g FIVE-MEMBER BENCH LED BY JUSTICE ISHTIAQ IBRAHIM GIVES A UNANIMOUS DECISION ON PETITIONS In par tnership with Profit Fr i d a y, 1 5 M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 I 4 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 7 I 8 Pa g e s I La h o r e E d i t i o n C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 02 ‘QUEST FOR RESERVED SEATS HITS A SNAG’ AS PHC DISMISSES SIC PETITIONS g BARRISTER ALI ZAFAR ARGUES SIC BE GIVEN RESERVED SEATS UNDER ARTICLE 103 SECTION C
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S ta f f R e p o R t
Ambassador of Iran Dr Reza Amiri Moghadam Thursday called for shunning religious violence and Islamophobia, emphasizing the need to take coordinated measures at the national regional and international levels especially in the Islamic countries to combat the phenomenon of Islamophobia
March 15th is the International Day to Combat Islamophobia The Embassy of the Islamic Republic of Iran in Pakistan while condemning all shapes of extremism religious violence and Islamophobia emphasizes the need to
take coordinated measures at the national regional and international levels especially in the Islamic countries to combat the phenomenon of Islamophobia said the Ambassador Unfortunately, the actions of some terrorist and extremist groups in the name of Islam have damaged the face of Islam and increased the wave of Islamophobia in the world In the meantime the biased highlighting and exaggeration of actions of the extremist and terrorist groups by the Western propaganda apparatus has aggravated the waves of Islamophobia Still, they are silent amid genocide and atrocities of the Zionist regime in Gaza,” he added
D utch-Egyptian
He said unfortunately, the Zionist and imperialist conspiracy through provocative
company acquires Advans Pak istan M icrofinance Bank
G andapur orders launch of Billion Tree Plus projec t in KP
EU refutes Tarar claim on PTI contac t regarding Pakistan’s GSP plus status
Cour t grants Hassan, Hussain Nawaz bail; cancels permanent arrest warrants ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The Accountability Court Islamabad on Thursday canceled a permanent arrest warrant for Hassan and Hussain Nawaz the sons of former prime minister Nawaz Sharif and granted them bail The accountability court heard the appeals filed by Hassan and Hussain Nawaz against the permanent warrants in Flagship, Al-Azizia, and Avenfield references In the references fugitives Hassan and Hussain Nawaz appeared before the accountability court and surrendered before judge Nasir Javed Rana During the initial hearing the assistant counsel informed the court that Hassan and Hussain Nawaz s lawyer Qazi Misbah was busy in another court, he would appear by 12 noon Judge Rana said the court had given relief to Hassan and Hussain till today (Thursday) Both of them must surrender before the court today he said Accountability Court Islamabad later resumed hearing after the break Hassan and Hussain appeared in the court along with their lawyer Qazi Misbah During the hearing, Qazi Misbah said a request was made to suspend the permanent warrant on the previous hearing, on which Judge Rana inquired about cases against them? In response Misbah said there were three references and in all three cases they had filed applications Misbah said Nawaz Sharif Maryam Nawaz and Captain (R) Safdar were acquitted in Avenfield, their father was acquitted by Islamabad High Court in Al-Azizia reference, Nawaz Sharif was acquitted by the trial court in Flagship Later, the Accountability Court canceled the arrest warrant for Hussain and Hassan Nawaz and approved their bail after submitting surety bond worth Rs50 000 Both sons of former prime minister also filed application of exemption from attending court on next hearing The court adjourned hearing till tomorrow (Friday) The court also ended the proclaimed offender status of both accused Hassan and Hussain Nawaz returned home after 7 years on March 12 The accountability court had declared both the accused as admonitions 7 years ago PESHAWAR a z z b u n e R In order to enhance forest cover in the province Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Khan Gandapur has decided in principal to initiate Billion Tree Plus project, and directed the quarters concerned to complete home work in this regard This he decided while chairing a meeting of the forest and environment department held here at Chief Minister s House Peshawar the other day Provincial Minister for Forest Fazal Hakim, Principal Secretary to CM Amjad Ali Khan, Secretary Forest Nazar Hussain Shah and other relevant officials attended the meeting The Chief Minister on this occasion was briefed about the performance targets administrative and other related matters of the department Chief Minister has directed the concerned quarter to formulate an effective strategy for enhancing revenue collection of the department and preventing forest cutting in the province He also directed for substantial increase in the fines against illegal cutting and logging of forest timber, adding that amount of the fine should be more than the value of timber harvested so as to curb the elements that cause deforestation CCTV Cameras be installed at all forest check posts to keep a close watch on timber smuggling and other illegal activities” he directed The Chief Minister further directed them to come up with viable proposals and an action plan for promoting fisheries in the province Meanwhile the Chief Minister presided over a meeting regarding Peshawar-D I Khan Motorway He was briefed about the progress so far made on the project total cost of the project and proposed alignment The Chief Minister has directed the concerned authorities to also consider
Peshawar-D
motorway adding that all necessary steps should be ensured in this regard
the option of Belt Operate Transfer (BOT) mode for constructing
I Khan
actions such as sacrilegious desecration of the Holy Quran disrespecting the Prophet of Islam and contempt of the religious values of one and a half billion Muslim people under the pretext of “freedom of expression” has become an ordinary issue “This virulent phenomenon causes the escalation of tension hatred Islamophobia and violence against the Muslims However it is a threat for the international peace and security and human rights and a threat to the peaceful relations between the nations, peaceful coexistence and conciliatory symbiosis in the planet,” he added “While expressing concern about the acts of violence extremism and terrorism especially in the name of religion it condemns desecration of the religious values and provoking the feelings of the followers of Islam under the pretext of freedom of expression It calls on the international community to avoid standing indifferent and to act and combat sacrilegious acts of the desecration of the Muslim beliefs and values including desecration of the Holy Quran and the sacred places of the Muslims including Al-Aqsa,” he added “While emphasizing the importance of taking coordinated measures to combat all shapes of discrimination xenophobia and violence against Muslims it invites all to endeavour and combat Islamophobia, religious violence, terrorism and hatemongering within the framework of the national and international laws and regulations ” he concluded F iday 15 Ma ch 2024 | LAHORE 02 nEws IRANIAN ENVOY CALLED FOR SHUNNING RELIGIOUS VIOLENCE, ISL AMOPHOBIA ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a S The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has finally given the green light to the acquisition of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank Limited by MNT–Halan Pak B V a holding company of a Dutch-Egyptian financial market player The share purchase agreement between the companies was signed, in August 2023 following which the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) gave its approval in October 2023 The approval of CCP and certain conditions precedents needed to be satisfied before the deal was considered official MNT–Halan Pak B V is a holding company headquartered in the Netherlands with subsidiaries operating in Pakistan under the names Halan Wallet (Private) Limited and Halan Finance Limited MNT-Halan is backed by Dutch microlending company MNT and Egyptian fintech startup Halan, both of which entered a share swap agreement in 2021 giving rise to MNT-Halan with the purpose of accelerating digital transactions in the lending and payments industries On the other hand Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank Limited is a public limited company active in Pakistan’s microfinance banking landscape Advans Pakistan is the Pakistan branch of Advans group a leading international microfinance group that operates out of nine developing countries Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank Limited (APMBL), was granted a license by the State Bank of Pakistan on June 28, 2012 to operate as a microfinance bank in the province of Sindh The Bank s principal business is to provide microfinance banking and related services to the poor and underserved segment of the society as envisaged under the Microfinance Institutions Ordinance 2001 The bank has since been showing wayward performances in the scarce microfinance market of Pakistan Advans ran a loss of Rs 102 million in the calendar year 2022, and a loss of Rs 256 million, after only earning a profit of Rs 53 8 million in 2021 As of September 2023 the accumulated losses of Advans Pakistan stood at Rs 1 3 billion With accumulated losses accounting for more than 65% of the company s share capital APMBL had become a bleeding business for the Advans group international The aforementioned acquisition entails the purchase of 100% shareholding of Advans Pakistan Microfinance Bank Limited from Advans S A SICAR, Advans Luxembourgincorporated financial services firm After conducting a thorough review of the pre-merger application the CCP concluded that there are no overlaps between the merging entities ensuring that market conditions will remain unaffected post-merger This approval holds significant implications for Pakistan’s microfinance banking sector which plays a pivotal role in the country s financial inclusion initiatives According to the World Bank the sector caters to 76% of all borrowers within the financial domain and contributes to approximately one-third of all outstanding agricultural advances
PHC orders removal of Noorul Haq Qadri’s name from ECL PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t The Peshawar High Court on Thursday ordered removal of the name of former minister religious affairs Noorul Haq Qadri from Exit Control List (ECL) A division bench of the PHC, comprising Justice Sahibzada Asadullah and Justice Waqar Ahmed heard the petition filed by PTI leader Noorul Haq Qadri against placing his name on the Exit Control List (ECL) Advocate Sikander Hayat Shah, the counsel for thepetitioner argued in the court that the name of Noorul Haq Qadri had been included in the ECL He said that his client was invited by Saudi Arabia and he was set to leave for Saudi Arabia at 6pm today but due to inclusion of his name in ECL he could not leave for abroad After hearing argument the PHC directed for removal of the name of Qadri from ECL
Commander Bahrain National Guard calls on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza RAWALPINDI S ta f f R e p o R t General Sheikh Mohammed Bin Isa Bin Salman Al Khalifa, Commander Bahrain National Guard, on Wednesday called on General Sahir Shamshad Mirza, Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee, at Joint Staff Headquarters, Rawalpindi Matters of bilateral professional interest and further strengthening of security and defence cooperation between the two countries were discussed during the meeting Both sides reiterated the resolve to further strengthen security and defence cooperation between the two brotherly countries Earlier, upon arrival at Joint Staff Headquarters, a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent presented ‘Guard of Honour ’ to the visiting dignitary CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 The Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday dismissed petitions of the Sunni Ittehad Council (SIC) against the Election Commission of Pakistan’s decision to reject the party allocation of reserved women and minority seats A five-member PHC bench led by Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim and comprising Justices Ijaz Anwar, SM Attique Shah, Shakeel Ahmed and Syed Arshad Ali given unanimous decision on the petition as Justice Ishtiaq Ibrahim read the reserved verdict Earlier the high court reserved its decision after the lawyers concluded arguments in the case Barrister Ali Zafar during the hearing came to rostrum and apologized over being absent in the hearing yesterday He said that the PTI’s election symbol ‘bat’ was taken before the election and the candidates have to contest the election as independent Yesterday Attorney-General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan and the counsels for the PPP and ECP had completed their arguments AGP Awan had argued that a political party could get reserved seats only if it won a general one ECP lawyer Sikander Basheer Momand had supported his arguments stating that the SIC was a political party but not a parliamentary one Earlier this month in a 4-1 verdict the electoral watchdog ruled that the SIC was not entitled to claim quota for reserved seats “due to having non curable legal defects and violation of a mandatory provision of submission of party list for reserved seats which is the requirement of law The SIC joined by PTI-backed independents who won the elections sans their electoral symbol had filed the petition through its chairman, Sahibzada Muhammad Hamid Raza, seeking directives of the court for the ECP to allocate reserved seats to the council based on their strength in the national and provincial assemblies The commission had also decided to distribute the seats among other parliamentary parties, with the PML-N and the PPP becoming major beneficiaries Meanwhile the verdict was rejected by the PTI as unconstitutional On March 6 a two-member bench of the PHC had barred the oath-taking of lawmakers allotted the reserved seats It issued a pre-admission to the ECP and all the respondents in the case listing six questions that needed to be determined The next day a five-member larger bench extended the bar until March 13 Barrister Ali Zafar argued before the Peshawar High Court (PHC) on Thursday that reserved seats under Article 103 Section C should be given to the Sunni Unity Council On a question about the number of the seats in the National Assembly and provincial assemblies, the SIC lawyer said that the party have 86 seats in the NA, 90 seats in KP, 107 seats in Punjab, nine seats in Sindh and one member in Balochistan Assembly “Overall SIC have 226 seats in assemblies and it is entitled for 78 reserved seats he added Barrister Zafar submitted that the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) was deprived of its symbol days before general elections The Supreme Court upheld the decision of Election Commission (ECP) to deprive the PTI of its election symbol after which candidates were given different symbols to contest election as independents Yet people voted for the PTI overwhelmingly Barrister Zafar said that after winning the election as independents they joined the SIC Eighty-six members-elect of the National Assembly 107 of the Punjab 90 of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa nine of Sindh and one of Balochistan assemblies joined the SIC The court inquired the counsel whether it was hearing the case of reserved seats of the entire country Barrister Zafar replied that the petition was for the National and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa assemblies The ECP is confused at differentiating between a parliamentary party and a poltical one, he asserted Upon the court observing that the SIC had not won any general seat in the Feb 8 elections, Zafar acknowledged the same and insisted that it still existed as a political party [For example if] I did not take part [in the elections] and 10 independent candidates joined me, then the number of [seats] would be 10, he argued However, the court pointed out that if he had not won even a single seat the supposed 10 independents would not be able to join him It emphasised that the word win had been used in the law Did you not weaken the PTI’s case by joining the SIC?” the court wondered, at which Zafar recalled that the PTI had lost its electoral symbol and was disqualified The SIC counsel argued against allocating other political parties a greater number of seats than they had won Here, Justice Ibrahim observed that the Parliament would then be “incomplete” if the reserved seats were not allocated Zafar then replied “This is why we are asking you to interpret the Constitution in a manner so that this vaccuum is not created The SIC counsel said the ECP could also issue another schedule that would enable it to submit the list of candidates for reserved seats The court then remarked, “If you add anything to zero it equals to zero ” It would be a better interpretation that the election schedule for the reserve seats is released after the [general] elections Section 104 says that a day would be fixed but does not specify when “What law would be violated by alloting the SIC reserved seats?” he asked adding that his client was only asking for its “right no more or less than that Zafar then completed his arguments ‘Q uest for reser ved seats ends ’ as PHC dismisses SIC petitions Per vaiz Elahi to contest by-polls; family signs nomination papers GUJRAT S ta f f R e p o R t Tehreek-e-Insaf leader Chaudhry Pervaiz Elahi has announced his participation in the upcoming by-elections, as confirmed by sources Elahi’s family members reportedly visited him in jail and formally endorsed his candidacy by signing the nomination papers for the by-election The decision comes as the seat of PP 32 became vacant following the elevation of Chaudhry Salik Hussain leader of the Muslim League (Q) and Federal Minister for Overseas to the position of MNA The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has scheduled by-elections nationwide for April 21, encompassing vacant seats across the country According to the ECP s announced schedule, by-elections for two seats in the National Assembly and Provincial Assemblies will take place on April 21 Additionally a by-election for one provincial assembly seat in Sindh is also slated for the same date Nomination papers are set to be submitted from March 16 to 18 with the initial list of candidates to be published on March 18 followed by scrutiny of nomination papers on March 21 The Election Commission has outlined a timeline for further proceedings, indicating that the Election Tribunal will handle appeals until March 28, while nomination papers can be withdrawn until March 29 The final list of candidates will be made public on March 29, with election symbols allotted on March 30 Chaudhry Pervez Elahi’s decision to contest the by-elections adds a significant dimension to the upcoming electoral landscape with observers keenly anticipating the developments leading up to the polls on April 21 ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The European Union Mission in Pakistan on Thursday vehemently refuted claims that Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) had contacted the mission regarding the country s GSP Plus status Samar Saeed Akhtar a spokesperson for the EU Mission, clarified their position, stating that they haven t received any official communication from the PTI on the matter The clarification comes day after a press conference by Federal Information Minister Attaullah Tarar wherein he accused the PTI of attempting to get Pakistan s GSP Plus status revoked by contacting the EU He further claimed these actions were part of a false campaign” to harm the economy Responding to these accusations PTI spokesperson Raoof Hasan categorically denied them calling them false allegations ” He emphasized that PTI neither wrote nor intended to write any letter to the EU Hassan further criticized the government specifically veteran Finance Minister Ishaq Dar, blaming his incompetence and stubbornness for causing delays in finalizing the IMF program He pointed out that the IMF loan’s second tranche was only released after approval from PTI and former Prime Minister Imran Khan Hassan also took aim at the Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) government, accusing them of prioritizing personal gain over national welfare He urged them to focus on the wellbeing of the country and its citizens Pakistan s GSP Plus status granted in 2014 is an EU program offering trade benefits like duty-free access to the European market for developing countries committed to human rights, environmental protection, and good governance
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Gov t forms committee to trim expenditures, pension bill
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c a s t i n g d o u b t o n i t s p o t e n t i a l f o r s i g n i f i c a n t s a v i n g s A s p e r m e d i a r e p o r t s , P r i m e M i n i s t e r S h e h b a z S h a r i f h a s f o r m e d a s e v e n - m e m b e r p a n e l e x c l u d i n g t h e d e f e n s e b u d g e t a n d i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t e x p e n d i t u r e s f r o m i t s r e v i e w t h e s e t w o a r e a s a l o n e c o n s u m e n e a r l y t w o - t h i r d s o f t h e f e d e r a l b u d g e t T h e c o m m i t t e e w h i c h i n c l u d e s f o u r g o v e r n m e n t o ff i c i a l s a n d t h r e e i n d e p e n d e n t e x p e r t s s u c h a s D r K a i s e r B e n g a l i , h a s o n e w e e k t o p r o p o s e m e a s u r e s t o c u r t a i l f e d e r a l s p e n d i n g T h e c o m m i t t e e ’s r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s i n c l u d e s c r u t i n i z i n g p e n s i o n s c h e m e s a t o p i c o f i n t e r e s t t o t h e I n t e r n a t i o n a l M o n e t a r y F u n d ( I M F ) i n u p c o m i n g d i s c u s s i o n s T h e I M F h a s h i g h l i g h t e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t ’s w a g e a n d p e n s i o n e x p e n s e s a s a c r i t i c a l i s s u e F o r t h i s f i s c a l y e a r t h e N a t i o n a l A s s e m b l y h a s s a n c t i o n e d a R s 1 4 4 t r i l l i o n b u d g e t w i t h a s u b s t a n t i a l p o r t i o n o f R s 7 3 t r i l l i o n d e d i c a t e d t o i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t s a n d R s 1 8 t r i l l i o n t o d e f e n s e , n o t a c c o u n t i n g f o r s p e c i a l p r o g r a m s D r J e h a n z e b K h a n D e p u t y C h a i r m a n o f t h e P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n w i l l l e a d t h e e x p e n d i t u r e c o m m i t t e e , w h i c h a l s o i n c l u d e s p r o m i n e n t f i g u r e s f r o m b o t h t h e g o v e r n m e n t a n d p r i v a t e s e c t o r s T h e g r o u p i s c h a rg e d w i t h r e v i e w i n g p r e v i o u s r e p o r t s i n c l u d i n g t h o s e f r o m t h e N a t i o n a l A u s t e r i t y C o m m i t t e e a n d t h e I n s t i t u t i o n a l R e f o r m s , t o f u r t h e r r e d u c e t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t ’s f o o t p r i n t D e s p i t e t h e d e v o l u t i o n o f c e r t a i n s u b j e c t s t o p r o v i n c i a l a u t h o r i t i e s a p p r o x i m a t e l y e i g h t e e n f e d e r a l m i n i s t r i e s c o n t i n u e t o o p e r a t e T h e c o m m i t t e e i s s e t t o c o n s o l i d a t e p r o g r e s s m a d e i n d o w n s i z i n g t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t a n d d e v e l o p a s t r a t e g i c p l a n w i t h c l e a r t i m e l i n e s T h e g o v e r n m e n t h a s e a r m a r k e d R s 7 1 4 b i l l i o n f o r c i v i l a d m i n i s t r a t i o n c o s t s , l e s s t h a n 5 % o f t h e t o t a l b u d g e t T h e c o m m i t t e e i s a l s o e x p e c t e d t o p r o v i d e r e c o m m e n d a t i o n s f o r t h e P u b l i c S e c t o r D e v e l o p m e n t P r o g r a m m e a n d p e n s i o n s c h e m e s w i t h t h i s y e a r s a l l o c a t i o n s s t a n d i n g a t R s 9 0 0 b i l l i o n f o r d e v e l o p m e n t a n d R s 8 0 1 b i l l i o n f o r p e n s i o n s , o f w h i c h R s 5 6 3 b i l
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of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) in its upcoming meeting on Monday
The bullish sentiment was further bolstered by the commencement of discussions between Pakistani officials and the
International Monetary Fund (IMF) regarding the second review of the $3 billion Stand-by Arrangement (SBA) The trading session saw heightened activity particularly in the automobile and refinery sectors with cement and food industries also drawing considerable attention The all-share index s volume expanded to 315 24 million shares, up from 252 75 million in the previous session while the market’s value rose to Rs10 48 billion from Rs9 24 billion
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03 nEws Friday 15 March 2024 LAHORE PR OFIT n e w S D e S k M UHAMMAD Aurangzeb the Finance Minister of Pakistan highlighted the necessity for the digital transformation of the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) to improve the efficiency and transparency of the country’s tax collection processes The announcement was made during a meeting with FBR officials where Aurangzeb presented his strategy to fully digitise the tax system and incorporate the incomes of retailers and wholesalers into the tax net as part of the government s effort to document the economy comprehensively This move comes ahead of Pakistan s second review under the $3 billion StandBy Arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) set to take place from March 14-18 The finance ministry stated that Pakistan has achieved all the required benchmarks and targets setting the stage for the final review and expecting a Staff-Level Agreement that will unlock a $1 1 billion disbursement from the IMF FBR Chairman Zubair Tiwana provided an overview of the tax collection performance over the past eight months and outlined proposed digitalisation measures including a new taxation scheme for various professionals This scheme, already approved by the federal cabinet, aims to generate additional revenue by taxing the indicative incomes of traders and professionals relying on criteria such as shop location value and rent Furthermore the minister was briefed on a comprehensive proposal for a digital and technology-driven tax system utilising big data This initiative requires significant investment in infrastructure and specialized software to facilitate the anticipated improvements The digitalisation efforts are expected to significantly increase tax collection with projections indicating a rise to Rs31 72 trillion by FY27 from Rs7 16 trillion in FY24 and an increase in the tax-to-GDP ratio to 20% from 8 5% Officials attending the meeting noted the professional approach of Minister Aurangzeb, emphasising action and implementation over previous tendencies toward blame attribution Aurangzeb stressed the importance of leveraging technology to modernise the tax administration, aiming to foster a more equitable system that supports economic growth and benefits the populace FINANCE MINISTER STRESSES TA X SYSTEM DIGITALISATION FOR TRANSPARENCY, EFFICIENCY PR OFIT n e w S D e S k The federal government is reportedly contemplating maintaining the current ex-depot prices of petroleum products from March 16 to March 31 This decision comes in response to the country grappling with high inflation rates, affecting the populace s standard of living Recent trends in the pricing of petroleum products have displayed a mixed pattern There has been a noted increase in the price of petrol while the costs of other petroleum derivatives have seen a decrease Oil marketing companies have provided estimates indicating minimal adjustments in the prices of the four major petroleum products, attributed to a significant premium on petrol and a marginal global increase in fuel prices The global oil market has seen the benchmark Brent crude stabilizing at approximately $81 per barrel since the beginning of March 2024 The pricing structure in the domestic market also incorporates taxes and the inland freight equalisation margin (IFEM) which is currently set at Rs7 01 per liter for petrol and Rs3 76 per liter for high-speed diesel Detailed analyses suggest a potential increase in petrol prices by Rs1 07 per liter due to an augmented premium of $12 15 per barrel, up from the previous $10 48 Should the government endorse this adjustment petrol prices would ascend from Rs279 75 to Rs280 82 per liter Conversely the prices for other petroleum products are projected to decline High-speed diesel is anticipated to drop by 82 paisa per liter, kerosene oil by 94 paisa per liter and light diesel oil by Rs1 56 per liter The government’s last adjustment on March 1 saw a rise in petrol prices by Rs4 13 per liter with the inter-bank rupee-dollar exchange rate remaining stable at Rs279 High-speed diesel, a crucial fuel for the transportation and agricultural sectors, directly influences the inflation rate impacting the general populace Petrol serves as the primary fuel for motorcycles passenger cars and as an alternative to compressed natural gas (CNG), particularly in Punjab, where there is a significant reliance on petrol and imported liquefied natural gas (LNG) due to local gas shortages Kerosene oil predominantly used for cooking in remote regions and by the Pakistan Army is also affected by these price determinations G ovt mulls maintaining fuel prices to alleviate inflation during R amazan ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has introduced amendments to the Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations 2020 The amendments have been carried out after thorough consultation with key stakeholders and the general public As per details through these amendments the right issuance process has been simplified with single, standardized disclosure and reporting requirements made applicable for all right issues regardless of the issue size Issuers shall solicit comments from both the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) and SECP on the draft offer document irrespective of the size of the right issue To enable investors to make informed decisions disclosures in the right issue offer document have been strengthened so investors get access to vital information regarding the issuer, risk factors specific to the issue or the issuer and impact of such risks on the operations and performance of the company The requirement for directors and substantial shareholders to mandatorily undertake that they shall subscribe to the right issue, or arrange for subscription of their entitled shares, has been streamlined This requirement was previously applicable for all directors/substantial shareholders including the directors/substantial shareholders who do not agree to the decision to proceed with the right issue Now the dissenting directors/substantial shareholders need not submit an undertaking and their portion of the right entitlement can be underwritten along with the portion offered to the general public The issue of shares by way of other than right offer, where issuance of shares is contingent upon a future event it was not practically possible for applicants to ensure compliance with certain requirements at the time of seeking approval under section 83(1)(b) of the Companies Act, 2017 In order to resolve this issue, specific exceptions have been introduced to facilitate the share issuance process To curtail any discretionary interpretation in deciding the applicability of the exceptions the future contingent event that would attract such exceptions has been clearly explained in the regulations For sponsors and associated companies/associated undertakings restrictions on sale of shares after the issuance is now made two years and for persons other than sponsors/associates, it is reduced to six months instead of the existing requirements based on shareholding percentage As a result of the amendments, the Companies (Further Issue of Shares) Regulations 2020 will now be applicable only for listed companies since the SECP has already specified requirements relating to further issuance of shares by unlisted public and private limited companies under a separate set of regulations notified in February this year The amendments mark a significant step forward in strengthening capital markets and ensuring investor protection By enhancing transparency and accountability SECP aims to foster confidence among investors and promote sustainable growth sECP amends Companies Fur ther Issue of shares Regulations, 2020 Automakers announce price cuts during Ramazam PR OFIT n e w S D e S k Automakers have announced price reductions and special offers for select models during Ramadan Kia Pakistan on Thursday announced a reduction in price of its Sportage models by up to Rs 300,000 in a Ramadan-exclusive offer This offer, which lasts until March 31, 2024, includes a reduction in the ex-factory prices of various Sportage models as follows: Sportage Alpha to Rs 7 300 000 from Rs 7 550 000 Sportage FWD to Rs 7 470 000 from Rs 8 040 000 Sportage AWD to Rs 8 470 000 from Rs 8 770 000 and Sportage Limited Edition to Rs 9,000,000 from Rs 9,300,000 Similarly, Indus Motor Company, the manufacturer of Toyota cars in Pakistan, announced a price reduction for its Yaris sedan models with cuts ranging from Rs 73 000 to PKR 133 000 After the adjustment the new prices for the Yaris 1 3 MT LO 1 3 CVT LO and 1 3 MT Hi are set at Rs 4 326 million Rs 4 616 million and Rs 4 586 million, respectively, each reflecting a Rs 73,000 decrease The Yaris CVT Hi sees a Rs 133,000 reduction, with its price now at Rs 4 766 million This move is attributed to the company’s efforts to circumvent the recent 25% sales tax increase on automobiles priced above Rs 4 million Earlier Hyundai announced a Ramadan offer of free registration for any Hyundai ELANTRA model reserved before Chaand Raat g A u r a n g z e b p r e s e n t s h i s s t r a t e g y t o i n c o r p o r a t e t h e i n c o m e s o f r e t a i l e r s a n d w h o l e s a l e r s i n t o t h e t a x n e t PR OFIT n e w S D e S k Bulls made a powerful comeback to the trading floor at the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Thursday, with the benchmark KSE-100 Index surging past the 65,000 level, by ending a short period of sell-off According to the PSX website the market opened on a positive note gaining over 500 points in the early hours of trading The KSE-100 index further gained ground during intraday trading and closed at 65,064 26 level, up by 1,015 82 points or 1 59% Market experts attributed today’s bullish trend to improved clarity on the political and economic fronts Investors were anticipating a rate cut by the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC)
r t s a t t r i b u t e b u l l i s h t r e n d t o i m p r o v e d c l a r i t y o n p o l i t i c a l a n d e c o n o m i c f r o n t s ECP dispels ‘rumours’ CEC being appointed ambassador ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday dispelled the rumours regarding the appointment of Chief Election Commissioner Sikandar Sultan Raja as an ambassador to a foreign country In a clarification issued on Thursday the electoral watchdog denounced the baseless the rumours According to the statement released by the ECP, neither has the government made any such offer to Chief Election Commissioner Raja nor does he harbour any intention of seeking an assignment abroad Emphasising Raja s commitment to serving his country the statement affirmed that he will continue his duties within Pakistan even after completing his term of office The ECP further cautioned against the dissemination of such misleading information, warning that those responsible for spreading such rumours will face legal repercussions if they fail to act responsibly The statement underscored the CEC s resolve in addressing any attempts to disrupt the integrity of the electoral process, asserting that appropriate measures will be taken against those engaging in such misconduct This clarification from the ECP comes in the wake of heightened criticism directed towards Chief Election Commissioner Raja particularly following the general elections held in February The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) party has been vocal in its demands for Raja s resignation, accusing him of neglecting his constitutional and legal obligations and allegedly facilitating ‘electoral fraud ’
m o n i to R n G D e S k I n a n e ff o r t t o s t r e a m l i n e g o v e r n m e n t s p e n d i n g , t h e c o a l i t i o n a d m i n i s t r a t i o n h a s e s t a b l i s h e d a c o m m i t t e e t a s k e d w i t h r e d u c i n g t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t ’s s i z e a n d r a t i o n a l i s i n g p e n s i o n a n d d e v e l o p m e n t e x p e n d i t u r e s H o w e v e r t h i s i n i t i a t i v e o n l y a d d r e s s e s a b o u t 1 6 % o f t h e c u r r e n t y e a r s b u d g e t ,
l i o n , o r 7 0 % , i s f o r m i l i t a r y p e n s i o n s T h e o m i s s i o n o f d e f e n s e a n d i n t e r e s t p a y m e n t s f r o m t h e c o m m i t t e e s s c o p e s i g n i f i c a n t l y l i m i t s i t s c a p a c i t y t o e ff e c t m e
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IT became clear by Wednesday (PST) that the most widely watched election in the world, the American presidential election, will be a rematch of the 2020 election, in which Democrat Joe Biden defeated incumbent President Donald Trump As the primary process played out, both men won the delegates necessary to win the nomination at the convention later in the year The major change is that two men are four years older Considering their ages, that is not a negligible factor Mr Biden will turn 83 just before the Inaugural due next January Mr Trump will be 78 The USA is becoming a gerontocracy a little like the USSR did just before Mikhail Gorbachev was brought in to preside over its fall Another couple of changes that have occurred is that Russia invaded Ukraine and Israel is trying to kill off the Gazans No one is sure how Mr Trump might deal with Ukraine especially after the Republicans in Congress have shown opposition to aid As for the Gaza issue, President Biden supports Israel to the extent of vetoing any UN Security Council resolution calling for a ceasefire, but Mr Trump favours Israel even more deeply Arab American voters face a dilemma, for to switch to Mr Trump would be like cutting off one s nose to spite one s face, but their being solidly democratic is getting Gaza no benefit Foreign policy issues have not historically determined voter preferences, and the persistence of inflation is a cause for concern Mr Trump has set up a contest which has not been seen for more than a century: a one-term President trying for a comeback Grover Cleveland the Democrat first elected in 1888 defeated in 1892 was nominated again in 1896 and won At the moment things are looking well for Mr Trump because the opinion polls show him with a five-point lead At the same time President Biden is suffering his lowest ever approval ratings Though incumbent Presidents usuallly win re-election, the signs do not seem good for Mr Biden at the moment If Mr Trump returns to the White House, the world will not just watch his actions on Ukraine and Gaza, but his actions on such issues as climate change, where he is expected to reverse the reversal of his actions by President Biden, which were in turn a reversal of his predecessor s actions As they say, it isn t over till its over
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
I s t h e s h a d o w l a i d t o r e s t ?
At Penpoint
M A N I A Z I
Thave passed away at great ages From the point of view of normalcy of procedure, Bhutto was executed very quickly The final decision was delivered on 24 March 1979, and he
rc o m e t h ro u g h f u n d a m e n t a l a n d s t r u c t u r a l r e fo r m s .
was executed on 4 April 1979 Now that the Qisas and Diyat law is followed, longer intervals ensue, as families pursue victims’ heirs, and attempt to get them to forgive the wrongdoer, for a due consideration Even at the time this execution was so speedy as to smack of haste
The Supreme Court decision was based on a very solid basis and merely confirmed what is already a consensus in society as a whole, not just legal circles: Bhutto did not get a fair trial; due process was not observed One of the aspects of the trial criticised was that the original trial was conducted by the Lahore High Court and thus one stage of appeal was eliminated While the original trial should have been conducted by a sessions court, so that one appeal lay to the high court, and then to the Supreme Court
The conviction also went against settled precedents that one could not be sentenced to death on the evidence of an approver It might be mentioned that Mr Bhutto was not accused of having fired the fatal bullet or been present on the scene but of having instructed that the murder be carried out The evidence of that instruction was given by Federal Security Force Director-General Masood Mahmood, who followed the instruction but turned approver The immediate application is to the recent conviction of former PM Imran Khan in the cipher case which was on the basis of the confessional statement of then Secretary to PM Azam Khan Also the attempt to find a Masood Mahmood might come to an end There was much pressure applied on Ahad Cheema to turn approver against Mian Shehbaz Sharif as Punjab CM just as there was severe pressure on Fawad Hassan Fawad to turn approver against Mian Nawaz Sharif but their refusal ended their careers At the same time the evidentiary value of approvers may not be denied entirely To that extent, a new judicial doctrine seems to be emerging It is possible to see lawyers in future quoting this judgement in future when arguing that due process was not followed in their client’s case For that rea-
I t s h o u l d n o t b e fo rg o t t e n t h a t w h i l e j u d g e s s e d u l o u s ly ex cl u d e t r a n s i e n t p o p u l a r
o p i n i o n f ro m t h e i r j u d g e m e n t s , p r e f e r r i n g t o b e r i g h t r a t h e r
t h a n p o p u l a r, i t i s t h e p u b l i c o p i n i o n , i n i t s i n c h o a t e f a s h i o n , w h i c h d e c i d e s w h e t h e r j u s t i c e h a s b e e n d o n e Wa s j u s t i c e d o n e i n 1 9 7 9 ? O r i n 2 0 2 4 ?
son alone it is not just a welcome judgement but a useful addition to the country s jurisprudence However there is also a danger because of that The danger is that the Supreme Court will find itself made to revisit other judgements That can be avoided for now, but will it be possible in future? The decisions during the Musharraf Martial Law are all up for review as are many decisions made since Even the Bhutto case decision can be revisited again Then there are the decisions like t h a t u p h o l d i n g t h e E l e c t i o n C o m m i s s i o n o f t h e bat symbol from the PTI The PTI is particularly liable to take this route because so many of its present leadership belong to the legal profession and thus for whom litigation is a default position However is the same sort of catharsis to be made available to the country as was afforded by this case? There are two backdoor entries opening to things which the Supreme Court has long decried: politics, and the reopening of settled issues First of all, it has to be conceded that the case was political Very few people are concerned with whether Bhutto got due process or not Supporters feel that he was railroaded; opponents feel he got his just deserts Because the intensity has gone out of the feeling especially that against him, the judgement has become possible without any public demonstrations Then, even if he got an unfair deal, he was executed Impugning the verdict against him cannot change that One result of the verdict is the FIR against him registered back in 1972 moves back to being an unsolved crime
Are we moving towards a greater accountability of the judiciary, or at least of its judgements? If responsibility for a crime was fixed in a manifestly unfair manner, can it really be said to be solved? Has the Supreme Court acted too late in saying what has been said frequently and widely enough so that it was not really very adventurous of the Court to join in?
If a Bench today might say that a previous Bench was wrong, could some future bench take the same view of this Bench s decision? Or does this verdict, like the previous one, end up in the court of public opinion?
It should not be forgotten that while judges sedulously exclude transient popular opinion from their judgements preferring to be right rather than popular it is the public opinion, in its inchoate fashion, which decides whether justice has been done Was justice done in 1979? Or in 2024?
The writer is a member of staff
Rowdy students
Public safet y
04 Fr day 15 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 residents of Defence Housing Authority (DHA) phase VIII in Karachi woke up to loud noises on the morning of Feb 28 As they later came to know, the students of some so-called high-end academic institutions had decided to disturb the peace of the locality for reasons known only to them The ruckus continued for a while All exit and entry roads remained blocked office-goers and ambulances remained stranded and even aerial firing was resorted to All this while the police constable on duty just stood by Why? We still do not know SHAKIR LAKHANI KARACHI
IN 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 lawenforcement mechanism An urgent action is needed against such brazen lawlessness JAMALUDDIN BANGWAR KASHMORE
A L L over the world, festivals bring pleasure to the people However, in Pakistan, aerial firing happens to be the hallmark of festivities Despite an official ban, many people continue to follow the troublesome tradition All of us as a nation must change our way of thinking ADEEL AHMED MALIK RAWALPINDI Gas leakage in Pakistan THE Government of Pakistan the Ministry of Oil and Gas and the Government-owned oil drilling companies like OGCL and Maari, etc , are all claiming that they are working hard to increase oil and gas production in Pakistan However, Pakistanis are facing gas shortages Incidentally, Methane-detecting satellites of NASA are registering high methane production in Pakistan The satellite images show methane emitting from the ground in Pakistan Locals in Pakistan have been found collecting this methane in plastic bags to use at home How can locals and satellites detect methane in Pakistan but the companies responsible for drilling for methane cannot find it? The real reason is that in Pakistan, only 6 oil drilling rigs are operational for the entire country The Oil and gas companies of the Government of Pakistan are deliberately not bringing in more drilling rigs, forcing the country to rely on imported RLNG from other countries In the USA more than 650 drilling rigs are operational Many foreign drilling companies want to provide rigs on lease to the Government of Pakistan but they are denied any deals with local companies All the O&G explorable land in Pakistan has been allotted to Government-owned companies that merely hold the land for many years and do not conduct any survey or drilling operations on it Despite having ample funds and extensive workforces, these governmentowned companies do not invest in drilling or survey activities, even though such endeavors constitute their core responsibilities The Government of Pakistan is therefore requested to increase drilling rigs in Pakistan to at least 100 while asking Government-owned O&G companies to enhance drilling and survey activities This would also create new jobs and industries while stopping the uncontrolled leakage of methane into the atmosphere, which devastates it SHAHRYAR KHAN BASEER PESHAWAR 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 A M I D all the doom and gloom, and one of the most controversial elections in Pakistan’s history, it is refreshing to see that the new Finance Minister, Muhammad Aurangzeb is a fresh face amongst the old guard of politics and finance As someone a few years senior to me both in high school and university I know that he is an intelligent, competent and hardworking professional with a no-nonsense attitude, and with the right credentials in terms of international work experience with JP Morgan Citigroup and ABN AMRO Bank along with an educational background from Aitchison College and the University of Pennsylvania s Wharton School of Business While he may not be a hardcore economist, he certainly has the skill set and gravitas to represent the country internationally, especially given the upcoming IMF negotiations and can assemble the right group of economists and advisors It would be beneficial if these advisors are mostly drawn from the pool of top young overseas Pakistani economists Mr Aurangzeb is also best advised to keep away from the tried and tested voodoo men of economics and finance Next to the perennial existential challenge of whether Pakistan will ever truly be a democracy governed by the constitution and rule of law its economy is the biggest challenge with high inflation, slow growth, lacklustre employment creation and more and more people falling below the poverty line Obviously, the weaker a country’s economy, the greater the threat to its national interests and sovereignty The real challenge for the new finance minister is if he will have enough space to maneuver beyond the clutches of the various vested interests in the corridors of power Regardless of any political affiliations, sorting out the country’s economic mess would require utmost honesty and integrity Whether successful or not only time will tell He will have to tread carefully in how he manages (i) the political wrangling given a coalition lacking legitimacy (ii) the internal workings of Special Investment Facilitation Council and (iii) the impact of economic policies on the common man Aurangzeb also needs to come up with an economic vision that goes beyond the political divide and the usual five-year term of any government as well as have clear short medium and long-term goals for the economy that are effectively implemented The long-term goal should be that by 2047 or earlier, Pakistan is in the world’s top 10 to 15 economies in GDP and is in mid to top rankings of the middle-income countries with much improved social and health indicators It is difficult to foresee long-term sustainable economic growth without the rule of law This needs to be complemented with wealth creation for all while ensuring that after a maximum of 10 to 12 years, Pakistan will never require another IMF bail-out While finalizing the ongoing $3 billion SBA from IMF as well as the larger longer EEF of $6-8 billion would be a priority for the new finance minister a host of economic challenges threaten Pakistan s stability and prosperity Three key issues fiscal deficit, current account deficit, and mounting debt cast a shadow over the country’s economic future To navigate these challenges and set Pakistan on a path to sustainable growth fundamental and structural reforms are imperative Several key measures can help tackle the root causes of fiscal deficit, current account deficit, and mounting debt problem: F I S C A L D I S C I P L I N E A N D R E V E N U E M O B I L I Z AT I O N: Implementing measures to enhance revenue collection broaden the tax base and improve tax administration are critical for reducing fiscal deficits Reforms aimed at rationalizing expenditures, including subsidies and government spending, are essential to contain budgetary pressures and promote fiscal sustainability Strengthening fiscal institutions and enhancing transparency and accountability in public finance management can help ensure effective fiscal discipline E X P O RT-L E D G R O W T H A N D I M P O RT S U B S T I T U T I O N: Promoting export-led growth and diversifying Pakistan’s export base are essential for narrowing the current account deficit This entails supporting export-oriented industries enhancing competitiveness and removing barriers to trade Additionally fostering import substitution industries and reducing reliance on imports for essential goods and services can help rebalance the current account and reduce external vulnerabilities D E B T R E S T R U C T U R I N G A N D M A NA G E M E N T: Addressing Pakistan s mounting debt problem requires a comprehensive strategy that includes debt restructuring debt sustainability analysis, and prudent debt management practices Renegotiating terms of existing loans, prioritizing concessional borrowing, and improving debt transparency and disclosure are essential steps to mitigate debt-related risks Additionally enhancing debt management capacity and implementing fiscal rules and debt ceilings can help prevent debt accumulation and ensure long-term fiscal sustainability Pakistan should not be buried under the burden of debt that is bound to undermine its national security and sovereignty U S E O F D ATA, A RT I F I C I A L I N T E L L IG E N C E A N D D I G I TA L I Z AT I O N O F E C O N O M Y: The importance of the digital economy cannot be stressed enough Use of data, data analytics and AI in economic decision making can be tremendously beneficial and this can be helpful in ensuring that there is minimal impact of adverse outcomes of the IMF programme on the low-income groups of the society as well as for tax reforms Pakistan should learn and seek assistance from China in this matter, which has recently inaugurated the National Data Administration (NDA), a national bureau dedicated to data-centred economic development and market regulation Its main mission includes unifying industry data standards facilitating data sharing across industries and streamlining data regulations from various government agencies The NDA s mission is to unlock data’s multiplier effects in all industries Its eventual goal is to build a digital China Pakistan’s economic challenges pose significant risks to the country s sovereignty However with bold and decisive action these challenges can be overcome through fundamental and structural reforms By prioritizing fiscal discipline, revenue mobilization, exportled growth, import substitution where necessary debt restructuring and prudent debt management Pakistan can set itself on a path to sustainable and inclusive development The time for action is now and the stakes could not be higher The author is a senior international banker, with degrees in economics and political science from University of Pennsylvania and Brown University P a k i s t a n ’ s N e w F i n a n c e M i n i s t e r a n d t h e e c o n o m i c c h a l l e n g e s Wh at i s o n h i s p l ate AZhAr DogAr Pa k i s t a n Ês e c o n o m i c c h a l l e n g e s p o s e s i g n i f i c a n t r i s k s t o t h e c o u n t r y Ês s ov e r e i g n t y H o w e v e r, w i
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decision by the Supreme Court in the review petition on Zulfikar Ali Bhutto’s case is not likely to become a precedent just as the original Supreme Court decision while blazing a trail has never been quoted before as a precedent Compared to that judgement, the Supreme Court has been conservative in its decision in the sense that it has made no departure from the past has enunciated no new doctrine
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but has relied on good old-fashioned legal principles
Even where there is unanimity in favour of conviction, even one dissent on the death sentence is enough to get the sentence converted to one of life imprisonment A life sentence is one of 25 years which is actually one of 14 years after factoring in remissions and would have meant that Bhutto, convicted in 1978, would have been released in 1992 At that time, he would not yet have been 70 It seems that justice has truly been denied by the delay Perhaps the real reason why this decision will set no precedents is that no relief has emanated from it The execution took place and that too a long while ago There is no reduction in any sentence There has been no reversal of any mutation, or of any possession, as generally occurs in civil matters There has been a certain sense of vindication in PPP circles the most visible expression of which was the passing of resolutions by the Punjab and Sindh Assemblies of resolutions calling for Butto to be designated a martyr As he is already called that by PPP supporters, who refer to him as Chairman Shaheed (his daughter being Bibi Shaheed ), it is not clear how this will have any effect Already, the title is used in, for example, the Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto Institute of Science and Technology with six campuses in Karachi Islamabad Larkana Hyderabad Dubai and Gharo did not wait for any court decision or assembly resolution to declare him a Shaheed, and the Sindh Assembly did not hesitate to use the word when passing the required Act However the fact is that he is no more Further the harsh reality is that he would probably not have been alive today Such contemporaries as Mumtaz Bhutto (2021 87) and Mustafa Jatoi (2009 78)
The decision might indicate that there is something wrong with the death penalty After all if Bhutto had not been executed he would have been 96, but perhaps he would have still moved for a retrial on the basis of that judgement (or maybe the Supreme Court would have ordered one anyhow), and probably been acquitted His execution was on the basis of a 4-3 decision on his appeal which was followed by a separate 4-3 decision on the sentence In other cases if there is even one judge holding out for an acquittal, the death sentence is never given
Radioactive pollution: Causes, containment and remedies
Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011, are significant sources of radioactive pollution
sium-40 These contribute to background radiation and can be released into the environment through natural processes or human activities such as mining
E
Certain materials in the Earth s crust contain naturally occurring radioactive elements When these materials are disturbed
MEDICAL FACILITIES: Radioactive materials are used in various medical applications including diagnosis and treatment Improper disposal of these materials can lead to environmental contamination
INDUSTRIAL USES: Certain industries use radioactive materials for processes such as radiography which is used to inspect metal structures and welds Mishandling or improper disposal of these materials can contribute to pollution
RADIOACTIVE WASTE DISPOSAL:
The disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear reactors research institutions and hospitals if not managed properly can lead to environmental contamination This includes both low-level waste (such as contaminated clothing and tools) and high-level waste (such as spent nuclear fuel)
B NATURAL SOURCES: RADON GAS: Radon is a naturally occurring radioactive gas that is released from the Earth s crust It can accumulate in buildings, especially in basements and ground floors, leading to indoor radioactive pollution
NATURAL DISASTERS: Events like volcanic eruptions can release naturally occurring radioactive materials into the atmosphere, contributing to environmental contamination Both human-made and natural sources of radioactive pollution have the potential to impact human health and the environment The extent of the impact often depends on the level of radiation released the type of radioactive material, and the duration of exposure Effective regulation, proper waste management, and safety protocols are essential in minimizing the risk of radioactive pollution from human-made sources
Dealimg with radioactive pollution involves a combination of prevention containment decontamination and long-term management strategies aimed to minimize exposure to radiation, prevent the spread of radioactive contaminants, and ensure the safe disposal of radioactive waste
A PREVENTION AND CONTAIN-
MENT: Strict Regulatory Frameworks: Implementing and enforcing strict regulations for nuclear power plants, medical facilities, industrial applications, and waste management can prevent accidental releases of radioactive materials
tion: Techniques such as soil washing, in-situ vitrification and the use of absorbents can help remove radioactive contaminants from soil and water
BIOREMEDIATION: Certain microorganisms and plants can absorb and concentrate radioactive elements from the environment, a process known as phytoremediation for plants These organisms can then be safely harvested and disposed of as radioactive waste
PHYSICAL AND CHEMICAL TREAT-
MENT: Contaminated materials can be treated physically or chemically to remove or stabilize radioactive contaminants For example, ion exchange, precipitation, and filtration methods can be used to treat contaminated water
SECURE DISPOSAL OF CONTAMI-
NATED MATERIALS: Materials that cannot be decontaminated must be securely disposed of as radioactive waste, ensuring they do not pose a risk to human health or the environment
The
A HUMAN-MADE SOURCES: Nuclear Power Plants: Accidents or
disaster in 1986 and the
COSMIC RADIATION: The Earth is constantly bombarded with cosmic rays from outer space which are partially absorbed by the atmosphere but can contribute to background radiation levels
TERRESTRIAL RADIATION: Rocks and soil contain naturally occurring radioactive materials like uranium thorium and potas-
S h a r i n g i n fo r m a t i o n , t e c h n o l o g y, a n d b e s t p r a c t i c e s b e t w e e n c o u n t r i e s a n d o rg a n i z a t i o n s c a n e n h a n c e g l o b a l c a p a c i t y t o p r ev e n t , m a n a g e , a n d r e m e d i a t e r a d i o a c t i v e p o l l u t i o n a s i t r e q u i r e s a mu l t i - f a c e t e d a p p ro a c h t h a t i nvo l v e s g ov e r n m e n t a g e n c i e s , i n d u s t r y s t a k e h o l d e rs , s c i e n t i s t s , a n d t h e p u b l i c .
SAFETY PROTOCOLS AND TRAIN-
ING: Ensuring that all personnel handling radioactive materials are properly trained in safety protocols can significantly reduce the risk of accidental pollution
SECURE CONTAINMENT OF RADIOACTIVE WASTE: Radioactive waste should be securely contained and isolated from the environment This includes using appropriate shielding materials and constructing deep geological repositories for long-term storage of high-level waste
REGULAR MAINTENANCE AND IN-
SPECTION: Regular maintenance and inspection of nuclear facilities and equipment used to handle radioactive materials can help identify and rectify potential sources of leaks or accidents before they occur
B DECONTAMINATION AND REMEDIATION: Soil and Water Remedia-
Make no mistake The ‘I’m unhappy with Israel but won’t do much about it’ polic y is Mr Biden’s polic y driven by the president’s pro-Israel sensibilities, politics and the polic y choices he faces in dealing with the current war
C LONG-TERM MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING: Environmental Monitoring: Continuous monitoring of air, water, and soil in and around nuclear facilities and waste disposal sites helps in early detection of radioactive leaks and contamination Public Health Monitoring: Monitoring the health of populations exposed to radioactive pollution can help in early detection of radiation-related illnesses and guide public health interventions
RESEARCH AND DEVELOPMENT: Investing in research to develop more effective decontamination technologies and safer nuclear energy technologies can help reduce the risk and impact of radioactive pollution
INTERNATIONAL COOPERATION:
Sharing information, technology, and best practices between countries and organizations can enhance global capacity to prevent manage and remediate radioactive pollution as it requires a multi-faceted approach that involves government agencies industry stakeholders, scientists, and the public
The writer is a youth motivator and former Head of the University Department of Political Science B N Mandal University Madhepura Bihar India
B o e i n g ’ s ‘ b i g t r o u b l e ’ i s a m i r r o r o f American manufacturing industr y
edly as a Zionist; no other occupant of the White House has asserted that if there were no Israel “We’d have to invent one ”
OIn short Mr Biden sees his own political life as intertwined with Israel s story The extraordinary speech he gave three days after the Hamas terror attack on Oct 7, and his visit to Israel within the first 10 days of war, set the frame Bonding with the loved ones of those who had been murdered the president spoke from personal experience about “the black hole of loss connecting the tragedies in his personal life with those of the people of Israel
Mr Biden may love Israel, but those feelings don t extend to the current prime minister of Israel Even so, as Biden biographer Evan Osnos notes, the president’s default position over the years has been not to confront Mr Netanyahu but to work with him when possible As vice president Mr Biden even served as something of a conduit to the White House for Israelis during tense periods between Mr Obama and Mr Netanyahu, and counseled caution lest the White House push Mr Netanyahu too far and force a rupture
Recently Mr Biden’s views have shifted as Palestinian deaths have mounted and the humanitarian situation in Gaza has turned catastrophic The president has been reportedly privately disparaging of the prime minister It may well be that Mr Biden now understands that Mr Netanyahu is desperate to cling to power and if necessary will do so at the expense of American interests regardless of Mr Biden s extraordinary support and an ever climbing casualty count Still by many accounts, Mr Biden is not yet ready to stop or condition military assistance to Israel or vote for a United Nations Security Council Resolution critical of Israel let alone call for a permanent cease-fire unless it is linked to the return of the hostages
If Mr Biden s personal history and his past helped shape his support for Israel, domestic politics has reinforced his pro-Israel convictions For Mr Biden and so many American politicians the line between what’s good for Israel and what’s good for America has long been blurred Being pro-Israel wasn t some craven genuflect for votes and money but a deeply held belief that good politics and good policy were one and the same, and supporting a fellow democracy fighting for survival in a dangerous neighborhood was exactly that The president’s decades in the Senate where support for Israel runs high reinforced this conflation
As Israel drifted rightward in recent years particularly during Mr Netanyahu s 12- year-
committed votes, reflects an inconvenient reality for Mr Biden: In a close general election, his unwavering support for Israel could cost him the election It s hard to see Mr Biden undertaking some significant anti-Israel actions that move him from criticizing Mr Netanyahu to renouncing him in the hope that those alienated by his proIsrael policies would return to the fold Should Mr Biden’s support for Israel waver Republicans would clearly be eager to paint the president as anti-Israel especially in an election campaign where the presumptive Republican nominee styles himself the most pro-Israel American president ever Nor is it clear how a concerted pressure campaign against the Netanyahu government would lead to a more positive outcome in the Israel-Hamas war
And that leads us to the final element constraining Mr Biden s policy choices especially the use of serious leverage The president may be increasingly uncomfortable with how Israel is waging this war and the appalling loss of life of innocent civilians, but he shares Israel’s war aims: to both eliminate Hamas’s capacity to pull off another Oct 7 and end its sovereignty in Gaza Complicating matters further this is not a conventional military conflict like the one in 1973 between Israel and Egypt, during which U S pressure and persuasion could work to produce agreements to end the conflict It’s a war against Iran-backed Hamas a terror organization that seeks to replace Israel with an Islamic state; that engaged in a rampage of indiscriminate sadistic killing and raping; and that holds hostages, many of whom are most likely still being abused Some have died in captivity
And that war is occurring in a densely populated area roughly twice the size
A viral video repor tedly filmed by Al Jazeera in 2014 showed some Boeing assembly line workers addicted to drugs The Boeing retiree John Barnett, who was recently repor ted to have “committed suicide,” had been exposing many problems at Boeing for years and even filed a lawsuit
BMr Netanyahu
The results of the Michigan primary in February, with its significant number of un-
also see how Boeing a company that was once known for quality and innovation, has gradually reached its current state over the past few decades International public opinion particularly in the US has made a lot of reflection on it including issues such as the loss of skilled engineering talent and the reckless outsourcing of production processes to cut costs However, the most significant reason lies in Boeing losing its “original intention,” shifting the core values of the company from prioritizing safety to prioritizing profit Without proper supervision and a sense of responsibility Boeing like so many American companies, seems to be coasting on a reputation it built up over decades,” as pointed out by this comment from The Guardian accurately identifying the true problems facing the American manufacturing industry The slogan of reindustrialization has been loudly proclaimed by several US administrations, with China often being the target in this process In recent days the US Trade Representative Katherine Tai accused China of harming American workers and businesses as if without China the issues in the US manufacturing industry could be easily resolved However, is this really the case? Boeing and Airbus are the two giants in the aircraft manufacturing industry that virtually face no significant competition Boeing in particular dominates the domestic market in the US It can be said that Washington s pursuit of manufacturing superiority is essentially an enlarged version of Boeing The problem however is that Boeing has now fallen behind Airbus on the international stage a situation caused by Boeing itself China has repeatedly told the US that both countries should focus on handling their own affairs rather than shifting blame onto others This is good and truthful advice but unfortunately the US seems unwilling to heed it However in the reflections surrounding Boeing, the American public opinion has largely stopped emphasizing the need for “shifting its domestic problems overseas in an attempt to find a cure ” indicating that reality is the best teacher
Friday 15 March 2024 COMMENT 05
N E could be forgiven for thinking that President Biden’s tough words on the Israel-Hamas war in his State of the Union address and his MSNBC interview on Saturday was the beginning of a much more critical U S policy toward Israel After all, the president called for at least a temporary cease-fire, laying out, in his most emotional terms to date, the losses and suffering of the people of Gaza and delivered an unmistakably sharp signal that Israel must make the delivery of humanitarian assistance to Gaza a priority Those calls came on the heels of Vice President Kamala Harris s high-profile meeting with Benny Gantz, Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu’s rival and likely successor a snub to Mr Netanyahu who has been denied a White House visit Nonetheless far from presaging a major shift in policy the president s words and the vice president s meeting were more likely part of the now familiar passive-aggressive approach the administration has deployed against the most extreme right-wing government in Israel’s history President Biden has sent a number of signals chastising Israel for indiscriminate bombing assisting with airdrops and creating a maritime corridor for humanitarian assistance that he s frustrated by some of Israel s actions, especially its inattention and even opposition at times to facilitating assistance into Gaza He is further angered by Israel’s unwillingness to restrain settler violence against West Bank Palestinians and its rejection of any role for the Palestinian Authority in governing Gaza But he has consistently refused to impose any serious consequences on Israel Make no mistake The “I’m unhappy with Israel but won’t do much about it” policy is Mr Biden’s policy driven by the president’s proIsrael sensibilities politics and the policy choices he faces in dealing with the current war At the same time, Mr Biden surely knows that there are costs both at home and abroad for allowing Mr Netanyahu to run roughshod over U S interests and values Therein lies his dilemma Understanding why President Biden hasn’t imposed costs on Israel during five months of its war against Hamas begins with his bond with the Jewish state Early in his career, it was easy for an impressionable young senator who made his first visit to Israel at age 30 to connect with the saga of Israel’s struggle for independence and its fight for survival in a hostile neighborhood In the years since Mr Biden has repeatedly recalled his father s references to the Holocaust and the dangers of silence in the face of evil No other president describes himself repeat-
run as prime minister, all of that grew more complicated Mr Netanyahu s policies toward West Bank settlement growth and, later, his anti-democratic efforts to undermine the Israeli judiciary began to erode the two main pillars of the U S -Israeli relationship: shared interests and values At the same time Mr Biden now finds himself in a serious political bind The Republican Party has emerged as the Israel-can-do-nowrong party And Democrats are increasingly torn: a large majority still strongly supports Israel but a growing number of progressives and mainstream Democrats are now calling for tougher action to restrain
of Washington D C where Hamas has embedded its military assets around and under civilian structures and population If the president had a compelling alternative to how Israel could wage a war in these circumstances without doing grievous harm to civilians, he might have more leverage Moreover a large majority of Israelis including Mr Gantz the administration s favorite candidate to succeed Mr Netanyahu support the war all of which limits Mr Biden s options for censuring the current prime minister Perhaps most important, Mr Biden needs Mr Netanyahu to agree to a hostage deal and an extended cease-fire with Hamas Without that agreement Mr Biden cannot hope to de-escalate the war increase humanitarian aid in a meaningful way put an end to the devastating images out of Gaza and have a chance to pursue a broader peace deal between Israel and Saudi Arabia As the war enters its sixth month, Mr Biden finds himself in an investment trap that’s difficult to escape He is increasingly frustrated and angry with Mr Netanyahu And yet he s still in love with Israel How to stand up to the first without damaging the second is proving to be an excruciatingly difficult challenge for a president whose regard for Israel runs deep in his emotional and political DNA and whose re-election campaign may depend upon which way he turns Mr Miller a former State Department Middle East analyst and negotiator is a senior fellow at the Carnegie Endowment for International Peace Why Biden isn’t pressuring Israel R A D I O A C T I V E pollution, also known as radiological contamination occurs when radioactive substances are released into the environment contaminating air water and soil This can happen through various means That include such as: A ACCIDENTS AT NUCLEAR POWER PLANTS: Incidents like the Chernobyl disaster in 1986 and the Fukushima Daiichi nuclear disaster in 2011 have led to significant releases of radioactive materials into the surrounding environment These incidents have had significant health, environmental, and socio-political impacts: Chernobyl Disaster (1986): This is perhaps the most infamous nuclear accident which occurred at the Chernobyl Nuclear Power Plant in Ukraine then part of the USSR A reactor explosion and fire released large quantities of radioactive particles into the atmosphere, which spread over much of the western USSR and Europe The immediate aftermath saw the death of two plant workers and over the subsequent weeks and years many more succumbed to acute radiation sickness and increased cancer rates among the exposed populations In line, the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Disaster (2011): Following a massive earthquake and tsunami in Japan the Fukushima Daiichi Nuclear Power Plant experienced a series of equipment failures nuclear meltdowns and releases of radioactive materials It was the largest nuclear disaster since Chernobyl and led to significant releases of radioactive materials into the surrounding area and the Pacific Ocean, prompting widespread evacuations and long-term environmental concerns B NUCLEAR WEAPONS TESTING AND USE: The detonation of nuclear weapons whether for testing purposes or in warfare releases large amounts of radioactive materials into the atmosphere which can spread over vast areas C IMPROPER WASTE DISPOSAL: The disposal of radioactive waste from nuclear power plants medical industrial and research facilities if not managed properly can lead to environmental contamination
MINING AND REFINING OF RADIOACTIVE ORES: The extraction and processing of uranium and other radioactive ores can release radioactive dust and radon gas contributing to environmental pollution
D
NATURALLY OCCURRING RADIOACTIVE MATERIALS
through activities
release radioactive substances
pollution poses significant health risks to humans and wildlife because exposure to high levels of radiation can cause cell damage, leading to cancer, genetic mutations, and acute health effects such as radiation sickness
(NORM):
such as fracking or mining and can
Radioactive
factors contributing to radioactive pollution can be broadly categorized into human-made sources and natural sources:
from nuclear power plants such as the Chernobyl
leaks
problem can be tackled Dr rAjkuMAr SINgh
The
NEW YORK TIMES A A r o N DAv I D M I l l E r
O E I N G has recently been caught in a whirlpool of safety concerns and public opinion On Monday a Boeing plane flying from Sydney, Australia, to Auckland, New Zealand, experienced a technical fault and made an emergency descent plunging violently for several seconds resulting in at least 50 injuries This is the latest in a series of safety incidents involving Boeing planes in the past three months Since 2024, Boeing s stock price has dropped by more than 25 percent, but the bigger impact is on its reputation CNN bluntly stated that Boeing is in big trouble Since the crashes of Indonesia s L i o n A i r a n d E t h i o p i a n A i r l i n e s f l i g h t s i n O c t o b e r 2 0 1 8 a n d M a r c h 2 0 1 9 , i t s e e m s t h a t B o e i n g h a s n o t truly recovered from the continuous s a f e t y i n c i d e n t s I n J a n u a r y o f t h i s year a new Boeing 737 MAX 9 airc r a f t f r o m A l a s k a A i r l i n e s h a d i t s c a b i n d o o r f a l l o ff i n m i d - a i r T h e US Federal Aviation Administration i m m e d i a t e l y l a u n c h e d a n a u d i t o f Boeing, uncovering 97 instances of a l l e g e d n o n c o m p l i a n c e O f t h e 1 3 a u d i t s c o n d u c t e d o n t h e b o d y s u pplier Spirit AeroSystems more than half did not pass Some specific det a i l s a r e e v e n m o r e a b s u r d i n c l u ding mechanics us ing liquid s oap as l u b r i c a n t , u s i n g h o t e l k e y c a r d s t o check the seal of the cabin door, and e v e n p i c k i n g d e f e c t i v e p a r t s f r o m t h e w a s t e b i n t o i n s t a l l o n t h e a i rcraft The aviation industry is a very serious industry where every screw is related to safety in the sky, and it i s n o t s o m e t h i n g t h a t c a n b e e xp l a i n e d a w a y b y B o e i n g a s j u s t a “technical event ” I t i s s a i d t h a t f r o s t t h r e e f e e t thick is not formed in a single cold day A viral video reportedly filmed by Al Jazeera in 2014 showed some B o e i n g a s s e m b l y l i n e w o r k e r s a ddicted to drugs The Boeing retiree J o h n B a r n e t t , w h o w a s r e c e n t l y r eported to have “committed suicide ” had been exposing many problems at B o e i n g f o r y e a r s a n d e v e n f i l e d a l a w s u i t I f t h e s e i s s u e s h a d b e e n g i v e n a t t e n t i o n b y B o e i n g e a r l i e r, many accidents and tragedies could have been avoided China is a major customer of Boeing We urge Boeing t o t a k e c o n c r e t e a c t i o n s a n d promptly make thorough corrections t o t h e i s s u e s r e f l e c t e d i n t h e a c c idents and investigations
We
E D I to r I A l
GLOBAL TIMES
Fr day 15 March 2024 LAHORE 06
07 NEWS Friday 15 March 2024 | LAHORE PR OFIT N E W S D E S K P AKISTAN s oil reserves have witnessed a year-on-year decline of 14%, with figures dropping to 193 million barrels in December 2023 from 224 million barrels a year earlier This decrease as reported by Pakistan Petroleum Information Services is attributed primarily to the natural decline in production across several major oil fields Fields such as Adhi, Nashpa, Chanda, Makori East, Pasakhi/Pasakhi North East, Mardankhel, and Jhandial have experienced notable decreases in their reserves Specifically these fields saw reductions ranging from 14% to a complete depletion in the case of Jhandial On the other hand fields like Tolanj West Pindori Halini and Jagir reported substantial growth, with increases up to 21 times the previous year s figures Alongside oil, the country’s gas reserves also saw a reduction, dropping by 5% year-on-year to 18,109 billion cubic feet (bcf) from 19 042 bcf in December 2022 This decline was observed across various fields including Uch Kunar West Deep Qadirpur Shahdadpur Sui and Mari while others like Rizq Kandkhot, Makori East, Pindori, and Tolanj West recorded increases The report further highlights the contribution of new fields to Pakistan’s total reserves, with 92 Kot Palak Mari Ghazij Bolan East Bettani (Wali) Kot Nawab Nim East Taj South Fatah Umair South East Jhim East and Shahpur Chakar North collectively adding 130 million barrels of oil equivalent (BOE) by December 2023 PA K I S TA N ’ S O I L R E S E R V E S D E C L I N E B Y 1 4 % A M I D P R O D U C T I O N D R O P S
PM reviews five-year roadmap for
IHC orders Adiala Jail admin to facilitate Imran’s meeting with his counsels
Chairman-forlife, safety and security of his spouse Bushra Bibi and the unconstitutional recounts of votes in various constituencies in Punjab threadbare During the meeting the PTI legal team gave a comprehensive overview to the core committee regarding the cases of Imran Khan The forum strongly condemned the unlawful and unconstitutional incarceration of the PTI Founding Chairman in fake and frivolous cases They made it clear that the state’s intentions to subject Imran Khan to political vendetta had been fully evident from the unfair speedy trial in fabricated cases like Toshakhana and Cipher wherein he was handed down sentences in hasty manner
PTI Core Committee expressed it annoyance over the unnecessary and unjustifiable tactics to delay the appeals against these black decisions of the courts
The participants demanded that all the cases against Imran Khan should be proceeded in accordance with the constitution and law and orders should be issued for the release of the PTI Founding Chairman by ending all these false and fabricated cases forthwith PTI Core Committee voiced serious concerns regarding the threats to the health and life of former First Lady Bushra Bibi They strongly denounced the detention of Bushra Bibi in Bani Gala sub jail against her will by endangering her life The forum called for providing fool-proof security to the former first lady and immediate redressal
PPP grabs four out of six S enate seats in by- elec tions
Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 5:40 6:20 1 30 5:00 6:10 8:00 Fr day 15 March 2024 NEWS
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Thursday chaired a high-level review meeting on a five-year roadmap for economic progress of the country The five-year roadmap focused on decrease in inflation poverty alleviation and provision of employment The prime minister said consultation should be held on this plan with all stakeholders of different sectors of the economy Without wasting any time, implementation of projects for the economic stability and progress of the country should be ensured, he added The prime minister said a schedule of implementation for the projects should be presented adding steps should be taken on priority basis to speed up progress in the sectors of agriculture livestock information technology foreign investment and small and medium industries He said the government would reduce its expenditure and he would not allow further waste of money of poor people He said in the next five years the country's economy would be stabilized to put the country on the path of progress The PM said tax revenue would be increased with digitalization and technology, while the per acre yield in the agriculture sector would also be increased with the use of technology The loss-making government institutions would be privatized on priority basis, he added The meeting was informed in detail about the roadmap for economic progress and about proposed measures in important sectors including electricity agriculture livestock exports small and medium enterprises, taxes, information technology, small and medium enterprises, investment, and privatization Federal ministers Ahsan Iqbal, Muhammad Jehanzeb, Ahad Khan Cheema Dr Musadiq Malik Minister of State Shiza Fatima Khawaja Jehanzeb Khan and high-ranking officers attended the meeting
economic progress
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Thursday directed the Adiala Jail Superintendent to allow four PTI lawyers to meet party founder Imran Khan at the jail Justice Arbab Muhammad Tahir passed the order while hearing the petition against the two-week ban on meetings with Adiala inmates including Imran, where the jail superintendent informed the court about receiving several requests for meetings with the former premier He added that they had orders to allow six people apart from the lawyers to meet Imran and said it was impossible for them to allow six people daily in a jail that houses seven thousand prisoners Justice Tahir, expressing his displeasure, said the jail superintendent had been giving new excuses during every hearing “If you do not follow court orders why should we not initiate contempt proceedings against you? In response the jail official informed the judge that he does follow court orders and showed the notification by the Punjab Home Department We had allowed the (PTI counsels) to meet on your terms and we already have contempt pleas pending against you,” replied the judge As the hearing resumed after a short break, PTI counsel Sher Afzal Marwat informed the court that they had designed a mechanism with the jail superintendent PR OFIT A H M A D A H M A D A N I Taking charge of the ministry he left more than six months ago Musadik Malik on Tuesday outlined his plans to try and curb the growing circular debt problem in Pakistan’s power sector Mr Malik seemed confident that there will be no further increase in circular debt which is projected to remain at Rs 2310 billion by the end of the current financial year During an interaction with the media, he outlined a series of initiatives aimed at tackling circular debt reducing power generation costs and fostering socio-economic development across rural and urban areas unveiled a plan for energy sector reforms and socio-economic uplift Similarly, he emphasized the government’s commitment to lowering the cost of power generation reducing line losses and combating electricity theft stating that these efforts will gradually lead to lower electricity prices He said the cost of power generation will be reduced “We are making efforts to bring down electricity generation cost reduce line losses and check power pilferage he said We are also making efforts to minimize the capacity charge and work is on progress in this regard Electricity theft in urban areas will have to be stopped And doing so he said will help gradually bring down the electricity prices If local gas is available big gas plants can provide cheap electricity According to the energy minister, reforms and restructuring of the DISCOs have become inevitable and there is a dire need for introducing reforms in the electricity companies He said that talks on privatisation of DISCOs are going on Currently electricity load shedding is being made only in those areas where electricity theft is being done, said the energy minister Musadik Malik said public sector oil companies have been directed to establish a separate company for renewable energy This he said will help generate cheap electricity and protect the environment He assured that reforms will be carried out in DISCOs to enhance their efficiency Responding to a question Musadik Malik said progress will soon be seen on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project He said that negotiations on the Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline are underway in order to get rid of sanctions We have the responsibility to lay gas pipeline in our side of areas said Musadik Malik The Minister of Energy also enumerated steps envisaged by the government for the uplift of rural and urban areas He said it has been decided to provide direct subsidy to the farmers on fertilizers He said the provision of high-yielding seeds and solar tube wells to the farmers will be ensured in order to enhance the productivity of the agriculture sector He said loans will also be provided for the establishment of farm industries in order to ensure maximum utilization of fruits and vegetables For the urban areas the Minister of Energy said that a plan has been developed to provide ITrelated training to the youth He said banks will also be asked to provide loans for the promotion of small and medium industries Speaking on the occasion Federal Energy Minister Musadik Malik said that the Prime Minister has developed two strategies One for rural areas and one for urban areas Similarly, he said that a development strategy in agriculture will be formulated for rural areas He said fertilizer subsidy amount will be provided directly to the farmer and the tube well will be converted to solar Similarly, the farmers will be provided with the best seeds Likewise, small agro-industrial farms will be established in rural areas and the banks will provide loans for industries in rural areas Furthermore, banks have been asked to provide loans to small businesses instead of big ones while the banks will provide small loans for businesses in urban areas M u s a d i k p r o m i s e s t o k e e p R s 2 , 3 1 0 b i l l i o n c i r c u l a r d e b t i n c h e c k g O U T L I N E S P L A N S TO C U R B G R O W I N G C I R C U L A R D E B T P R O B L E M I N P O W E R S E C TO R PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K T H E International Monetary Fund (IMF) on Thursday advised Pakistan to initiate dialogues regarding the National Finance Commission (NFC) award again The aim is to rectify the persistent discrepancies in the fiscal resource distribution between the central and provincial governments In the preliminary talks for a loan installment worth $1 1 billion under standby agreement (SBA) IMF’s Mission Chief to Pakistan Nathan Porter highlighted the need for a fairer division of resources and responsibilities Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was present to represent Pakistan According to a media report the IMF pointed out the necessity to reevaluate the NFC award due to the uneven allocation of resources between federal and provincial entities The current distribution mechanism of NFC award put into effect in 2010 augmented the provincial share of total federal taxes from 47 5% to 57 5%, without corresponding expansion of responsibilities This has contributed to continuous fiscal disequilibrium and an escalation in public debt However Pakistani officials told the IMF that reducing provincial shares would necessitate a constitutional amendment and consensus among all provinces for a new arrangement The 2010 NFC award initially set for a five-year term has remained unchanged due to lack of agreement on revising it IMF URGES PAKISTAN TO REEVALUATE FISCAL DISTRIBUTION FRAMEWORK g C A L L S F O R R E O P E N D I S C U S S I O N S O N N AT I O N A L F I N A N C E C O M M I S S I O N A W A R D A M I D C O N C E R N S O V E R F E D E R A L- P R O V I N C I A L I M B A L A N C E S ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Islamabad High Court (IHC) was informed on Thursday that intelligence agencies have access to phone recording system through the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) The counsel for telecom operators appeared before the high court as it heard pleas against the leaked audios of former premier Imran Khan’s wife Bushra Bibi and ex-CJP Saqib Nisar s son The case was heard by IHC s Justice Babar Sattar The counsel said that the recording system is installed, and the PTA has the key to it The government and agencies have access to the system as it is under their jurisdiction “We have given access to the system to the PTA The authority can give access to whichever agency it wants he said, adding that the PTA was in a better position to answer the court’s queries The additional attorney general (AAG) however told the court that the government had not given any such permission for the concerned calls Justice Sattar got irked at the AAG s reply telling him this was not the correct manner to argue the case He said the prime minister attorney general, as well as three additional secretaries, submitted their replies stating that no permission was given to tap phone calls “Today you are coming and informing the court that your reply was limited to this case only the judge stated The judge observed that the court repeatedly asked the federal authorities to inform it if there existed a system under which these calls were being recorded warning of consequences if a false report was submitted to the court Under which law is all of this happening? he asked I have been asking you for the past eight months under which framework have you been operating Should you not know which competent agency is being granted access to? Justice Sattar asserted The judge then inquired of the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority s (PEMRA) counsel if they had issued any instructions regarding the unconfirmed leaked audio calls being aired on media channels Their counsel replied that the most the authority could do was prohibit the media from running them adding that it has issued instructions regarding the matter as per the IHC s order PTA chairman told Justice Sattar that 90% of mobiles have spyware through which their cameras can also be operated An Israeli company made a software called Pegasus that infects a mobile he explained adding that hacking a phone was not a difficult task All it takes is a minute he said If you leave the phone with me to go to the washroom I can connect my phone to yours and acquire full access to it in the meantime ” the counsel said I n t e l l i g e n c e a g e n c i e s h ave a c c e s s t o p h o n e r e c o r d i n g s y s t e m , I H C t o l d PTI top body briefed on Khan’s cases, demands his immediate release ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Core Committee was given detailed briefing by the party legal team pertaining to the current status of cases of PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan and vehemently denounced his detention in the fabricated, politicallymotivated and fake cases, demanding that order should be issued for his instant release from the unlawful imprisonment PTI Core Committee in its meeting here on Thursday discussed various issues especially the inordinate delay of appeals in cases against PTI
of threats to her health and life Moreover the forum termed the recounting of votes in various constituencies of Punjab as unconstitutional, adding that after February 8, the constitutional seats of PTI were being stolen under the pretext of unconstitutional vote recounts and were being gifted to PML-N unlawfully PTI Core Committee reiterated its demand that all these constituencies should also be audited in the light of the actual Form 45 and all PTI s stolen seats should be returned to the party in accordance with the constitution and law
clinches NA-81 seat as A zhar Qayyum declared
GUJRANWALA S TA F F R E P O R T The Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) clinched one more National Assembly seat following a vote recount of 75 polling stations in NA-81 Gujranwala As per details PML-N s Azhar Qayyum requested that the ballots be recounted and the Returning Officer (RO) granted his request Following the vote tally, Azhar Qayyum defeated independent candidate Bilal Aijaz, backed by Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI), by a margin of 3197 votes After the recounting Azhar Qayyum secured 110 057 votes while Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) backed independent candidate Bilal Aijaz bagged got 106 860 votes It is pertinent to mention here that earlier Bilal Aijaz was declared the winner with 117,717 votes while the PMLN candidate finished as runner-up with 109,926 votes Aggrieved with the results Azhar Qayyum approached the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) and requested for vote recount Earlier on February 26 the PML-N secured another National Assembly seat after a vote recount in NA154 Lodhran As per details, the Returning Officer (RO) ordered the recounting of votes on request of PML-N Abdul Rahman Kanju’s request After the recount of votes the PML-N candidate emerged victorious with a lead of 7301 votes against independent candidate Rana Faraz Noon As per revised results, Abdul Rahman Kanju bagged 127,984 votes while independent candidate Rana Faraz Noon got 120,683 votes ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan People s Party (PPP) grabbed four out of six Senate seats during by-elections held here on Thursday In the National Assembly hall polling was held on one vacant seat of the Senate from Islamabad PPP candidate Yousaf Raza Gilani was declared winner with 204 votes, while Sunni Ittehad Council s candidate Chaudhary Ilyas Mehrban remained runner-up with 88 votes In Sindh Assembly, PPP candidates Jam Saifullah Dharijo and Aslam Abro were declared winners with 58 and 57 votes respectively SIC s Nazirullah and Shazia Sohail secured 4 votes each A total of 124 Sindh MPAs, including 116 of PPP and eight of SIC took part in the polling Both the seats had fallen vacant due to the resignation of Nisar Ahmed Khuhro and Jam Mehtab Dahar of the Pakistan People’s Party In Balochistan, Pakistan People’s Party’s Mir Abdul Qudus Bizenjo was declared winner with 23 votes while JUI-F s Abdul Shakoor Khan Ghaibai and PML-N s Mir Dostain Domki were also declared the winners on the Senate s vacant seats Muttahida Qaumi Movement-Pakistan (MQM-P) decided to stay away from the Senate by-elections while Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) also boycotted the process Meanwhile the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) found itself on the sidelines once again grappling with the loss of its electoral symbol in the parliamentary realm As per the dictates of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP), only parties with electoral symbols are eligible to partake in the Senate polls, adhering to the same rules governing general elections Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) had declared that a poll will be held on April 2 to fill 48 vacant seats in the Senate Schedule for elections on 48 vacant seats of the Senate Meanwhile, the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) on Thursday issued schedule for elections on forty-eight vacant seats of the Senate According to the schedule polling will be held on the second of next month (April) from 9am to 4pm The candidates can file their nomination papers with the returning officers from Friday (tomorrow) till Saturday Whereas March 19, has been fixed for the scrutiny of nomination papers A revised list of the candidates will be issued on the March 26 whilst the candidates can withdraw their nomination papers by the 27th of this month In the federal capital members of the National Assembly will elect members of the Senate against one general seat and one seat for technocrats including Ulema Members of the four provincial assemblies will elect Senators for seven general seats two women seats and two seats for technocrats including Ulema from each province as well as one seat for non-Muslims from both Punjab and Sindh provinces These seats became vacant after expiration of the term of the incumbent members on the 11th of this month It is pertinent to mention here that the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) announced that polling for 48 Senate seats will be held on the second of the next month (April) The electoral watchdog said that election will not be carried out on four seats reserved for the erstwhile tribal areas These seats have been abolished after the merger of tribal areas into Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) under the 25th Amendment of the Constitution ” read the statement 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
PML-N
winner after vote recount
