between Israel and Hamas, thousands of civilians, including children and women, have been killed; about 50,000 Palestinians have been injured; the health system has collapsed; as per the report, they have only one hospital left to treat patients; besides, cases of impetigo, meningitis, jaundice, and chickenpox have appeared, which require urgent medical care; daily life has been disrupted; half of Gaza has been turned into a graveyard; mosques have been destroyed; even UN-run schools have been attacked and left in rubble. Besides, the Gaza enclave has been besieged, which in consequence has deprived Gazans of fuel to operate essential machines to keep their people alive, deprived them of pure drinking water— lives have been lost in the hustle to get water from UNprovided containers; deprived them of food, which resulted in a want of food to eat two times a day, and parents spend days without a proper meal to give their children, and reports suggest that 1 in 3 Palestinians are food insecure; deprived them of medicines, which resulted in a heavy loss of lives, limiting doctors to cure patients properly; even operations

have been performed without due anesthetization to patients. Apart from this, a viral video shows captive Palestinians stripped and humiliated. But all this does not suffice to be a humanitarian crisis for the USA, so it has been vetoing resolutions to enlarge the war, risking thousands of lives.

This was not the first time in the meantime that the USA has vetoed a resolution; before this, four resolutions had lagged. Two of them were tabled by Russia, demanding a ceasefire but failing to obtain a majority in the Security Council. One was presented by Brazil in this regard but was vetoed by the USA, and the last was put forward by the USA, which did not mention humanitarian pause or ceasefire; it was vetoed by Russia and China. However, the USA has utilized its veto power 34 times for Israel from 1954 to 2023, which, indubitably, allowed Israel to massacre and annihilate Palestinians freely.

Furthermore, the USA has supported Israel not only diplomatically but also financially. Financially, Israel is the largest recipient of the USA’s foreign aid since World War II, which will be $3.3 billion in 2022 only. But most awfully, the majority of it goes to the military and is utilized against Palestinians. Recently, the US House of Representatives passed a $14.5 billion military aid package for Israel, which includes $4 billion to replenish Israel’s Iron Dome and David’s Sling missile defence systems, and military equipment transferred from US stocks. Besides, Biden

has asked Congress to pass a $106 billion emergency package that includes funding for Israel, Taiwan, and Ukraine, which will, no doubt, add fuel to the fire.

Apart from this, the Russia-Ukrainian war is indubitably a loss of lives, infrastructure, and much more, which has caused a huge humanitarian, economic, and social impact. It will surely take years to recuperate, and the losses of lives on both sides are condemnable. But the USA’s take to the RussiaUkrainian war has been far more distinguishable than the Israel-Palestine war.

The US not only supported Ukraine financially and militarily but also diplomatically.

According to the Kiel Institute for the World Economy, a German think tank, at least 32 countries provided Ukraine with military aid, including weapons, equipment, or financial assistance for the army during

All lives are equal, and so are the lives of Palestinians, and therefore the USA, which claims to be a champion of human rights, must embrace the fact that Israel is also committing genocide and war crimes and must not back Israeli atrocities so that Israel and Hamas can reach an immediate ceasefire and Israel can be held accountable for human rights violations.

the Russia-Ukrainian war. 25 out of 32 were part of NATO. The USA topped the list as a major financial contributor to Ukraine, following the European Union and the UK. Apart from this, 42 countries, including the USA, imposed almost 11,327 sanctions on Russia, making it the most sanctioned country in the world. Possibly, the response regarding Ukraine was distinct because the opponent is an antagonist of the USA, but if it were Israel or any close ally of the USA, the reaction would be predictable.

Additionally, the USA has recently issued a list of six countries allegedly committing genocide, which includes China, Myanmar, Ethiopia, Iraq, Syria, and South Sudan. The USA has even restricted the visas of Chinese officials who are allegedly involved in committing genocide, and dozens of Chinese companies have been listed on the USA’s entity list for their roles in the genocide of Uyghurs in Xinjiang.

Myanmar’s military leadership was sanctioned for the February 2019 coup. The USA has sanctioned them in one way or another. But regretfully, the genocide of Palestinians does not meet the USA’s criteria for genocide. Thereby, it is causing blood and destruction across Gaza on the sole ground that it has been perpetrated by one of its closest allies, and the USA has conceded a free pass to Israel to decimate thousands of Palestinian lives by vetoing resolutions.

Basically, a genocide is defined as an act committed with the intent to destroy, in whole or in part, a national, ethnic, racial, or religious group, such as: killing members of the group; causing serious bodily or men-

tal harm to members of the group; deliberately inflicting on the group conditions of life calculated to bring about its physical destruction in whole or in part; Imposing measures intended to prevent births within the group; forcibly transferring the children of the group to other groups.

But diving into the truth, Palestinians are victims of genocide since Israel is attempting to empty Gaza by either killing them or making them flee. Israel’s Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu had clarified that they would not stop war until the entire elimination of Hamas, but on the actual ground, their possible targets are civilians, which is a clear violation of international law on war crimes that prohibits killing civilians. Possibly their purpose for all this is to ascertain a pretext to execute the Ben Gurion Canal Plan (BGCP). The proposed plan Is backed by the USA and is aimed at connecting the Red Sea to the Mediterranean Sea. The canal’s route passes close to the northern border of Gaza, which was formerly home to two million people who have been displaced following the ongoing bombing of Israel.

All lives are equal, and so are the lives of Palestinians, and therefore the USA, which claims to be a champion of human rights, must embrace the fact that Israel is also committing genocide and war crimes and must not back Israeli atrocities so that Israel and Hamas can reach an immediate ceasefire and Israel can be held accountable for human rights violations.

Narendra Modi: ‘Our nation is on the cusp of a take-off’ The writer is a freelance columnist

The Indian prime minister discusses the growing relationship with the US and responds to claims he represents a threat to democracy

N

FINANCIAL TIMES

roulA KhAlAf, John reed And benJAmin PArKin

ARENDRA MODI’S official residence in New Delhi is on what used to be called Race Course Road. Rising from a large desk to greet visitors, Modi exudes confidence at the end of a year when India has constantly been in global focus. The country has surpassed China by population and is being touted by world leaders, business consultants and banks as an alternative investment destination for a world increasingly suspicious of Beijing.

Many Indians and global leaders alike are now preparing for what they expect to be five more years of Modi. The 73-year-old leader will be seeking a third term in office in polls due early next year, at which his party is considered the favourite. He insists that he is “very confident of victory” thanks to a record “of solid change in the common man’s life”. “Today, the people of India have very different aspirations from the ones they had 10 years back,” says Modi, dressed in a cream kurta and rust-coloured sleeveless jacket, and immaculately barbered and manicured. “They realise that our nation is on the cusp of a take-off,” he says. “They want this flight to be expedited, and they know the best party to ensure this is the one which brought them this far.”

The FT interviewed Modi as his Bharatiya Janata party was celebrating victories in three out of five closely fought state elections, seen as a dry run for a vote expected between April and May 2024, when India’s more than 940mn eligible voters will head to the polls.

A third-term victory would be a vindication for Modi’s legions of supporters, who say he has built India’s economy and global esteem, improved hundreds of millions of people’s lives and put the majority Hindu religion at the centre of public life.

His opposition, led by the Indian National Congress and MPs including Rahul Gandhi, have joined forces in an alliance under the acronym I.N.D.I.A., which promises to “safeguard democracy and the constitution” in the face of what they say is an attack on the secular principles of the country’s founders. During his nearly 10 years in office, critics have accused Modi’s government of cracking down on rivals, curtailing civil society and discriminating against the country’s large Muslim minority.

Modi’s opponents worry that he would use a thirdterm victory, especially if the BJP wins a large majority, to shred secular values irrevocably, possibly by amending the constitution to make India an explicitly Hindu republic.

The claims of democratic backsliding — which the BJP rejects — have alarmed some observers in India and overseas at a time when leaders around the world are betting heavily on the country as a geopolitical and economic partner.

In a rare interview and additional written responses, the prime minister addressed some pointed questions, including on the status of India’s Muslim minority, friction with the US and Canada caused by alleged plots for extrajudicial killings and constitutional amendment — though he brushed aside criticisms of his government’s economic and democratic record.

To Modi and his supporters, such concerns are little

more than the refrain of a chattering class out of touch with the India he is building, one that caters for a majority that they claim had long been sidelined in Indian politics. “Our critics are entitled to their opinions and the freedom to express them. However, there is a fundamental issue with such allegations, which often appear as criticisms,” he says about concerns over the health of Indian democracy. “These claims not only insult the intelligence of the Indian people but also underestimate their deep commitment to values like diversity and democracy.” “Any talk of amending the constitution is meaningless,” he adds.

The “most transformative steps” undertaken by his government, from a “Clean India” nationwide toiletbuilding campaign to bringing nearly 1bn people online through a path-breaking digital public infrastructure push, Modi says, “have been realised without amending the constitution but through public participation”.

MIX-AND-MATCH FOREIGN POLICY: In August 2023, India landed its Chandrayaan-3 unmanned probe near the south pole of the Moon. Just days later, it hosted the world’s leading economies at a G20 summit meant to elevate the country’s status, and that of Modi, who peered down from posters around New Delhi as world leaders arrived.

India promoted itself as a vishwaguru, or teacher to the world, in everything from its digital inclusion drive to its campaign to promote the cultivation of climate-resilient millets. India also hosted a “Voice of the Global South” summit and successfully championed the African Union’s admission as a permanent G20 member in September. Modi maintained close ties with Russia’s president, Vladimir Putin, in keeping with India’s decades-old non-alignment policy, but also cemented a closer-than-ever relationship with Joe Biden during a June state visit to the US when the two countries signed a raft of agreements in areas ranging from jet engines to quantum computing.

“The world is interconnected as well as interdependent,” Modi says, outlining India’s mix-and-match foreign policy. (Another senior government official, speaking anonymously to the FT, describes India’s current position in a multipolar and multilateral world as a “sweet spot”.) “Our foremost guiding principle in foreign affairs is our national interest,” Modi says. “This stance allows us to engage with various nations in a manner that respects mutual interests and acknowledges the complexities of contemporary geopolitics.”

When pressed on whether India’s closer relations with the US might be described as an alliance, Modi says relations are on an “upward trajectory” despite allegations made by federal prosecutors last month that an Indian government official directed a plot to assassinate a prominent American Sikh separatist leader on US soil.

“Regarding the best words to describe this relationship, I leave it to you,” he says. “Today, the India-US relationship is broader in engagement, deeper in understanding, warmer in friendship than ever before.”

Modi brushes aside a question about a recent relaxation of US-China tensions, saying they are “best addressed by the people and government of America and China”.

On the Israel-Hamas conflict, where his government has mostly refrained from criticising Benjamin Netanyahu’s government — a key partner with which it shares technology and a right-wing nationalist world view — Modi notes that India has supported the delivery of humanitarian aid to Gaza, while reiterating its support for a two-state solution. India, long a staunch supporter of the Palestinian cause, has grown closer to Israel under Modi, the first Indian prime minister to visit the country.

“I remain in touch with the leaders in the region,” he says. “If there is anything India can do to take forward efforts towards peace, we will certainly do so,” he said.

AN ALTERNATIVE TO CHINA: The idea of an economically emerging India is not in itself a new one for the world’s largest developing nation. But one reason the

narrative has taken hold so powerfully lately is because Modi reinforces it, with his talk of India building a $5tn economy and having entered an Amrit Kaal (“age of nectar” or golden age in Sanskrit).

It is also because tensions between Washington and Beijing have prompted a search by western democracies for alternative trading and diplomatic partners to China.

In his independence day speech in August, the Indian leader vowed to make India a developed country by 2047, when it celebrates its 100th anniversary, although some economists have pointed out it will need to grow faster than its current 6-7 per cent annual rate to achieve that. While some Indians are excited about this notion, others fear a false dawn in a country that they say has often fallen short of its promise. Modi points out that India has progressed from being one of the “Fragile Five” to the world’s fifth-largest economy. Infrastructure building has taken off during his premiership, and Modi’s office rattles off the numbers: a doubling of airports to 149 from 74 less than a decade ago; 905km of metro lines, from 248km a decade ago; 706 medical colleges, from 387 before he took office.

Multinational companies, including Apple and its supplier Foxconn, are building capacity in India as part of a “China plus one” diversification drive away from the world’s largest manufacturing centre. Some have gone so far as to predict that it might replicate China’s take-off decades ago, with a confluence of fast economic growth, technological advances and job creation in manufacturing, construction and other sectors that transformed the country and the lives of its people.

Modi prides himself on being a capable administrator, someone who can cut through the country’s vast bureaucracy and get things done — from large economic reform to improving welfare delivery for the hundreds of millions of Indians who depend on services such as cash transfers and free food.

But despite a major infrastructure push and its status as the world’s fastest-growing big economy, India is not creating enough jobs, presenting a vulnerable point for the BJP as it enters a national campaign. Although many economists say India’s data on unemployment is inadequate, according to one widely cited measure reported by the Centre for Monitoring Indian Economy, the rate is running at about 9 per cent. Modi’s opponents led by Congress hammered the BJP on the issue in recent state polls, and have also attacked the ruling party on the issue of inequality.

But the Indian leader instead cites unemployment data gathered by the Periodic Labour Force Survey, which he says points to “a consistent decline in unemployment rates”. “When evaluating different performance parameters like productivity and infrastructure expansion, it becomes evident that employment generation in India, a vast and youthful nation, has indeed ac-

celerated,” Modi says.

Corruption, administrative hurdles, and the skills gap among youth are other obstacles to business about which companies, Indian and foreign, complain — and which some believe could prevent the country from replicating China’s manufacturing-led economic take-off. “You have done a comparison with China, but it might be more apt to compare India with other democracies,” Modi says when asked about this. “It’s important to recognise that India wouldn’t have achieved the status of the world’s fastest-growing economy if the issues you’ve highlighted were as pervasive as suggested,” he says. “Often, these concerns stem from perceptions, and altering perceptions sometimes takes time.”

Modi also points to the presence of Indian-origin CEOs at top companies such as Google and Microsoft as counter-evidence of a skills gap — although some analysts have pointed to the fact that so many skilled Indians go abroad as evidence that there are too few opportunities back home. “It’s not a matter of needing to bring them back,” Modi says, when asked whether India should not be trying to lure them to return to the country of their birth. “Rather, our goal is to create such an environment in India that it naturally gets people to have a stake in India.” He adds: “We aspire to create conditions where everyone sees value in being in India to invest and expand their operations here.”

Some Modi government officials have privately spoken about reforms such as liberalisation of labour laws should the prime minister win a third term. “We envision a system where anyone from around the world feels at home in India, where our processes and standards are familiar and welcoming,” he says. “That is the kind of inclusive, global-standard system we aspire to build.”

A THREAT TO DEMOCRACY? Modi’s most vocal opponents, led by Gandhi — the BJP’s chief political nemesis — have questioned whether India’s democracy will survive a third Modi term. Modi’s government has presided over a squeeze on civil society groups, which face strict curbs on their funding, and — according to watchdog groups such as Reporters without Borders — growing political and financial pressure on journalists in one of the world’s largest media scenes.

Gandhi has been among the MPs who have criticised Modi this year after a short seller’s report prompted questions about the Adani Group, the politically connected conglomerate from the prime minister’s state, Gujarat.

The controversy around the Adani Group has highlighted broader concerns about the concentration of India’s economy around a few big family business groups.

Anti-Muslim hate speech has proliferated under BJP rule, the party’s critics say, and the BJP has no serving MPs or senior government ministers who are Muslim.

When asked what future the Muslim minority has in India, Modi points instead to the economic success of India’s Parsees, who he describes as a “religious microminority residing in India”. “Despite facing persecution elsewhere in the world, they have found a safe haven in India, living happily and prospering,” Modi says, in a response that makes no direct reference to the country’s roughly 200mn Muslims. “That shows that the Indian society itself has no feeling of discrimination towards any religious minority.”

A question about the Modi government’s alleged crackdown on his critics elicits a long and hearty laugh.

“There is a whole ecosystem that is using the freedom available in our country to hurl these allegations at us every day, through editorials, TV channels, social media, videos, tweets, etc,” Modi says. “They have the right to do so. But others have an equal right to respond with facts.” Modi points to what he says is the long history of outsiders who underestimated India. “In 1947, when India became independent, the British who left made a lot of very dire predictions about India’s future. But we have seen that those predictions and preconceptions have all been proven false.” Those who today similarly doubt his government, Modi adds, “will also be proven wrong”.

06 NEWS Pakistan shares 5-year vision with China to boost trade ties

Friday, 22 December, 2023 | LAHORE

P g

CHINA'S ECONOMIC COUNSELLOR AFFIRMS COUNTRY'S AIM TO INCREASE TRADE VOLUME FROM CURRENT $27 TRILLION TO $32 TRILLION IN COMING YEARS PROFIT

NEWS DESK

AKISTAN’s caretaker Federal Minister for Commerce and Industries, Dr Gohar Ejaz shared a five-year vision with China’s Economic Counsellor, Yang Guangyuan, to increase bilateral trade and economic cooperation. Dr Ejaz set a target of $25 billion for Pakistan’s exports to China, while Guangyuan expressed China’s willingness to include Pakistan in its trade expansion plan.

The two officials met on Wednesday in Islamabad, as part of the intensified interaction between the two countries in the field of trade. Dr Ejaz said he visited China recently to witness its remarkable progress and to seek new market segments for Pakistani exports. He also stressed his vision for Pakistan’s economic progress through “trade not aid”.

Guangyuan reaffirmed China’s commitment to stand with Pakistan. He said China aimed to increase its trade volume from the current $27 trillion to $32 trillion in the coming years, and offered to relocate industry from China to Pakistan’s export processing zones and

utilise its cost-effective labour for accessing African and Central Asian markets.

The meeting came as Pakistan’s newly established Export Advisory Council set an ambitious export target of $50 billion in five years and $100 billion in the long term.

However, this would require a radical shift in trade policy and domestic reforms, as Pakistan’s exports have stagnated around $25-27 billion over the last decade, despite schemes like the GSP Plus.

Notably, China enacted the Foreign Trade Law in 1994, which updated its trade policy and built on the reforms since 1980. After joining the World Trade Organisation (WTO) in 2001, China revised its trade pol-

icy again to follow WTO rules and regulations.

It also reduced its import tariff rates to below 9%.

Currently, its trade-weighted average is around 3%.

China did not seek any preferential access like the Generalised Scheme of Preferences (GSP) during these reforms; it focused only on domestic reforms.

The only thing it asked from major economies like the United States was to treat it like any other WTO member. China did not sign any bilateral or regional trade agreements until 2003.

Pakistani exporters, on the contrary, spend a lot of time and energy to persuade the government to get preferential market access through unilateral concessions from the major economies. They also get special treatment under SROs in the domestic market.

They got the GSP Plus concession in 2014, which gave their exports duty-free access to the European Union. This was supposed to be a big change. But nothing much changed.

Pakistan’s exports stayed around $25-27 billion over the next 10 years of the GSP Plus. Many other regional countries doubled their export shares during the same time through domestic reforms, while Pakistan saw an annual average drop of 1.45%.

Canada’s Trudeau sees shift in India relations after US plot revealed Deed Disheritance

We, Mst Rukhsana Waqas, wife of Waqas Ahmed and Imdad Hussian, son of Muhammad Yousaf, solemnly declare that we have no longer any relationship or connection with Muhammad Yousaf, Muhammad Ijaz Yousaf, Muhammad Shehbaz Yousaf and Muhammad Shehzad Yousaf and Shazia Ehsan. We, totally disown the above mentioned persons and will not be responsible for acts and deeds perform by any of them.

From now on, we categorically declare complete disassociation with these persons.

WASHINGTON REUTERS

Canadian Prime Minister Justin Trudeau said he senses a change in India’s tone with Ottawa after the United States warned New Delhi about its involvement in a thwarted plot to kill a Sikh separatist leader on US soil, the CBC reported on Wednesday. “I think there is a beginning of an understanding.

Friday, 22 December, 2023 | LAHORE

CORPORATE CORNER

Dareechay Films & Zaheer Uddin’s Crime Thriller ‘Chikkar’ Premieres in Karachi. Star cast including Usman Mukhtar, Ushna Shah, Faryal Mehmood, Nausheen Shah, Saleem Mairaj, Ali Sheikh and all debutants and support cast received praise for their stellar performances. PR

Nestlé Pakistan extends PKR 5m to Red Crescent Society

LAHORE: Nestlé Pakistan extended corporate contribution worth PKR 5 million, as part of its philosophy of Creating Shared Value (CSV), to support Pakistan Red Crescent Society’s (PRCS) efforts towards social welfare and relief work.Talking at the event, Jason Avanceña, CEO, Nestlé Pakistan said, “Our collaboration with PRCS over the years has taken many forms. Be it the organization of blood donation camps or partnering during COVID-19 response, we have depended on PRCS’ unmatched presence and expertise in providing first-aid and emergency response.“We recognize that we have a responsibility to contribute to the well-being and development of the communities in which we operate. The corporate contribution we are presenting today is a testament to our commitment to supporting PRCS in your noble cause,” he said, adding that, Nestlé Pakistan believes in the philosophy of Creating Shared Value (CSV) where we collectively work towards a clear, common goal: to be a ‘force for good’. “ PR

NTDC hosts farewell party in honour of two outgoing General Managers

NTDC Headquarters, WAPDA House Lahore, December 21, 2023: A farewell ceremony was arranged in the honour of outgoing General Manager (TSG), Engr. Safdar Ali and General Manager (SO) NPCC, Engr. Sajjad Akhtar Khilji at the TSG Training Centre, NKLP Lahore. Both the officers are going to retire from service on 21st (today) and 28th December 2023 respectively. The ceremony was headed by the Managing Director NTDC, Engr. Dr. Rana Abdul Jabbar Khan. While addressing the ceremony, MD NTDC expressed best wishes for the two officers and paid tribute to their services rendered for the organization. Both officers also shared their views on the occasion and extended gratitude to the management for hosting farewell ceremony in their honour. PR

Ministry of Energy holds workshop on: ‘Petroleum (Exploration and Production) Sector Challenges’

Taking cognizance the increasing energy import bill, reduced investment in petroleum exploration activities and the challenges presented by exploration and production companies during various interactions, Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) took the initiative of meaningfully engaging with upstream petroleum industry.

Accordingly, a full day workshop was held on Thursday 21st December 2023 which provided a platform to articulate the challenges faced by the industry and a unique opportunity for meaningful interaction directly amongst the key stakeholders to resolve the challenges and to enhance investment in the sector. The Minister for Energy Muhammad Ali and Secretary Petroleum along with all relevant Director Generals attended the workshop. The industry was represented by CEOs/MDs of leading companies including MPCL, OGDCL, PPL, UEPL, PIOGCL, PEL, OPI, POL, KUFPEC, IPR, GHPL, KPOGCL. PR

Barrister Aqeel Malik files nomination papers as PML-N Candidate from NA-54 Taxila

In a monumental move, Barrister Aqeel Malik has filed the nomination papers as the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz's (PML-N) candidate for the National Assembly seat, NA-54 Taxila, in the upcoming General Elections of February 2024. This nomination holds significant weight, considering the historical association of this constituency with two eminent senior politicians, Former Interior Minister Chaudhary Nisar Ali Khan. PR

07

VAST MAJORITY OF PAKISTANIS PERCEIVE CPEC POSITIVE FOR NATIONAL ECONOMY: REPORT NEWS

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ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

S 2023 marks the 10th anniversary of the launch of ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), a report titled “Perceptions on CPEC in Pakistan” was launched at the 8th CPEC Media Forum hosted by the Chinese Embassy in Pakistan and organized by China Economic Net and Pakistan-China Institute.

Data from the report indicates that there is widespread agreement among Pakistanis that CPEC will help revive economic activity in Pakistan.

The report draws its insight from 350 individuals encompassing key stakeholders including 62 government employees, 22 parliamentarians, civil sector representatives, private sector professionals, journalists, members of academia and students from Punjab, Balochistan, Sindh, Khyber Paktunkhwa, Kashmir and Gilgit.

Based on the report, 65% of the respondents view Chinese professionals as friends of Pakistan who will help revive

the country’s economy and socio-economic well-being.

This means a majority of Pakistani people strongly believe that CPEC will prove to be beneficial for the country and its people. About how CPEC will help Pakistan, 93.5% of the respondents view CPEC as a project that will significantly help Pakistan through investment in various sectors while also opening avenues for businessmen.

And, 75.1% of the respondents agree

that through CPEC, local businessmen will get access to international markets.

Moreover, 61.1% of the respondents believe that CPEC will help economically vulnerable groups such as women, which signals positive segments among the Pakistanis with regards to how CPEC is slowly revolutionizing the economy by improving the socio-economic wellbeing of the people.

Additionally, 66.9% of the respondents think that investment under CPEC

can significantly improve the agricultural industry of Pakistan, and 72.7% of the respondents believe that CPEC has helped develop state-of-the-art infrastructure in the country.

Looking into the future, 54.2% of the respondents think CPEC should focus on business opportunities more, followed by education (13%), health (5.9%), IT (2.3%), etc.

Overall, the majority of the respondents perceive CPEC positively as a game-changer for Pakistan’s economy.

Furthermore, the second highest responses for the questions were ‘neutral’ which stems from the idea that while CPEC is fast progressing and its fruit is visible some people lack a good understanding of this corridor and its influence regarding different development phases.

Statistics from the Embassy of China in Pakistan exhibit that by the end of 2022, CPEC had brought direct investment of $25.4 billion to Pakistan, creating 236,000 jobs, building 510 kilometers of expressways and 886 kilometers of national grid, and adding 8,000 MW of electricity.

Sehat Kahani continues to lead the digital health industry in Pakistan as the first all-female led company from Pakistan to raise a US $ 2.7 million Series-A funding round

In a groundbreaking achievement for Pakistan's startup landscape,Sehat Kahani, a trailblazing female-led health-tech startup,has successfully closed a historic Series A 2.7 million dollars funding round.This landmark positions Sehat Kahani as the first allfemale-led company in Pakistan to secure Series A funding.

Amaanah Circle, a Singaporebased health tech fund led by Dr. Razi Yousuf, spearheads the funding, joined by key investors including Epic Angels, a female-only investor collective,Cross Fund,USAID Investment Promotion Activity (IPA), Augmentor,Impact Investment Exchange(IIX) and the Elahi group of companies.

Dr.Razi Said “Sehat Kahani is an incredible health-tech story led

by Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga. Amaanah Circle (Singapore) is proud to contribute to the subject matter expertise, and in upscaling regionally and globally to the overall vision of Sehat Kahani in the future of digital health and preventive healthcare."

Founded by esteemed medical doctors Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram and Dr. Iffat Zafar Aga, Sehat Kahani's innovative technology ensures a seamless virtual connection between doctors and patients within 60 seconds.The platform offers on-demand at-home or onpremise laboratory services and online medicine delivery, catering to a diverse nationwide patient base, including B2B clients, B2C consumers, and the underserved population in rural areas.

The unwavering support from USAID has been pivotal in Sehat Kahani's growth, fueling innovation and enabling impactful expansion in the dynamic Pakistani digital health landscape.This sup-

Rear Admiral Javed Iqbal hands over Command Scroll of Commander Central Punjab to Rear Admiral Azhar Mahmood during change of command ceremony held at PN War College Lahore. PR

port fosters a future where accessible healthcare solutions thrive.

Dr. Sara Saeed Khurram said,"This funding infusion marks a pivotal moment for Sehat Kahani. It will enable us to develop advanced features, including decision support systems, precision medicine tools, and predictive AI models to help our patients live fully by knowing their disease better.Grateful to our investors and programs such as Weraise for supporting our mission and championing female founders, setting a powerful example” Sehat Kahani extends its Corporate Application into a comprehensive OPD management solution, providing corporate employees and their families 24/7 hassle-free and cashless access to specialists, online medicine delivery, and efficient claims management. The holistic 360-degree well-being program for corporates emphasizes health promotion and preventative care. The Consumer Application, operational in over 310 cities and towns across Pakistan, integrates seamlessly into prominent banking and lifestyle platforms, ensuring affordable and accessible healthcare

Dr.Iffat Zafar Aga said “Sehat Kahani has shown a significant average year on year growth of 141% in the last 3 years, overcoming the myth that telemedicine was only beneficial during covid as we have seen 5x cumulative growth in the number of consultations in the post covid era.This gives us the confidence to expand operations to other countries and take Sehat Kahani global as our next move for expansion” Sehat Kahani, known for empowering women doctors, has a global network of 7500+ healthcare professionals,serving 800+corporations and 62 e-health clinics nationwide.With 2.6 million consultations to date, the new funding aims to accelerate their mission, bridging healthcare gaps, empowering women in medicine, and expanding global impact.

Maaike from Epic Angels,the largest female-only investor collective in the APAC region, stated, "Sehat Kahani embodies what we seek in investments: strong potential for success and impactful innovation. We fully believe in Dr. Sara and Dr. Iffat's leadership, envisioning Sehat Kahani as a beacon of innovation and a model for future healthcare solutions."

IESCO fines 2,639 pilferer Rs80m during current month

While IESCO is striving for uninterrupted supply of electricity to respected consumers and the best services related to electricity, there is a series of crackdowns against electricity thieves and defaulters. According to the details, more than 1 lakh 18 thousand electricity connections were checked this month. 2541 meters were found to be slow-tempered while 85 meters were receiving direct supply of electricity. Fines of more than 8 crores were imposed on concerned consumers for slow-tempered and direct use of electricity, while 75 FIRs were registered and 27 power thieves were arrested by the police.During the ongoing operation against electricity defaulters, IESCO recovery teams collected over 1 billion 38 crores from 59 thousand 387 running and dead defaulters. Chief Executive Officer IESCO Dr. Muhammad Amjad Khan has said that the efforts of IESCO detection and recovery teams are certainly a tribute appreciation. Actions against electricity thieves and defaulters will continue. Consumers should report electricity theft on helpline number 118 or CCMC number 051-9252933. PR

ICCPO Dr Akbar Nasir holds media briefing at ICCI

According to the details, the Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan visited the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industries.

Islamabad traders, representatives from Youth Parliament, children from Pakistan Sweet Homes and journalists were present at the occasion. ICCPO Dr Akbar Nasir Khan engaged with media representatives at the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce, emphasizing the need for lawfulness and safety in the capital. On the occasion he said that, Islamabad is the capital and there are still many high-level foreign delegations present here. No one would want you and our lives to be in danger. Our mutual safety is paramount. Last night we showed patience for six hours and avoided the use of force, but when force was used against the police, we had to act within the legal framework for our protection," he added. He further said that we appreciate the citizens of Islamabad who have never engaged in unlawful activities. While Islamabad hosts a multitude of outsiders, those involved in recent unfortunate incidents were also not locals. The accused who martyred the Islamabad Capital Police head constable and his son in a recent event were also from outside. We have apprehended some accused from Bannu. He also highlighted that, the use of water cannons is not fatal. PR

Aneeq addresses closing ceremony of ‘hajj training program’ at IIUI

ISLAMABAD: Minister of Religious Affairs Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed has said that Hajj is a journey from oneself to God. He expressed these views while addressing the closing ceremony of the Hajj Master Trainers training program for women organized by the Dawah Center for Women of the International Islamic University (IIUI).

The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Aneeq Ahmed said on the occasion that this year women pilgrims will be given Abaya by the Ministry that will have Pakistan’s flag embossed on it. He said women protect religious values and transfer religion to future generations. He further said that the role of women as mother and sister in Islamic society is vital. He said trainers of International Islamic University's Dawah Center for Women will be utilized in training programs for Hajj to be organized by the Ministry. He discussed the memories of Hajj and highlighted the importance of Muslim men and women in the society. The Federal Minister for Religious Affairs said that it is our responsibility to pass on religion. PR

Daraz and Visa partner to launch first e-commerce co branded cards for Pakistan

KARACHI: In a ground-breaking move, Daraz, Pakistan's leading e-commerce platform has teamed up with global payments technology company Visa to introduce co-branded cards for e-commerce usage. This strategic alliance is set to transform the online shopping landscape in Pakistan for consumers by leveraging Daraz's dedication to a secure and user-friendly digital shopping environment and Visa's advanced technological solution. PR

Infinix HOT 40 Series, Powered by MediaTek Helio G99, hits shelves nationwide

LAHORE: Infinix, Pakistan’s No. 1 selling smartphone brand, announces the nationwide availability of the much-anticipated gaming Infinix HOT 40 series driven by the powerful MediaTek Helio G99. The series include Infinix HOT 40 Pro, HOT 40i & HOT 40 available for purchase both online and offline. With its advanced graphics rendering capabilities and optimized power efficiency, users can enjoy extended gaming sessions without any interruption. he Infinix HOT 40 series, competitively priced starting at PKR 40,999/-, not only delivers cutting-edge technology but also a gateway to an unparalleled gaming adventure, making it the ideal choice for gaming aficionados across Pakistan. PR

‘Cheezious Spreads Cheezy Khushiyan: A Heartfelt Celebration with Housekeeping Heroes’

ISLAMABAD: Cheezious, a leading name in the [industry], proudly announces a heartwarming celebration that took place to honor the dedication and hard work of its housekeeping staff. This shows Cheezious' commitment to recognizing and appreciating the contributions of every team member.The occasion was marked by an interactive session between the housekeeping staff and the top management of Cheezious. This session provided a unique platform for open dialogue, fostering a deeper understanding and connection between the staff and management.Zohaib Hassan, Head of Marketing at Cheezious, shared his perspective on the celebration, stating, "At Cheezious, we consider every team member as an integral part of our family. Our housekeeping staff plays a crucial role in maintaining the high standards that define the Cheezious experience. Celebrating their hard work is not just a gesture of appreciation but a reaffirmation of our commitment to a positive and inclusive workplace.". PR

Friday, 22 December, 2023

Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk