ISLAMABAD:
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SIC-backed Mahmood Khan Achakzai after losing the presidential election to PPP s Asif Zardari on Saturday said that the presidential election was generally fair The most unusual thing about this election was that
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T In a surprising turn of events, the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) a party predominantly composed of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) lawmakers submitted the name of Omar Ayub Khan for the position of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly The nomination was formally presented to the office of the National Assembly Speaker, Sardar Ayaz Sadiq, on Saturday Malik Amir Dogar presented documents of Ayub’s nomination to the NA speaker Sahibzada Hamid Raza Ali Muhammad Khan Riaz Fatiana and Dr Nisar Jat among other opposition members were also present on the occasion The realisation that the formal process of appointing a leader of the opposition had not been completed struck the PTI-SIC coalition during the National Assembly session on Friday The revelation occurred when former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser urged the current NA Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq to give the floor to the leader of the opposition, as was the tradition during Qaiser s tenure Qaiser pointed out that the opposition leader should be given the floor whenever demanded, as per past practice Sadiq in response questioned who had declared Omar Ayub as the opposition leader humorously suggesting that Omar Ayub had assumed the role on his own The speaker guided the PTI-SIC lawmakers, stating that they needed to follow the formal process, and only then would Omar Ayub officially become the opposition leader As a result officials from the PTI-SIC coalition promptly submitted the required documents to the Speaker s office today ensuring that the necessary procedural steps were taken to formalise Omar Ayub Khan s candidacy for the position of Opposition Leader in the National Assembly
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T In a historic development for Pakistan Senator Faisal Saleem has been elected as a member of the Boards of the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and the World Bank This marks the first time in the country s history that a Pakistani parliamentarian has attained such a position of influence within these prestigious international institutions Senator Saleem representing Khyber Pakhtunkhwa ascended to the upper house in March 2021 and is slated to serve until March 2027 His election to the Parliamentary Board of the IMF and the World Bank is a significant milestone, as he joins the ranks of influential figures from around the globe in formulating recommendations for poverty alleviation and economic stability With 140 countries worldwide participating in the Parliamentary Network on the IMF and the World Bank Senator Saleem s appointment underscores Pakistan s growing prominence on the global stage His role is expected to contribute to shaping policy discussions and reforms aimed at addressing pressing economic challenges and fostering sustainable development
referring to him as the ‘king of corrupt elements’ and asserting that he is being imposed on the country
(SIC) candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai
Congratulating the president-elect on his success Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said that the elected members of all provincial and national legislatives expressed confidence in the ruling coalition s candidate He expressed hope that Zardari will fulfil his responsibilities as the president in a good way and will represent the strength of the Centre Zardari s election as president is the continuity of democratic values PM Shehbaz said, pledging on the ruling coali-
Ayub Khan accused those rejected by the people of being given positions in an illegitimate manner Barrister Gohar emphasised that occupying constitutional positions unconstitutionally violates the Constitution He expressed concern over the growing influence of two prominent families the Sharifs and Zardaris, not only on the country’s resources but now on democratic institutions as well Amir Dogar addressing the gathering asserted
tion’s behalf to work for the progress and prosperity of Pakistan
Meanwhile Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah also felicitated Zardari on becoming the president a second term In a statement released by CM Office, Shah said that Zardari s success with an overwhelming majority was the “victory of democracy ” The newly-elected president would put the country on the path of prosperity by combining all state units he added Moreover, Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori and Karachi Mayor Murtaza Wahab also congratulated Zardari in separate statements Tessori said that Zardari s election as president was a proof for successful conduct of democratic process Meanwhile, Wahab also lauded the victory of democracy in Zardari s success “Zardari has always prioritised Constitution and country ” he added PPP Senator Sherry Rehman said that termed today s presidential poll legacy election that saw Zardari becoming the history-making President of Pakistan for a second time
C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan entered on Saturday its fourth week of nationwide disruption to social media platform X, with activists waging a court battle to get it restored The platform formerly known as Twitter was downed after jailed former prime minister Imran Khan s party called for protests against a government official's admission of vote manipulation in last month s election From business owners fretting over lost clients to journalists seeking new sources Pakistanis want the government to restore regular access to the social media platform Authorities have blocked Xeither partially or fully - since February 17 after protests swept the country over allegations of vote rigging in a general election, according to the Netblocks global internet monitor When users try to access X they often see this message: Something went wrong but don t fret – let s give it another shot But Shaista Ayesha, who runs Karachi-based social enterprise SEED Ventures, is fretting "We do our social media postings through X and connect with other organisations and funders so there is definitely social media outreach loss and one avenue of strategic visibility gone, Ayesha told the Thomson Reuters Foundation She said she had not yet calculated the financial cost of the X ban which is just the latest in a series of internet restrictions linked to the Feb 8 election The vote was marred by a mobile internet shutdown on polling day and unusually delayed results leading to accusations of vote tampering The United States Britain and the European Union have separately expressed concerns about the electoral process and said reported irregularities should be investigated The US State Department has also condemned the internet shutdowns and urged the federal government to lift restrictions and respect freedom of expression X ban ‘costing businesses, news in Pakistan dear ’ ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif after consultation with PML-N supremo, has finalised names for federal cabinet with Ishaq Dar dropping out of race to become finance minister According to sources privy to the development, close Sharif family s associate and four-time finance minister Ishaq Dar will be handed over the portfolio of foreign minister However the ruling party is yet to finalise its finance minister, the person who has to lead an immediate effort to negotiate a new International Monetary Fund (IMF) bailout Pakistan has a narrow path to recovery and the current IMF agreement expires on April 11 According to sources, renowned banker Muhammad Aurangzeb Khan and Shamshad Akhtar are likely to become the advisers to prime minister on finance and revenue Akhtar has been a key part of the recent caretaker government that has been praised by the IMF for “decisive policy efforts” to maintain stability Furthermore sources claimed that Khawaja Muhammad Asif will retain the charge of defence ministry Ahsan Iqbal is in line for planning minister, Ataullah Tarar for information minister Musadik Malik for energy ministry Meanwhile Jalil Abbas Jilani and Tariq Fatemi will become adviser and special assistant on foreign affairs respectively Former Punjab chief minister Mohsin Naqvi will be appointed as adviser on interior ministry It is pertinent to mention here that Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) a key ally in the coalition government had expressed opposition to appointment of Ishaq Dar as the finance minister I s h a q D a r ‘ l o s i n g ’ r a c e f o r f i n a n c e c z a r i n S h e h b a z c a b i n e t
In par tnership with Profit S u n d a y, 1 0 M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 I 2 8 S h a ’ b a n , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 2 5 2 I 8 Pa g e s I La h o r e E d i t i o n ISLAMABAD S A L E E M J A D O O N A S I F Ali Zardari the co-chairman of the Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) and candidate of the coalition parties, was elected as the 14th President of Pakistan on Saturday, grabbing the coveted post for the second time Following the presidential election the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) notified victory of Asif Ali Zardari saying he received 411 votes in the presidential election against his opponent PkMAP Chairman Mehmood Khan Achakzai, who managed to get only 181 votes In a statement issued by the electoral watchdog the ECP said presidential polls were carried out in Karachi Lahore Quetta Peshawar and Islamabad It added that the results prepared by the presiding officers from all five locations were received at the ECP secretariat “The total number of seats in the electoral college was 1,185 out of which 92 were vacant [ ],” the ECP said “The remaining 1,093 voters were to exercise their right to vote ” The election commission highlighted that 1 044 votes were cast of which nine were declared invalid Thus the total number of valid votes cast is 1,035 It concluded that the official Result of Count on Form-VII shall be prepared and forwarded to the federal government tomorrow after receipt of the original record from the presiding officers Zardari who was the joint candidate of the PPP, PML-N, MQM-P and other coalition parties, defeated Sunni Ittehad Councilbacked Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the presidential race It would be his second stint as president of the country as he also remained in the office during 2008 to 2013 He will replace outgoing President Dr Arif Alvi The JUI-F GDA and JI lawmakers abstained from participating in the process to elect next president of the country Of the 398 votes cast in the National Assembly and Senate, Asif Zardari received 255 votes, while Achakzai got 119 In Punjab Assembly Zardari obtained 246 votes whereas Achakzai received 100 votes In 118-member Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly, Achakzai led the race with 91 votes whereas Zardari received 17 votes; one vote was rejected In 62-member Balochistan Assembly Asif Ali Zardari bagged 47 votes while SICbacked Achakzai received not a single vote In Sindh Assembly, Zardari bagged 151 votes while the SIC candidate received only nine votes ASIF Z ARDARI ‘ENTERS’ PRESIDENT HOUSE FOR 2ND TIME RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T Chief of the Army Staff General Asim Munir has stated that the armed forces are fully prepared to defend the territorial integrity and sovereignty of Pakistan against the “full spectrum of threats” The army chief was visiting troops engaged in an exercise in the area of Rahim Yar Khan He was also briefed on the Shamsheer-e-Sehra exercise, said a statement released by the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) on Saturday During the visit the COAS witnessed integrated fire and battle manoeuvres of various elements including armour infantry mechanized infantry artillery, air defence, and anti-tank guided missiles Pakistan Air Force aircraft also participated in the exercise The exercise is aimed at augmenting professional expertise and enhancing battlefield procedures essential for addressing future challenges in operational environments, added the military’s media wing Furthermore, the exercise incorporated electronic warfare capabilities and information operations to subdue the enemy s communications capabilities and disinformation campaigns during war While spending the day with the troops participating in the exercise, the army chief lauded all ranks’ training standards operational preparedness and high morale According to the statement released by ISPR Gen Munir emphasised that the armed forces remain prepared against any misadventure by the enemy” The army chief was received by Corps Commander Karachi and Inspector General Training and Evaluation upon his arrival at the field training area Fully prepared to defend motherland against full spectr um of threats: COA S ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Leaders of the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) launched a scathing attack on the ruling alliance on Saturday raising serious questions about the recently concluded presidential election The PTI leaders expressed their dissatisfaction following the defeat of their candidate, Mahmood Khan Achakzai, at the hands of the ruling coalition’s nominee Asif Ali Zardari
the media outside the Parliament House, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan took a direct jab at Zardari,
Addressing
Another PTI leader Asad Qaiser criticised the entire election process, deeming it controversial Qaiser argued that presidential elections are deemed illegal when the assembly is incomplete He added that the PTI is gearing up for a legal battle and will also seek justice from the people Barrister Ali Zafar, also speaking on the occasion, questioned how individuals were allowed to vote when the issue of reserved seats was still under court scrutiny PTI leaders contended that the ruling coalition has a history of acquiring positions through questionable means, referencing Shehbaz Sharif becoming the prime minister on what they allege was a fake mandate PTI General Secretary Omar that the ruling coalition had stolen the PTI s mandate labeling the elections as controversial In a statement, the PTI spokesperson announced a peaceful protest to be held across the country tomorrow aiming to reclaim what they referred to as the stolen mandate
PTI leaders condemn ‘illegal’ presidential election
SIC nominates Omar Ayub as opposition leader in NA
Senator Faisal Saleem becomes first Pakistani on IMF, World Bank boards
happened votes were neither bought nor sold, he
while
to the media In Islamabad There are some people in Pakistan who think that everything can be bought and sold in Pakistan,” he said, adding that there is a distinction growing between people who could be bought and those can be not He also expressed his gratitude to the PTI leadership for their support The PkMAP Chairman further said that many lawmakers expressed their willingness to cast vote in his favour S TA F F R E P O R T g L A W M A K E R S F R O M J U I - F, G D A A N D J I B O Y C OT T P R E S I D E N T I A L E L E C T I O N g E C P N OT I F I E S Z A R D A R I ’ S V I C TO R Y W H O R E C E I V E D 4 1 1 V OT E S A G A I N S T A C H A K Z A I ’ S 1 8 1
First time votes neither bought nor sold in Presidential polls: Achakzai
the first time it has
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speaking
ISLAMABAD
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The ruling coalition s candidate for president Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Cochairman Asif Ali Zardari, won the election for the head of the state with an overwhelming majority on Saturday, receiving felicitations from politicians across the country Zardari became the only civilian president to be elected for a historic second time after bagging 411 votes from the electoral college, beating Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s
Felicitations pour in for Zardari
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Stock market gains mere 0.7% in volatile week
Latif Khosa, Farooq Sattar come across during presidential vote
cooking oil 5 Litre by 0 96%, bread plain by 0 51%, gur by 0 40%, garlic by 0 39%, pulse masoor by 0 26% and vegetable ghee 1 Kg by 0 23% During the week under review, out of 51 items, prices of 14 (27 45%) items increased 14 (27 45%) items decreased and 23 (45 10%) items remained stable The year-on-year trend depicts an increase of 32 39% as gas charges for the first quarter of FY24 surge by 570%, tomatoes by 176 55%, hilies powder by 81 74%, gents sponge chappal by 58 05%, wheat flour by 57 04%, gents sandal by 53 37% onions by 51 56% garlic by 45 69% gur by 44 94% sugar by 41 69% and potatoes by 39 08% While a YoY decrease was observed in the prices of vegetable ghee 1 Kg by 20 15% cooking oil 5 Litre by 19 53%, bananas by 17 95%, mustard oil by 16 20%, vegetable ghee 2 5 Kg by 16 04%, LPG by 4 20%, chicken by 1 51% and cigarettes by 0 05% SPI is computed on a weekly basis to assess the price movement
Su day 10 Ma ch 2024 | LAHORE 02 NEWS PR OFIT N e w S D e S k The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and Human Resource Development has introduced a new set of standard operating procedures (SOPs) aimed at enhancing the management of the Pakistani workforce abroad and those seeking employment opportunities overseas These SOPs, centered around the signing of letters of interest (LOIs) and memorandums of understanding (MOUs) with foreign entities and governments are designed to improve institutional arrangements ensuring better outcomes for Pakistani expatriates and higher remittance inflows The initiative is aimed at preventing the exploitation of Pakistani workers by dishonest firms and the issue of unqualified individuals being sent abroad under false certifications which has tarnished Pakistan s reputation and impacted the employment market for its workers internationally The procedures rolled out on Friday mandate swift compliance from various relevant bodies including the Overseas Employment Corporation (OEC) Bureau of Emigration and Overseas Employment (BEOE), and several others, highlighting the importance of LOIs and MOUs in fostering international cooperation and urging the elimination of unnecessary delays Further the ministry will facilitate an immediate inter-ministerial meeting upon the receipt of a draft agreement from an international partner, aiming for a comprehensive review and prompt feedback to ensure smooth and efficient collaborations This streamlined process is expected to accelerate legal and federal approval stages, with dedicated oversight from senior ministry officials to ensure timely progress This strategic move is poised to not only safeguard the interests of Pakistani workers abroad but also to strengthen Pakistan s standing in the global employment marketplace, ensuring both increased protection and opportunities for its overseas human resource GOVT INTRODUCES NEW SOPS TO PROTECT PAKISTANI WORKERS ABROAD PR OFIT S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan s stock market closed a volatile week with a modest gain of 468 points or 0 7% week-over-week (WoW) at 65,326 points by Friday According to a note by AKD Research the market started the week on a positive note and gained 1% on the opening day However, as the week progressed, profit-taking activities ensued, tempering some of the initial gains As Newly sworn-in Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif issued immediate directives to his team to fast-track engagement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) and accelerate privatisation process of loss-making state-owned enterprises (SOEs), it set a stage for an initial positive impetus for the week The IMF also started rolling out new recommendations and is poised to unveil more with the appointment of the finance minister The Shehbaz-led coalition government’s next major task will be to smoothly navigate the second review of the stand-by agreement (SBA) set to expire in April 2024 The IMF has shown its readiness to work with the new government and send a mission to Pakistan for a second review of the SBA shortly after the formation of the new cabinet Furthermore the recent decline in cut-off yields for 3-month papers in the last T-bill auction hints at volatility, suggesting that some players anticipate a rate cut in the upcoming Monetary Policy Committee’s (MPC) meeting on March 18 Additionally remittances for February 2024 totaled $2 25 billion up by 13% YoY and with a trade deficit of $1 7 billion for the month, the current account is expected to remain controlled Market participation also remained subdued with the daily traded volume averaging 412 million shares compared to 418 million shares in the previous week down 1 6% WoW On the currency front, the Pakistani rupee held its ground against the greenback closing at PkR279 04/US$ up by 0 06% WoW) Other major news flows during the week included; Pakistan s debt surged 6% in seven months of the ongoing fiscal year FY2024 The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) injected Rs 8 trillion into the market to ease liquidity woes Bank deposits surged 21 7% YoY in February on record-high interest rates and remittances Cement dispatches fell 19 22% to 3 26MT YoY and Pakistan s textile exports hit $1 41 billion in February, up 20% YoY Sector-wise transport refinery and Investment banks and securities companies were amongst the top performers up 20 4% 11 0% and 6 6% respectively On the flip side, tobacco, modarabas, and textile weaving companies were amongst the worst performers with a weekly decline of 4 9% 2 7% and 2 6% respectively Flow-wise major net selling was recorded by companies with a net sale of $6 8 million Foreign investors absorbed most of the selling with a net buy of $6 3 million Company-wise top performers during the week were NRL whose share price increased by 23 5%, DAWH by 13 5%, CNERGY by 13 2%, PAEL by 11 4% and PSX by 11 4% while top laggards were SML with down 7 1% FCEPL by 4 5% PAKT by 4 5% MEBL by 3 5% and SHFA by 3 2% AKD Research forecasted that the upcoming MPC meeting will remain in the limelight Although with prevailing consensus of the status quo, the market would likely remain largely unaffected as this expectation is already priced in However if MPC cuts rates surprisingly it could unlock funds for debt-heavy cyclical sectors Additionally, the imminent announcement of the federal cabinet in the coming week holds significance with progress on the IMF’s SBA third tranche as a near-term focal point and a potential positive in sight
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t The Punjab Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) claimed to have apprehended 23 suspected terrorists during a coordinated intelligence operation across various cities According to the CTD s Additional Inspector General (AIG) on Saturday, the arrested individuals were actively plotting terror attacks within Punjab The raids spanned ten cities including Lahore Gujranwala Mianwali Bahawalpur Rawalpindi Rajanpur, Sialkot, Faisalabad, Chiniot, and Bahawalnagar A CTD spokesperson elaborated that the operation successfully apprehended key facilitators for both Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) and Al-Qaeda The spokesperson confirmed the seizure of explosives, hand grenades, detonators, and a significant amount of weaponry from the suspects Recovered items included ammunition fuses and cash The spokesperson identified some of the arrested individuals as Abdul Karim Ghafran Kamran Shah Muhammad, Shakir, Imran, Shahi Muhammad, Insafullah, Samar Khan, Aslam, and Quddus This operation aligns with CTD’s ongoing mission dubbed “Safer Punjab which aims to eradicate terrorism from the province The spokesperson highlighted the department s dedication to this objective, citing the arrest of 133 suspects during 962 combing operations conducted this week alone Additionally over 37 000 individuals were questioned during these comprehensive security sweeps He said that the CTD s success in this large-scale operation demonstrates their commitment to safeguarding Punjab s citizens and disrupting potential terrorist activities The apprehension of these individuals and the seizure of weapons serve as a significant step towards ensuring public safety within the province ‘Safer Punjab’: CTD lassoes 23 terrorists in province -wide operation Shor t-term inflation rises 1.11% driven by higher food prices PR OFIT N e w S D e S k The Sensitive Price Indicator (SPI) reported a modest weekly increase of 1 11% in short-term inflation for the week ended on March 7, 2024, while on a yearly basis, it remained almost unchanged at 32 39% The weekly increase in inflation was attributed to higher prices of petroleum products and food items Data released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) shows that a major increase was observed in the prices of onions by 33 86%, potatoes by 23 81%, tomatoes by 16 42%, and bananas by 7 12% Prices of LPG increased by 4 43%, eggs by 2 66%, petrol, and firewood by 1 49% each beef by 1 38% mutton by 0 50% cooked daal by 0 41% and long cloth by 0 27% On the other hand a major decrease was observed in the prices of chicken by 6 95% tea by 1 29%,
review
situation
essential
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country g P r o f i t - t a k i n g t e m p e r e d w e e k ’ s i n i t i a l g a i n s , u p c o m i n g M P C ’ s m e e t i n g t o b e i n l i m e l i g h t , s a y s A K D R e s e a r c h PR OFIT N e w S D e S k Jahangir Piracha has been appointed as Managing Director and Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Fauji Fertilizer Company Limited (FFC) in place of Mr Sarfaraz Ahmed Rehman H i s n e w a p p o i n t m e n t w i l l b e effective from April 01 2024 after R e h m a n s s t e p d o w n f r o m t h e o ff i c e o f C E O o f F F C o n M a r c h 31, 2024 Earlier on Friday Jahangir Piracha opted for early retirement from the Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Engro Polymer & Chemicals Limited (EPCL) and tendered his resignation EPCL, a subsidiary of Engro Corporation Limited disclosed this information in a notice to the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) The notice stated Jahangir Piracha CEO of EPCL has opted for early retirement and consequently submitted his resignation ” It further mentioned that Jahangir will continue to oversee the company s affairs as CEO until March 31 2024 The Board of Directors will proceed to appoint a new CEO in due course Expressing gratitude, the company acknowledged Jahangir Piracha’s significant contributions to EPCL s growth and success His leadership and dedication have been instrumental in driving the company towards notable achievements the notice highlighted Prior to his tenure at EPCL Jahangir Piracha held the position of CEO at Engro Vopak Terminal Limited and Engro Elengy Terminal Limited since March 2017 He also served as the Chief Executive Officer of Engro Powergen Qadirpur Limited Before joining Engro Jahangir worked for ICI Pakistan Ltd His extensive experience encompasses roles such as Vice President –Manufacturing and General Manager Human Resource & Corporate Services at Engro Polymer & Chemicals Ltd J a h a n g i r Pi ra c h a a p p o i nt e d a s C E O o f F F C g O u t o f 5 1 i t e m s p r i c e s o f 1 4 i t e m s i n c r e a s e d, 1 4 i t e m s d e c r e a s e d a n d 2 3 i t e m s r e m a i n e d s t a b l e f o r w e e k e n d e d o n M a r c h 7 g O p t s f o r e a r l y r e t i r e m e n t f r o m p o s i t i o n o f C E O o f E n g r o P o l y m e r & C h e m i c a l s US embassy empowers 150 women to launch entrepreneurial journeys ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The United States Embassy in Pakistan inaugurated the fourth cohort of its Academy for Women Entrepreneurs” (AWE) programme during a ceremony held at the Lincoln Reading Lounge within the National Library of Pakistan Bettina Malone Minister Counselor for Public Affairs officially launched this year s AWE cohort poised to empower 150 participants hailing from Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi, according to a statement issued by the embassy on Saturday The AWE programme, a global initiative of the US Department of State aims to foster entrepreneurship among women by providing peer-to-peer learning and local mentorship opportunities The programme equips participants with the skills needed to establish and expand their own businesses, emphasising innovative scaling approaches With the support of public-private sponsors local partnerships and the extensive US Exchange Alumni networks AWE has played a pivotal role in promoting women-led businesses in more than 100 countries In Pakistan the AWE programme is making significant strides in empowering women to realise their economic potential, contributing to increased prosperity for all Bettina Malone highlighted the importance of supporting women entrepreneurs stating “When women are successful communities prosper and countries thrive The 150 participants selected for AWE 2024 will undergo a rigorous three-month online training programme developed by Arizona State University s Thunderbird School of Global Management and American natural resource company Freeport McMoran Guided by experienced local mentors and US experts the participants will engage in weekly discussions to enhance their core business skills and explore potential funding opportunities Five Lincoln Corners operated by the US Mission to Pakistan in Lahore, Rawalpindi/Islamabad, Peshawar, Quetta, and Karachi will lead the AWE Pakistan 2024 initiative with support from the Pakistan American Cultural Center Toward the conclusion of the programme participants will have the chance to compete for seed funding from the US Mission to Pakistan to further develop or establish their enterprises
of essential commodities at a shorter interval of time so as to
the price
in the country This index comprises 51
items
from 50 markets in 17 cities of the
ISLAMABAD
ta f f R e p o R t MQM-P leader Farooq Sattar and the PTI’s Sardar Latif Khosa came across on Saturday in the National Assembly during voting for the presidential election This meeting of us will be highlighted Farooq Sattar said as both represent opposite sides of the political divide Let this meeting get highlighted, do we not keeping our social relations,” Latif Khosa questioned during interaction with media “It will come to the surface who the people have given mandate after audit and forensic of form 45 and form 47 Khosa further said We have to sit and resolve these matters and we would sit for it PTI leader added It is to be mentioned here that the PTI supporting Mahmood Khan Achakzai in the ongoing presidential vote, while MQM-P has extended support to Asif Ali Zardari who is the candidate of the ruling coalition The PTI has also objections over the election results of Karachi where most national and provincial seats have been won by the MQM-P Pakistan s national and provincial assemblies as well as the Senate polled votes to elect the country’s 14th president today
S
Initiative will cease unscrupulous firms from exploiting Pakistani emigrants or send abroad unqualified workers on fake certifications
moon sighting: Ruet-e-Hilal Committee to meet on March 11 PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t With the month of Ramazan a couple of days away, the Central Ruet-e-Hilal committee will meet on March 11 (Monday) in Peshawar for moon sighting of Ramzan 1445 Hijrah The central committee session will be start after Asr on Monday (29 Shaaban) in Peshawar Ruet-eHilal committee chairman Abdul Khabir Azad will preside over the meeting The committee will convene a meeting in Pesahwar along with zonal committees meetings in their respective areas The committee after the meeting will make announcement about Ramazan moon sighting or otherwise On the other hand according to astronomers although the moon of Ramazan will rise on March 10 it will not be visible at that time, and it will be clearly visible on March 11 First Taraweeh will take place on the night of March 11 as there is a 95 percent probability that the first fast will be observed on Tuesday Muslims around the world observe fast from dawn till sunset with the fasting hours falling between 12 and 17 hours – depending on the geographical locations across the globe Earlier, it was reported that Islamic countries would observe the crescent for Ramazan on March 10, various news agencies reported The moon is predicted to appear after sunset in most Islamic countries on the day of the central conjunction which is set for 9am GMT according to the International Astronomical Centre Because of this, it is expected that March 11 will be the start of Ramazan in many countries Despite this, the scientific criteria for crescent visibility indicate that there is little chance of seeing the crescent on March 10
Ramazan
IDPP recommends suspension, surrender of officials invol ved in Illegal, criminal ac tivities
A sif Z ardari ‘enters ’ President house for 2nd time
of presidential election
JUI chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman has said that they will not engage in any electoral process until they get their
PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION
After Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F), Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) also announced the boycott of today’s (Saturday) presidential election
Addressing a press conference in Karachi GDA leader Pir Sadaruddin Shah Rashdi also announced support for the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) in protest against what he called rigging in the elections
Earlier, a delegation of Pakistan People’s Party led by Yousuf Raza Gilani met Maulana Fazlur Rehman and requested him for cooperation in the
Sadly he succumbed to his injuries Police have confirmed that the incident occurred two days prior to the student s death He was reportedly residing in the school hostel at the time of the assault Authorities have registered a case against the teacher who is currently absconding Police raids are underway to apprehend the suspect This horrifying incident underscores the need for stricter regulations against corporal punishment in schools and emphasizes the importance of ensuring student safety within educational institutions
Iranian Ambassador Reza Amiri felicitates Asif Zardari on election as president
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam the Ambassador of the Islamic Republic of Iran to Pakistan on Saturday congratulated PPP Chief Asif Ali Zardari on his election as President of Pakistan I would like to express my sincere congratulations on the election of H E Asif Ali Zardari, as the 14th President of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan He reminds us of the glorious and golden days of the relations between the two brotherly friendly and neighboring countries of Iran and Pakistan Wishing for a boost in the all-out relations and ties between the Islamic Republic of Iran and the Islamic Republic of Pakistan during his tenure,” the ambassador said, taking to the social media
ISLAMABAD S ta f R e p o R t
N response to the revenue shortfall for consecutive two months, the government has delineated eight emergency measures intended to enhance monthly revenue by Rs 18 billion for the fiscal year 2023-24 T h e s e m e a s u r e s i n c l u d e m o d i f i c a t i o n s i n t h e s a l e s t a x r a t e s f o r s p e c i f i c i n d u s t r i e s , t h e i m p o s i t i o n o f a F e d e r a l E x c i s e D u t y ( F E D ) o n s u g a r a n d i n c r e m e n t a l i n c r e a s e s i n v a r i o u s t a x e s The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has reported a failure to meet its revenue collection objectives for the second month in succession, sparking discussions regarding the government's inclination towards emergency fiscal policies This continual shortfall requires the generation of an additional Rs 18 billion each month for the fiscal year 2023-24 to address the revenue deficit effectively A deviation greater than 1% from the set target might necessitate the introduction of a supplementary budget a measure aligned with the prerequisites of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Data indicates that the FBR s revenue collection lagged by 1 3% and 4 6% for January and February 2024 respectively Confidential sources have revealed that February witnessed a revenue collection of Rs 681 billion falling short of the Rs 714 billion target by Rs 33 billion January s revenue also did not meet expectations with a shortfall of Rs 9 billion totaling a Rs 42 billion deficit over these two months This financial gap has been linked to opposition within the FBR against the Finance Minister's initiatives for reforming and streamlining the tax collection process Reports suggest that this opposition has escalated to the extent of strike threats by the FBR s senior management, significantly compromising the integrity and functionality of the institution Rumors within the FBR suggest an anticipation of improved revenue metrics with the induction of a new Finance Minister indicating the present downturn as a deliberate tactic to establish authority and leverage favorable terms with the incoming fiscal policy leadership thus resisting the proposed reforms This turmoil reflects underlying issues, potentially leading to the implementation of a mini-budget in accordance with IMF stipulations However such measures may inadvertently result in increased financial burdens on the populace These interventions have been strategically designed to bridge the revenue gap with minimal economic disruption The success and impact of these measures on the economy and public welfare remain under scrutiny as the FBR contemplates its subsequent strategies in navigating these fiscal challenges 03 NEWS S nday 10 March 2024 LAHORE GOVT EYES EMERGENCY MEASURES TO OVERCOME REVENUE SHORTFALL ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a S Following the recent arrest of three officials from the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) an attached department of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (NFS&R) by the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) for their alleged involvement in the release of infested food items from the port, the department has suggested the ministry to suspend the officials In a letter addressed to the Secretary of the Ministry the department has proposed the suspension of four highranking officials including Dr Muhammad Qasim Khan, Director Admin / Quarantine, Mr Fakhar Aman, Deputy Director, Mr Waleed Mukhtar, Entomologist and Mr Shahzad Salman Entomologist due to their alleged involvement in a corruption scandal The letter issued on February 26 2024, references the officials connection to FIR No 4/2024, registered in the FIA Corporate Crime Circle, Karachi They are accused of issuing a “Biosecurity Clearance and Plant Protection Release Order for a highly infested chickpeas shipment in violation of multiple rules and regulations governing plant quarantine The details of said case have earlier been reported by Profit The department emphasizes that the officers actions compromised the integrity of biosecurity measures and posed a threat to the agricultural sector It has recommended surrendering Dr Muhammad Qasim Khan’s services to his parent department Directorate General of Agriculture Research Institute Baluchistan for further disciplinary action along with a proposal for initiating disciplinary proceedings on account of misconduct Additionally, Show Cause Notices are proposed for Mr Waleed Mukhtar and Mr Shahzad Salman Entomologist to assess their involvement and determine appropriate disciplinary actions as per their employment contracts Meanwhile, through a notification issued by DPP on Tuesday, Mr Allah Yar, Assistant Entomologist, has been suspended by the Director-General on account of non-compliance of transfer orders and other misconduct In addition an inquiry has been initiated against Mr Muhammad Hanif, Entomologist, for issuing phytosanitary certificates to fresh mandarin consignments exportable from Pakistan to Iran on fake documents T h i s d e v e l o p m e n t u n d e r s c o r e s t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f u p h o l d i n g i n t e g r i t y a n d a c c o u n t a b i l i t y w i t h i n g o v e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y i n s e c t o r s c r i t i c a l t o n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y a n d p u b l i c h e a l t h T h e M i n i s t r y s s w i f t a c t i o n s i g n a l s a c o m m i t m e n t t o r o o t i n g o u t c o r r u p t i o n a n d e n s u r i n g a d h e r e n c e t o r e g u l a t i o n s s a f e g u a r d i n g a g r i c u l t u r a l i n t e r e s t s It is noteworthy that the involved officials of DPP have now been remanded in judicial custody by the court in Karachi, with the FIA set to submit challan in court by March 12, 2024 It is being expected that in the coming days more cases pertaining to acts of omission and commission of the same network will come to light particularly regarding the release of a betel nut consignment imported from Indonesia The betel nut mafia and smugglers from Balochistan are making efforts for bail of arrested officials
Student dies after teacher’s alleged brutalit y in Sargodha SAR GODHA S ta f f R e p o R t A class IX student in Sargodha has tragically died after allegedly being tortured by a school teacher The incident has sparked outrage and raised concerns about corporal punishment in educational institutions According to police reports, Samiullah, a student at a private school, was severely beaten with a stick by his teacher for failing to recall a lesson The beating reportedly resulted in a spinal cord injury Samiullah was initially admitted to a Sargodha hospital but due to the seriousness of his injury he was transferred to Allied Hospital in Faisalabad
blogging
FROM PAGE 01 The voting concluded at 4pm and counting began The voting was held from 10am to 4pm without break The first vote for the presidential election was cast by Amer Talal and Abdul Aleem Khan cast the second vote Two polling booths and two counters were set up in the National Assembly for the voting process Sherry Rehman acted as polling agent for Asif Ali Zardari while Senator Sardar Shafique was the polling agent for Achakzai Islamabad High Court Chief Justice Aamer Farooq acted as presiding officer for the election We reject so-called presidential election’ Following the election, leader of the Opposition in the National Assembly Omar Ayub said that Asif Ali Zardari s election should be declared null and void We reject the so-called presidential election, PTI leader said Asif Ali Zardari has been an aged and ailing person, a mentally fit person should be elected for this office ” Omar Ayub said Ayub demanded an immediate release of the PTI s founder and Bushra Bibi from jail Our assembly seats were snatched in a daylight robbery, he claimed Issuing pro-state or anti-state certificates is not in the hand of the Speaker or any other person The authority of issuing this certificate is mandated by people ” PTI leader said while criticizing a statement of Ayaz Sadiq the Speaker of the National Assembly He alleged that Form 47 of election results had been changed We challenge them to hold elections on these constituencies again It will sift the true from the false ” Ayub claimed Voting in presidential election Voting for the election of the country s 14th president was held in the National Assembly (NA), the Senate and all four provincial assemblies on Saturday According to the Second Schedule the candidate receiving the highest number of votes would be declared the winner by the chief election commissioner (CEC) while the federal government will later notify the result Article 41(4) of the constitution says that “election to the office of president shall be held not earlier than sixty days and not later than thirty days before the expiration of the term of the president in office: Provided that, if the election cannot be held within the period aforesaid because the National Assembly is dissolved it shall be held within thirty days of the general election to the Assembly Since the general elections were held on February 8 the presidential election must be held by March 9, just two days before the retirement of half of the 100member Senate Article 44(1) of the Constitution says that the president will hold office for a term of five years from the day he assumes charge, but he continues to hold the office until a successor is chosen All MNAs senators and MPAs have been asked to bring their computerized national identity cards (CNICs) with them In its reply to SIC candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai s letter on Friday in which he had requested the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to postpone the presidential election, the ECP had said that the election would be held as per schedule Achakzai in his letter had argued that since the electoral college was incomplete, therefore the election be postponed JUI-F BOYCOTTS PRESIDENTIAL ELECTION The Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI) boycotted the presidential election advised its members of the electoral college not to cast their votes on Saturday The JUI had also not participated in the elections of Prime Ministership Speakership and Deputy Speakership and now it has announced a boycott of the presidential election too JUI members from Senate National Assembly, Balochistan Assembly, and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly will remain absent to avoid be a part of the polling process
site X formerly known as Twitter CONTINUED
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mandate GDA ALSO BOYCOTTS
presidential
vote
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decision
presidential election However Fazlur Rehman informed the PPP that his party would not vote for any candidate in the
election Maulana Fazlur Rahman, while talking to the delegation further said that it is my party’s decision that we will not
for anyone
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and I am bound by the party s
BEIJING S ta f f R e p o R t "New Quality Productive Forces" have emerged as a central focus for Chinese delegates and members during the second session of the 14th National People s Congress, China s national legislature Chinese society as a whole is mobilizing to prioritize high-quality development emphasizing the need to intensify innovation nurture emerging industries adopt forward-thinking strategies for developing future-oriented sectors, and enhance the modernized industrial system "In the midst of the country s accelerated efforts to foster new growth drivers and promote high-quality development developing New Quality Productive Forces is the way forward I believe this is a path that not only China but also the rest of the world should follow, said Pakistani scholar Mian Abrar, in an interview with China Economic Net A s c o l l a b o r a t i o n b e t w e e n C h i n a a n d P a k i s t a n p e n e t r a t e s v a r i o u s s e c t o r s o f d e v e l o p m e n t i n P a k i s t a n i n c l u d i n g i n f r a s t r u c t u r e a g r i c u l t u r e e n e r g y s p a c e s c i e n c e a n d a r t i f i c i a l i n t e l l i g e n c e r e s e a r c h a n d d e v e l o p m e n t , k e e p i n g a c l o s e e y e o n t h e C h i n e s e Tw o S e s s i o n s a n d c o n d u c t i n g c o r r e s p o n d i n g p o l i c y r e s e a r c h h a s l o n g b e e n a n o r m a m o n g s c h o l a r s a n d e l i t e s i n c l u d i n g M i a n A b r a r I think the core structures for future development remain modernized industrial systems The new concept emphasizes that innovation must lead the way in cultivating new quality productive forces as advanced productivity moves away from traditional economic growth models and paths of productivity development It is characterized by high technology high efficiency and high quality aligning with the new development philosophy remarked Mian Abrar "It is worth noting that the development of new quality productive forces does not entail neglecting or abandoning traditional industries; rather it involves pragmatically leveraging local realities tailoring initiatives to suit regional resources industrial foundations, and research capabilities in China This careful promotion of new industries, models, and drivers holds significant guidance for the joint building of the Belt and Road Initiative Countries along the Belt and Road including Pakistan, should, based on their own national conditions, choose the most suitable path for their development," he added " T h e d e v e l o p m e n t o f N e w Q u a l i t y P r o d u c t i v e F o r c e s p r o p o s e d i n C h i n a a l s o e n t a i l s d i s c o u r s e o n C h i n a s i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o o p e r a t i o n e m p h a s i z i n g p r o a c t i v e a l i g n m e n t w i t h h i g h - s t a n d a r d i n t e r n a t i o n a l e c o n o m i c a n d t r a d e n o r m s , s t e a d i l y e x p a n d i n g i n s t i t u t i o n a l o p e n n e s s e n h a n c i n g t h e l i n k a g e b e t w e e n C h i n a s d o m e s t i c a n d i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t s a n d c o n s o l i d a t i n g t h e f o u n d a t i o n o f f o r e i g n t r a d e a n d i n v e s t m e n t This sends a positive signal to China’s international partners such as Pakistan " Mian Abrar added Pakistani scholars view 'New Q ualit y Produc tivit y Forces' as inspiring for BRI Punjab Excise Dept launches vehicles’ registration, transfer awareness campaign LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Punjab Excise and Taxation Department has launched showroom contact campaign for awareness of registration and transfer of vehicles after purchase on Saturday In this regard, the department constituted 15 excise teams which will give awareness at as many as 4521 showrooms Director Excise and Taxation Chaudhry Asif said in this regard that when buying a new car get it registered immediately He said the ownership of the used vehicle should be transferred within 30 days Ownership transfer facility is available online for the citizens and showroom owners said director Excise I only suggested, Parliament passed 18th Amendment: Zardari ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The 18th Amendment was passed by the Parliament we had only given advice for it Asif Ali Zardari said on Saturday while talking to media here Former president Zardari, who has been the government s candidate in the ongoing presidential vote, was replying to a reporter “You had given 18th amendment in your previous tenure, what will be your further steps after being elected?” a reporter asked Asif Ali Zardari What was earlier happened was from the parliament and what will happen now would also be approved by the parliament Zardari said Pakistan s national and provincial assemblies as well as the Senate voting to elect the country’s 14th president today Asif Ali Zardari, the joint candidate of PPP and the PML-N and Sunni Ittehad Council’s candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai are vying for the office of President The current ruling coalition the PML-N the PPP and other allies have field former president Asif Ali Zardari as its candidate for the election of the head of the state The Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakitan and PML-Q have also backed Zardari’s candidacy for presidential office
Th e p re s i d e nt i a l e l e c t i o n p l aye d o u t o n p a r t y l i n e s
s a i n S y e d o f t h e P M L ( Q ) T h i s t i m e a r o u n d , b o t h p a rt i e s w e r e s u p p o r t i n g h i m T h o u g h i t i s a r e - e l e c t i o n , P r e s i d e n t Z a r d a r i m i g h t h a v e n o t i c e d t h a t w h e r e a s i n 2 0 1 3 t h e P P P a l o n e w a s s t r o n g e n o u g h t o b r i n g h i m v i c t o r y, t h i s t i m e h e c o u l d n o t h a v e d o n e i t w i t h o u t t h e h e l p o f t h e P M L ( N ) T h i s t i m e , h i s P T I - b a c k e d o p p o n e n t w a s M a h m o o d K h a n A c h a k z a i , w h o w a s o n e o f t h o s e c o n s i d e r e d a l o n g w i t h M r Z a r d a r i b y t h e r u li n g c o a l i t i o n a s a c a n d i d a t e H e c o n t e s t e d t h i s t i m e g a m e l y t h o u g h h i s d e f e a t w a s p r e o r d a i n e d b a r r i n g a m i r a c l e , w h i c h d i d n o t h a p p e n N o w t h a t t h i s e l e c t i o n i s o v e r, t h e P P P n o l o n g e r n e e d s t h e P M L ( N ) , a n d i s f r e e n o w t o o p p o s e i t , a n d i f n e e d b e t o b r i n g d o w n i t s g o v e r n m e n t
The election season is now almost over but in the upcoming Senate elections each party has separate strengths and will elect their own representatives There are only two points at which the parties might need each other First, in the upcoming Senate by-election, where Yousaf Reza Gilani will not be re-elected unless the PML(N)
Political Instabilit y is Not Accidental – It is Man-Made
and
delay in the election Mr Zardari just won President Zardari only had presidential powers but everyone knew that he was still head of his party, and the government deferred to him, with one PM even going home to avoid taking action against him Mr Zardari may not be facing the same level of criminal li-
a
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
POLITICAL rivalry has led to alarming centrifugal tendencies in Pakistan Is it becoming apparent that constitutional procedures and democratic politics are not enough to heal the divisions and cleavages that currently exist?
Political instability is not accidental It is manmade The institutional delicacies and structural shortfalls beget instability and fluctuation; however, those inadequacies ultimately hark back to the judgments decisions and actions of men Throughout history it is the fallacies delusions and errors of leaders who have pulled down and exploited states for their personal profits or because of their incompetencies In the contemporary era, a frail and immature leadership along with the ‘à la carte’ application of laws continue to abrade fragile polities in Pakistan that already function on the cusp of collapse Pakistan s political system is characterised by an opaque democracy In the face of the 2024 general elections political parties find themselves swallowed disconcertingly into a maelstrom of anomic internal and external conflicts In the aftermath of two years of political turmoil in the country, following the removal of the PTI government under Prime Minister Imran Khan in 2022 via a no-confidence motion independent candidates supported by the PTI managed to secure the highest number of seats followed by the PML(N) and the PPP These results have befuddled and stunned many individuals and institutions, both domestically and internationally A widespread impudent and barefaced pre-rigging against a particular party had people thinking results would come out
How best to beat back political instability and prevent state failure are among the highpriority questions for Pakistan’s institutions
otherwise Voters have emerged as active enablers of political say and a powerful force that could influence political outcomes However, the post-election atmosphere has descended into deplorable chaos and confusion From independent candidates backed by PTI joining opponent parties to the emergence of other-worldly coalitions
People s anger at political elites and apprehension about swift political changes have been among the primary factors of political upheaval in Pakistan Attitudes towards politicians play a significant role in determining people s satisfaction or dissatisfaction with their country's democratic system, in addition to political rights When leaders go against the values they claim to uphold and protect it leads to forlorn citizens questioning the integrity of Pakistan s political system If the rights-based system is only applied to a certain group, it reinforces double standards and allows for impunity to spread On both the right and left of the political spectrum, anti-establishment leaders, parties, and movements have grown sometimes questioning the core values and establishments of liberal democracy This frustration and resentment against the political elite is directly proportional to disaffection with the political system of Pakistan The current state of political instability can be traced back to the actions of both the political and ‘apolitical’ elite These individuals, who hold significant power and influence have failed to uphold their responsibilities to the public resulting in a breakdown of trust and a sense of disillusionment among the people Is it truly in the best interest of our nation to have a leader who is simply a demigod representative of a ‘stolen’ mandate? Citizens must question whether this is enough Shouldn't they aim for a leader who is not only strong stable and smart but also compassionate visionary inspiring and capable of bringing positive change?
Demand more from leaders and strive for nothing less than excellence Inspiring leaders were critical to Asia s economic success, according to Michael Schuman's book "The Miracle" Deng Xiaoping s economic reforms facilitated China s transition from a closed centrally planned economy to a manufactur-
A r e A f g h a n i s N o t L e g i t i m a t e H u m a n s ?
ing and export powerhouse This resulted in an annual GDP growth rate of 10 percent lifting nearly half of China s people out of poverty and moving them from middle- to high-income status Some parts of the media may indeed find life less interesting without demigods, but this is not a great loss What truly would attract the electorate is a genuine leader who can connect with them and promote clear principles and values that they uphold through their actions Great leadership involves encouraging innovation, valuing different perspectives, recognizing complexity, and understanding culture and complex adaptive systems It is the time that individuals within the institutions as well as the outsiders work together to counter this long-lasting political instability by holding accountability and working towards fostering a stable and equitable society
As argued by Fukuyama (2015), if a state is unable to limit the power of institutions, be that military, judicial and/or parliamentary, it becomes a dictatorship And, on the other hand, a government that has no power and is bound by too many constraints is anarchic The wicked problem of political instability in Pakistan is intensely marinated by both factors
Before the proliferation of anarchic entities and nostrums, it is incumbent upon the institutions of Pakistan to ensure that the nation's apparatus is not subject to the control of a self-interested elite In this regard it is crucial to establish a robust and transparent decision-making framework that guarantees impartiality and that serves the best interests of the Pakistani populace The nation s leadership must be held accountable to the public and must actively work towards the establishment of a strong, democratic system that is not amenable to influence by vested interests Such efforts will not only serve to ensure the stability and growth of Pakistan but will also enhance its standing in the global arena engendering a sense of confidence and trust in the nation s governance
How best to beat back political instability and prevent state failure are among the high-priority questions for Pakistan s institutions
The writer is a PhD candidate for Politics and IR at Keele University She tweets @KajolManshad
Crimes in Larkana
Potential of Balochistan
04 Sunday 10 March 2024 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I K arachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www pakistantoday com pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday com pk Z a r d a r i ’ s b a c k A S I F A l i Z a r d a r i b e c a m e t h e f i r s t p e r s o n t o b e r e - e l e c t e d P r e s i d e n t , b u t t h e r e w a s a w e a l t h o f d i ff e r e n c e H i s m a i n o p p o s i t i o n i n 2 0 1 3 c a m e f r o m t h e P M L ( N ) w h i c h h a d p u t u p S a e e d u z Z a m a n S i d d i q u i t h o u g h h e w a s b e a t e n h a n d i l y A l s o i n t h e r u n n i n g , b u t a d i s t a n t t h i r d , w a s M u s h a h i d H u s
fortably,
siderable presidential powers
himself
Eighth
country
general election
votes for him Then towards them end of the month the PPP candidate for the Senate Chairmanship will need PML(N) support Although his victory was achieved com-
411 votes to 181,it could have been done without PML(N) support A IIn 2013 the passage of the 20th Amendment lay ahead with Mr Zardari voluntarily giving up the con-
arrogated to
under the
Amendment This time, the main issue facing the
is how to avoid the kind of delay that made the
about six months late
caused
six-month
ability but he also now faces a tenure where the government will be headed by an opposing party
ROBBERIES, theft and street crimes in Larkana have escalated to an alarming extent Recently, three armed robbers killed a shopkeeper during a robbery attempt A few days later another boy was mercilessly killed by criminals as he tried to resist their attempt to snatch his bike Such incidents have raised the level of fear in the local population The locals avoid going outside after sunset and are afraid to run their businesses The police force has failed to protect citizens life and property The authorities concerned should take immediate and necessary action to provide safety and a sense of security to the innocent people of Larkana G AKBAR PALIJO LARKANA
apathy THE news of the recent killing of nine Pakistani labourers in Iran was shocking What was and is more disheartening is the apathy of the political parties who failed to utter a single word of condemnation from any political party even when they were busy wooing voters ahead of the recent elections The government should pay adequate compensation to the bereaved families, and make arrangements for the education of the children of the deceased QAMER SOOMRO SHIKARPUR
Politicians'
THERE is a misperception that Balochistan is a barren stretch of land The fact is that most of the developed land in Balochistan is arable covering 1 850sqkm while the cultivated land area is merely 167sqkm Kech stands out as one of the most arable districts in the province Date farming is currently the most common agriculture practice, but there was a time when rice used to be a major crop Diminishing rainfall and lack of alternative irrigation sources led to its decline Following the inauguration of Mirani Dam barren stretches of land have now been contributing to the economy with crops like cotton rice mustard plants watermelon and others The provincial authorities need to invest in the sector to harness the true potential of Balochistan MUNAEZA NASIR TURBAT Eco imperative PPPP chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari, during his election campaign on January 29, 2024, while answering students’ questions, stated, “Till 2050, Pakistan’s most significant issue is climate change ” This highlights the importance of the phrase “climate change” at both national and international levels The people of Pakistan have endured numerous crises and migrations since 2003 particularly in the Sindh province in 2010 and 2022 due to climate change Internationally this topic holds significance as governments garner substantial funding from the global community to combat climate change and promote afforestation Climate change is exacerbating vulnerabilities and risks for the rural population, constituting 61% of Pakistan’s total population Not only does this population feed the entire nation but climate change is also impacting Pakistan’s economy Despite billions of dollars being allocated by governments internationally to preserve the ecosystem there is still a pressing need to reduce carbon emissions especially from China and the USA, rather than relying solely on financial contributions This is a humble plea that the upcoming government incorporates climate change into its state or national agenda The earth and its ecosystem are integral to various aspects of life including politics funding and livelihoods Without a sustainable ecosystem these activities become untenable as the earth remains the sole habitat capable of sustaining life AMJAD SARGANI KARACHI E d i t o r ’ s m a i l 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 I N today's world climate change is the draconian enemy of the people living on this planet It has extended its animosity from North to South challenging human existence Heat waves in Europe, floods, and droughts in Asia and Africa as the aftermath of climate change are worse than bombs and grenades This enemy is strictly following the principle of equality as it is equally gruesome for both the countries who bolstered this issue and those who haven t contributed such as Afghanistan Afghanistan is a country that has the lowest historical emission of greenhouse gasses which is less than 1% of the global total However, it is still ranked as the sixth most vulnerable country to climate change As a victim of climate change Afghanistan has been facing droughts floods avalanches earthquakes and the amplification of extremely hot temperatures to 1 8°C since 1950 Afghanistan is an agrarian society and more than 70 percent of the Afghan population resides in rural areas Climate change is a serious threat for Afghanis and if this issue persists then it will be an impetus to food insecurity And the Taliban are not equipped enough alone to grapple with climate change as most of the climate experts and technocrats fled from the country when the Taliban took over on 15 August 2021 If the international community does not contribute to mitigating the effects of climate change in Afghanistan then the whole world will be held responsible for the deaths of starving Afghanis Today, key positions in the climate sector are filled by religious scholars who have zero proficiency regarding this grim matter Before the takeover of the Taliban, the reliance of Afghanistan was totally on foreign funding and approximately 32 environmental projects were ongoing but all these projects were frozen overnight Afghanistan came under various sanctions and was isolated from the international financial system This scenario crippled the local banking system and multiplied the vulnerabilities of Afghanistan a war-torn country to hydrological metrological and climatological disasters The situation further deteriorated as the Taliban abolished the National Water Affairs Regulations Authority but over time the world observed positive tilts in their policies for climate action The Taliban started rolling out policies related to climate to mitigate the situation as they set limits on coal-fired heating systems allotted 6 million Afghanis (about $67 000) for monitoring and maintaining the Qargha Dam tried to build green belts initiated plantation drives and started constructing a long canal to irrigate agricultural lands Here the dilemma is that the First World countries are responsible for the catastrophes of climate change but the consequences are being faced by Third World countries like Afghanistan So the international community ought to show interest in dealing with the catastrophes created by them in Afghanistan because the Taliban s policy for climate is determined by their behaviour The problem is the majority of states do not recognize the government of the Taliban as a legitimate government The international community fears legitimizing a non-state actor by engaging them and has concerns about partnering with a notoriously brutal regime So the invitation for the platforms of climate change is never extended to the Taliban Even in the recent COP 28 held in UAE in December 2023 Afghanistan had no representation Though UAE is one of the top 10 oil-producing nations and the process of oil production is a contributing element to the pollution of the environment, still it hosted an international conference regarding climate change So if the countries which are the reason for bolstering the issue of climate change can host such events, then why can’t Afghanistan even participate? In this contemporary world climate change can be referred to as a conflict multiplier and in a country like Afghanistan which is already ravaged by wars the results could be worse As climate change is a global issue the solutions should also be globally applied if the world wants to win this battle for survival If the issue of climate change is left unresolved then the world must be ready to face the direct repercussions as there will be more displacements more destruction more illegal immigration, hunger, crimes, poverty, and whatnot The non-traditional insecurity in Afghanistan will become a great deal for the international community The world must engage Afghanistan on climate issues because in Afghanistan there are not only Taliban but also a lot more Afghans living there and suffering the havoc of climate change And if the international community doesn t recognize the Taliban as a legitimate government then the question arises, do they also not recognize millions of Afghans living there as legitimate humans? The question remains unanswered by the international community The writer is a student of Peace & Conflict Studies at National Defence University Islamabad She can be reached at sowaibamahmood5329@gmail com and tweets @SowaibaMahmood
T h e w o r l d m u s t e n g a g e A f g h a n i s t a n o n c l i m a t e i s s u e s b e c a u s e i n A f g h a n i s t a n t h e r e a r e n o t o n l y T a l i b a n b u t a l s o a l o t m o r e A f g h a n s l i v i n g t h e r e a n d s u f f e r i n g t h e h a v o c o f c l i m a t e c h a n g e A n d i f t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y d o e s n ’ t r e c o g n i z e t h e T a l i b a n a s a l e g i t i m a t e g o v e r n m e n t t h e n t h e q u e s t i o n a r i s e s , d o t h e y a l s o n o t r e c o g n i z e m i l l i o n s o f A f g h a n s l i v i n g t h e r e a s l e g i t i m a t e h u m a n s ? T h e q u e s t i o n r e m a i n s u n a n s w e r e d b y t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l c o m m u n i t y
sowaiba MahMood
D o e s t h e c o u n t r y n e e d d e m i g o d s ? K a j o l M a n s h a d
N o n r e c o g n i t i o n a n d c l i m a t e c h a n g e a r e i n c o n f l i c t
Promotion Dilemma and Our Educational Realities
meet individual learning styles and provide additional support as needed promoting inclusivity and academic success for all students
Iproblem-solving, which are indispensable for success not only in academia but also in the complexities of the modern world Global Perspectives on Early Education:
The importance of assessing students in grades 1 to 3 is underscored by global best practices in early education Countries renowned for their high-quality education systems, such as Finland, Singapore, and Canada, prioritize early assessment to ensure that students receive the necessary support and interventions from the outset
In Finland consistently ranked among the top performers in international education assessments early education emphasizes play-based learning and individualized support Assessment in the early years focuses on holistic development, with teachers using observation documentation and dialogue to understand each child s unique strengths and needs Singapore s education system known for its rigour and excellence, employs a blend of formative and summative assessments from the earliest years of schooling Assessments in grades 1 to 3 are designed not only to gauge academic progress but also to develop students socio-emotional skills and character attributes fostering a well-rounded education Canada s commitment to inclusive education ensures that assessment practices in the early years are equitable and responsive to diverse student needs Through ongoing assessment and observation teachers in Canadian classrooms tailor instruction to
and
However, by investing in teacher training, embracing alternative assessment methods, and creating a supportive learning environment, we can move closer to the standards set by the world's most literate countries This multifaceted approach will not only improve educational outcomes but also pave the way for a brighter future for our students and our education system as a whole
Challenges in Primary Education: In the context of our local primary education system challenges abound particularly in rural areas where access to quality education remains limited
Outdated teaching and examination methods persist, failing to align with modern pedagogical practices adopted by more advanced education systems The reliance on rote memorization and standardized tests stifles creativity and critical thinking hindering students ability to thrive in an ever-evolving world
Moreover inadequate infrastructure and resources further exacerbate the disparities in educational outcomes, with many schools lacking basic amenities such as electricity, clean water and textbooks Despite efforts to improve access to education socioeconomic factors continue to pose significant barriers to learning with poverty and inequality disproportionately affecting rural communities
Addressing these challenges requires a holistic approach that encompasses not only curriculum reform and teacher training but also investments in infrastructure and community engagement By acknowledging the unique needs of rural areas and embracing innovative teaching methodologies, we can bridge the gap in primary education and create opportunities for all children to succeed
Redefining Examination Practices: In Pakistan particularly in Sindh s primary education system traditional written tests dominate often failing to capture students true abilities To modernize, consider embracing project-based assessments, where students engage in hands-on activities to demonstrate understanding Additionally incorporating technology-enhanced assessments such as online quizzes can provide interactive engagement and personalized feedback Shifting towards competency-based assessments, focusing on real-world application of skills, moves away from rote memorization Moreover, adopting continuous assessment methods like formative assessments ensures ongoing feedback to support student learning and development
Empowering Educators: Within our local primary education system, educators face significant challenges, particularly in
Why are Israeli soldiers obsessed with Gaza women's under wear?
The under wear of Palestinian women has become a symbol of how Israel’s ethnic cleansing has permeated even the innermost sanctity of private, domestic life in Gaza
rural areas where professional
t i o n r e l i e s o n t a rg e t e d t r a i n i n g f o r t e a c h e r s M a n y l a c k t h e s k i l l s n e e d e d t o e n g a g e y o u n g l e a r n e r s e ff e c t i v e l y Ta i l o r e d w o r k s h o p s mentorship programs and peer collaborat i o n c a n e n h a n c e t h e i r u n d e r s t a n d i n g o f e a r l y c h i l d h o o d e d u c a t i o n p r i n c i p l e s a n d c l a s s r o o m m a n a g e m e n t B y i n v e s t i n g i n p r i m a r y t e a c h e r t r a i n i n g , w e e n s u r e e d uc a t o r s a r e e q u i p p e d t o n u r t u r e y o u n g m i n d s a n d l a y a s t r o n g f o u n d a t i o n f o r l i f e l o n g l e a r n i n g Revisiting Promotion Policies: The current promotion policy of automatically advancing students without examinations warrants critical examination While the intention to alleviate examination stress is understandable the ramifications of this approach on students learning outcomes must be considered Instead of simply promoting students, a more holistic approach to assessment and progression should be
adopted This could involve implementing alternative assessment methods that accurately gauge students' mastery of essential skills and knowledge
Additionally providing targeted support and interventions for struggling students can address learning gaps more effectively than blanket promotions Furthermore, incentivizing academic excellence through rewards and recognition can motivate students to strive for excellence and foster a culture of achievement By revisiting promotion policies and exploring alternative approaches to student progression we can ensure that every child receives the support and guidance needed to reach their full potential
Reevaluating the promotion policy for grades 1 to 3 presents an opportunity to align with international Sustainable Development Goal 4 (SDG 4) on quality education By prioritizing assessment as a tool for targeted intervention and academic growth we can progress towards meeting the requirements of SDG 4 Currently, our education system faces challenges in aligning with world-leading literacy standards However by investing in teacher traini n g e m b r a c i n g a l t e r n a t i v e a s s e s s m e n t methods and creating a supportive learni n g e n v i r o n m e n t , w e c a n m o v e c l o s e r t o the standards set by the world's most literate countries This multifaceted approach w i l l n o t o n l y i m p r o v e e d u c a t i o n a l o u tcomes but also pave the way for a brighter future for our students and our education system as a whole
The writer tweets @AliGulLeghari1
Washington politicians once again openly tr y to rob TikTok
The vote is the most significant in the US crackdown on TikTok since former president Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban the app in 2020
Igroup)
is a mainstream feminist movement that buckled over in solidarity for the women of Iran when they fought for the right to remove their hijabs, the women in America whose right to an abortion was eroded or heralded Ukrainian women for fighting back against Russian occupation But for Palestine? No There has been no mass feminist outrage at the pillaging of Palestinian women s underwear by soldiers
Unlike the feminist celebrities who cut off an inch of their split ends in solidarity with the women of Iran or donated their designer wardrobes to help the displaced women of Ukraine, there has been no feminist campaign for the women of Gaza
There may have been anger
GLOBAL TIMES E d i to r i a l
few days the phone lines of congressional offices have been flooded with calls from TikTok supporters The US not only prides itself on being the most mature rule-of-law country, but also positions itself as a world leader However many of its actions are self-defeating violate the principles of the rule of law and market norms and undermine its international credibility This is a process of the US losing its global leadership status while descending into self-destruction From a certain perspective, American people coming forward to defend TikTok's legitimate rights is fundamentally about safeguarding the international image and reputation of the US This point is quite clear
Sunday 10 March 2024 COMMENT 05
N the half light of a Gaza neighbourhood obliterated by Israeli bombardment, Israeli soldiers rummage through a boot full of underwear that has been looted from the houses they’ve pillaged and destroyed “I swear ” one of them says to the camera “Palestinian women are the sluttiest in the world ” Amidst all the horrors that have been live-streamed from Gaza the underwear of Palestinian women in the hands of Israeli soldiers has become a sickening motif There is something deeply uncomfortable about how normalised this violation of Palestinian women’s private life has become We can scarcely open a social media app without seeing yet another image of the intimate garments of our sisters in Gaza tied to the tanks that just decimated their homes or wielded like trophies by taunting occupiers This disturbing obsession is glaring evidence that Israel s so-called war is about so much more than self-defence or eradicating Hamas It is about dehumanising an entire people in order to legitimise their brutal eradication The obsession of Israeli soldiers with Palestinian women s underwear is a reminder that Muslim women s bodies have always been metaphorically and physically intertwined with Western colonial pursuits But if this brazenness incenses me then what really infuriates me is the silence of feminists who are unmoved by this sight, who have nothing to say about the growing pile of bloodied corpses in Gaza who are unstirred by the prospect of men in the uniform of a state upheld by the entire Western world trifling through the underwear drawers of the women whose lives they have turned to rubble This International Women s Day, as we celebrate Rishi Sunak doing the dishes and the kind of pinktinted feminism found in Barbie, the silence of feminists has never been more deafening Israel we are told is a beacon of liberalism and progressiveness in the Middle East A shining light of Western values in the dark Arab, Muslim world A LGBTQ+ haven the one true democracy in the region the only country for miles with genuine equal rights between men and women Apparently But what does it mean for a state that is everything the West stands for to spawn an army obsessed with posing for videos and images holding the underwear of Palestinian women? For soldiers representing the last colonial outpost to share these images unabashed and for its citizens to laugh along at the view? Of course it reveals what those of us routinely oppressed by the West already know It cements the very truth that Israel as a state is built upon That Palestinian women Arab women Muslim women aren’t women at all They are objects to be criminalised and fetishised in equal measure Eradicated and sexualised all at once Look at some of the captions shared with these images like kinky jihad Rather than serving as a stark reminder of their humanity (as it would with any other
the presence of underwear in Gaza homes becomes an excuse to dehumanise the people who lived there
rudimentary and the domestic are warped by the Israeli army into a weapon of war: a signal that if you are Palestinian, even the contents of your underwear drawer are not sacred, everything is collateral damage to Israel and its allies Perhaps we can expect no better from a state that relies on the violent erasure of Palestinians from their own homeland in order to exist But what we should be able to expect better from
The
at Barbie getting snubbed at the Oscars but when the women of Palestine are having caesareans without anaesthetic giving birth in bombed out hospitals with no electricity, burying the children they spent a decade trying to conceive, ripping up tents for sanitary towels, mainstream feminism looks the other way - or chooses to peddle unsubstantiated claims about systematic sexual violence by Hamas
feminism s silence is because mainstream feminism is in fact white Western feminism It cares about equal pay and getting women s football on par with men s and electing a female president but it has no interest in dismantling white supremacism or battling imperialism when it requires these realities for its own survival Western feminism sees Muslim women as its collateral damage; its perpetual victims; the recipient of its superior liberal feminism and never an active participant in it No matter how intersectional it may claim to have become, Western feminism is still concerned with forcing its liberal ideals upon us But that s why the issue of Gazan women’s underwear has unsettled me so much Doesn’t white progressive liberal feminism fight for women’s rights to obtain sexual freedom and body positivity? Doesn t it demand it? After all that s why it cares about women being forced to cover up and never the other way around Shouldn t it be up in arms at the sight of men using the props of a woman’s bodily autonomy to humiliate, shame and oppress them? Hollow as the act would be, if this was happening to Western women it's not hard to imagine feminist figures taking to the street with knickers and bras in protest against this misogynistic act by a state s army But when it comes to Muslim women it seems we are doing it wrong We aren t supposed to experience such liberation in the confines of the home, within the sanctity of marriages that feminism has declared patriarchal anyway Within the framework of Western feminism we will always be characterised by our otherness our Muslimness To secure liberation for Muslim and Arab women we need to look at the structures of support already there in our faiths and communities This International Women s Day, as Western society applauds itself for its egalitarianism and wears pink, I’ll be thinking of the women of Gaza and how the world doesn’t care anymore about their pillaged underwear than it does about their brutalised corpses Nadeine Asbali is a secondary school teacher in London
Mainstream
N a move that reflects a broader trend in educational policy the Sindh School Education and Literacy Department has once again opted to promote students of grades 1 to 3 without examinations, echoing a decision made during the tumultuous period of the covid-19 pandemic in 2020-2021 While the decision aims to alleviate stress and streamline administrative processes it raises critical questions about the efficacy of such a promotion policy, particularly in the context of early childhood education Primary education lays the groundwork for a child s
success
students develop fundamental literacy and numeracy skills, laying
foundation upon which all subsequent learning
built However, the absence of examinations deprives educators and parents of valuable insights into students' progress hindering the ability to tailor teaching methods to suit individual needs effectively Assessment serves as a compass guiding educators in navigating the educational landscape It provides a roadmap of a student's strengths and weaknesses, allowing for targeted interventions to enhance learning outcomes Moreover assessments in the early years instill essential life skills such as time management critical thinking
academic journey and future
It is during these formative years that
the
is
development opportunities are scarce Many lack the qualifications and pedagogical skills needed to engage students effectively perpetuating outdated teaching methods and examination practices To address this investment in teacher training is crucial providing educators with the skills to implement modern teaching strategies Collaboration among teachers and ongoing support can further enhance their ability to adapt to the evolving needs of students By empowering educators roles and investing in their professional growth we can ensure that all students receive a high-quality education tailored to their needs I m p r o v i n g p r i m a r y e d u c a
ali Gul lEGhari
NEW ARAB N a d E i N E a s b a l T HE US has begun a new round of hunting and robbing TikTok The US House of Representatives Energy and Commerce Committee voted 50-0 on Thursday to pass a legislative proposal giving Chinese company ByteDance two choices: either divest its ownership of TikTok within 165 days once the law is enacted or have it banned from the major app stores in the US This is actually forcing ByteDance to choose between two bottles of poison Reuters said the vote is the most significant in the US crackdown on TikTok since former president Donald Trump unsuccessfully tried to ban the app in 2020 Compared with the White House s previous refusal to comment on the bill, White House press secretary praised the bill on the day of the vote, which is considered a step forward by the White House The US House of Representatives will vote on the bill as early as next Monday Many analysts believe that it will not be easy to pass it this year But the very fact that this kind of law can be proposed sends a worrying signal that some politicians have no change in their will to politicize business issues In fact, TikTok has been subject to various forms of probe and investigation by the US for quite some time During this period, TikTok CEO Shou Zi Chew was publicly questioned by Congress twice Some congressmen s McCarthy-style questioning of Chew and his decent response spread throughout the world via social media The image of free speech and rule of law in the US is in tatters, and the latest bill is simply further evidence of this The US has constantly attempted to rob TikTok, regardless of whether it is the Republican Party or the Democratic Party and whether it is government or Congress reflecting the high degree of consensus and collusion among some American political elite on this issue The complex and chaotic public opinion atmosphere created during the election year has become an inducement and cover for Washington to carry out "political robbery " Drawing on its previous "experience" and "lessons," some strategic adjustments and packaging were made to the robbery of TikTok this time but the essence has not changed The one-size-fitsall excuse of national security threat is still being used The groundless presumption of guilt without any evidence is still applied and the utter violation of the principles of market economy and fair competition is being adopted Objectively speaking, they had thought about doing it in a more "civilized" manner and making it look more reasonable in terms of procedure For this reason after they pre-judged TikTok as "guilty " they used a microscope to look for evidence but in the end found nothing; they summoned TikTok s CEO to Congress for questioning like a p r i so n e r, but it turned out that they themselves became a joke After trying to inflame the issue several times it was further proven that TikTok was operating legally in the US and had not violated any American laws This made them unable to rob in a "civilized" way, but to rob it openly TikTok has 170 million users in the US, accounting for half of the country's total population Even Joe Biden's campaign team recently created an account on TikTok The success of TikTok in the US is not only due to the success of its business model but also because TikTok has excelled in terms of compliance even more strictly than many American companies This is a consideration in the minds of all businesses operating in the US They cannot ignore the fate of TikTok Today, TikTok is like a defensive line If this line is breached many foreign companies operating in the US and American consumers behind the line are exposed to the risk of a potential robbery at any time According to reports Mike Gallagher the anti-China lawmaker proposing this bill and chairman of the House Select Committee on the Strategic Competition Between the United States and the Chinese Communist Party," claims that this bill can be seen as "a surgery designed to remove the tumor and thereby save the patient in the process In fact what needs to be removed is the malignant tumor represented by these politicians advocating US hegemony and a robber mentality Only by doing so can it benefit the national and social health of the US Actually, every time the US issues threat and intimidation against TikTok, the US' business environment and international image will degrade to a great extent Even the Singaporean Ambassador to the US publicly stated that the campaign against the company had been taken too far and interrogations such as those experienced by Chew can sometimes possibly undermine the image and understanding of how the US is viewed in different parts of the world " We have also noticed that the mainstream US media, which has consistently focused on China's business environment has surprisingly chosen to "make no comments" on the TikTok issue However this does not mean that there is no opinion about it within American society It has been reported that in the past
A u t o m a t i c p r o m o t i o n s a r e a b a d i d e a
GAZA
TH E Qassam Brigades, the military wing of Hamas, said in a statement on Friday that a ceasefire and the withdrawal of Israeli forces from Gaza are essential conditions for any prisoner exchange agreement
The Brigades spokesperson, Abu Ubaydah, emphasized in the statement that there would be no compromise on these demands Abu Ubaydah accused the Israeli government of “deceit” in the negotiation process which he described as marked by confusion and bewilderment
The spokesperson also highlighted the plight of Gaza s residents, particularly children suffering from malnutrition, adding that the hostages taken by Hamas are also affected by the dire humanitarian situation in Gaza Some of them are suffering from illness due to lack of food and medicine he said
On Thursday, Hamas announced that its delegation had left Cairo to consult with the movement’s leadership on
ceasefire negotiations reaffirming its commitment to negotiations aimed at ending hostilities, assisting displaced individuals, and providing humanitarian aid to Gaza’s residents The death toll of Palestinians from the ongoing Israeli attacks in the Gaza Strip has risen to 30 878 the Gaza-based Health Ministry said Friday
Protests back in Assam against CA A amid Modi’s visit
During the past 24 hours, the Israeli
C
military killed 78 people and wounded about 104 others, the ministry said in a press statement, adding that out of the over 30,000 casualties, about 72 percent were women and children Facing a ‘tragedy’ Commissioner-general of the United Nations Relief and Works Agency for Palestinian Refugees in the Near East (UNRWA) Philippe Lazzarini said on
Friday that the situation in the Gaza Strip defies description and has not been seen in any previous crisis
We are facing a tragedy that is not related to food,” Lazzarini said in a press statement noting that people in Gaza suffer from deliberate starvation operations that could have been avoided
He warned that the Gaza Strip inhabited by about 2 35 million people, is on the verge of entering into a famine, and “children there are dying due to hunger and thirst,” stressing the need to open land crossings for aid trucks to enter Gaza Airdrops cannot replace land aid he added
According to the Gaza-based Health Ministry, at least 20 people, mostly children, have died as a result of malnutrition and drought caused by the war Meanwhile Lazzarini said that the agency has not yet received any evidence
UGI ceremony on International Women’s Day
LAHORE
S TA F F R E P O R T
The Unique Group of Institutions (UGI) and Aiwan-e-
Iqbal Complex jointly organised an event in connection with the International Women’s Day celebrations here on Saturday
The ceremony led by Saadia Khurram chairperson of Unique Group was attended by distinguished guests including renowned poet Saima Kamran, Presidential Award holder critic Rakhsana Kausar, accomplished scholar Anam Shahzadi, international baseball player Anila Kanwal Hoorain Hafeez and Nida Akram Addressing the audience Saadia Khurram expressed the need for collective measures to empower women aspiring to progress in society She stressed that uplifting the spirits of women desiring advancement is essential and can serve as a guarantee for the success of society Saadia encouraged young girls to persevere with hard work and dedication believing that it would brighten their future She highlighted the crucial role of women in every society and asserted that ensuring their rights is integral to societal progression Saadia Khurram advised young girls to seek awareness about fundamental issues from their parents, enabling them to effectively address various challenges She stressed the importance of avoiding hesitation in acquiring such knowledge as it would contribute to solving numerous problems The UGI chairperson advocated for active involvement of young girls in positive activities believing that such initiatives would shape their future
Israeli settlements expand by record amount, UN rights chief says
S d y 10 M h 2024 LAHORE 06 NEWS
A G E N C I E S
confirming Israel s allegations that UNRWA employees participated in the Oct 7 attack, noting that it would be wrong to dismantle the UNRWA before reaching a permanent political solution BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T This year, China plans to renovate 50,000 old residential communities, tackling issues like elevator installations and parking shortages and will enhance the development of accessible and senior-friendly amenities said Ni Hong minister of housing and urban-rural development, on Saturday The country will further escalate the renovation of aging urban pipeline networks – including gas, water supply, sewage and heating systems – aiming to rebuild over 100 000 kilometers this year said Ni at a press conference on people s livelihoods held by the second session of the 14th National People s Congress The underground pipe network is not just a foundational aspect of urban construction; it s also a project that demands meticulous attention We hope that all regions will strive to guarantee its high quality, he added Ni noted that the goal of urban renewal is to make cities more livable resilient and smarter thus ensuring that residents can enjoy a more comfortable secure and joyful life Regarding urban safety engineering, facilities like water supply, drainage, gas, heating HAMAS DEMANDS CEASEFIRE, ISRAELI WITHDRAWAL AS PREREQUISITES FOR PRISONER EXCHANGE DEAL
hina enhances
renewal
smar
urban
to make cities more livable, resilient and
t
GUWAHATI A G E N C I E S Opposition parties in Assam staged a protest against the anti-Muslim Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) as Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi s is on a visit to the state The protest sit-in by the 16-member United Opposition Forum, Assam (UOFA) was held near Kaziranga where Modi was scheduled to spend the night after reaching the state on Friday Modi is on a two-day visit to Assam UOFA spokesperson Akhil Gogoi said that the CAA is a threat to the identity of the Assamese people, and they will continue protesting it State Congress president Bhupen Kumar Borah, participating in the protest, said, “The government cannot stifle our voices ” Another senior Congress leader Debabrata Saikia also maintained that the protests against the CAA will continue The government can use all tactics and power to suppress us But the people are firm in their opposition to the CAA and we will continue with our protests, he added Indian Home Minister Amit Shah had earlier said that CAA rules would be notified and implemented before the Lok Sabha polls Under the CAA religion is a basis for granting citizenship The law specifically fast-tracks asylum claims of non-Muslim irregular immigrants including Hindus Jains Christians Sikhs Buddhists and Parsis from the neighboring Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan The UOFA had said that a state-wide strike will be called the very next day the contentious act comes into force followed by siege of the the secretariat It had also submitted a memorandum to the Indian President Droupadi Murmu saying they would undertake a democratic mass movement across the state if the CAA is not repealed Earlier, the All Assam Students’ Union (AASU) and other regional organisations kick-started their protest programme against the implementation of the CAA with bike rallies across the state Speaking on the occasion AASU president Utpal Sarma said that on March 10 (Sunday) leaders of AASU and another 30 regional organisations would hold a 12-hour China’s top legislature vows rule of law to defend national sovereignt y, securit y BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T China’s top legislature has vowed to use rule of law to solve disputes involving foreign-related affairs and will resolutely defend national sovereignty security and development interests Experts believe that defending national safety and sovereignty has increasingly become an important part in pushing for rule of law in China, and the country will continue improving legislature process in relative areas China’s national lawmakers on Friday started deliberating a work report of the National People s Congress (NPC) Standing Committee Zhao Leji chairman of the NPC Standing Committee, delivered the report at the second plenary meeting of the second session of the 14th NPC This year, the tasks will include expanding and deepening the proactiveness pertinence and effectiveness of the NPC in external exchanges better serving China s major country diplomacy with its own characteristics and engaging in multi-level multichannel, multi-field, and multi-form exchanges and cooperation with foreign parliaments, said Zhao He vowed to actively and effectively promote China’s path system ideas propositions and achievements to the outside world use rule of law to conduct combats involving foreign affairs and resolutely safeguard national sovereignty security and development interests Procurator-general Ying Yong also delivered a report at the second plenary meeting, in which he said to resolutely safeguard national security, social stability, and people’s well-being, and strictly punish crimes that endanger national security serious violent crimes major drug crimes and serious economic crimes in accordance with the law Ying vowed to strengthen foreign-related prosecutorial work and resolutely defend the country s sovereignty, security, and development interests Through these reports, we can see that legislation on safeguarding national security and sovereignty has become a very important component of comprehensively advancing rule of law in the country Li Wei an expert on national security at the China Institute of Contemporary International Relations said GENEVA R E U T E R S Israeli settlements in the occupied Palestinian territories have expanded by a record amount and risk eliminating any practical possibly of a Palestinian state, the U N human rights chief said on Friday The United Nations High Commissioner for Human Rights Volker Turk said that the growth of Israeli settlements amounted to the transfer by Israel of its own population, which he reiterated was a war crime The U S Biden administration said last month the settlements were “inconsistent” with international law after Israel announced new housing plans in the occupied West Bank Settler violence and settlement-related violations have reached shocking new levels, and risk eliminating any practical possibility of establishing a viable Palestinian State Turk said in a statement accompanying the report which will be presented to the Human Rights Council in Geneva in late March Israel s diplomatic mission in Geneva said that the report should have included the deaths of 36 Israelis in 2023 “Human rights are universal yet Israeli victims of Palestinian terrorism are ignored by the Office (of the High Commissioner) time and time again, it said in a statement The 16-page report, based on the U N ’s own monitoring as well as other sources documented 24 300 new Israeli housing units in the occupied West Bank during a one-year period through to endOctober 2023 which it said was the highest on record since monitoring began in 2017
Avari Hotels announces pre -launch of Avari Xpress in Sk ardu, Avari Boutique in Gujranwala
KARACHI P R
Avari
D ubai Islamic Bank Awarded for Gender-Inclusive Workplace by Employers Federation of Pakistan
NHSR & C meeting reviews progress on national health suppor t projec t to ensure universal
Jazz
Japanese Language Learners per form speeches at 38th Japanese Speech Contest
Faysal Q uraishi and Narkin’s set to redefine fashion landsc ape with collaborative collec tion
A zfar Ahsan, S audi Investment Minister disc uss matters of mutual interest
5th Commissioner K arachi Marathon aims to promote peace
07 NEWS Sunday 10 March 2024 LAHORE CORPORATE CORNER ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T t H E national-flag-carrier Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) flight PK 288, scheduled to fly from Doha to Islamabad encountered a technical glitch forcing it to return to Doha just 50 minutes after takeoff The flight which was already delayed by an hour and 20 minutes from its scheduled departure time, faced a technical issue 15 minutes post-takeoff Following the air traffic controller s instructions the pilot maneuvered the aircraft to make several rounds over the sea before safely landing back at Doha airport During this ordeal passengers remained onboard the aircraft PIA s engineering team promptly addressed the technical fault, and after a delay of two hours, the flight resumed its journey to Islamabad Despite the initial hiccup the flight managed to reach its destination later that night This incident is not an isolated one In the past week, two PIA aircraft have experienced technical faults while in Saudi Arabia Notably, one of these is a Boeing 777 aircraft that has been grounded at Muscat airport for several days due to technical issues Mid-air glitch forces Pia flight PK 288 to return to doha Pe a r l - Co n t i n e n t a l Ho te l, R awa l p i n d i u nve i l s R a m a z a n Vi l l a g e to c e l e b r ate t h e h o l y m o n t h R AWA L P I N D I: The Pearl-Continental Hotel Rawalpindi recently celebrated the launch of its first Ramadan Village, a unique dining experience that will be available to its esteemed guests throughout the upcoming holy month of Ramadan The launch event brought together valued corporate partners dignitaries and other stakeholders from multiple industries Attendees were given an exclusive preview of the Ramadan Village located on the hotel s newly inaugurated lawn, where they enjoyed an exquisite array of traditional and continental dishes in a delightful dining setting PR
Dubai Islamic Bank wins the Women Empowerment and Gender Equality Recognition Award 2024 in the category of Gender-Inclusive Workplace organized by the Employers Federation of Pakistan (EFP) This achievement reflects DIB s commitment to fostering a diverse and inclusive work environment where women feel valued and empowered to succeed PR
K A R A C H I / R I YA D H: Muhammad Azfar Ahsan, former Minister for Investment of Pakistan & Founder of Nutshell Group, met H E Khalid AlFalih, Investment Minister, Kingdom of Saudi Arabia, at the Ministry of Investment, Riyadh They discussed possible opportunities for collaboration between both countries for future projects The meeting focused on investment prospects across diverse sectors such as mining and agriculture A project on food security was specifically discussed in the context of achieving stability and prosperity They emphasized the need for consistency in partnerships for navigating complex geopolitical dynamics and fostering regional stability PR
K A R A C H I: Esteemed actor Faysal Quraishi is poised to redefine the landscape of style with the unveiling of the brand new FQ Collection in collaboration with renowned clothing brand Narkin s This highly anticipated collection will be presented from now until the culmination of Ramadan, offering a sophisticated amalgamation of elegance and refinement for discerning fashion enthusiasts The official signing ceremony for the collaboration took place in Karachi at Koel Cafe on the 7th of March 2024 Faysal Quraishi celebrated for his iconic performances on screen PR
K A R A C H I: The 5th Commissioner Karachi Marathon was held on Friday at Captain Farhan Ali Shaheed Park Abdul Sattar Edhi Avenue Prominent personalities from different fields also participated in the marathon, which included athletes, showbiz celebrities, diplomats, representatives of nongovernmental organizations and notable figures from various fields Apart from professional runners women children senior citizens and special persons also participated in the marathon to give the marathon a festive touch and provide healthy entertainment to the citizens There was a 10-kilometer race for professional runners and separate distance races for women, families, amateurs senior citizens children and physically challenged people PR
of two exceptional properties: Avari Xpress in Skardu and Avari Boutique in Gujranwala These distinctive hotels are set to redefine luxury and comfort providing unparalleled experiences for both business and leisure travelers Avari Xpress Gilgit: Our latest addition to the portfolio in 2023 is the Avari Xpress in the captivating city of Gilgit With a rich tapestry of culture and surrounded by majestic landscapes Avari Xpress Gilgit promises to be a beacon of hospitality offering a seamless blend of modern comfort and traditional warmth Strategically located to provide a gateway to the natural wonders of Gilgit Avari Xpress invites guests to immerse themselves in the unique charm of the region The hotel is now open ready to welcome travelers seeking an unparalleled experience in the heart of Gilgit
Hotels a renowned name in the hospitality industry, is thrilled to announce the pre-launch
AFNAN WASIF Security is an idiosyncratic and contested notion subject to individual interpretation A generic explanation of security is the absence of peril or trepidation Optimism and hope may be termed as security And hope and optimism may or may not be a “Law” It may be rules precedents norms values customs and traditions If one is hopeful and optimistic about anything, he may feel secure at once In a state of nature, devoid of laws, chaos reigns, rendering no individual secure However one must admit flaws in implementing the law – the source of hope The matter of fact is that institutions such as courts, ombudsman, ICJ, ICC, etc are also paramount in implementing laws –actualization of hope – and making a society secure Consider the allegations by PTI regarding the purported theft of the people s mandate in the 2024 General Elections But the aggrieved party is still hoping for justice –fostering a sense of security For instance, Asad Toor, a journalist has been picked up by FIA in allegations of maligning CJP Whether he has done so or not but was feeling secure as he is privileged by the constitution under Article 19 – a law making one secure It goes the same way for the countries The US is using the jargon “Rules-based International Order” in its rhetoric against China to keep itself hopeful that China would abide by the rules set by the international community In the case of the Israel-Palestine Conflict, why South Africa went to ICJ? Because they were hopeful that it would penalize the Zionist entity Israel and give some sense of security to innocent Palestinians against its brutal aggression The populace s hope for decisive action in conflicts like Israel-Palestine even shapes political outcomes, highlighting the symbiotic relationship between hope and security It is evident in the US as it is facing intense criticism domestically because it holds a higher moral authority The youth of the US was hoping that POTUS would act immediately and press Israel to stop aggression against innocent Palestinians But it didn t happen and eventually President Joe Biden seems to be losing upcoming elections It proves a point that hope and optimism is security When hope is vanished people get insecure in one way or the other Given the Operation Swift Retort people were expecting the same kind of response to feel secure from any external aggression such as Iranian missile strikes inside Pakistan On the environmental front, we are hoping to see a transition in energy sources from non-renewable to renewable Electric vehicles are one of the hopes of making ourselves secure from the looming specter of climate change Hope or optimism is augmented by Law The author is a scholar at at National Defence University Islamabad He tweets @afnanwasif
and optimism cornerstone of sec urity K A R A C H I: ESU Pakistan held its Annual General Meeting followed by its traditional Annual Dinner inviting ESUP members, and city luminaries including members of the diplomatic corps based in Karachi The Consul General of Türkiye, Cemal Sangu was the keynote speaker Kalim Farooqui has now been succeeded by Pervez Madraswala as the President of ESU Pakistan The dinner was attended by diplomats from Turkiye China Japan Sri Lanka Oman and Russia PR KARACHI: President and CEO National Bank of Pakistan Mr Rehmat Ali Hasnie and Chief Financial Officer Abdul Wahid Sethi along with senior executives briefed stakeholders on the bank’s strategic plan and financial performance for year 2023 at Annual Corporate briefing at NBP Head PR Khalid Saad Al-Sabti Saudi Investor & Rashid Hakeem, CEO SuperNova Solutions Pakistan, are signing Equity Partnership agreement Muhammad Ghazali & Noman Khan, other investors in the Saudi Arabia-based investor group; Zohaib Khan Chairman P@SHA and Aisha Moriani CEO PSEB are also present PR
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The 38th Japanese Language Speech Contest was held at the Japan Information and Culture Center co-organized by the Consulate General of Japan in Karachi and the Pakistan Japanese Cultural Association (PJCA), Sindh Seven Pakistani students from different levels of Japanese language courses participated in the speech contest PJCA Vice-President Mr Azmat Ataka addressed the contestants in his speech saying how he admired their drive in learning a new language and that he hopes more youth in Karachi may learn more languages to bridge the gaps between different cultures In his speech, Mr HATTORI Masaru, ConsulGeneral of Japan in Karachi expressed his awe at the resolve of Pakistani youth in learning and acquiring the Japanese language PR
team visits sec urity division of ICP According to the details, the New York Police Department's (NYPD) cricket team visited the Security Division and met with the Capital Police Officer Security Division a public relations officer said He said that the delegation expressed special gratitude to Islamabad Capital City Police Officer Dr Akbar Nasir Khan and his team for providing security during the recent visit At the end of the meeting, the delegation presented the police cap and shield to the CPO Security Division, while the CPO Security Division also presented an honorary police shield to the delegation and expressed good wishes PR
Women’s Day myco.io and Dove Pakistan team up
Right To Play ’ K A R A C H I: On the auspicious occasion of International Women’s day myco io & Dove Pakistan teamed up for an exclusive premiere of their original documentary Her Right To Play In an event attended by the esteemed Gargash group board members, Unilever Pakistan, Pakistan Football Federation, media outlets and various women influencers and leaders, a documentary on the struggles and achievements for women football players in Pakistan which will be streaming on the myco web and app platforms from 8th March onwards myco is focusing on promoting all forms of sports for all genders and strongly believes in the importance of women on and off the field PR
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plantation drive in Peshawar as par t of Carbon Sink Projec t ISLAMABAD/PESHAWAR: Jazz Pakistan s leading digital operator organized a tree plantation drive in the Hayatabad area of Peshawar as part of its nationwide Carbon Sink project which aims to promote environmental conservation and combat climate change During the drive, Jacaranda, Kachnar and Alstonia saplings were planted to create carbon sinks in the region Captain (Retd ) Khalid Mehmood DG Peshawar Development Authority (PDA) was the chief guest on the occasion Other dignitaries, including Additional D G PDA Manzoor Yousaf, Director PDA Sajid Khan, as well as Jazz employees and school children participated in the activityn PR
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coverage I S L A M A B A D: A meeting was held in Ministry of National Health Services Regulation and Coordination (NHSR & C) under the chair of Federal Secretary NHSR & C Iftikhar Ali Shallwani to review the progress made on Pakistan National Health Support Project for Ensuring Health Coverage in Federating Areas The meeting was attended by representative World Bank (WB), Manav Bhattari, representative Global Financing Facilties (GFF), Ghazna Siddiqui and Director Programs M/o NHSR & C Dr Mariyam Sarfraz Pakistan National Health Support Project for ensuring universal health coverage in Federating Areas is a three year project executed by NHSR & C through the health departments of Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT), Gilgit Baltistan (GB) and Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) The project is aimed to strengthen the health system build the core capacities and implement the Essential Package of Health Service (EPHS) in ICT and three districts each in GB and AJK to provide essential health services to the public: PR
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fishermen found dead after boat sinks off Thatta coast
PTI senator Ijaz Ch denied presidential election vote despite production order
(MQM-P) endorsed the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Asif Ali Zardari’s nomination for the presidency
RAWALPINDI
Security forces eliminated
terrorists and injured three others in two separate intelligence-based operations (IBOs) in Khyber
Azma challenges Shandana to prove ‘murder allegations’ against Mar yam Nawaz
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 PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 5:40 6:22 1 30 5:00 6:10 7:45 Sunday 10 March 2024 NEWS
THATTA S TA F F R E P O R T Three bodies of fishermen have been recovered near Hijamaru, following a boat sinking incident that occurred five days ago According to Coastal Media Center spokesperson Kamal Shah, the recovered bodies belong to the group of 14 fishermen who were previously reported missing The tragedy unfolded when strong winds caused a fishing vessel carrying 45 fishermen to capsize at sea Search and rescue efforts managed to save 31 individuals, leaving 14 unaccounted for The discovery of these three bodies brings the confirmed death toll to 12 Authorities continue their search operations to locate the remaining missing fishermen Scattered rains predicted for Sindh The Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has forecast rain showers across several cities in Sindh within the next few days According to the PMD residents of Jamshoro, Dadu, Larkana, Qamber, and Shahdadkot can expect rainfall, while Karachi is likely to experience partly cloudy skies over the next two days Meanwhile, a separate weather system is expected to bring a series of westerly winds to Balochistan starting today This could lead to rain with thunderstorms across the province from this evening March 9th and continuing into March 10th Areas likely to be affected include Turbat, Kech, Jeoni, Ormara, Pasni, Lasbela, Awaran, and Kalat
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Ijaz Chaudhry faced deprivation of voting rights in the presidential election despite the issuance of a production order Initially permitted by the Home Department, Senator Chaudhry was prevented from casting his vote as prison authorities refused to transport him to Islamabad Consequently the PTI Senator s absence prompted slogans of support within Parliament The Deputy Chairman Senate had previously ordered the production order for Senator Ijaz Chaudhry, currently detained on judicial remand PTI Senator Barrister Ali Zafar urged for Chaudhry’s immediate release emphasizing the availability of high court orders for his release Expressing concern over Chaudhry s health issues Zafar advocated for the formation of a medical board to assess his condition at PIMS (Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences) Until then, he suggested Chaudhry be accommodated in Parliament Lodges Zafar underscored Chaudhry’s right to participate in the presidential election and urged for the issuance of production orders in accordance with parliamentary rules Failure to facilitate Chaudhry s participation he emphasized would be a disservice to the Senate s integrity LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Information Minister Azma Bokhari on Saturday asked SIC’s lawmaker Shandana Gulzar to substantiate her allegations of orchestrating the killing of Zille Shah against Maryam Nawaz warning the practice of levelling baseless allegations would not be allowed to go unchecked Azma Bokhari, who took oath as Punjab information minister earlier this week told reporters on Saturday that Shandana would have to appear before the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and substantiate her claim Zille Shah, a PTI supporter whose original name was Ali Bilal, had died under mysterious circumstances” last year after arrest by the police during the protests held outside the PTI founder ’s Zaman Park residence in Lahore Initially the PTI blamed the police for the incident but later the claim was unfounded as CCTV footage revealed that the vehicle hitting him belonged to a PTI leader after the police released him Shandana recently blamed Maryam Nawaz for his death and claimed that she had an audio recording to proof her stance – a statement which triggered an immediate reaction as Azma had promised legal action against her in a post shared on X – the social media platform formerly known as Twitter The FIA Cyber Crime Wing has issued a notice to Shandana and directed him to appear in person on March 14 on the charges of running an highly intimidating campaign against state functionaries and creating violence in public and society through information system” [social media] Waving a copy of the FIA notice Azma said Shandana had been managing an antistate campaign which must be checked – a reference to multiple statements issued by the SIC lawmaker which coincide with the spread of disinformation in an organised manner “You always come up with the chants of political victimisation whenever asked for evidence Azma said while describing the PTI members as political vultures and added that Shandana levelled an unfounded accusation against the Punjab chief minister Addressing the SIC member, Azma said she would not be allowed to play the “woman card” and “political card” and must have to appear before the FIA The PTI founder could not get a free pass to accuse anyone of anything according to his wishes, she said and remarked that the electoral success in 2018 was a “jackpot” for the PTI They would be welcomed, [only] if they protested in a peaceful manner Azma said as Maryam had told a press conference some days back that she would not spare anyone creating law and order situation or damaging public property When asked about possible restrictions on social media, Azma said she was a great advocate of freedom of expression but insulting or accusing anyone of murder on social media could not be tolerated FIA summons Shandana Gulzar on March 14 The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Saturday summoned MNA Shandana Gulzar Khan on March 14 The FIA summoned Shandana for “campaigning against state authorities and inciting people The FIA issued notice to Shandana on the written complaint of Pakistan Peoples party s (PPP) supporter Shoaib Mirza It is stated in the FIA s notice that if Shandana Gulzar will not appear in the institution then it would be considered that she has nothing to say in her defense However FIA has directed Shandana Gulzar to appear in cyber-crime reporting center Lahore Last year, a case was registered against Shandana at the Women’s Police Station in Islamabad for inciting hatred against institutions during her appearance on a private TV channel programme Sections 153A, 124A and 505, which deal with sedition, incitement and spreading hatred, were included in the case Gulzar was elected to the National Assembly on a reserved seat for women from KhyberPakhtunkhwa in the 2018 general elections PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K T H E Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has imposed a 25% sales tax on locally manufactured or assembled vehicles after the federal government revised the descriptions of locally manufactured or assembled automobile goods This decision was announced on Friday through the issuance of SRO 370(I)/ 2024 amending the earlier SRO 297(I)/ 2023 The amendment specifies that the 25% sales tax applies to locally manufactured or assembled vehicles with an engine capacity of 1400cc or more and a price above Rs 4 million (excluding sales tax) This also includes double cabin (4×4) pick-up vehicles According to the recent updates the PCT code 87 03 previously applicable to locally produced or assembled SUVs and CUVs, will now extend to vehicles manufactured or assembled locally with an engine capacity of 1400cc and above Additionally, this PCT code 87 03 will also encompass locally produced or assembled vehicles priced above Rs4 million not including sales tax The PCT code 87 04 which pertains to locally produced or assembled double cabin (4×4) pick-up vehicles, remains unchanged The FBR said that this tax rate aligns with the charge on certain imported goods and their supply or retail price F B R s l A P s 2 5 % s A l e s TA x O n h I g h - e n d lO C A l v e h I C l e s g N E W TA X R AT E A P P L I E S TO V E H I C L E S P R I C E D O V E R R S 4 M I L L I O N ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) rejected on Saturday a call by Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) presidential candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai to postpone the elections for president being held on Saturday The commission, in a written reply after rejecting the PkMAP chief ’s plea stated that Achakzai did not object during the phase of submitting and scrutiny of nomination papers and the electoral college is now fully functional to conduct the polls It added that with the election of the prime minister and chief ministers all assemblies are now working Incumbent President Dr Arif Alvi is the country s fourth democratically elected president to complete the five-year term At present Alvi is on an extended tenure after completing his five-year term on September 9 last year His tenure was extended as the National Assembly and the provincial assemblies stood dissolved when his term in office had concluded Achakzai had moved ECP with a letter against conducting presidential polls today as he highlighted the issue of numerous vacant reserve seats in national and provincial assemblies He argued that proceeding with the election without filling these seats would violate the law and the Constitution “The election should be postponed until the electoral college is completed Achakzai stated firmly in his letter to the ECP Furthermore Achakzai revealed that the SIC has submitted an application to the Peshawar High Court regarding the matter of reserve seats He expressed hopes for a fair decision from the court on this issue The development came a day after the ruling coalition including the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz and Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan
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Pakhtunkhwa s (KP) North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said in a statement According to the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) four terrorists were sent to hell during an intelligence-based operation on March 8 Following this success, four more terrorists were neutralised during a subsequent sanitisation operation by security forces In a separate engagement security forces intercepted the movement of five terrorists attempting to infiltrate the PakistanAfghanistan border After an intense exchange of fire two terrorists identified as Hazrat Umer and Rehman Niaz were eliminated while three others sustained injuries Pakistan has consistently urged the Interim Afghan Government to strengthen border management measures on their side of the border, the ISPR said “Interim Afghan Government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan said the statement Security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to secure its borders and wipe-out the menace of terrorism from the country it concluded The operation comes amid a surge in terrorist activities across the country, especially in KP and Balochistan, since the outlawed militant group Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan ended its ceasefire with the government in November 2022 Earlier on March 2 three terrorists were gunned down while four others sustained injuries during an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s (KP) Karak district 10 terrorists eliminated in separate Nor th Waziristan IBOs: ISPR ATC grants bail to Imran Riaz in Zaman Park attack case LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T The Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC) Lahore on Saturday granted bail to Anchor person Imran Riaz in the Zaman Park attack case A week ago, the police arrested Imran Riaz Khan in a case of assaulting police officials and vandalism outside the PTI founder ’s Zaman Park residence The police had produced the journalist in the court and sought his physical remand The court instead had sent Imran Riaz on judicial remand During the proceedings Ashfaq questioned the sensitivity of the case, asking why the police were unaware of it for eight months if it was so significant Riaz’s counsel, Ali Mian Ashfaq, identified more than a dozen loopholes during the proceedings, challenging the prosecution’s claims and highlighting inconsistencies He pointed out the lack of evidence establishing Riaz s connection to the charges and the absence of any role attributed to the accused in the FIR On February 23, the Anti-Corruption Establishment (ACE) arrested Imran on charges of acquiring Tharabi Lake contract at a significantly reduced price Later the anchorperson was granted bail in a corruption case against a surety bond worth Rs0 1 million On the other hand an ATC extended the interim bail of former federal minister Asad Umer and Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Zain Qureshi till March 19 in the Jinnah House attack case Outgoing President Alvi says was honoured to ser ve people of Pakistan ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Outgoing President Dr Arif Alvi on Saturday said that it had been an honour for him to serve the people of Pakistan In his last post as 13th President of Pakistan he said he did not doubt that a brilliant future awaited the country May Allah forgive me for my shortcomings and reward me for the good deeds I may have done, wrote Arif Alvi The post comes after PPP Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari was elected as the President of Pakistan following polling at joint session of the parliament and four provincial assemblies held on Saturday Zardari became the only civilian president to be elected for a historic second time after bagging 411 votes from the electoral college, beating PTI-backed Sunni Ittehad Council’s (SIC) candidate Mahmood Khan Achakzai Dr Arif Alvi was sworn in as the 13th President of Islamic Republic of Pakistan on 9th September 2018 He is a founding member of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) that came into being in 1996 Alvi remained a member of the PTI s Central Executive Committee since its inception and has held the offices of PTI President of Sindh (1997-2001), Central Vice President (2001-2006) and Secretary General (2006-2013) In 2013 Alvi won the first National Assembly seat from Karachi which he retained in the recent 2018 general election M a r w a t a c c u s e s M a r y a m N aw a z o f ‘ h i r i n g g u n s t o a s s a s s i n a t i o n h i m ’ ISLAMABAD: What is being described as a startling claim, outspoken Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat on Saturday accused Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz of ‘hiring guns’ to assassinate Speaking to journalists outside Parliament House Marwat asserted that the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader had hired contract killers to target him According to Marwat the alleged contract to assassinate him was not just a verbal threat but involved tangible financial transactions Speaking to the media outside of Parliament House Islamabad, Sher Afzal alleged that advance money had been paid for his murder to the shooters He claimed that the Punjab chief minister had authorised payment for the ‘execution of the assassination ’ and the transaction had taken place in Dubai “In this regard one of his national assembly colleagues has collected some evidence and shared it with him and other party leaders he added He said that they are ready to share such evidence-based material with the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) The PTI leader suggested that the chief minister s involvement came to light through intercepted telephone conversations which he intended to share with relevant investigation authorities
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