Epaper_24-03-01 LHR

PTI’s Babar Saleem

Swati takes oath as KP Assembly Speaker

Gulzar Shehryar Afridi and other leaders were in attendance from the PTI

The first session of the 16th NA commenced with the recitation of the Holy Quran and the national anthem, following which Speaker Raja Pervez Ashraf administered the oath to the

elected members A total of 302 newly-elected

bers took oath in the

session the NA

said After the oaths were administered, Nawaz Sharif, Shehbaz Sharif, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, Bilawal Bhutto, Maulana Fazlur Rehman and others signed on the register marking lawmakers’ attendance on the Role of Sign of the members per Rule No 7 of the Rules and Procedure of National Assembly 2007

After signing, Nawaz went to the visitors’ gallery to wave at his daughter, incumbent Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz He then left the assembly hall followed shortly by Maryam and Shehbaz Following the departure of the PML-N supremo the sloganeering largely died down Thursday s session also witnessed the return of PTI to the Parliament after the party resigned en masse, the only difference is that PTI lawmakers have en-

tered the legislature this time around under the banner of the Sunni Itehad Council (SIC)

for National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker slots however he refused to take part in the formation of government They said that the delegation will hold another meeting with Maulana Fazl in the Parliament House as the latter will soon leave for Sindh to head the protests against the alleged rigging On Wednesday a high-level delegation of PML-N PPP and other allies met Maulana Fazlur Rehman ahead of the inaugural session of the National Assembly PML-N s Ayaz Sadiq Saad Rafique and Ahsan Iqbal PPP s Syed Khursheed Shah, Syed Yusuf Raza Gilani, Syed Naveed Qamar, Abdul Aleem Khan of the Istehkam-e-Paksitan Party (IPP) and Khalid Magsi of Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) were among the leaders who reached Fazalur Rehman’s residence PML-N leader Ayaz Sadiq who has also become Speaker National Assembly said that they had a very good conversation with the JUI-F chief We met Maulana Sahib and requested for a vote, Ayaz Sadiq added However, Maulana Fazalur Rehman expressed some concerns asserting to address the same in the coming days It is important to mention here that the PML-N nominated Sardar Ayaz Sadiq for the National Assembly (NA) speaker s slot

Israel forces shoot 104 Palestinians dead at aid point in Gaza

blocking access

crushed by the trucks themselves after “aid trucks were overwhelmed by people trying to loot”

The Gaza City shooting adds to a Palestinian death toll from the war which the health ministry earlier Thursday said had topped 30,000

It came after mediators said a truce deal between Israel and Hamas militants could be just days away In a reflection of increased concern at the White House President Joe Biden s administration is considering airdropping aid into Gaza, US news site Axios reported early Thursday

The war began on October 7 with an unprecedented Hamas attack on southern Israel

that resulted in the deaths of around 1,160 people mostly civilians Israeli figures show Militants also took about 250 hostages 130 of whom remain in Gaza including 31 presumed dead according to Israel Israel vowed to destroy Hamas, and its retaliatory military campaign has killed 30,035 people, according to the health ministry in Gaza Israel’s military says 242 soldiers have died in Gaza since ground operations began in late October

New Zealand on Thursday became one of the latest Western countries to designate Hamas as a “terrorist” entity, saying the October 7 attack shattered the notion that the movement’s political and military wings are separate Mediators from Egypt Qatar and the United States have been seeking a sixweek pause in the war Negotiators hope a truce can begin by around March 10 or 11 when the Muslim holy month of Ramadan begins depending

on the lunar calendar The proposals reportedly include the release of some Israeli hostages held in Gaza by militants in exchange for hundreds of Palestinians held in Israeli prisons

Short of the complete withdrawal Hamas has called for, a source from the group said the deal might see Israeli forces leave “cities and populated areas” allowing the return of some displaced Palestinians and humanitarian relief Biden is pushing all of us to try to get this agreement over the finish line , Secretary of State Antony Blinken said ‘Extremely critical’ The United Nations humanitarian agency OCHA described the food security situation as extremely critical across Gaza particularly in northern Gaza According to the World Food Programme (WFP), no humanitarian group had been able to deliver aid to the north for more than a month The agency accused Israel of

“If nothing changes a famine is imminent in northern Gaza WFP s deputy executive director Carl Skau said Israeli officials have denied blocking supplies

With aid flows on the ground limited, more is coming in by parachute

Neighbouring Jordan said it had on Thursday again air-dropped food and other relief Jordan’s army said the drop over northern Gaza came in collaboration with Bahrain and Oman

The United Arab Emirates official news agency WAM said the Gulf country had begun a joint operation with Egypt to drop food and medical aid

The operation would last several weeks it said

In the south nearly 1 5 million people trying to flee the fighting are now packed into Rafah city, also short of food, as Israel threatens to send in troops against Hamas fighters there

MQM-P didn’t seek any cabinet positions, claims Siddiqui

CM’s clean Punjab campaign launched, 4 LWMC officials suspended

members sworn in amid ruckus at NA inaugural session CONTINUED

PTI’s Babar Saleem

Swati takes oath as KP Assembly Speaker

l a w m a k e r s a l s o f a c e d d i ff i c u l t y i n e n t e r i n g t h e A s s e m b l y h a l l S p e a k e r M u s h t a q G h a n i a d m i n i s t e r e d o a t h s t o t h e n e w l y e l e c t e d p r o v i n c i a l l e g i s l a t o r s I t i s p e r t i n e n t t o m e n t i o n h e r e t h a t P T I - b a c k e d S u n n i I t t e h a d C o u n c i l h a s b e e n t h e l a rg e s t p a r l i a m e n t a r y b l o c k i n K P A s s e m b l y w i t h 9 1 m e m b e r s w h i l e t h e J U I h a v e 0 7 P M L - N 0 5 P P P - 0 4 A N P a n d P T I - P h a v e o n e m e m b e r e a c h i n t h e h o u s e

a fresh advice for convening the assembly session According to the sources at the very last moment Alvi signed the second advice sent by the caretaker premier and approved the convening of the first session of the newly elected lower house of parliament Despite his reservations the president fulfilled his constitutional obligation by calling a session of the NA to put an end to the ongoing speculations and debates Earlier the NA Secretariat had convened the inaugural session of the lower house of Parliament at 10am today In a notification issued by NA Secretary Tahir Hussain, it was disclosed that Caretaker Prime Minister Anwaarul Haq Kakar approved the session under Article 91(2) of the Constitution President Alvi did not sign the first summary as he awaited the final decision on the reserve seats matter PML-N stalwart and Senator Ishaq Dar levelled serious allegations against Alvi, accusing him of attempting to once again violate the Constitution

PML-N’s Achakzai, PPP’s Gola elected Balochistan Assembly speaker, deput y speaker

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 T h e y w e r e n o m i n a t e d f o r t h e p o s t s o f s p e a k e r a n d d e p u t y s p e a k e r b y t h e i r r e s p e c t i v e p a r t i e s T h e n e w l y s w o r n - i n a s s e m b l y w a s s c h e d u l e d t o v o t e f o r t h e e l e c t i o n o f t h e h o u s e s s p e a k e r a n d d e p u t y s p e a k e r t o d a y b u t t h e y w e r e a b l e t o s e c u r e t h e p o s t w i t h o u t t a k i n g a v o t e s i n c e n o o t h e r c a n d i d a t e s u b m i t t e d t h e i r p a p e r s a g a i n s t t h e m b y t h e 1 2 p m d e a d l i n e s e t f o r t h e s u b m i s s i o n o f p a p e r s A t o t a l o f 5 7 n e w l ye l e c t e d l a w m a k e r s w e r e a d m i n i s t e r e d o a t h o n We d n e s d a y b y Z a m r a k K h a n A c h a k z a i w h o w a s a p p o i n t e d t h e p r e s i d i n g o f f i c e r f o r t h e m a i d e n s e s s i o n o f t h e p r o v i n c i a l l e g i s l a t i v e A s m a n y a s 5 1 m e m b e r s t o o k o a t h , i n c l u d i n g t h e e l e c t s f r o m t h e P P P, P M L - N , J a m i a t U l e m a - e - I s l a m - F a z l , B a l o c h i s t a n Aw a m i P a r t y ( B A P ) a n d o t h e r s L a t e r t h e a s s e m b l y s e s s i o n w a s a d j o u r n e d t i l l T h u r s d a y 3 p m Wi t h a d i v i d e d p r o v i n c i a l a s s e m b l y w h e r e n o p o l i t i c a l p a r t y m a n a g e d t o s e c u r e a s i m p l e m a j o r i t y i n t h e F e b r u a r y 8 p o l l s , t h e P P P a n d t h e P M L - N m i g h t j o i n h a n d s t o f o r m a g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e p r o v i n c e a s t h e y a l r e a d y h a v e a g r e e d t o f o r m a c o a l i t i o n g o v e r n m e n t i n t h e C e n t r e

r H a i d e r i w i l l t a k e o a t h i n t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y a s m e m b e r E a r l i e r S e n a t o r s S a r f r a z B u g t i a n d P r i n c e U m a r A h m e d z a i r e s i g n e d f r o m t h e S e n a t e a f t e r w i n n i n g t h e B a l o c h i s t a n A s s e m b l y c o n s t i t u e n c i e s i n t h e g e n e r a l e l e c t i o n s h e l d o n F e b 8 F o r m e r c a r e t a k e r F e d e r a l I n t e r i o r M i n i s t e r B u g t i s u b m i t t e d h i s r e s i g n a t i o n t o S e n a t e C h a i r m a n S a d i q S a n j r a n i w h i c h h e a c c e p t e d S i m i l a r l y, B a l o c h i s t a n Aw a m i P a r t y S e n a t o r P r i n c e U m a r A h m e d z a i a l s o r e s i g n e d f r o m

N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y m e e t s

The new Assembly faces multiple challenges

TH E 16th National Assembly elected on February 8, met on Wednesday, in response to a presidential summons that should have been routine, but was not President Arif Alvi had initially refused to sign the Parliamentary Affairs Ministry summary summoning the new National Assembly on the plea that the Election Commission of Pakistan had not yet decided the allocation of women’s seats However, the National Assembly itself had prepared to summon the House nonetheless, and because his refusal would have no effect the President on Wednesday night did the needful Whatever the manner of the summons the problems of the new House remain unaffected though the President’s attitude may be sign of things to come

One of the main problems of the new House will be managing the PTI, which in its Sunni Ittehad Council avatar, is the largest party in the House, and if Thursday s proceedings are anything to go by, will prove vociferous and committed to showing loyalty to party chief Imran Khan It will not be a matter purely of parliamentary niceties, as can be seen by Mr Khan’s letter to the IMF asking it to undertake an audit of the election The new government will have to ensure that the PTI does not attempt to conduct a foreign policy of its own This letter which the IMF said on Wednesday it had not yet received segues into another major concern of the new government the economy At the PML(N) parliamentary party meeting which anointed Ayaz Sadiq for the Speakership, and Mian Shehbaz Sharif for the Prime Ministership, Mian Nawaz Sharif made clear that the economic situation was difficult, and that members should be ready for two years of difficulty The PTI s letter shows that it is aware that the most immediate task of the government will be to negotiate an IMF programme to succeed the present Strand-By Arrangement ending next month However, perhaps the most significant challenge of the new National Assembly is whether it can generate a government which can last out the

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

TH E process which started with the February 8 elections is reaching its natural conclusion which is the formation of new governments but the process which started with the May attacks has not yet ended, for

Ne

vened and the 2002 election led to a situation where no one had got a majority including the PML(Q) which was the largest party To help it out a PPP (Patriots) Group came into being, and gave it the requisite majority The Patriots also escaped the anti-defection clause of the Constitution, and the recent interpretation, that members would be unseated if they disobeyed the party whip as determined by the parliamentary leader was not applied The PPP Patriots separate existence is officially shown in the National Assembly s records The PPP was the largest party in the post-2008 Assembly, and while initially it came to office as part of a coalition with the PML(N), the latter soon departed and it inducted both the MQM and the PML(Q) to ensure its majority Similarly in 2013 the PML(N) and in 2018 the PTI were the largest parties but it was at least theoretically possible for all the rest to gang up and form the government That, as a matter of fact, is how the PTI was ousted, and the PDM coalition formed That situation seems to have been repeated; as the PTI is the largest party but everyone else is combining against it Just as its government was the first ever to be ousted by a no-confidence vote it is also the first to emerge as the largest party in the National Assembly, but not form the government It seems clear that it has not been forgiven for the May 9 incidents

Imran Khan should learn from the example of Mian Nawaz Sharif Even though his party is back in office, he is not While the PML(N) provides the numbers for a government, Mian Nawaz remains cast out In the same way, it might be remembered, Imran provided the numbers for a government that looked favourably upon the establishment His antipathy is not based on any principle but on the fact that it is not on his side His objection is not to the establishment having a role in politics but to its not favouring him He does not want neutrality, but support To be fair to him, that is how all politicians, including those opposing him, feel One of the problems with present governments is the generational change The provinces are showing not just a new generation but children in place of parents Punjab has Maryam Nawaz for CM She is 50 and she is also the daughter of a former Prime Minister Sindh CM Murad Ali Shah is 61, having first become CM in 2016, when 53 He is the son of a former CM, Abdullah Shah having held the office in 1993 to 1996 duringBenazir Bhutto’s second stint as PM Ali Amin Gandapur named to be CM KP by the PTI is 45 and though the second Gandapur to hold the office is no close relation of Inayatullah Gandapur who is merely a fellow tribesman True, Ali Amin s father was a former provincial minister, but Ali Amin owes his position to his having been steadfast after May 9 The elections threw up a split mandate which could even be called a fractured mandate There have been doubts cast on the results with the PTI claiming it did better than the results said it did However there seem to have been two factors at work First, there is no smoking gun The Commissioner Rawalpindi claimed that the results of his division were falsified, but when the Election Commission of Pakistan probed the matter he resiled from his statement and deposed to the ECP committee that he had made the statement on the prompting of a political party leader who was a proclaimed offender In short the PTI After his statement, nobody was interested in corrob-

of the Punjab and Sindh Assemblies have been elected by what would be a handy majority in Punjab an overwhelming one in Sindh if they are repeated for the CMs The same is expected to happen in Balochistan and the National Assembly The only question there is whether the PPP will vote at all, for it seems firm on its decision to stay out of the government

At the end of the day the decision by Mian Shehbaz to take on the PM s job reflects more confidence in himself than any ambition Mian Nawaz s reluctance to take

have to be businessfriendly, but that does not mean having to act as a lobbyist for the business community

The writer is a member of staff

O u t - o f - t h e - b ox s o l u t i o n s m ay w e l l b e r e q u i r e d , bu t t h a t d o e s n o t m e a n t h a t t h e r e mu s t b e a r e f u s a l t o i m p l e m e n t s o l u t i o n s t h a t h av e l o n g b e e n p ro p o u n d e d T h e r e a r e m a ny t h i n g s w h i c h h av e t o b e d o n e ; a P M L ( N ) g ov e r n m e n t m ay h av e t o b e bu s i n e s s - f r i e n d ly, bu t t h a t d o e s n o t m e a n h av i n g t o a c t a s a l o b by i s t fo r t h e bu s i n e s s c o m mu n i t y

Closing libraries

TLengthy queues

Alien trees

Cr

energy, or incentivize environmentally friendly practices through eco-coins

TE REGULATION AND PUBLIC PRESSURE: As awareness of the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies grows, there may be increased regulatory pressure on the industry to become more sustainable Public pressure and the desire for a “greener” image may also drive crypto companies to adopt more environmentally friendly practices

F DECENTRALIZATION VS CENTRALIZATION: The decentralized nature of cryptocurrencies means that mining operations are spread out across the globe and not always subject to uniform environmental standards This decentralization poses challenges for regulating the environmental impact of crypto mining

C THE GROWTH

problem without the need for a trusted third party 2009: Bitcoin was launched on January 3rd, with the genesis block mined by Satoshi, marking the beginning of the blockchain

(PoA) can significantly reduce the environmental impact of cryptocurrencies

C INTEGRATION OF BLOCKCHAIN IN ENVIRONMENTAL CONSERVATION: Blockchain technology the backbone of cryptocurrencies holds significant potential for environmental conservation efforts It can provide transparent and immutable tracking of carbon credits, facilitate trade in renewable energy certificates, and support sustainable supply chain management, enhancing accountability and efficiency

D REGULATORY FRAMEWORKS PROMOTING SUSTAINABILITY:

TOKENS:

D

h e n t i c , b u t h a ve b e e n m a n i p u l a t e d w i t h A r t i f i c i a l I n t e l l i g e n c e dr raJKumar singh

The ongoing development of cryptocurrency technology and the industry’s response to environmental concerns will play a significant role in shaping its future sustainability However the relationship between the environment and cryptocurrencies is in a state of flux, influenced by technological advancements, regulatory changes, and shifts in societal values towards sustainability and balancing the environmental costs with the benefits of innovation and decentralization is an ongoing challenge for the industry and regulators

The history of cryptocurrency is a fascinating journey that spans several decades intertwining advancements in cryptography, computer science, and economic theory:

A PRE-BITCOIN ERA: 1980S-1990S:

Concepts akin to cryptocurrencies began to emerge David Chaum a cryptographer introduced DigiCash an electronic cash system, in the 1980s Although DigiCash eventually went bankrupt, it laid the groundwork for future digital currencies 1990s-2000s: Various attempts at creating digital currencies were made including B-Money and Bit Gold which were never fully developed but contributed ideas such as proof of work and decentralized consensus

B BIRTH OF BITCOIN 2008: The pseudonymous Satoshi Nakamoto proposed in the year a decentralized digital currency that solved the double-spending

W h a t a r e de e p f a k e s , t h e i r r i s k s a n d h o w t o s p o t t h e m

Eintersection of the environment and cryptocurrency presents a dynamic field with evolving prospects and challenges As the awareness of environmental sustainability grows the cryptocurrency industry is adapting and innovating:

A INCREASED USE OF RENEWABLE

ENERGY: As societal pressure mounts to reduce carbon footprints, there’s a strong prospect for increased use of renewable energy sources in cryptocurrency mining operations Locations with abundant renewable resources like hydroelectric solar or wind power could become hotspots for eco-friendly mining

B ADVANCEMENTS IN ENERGY-EFFICIENT TECHNOLOGIES: Technological innovation is likely to produce more energy-efficient mining hardware and algorithms The shift from energy-intensive Proof of Work (PoW) models to more sustainable alternatives like Proof of Stake (PoS) or Proof of Authority

As governments and regulatory bodies become more involved with cryptocurrencies, there s a prospect for frameworks that incentivize sustainability Regulations could mandate the use of renewable energy for mining operations or provide tax incentives for low-carbon technologies steering the industry towards greener practices

E DECENTRALIZED ENERGY GRIDS: Blockchain technology could revolutionize energy markets by enabling decentralized energy grids These systems allow for peer-to-peer energy trading making it easier for individuals to buy sell or trade renewable energy potentially leading to more efficient energy use and greater adoption of renewable sources

F ECO-FRIENDLY CRYPTOCURRENCIES: There is an emerging trend of eco-friendly cryptocurrencies that inherently have a lower environmental impact either through their consensus mechanisms or by directly supporting environmental causes The growth and adoption of such currencies could reshape the market with an emphasis on sustainability

G CORPORATE SOCIAL RESPONSI-

BILITY: As the environmental impacts of cryptocurrencies become more widely recognized companies in the space may adopt stronger corporate social responsibility (CSR) practices Thus, the future prospects of the environment and cryptocurrency are intricately linked to technological innovation regulatory developments and shifts in societal values towards sustainability

What motivates a president of Argentina to call for the demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque?

EL PAIS a L O n s O m a r t Í n e z MIDDLE EAST MONITOR e m a n a b u s d u

to detect it They work constantly resulting in a more realistic or accurate portrayal According to GAO, GANs create more convincing deepfakes, but are more difficult to use” Improvements on these types of technology are making deepfakes harder to detect In the past viewers could easily detect fraudulent content but this may no longer be the case considering how realistic some images videos and audios seem

RISKS OF DEEPFAKES: As mentioned, deepfake technology could be used to create several types of content such as pornography using a celebrity or any person’s face without their consent or fake news with altered videos of politicians saying things they never said or doing things they never did A report made by the Department of Homeland Security states that “the threat of Deepfakes and synthetic media comes not from the technology used to create it but from people’s natural inclination to believe what they see and highlight that deepfakes and synthetic medicare effective in spreading misinformation or disinformation despite not being advanced or believable The Department also highlights how divided the opinion of experts on the urgency of the threat synthetic media and deepfakes pose is It says that the spectrum of concerns range from “an urgent threat

H I L E most Latin American countries have demonstrated support for Palestine and distanced themselves from the occupation state of Israel during its aggression against the Palestinians in Gaza Argentina s President Javier Milei has called for the demolition of Al-Aqsa Mosque the third holiest site in Islam This he was reported as saying, is in order to bring the Messiah and build the third temple Milei was greeted by Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu when he opted to go to the apartheid state for his first overseas trip as president in early February Just as Rabbi Akiva had hope in the midst of destruction in a prophecy of reconstruction, Israel has also overcome destruction to build a new, free and prosperous society,” said Milei when he arrived in Israel He claimed to have long dreamed about travelling to Jerusalem to aid his study of the Torah Talmud and other Jewish scriptures He duly went to the Western Wall, surrounded by settlers, rabbis and spiritual guides From the very beginning of his presidency in December Israel viewed Milei as a new ally and the catalyst for a new chapter in relations with Argentina The Argentina which condemned the Israeli aggression against Palestinian worshippers at

Al-Aqsa Mosque and insisted that the occupation state must avoid escalating violence last year in a very a strongly worded statement today has a president who calls for the demolition of the sacred mosque We should not be surprised Milei is an enthusiastic ally of the state whose army (the so-called “Defence Forces”) has killed at least 30,000 Palestinians in Gaza since October wounded 70 000 more and destroyed 60 per cent of the enclave s civilian infrastructure including one thousand mosques This self-styled true Zionist describes Israel as one of the most amazing countries in the world He told the Israeli Foreign Minister that his visit was intended to show “support for the people of Israel” and “the legitimate [sic] self-defence of the state against the terrorists [sic] of the Palestinian Islamist movement, Hamas Some observers point out that this is all part of his strategy to attract the support of Argentina’s Jewish community, one of the largest in the world and divert attention from the economic and political crises plaguing his country Others suggest that his threat to Al-Aqsa Mosque is an act of bravado to show Hamas, which said that Operation Al-Aqsa Flood on 7 October was a response to Israeli violations at the Noble Sanctuary in occupied Jerusalem that he is not afraid of the movement “I am not Jewish but I am a fan of Israel I have a deep admiration Milei told La Nación in 2021 I am a Catholic and every day I kneel in front of a Jew [sic] Despite being a Catholic, he has a close relationship with Judaism, which he has demonstrated in media statements “I am thinking about converting to Judaism and I aspire to become the first Jewish president in Argentine history he said during the closing ceremony of his presidential campaign at the Movistar Arena Stadium In an interview with the Wall Street Journal Milei returned to this idea by pointing out: “There is the possibility ofconverting to Judaism I could not do it now because compliance with the precepts could conflict with my activity as president such as when respecting the Shabbat It s deeper and more long-term

One of his first announcements as president was to say that the Argentine Embassy in Israel will be moved to Jerusalem This Trump-like character repeated his promise when he visited Israel When the one ordered Moses to break the first tablets of the law the first word he uttered was Jerusalem and that was where King David established the capital, therefore we must take the embassy from Tel Aviv to Jerusalem,” he explained If he does this he will break with Argentina’s neutrality in the Israeli-Palestinian conflict Argentina s position has long been to remain equidistant from both sides, while holding on to respect for human rights, international law and UN resolutions Given Israel’s total contempt for human rights, international law and UN resolutions Milei makes it unlikely that Argentina will continue on the neutral path with any degree of credibility According to former Argentine deputy Julia Perié, the decision to transfer the embassy reflects Milei s recent spiritual inclination that linked him to the ultra-conservative Orthodox community of Judaism and identifies the Palestinian people as the enemy of the Israeli people

Perié told me that It is important to make it known that the majority of the Argentinian communities, even the Jewish community here in Argentina, disapprove of the development of the massacre of the Palestinian people in Gaza ” The relatively small but vocal Palestinian community in Argentina has worked tirelessly to develop support for their cause through human rights organisations and political groups that have an impact across Argentine civil society They have criticised his calls for Al-Aqsa Mosque to be demolished as well as the proposed embassy move

I

TFresh sanc tions pose risk to India’s Russian oil sales

CORPORATE CORNER

PC Bhurban wins top honours at Pakistan International Culinar y Championship 2024

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pearl-Continental Hotel Bhurban s exceptional culinary team, consisting of seven professional chefs, garnered notable recognition at the Pakistan International Culinary Championship 2024, receiving several awards across various categories including Beef Practical Category Seafood Practice Professional Chicken Practical Professional and many others The Pearl-Continental Hotel Bhurban secured four trophies eight gold medals five silver medals, and three bronze medals The Pakistan International Culinary Championship (PICC) is an event endorsed by the prestigious World Chef Association and was held recently in Lahore with culinary enthusiasts and professionals from Maldives Malaysia Iran Saudi Arabia Uzbekistan and several regions across Pakistan PICC 2024 hosts seasoned professionals worldwide and is a remarkable opportunity for young upcoming chefs to hone their skills and learn from skilled professionals

COMSATS Universit y

Islamabad and Universit y of Regina of Canada forge historic global collaboration

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

C o r p ( B P C L ) ( B P C L N S ) o p e n s n e w t a b a n d H i n d u s t a n P e t r o l e u m C o r p ( H P C L ) ( H P C L N S ) , o p e n s n e w t a b a r e i n j o i n t t a l k s w i t h R u s s i a n m a j o r R o s n e f t f o r a n a n n

In a significant step towards global cooperation COMSATS University Islamabad (CUI) and University of Regina Canada have sealed a landmark MoU for a five-year term already endorsed by the Government of Pakistan Prof Dr Sajjad A Madani, Registrar of CUI, and Mr Haroon Chaudhary, Associate Vice-President (International) & Chief International Officer of the University of Regina inked the MoU on behalf of their institutions during a physical ceremonious event The occasion was honoured by the presence of Mr Michael Lazaruk Head of the Commercial Program & Senior Trade Commissioner of the High commission of Canada in Islamabad H E Mr Janbaz

Khan, Consul General of Pakistan, and Mr Ghulam Hussain Vice Consul General joined the ceremony virtually from Vancouver Canada Dr Hammad Omer T I Head International Office presented an overview of COMSATS University Islamabad and

Hexing’s par ticipation in solar Pakistan exhibition, showcasing

EBM

Pak-China Coll aboration sets stage for ChemiCal industry digitaliz ation

OGDCL, ISGS agree to collaborate for strategic underground gas storage projec t

Shauk at Khanum Memorial Trust launches zak at collec tion c ampaign for 2024

The

Faysal Bank receives recognition at 13th Annual CSR Summit & Awards

LBS, under auspices of UoL, organizes research colloquium and CEO Forum as par t of ‘ Xplore Research Confluence Week 2024’

Bank Alfalah to benefit over 47pc of BISP beneficiaries all over Pakistan

IIUI’s

Vibe Hai - ROX by Jazz is new

PM&DC President,

ACCME CEO disc uss int ’l standards for professional development

1

Gulbar

ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t

The Secretariat of the National Assembly on Thursday accepted the nomination papers of candidates contesting for the slots of National Assembly Speaker and Deputy Speaker Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz’s (PML-N) Sardar Ayaz Sadiq submitted his nomination papers for the Speaker of the National Assembly slot while the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) nominated Amir Dogar for the same position Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP’s)

Ghulam Mustafa submitted nomination papers for the Deputy Speaker of the National Assembly while Junaid Akbar Khan from the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) submitted nominated nomination papers for the same slot

The proposers for Sardar Ayaz Sadiq included Chaudhry Salik Hussain, Abdul Aleem Khan, Syed Naveed Qamar, and Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari Malik Muhammad Amir Dogar s nomination was proposed by Sahibzada

Sibghatullah, Ali Muhammad, and Dr Amjad Ali Khan

Ghulam Mustafa Shah’s nomination for Deputy Speaker was proposed by Muhammad Raza Hayat Hiraj and Aijaz Hussain Jakhrani

US backs Pakistan’s continued IMF engagement for stabilit y