Zafar draws parallel between govt, Israel on talks of conciliation
Hussain, Hasan Nawaz ‘land in Lahore’ after suspension of arrest warrants
Taliban official hopes for ‘cordial Pak-Afghan relations’
Senate
accused of having kept various vehicles in violation of the Toshakhana rules
In par tnership with Profit We d n e s d a y, 1 3 M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 I 2 Ra m a z a n , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 2 5 5 I 8 Pa g e s I I s l a m a b a d E d i t i o n ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
H E Punjab Home Department on Tuesday imposed a two-week ban on prisoner visitations and media coverage at Rawalpindi’s Adiala jail with the PTI denouncing the blanket ban on meetings with its founder due to security threats terming the move part of the large scheme to isolate the party s founder Addressing a press conference here on Tuesday, PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan flanked by PTI Secretary General and Opposition leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub said that the today s press conference was very important because it was very serious but on one point agenda that was the safety and security of their leader Imran Khan Since the February 8 polls the prison has been the centre of several meetings between the incarcerated former PTI chief and leaders belonging to the party as well as its allies, seeking the former premier ’s consultations over the party’s course of political action In orders issued to the Punjab IG the department maintained that the decision was taken in light of a threat alert issued for the prison by law enforcement and intelligence agencies The department’s Internal Security Wing reported that terrorists who have the support of anti-state groups wanted to target the prison to spread chaos in the country Hence it was important for the department to take necessary measures to avoid such incidents As per sources, the department has ordered the Special Branch Intelligence Bureau and Prisons Department to conduct a security survey of the prison on March 13 (tomorrow) It has also directed the installation of barbed wires around the boundary wall and the screening of the jail premises and nearby areas by the bomb disposal squad As per the Home Department’s directives government contractors and staff employed at the jail will also undergo a security clearance by police and Rangers along with mock emergency drills The ban will be applied to all the inmates of the jail, including former premier Imran, former foreign minister Shah Mahmood Qureshi, and PTI President Parvez Elahi Imran s life in danger Gohar stated that the two-week blanket ban was imposed under the pretext that there was a terror threat which they denounced in the strongest possible terms We demand that before imposing this blanket ban Imran Khan s family members and lawyers should have been informed,” he added Gohar stated that Imran Khan’s life was i n d a n g e r a n d h e a l r e a d y e x p r e s s e d h i s d i strust on those who kept him in custody dem a n d i n g t h a t t h e y s h o u l d b e i n s t a n t l y i n f o r m e d a b o u t t h e r e a l s i t u a t i o n r e g a r d i n g his health, safety and security because it was v e r y c o n c e r n i n g H e d e m a n d e d t h a t t h e y should be allowed to meet Imran Khan by all means today (Wednesday) PTI DECRIES AS PUNJAB BANS VISITORS, MEDIA COVERAGE AT ADIAL A JAIL ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Senate, the Upper House of the Parliament, became dysfunctional for three weeks, as 52 senators – more than half its strength including the Chairman and Deputy Chairman retired on the expiry of their constitutional term while the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the election to Senate vacant seats on March 14 The schedule for Senate elections will be issued on March 14 while the nomination papers for elections can be obtained from the Election Commission of Pakistan s (ECP) head office and four provincial secretariats While the nomination papers can be submitted to the concerned ECP offices on March 15 and 16 As per law, the term of 52 Senate members including Chairman Sadiq Sanjrani Deputy Chairman Mirza Afridi Leader of the House Ishaq Dar Leader of the Opposition Dr Shahzad Waseem and Senator Raza Rabbani, ended on Tuesday The term of 11 senators supported by PML-N, 13 by PPP, 7 by PTI, and two each from JUI-F, Pashtunkhwa Milli Awami Party (PkMAP), and National Party have ended Four senators supported by Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) along with one senator from Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) MQM-P and Pakistan Muslim League-F (PML-F) have also retired Those who retired include, Moula Bux Chandio, Farogh Naseem, Dr Musadik Malik, Faisal Javed and Azam Khan Swati Asad Ali Junejo and Mushahid Hussain Sayed representing Islamabad have also retired from Senate After the general elections six Senate seats got vacant after the Senators won MNA seats By-elections to fill these vacant seats will take place on March 14 The term of a senator is six years and half of them retire every three years The elections of new Senators normally take place days before the expiry of the senators term but this time that could not happen The new situation appeared came about due to the delay in holding general elections, in the absence of an electoral college caused by the failure of the ECP to hold timely general elections E C P C O M P L E T E S P R E PA R AT I O N S F O R S E N AT E E L E C T I O N S: The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) will announce the schedule for the election on Senate vacant seats on March 14 As per details the preparations have been completed for the by-election to 48 Senate seats, scheduled to take place on April 2 After the merger with KP, the elections to the four FATA seats will not be held “These seats have been abolished after the merger of tribal areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under the 25th Amendment of the Constitution, the ECP said in its statement Nomination papers about the Senate elections can be obtained from the Election Commission Secretariat Islamabad as well as the provincial elections commissioners of Punjab Sindh Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan Candidates can submit their nomination papers to their respective Returning Officers on Friday and Saturday (March 15, 16) Earlier, 52 senators retired on March 12 after completing their six-year tenure According to the ECP, the Senate polls will be carried out on seven general seats two women seats two technocrat seats and one minority seat in Punjab It added that the elections will be contested on 12 seats in Sindh as well in the aforementioned denomination while in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan the polls will only be carried out on 11 seats
T
becomes ‘dysfunctional’ as ECP unveils by-polls schedule today KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T The ten-member newly-formed cabinet of Sindh was sworn in on Tuesday at the Governor House in Karachi Sindh Governor Kamran Tessori administered oath to the newly-appointed minister at a ceremony attended by a large number of distinguished guests including officials, political leaders, and their families’ members The PPP-led provincial government initially approved the ten-member cabinet and was granted leading to a formal oathtaking ceremony held at the Sindh Governor House The newly sworn-in cabinet members include Sharjeel Inam Memon, Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho Syed Nasir Hussain Shah Saeed Ghani Jam Khan Shoro Ziaul Hussain Lanjar Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Mehr and Ali Hassan Zardari Unfortunately, Syed Zulfikar Ali Shah was unable to attend the ceremony due to logistical constraints in reaching Karachi from Islamabad Sindh Chief Secretary Dr Fakhar Alam read out the official notification for the appointment of ministers following which Governor Kamran Tessori administered the oath to the newly appointed cabinet members Chief Minister Murad Ali Shah was also present at the ceremony Three advisers were announced on the recommendation of Sindh chief minister including Allah Dino Khan Bhayo Ehsanur Rehman Mazari, and Syed Najmi Alam The spokesperson for Sindh Chief Minister Shah disclosed that the portfolios for the newly sworn-in ministers and advisers have been assigned as follows: 1 Sharjeel Inam Memon: Department of Transport and Mass Transit, Department of Excise, Taxation and Narcotics 2 Dr Azra Pechuho: Ministry of Health and Population Welfare 3 Syed Nasir Hussain Shah: Department of Energy Planning and Development 4 Syed Sardar Ali Shah: Department of School Education and Literacy, Department of College Education, and Department of Mines and Minerals Development 5 Saeed Ghani: Local Government and Housing Town Planning Department Public Health Engineering and Rural Development 6 Jam Khan Shoro: Minister of Irrigation and Food Department 7 Ziaul Hassan Lanjar: Interior and Law Parliamentary Affairs and Criminal Prosecution 8 Sardar Muhammad Bakhsh Khan Mehr: Agriculture, Supply and Prize, Sports and Youth Affairs, Inquiries, and Anti-Corruption Establishment 9 Ali Hassan Zardari: Prisons 10 Syed Zulfiqar Ali Shah: Culture Tourism Antiquities and Archives Additionally the advisers were assigned specific areas: 1 Allah Dino Khan Bhayo: Advisor to the Department of Forests and Wildlife 2 Ehsanur Rehman Mazari: Advisor to the Department of Inter-Provincial Coordination 3 Syed Najmi Alam: Advisor to Human Settlement Spatial Development Social Housing, and Department of Livestock and Fisheries
cabinet swor n in, por
announced LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Hasan Nawaz and Hussain Nawaz sons of Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) supremo Nawaz Sharif have arrived in Lahore after suspension of their arrest warrants by an accountability court Upon their arrival, Nawaz received his sons at Jati Umrah’s residence, reported a private TV citing sources Last week an accountability court suspended the arrest warrants of Hasan and Hussain in the Al-Azizia, Flagship, and Avenfield cases The decision was announced by accountability court judge Nasir Javed Rana in a verdict he reserved earlier today The warrants have been suspended till March 14, as per the verdict The warrants of the brothers were issued seven years ago when the court had declared them absconders Earlier their lawyer, Qazi Misbah, filed the plea seeking suspension of the warrants were filed as both brothers planned to return to Pakistan on March 12 National Accountability Bureau (NAB) prosecutors Sardar Muzaffar, Usman Masood and Sohail Arif also appeared in the court Misbah revealed the development during the hearing of the Toshakhana reference filed against Nawaz, Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) Co-Chairman Asif Ali Zardari and former prime minister Yusuf Raza Gilani wherein the politicians are
Ten-member Sindh
tfolios
ISLAMABAD A G E N C I E S A senior Afghan Taliban leader has expressed the hope that Pakistan’s new government will have cordial relations with Kabul Afghan state media reported on Tuesday Kandahar Governor Mullah Muhammad Shirin Akhund received Pakistan s Chargé d Affaires (Cd A) and head of mission in Kabul Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, in Kandahar, the spiritual centre of the Afghan Taliban on Monday The Pakistani envoy travelled to Kandahar to meet with Mullah Shirin a close confidant of the Taliban supreme leader amid a tense relationship between the two uneasy neighbours Afghanistan s Bakhtar state news agency reported that the Kandahar governor congratulated the Pakistani envoy over the holding of elections This is the first time a senior and influential Taliban leader has spoken publicly about elections in Pakistan The Pakistani envoy also confirmed his meeting with the Kandahar governor when approached “We discussed matters of common interest and agreed to advance Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all mutually beneficial areas, Ambassador Nizamani told media Bakhtar news agency quoted the Pakistani Cd A as saying that he will “soon go to Pakistan and inform officials about his discussion in Kandahar with the foreign minister and other officials” Other subjects came under discussion as well in the meeting according to the news agency The meeting can be seen as a follow-up of Mullah Shirin s discussions in Pakistan in January when he attended a border coordination meeting at a time when Pakistan showed disappointment at Kabul’s inaction to deal with Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan militants Mullah Shirin had met Pakistani security officials and then caretaker foreign minister Jalil Abbas Jilani Pakistani officials were confident that the visit would help ease tension over the issue of the TTP, however, there was no let up in the militant outfit’s attacks after the visit g G O H A R S AY S I M R A N ’ S L I F E I N D A N G E R, D E M A N D I N G I N S TA N T I N F O R M AT I O N A B O U T H I S H E A LT H, S A F E T Y A N D S E C U R I T Y g P R O V I N C I A L H O M E D E P T S AY S T W O -W E E K B A N D E C I D E D I N L I G H T O F ‘ T H R E AT S ’ I S S U E D B Y L E A S, I N T E L L I G E N C E A G E N C I E S g E L E C T I O N W ATC H D O G C O M P L E T E S P R E PA R AT I O N S F O R B Y- E L E C T I O N TO 4 8 S E N AT E S E AT S O N A P R I L 2 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 ISLAMABAD: PTI leader Ali Zafar has called out the alleged hypocrisy of the federal government s offers for conciliation while drawing comparisons between the government and Israel “You should remember what Israel does [ ] They call the Palestinians and tell them that they will help them [ ] and as they gather for help, they bomb them, Zafar said while speaking to a private TV channel He said the federal government said it wanted to reconcile, talk about democracy and strengthen the economy but did not stop the political victimisation of PTI workers Protest to continue through Ramazan could be staged outside Adiala PTI leader Ali Zafar says his party has decided to continue its protest against the alleged rigging in the general elections throughout Ramzan Speaking on Geo News show Capital Talk Zafar stated that a party meeting reviewed the treatment of peaceful protestors across the country and decided that it would not wait for Eidul Fitr and would instead continue the current series of demonstrations “We saw today that they did not allow people to meet Imran Khan so it could be decided that the protest is taken to [outside] the Adiala Jail
Jam K amal K han assumes office as Federal Minister for Commerce
Pakistan, IMF likely to commence talks from March 15
Gov t approves telecom revenue transfer to A JK
wed esday 13 Ma ch 2024 | ISLAMABAD 02 nEwS PR OFIT a P P Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Tuesday directed for the submission of a comprehensive roadmap to boost IT exports He said the government would take steps to fully avail of the billion-dollar potential of the country for IT exports, besides, the young people would be provided with the required facilities of education skills development and startups The prime minister chaired a review meeting on IT and Telecom sector The meeting was attended by Minister for Finance Muhammad Aurangzeb, Minister for Economic Affairs and Establishment Ahad Khan Cheema Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja Governor State Bank of Pakistan Jameel Ahmed Shahzad Saleem and the relevant senior officials, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release During the meeting, the prime minister said that during their previous tenure, positive outcome was witnessed from the initiation of different projects in the IT sector He stressed upon resolution of all issues of start ups freelancers and IT companies relating to banking Expressing his satisfaction over the IT export volume of more than $3 billion in the current year he emphasized upon its further increase For brining Pakistan s IT sector at par with the international standards they would have to work hard he observed The prime minister also asked for submission of a comprehensive report regarding special technology zones The meeting was apprised of progress on IT package announced by the prime minister during June 2023 D u r i n g t h e p r e v i o u s t e n u r e d u e t o s p e c i a l a t t e n t i o n o f P r i m e M i n i s t e r Shehbaz Sharif the IT exports witnessed 13 percent increase during the first seven m o n t h s o f t h e c u r r e n t f i s c a l y e a r w h e n c o m p a r e d w i t h p r e v i o u s c o r r e s p o n d i n g y e a r U n d e r t h e D i g i s k i l l s p r o g r a m m e , a t o t a l o f 4 m i l l i o n s t u d e n t s o f 1 7 b a t c h e s comprising 28 percent females had been i m p a r t e d t r a i n i n g P a k i s t a n h a d e m e rg e d as the second top country in the world on t h e b a s i s o f n u m b e r s o f f r e e l a n c e r s P a k i s t a n w a s e x p o r t i n g I T p r o d u c t s t o 1 7 0 c o u n t r i e s o f the world it was further added The meeting was informed that during the previous year, an investment of $400 million was made in Pakistani startups The prime minister directed for taking of all necessary legal and policy related steps to attract investment and boost IT exports He also asked for expediting work on projects meant to enhance professional and technical training of youth for complete utilization of potential in IT sector The meeting was also informed about the steps and progress on IT, E Rozgar, startups cyber security telecom sector and launch of 5-G PRIME MINISTER SEEKS COMPREHENSIVE ROADMAP TO BOOST IT EXPORTS ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a s Jam Kamal Khan officially assumed his duties as the Federal Minister for Commerce, taking charge of the ministry and outlining his vision for the future of Pakistan’s commerce Upon his arrival at the ministry Mr Khan was warmly welcomed by Capt (Retd) Muhammad Khurram Agha the Federal Secretary for Commerce, setting the stage for a period of dynamic change and progress As per details shared by the ministry Khan wasted no time in articulating his vision and objectives for the Ministry during his inaugural briefing He underscored the critical importance of fostering growth stimulating investment and providing comprehensive support to both local and foreign investors He said Pakistan s economic potential could be fully realised through an inclusive approach With a wealth of experience garnered throughout his career Khan is determined to turn Pakistan s commerce around Under the guidance of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Khan reiterated his unwavering commitment to addressing the formidable economic challenges confronting the nation Central to his strategy is the revitalisation of key sectors such as mining livestock and textiles through modernization initiatives while ensuring alignment with global standards and best practices In a departure from traditional trade paradigms, he advocated for proactive measures to enhance Pakistan s competitiveness on the global stage, stressing the necessity of embracing innovation and agility in navigating the ever-evolving international trade landscape Acknowledging communication from Dr Gohar Ejaz the former caretaker Minister for Commerce, Khan underscored the significance of fostering closer ties between the business community and the Ministry of Commerce recognizing their pivotal role in driving economic growth and prosperity Hailing from NA-257 Lasbela, Jam Kamal Khan s illustrious political journey spans two terms as District Nazim of Lasbela followed by his election to the National Assembly in 2013 Notably he served as Minister of State for Petroleum & Natural Resources under Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif before assuming the position of Chief Minister of Balochistan from 2018 to 2021 A testament to his leadership acumen Minister Khan was elected as the inaugural president of the Balochistan Awami Party (BAP) in 2018 further solidifying his position as a dynamic force in Pakistani politics
PR OFIT N e w s D e s k The Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC), a state-owned entity responsible for supplying natural gas in Sindh and Balochistan disclosed a significant loss of Rs9 3 billion for the first half of the fiscal year 2022-23 The announcement came through a filing with the Pakistan Stock Exchange This loss marks a substantial increase from the Rs2 13 loss per share recorded in the corresponding period the previous year escalating to Rs10 58 per share by the end of December 2022 Despite a 10 3 percent increase in net sales reaching Rs208 72 billion, the company faced a gross loss of Rs2 2 billion primarily due to a 12 1 percent hike in the cost of sales amounting to Rs210 92 billion Analysts point to elevated gas purchase prices, transmission losses, and higher depreciation and amortization charges as key factors behind the financial downturn Operational expenses saw a 21 2 percent rise totaling Rs10 13 billion while other income declined by 4 1 percent to Rs7 8 billion Finance costs also surged by 35 6 percent, reaching Rs3 01 billion, attributed mainly to increased interest rates and borrowing Significant outstanding receivables were noted from KElectric, Karachi’s main power supplier, and Pakistan Steel Mills, totaling Rs29 97 billion and Rs25 17 billion respectively Both entities have challenged the late payment surcharges levied by SSGC, leading to the decision to recognize these charges on a receipt basis starting July 2012 The recoverability and timing of payments from K-Electric and Pakistan Steel Mills remain uncertain due to their challenging operational and financial situations and the accumulation of arrears SSGC acknowledged its reliance on the Pakistani government s financial support to sustain operations confirming the government s commitment to assist in maintaining the company s status SSGC faces Rs9.3b loss in first half of FY24
PR OFIT N e w s D e s k Pakistan and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) are likely to commence negotiations for the second review on the $3 billion Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) from March 15 According to media reports Pakistan s newly sworn-in Finance Minister Mohammad Aurangzeb has given the green signal for negotiations with the IMF for the ongoing SBA and a new loan programme During the talks, Islamabad will request the global lender about the last tranche of $1 1 billion under the SBA programme Pakistan has already achieved the targets set by the IMF for the second review the sources said They further said Pakistan is likely to request from the IMF for a $6 to 8 billion new lifeline to back its depleting forex reserves and meet foreign payment obligations Finance Ministry sources said Islamabad will engage the IMF on the economic targets for the fresh loan programme On March 8 the IMF said it was ready to send a mission to Islamabad for the second economic review after the formation of PM Shehbaz Sharif s cabinet Earlier, the IMF Director of Communications said that the focus currently is on completing the ongoing standby program which is ending in April 2024 A mission for the second review would be dispatched immediately after the formation of the new cabinet in Pakistan g S h e h b a z i s p l e a s e d w i t h t h e c u r r e n t y e a r ' s I T e x p o r t s s u r p a s s i n g $ 3 , y e t h e i n s i s t s o n f u r t h e r i n c r e a s e PR OFIT N e w s D e s k Bears dominated the trading floor at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Tuesday, as the benchmark KSE100 index experienced a sharp downfall of over 900 points According to the PSX website the stock market opened on a positive note and started its upward trajectory from the previous close of 65,755 30 points However, the benchmark KSE100 index started to fall due to excessive sell-off pressure during intraday trading As of 1:00 pm, the index plunged to the lowest level of 64 664 66 down by 1 073 65 points or 1 63% The sell-off affected various sectors including automobiles chemicals, banking, oil & gas, and refineries Major companies such as OGDC, PPL, PSO, and SHEL saw declines in their stock values On Monday Muhammad Aurangzeb the former CEO of HBL assumed the role of Finance Minister of Pakistan after being sworn in This appointment follows weeks-long speculation about the top position in the finance ministry, which is key for the country’s discussions with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Investors were also keen to see who would lead the finance team in the federal government Analysts said market participants were taking their positions after heavy buying in the previous sessions Some experts attributed the selling to a much-needed technical correction in the market B e a r s d o m i n at e at P S X a s K S E - 1 0 0 f a l l s ove r 9 0 0 p o i nt s g I s l a m a b a d w i l l r e q u e s t a n e w l o a n o f $ 6 b n t o $ 8 b n a l o n g w i t h l a s t t r a n c h e o f $ 1 1 b u n d e r o n g o i n g p r o g r a m g E x p e r t s a t t r i b u t e s e l l i n g t o a m u c h - n e e d e d t e c h n i c a l c o r r e c t i o n i n m a r k e t Pakistan spends $2.4b on external debt repayment in 1st fiscal quar ter PR OFIT N e w s D e s k In the first quarter of the current fiscal year Pakistan has spent $2 4 billion towards servicing its external public debt amidst the challenges posed by its declining foreign exchange reserves This financial maneuvering was detailed in an official report covering the period from July to September 2023-24, highlighting the government’s efforts to manage its international financial obligations According to the report the total expenditure of $2 404 million on debt servicing includes principal repayments amounting to $1,627 million and interest payments of $777 million A significant portion of this repayment, $524 million, was directed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) underscoring the country’s commitments to its major creditors Other notable repayments include $331 million to the World Bank $283 million to the Asian Development Bank (ADB), and $108 million to the Islamic Development Bank (IsDB) Bilateral creditors also received substantial repayments, with Saudi Arabia receiving $407 million, China $210 million, Japan $26 million and Non-Paris Club countries receiving $186 million in both principal and interest payments Additionally the government repaid $190 million to other creditors and made interest payments totaling $139 million on international bonds and to commercial banks Despite these significant outflows, the Government of Pakistan has continued to secure new funding agreements During the same quarter new agreements valued at $642 million were signed primarily for project financing (69%), programme financing (15%), and commodity financing (16%), aimed at mitigating the impacts of the 2022 floods Disbursements totaling $3,536 million were received, with major contributions from the World Bank IsDB China and Saudi Arabia As of September 30 2023 Pakistan s total external public debt stood at $86 358 million The first quarter s debt servicing activities resulted in net transfers to the government s external public debt, showcasing a positive balance of $1,869 million, as Pakistan continues to navigate its economic challenges through strategic financial management
PR OFIT N e w s D e s k The Federal Government has amended the law to facilitate the transfer of telecom license fees renewal fees and spectrum auction proceeds to the Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) regional government This decision, made in a recent cabinet meeting, marks a departure from the previous arrangement where these funds were managed by the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on behalf of the AJK Council The Ministry of Kashmir Affairs and GilgitBaltistan, in a cabinet meeting held on February 6, 2024, presented the issue, initially raised by the Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication The cabinet directed the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs to prepare a detailed summary, incorporating views from relevant ministries, for consideration in its next meeting This move follows the formation of an inter-ministerial committee by the Prime Minister, with the Defense Minister as its convener, to evaluate and recommend the process for transferring telecom-related proceeds to the AJK government On December 29 2023 the committee decided to form a subcommittee for in-depth examination which subsequently recommended the transfer of funds to the AJK government The full committee endorsed this proposal on January 18 2024 prompting the IT ministry to prioritize the submission of a summary to the federal cabinet Under the current legal framework, specifically Section 5(2) of the Azad Jammu and Kashmir Council Adaptation of Pakistan Telecommunication (Reorganisation) Act 2005 PTA is required to transfer at least 50% of the fees received from telecom licensees to the AJK Council However the adaptation of this act in light of the AJK Interim Constitution (Thirteenth Amendment) Act 2018 led to ambiguities regarding the rightful recipient of these funds The proposed amendment seeks to clarify that telecom-related proceeds which were never part of the government of Pakistan s non-tax revenues should rightfully be transferred to the AJK government This adjustment aims to rectify an anomaly created by the existing legal provisions and acknowledges the legislative competence of the AJK Assembly in matters of telecommunication as outlined in the AJK Constitution g A n i n c l u s i v e a p p r o a c h t h a t f o s t e r s g r o w t h a n d s t i m u l a t e s i n v e s t m e n t w i l l b e t a k e n b y m i n i s t r y, s a y s K h a n g A s o f S e p t 3 0 , 2 0 2 3 , Pa k i s t a n ' s t o t a l e x t e r n a l p u b l i c d e b t s t o o d a t $ 8 6 , 3 5 8 m
P TA i s l e g a l l y r e q u i r e d t o t r a n s f e r a t l e a s t 5 0 % o f f e e s r e c e i v e d f r o m t e l e c o m l i c e n s e e s t o A J K C o u n c i l g Operational expenses saw a 21 percent rise, totaling Rs10 13b, while other income declined by 4 percent to Rs7 8b
g
TNew Finance M inister targets IMF deal and economic reforms
g ‘ T h e r e ' s n o t i m e f o r d e b a t e o r d e l a y ; o u r f o c u s i s o n i m m e d i a t e a c t i o n, ’ M u h a m m a d A u r a n g z e b e x p r e s s e s h i s a m b i t i o n s
C hina and Pakistan enjoy great potential in marine energy exploration: NPC deputy
RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t The national airline Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) on Tuesday advised pilots and cabin crew members against fasting during travel and flights throughout the month of Ramazan, directing them to adhere to the safety guidelines The directive issued by the manager of the PIA flight safety department has been disseminated through a circular to all cabin crew members outlining guidelines regarding fasting during flights The correspondence emphasized that while flying while fasting was technically feasible, it introduced an element of risk as it may reduce the margin of safety, as per corporate safety management and the aircrew medical center ’s advice It said that fasting can potentially decrease alertness and impair decision-making abilities which could lead to serious consequences in emergencies The letter further highlighted that fasting, although a revered practice in Islam, disrupts the normal routine and can lead to physiological changes such as hypoglycemia and dehydration, which could affect concentration, decision-making abilities, and reflexes The document warned of the potentially serious consequences in emergency situations if actions were delayed or executed incorrectly due to the effects of fasting While acknowledging the religious significance of fasting, the letter stressed that exemptions are granted for fasting during travel It underscored the responsibility of cockpit and cabin crew members not only to themselves but also to passengers and ground staff emphasising that fasting while on duty could pose risks not only to their own safety but also to others The directive explicitly instructed all fasting cockpit and cabin crew members to abstain from operating flights, highlighting that self-exemptions cannot be claimed even under state law It emphasised compliance with rules and regulations to ensure the safety of passengers and crew Meanwhile a PIA spokesperson confirmed that a circular had been previously issued on this matter and the airline is diligently ensuring its implementation to uphold safety standards
General’s efforts to enhance relations between Punjab and the US Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb was also present at the meeting S h e h z a d S a l e e m s t i l l n o t a p p e a r e d i n c o u r t a m i d h a r a s s m e n t c a s e
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o Rt
The former director general of National Accountability Bureau (NAB) Shehzad Saleem could not appear in district and session court amid Tayyaba Gil harassment case According to the details additional session judge Sohail Sheikh heard the case Judge Sohail stated that the court start from 8:30am and Shehzad Saleem must appeared till 11am so that the court should impose trial on him today (Monday) However, the court paused the case till 11am amid Shehzad Saleem appearance
Tribute paid to the builders of Karakoram Highway
GILGIT S ta f f R e p o R t
The students teachers and officials of Karakoram International University paid tribute to the martyrs of the Karakoram Highway(KKH) at the Chinese Memorial Cemetery aka ‘China Yadgar ’ in Danyore, Gilgit Baltistan The event was organized by the China Study Centre (CSC) International Office Confucius-Set and School of Professional Development and Education (SPDCE) to pay tribute to the engineers and workers who lost their lives during the construction of KKH a route that connects the two brotherly nations
also known as the Eighth Wonder of the World Senior officials from CSC, SPDEC and Director of Public Relations at KIU Amjad Ali participated in the event They spoke about the importance of KKH, Sino-Pak relations, and the would always be remembered He highlighted that the journey, which began with the construction of KKH, has continued to evolve Today KKH stands as an integral part of CPEC creating economic opportunities and improving the lives of people in both nations KKH, also known as the ChinaPakistan Friendship Highway, is a 1,300-kilometer highway that stretches from Hasanabdal in Punjab to GB in Pakistan and further extends into China Constructed between 1966 and 1977, KKH stands as a symbol of the strong bond between China and Pakistan Tragically the construction claimed the lives of 692 Pakistanis and 108 Chinese workers highlighting the sacrifices made to create this vital route of connectivity and friendship Gwadar Pro reported
BEIJING S ta f f R e p o R t China and Pakistan enjoy great potential in marine energy exploration said Yan Hongtao a deputy to the National People s Congress and the general manager of China National Offshore Oil Corporation (CNOOC) Tianjin “We can engage in more comprehensive cooperation on joint marine energy exploration and development and strengthen the allweather strategic cooperative partnership between China and Pakistan he stated according to China Economic Net (CEN) As the pioneer of offshore oil and gas resource exploration in China CNOOC has actively participated in the construction of the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road” In a bid to enhance bilateral friendly cooperation in science it also took part in the 91-day China-Pakistan joint marine geological survey in the Indian Ocean starting from December 2019 During the third Belt and Road Forum for International Cooperation in 2023, the two heads of state hope that both sides will seize the 10th anniversary of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) as an opportunity to develop an upgraded version of the corridor focusing on growth livelihood innovation, greenness and openness They aim to enhance cooperation in areas such as industrial parks, agriculture, mining, and new energy Under the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) framework if we continue to conduct geological surveys and research in Pakistani waters we will undoubtedly establish a robust data foundation for delineating potential oil and gas areas, selecting favorable zones, evaluating resources and analyzing the oil and gas potential in this region It will promote our all-weather strategic cooperative partnership to a new level said Yan Firstly, Yan suggested to promote China-Pakistan joint energy exploration and development cooperation along the 21st Century Maritime Silk Road in Pakistan’s exclusive economic zone in the Indian Ocean
can help Pakistan explore its marine energy in the marine exclusive economic zone along the Indus Fan Basin, including collecting gravity, magnetic, and seismic data, ocean drilling and sampling ” he added In addition Yan suggested conducting joint energy surveys with KARACHI S a j j a D B a l o c h
Secondly we
Karachi police booked and arrested the driver of a ridehailing service on the report of a family who complained about a mid-ride brawl a couple days ago The incident has gained widespread attention on social media platforms According to reports, a tweet surfaced on the social media site X, formerly known as Twitter, where a female journalist raised concerns about an altercation involving herself and an Indrive captain She also criticized the police’s handling of the situation for allegedly refusing to register her FIR against the driver Pakistan Today reached out to the journalist who tweeted about the incident involving the online company s driver According to her account, she was traveling from Gulistan Johar to Korangi around
pm on Sunday using an online ride-hailing application When
ride was passing through Shahra-e-Faisal, she requested a stop at a local store for some shopping However, the driver refused to comply and began behaving rudely towards her and her family During the ensuing argument the driver stopped the car forcibly removed her brother from the vehicle and proceeded to assault him Despite her attempts to intervene, the driver continued to inflict severe injuries on her brother, the lady claimed Following the incident she went to the police station to file an FIR but had to return home after the police did not heed her complaint On Monday, the police apprehended the accused driver and summoned the lady for further legal proceedings Subsequently, the Bahadrabad Police registered an FIR against the driver and detained him Sarwar Commando the SHO of Bahadrabad Police told Pakistan Today that the FIR was not immediately registered due to the lady s state of panic, which hindered her ability to provide details regarding the incident Meanwhile the lady contacted the management of the Indrive app who promptly apologized and suspended the captain pending further investigation In a conversation with this scribe, the accused driver denied the allegations levelled by the lady, claiming that her brother initiated the fight and he acted in self-defense 03 NEWS Wednesday 13 March 2024 | ISLAMABAD DRIVER OF RIDE-HAILING SERVICE HELD OVER MID RIDE SCUFFLE WITH FAMILY PR OFIT N e w S D e S k Muhammad Aurangzeb the newly appointed Finance Minister of Pakistan has declared a focused agenda centered on implementing critical reforms and securing a new agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) to navigate the country’s economic challenges Aurangzeb a former executive at Habib Bank was officially inaugurated in a ceremony at the Presidency on Monday Highlighting the urgency of the situation, Aurangzeb stated, There s no time for debate or delay; our focus is on immediate action ” His strategy includes embracing the policies introduced by the caretaker government which he believes have positively influenced Pakistan s economic indicators Under Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif ’s previous administration, Pakistan negotiated a $3 billion loan package with the IMF a move Aurangzeb credits for averting a more severe economic crisis With this package set to expire the Finance Minister announced plans to negotiate a new three-year loan agreement, aiming for at least $6 billion to support the economy Aurangzeb also emphasized the importance of a robust privatisation strategy to relieve fiscal pressure aligning with the Prime Minister s directives Despite his new role, he acknowledged his limited familiarity with recent reforms by the Federal Board of Revenue but expressed his commitment to enhancing revenue collection and implementing economic policies effectively Further discussions with the IMF are anticipated to begin within the week as Pakistan seeks to finalize the current Standby Arrangement Programme and explore a larger Extended Fund Facility This effort includes potentially increasing the funding through climate financing aiming for a substantial boost to the country s financial support from the IMF As Aurangzeb prepares to lead Pakistan s economic strategy, he brings experience from his tenure at HBL and a commitment to driving financial and economic development for the country
HE
6
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PTI founder’s sisters, 32 others’ interim bail extended in Jinnah House attack case LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t An anti-terrorism court on Tuesday extended the interim bail of 34 accused including sisters of PTI founder Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan in the Jinnah House attack case The duty judge of the antiterrorism court conducted hearing of the interim bail pleass of 34 accused including Aleema Khan and Uzma Khan The court adjourned the hearing issuing orders of interim bail extension till April 20 Talking to media after appearing in the court Aleema Khan said what did the deal mean? Deal meant to keep mum We have been contacted by many people that if we keep quiet they will take PTI founder out of jail ” they said She said cases of terrorism had been registered against them We have come to the court but there is no judge no investigation officer even there is no judge People are being harassed for nine months Still the investigation is incomplete, she added She further said PTI founder and Bushra Bibi were fine PTI founder had pain in intestine “Superintendent should have told us so that we could arrange our doctor The superintendent says we have to take permission from high-ups she said CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 PTI Chairman stated that in the first place, PTI Founder was embroiled in fabricated and politically motivated cases and was convicted through unjust speedy courts trials However he expressed optimism that the judiciary would do justice and he would be cleared of all these bogus and fake cases soon “Imran Khan’s life is in danger, he is not an ordinary prisoner that such a meeting should be banned – we demand that we be allowed to meet and be told where the ban orders came from Gohar demanded He stated that in connection with the meeting with Imran Khan, the Islamabad High Court (IHC) had allowed that routine meetings could be held on Tuesday and Thursday but neither his family lawyers nor the party leadership were not allowed to meet him and were told that a blanket ban had been imposed on the meeting owing to the security threats PTI Chairman went on to say that the PTI founder had given a list of ten lawyers but even they did not get a chance to meet him as per the set rules as they always met him in tight security Gohar lamented that Bushra Bibi was confined to a tiny room in Bani Gala house and was kept in a worst condition than the Adiala Jail Speaking on the occasion PTI Secretary General said that he visited Adiala jail thrice but was not being allowed to meet the prime minister Imran Khan despite the court s orders Opposition Leader stated that Chief Minister Punjab and IG Punjab were not ready to obey the court order under the pretence of security aimed at isolating Imran Khan However he made it clear that they would not succeed in their nefarious plan because the nation was stood firmly with their beloved leader ideology of Haqeeqi Azadi Omar said that the so-called, unconstitutional and illegal chief minister Maryam Nawaz should be ashamed because this bar has been placed under her watch Omar went on to say that the person who had been unconstitutionally and illegally made the interior minister was responsible for all this situation He said that jail authorities claimed of detaining terrorists from the vicinity of Adiala jail but did they ever conducted any of their identification parade to ascertain to which proscribed organization they were belonged to and what sort of weapons were recovered from them Omar stated that the situation around the Adiala jail was quite peaceful and normal as all other people were allowed to freely meet with their imprisoned family members but only they were denied meeting with Khan despite the court’s clear orders However he demanded that even if there was security issue was of the prison despite stationed so many security personnel and high walls then the prison officers should be sacked and action should be taken because it proved their incompetence and negligence PTI Secretary General stated that PTI founder was kept in prison in a case that he sold a watch which belonged to him According to this Omar stated that Asif Ali Zardari and Nawaz Sharif had taken luxury cars and they should be in jail instead of Imran Khan MWM FILES CONTEMPT PLEA Earlier today the Majlis Wahdat-iMuslimeen (MWM) filed a contempt plea at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) against the Adiala jail superintendent for denying the party chief and other members a meeting with the PTI founding chairman a day earlier The plea was filed by the party s chairman Allama Raja Nasir Abbas Talking to the media after filing the plea Allama Nasir stated that the jail authorities did not allow him to meet Imran despite a court order issued in this regard on March 8 He added that the prison officers made him wait from 9 AM to 4 PM on March 11 The MWM chief lamented how the situation in the country was worse than a jungle Even a jungle has more laws, he stated PTI LEADERS TURNED AWAY Last month several leaders of the PTI including those elected in the February 8 general elections were turned away by the Adiala jail as they reached there for a meeting with the party founder The leaders said they had a court order for a meeting with Imran to discuss the prevailing situation and unfolding political developments in the country However, the jail administration declined to obey the court orders The jail authorities allowed only five PTI leaders to meet with Imran –Barrister Ali Zafar Barrister Umair Niazi Ali Bukhari Shadab Jafari and Ahmed Owais Advocate while the others were denied permission for the meeting Those who were not allowed to meet Imran, included Acting PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan, Chief Organiser Omar Ayub former speaker National Assembly Asad Qaiser former Azad Kashmir prime minister Sardar Qayyum Niazi besides other party leaders Atif Khan Shahram Tarakai, Sher Afzal Marwat, and Seembia Tahir Qaiser said, “Major developments were taking place in the country Therefore it is necessary for the senior leadership of the party to consult the PTI founder The people have given a big mandate to the PTI founder PTI decries as Punjab bans visitors, media coverage at Adiala jail CM Mar yam, US Consul General discuss economic cooperation, students’ scholarships LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif met with US Consul General Kristin K Hawkins, here on Tuesday The American Consul General congratulated Maryam Nawaz Sharif on her election as the first female Chief Minister Discussions in the meeting focused on promoting economic cooperation and increasing scholarship opportunities for Pakistani students in American higher education institutions The need for joint efforts between the United States and Punjab to address climate change was also discussed Maryam Nawaz Sharif commended the US Consul
During the event, participants laid flower wreaths over the graves of Chinese martyrs who sacrificed their lives during the construction of KKH, role of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) in the economic development of Pakistan Dr Khalid Mehmood Alam Assistant Professor at CSC KIU discussed the historical perspective of KKH Fifty-four Chinese individuals are buried in the cemetery Due to the sacrifices of Chinese and Pakistani workers, today both countries are connected ” said Mr Mahmood adding that China and Pakistan were always together in grief and happiness Dr Sajjad Haider remarked that the sacrifices of the Chinese martyrs
PIA advises pilots, c abin crew against Ramazan fasting during travel
W h y d i d B i d e n o p e n t h e S O T U w i t h U k r a i n e & c l o s e w i t h G a z a ?
He was so wrong on both
Washington Watch
D r J a m e s J Z o g b y
PR E S I D E N T Joseph Biden faced heady tasks as he delivered this year ’s State of the Union address to Congress He had to confront concerns about his age voter anxiety about the economy the dysfunctional environment created by Republican hyperpartisanship, and the ongoing threat to our democratic processes posed by a feared replay of the 6 January 2021 insurrection As expected commentators had differing views as to how successful Mr Biden was at meeting the challenges before the country and his presidency with partisan Democrats appearing to read from Biden campaign talking points and Republicans glibly finding fault with the President s every word
A p a t e n t ly p a r t i s a n a f f a i r c o m p l e t e w i t h h e ck l i n g o r a c a m p a i g n ev e n t w i t h r e p e a t e d a n d u n n e c e s s a r y a p p l a u s e . I t d o e s m o r e t o d e e p e n t h e p a r t i s a n d i v i d e , t h a n t o u n i f y t h e c o u n t r y t o s e r v e t h e c o m m o n g o o d . S e e n i n t h i s l i g h t , P r e s i d e n t B i d e n Ês a dd r e s s p ro b a bly s e r v e d h i m w e l l w i t h s o m e i n h i s p a r t y bu t d i d l i t t l e t o u n i f y t h e n a t i o n
An honest assessment however would suggest that Mr Biden gave Democrats what they needed to campaign for his reelection but did little to heal the partisan divide or advance any legislation currently blocked in Congress Given the magnitude of the domestic challenges that comprised the bulk of the President’s State of the Union address it was strange that he chose to open and close his remarks with two foreign policy issues - both of which were dealt with quite unsatisfactorily He opened his remarks with dire warnings about Russia s war on Ukraine comparing the challenges this war poses to the West s democracies with the situation in Europe in the lead-up to World War II At best this was an extreme overstatement Russia’s Putin may be a bad man but he is no Hitler and the war in Ukraine is most certainly not a threat to the USA and poses no serious challenge to any of Europe s NATO countries Russia has a particular historical grievance with regard to Ukraine, and while it has been important to defend that country’s territorial integrity, it can be done without exaggeration or making overblown inaccurate historical comparisons And the use of excessive rhetoric about how democracies are confronting authoritarianism is offputting and more than a little disingenuous since the European democracies in question were colonial powers in the 1940s and among the world s worst violators of rights It’s been two years now that the President has been using Churchillian or Reaganesque flourish to describe his recreation of the Cold War conflict with Russia and China It may sound good to some in his inner circle, but it isn t registering with voters– with a significant percentage of both Democrats and Republicans not in support of sending more billions to fight a war in Ukraine If the Ukraine opening fell flat the President’s closing treatment of Gaza hit with a thud While Mr
Biden’s reelection effort will not be harmed by his support for Ukraine results in some of this year s early primaries are making it clear that his continued arming of Israel and refusal to condemn its genocidal policies in Gaza may cost him votes in November As a result, he felt compelled to address the issue, but his approach was, at best, confusing His problem: he tried to square a circle On the one hand he continues to pledge total support for Israel and its reputed right to defend itself while attempting to temper this support by also calling on Israel to demonstrate more concern for Palestinian civilians– calls which Israel has repeatedly acknowledged but ignored for months Despite Mr Biden noting Israel’s responsibility for the humanitarian crisis created in Gaza instead of calling for a ceasefire and demanding that Israel pull back its forces he pledged instead to build a floating port to bring needed supplies into Gaza
For the most part, this proposal drew scorn It was seen as unnecessary, since the problem of getting supplies into Gaza could be more easily solved by joining international calls for a ceasefire Additionally it has been noted that in the two months it would take to get the port operational thousands of Palestinians will have died of starvation
Final assessment: regrettably I m joining the camp of those who want to end this annual ritual The State of the Union neither honestly describes the state of our nation, nor does it serve to unify us to confront the challenges we face Rather it’s become a patently partisan affair complete with heckling or a campaign event with repeated and unnecessary applause It does more to deepen the partisan divide, than to unify the country to serve the common good Seen in this light, President Biden’s address probably served him well with some in his party but did little to unify the nation
The writer is President of the Arab American Institute
E l e c t r o n i c v o t i n g : I s i t v i a b l e ?
Ca n we f i g ht te c h n o l o g y ?
Tpering the prosperity of the state Comprehensive electoral reforms are needed to make the election process more convenient and accommodative to the general masses and for that a political consensus is necessary which is the need of the time
The writer is Research Assistant at
Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) Quetta
Elections determine the fate of the nation for the course of the next many years; therefore, it is quite important to formulate a system that can assist in ensuring transparency in this democratic process But, if such a non-serious political approach continues towards matters of such national importance, then it will be very hard for us to reach a meaningful end in solving pertinent issues, let alone the election process, that are hampering the prosperity of the state
Deprived citizens
04 Wednesday 13 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
T h e S h e h b a z C a b i n e t m a r k s a c a u t i o u s a p p r o a c h
taking the blame for the sputtering economy
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
C O N S I S T E N T LY insufficient water and gas supplies have disturbed the people of North Karachi financially and psychologically as they have to purchase gas cylinders and water tankers at exorbitant rates as a matter of routine The relevant authorities should resolve these issues immediately UZAIR HUSSAIN SIDDIQUI KARACHI
I N a recent incident, armed assailants shot dead two cousins, a teacher and a farmer, near Bukshapur in Kashmore The criminals easily escaped police pickets without resistance, which has eroded public confidence in the law-enforcement mechanism An urgent action is needed against such brazen lawlessness JAMALUDDIN BANGWAR KASHMORE Insane loadshedding THE period of loadshedding in parts of Lyari has gone up to over 15 hours per day This is insane There can be no justification at all The situation is affecting the mental and physical health of the residents The value of their properties has dropped significantly due to this very issue which means the residents are now bound to stay because they cannot plan to sell their houses and move to some other area in search of mental peace Several complaints have been lodged with all the relevant authorities but nothing has brought about any positive change in the situation The only reason cited constantly by K-Electric (KE) is line losses By KE s own account, the recovery rate from the area is 70pc Now, how are people supposed to act against line losses? KISHEN HARIDAS KARACHI Tentative schedule T H E Balochistan Public Service Commission (BPSC) had announced the positions of Tehsildar and Naib-Tehsildar back in 2022 After facing some legal challenges the commission advertised them again a couple of months ago Many aspiring candidates have been preparing for the said exams for more than a year now The BPSC has kept them in a state of confusion which is causing depression and stress among them This incomprehensible strategy is a source of pain and sleepless nights among the unem- ployed youth The commission should at least announce a tentative schedule for the exams so that the aspirants may have some idea about what lies ahead ENGR MUHAMMAD ABID KHAN ZHOB Rabies vaccine shor tage IN Sindh, people are facing several challenges, but the most disheartening is the shortage of the life-saving anti-rabies vaccine In Sindh, patients are forced to go to Hyderabad for treatment According to the total number, 423 in October and 1226 in November patients were brought to Hyderabad for treatment Moreover Sindh is not the only province where health facilities are unavailable but unlike the rest of the country people are facing these problems A report occurred of severe shortage in Peshawar earlier this year The health authorities blame the unavailability of the vaccine Furthermore, rabies is one of the worst problems in Pakistan, that is underreported and undersigned ESSIYAN DAD SINGABAD 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
Public safet y
H I S year on February 8 general elections were held in Pakistan According to the Free and Fair Election Network (FAFEN) the voter turnout was 47 6 percent as 60 6 million people participated in this democratic exercise The total number of registered voters in Pakistan is 128 million but less than half of the registered voters participated in this democratic process Despite various media campaigns and security assurances, people were hesitant to come out of their houses and cast their vote There are many factors that contribute to the low voter turnout on the election day but one of the issues that is a hindrance in turnout is the old-fashioned way of voting In 2021 during the government of former Prime Minister of Pakistan Imran Khan, the concept of electronic voting was proposed in which not only the residents of Pakistan can cast their vote, but the expatriate Pakistanis who are around 9 95 million across the world would be able to utilize their constitutional right of enfranchisement However due to the political divisions it was not accepted by the opposition parties as they raised questions which created doubts in the implementation of a system of E-Voting In this general election however, it was observed how an outdated mechanism of voting contributed in creating uncertainty among the voters For example at one of the polling stations there were many people who came without having any prior knowledge of whether their names were in the lists of that polling station or not The organizing body of elections in Pakistan Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) did introduce the SMS facility to check which polling station a voter is allotted to cast vote in but that was also not free of cost instead it charged Rs 2 5 per SMS and the process is also very cumbersome, like a CNIC holder has to type his or her CNIC number the way it is printed in the CNIC and then send it to 8300, an SMS service initiated by NADRA which informs voters about their polling stations Unfortunately Pakistan s 40 percent population is not literate and around 59 percent resides in the rural areas where there are not enough facilities, let alone having active mobile networks However, there are cases around the world which show that the phenomenon of E-Voting is not something new or not tried before Instead this has already been used and implemented in various countries in conducting free fair and transparent elections In Brazil for instance the electronic voting system was introduced for the first time in 1996 in one of the state local elections Since then, it has been proven to be a transparent mechanism which generates quick results Therefore in the 2010 presidential elections electronic voting was introduced at the national level and this helped in generating results within 75 minutes after the end of the voting process Similarly in Canada France Germany Finland, and Estonia online internet-based voting has also been incorporated alongside the physical voting facility Our eastern neighbor India has introduced the E-voting mechanism known as Voter Verifiable Paper Audit Trail (VVPAT) Machines all over India after many pilot projects since 2019 The most important aspect of the E-voting mechanism is that it prevents post-ballot rigging and secondly it helps in generating election results within a few hours after the process of voting ends However Pakistan is so politically divided that it could not reach a consensus over the establishment of an electronic voting system At the National Assembly of Pakistan in August and September, 2021, Senator Shibli Faraz was chairing a session of the Standing Committee meetings of Information and Technology (IT) where, Electronic Voting Machines (EVMs) were discussed quite comprehensively as he called two IT engineers one each from ECP and NADRA to brief the committee members Each and every technical aspect of EVM was explained in detail but unfortunately due to political tussle the meeting ended without any decision or consensus Statistically Pakistan has a population of 243 million people according to the latest figures issued by the United Nations and out of which 60 percent is between the age bracket of 15 to 64 and 30 percent is below 15 years, so dominantly Pakistan has a youth bulge The Pakistani youth is actively using or interested in technology This trend indicates that they must be aware of the usage of the internet but let alone the usage the irony is that only 28 percent of the population has access to the internet in Pakistan according to the latest data In such a scenario how such an efficient EVM system can work that is questionable Elections determine the fate of the nation for the course of the next many years; therefore it is quite important to formulate a system that can assist in ensuring transparency in this democratic process But, if such a non-serious political approach continues towards matters of such national importance, then it will be very hard for us to reach a meaningful end in solving pertinent issues let alone the election process that are ham-
muhammaD usama KhaliD
Tgoods and services trade was estimated at $191 8 billion in 2022 with a significant trade surplus favoring India Specifically US exports to India amounted to $73 0 billion while imports reached $118 8 billion resulting in a trade deficit of $45 7 billion
Proportionally, the US-Pakistan relationship has indeed grown increasingly strained over the past decade The USA accuses Pakistan of harboring militant groups and providing insufficient support in Afghanistan leading to aid cuts The 2011 raid that killed Osama bin Laden on Pakistani soil further exacerbated distrust Disagreements over US-India ties and Pakistan’s nuclear programme add to the complexity Events like the Raymond Davis incident in 2011 further deteriorated trust
The US perceives China-Pakistan cooperation as potentially bolstering China s influence in a strategically important region Concerns about China s growing military presence in the region, with Pakistan’s perceived facilitation have heightened US apprehensions Additionally US concerns about Pakistan-China military cooperation include worries about the transfer of sensitive military technology from China to Pakistan The USA has expressed particular dissatisfaction with the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) projects, citing concerns about transparency regarding the debt burden for Pakistan and the increasing leverage China holds over the country These strained relations are evident in the volume of trade and investment between the US and Pakistan Total US exports to Pakistan amounted to $3 2 billion, while total imports were a modest $6 0 billion re-
sulting in a trade deficit of $2 8 billion for the USA Furthermore, total US investment in Pakistan was a mere $127 million in 2022, reflecting the diminished economic ties between the two countries Certainly here’s a coherent paragraph summarizing the perceptions and allegations regarding the United States involvement in Pakistan:
There have been persistent allegations of United States involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs, ranging from the installation of military dictatorships to meddling in domestic politics Accusations include empowering certain political parties manipulating election results and dictating Pakistan s foreign policy to align with American interests Additionally, the US has been accused of using foreign aid as leverage, providing assistance to governments perceived as compliant and withdrawing it as punishment for actions contrary to US objectives Perceptions also suggest significant US influence over Pakistan s security policies, particularly in counterterrorism efforts and regional stability
Compared to the USA, China has never been accused of interfering in the internal affairs of Pakistan There is no evidence since the inception of Pakistan suggesting Chinese involvement in Pakistani politics orchestrating regime changes cultivating political elements in the country, or fomenting political, religious, or ethnic unrest China has not coerced Pakistan into adopting certain policies or refraining from adopting others nor has it demanded air passage or military bases in Pakistan It does not harbor hegemonic designs in Pakistan or the region and adjusts to any government in power without favoring specific politicians or political parties China does not influence Pakistan’s foreign policy determinants and does
e r c e i v e d a s a n e n e my o f t h e U S A
What the explosive testimony of a minister reveals about Britain’s war in Afghanistan –and its rogue special forces
not impede Pakistan from maintaining friendly relations with any other country including the USA or India
In the case of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC), China has actively encouraged all countries, both within the region and beyond, to become partners Despite criticisms from the USA and international monetary institutions under its influence regarding CPEC s transparency and debt implications the Pakistani government has not shared those concerns Pakistan views China as a gracious and forgiving partner in development and prosperity, portraying China as a kind-hearted and warm friend always ready to rescue the country from financial difficulties address investment requirements enhance trade support defense and security needs and assist with loan rescheduling and debt payments, all in a transparent and verifiable manner While China’s policy approach extends beyond Pakistan to encompass gracious and benevolent partnerships worldwide and within the region including India it seeks engagement with India without harboring any malice However India known for its strategic acumen, perceives the USA and Europe as more lucrative partners compared to China India capitalizes on the fear of the USA and Europe regarding the unprecedented rise of China portraying China as the primary threat to their interests India positions itself as the frontline defense against increasing Chinese influence, aiming to divert trade, investment, and financial, economic, and military aid towards itself to strengthen its defense and economy In contrast to the belligerent postures of the USA Europe and India all evidence suggests that China does not harbor hegemonic
or supremacist designs Instead it demonstrates an extreme eagerness to establish partnerships with all countries on equal footing aiming to create win-win situations and foster shared development, growth, and prosperity for a more prosperous future for all
The belligerent stance of the USA towards China is not solely due to China’s benign rise but also because the USA relies on the existence of an adversary to sustain itself and this time it has identified China for that role In contrast China consistently rejects being perceived as an enemy of the USA, instead making deliberate and consistent efforts to dispel unfounded fears held by the USA and Europe regarding China’s rise on the world stage The best course of action for the new government is to dispel the impression that it is prioritizing friendly relations with China at the expense of USA or European interests in the region Pakistan should also study China’s foreign policy posture and learn how it navigates the turbulent waters of international relations Despite facing formidable challenges threats sanctions and trade and investment barriers China has found ways to achieve its foreign policy objectives without resorting to military force or threats Instead, China utilizes its robust and effective diplomatic assets, supported by its economic strength and willingness to share its resources in economics defense technology and culture with all countries This approach aims to create win-win situations globally
The writer retired as Press Secretary the the President and is former Press Minister at Embassy of Paikistan to France and former MD Shalimar Recording & Broadcasting Company Limited
NTNetanyahu is no fan of Biden, however He has disregarded Washington’s advice, turned a deaf ear to the president’s protestations about civilian casualties in Gaza and objected strongly to the notion that Israel isn’t doing enough to alleviate the humanitarian situation there
but fact Early in the war the Biden administration came around to the idea that humanitarian pauses were absolutely essential to surge aid supplies into Gaza But it took
have since been demolished in what Israeli military officers call a necessary security measure to ensure the horrific events of October 7 won’t be repeated But it was Netanyahu’s post-war Gaza plan unveiled late last month that was the biggest slap in Biden s face Throughout the war the White House has reiterated several red-lines: no Israeli re-occupation of Gaza, no reduction of Gaza s territory, no expulsion of the Palestinians who live there and ideally Palestinian Authority control over Gaza after the war is over The Israel prime minister s post-war scheme is essentially a public renunciation of Biden s position For example, the Israeli military would retain operational control over Gaza for as long as necessary No reconstruction of Gaza would be permitted until the entire territory was de-radicalised Governance and administrative tasks would be left to local stakeholders who aren t connected to what Netanyahu views as a Palestinian Authority laced with terrorist sympathisers Biden’s dream of establishing a sovereign and independent Palestinian state appears increasingly ludicrous Netanyahu is not only dismissive of the idea but has pledged to Israelis of all
stripes that he s the only
Talks with Taliban
Wednesday 13 March 2024 COMMENT 05
H E Afghanistan inquiry is getting into gear at the Royal Courts of Justice Led by the judge Charles Haddon-Cave, this public inquiry was convened to investigate about 80 killings allegedly committed by the SAS in Afghanistan between 2010 and 2013 Proceedings took a dramatic turn last month when the minister for veterans affairs, Johnny Mercer, gave evidence It was astonishing to watch Mercer stated that he had heard from “trusted sources” shocking accounts of serial murder and attempted cover-ups by SAS personnel in Afghanistan Once he became the minister for veterans (part of the Cabinet Office) he expressed his deep concerns about them to the then defence secretary, Ben Wallace, who asked him to get to the bottom of these well-publicised allegations Mercer made great efforts to do so Mercer didn’t want the allegations to be true; he said that he tried to find evidence to disprove what he had been told But after extensive discussions with senior officers, he was forced to conclude that information was being withheld from him (the counsel to the inquiry, Oliver Glasgow KC, suggested he was being lied to) and that there was “something not right here I don t want to believe it he said but at every stage I have tried to find something to disprove these allegations but I have been unable to Mercer painted a picture of a combination of offhand arrogance from senior officers and a lack of interest and accountability on the part of ministers When a serving minister states under oath – as Mercer did – that he had “very little faith that the MoD had the ability to hold itself to account we have a serious problem whether the reason for it is dishonesty, ignorance or incompetence One major problem is that special forces are seen, and see themselves, as untouchable It was the same in Australia Until that is the 2020 Brereton inquiry in which Australian special forces soldiers were found to have committed dozens of murders of unarmed Afghan detainees and civilians After publication of the report, the head of Australia s special forces, general Adam Findlay, summoned his troops and delivered an address In it he blamed the many war crimes committed by his units on poor moral leadership and self-righteous entitled prick[s] who believed the rules of the regular army didn’t apply to them In other words a culture of impunity This culture goes right to the top Mercer s evidence indicated that if senior military officers don t want ministers to know something about special forces because it is embarrassing or reflects badly upon them, they can stonewall or gaslight and expect no further action or scrutiny All of this demonstrates with crystal clarity the dangers of having an important part of our armed forces acting without continuous and effective democratic oversight UK special forces, including the SAS, claim a unique position in Britain’s defence and security structures They are accountable only to two people: the defence secretary and the prime minister This is unlike GCHQ MI6 and MI5 which are all subject to some degree of scrutiny by the elected members of the intelligence and security committee of parliament (ISC) – composed of nine security-cleared members drawn from both houses of parliament All of those organisations deal with matters at least as sensitive as the SAS and similar units The ISC is a largely trusted and respected component of the national security framework The army navy and air force including highly secret and sensitive strategic capabilities such as the nuclear deterrent, receive effective and often robust supervision from the House of Commons defence select committee Most of our major allies such as Denmark Norway and France place their special forces under some form of oversight The US firmly places them under congressional and government accounting office supervision Reports on accountability in Britain, including one in 2023 commissioned by a cross-party group, have urged action In 2018 Malcolm Rifkind the former defence secretary and chairman of the ISC echoed the view of many when he said: It is unanswerable that there should be some form of oversight of special forces No remotely convincing reason for the UK s uniqueness in this respect has been presented in parliament or elsewhere As always the answer is “no comment” The SAS are reported to be operating in 19 countries including Syria from where a murder allegation emerged on Tuesday Up to 50 of them are said to be operating in Ukraine It is clear that this small force of only a few hundred are overcommitted and overstretched, and often given inappropriate tasks that other troops could do as well or better such as certain forms of intelligence gathering training or advising on planning and strategy Of course without democratic oversight prime ministers or the ministry of defence can commit special forces as much as they like without debate, scrutiny or control This is now becoming dangerous Any renegade behaviour in Ukraine – against nuclear Russia –could have disastrous consequences for us all Effective oversight mechanisms are vital Right now we don t have them Frank Ledwidge is a barrister and former military officer who served in the Balkans, Iraq and Afghanistan He is the author of Losing Small Wars and Investment in Blood
H E new government, a continuation of the coalition that came into power in April 2022 and the interim administration established in August 2023 suggests a continuity in bilateral relations with the USA and China However while there appears to be no major policy shift the government which assumed power with the support of PPP, MQM, and independent candidates, is primarily composed of the PML(N), with Nawaz Sharif ’s influence in the background This dynamic suggests the possibility of a reassessment of foreign policy priorities and potential minor adjustments Newly inducted Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar has his task cut out for him First and foremost, the new government may prioritize a reassessment of its relations with the USA and China, recognizing their crucial role in the security development and prosperity of the country The apparent tilt of the USA towards India coupled with its diminishing focus on bilateral relations with Pakistan and its disengagement from balancing relations between Pakistan and India, should be of significant concern for the new government Over the past decade the multifaceted relationship between the USA and India has evolved and deepened across various sectors, including diplomacy, defense, trade, and technology Both nations have strengthened strategic cooperation, evident in the signing of key defense agreements and increased joint military exercises Economically bilateral investment and trade have flourished with the USA emerging as the top source of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in FY2023, totaling $103 billion India-US
I t m i g ht b e p o s s i b l e to ke e p avo i d i n g a d e c i s i o n
E A R LY 28 years ago, Benjamin Netanyahu reached the pinnacle of Israeli political power Fresh off a razor-thin general election victory over the incumbent prime minister Shimon Peres the 46-year-old Netanyahu flew to Washington for his first official visit with Bill Clinton According to an account by Aaron David Miller, a veteran Middle East policy official for six US secretaries of state the confab didn’t go well Venting to aides after the meeting Clinton asked: Who s the f ing superpower here? Fast-forward to today and the same question rings true But it seems doubtful Joe Biden has the good sense to even ask it From the moment Hamas burst through the southern border fence into Israel slaughtered 1200 people and stole more than 250 hostages from their homes Biden has pledged his support for Israel s war every step of the way Three days after the October 7 attack, he delivered a nationally televised address from the White House stressing that Israel had the right and indeed duty to respond militarily in self-defence On October 19 Biden upped the ante and tied Israel s campaign against Hamas with Russia s ongoing war in Ukraine, categorising both as an existential struggle between peace and mayhem The Biden administration declared a national emergency not once but twice to expedite weapons supplies to Israel without having to wait for congressional approval Through it all, Biden has taken flak from core constituencies in the Democratic Party who are infuriated by his seemingly tough stance Netanyahu is no fan of Biden, however He has disregarded Washington’s advice turned a deaf ear to the president s protestations about civilian casualties in Gaza and objected strongly to the notion that Israel isn t doing enough to alleviate the humanitarian situation there Biden’s foreign policy has left the US looking increasingly like an enfeebled partner in this decades-long relationship This isn t supposition
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condition military aid to Israeli policy changes in Gaza and continues to veto UN Security Council resolutions pressuring Israel to sign onto a ceasefire As the election looms closer, the president’s poor attempts at diplomacy aren’t convincing voters At least Bill Clinton had the Oslo Peace Process to brag about Who’s the superpower here? Joe Biden is no match for Netanyahu Qamar Bashir TELEGRAPH LONDON da n i E l d E P E t r i s GUARDIAN F r a n k l E dw d g E F o r e i g n p o l i c y c h o i c e s : U S A o r C h i n a , o r B o t h … T h e b e l l i g e r e n t s t a n c e o f t h e U S A t o w a r d s C h i n a i s n o t s o l e l y d u e t o C h i n a Ês b e n i g n r i s e b u t a l s o b e c a u s e t h e U S A r e l i e s o n t h e e x i s t e n c e o f a n a d v e r s a r y t o s u s t a i n i t s e l f , a n d t h i s t i m e i t h a s i d e n t i f i e d C h i n a f o r t h a t r o l e I n c o n t r a s t , C h i n a c o n s i s t e n t l y r e j e c t s b e i n g p
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The probe into 80 alleged SAS killings heard evidence from Johnny Mercer and highlighted the urgent need for oversight
I n d i a n e e d s to t re a d wa ri l y o n Afg h a n c h e s s b o a rd I N D I A has been demonstrating deft diplomacy in Afghanistan ever since its game plan of riding on the US coat-tails came a cropper when the Taliban stormed into Kabul in August 2021 By all accounts, the pact the US had signed with the Taliban in 2020 reeked of capitulation Then Afghan President Ashraf Ghani in whom India had invested its diplomatic capital ignominiously fled the country A month later, Foreign Minister S Jaishankar had nursed hopes of the Taliban co-opting members of the old regime in the new government when he said India would never accept ‘any outcome which is decided by force’ Last week, the arc lights in Kabul were on an Indian delegation that discussed with the Taliban leadership various aspects pointing to near normalisation of ties New Delhi has also closely observed the bitterness between Islamabad and Kabul By the end of last year India seemed satisfied with the Taliban s commitment to preventing Afghanistan from again becoming a hub of jihadi terrorism The Taliban, in return, were allowed to quietly take over the Afghan missions in India India’s decision to sidle up to the Taliban was also motivated by China restoring diplomatic ties with Kabul The Taliban though have a long way to go before they receive global legitimacy Their greater accommodation of Indian interests should spur New Delhi to handhold the postMullah Omar generation as it seeks to integrate with the wider world But past experience tells India to be circumspect as it finds its feet again on the Afghan chessboard TRIBUNE E d i to r i a l
with the sides unable to agree terms to halt fighting, free hostages and bring in aid
Tuesday’s sea supply mission was the culmination of months of preparation by Cyprus the EU member state closest to the conflict It is keeping a wary eye on spillover effects from upheaval in the Middle East and is already seeing migratory inflows from Lebanon increasing More than 400 people arrived in fishing boats on Monday With the lack of port infrastructure in Gaza WCK said it was building a landing
jetty with material from destroyed buildings and rubble a separate initiative to a plan announced by US President Joe Biden last week to build a temporary pier Construction of the jetty was well underway”, WCK founder Jose Andres said in a post on X, posting a picture of bulldozers apparently levelling out ground close to the sea WCK Activation Manager Juan Camilo Jimenez told Reuters a second vessel would depart within the next few days
Part of our calculation is the port will be ready when we arrive there and more importantly we have a team there to support the distribution of this aid ” he said referring to a WCK team that has been on the ground in Gaza for several months
The UN humanitarian office welcomed efforts to provide aid
that is effectively cut off
DIRE CONDITIONS
The UN estimates a quarter of the population in Gaza is now at risk of starvation We are being starved in two ways: food is scarce, and the little that is available is so expensive as to be beyond imagination ” said Yamen a father of four whose family took shelter in Deir Al-Balah in the central Gaza Strip The conflict has displaced most of Gaza s 2 3 million people, more than half of whom are now crammed into the southern city of Rafah, mainly in makeshift tents There have been chaotic scenes and deadly incidents at aid distributions as desperately hungry people scramble for food On Tuesday Palestinian health officials
reported that nine Palestinians were killed and dozens wounded by Israeli gunfire when crowds were awaiting aid trucks at the Kuwait Square in Gaza City There was no immediate comment from Israel on the incident In one incident last month, more than 100 Palestinians were killed while queuing for aid Gaza health authorities blamed Israeli fire for the deaths; Israel denied blame and said victims had been trampled Bombing gatherings of hungry people has become a daily routine practiced by the occupation and seen by the international community on screens,” Ashraf Al-Qidra, spokesperson for the Gaza health ministry said on Tuesday Hunger will claim the lives of all residents in northern Gaza Aid is very scarce The price of a meal could mean certain death Help the people of the north Don t leave them prey to hunger, bombing, and disease ” Fighters from Hamas which administers Gaza killed 1 200 people in an Oct 7 attack on Israel and took 253 hostages according to Israeli tallies Israel s retaliatory military campaign has killed at least 31,184 Palestinians, according to Gaza authorities, and injured 72,889 Ceasefire talks have so far failed to reach a breakthrough with Israel saying it is interested only in a temporary truce to free hostages and Hamas saying it will let them go only as part of a deal to permanently end the war
Customs
US government has also stepped up efforts that are apparently aimed at further intensifying its technological crackdown campaign against China
Depar tment forms high-level committee to combat mobile phone smuggling
Prestigious Iv y League Yale Universit y selects Pakistan’s First Silver Scholar
LAHORE s Ta F F R e P O R T Haider Sultan, a student at Lahore University of Management Sciences has achieved a remarkable milestone by being accepted as Pakistan's First Silver Scholar at the prestigious Ivy League - Yale University for the MBA program Accompanied by the prestigious Dean s Scholarship, Haider Sultan is 1 of 10 silver scholars in the world selected by Yale University Silver Scholars are seen as the "Next Best Business Leaders" globally Silver Scholars, such as Haider Sultan, are exceptional college seniors who are several years ahead in their career trajectory compared to their peers They join the Yale MBA program right out of undergraduate studies distinguishing themselves from other candidates who typically join after gaining five years of work experience at top organisations worldwide Haider Sultan s journey from Lahore University of Management Sciences (LUMS) to Yale University is a testament to his exceptional talent and dedication to academic excellence In addition to this Haider has led the Entrepreneurial Society at LUMS serving as the Convenor of South Asia s biggest youth entrepreneurial summit, Young Leaders & Entrepreneurs Summit Moreover, Haider also served as the elected Batch Representative of 1,200 students in the LUMS Student Government and also served as a jury member on the university’s disciplinary committee Furthermore Haider is also the Founder & Managing Director of LUMS Candid Leaders Haider is the son of former Director DGPR - Mr Nazir khalid It is worth mentioning that notable alumni of Yale University includes Bill Clinton, Hillary Clinton, George W Bush, George H W Bush,
Wednesday 13 March 2024 | ISLAMABAD 06 NEWS CAIR O / LARNCA R e u T e R s A ship carrying 200 tonnes of aid for Gaza left Cyprus on Tuesday in a pilot project to open a sea route to deliver supplies to a population which aid agencies say is on the brink of famine The charity ship Open Arms was seen sailing out of Larnaca port in Cyprus, towing a barge containing flour, rice and protein The mission was funded mostly by the UAE and organised by US-based charity World Central Kitchen (WCK) The journey to Gaza takes about 15 hours but a heavy tow barge could make the trip take considerably longer, possibly up to two days Cyprus is just over 200 miles (320 km) north-west of Gaza The US military said its vessel, the General Frank S Besson was also en route to provide humanitarian relief to Gaza by sea With aid agencies saying deliveries into Gaza have been held up by bureaucratic obstacles and insecurity since the start of the war on Oct 7 and even Israel’s allies demanding easier aid access to the enclave attention has shifted towards alternative routes including sea and air drops Qatar s foreign ministry spokesperson Majed Al-Ansari said on Tuesday that negotiators seeking a ceasefire between Israel and Hamas which controls Gaza were not close to a deal Washington had said for weeks that it hoped for a truce deal in time for the Ramazan holy month that began this week, but it has so far failed to materialise
by sea and air, but said it would not be enough Aid agencies say such efforts can provide only limited relief as long as most land crossings are completely sealed off by Israel It s not a substitute for the overland transport of food and other emergency aid into Gaza ” said spokesperson Jens Laerke It cannot make up for that Israel says it is not to blame for Gaza s hunger, as it is allowing aid through two crossings at the southern edge of the territory Aid agencies say that is not enough to get sufficient supplies through, particularly to the northern part of the pulverised enclave
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L E S T I N I A N S O N B R I N K O F FA M I N E BEIJING s Ta F F C O R R e s P O N D e N T China’s Foreign Ministry on Tuesday excoriated a series of US latest maneuvers that Washington says aim to outcompete China warning that the US engagement in malign competition puts the fundamental interests of the Chinese and US peoples and even the future of mankind at stake and will only push the two countries toward confrontation and conflict US officials have in recent days stepped up efforts to crack down on and contain China on multiple fronts – from requesting additional funds to “outcompete China” and arm the island of Taiwan to trying to lure Asian countries into its tech restrictions against China All these moves are bad for China-US bilateral ties the Asia-Pacific region and the entire world Chinese experts warned Chinese officials and experts further pointed out that the US focus on majorcountry contest, politicization of economic and trade issues and interference in other countries’ internal affairs will not only fail to help address a litany of problems within the US but will actually backfire on the US itself Commenting on the US budget for the 2025 fiscal year, which includes funds to “outcompete China” and arm China’s Taiwan region on Tuesday, Wang Wenbin a spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry reiterated that competition is not the true nature of China-US ties and major-country contest will not address problems faced by China and the US The US attempt to outcompete China” is not benign competition, but malign competition in which the US set up traps for the competitor at every turn Wang said at a regular press briefing It is an unrestrained gamble that puts the fundamental interests of people of the two countries and even the destiny of mankind at stake and it will only push China and the US toward confrontation and conflict, he said The US administration s budget request for the 2025 fiscal year includes $4 billion over five years in mandatory funding so as to “employ all the tools at our disposal to outcompete China The budget request also includes a first-time funding request of $500 million to replenish weapons that would be provided to Taiwan, media reported Wang on Tuesday also stated China’s firm opposition to military ties between the US and the island of Taiwan and the US attempt to arm the island We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and stop interfering in China s internal affairs China will take measures to firmly safeguard its sovereignty and territorial integrity ” he said In addition to its budget request the
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Dr Mahbub ul Haq Roshaneh Zafar Indra Nooyi Jodie Foster and many others Yale has produced 5 U S presidents 10 Founding Fathers 19 U S Supreme Court Justices 31 living billionaires 54 college founders and presidents many heads of state, cabinet members and governors Hundreds of members of Congress and many U S diplomats, 78 MacArthur Fellows, 263 Rhodes Scholars, 123 Marshall Scholars, 81 Gates Cambridge Scholars, 102 Guggenheim Fellows and 9 Mitchell Scholars have been affiliated with the university
S p u s h fo r m a j o r - co u nt r y co nt e s t PR OFIT N e w s D e s k Auto industry saw a robust month as car sales increased 57% year-on-year in February 2024 totaling 9 709 units compared to 6 186 units sold in February 2023, data released by the Pakistan Automotive Manufacturers Association (PAMA) showed However, car sales witnessed a month-on-month decline of around 8% in February 2024 The notable yearly surge is largely attributed to a low base effect as import restrictions heavily damped the industry s sales last year PAMA data shows that car sales in the first eight months (July-Feb) of the ongoing fiscal year FY24 recorded at nearly 60,000 units, down 41% YoY Among the three major Japanese car makers in Pakistan only Indus Motor Company Limited (INDU) saw a decline in sequential sales dropping by 26% MoM though it increased by 13% YoY due to the aforementioned base effect Sales of Fortuner and Revo fell substantially, down 61% YoY and 55% MoM Sales of Corolla, Yaris, and Cross also decreased by 18% MoM, attributed to the high base due to the launch of the Corolla Cross last month Pak Suzuki Motor Company continued its momentum with strong sales figures marking a 7% MoM increase and an impressive 5x YoY growth PSMC s Alto, Swift, and Cultus were the key drivers behind this jump in sales The strong sales of Swift despite the recent price hikes indicate higher margins in future quarters Honda Atlas Cars (Pakistan) Limited (HCAR) sales increased by 13% MoM but fell 7% YoY The sedan portfolio, comprising the Civic and City, showed a 14% MoM and 11% YoY growth, maintaining its position as the company’s top performer, while its SUV variants (HR-V and BR-V) continue to lag behind competitors On the flip side tractor sales declined 12% MoM and remained flat YoY with sales of 3 366 units This takes the total tractors sold in 8MFY24 to 30 591 up 68% YoY Millat Tractors Limited (MTL) saw a 10 percentage points contraction in market share to 64% but continues to remain the market leader MTL’s sales were down 23% MoM and 17% YoY giving its competitor Al-Ghazi Tractors (AGTL) the opportunity to increase its market share to 36% as its sales were up 22% MoM and 66% YoY Truck sales continued to show strength, soaring by 65% MoM; truck production number of 327 units exceeded their sales – the highest since Sep 2022 – suggesting sustained strong demand in the coming month due to the implementation of the axle load regime According to IMS Research the auto industry continues to grapple with challenges stemming from elevated interest rates and inflation The recent enforcement of SRO 370(I)/2024 has raised the sales tax to 25% on cars priced at Rs 4 million or higher, further dampening demand Previously the 25% sales tax was only applicable to cars with an engine capacity of 1400CC and above This change will particularly impact the 1300CC variants of Yaris and City, following inevitable price increases Car sales increase 57% YoY in Februar y 2024 ISLA MABA D G h u l a m a b b a s To tackle the rampant smuggling of mobile phone sets within the country, the Customs Department has taken decisive action by forming a high-level committee Spearheaded by former Prime Minister Anwar ul Haq Kakar the committee, established on February 12, 2024, focuses specifically on combating the issue of ‘Mobile Phone Smuggling’ Under the leadership of the DirectorGeneral of Reforms and Automation at the Customs Department the committee has reached out to two pivotal private sector stakeholders namely the Telecom Operators Association and the Pakistan Mobile Phone Manufacturers Association Both organizations have been requested to nominate a member to join the committee s ranks aiming to staunch the flow of illicit mobile phones into the country The Terms of Reference (TORs) outlined for the committee are extensive, encompassing an assessment of the magnitude of mobile phone smuggling and its consequential impact on revenue Additionally the committee is tasked with scrutinizing the efficacy of countermeasures implemented by the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR), along with devising strategies to prevent unauthorized modifications to mobile phones via DIRIBS Of particular concern to the private sector were reports of IMEI number cloning, prompting numerous complaints to the telecom sector regulator and affected telecom companies These concerns serve as a catalyst for the committee to delve deeper into identifying discrepancies and loopholes within the existing regulatory framework, as well as proposing robust policies and technological measures to enhance compliance and coordination among government entities Moreover the committee is poised to recommend stringent measures against entities engaged in illegal cloning and patching programs
C h i n a wa r n s o f co n f l i c t ove r U
CCP conduc ts sec tor specific
PBPC hosts book launch of ‘ Terms of Frustration,’ 13th volume of Ikram Sehgal’s series, ‘A Personal Chronicle of Pakistan’
IIUI Rec tor & President felicitate Muslims on star t of Ramazan
Arab IC T organization appoints Pakistani IT exper t as advisor
ministers and senior decision-makers from the public and private sectors The ICT think tanks acknowledged his services and contributions for the promotion of IT trade ties with Pakistan and Arab countries, mainly on the occasion of the recent mega IT event, GITEX Global, held in Marrakech, Morocco The Secretary of the Arab ICT Organization Eng Muhamed Ben Amor expressed his profound gratitude for the
support of Noman Said in a letter written on behalf of the ICT think tank based in the Arab region Your expertise and insights were instrumental in showcasing technological advancements and innovations to our members Your participation significantly enhanced the event's success and fostered a spirit of collaboration and knowledge sharing among all attendees the letter reads Your expertise and guidance will be invaluable as we continue to strive for excellence in our endeavors as the letter further mentioned PR
07 NEWS Wednesday 13 March 2024 | ISLAMABAD CORPORATE CORNER ISLAMABAD A G E N C I E S S H A B N A M a young woman in Lahore sells small packets of scrap meat to passersby to feed predatory birds, despite a recent crackdown on the practice which many people do as an offering to ward off adversity The tradition of tossing offerings off a bridge – which are swooped up by hawks and kites – has long provided a source of livelihood for hundreds of roadside vendors in bustling cities such as Lahore and Karachi The practice has long been banned but continues in Lahore and other parts of the country of 240 million Shabnam who only gave her first name told Reuters she has been selling the packets for a year to support her younger siblings She sells each packet for 20 rupees, and makes around 500 rupees a day She keeps 40% and gives the rest to a man who has hired her as a vendor Dil Muhammad says, for 10 years, he has employed at least six girls as vendors along a small section of a bridge in Lahore He says he buys the meat which consists of waste scraps from local markets and distributes it amongst his hires Amir, a rickshaw driver, says he regularly buys packets to “keep his life safe” as he is on the road all day and fears getting into accidents in Lahore’s heavy traffic He tosses the meat off the bridge and watches birds swoop down to catch it before it hits the water below Wildlife officials say the constant feeding of predatory birds has made them more aggressive towards humans and their increasing number has also adversely affected the population of other bird species on whom they prey “This consistent food source not only sustains existing populations but also attracts more birds to the area Muhammad Jamshed Iqbal a senior manager at WWF Pakistan, told Reuters Additionally, the disposal of meat scraps leads to health hazards for both, birds and humans as it attracts pests and can spread disease ” The increase in the number of kites due to readily available food is also a hindrance to airport operations “Kites have been posing a danger to the taking off or landing of flights around Lahore Airport, Saifullah Khan, a spokesperson of the civil aviation authority, told Reuters He added that the aviation authority in collaboration with the district administration has carried out multiple operations against those who feed birds on the rooftops of their homes around the airport Khan said throwing meat and grain for bird feeding around the airport is strictly prohibited and that the aviation authority is planning to install a Birds Repellent System at all major airports shortly to ensure the safety of aircraft PAKISTANIS FEED PREDATORY BIRDS DESPITE CRACKDOWN ON PRACTICE K arachi ’s first- ever kids centric festival held at Andalusian Banquets K A R A C H I: The inaugural "Kids Fun Fest" took Karachi by storm on March 9th and 10th captivating families and children with two days of non-stop entertainment and excitement at the Andalusian Banquets Organized by Billboard and Events R Us, the event aimed to create a fun-filled and memorable experience for the youngest members of the community The Kids Fun Fest boasted an impressive lineup of activities designed to engage and delight children of all ages From the rhythmic beats of the drum circle to captivating storytelling sessions, energetic dance shows, and enchanting stage performances by Bobbles, the event offered a diverse range of entertainment options for families to enjoy together PR HEC announces Global Korea S cholarships
S L A M A B A D: The Higher Education Commission (HEC) has announced Global Korea Scholarships for Pakistan, AJK students to get admission in Master and PhD programmes in Korean Universities According to the details Global Korea Scholarship is designed to provide international students with opportunities to study at higher educational institutions in Korea in pursuit of academic degrees, which will enhance international education exchange and deepen mutual friendship between Korea and Pakistan Similarly the purpose of this program is to provide Pakistani students with opportunities to conduct advanced studies in Master s & PhD programs at higher educational institutions in Korea The complete application form should be submitted to this address i e Embassy of the Republic of Korea, Block 13, st 29, Diplomatic Enclave 2, G-5/4, Islamabad before 15th March 2024 via courier As per instructions it is the sole responsibility of the student(s) applying for any professional degree (Medical Engineering Nursing Architecture Law Veterinary Medicine etc ) to first get confirmed its accreditation from the respective Councils i e Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC), Pakistan Engineering Council (PEC), Pakistan Nursing Council (PNC) S TA F F R E P O R T K a m r a n Te s s o r i l a u d e d a s p e o p l e s ' G ove r n o r K A R A C H I: He came ,he saw he conquered This phrase is absolutely true for Kamran Khan Tessori Before 9th October 2022 no one thought that Kamran Tessori would be appointed to the difficult assignment of Governor Sindh It was 12th Rabiul Awal when the notification of Kamran Tessori was issued and it was a shocking news for specially those who desired to see someone else on this prestigious position On 10th October 2022 he took oath as 34th Governor of the province of Sindh He pledged to serve the people of the province without any discrimination and after 17 months as Governor Sindh he has fulfilled his pledge He has even fulfilled those promises which were made by someone else He opened Governor House for general public and by introducing IT classes he has turned Governor House into a mini university S K YOUSUFZAI J a z z - p owe r e d 5 G i n n ovat i o n h a c k at h o n c o n c l u d e s w i t h A l l - G i r l s R e m o te He a l t h c a r e Te a m c l a i m s t i t l e I S L A M A B A D: The all-girls team 'Patronus' from the FAST NUCES Islamabad has claimed the winning title of Pakistan s first 5G Innovation Hackathon powered by Jazz and NUST with Code for Pakistan (CfP) and Huawei serving as the implementation and technology partners, respectively The winning team worked on an innovative 5G-powered health monitoring system that leverages Wi-Fi signals specifically Channel State Information (CSI) data to accurately detect falls and analyze heart and breathing rates Securing second place in the hackathon was the Cellular V2X Enhancement team from the Ghulam Ishaq Khan Institute of Engineering Sciences and Technology (GIKI), presenting a pioneering effort in the transportation sector, integrating vehicles into the 5G network and fostering advanced communication between vehicles traffic management systems and pedestrians PR
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employee event with gratitude on 1st of Ramazan L A H O R E: Cheezious the renowned Pakistan’s number one fast food brand took a momentous pause in its daily operations to honor and appreciate its invaluable team during the annual employee event held on the 1st of Ramadan In a remarkable gesture of gratitude, Cheezious demonstrated its unwavering commitment to its employees, recognizing their significant role in the company's growth The event which included a temporary halt in business operations was a heartfelt tribute to the hardworking individuals who have been instrumental in the success and growth of Cheezious The management acknowledges that every milestone achieved by Cheezious is a testament to the dedication and effort put forth by its exceptional team On this occasion Head of Marketing at Cheezious Zohaib Hassan Said I am thrilled to lead initiatives that not only showcase our brand s culinary excellence but also underscore our commitment to our most valuable asset PR
Cheezious celebrates annual
microfinance banks ISLAMABAD: The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) held a one-day workshop on Competition Law, tailored specific to the microfinance banks that are associated to the cellular companies operating in Pakistan The participants included representatives from Mobilink Microfinance Bank Limited U Microfinance Bank Limited and Telenor Microfinance Bank Limited The event discussed the relevant provisions of the Competition Law pertaining to mergers & acquisitions, prohibited agreements, abuse of dominance and deceptive marketing practices The opening session was also attended by Dr Kabir Ahmed Sidhu (Chairman CCP) and Mr Salman Amin (Member CCP) CCP has conducted numerous sessions with various stakeholders, including companies, chambers of commerce & industry, academia, and business associations These sessions have proven instrumental in fostering awareness about competition law and promoting self-compliance As microfinance banks play a significant role in Pakistan s economy and are expanding their portfolios with new products being offered to the public, CCP organized this specialized session for them PR PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government has reinstated the provision of free treatment on health cards, releasing a comprehensive list of hospitals designated for this purpose This decision marks a significant step towards ensuring accessible healthcare services for the citizens of the province The facility for free treatment was temporarily suspended in May 2023 due to issues related to nonpayment Since then the treatment facility had been suspended and reinstated six times until October However with the advent of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government the resumption of free treatment on health cards has been prioritized and implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In response to complaints received regarding the matter the provincial government has taken action by removing 80 private hospitals from the panel of designated healthcare providers The updated list of hospitals now comprises 118 institutions, including 58 private and 60 government hospitals Notable healthcare facilities such as Khyber Teaching Hospital Lady Reading Hospital Hayatabad Medical Complex, and the Pakistan Institute of Cardiology are among those included in the panel Moreover the health card desks have been activated in these hospitals from today, ensuring seamless access to healthcare services for cardholders The provincial government has also addressed financial concerns associated with the maintenance of health cards State Life Insurance Company received a substantial sum of 5 billion rupees from the provincial government on Monday alleviating arrears that had accumulated to 18 billion rupees Similarly outstanding dues owed to hospitals amounted to 14 billion rupees K P g o v t r e s u m e s f r e e t r e a t m e n t f a c i l i t y o n h e a l t h c a r d K a r a c h i: In a significant stride towards digital transformation, Khushhali Microfinance Bank Ltd (KMBL) has signed an agreement with Unikrew Solutions to deploy new Loan Origination System This strategic partnership aims at revolutionizing KMBL’s loan processing procedures, facilitating swift and seamless financing solutions for its clientele PR I s l a m a b a d C a p i t a l Po l i c e e n s u r e f o o l p r o o f s e c u r i t y a r r a n g e m e n t s i n d i p l o m at i c e n c l ave ISLAMABAD: Following the special directions of Islamabad Capital City Police Officer (ICCPO) Dr Akbar Nasir Khan, the Islamabad Capital Police is ceaselessly dedicated to preserving law and order within the federal capital, a public relations officer said He said that to fortify the security of the high security zone personnel stationed in diplomatic enclave diligently executing their responsibilities meticulously verifying the particulars of individuals accessing the high security zone and meticulously documenting vehicle information The diplomatic enclave encompasses pivotal government and private establishments diplomatic missions and other vital assets necessitating an unwavering focus on their safeguarding Government personnel entering the diplomatic enclave are now mandated to display their departmental identification cards Additionally, individuals with private business within the high security zone are urged to carry their requisite documentation and extend their full cooperation to on-duty personnel PR
workshop for
ISLAMABAD: International Islamic University Islamabad (IIUI) Rector Dr Dr Samina Malik and President IIUI Dr Hathal Homoud Alotaibi have wished to the Muslims in Pakistan and around the world a blessed and peaceful Ramadan In a joint felicitation message, both IIUI Rector and President have urged the Muslim youth to disseminate Islam’s message of peace adding that fasting is all about patience virtue and peace They said the Holy month of Ramadan is an opportunity to get rid of societal issues and mal practices as it makes the minds, souls and actions as limpid as water IIUI leadership hoped that Muslims across the world would be able to make Allah almighty happy and get his blessings by practicing the true spirit of the great month The message added that poor ill and helpless people must not be left alone in this month of blessings and they should be given top priority IIUI Rector and President said It s a month to practice patience, selfcontrol, ethical conduct, care for the poor and needy and forgiveness PR
Pakistan-born Dr Noman Ahmed Said, an emerging IT expert, has been appointed as an honorary advisor by the Arab Information and Communication Technologies (ICT) Organization, a regional think tank for Arab ICT
ABU DHABI P R Under the patronage of HH Sheikh Nahayan Mabarak Al Nahayan Cabinet Member and Minister of Tolerance and Coexistence the Pakistan Business Professional Council (PBPC) hosted the book launch of “Terms of Frustration,” the 13th volume of Ikram Sehgal’s series “A Personal Chronicle of Pakistan on Wednesday March 6 2024 at the Le Royal Meridien Abu Dhabi Dr Qaiser Anis the Founding President of the PBPC, welcomed the assembled guests and dignitaries highlighting the collective efforts of the council in promoting Pakistan s interests and various initiatives, such as vocational training for Pakistani workers and efforts to reduce the cost of doing business
invaluable
Riaz Hussain Pirzada asumes charge as Federal Minister for Housing and Works ISLAMABAD: Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada Federal Minister for Housing and Works, took the charge of the Ministry today Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash, Secretary Housing and Works and other officers of the ministry welcomed the Federal Minister upon his arrival The minister wasted no time after taking charge and received a comprehensive briefing from Secretary Housing to gain a thorough understanding of the ongoing projects, challenges, and opportunities within the ministry Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, Federal Minister for Housing and Works laid out a set of strict instructions aimed at streamlining processes enhancing transparency and expediting the completion of ongoing projects The minister emphasized the importance of accountability and efficiency in the implementation of policies and programs to ensure that the ministry accomplishes its mandate effectively PR C DA s t r i ve s t o s u p p l y h i g h q u a l i t y f o o d i t e m s t o c o n s u m e r s d u r i n g R a m a z a n ISLAMABAD: On the direction of the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) important steps are being taken to ensure the supply of high quality food items to consumers during Ramadan so that citizens do not have to face any kind of problem during Ramadan In this regard, following the instructions of the Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) the Directorate of Municipal Administration (MCI) has organized weekly Margalla Bazaar H-9 and weekly Abpara Bazaar G-6 from 1st of Ramadan to the end of Ramadan In which the citizens are being ensured the supply of high quality food items PR
Mian
TNine killed as building collapses after cylinder blast in Multan
three Senate seats have been vacated and the JUI has requested the PPP s support in Balochistan Nayyar Bukhari said Yousaf Raza Gillani said We have discussed over the matter with Maulana Sahib scores of times
we welcome him here”
“We are supporting to each other for the Parliament and will work in tandem in the house he added It is to be mentioned here that Gillani and Sunni Ittehad Council s (SIC) Ilyas Meharban will contest in Senate by election on the vacant seat from Islamabad
The Senate by election will be held for six seats of the upper house in Islamabad, Sindh and Balochistan on March 14 (Thursday)
According to the election commission polling will be held at the upper house of parliament as well as at Sindh and Balochistan assemblies in Karachi and Quetta from 9:00am to 4:00pm on Thursday
Among these general category seats, one fall vacant in the federal capital, two in Sindh, and three in Balochistan as senators relinquished their seats, following their election as members of the National Assembly as well as provincial assemblies of Sindh and Balochistan
Alia Hamza, Kamran
Michael among nine file nominations for Senate polls in Punjab
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 051-2204545 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk 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 6:20 1 30 5:00 6:10 8:00 Wednesday 13 March 2024 NEWS
MULTAN S TA F F R E P O R T At least nine persons were killed and two others sustained critical injured on Tuesday when a residential building collapsed over an adjacent structure following a gas cylinder blast in the Haram Gate area of the city Rescue officials said the building collapsed following a cylinder explosion with its debris falling on an adjacent house and burying the residents under the debris The victims are said to be from the same family as the rescue services shifted the critically injured to Multan s Nishtar Hospital Rescuers were able to pull out eight people alive from the debris Earlier, a three-story building undergoing renovation at Lahore Services Hospital collapsed on Thursday causing panic within the hospital premises The building in question was undergoing renovations due to its age and during the process a sudden fire broke out, filling the structure with smoke In a matter of minutes, a section of the three-storey building collapsed Immediate response teams from Rescue 1122 swiftly reached the site and initiated a rescue operation Employing life locators they meticulously searched for any signs of life under the debris Thankfully the building was declared clear after no individuals were found trapped President’s house open for all political par ties: Kundi PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) leader Faisal Karim Kundi said that newly elected President Asif Ali Zardari can bring together all stakeholders and political parties Speaking in a private TV channel program, Faisal Karim Kundi said that in 2010, the PPP got the 18th constitutional amendment passed unanimously despite not having a simple majority in the parliament “This shows that Asif Ali Zardari can bring all stakeholders and political parties together he added The PPP leader said that the process of election is now over and all efforts would be made to bring everyone together and take the country forward He said that all parties including the opposition would be invited on national issues “The doors of the President’s House are open for all political parties Asif Zardari will play an important role in taking the country out of crises Faisal Karim Kundi said Responding to the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) protest, the PPP leader said that peaceful protest is a democratic right but no one could be allowed to take the law into their hands “Those who damage government property cannot be spared,” he added Faisal Karim Kundi also criticised the PTI over hullabaloo in the parliament and said that the opposition should also contribute and give its suggestions in the legislation PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K
HE appointment of Muhammad Aurangzeb as Finance Minister of Pakistan is a positive move towards steering the economy of the country in the right direction, said Bloomberg in a report “Pakistan’s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif picked a former banker from JPMorgan Chase & Co as finance minister marking a shift to using technocrats to steer the cash-strapped economy and negotiate for new loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF) , the US-based Bloomberg reported Premier Shehbaz Sharif had the experience of closing a deal with the multilateral lender as prime minister He personally negotiated with IMF Managing Director Kristalina Georgieva, it added Bloomberg Economics analyst Ankur Shukla said in a report that Shehbaz Sharif had a track record of carrying out reforms and his return as prime minister for a second term increased the chances of securing a new IMF package His party’s election manifesto which includes cutting the fiscal deficit and fixing the current account balance is aligned with the IMF targets or in some cases even more ambitious Shukla wrote in the report It added Pakistan had rewarded investors who still plowed in funds as the nation’s dollar bonds handed them a gain of almost 25% this year the biggest in Asia AURANGZEB’S APPOINTMENT IS A POSITIVE STEP IN RIGHT DIRECTION: BLOOMBERG g SHARIF’S RETURN INCREASES CHANCES OF SECURING A NEW IMF PACKAGE, SAYS ANALYST ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Federal Minister for Information and Broadcasting Attaullah Tarar along with Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain on Tuesday paid a surprise visit to the utility store at Abpara Market, G-6 Islamabad On special directions of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, the two federal ministers reviewed the quality of the edibles being sold at subsidized rates under the Ramazan Relief Package 2024 They also interacted with the public present at the utility store to get their feedback in that regard Speaking on the occasion, Rana Tanveer said that special discounts were being given to consumers at utility store under the Ramazan Relief Package 2024 He said the government was making all-out efforts to ensure uninterrupted supply of food items during the holy month of Ramazan Prices of food items at utility stores were lesser than the market, he said while expressing the government s resolve to maintain these rates Attaullah Tarar said the government was taking various measures to provide relief to the poor people during Ramazan He said the government had announced the Ramazan package under which the poor people were being provided subsidy on various food items Special discount was given by the government on flour, ghee, sugar and other items, he added The federal ministers also reviewed the provision of items under the special subsidy provided by the government to the beneficiaries under the Benazir Income Support Program at the utility stores On the occasion, the public urged the federal ministers to increase the number of counters at the utility stores The federal ministers directed to increase the number of counters at the utility stores and speed up the process of providing food items to the people Tarar reviews quality of subsidized edibles at G-6 utility store PTI’s Shibli Faraz secures protective bail in 20 cases from PHC PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Peshawar High Court on Tuesday granted protective bail to Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Senator Shibli Faraz in more than 20 cases a majority of them related to the May 9 riots The high court approved the protective bail of the PTI leader in cases registered across Islamabad, Rawalpindi and other Punjab cities During bail proceedings the petitioner ’s counsel argued that a myriad of cases had been lodged against Senator Faraz assuring the court his client was willing to join the trial in respective courts He pointed out that the apprehension of arrest had been a significant barrier to this compliance At which the High Court granted protective bail to Senator Faraz and directed him to appear before the courts concerned within the 20 days This court order marks a pivotal moment for Senator Faraz offering him an opportunity to engage with the legal proceedings arrayed against him The decision is viewed by many as a testament to the judicial system’s adherence to principles of fairness and the rule of law even amidst the politically charged atmosphere surrounding PTI members
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T N i n e c a n d i d a t e s , i n c l u d i n g A l i a H a m z a f r o m P T I a n d K a m r a n M i c h a e l f r o m P M L - N , h a v e r e c e i v e d n o m i n a t i o n p a p e r s f o r c o n t e s t i n g S e n a t e e l e c t i o n f r o m P u n j a b The Senate elections to 12 Punjab seats are scheduled for April 2 and Alia Hamza s nomination papers were submitted to the Election Commissioner s Office by her husband Jameel Malik Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Alia Hamza and Pakistan Muslim League Nawaz (PML-N) Kamran Michael received nomination papers from the Provincial Election Commissioner In Punjab elections are being held for 7 general seats 2 women seats 2 technocrats seats and one minority seat The schedule for the Senate elections will be announced on March 14 Candidates interested in contesting the elections have been asked to obtain nomination papers from the Election Commission headquarters and provincial election commissioners of Punjab Sindh Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Nomination papers can be deposited with the relevant returning officers on March 15 and 16 PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) provincial government has reinstated the provision of free treatment on health cards releasing a comprehensive list of hospitals designated for this purpose This decision marks a significant step towards ensuring accessible healthcare services for the citizens of the province The facility for free treatment was temporarily suspended in May 2023 due to issues related to non-payment Since then, the treatment facility had been suspended and reinstated six times until October However with the advent of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government the resumption of free treatment on health cards has been prioritized and implemented in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In response to complaints received regarding the matter, the provincial government has taken action by removing 80 private hospitals from the panel of designated healthcare providers The updated list of hospitals now comprises 118 institutions including 58 private and 60 government hospitals Notable healthcare facilities such as Khyber Teaching Hospital, Lady Reading Hospital, Hayatabad Medical Complex, and the Pakistan Institute of Cardiology are among those included in the panel Moreover the health card desks have been activated in these hospitals from today ensuring seamless access to healthcare services for cardholders The provincial government has also addressed financial concerns associated with the maintenance of health cards State Life Insurance Company received a substantial sum of 5 billion rupees from the provincial government on Monday, alleviating arrears that had accumulated to 18 billion rupees Similarly outstanding dues owed to hospitals amounted to 14 billion rupees In a parallel initiative Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur s administration has issued a formal notification to reinstate shelters across the province These shelters, established in various districts including Swabi Mardan Abbottabad Kohat Bannu DI Khan South Waziristan Khyber District Peshawar Swat and Charsadda will provide accommodations during Ramadan, along with arrangements for suhur and iftar meals The resumption of these vital services underscores the commitment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government to prioritize the well-being and welfare of its citizens KP govt resumes free treatment facilit y on health cards ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan People s Party (PPP) and Jamiat Ulema-eIslam (JUI) on Tuesday decided to join hands in the Senate election The People s Party will support the JUI in Balochistan Senate elections, while the JUI will extend support to Yousaf Raza Gillani,” JUI leader Maulana Abdul Ghafoor Haideri said “We will not participate in government making but play our role in the Parliament Haideri further said PPP leader Nayyar Bukhari has said that the PPP will extend support to the JUI-F candidate in the Senate s by-election in Balochistan The Senate by-election is being held on vacant seats of the upper house on March-14 Balochistan’s
Earlier People s Party decided to nominate Yousaf Raza Gillani as its candidate for Senate chairman s office and he was asked to relinquish his NA seat from Multan P P P, J U I - F a g r e e o n s u p p o r t i n g e a c h o t h e r i n S e n a t e b y - e l e c t i o n ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Tuesday suspended a returning officer (RO) after an unknown woman was awarded a reserved seat on Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUI-F) ticket The controversy erupted after the JUI-F claimed that an “unknown woman” was notified as a Member of the National Assembly (MNA) on its reserved seats A day earlier JUI-F Emir Maulana Fazlur Rehman submitted an application seeking the suspension of the notification of the unknown woman and demanded an investigation into the matter “Sadaf Sultan is neither our party (JUI-F) member nor named in our list Notification for Sadaf Ehsan should be suspended and Ms Hina Bibi should be notified [on the reserved seat], the JUI-F chief stated in the plea The electoral authority issued the notification, bearing number F6 of 2024, for the success of the unknown woman on the NA reserved seat from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa In a statement on Tuesday the electoral body said it has ordered an inquiry into the matter and will hold an open hearing on March 26 to resolve the issue The ECP said Sadaf Yasmin was mentioned in a list submitted by the JUI-F for the allocation of reserved women’s seat However the woman who submitted nomination papers identified herself as Sadaf Ehsan hailing from Lakki Marwat district of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa The JUI-F has stated in the application that its candidate s name is Sadaf Yasmin who has not submitted nomination papers to the ECP, the electoral body said It further said that notices have also been issued to all parties to resolve this controversy The ECP last week allocated all reserved seats in the NA and all four provincial assemblies ECP suspends RO after ‘unknown woman’ notified as JUI-F MNA
