Epaper_24-03-17 ISB

Muhammad Shirin Akhund received Pakistan s Chargé d Affaires (Cd A) and head of mission in Kabul, Ubaid ur Rehman Nizamani, in Kandahar the spiritual centre of the Afghan Taliban on Monday

The Pakistani envoy travelled to Kandahar to meet with Mullah Shirin a close confidant of the Taliban supreme leader, amid a tense relationship between the two uneasy neighbours

The senior Afghan Taliban leader had expressed the hope that Pakistan’s new government would have cordial relations with Kabul

We discussed matters of common interest and agreed to advance Pakistan-Afghanistan relations in all mutually beneficial areas, Ambassador Nizamani had told media Last week, Pakistan’s Ambassador to the UN, Munir Akram had asked the United Nations Security Council to urge the Taliban rulers in Afghanistan to terminate their relationship with the banned militant Tehreek-i-Taliban Pakistan group At the same time, Ambassador Akram had said that the international community must help millions of destitute Afghans “through the provision of unconditional humanitarian assistance”

Saudi Crown Prince felicitates PM Shehbaz

Lt- Colonel, Captain among seven jawans embrace mar tyrdom in Mir Ali attack

RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T

A lieutenant colonel and captain were among seven soldiers martyred in a terrorist attack in North Waziristan s Mir Ali, the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) stated on Saturday At least six terrorists were also killed in the attack As per the ISPR troops foiled the initial attempt of intrusion into the army installation in the wee hours of the day however a group of six terrorists rammed an explosivesladen vehicle into it later carrying out multiple suicide bombings The attacks led to the collapse of a portion of a building, resulting in the martyrdom of five brave soldiers The martyred soldiers included Havildar Sabir a resident

D ay after meeting PM, US ambassador c alls on NA S peaker

gaged and gunned down all the six terrorists However 39-yearold Lt Col Ali a resident of Karachi and 23-year-old Captain Muhammad Ahmed Badar, a resident of Talagang, embraced martyrdom

The ISPR reported that the troops were engaged in a “sanitization operation to eliminate any other terrorists present in the area

The security forces of Pakistan are determined to

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

US Ambassador to Pakistan Donald Blome called on National Assembly Speaker Ayaz Sadiq on Saturday at the Parliament House The discussion focused on bilateral relations and other matters of mutual interest Blome congratulated Ayaz on his appointment as speaker and expressed his best wishes

Yesterday, US Ambassador Donald Blome met with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif to discuss a broad range of bilateral issues express US support for Pakistan s democracy and the key role of an independent press In a statement issued here Acting US Mission Spokesperson Thomas Montgomery said that Blome and Shehbaz discussed various issues including partnering with the government of Pakistan on regional security US support for continued economic reforms with and through the IMF, trade and investment, education, climate change, and private sector-led economic growth During meeting at Parliament House NA Speaker Ayaz Sadiq said Pakistan gives great importance to the longstanding friendly relations with the United States The two acknowledged the need to further promote parliamentary relations between both countries and that these terms play a crucial role in promoting public relations The US envoy reiterated America’s commitment to continue its support for the strengthening of the democratic process in Pakistan

of district Khyber; Naik Khurshid, a resident of district Lakki Marwat; Sepoy Nasir a resident of Peshawar; Sepoy Raja a resident of Kohat; and Sepoy Saj-

jad, a resident of Abbotabad During the ensuing clearance operation the Pak army troops led by Lieutenant Colonel Syed Kashif Ali en-

Services Sharjeel Murtaza finalising the agreement FBR spokesperson Zubair Tiwana said that the board s ongoing efforts in automating processes and digitalising the economy to tackle the issue of an undocumented economy and to broaden the tax base Waqas ul Hasan, CEO of Karandaaz Pakistan, commented on the future benefits of this digital shift anticipating a more resilient and agile tax administration system that will ultimately benefit the nation

TGovt to launch Panda bonds to boost foreign reser ves

MPC is set to meet on Monday. With inflation still lurking, will the SBP fall to temptation of a rate c ut?

Pakistan set to seal staff-level agreement with IMF next week

I M F t a l k s b e g i n

A s o n e p ro g ra m m e e n d s, b o t h s i d e s l o o k to t h e n ex t

ON the face of it, the International Monetary Fund team in Islamabad is merely supposed to conduct the third and final review of the current Stand-By Arrangement of $3 billion so as to decide whether the final tranche of $1 billion should be disbursed or not However, both teams will also have in view what happens after the SBA expires on April 11 The talks are thus not so much a final review as a preliminary to negotiating the next aid package It is expected that the aid package will be duly applied for soon though it has not been so far The package to be applied for is expected to be an Extended Fund Facility of about $6 billion spread over three years Though he was careful to put no figures on the package to be applied for newly appointed Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb has confirmed that the government will apply for the package

Because the IMF is a bank, its explorations of how Pakistan can finance its debt repayments are wide-ranging That might be why its first target was circular debt in the fossil fuels sector, and it has become clear that it will require further tariff raises under the new programme At the moment it will find the government willing to bend over backwards to get a deal Pakistan has had an unfortunate recent history with the IMF, as the SBA only came after Pakistan failed to complete its EFF The first SBA review under the caretakers was successful and the present PM who negotiated the SBA, would hope to carry forward the momentum Some suggestions, such as ending exemptions in the next budget and not giving any amnesty scheme in it are fairly standard

However, the IMF has suggested that the federalprovincial share established in the last National Finance Commission of 42 5:57 5 be changed Critics of the 18th Amendment have focused on its putting a ban on reducing the provincial share The criticism, which has also been voiced by the IMF team, is that there has not been a corresponding transfer of responsibilities to the provincial governments However, getting such a reversal would tear at the fabric of the federation, apart from the monumental difficulties that the government would face in putting together the two-thirds majorities needed in both Houses of Parliament to amend the Constitution It is also not clear how more rupees available will translate into the foreign exchange needed for debt servicing

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Elections festivities are over, now for the economy

c r i s e s h a v e s t r a i n e d t h e c o u n t r y s f i n a n c i a l r es o u r c e s a n d e r o d e d i t s m a c r o e c o n o m i c s t a b i l i t y

Tprioritizing narrow agendas over national s t a b i l i t y H i s t o r y u n d e r s c o r e s t h e v i t a l l i n k b etween political stability and economic progress, a lesson seemingly lost on Pakistan's political leadership Caught in a cycle of self-inflicted crises Pakistani politicians persistently ignore historical less o n s p e r p e t u a t i n g r i v a l r i e s t h a t e s c a l a t e i n t o damaging enmities In a democracy ruling and opposition parties should converge on the common goal of national welfare, yet political manoeuvres often overshadow this responsibility The aftermath of the recent elections has been m a r r e d b y a c c u s a t i o n s o f e l e c t o r a l f r a u d a n d threats of destabilization because of this neglecting the severe repercussions on the economy The r e l e n t l e s s p o l i t i c a l c o n f r o n t a t i o n s s i n c e A p r i l 2 0 2 2 h a v e e x a c e r b a t e d e c o n o m i c w o e s , e v e n t h o u g h t h o s e d e m a n d a u n i f i e d e ff o r t t o r e s t o r e stability The pervasive influence of political part i e s a n d t h e i r l e a d e r s h a s o f t e n p r i o r i t i z e d n a r r o w i n t e r e s t s o v e r t h e b r o a d e r w e l f a r e o f t h e n a t i o n

Rivalries between political factions have degen-

erated into bitter enmities further exacerbating governance challenges and undermining investor confidence Consequently Pakistan s economy finds itself mired in a state of perpetual uncertainty, with adverse implications for fiscal sustainability, investment inflows, and socio-economic stability due to the aggressive style of one political party in the country named PTI A m i d l o o m i n g d e b t o b l i g a t i o n s a n d f i n a n c i a l s t r a i n p a r t i s a n p o l i t i c s f u r t h e r i m p e r i l P a k i s t a n s e c o n o m i c f u t u r e I n i t i a t i n g d i a l o g u e a n d c o o p e ra t i o n a m o n g p o l i t i c a l f a c t i o n s i s i m p e r a t i v e t o n a v i g a t e t h e e c o n o m i c q u a g m i r e a n d a v e r t c a t a st r o p h e A p r o a c t i v e a p p r o a c h , i n c l u d i n g a n at i o n a l c h a r t e r o f e c o n o m y a n d e l e c t o r a l r e f o r m s i s v i t a l t o r e s t o r e f a i t h i n g o v e r n a n c e a n d e n s u r e l o n g - t e r m s t a b i l i t y T h e r e s p o n s i b i l i t y r e s t s s q u a r e l y o n t h e s h o u l d e r s o f p o l i t i c a l l e a d e r s w h o s h o u l d b e e m p h a s i z i n g n a t i o n a l i n t e r e s t o v e r p e r s o n a l g a i n The urgency of the situation necessitates immediate action; failure to prioritize the nation's wellbeing could have irreparable consequences rendering political factions obsolete in shaping Pakistan s future A cursory glance at the annals of history reveals the symbiotic relationship between political stability and economic progress Developed nations and emerging economies alike have thrived on the bedrock of stable governance, robust institutions and consensus-driven policymaking In contrast countries plagued by political strife and institutional dysfunction have languished in a cycle of stagnation and decline P a k i s t a n s o w n e x p e r i e n c e u n d e r s c o r e s t h i s fundamental truth Despite sporadic periods of relative stability and economic growth, the spectre of political turmoil has loomed large over its development trajectory The recurring pattern of politic a l u p h e a v a l h a s p e r p e t u a t e d a v i c i o u s c y c l e o f economic mismanagement and underperformance The confluence of internal and external chall e n g e s h a s f u r t h e r c o m p o u n d e d P a k i s t a n ' s e c on o m i c w o e s , p o s i n g f o r m i d a b l e o b s t a c l e s t o s u s t a i n a b l e d e v e l o p m e n t M o u n t i n g d e b t o b l i g at i o n s f i s c a l d e f i c i t s a n d b a l a n c e o f p a y m e n t s

Pakistan stands at a crossroads, confronted by daunting economic challenges and entrenched political discord. However, amidst the gloom and uncertainty, there exists a glimmer of hope– the prospect of meaningful reform, political cohesion, and national renewal By transcending partisan divides, embracing inclusive governance, and pursuing bold policy initiatives, Pakistan can chart a course towards sustainable economic recovery and prosperity. The road ahead may be arduous, but the stakes could not be higher Only through concerted action and collective resolve can Pakistan overcome its economic peril and realize its full potential as a vibrant, prosperous, and resilient nation

D a c o i t M e n a c e i n S i n d h

T h e n e w b r e e d d o e s n o t f o l l o w a n c i e n t v a l u e s

IThe government must prioritize the safety and security of its citizens by taking strict actions against these criminals Only through concerted efforts and comprehensive strategies can Sindh rid itself of this scourge and restore safety to its people. It's time for the government to demonstrate its commitment to justice and security through meaningful actions and accountability The last major anti-kidnapping operation took place in 1990, but it seems that the effect has long worn off That operation was conducted by the Army The Sindh government would do well to use its police and end this menace, before the federal government (which belongs to a different party) is forced to act and use federal froces, such as the Rangers and the Army

for civil disobedience have h e i g h t e n e d i n v e s t o r u n c e r t a i n t y a n d u n d e r m i n e d c o n f i d e n c e i n t h e c o u n t r y ' s d e m o c r a t i c i n s t i t utions The resultant climate of instability has det e r r e d b o t h d o m e s t i c a n d f o r e i g n i n v e s t m e n t

exacerbating capital flight and exacerbating currency depreciation A d d r e s s i n g P a k i s t a n s e c o n o m i c m a l a i s e r e -

quires a multifaceted approach encompassing political, institutional, and structural reforms At the heart of this endeavour lies the imperative for political cohesion consensus-building and national r e c o n c i l i a t i o n P o l i t i c a l p a r t i e s m u s t r i s e a b o v e partisan interests and prioritize the nation's longterm welfare over short-term gains To this end the formulation of a national chart e r o f e c o n o m y e n c o m p a s s i n g a b i p a r t i s a n c o nsensus on key policy priorities fiscal discipline a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l r e f o r m , i s e s s e n t i a l S u c h a f r a m e w o r k w o u l d p r o v i d e a r o a d m a p f o r e c onomic recovery governance reform and sustainable development transcending transient political r i v a l r i e s a n d f o s t e r i n g a c u l t u r e o f c o l l a b o r a t i o n and accountability F u r t h e r m o r e , e l e c t o r a l r e f o r m s a i m e d a t e nhancing transparency accountability and inclusivi t y a r e i n d i s p e n s a b l e t o r e s t o r i n g p u b l i c t r u s t i n democratic processes Electoral malpractice voterigging, and political coercion must be vigorously a d d r e s s e d t h r o u g h l e g i s l a t i v e m e a s u r e s , i n s t i t ut i o n a l s a f e g u a r d s a n d j u d i c i a l o v e r s i g h t M o r eo v e r s t r u c t u r a l r e f o r m s t o s t r e a m l i n e r e g u l a t o r y processes promote business-friendly policies and enhance market competitiveness are critical to unlocking Pakistan s economic potential This entails dismantling bureaucratic red tape, reducing regulatory burdens and fostering a conducive environm e n t f o r e n t r e p r e n e u r s h i p i n n o v a t i o n a n d investment Pakistan stands at a crossroads, confronted by daunting economic challenges and entrenched pol i t i c a l d i s c o r d H o w e v e r a m i d s t t h e g l o o m a n d u n c e r t a i n t y t h e r e e x i s t s a g l i m m e r o f h o p e – t h e p r o s p e c t o f m e a n i n g f u l r e f o r m p o l i t i c a l c o h es i o n , a n d n a t i o n a l r e n e w a l B y t r a n s c e n d i n g p a rt i s a n d i v i d e s , e m b r a c i n g i n c l u s i v e g o v e r n a n c e , a n d p u r s u i n g b o l d p o l i c y i n i t i a t i v e s P a k i s t a n c a n c h a r t a c o u r s e t o w a r d s s u s t a i n a b l e e c o n o m i c r ec o v e r y a n d p r o s p e r i t y T h e r o a d a h e a d m a y b e a rd u o u s , b u t t h e s t a k e s c o u l d n o t b e h i g h e r O n l y t h r o u g h c o n c e r t e d a c t i o n a n d c o l l e c t i v e r e s o l v e c a n P a k i s t a n o v e r c o m e i t s e c o n o m i c p e r i l a n d r ea l i z e i t s f u l l p o t e n t i a l a s a v i b r a n t p r o s p e r o u s a n d r e s i l i e n t n a t i o n

The writer is a freelance columnist

Stigma breakers

IN recent years, the conversation surrounding mental health has gained momentum, yet there remains a pressing need for increased understanding and support Mental health is an integral part of overall well-being affecting individuals families and communities alike By fostering awareness we can challenge the stigma associated with mental health issues and create an environment where individuals feel comfortable seeking help without fear of judgment Educational initiatives that promote mental health awareness in schools, workplaces, and community organisations are essential It is crucial to equip individuals with the knowledge to recognise signs of mental health challenges and provide resources for seeking help Through open dialogue we can contribute to breaking down the barriers that prevent many from seeking the support they need Moreover advocating for policies that prioritise mental health services is vital By allocating resources to mental health programmes, we can enhance accessibility to professional help and contribute to the development of a more compassionate and supportive society I urge our community to come together in acknowledging the importance of mental health and working towards creating an inclusive and empathetic environment Together we can make strides towards a society where mental health is prioritised and everyone feels valued and supported M ABDULLAH JAVED KARACHI

Dying peacocks

PEACOCKS are known for their stunning beauty and graceful demeanour, captivating hearts with their vibrant feathers and elegant dances In the vast expanses of Tharparkar, Sindh, these majestic birds have long been cherished residents, adding to the natural splendour of the region However recent events have cast a shadow over this idyllic scene as reports emerge of peacocks succumbing to a mysterious illness Tharparkar a region famed for its desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage is home to a significant population of peacocks estimated at over 120 000 birds Among them are both wild flocks and domesticated birds kept as cherished pets by locals In the past, the people of Thar demonstrated a strong commitment to conserving these precious creatures, actively opposing illegal practices such as hunting and smuggling that threatened the peacock population The recent wave of deaths among peacocks in Tharparkar particularly in villages like Pahnario in the Pillu Taluka of Nagarparkar has sent shockwaves throughout the community According to residents like Mr Javed Samoon Mr Khamiso Khan Jhagoro and Darya Khan, the toll of the mysterious disease has been devastating, claiming the lives of more than two dozen peacocks in their village alone This loss is keenly felt in a place where the bond between people and wildlife runs deep, and the presence of peacocks is intertwined with the fabric of daily life The exact cause of the illness plagu-

India is a rogue countr y and should be treated accordingly

APM Narendra Modi known as the Butcher of Gujarat,' is the political arm of the Nazi-inspired Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) Before being elected as

PM Modi served as the Chief Minister of Gujarat He was solely responsible for the Muslims massacre in Gujarat in 2002 As soon as Modi became the PM of India in 2014, the country’s claims of being a secular state started deteriorating Muslims Sikhs Christians and lower-caste Hindus are forced to live worse than human beings in India Violence and hate speech against Muslims in India have been a historical phenomenon but it has increased manifold since PM Modi came to power In a ten-year study from 2009 to 2019, more than 90 percent of hate crimes against minorities were found to have occurred after 2014

The BJP-RSS nexus is fast turning India into a pariah state which has no regard for international laws and norms of the civilised world In complete disregard of the UN s multiple resolutions, it has stripped IndianOccupied Kashmir of its disputed status while people’s rights are being suppressed through stringent laws Modi scrapped the Indian-Occupied Kashmir s special status guaranteed by India s Constitution decades ago and turned the Muslim-majority state into a federally controlled territory In the occupied territory, India has committed brazen violations of human rights turning the whole Valley into a Nazi-inspired concentration camp The BJP-RSS nexus passed a discriminatory Citizens Amendment Act in 2019 The BJP is following in the Nazis' footsteps It is not just Muslims, but low-caste Hindus, Christians

directly and uphold the principles of human rights and democracy before the situation deteriorates further

and other minorities are also bearing the brunt of the Hindutva fascist ideology

In April 2022 50 000 houses of Muslims were demolished in the state of Hyderabad and in 2023 400 incidents of violence against Christians were reported in 23 states of India In August 2023, Indian extremists killed hundreds of Christians and burned 600 villages in the Kandhamal district of Orissa

Recently in May 2023 ethnic violence erupted in India s north-eastern state of Manipur According to government figures 175 people have been killed in the violence

4,786 houses were burnt and 386 religious structures including temples and churches were vandalised The violence left more than 70 000 people displaced from their homes The National Crime Bureau's report said that over 250 000 hate crimes against lower castes were reported in the last 5 years

Despite the economic failures of his first term, Modi won

the international community of the dangers posed by Indian state-sponsored terrorism to regional and international peace and security On January 25, Pakistani security agencies successfully exposed Indian terrorist groups and Indian handlers/facilitators involved in heinous terrorist acts and targeted killings in Pakistan Earlier in March 2016 Indian Navy officer Kulbhushan Sudhir Jadhav was arrested in a counter-intelligence operation in Balochistan's Mashkel area for his involvement in espionage and sabotage activities against Pakistan Notably in a video statement Kulbhushan openly admitted that he was the serving agent of RAW in Balochistan He confessed that he spied for India and was assigned the task of creating unrest in Karachi and Balolchistan to destabilise Pakistan The international community’s failure to condemn India for its terrorist activities in the past for geopolitical considerations has emboldened New Delhi to expand its terrorist network from South Asia to Europe and North America Last year, the brutal murder of Sikh leader Hardeep Singh Nijjar, by India made headlines globally Canada had strongly reacted over the murder of Nijjar and highlighted the killing globally After the Nijjar

Singh Pannu, which was foiled by the timely action of American intelligence agencies The accused of this murder plan is facing judicial proceedings in the USA

This portrayal offers a stark view of India s trajectory under the BJP government led by PM Modi and its association with extremist ideologies From internal repression of minorities to aggressive actions against neighbouring States, India's conduct mirrors the characteristics of a rogue state, challenging international norms and agreements Recent events including targeted violence against religious minorities and State-sponsored terrorism underscore the pressing need for the international community to address India's destabilizing behaviour The Financial Action Task Force (FATF) must assume a central role in scrutinizing India's involvement in State-sponsored terrorism India s geopolitical alignment especially with the US-led West should not exempt it from accountability

Failure to hold India accountable risks exacerbating regional tensions and jeopardizing global peace and security It is imperative for the world to confront these challenges directly and uphold the principles of human rights and democracy before the situation deteriorates further

The writer is a freelance columnist

is

Uincluding experimenting with generative Al ” TikTok accounts run by a Chinese propaganda arm reportedly targeted both Democrat and Republican candidates from during the 2022 U S midterm elections There is bipartisan agreement that the videosharing app, which is owned by Chinese company ByteDance, poses a national security threat A bill that would require the company to divest from the massively popular platform which has about 170 million U S users or face a ban is expected to come to a vote in the House of Representatives this week It would require ByteDance to sell TikTok within six months or be banned from Apple, Google, and other U S app stores and web-hosting services The measure was sponsored by Republicans but has significant bipartisan supportCK President Joe Biden whose campaign recently created its own TIkTok account has told reporters: If they pass it I ll sign it "HIGH" RISK OF ESCALATION IN

THE MIDDLE EAST

The war in Gaza and the resulting humanitarian crisis has galvanized Arab countries in the region where there is rising "public sentiment against Israel and the United States for the death and destruction U S intelligence officials say in their report While it is too early to tell it is likely that the Gaza conflict will have a generational impact on terrorism," Haines told lawmakers at the hearing, which was repeatedly interrupted by antiwar protestors Inspired by Hamas terrorist groups including al Qaeda and ISIS have directed supporters to conduct attacks against Israeli and American interests as the war drags on Haines said While the report states that the U S intelligence community assesses that Iranian leaders did not orchestrate nor had foreknowledge” of Hamas’ Oct 7 assault on Israel, attacks by Iranian-backed groups are threatening to destabilize Lebanon Iraq the Gulf and the

Tand national outlets also have a trust problem Trust in all institutions keeps waning, but it is worse for the media: Only 31 percent of Americans trust it to report the news fairly and accurately Local news is more trusted with 45 percent trusting such outlets according to a 2019 Knight Foundation survey It s no wonder small business stories weather sports and community events aren t politically divisive and the reporters who work there are your neighbors and members of your community You can literally walk into a physical office and strike up a conversation with them You can’t say the same for Rachel Maddow

Today the Fourth Estate has become more Democratic Partyfriendly through attrition As smaller outlets continue shrinking and disappearing the void is filled with those concentrated in big urban metropolises Naturally journalists living in cities like New York and Washington are bound to reflect the views and interests of those around them Thus, since 2016, coverage has kept drifting toward a pro-Democratic Party consensus, with reporters content with serving as lap dogs for their political party of choice rather than a watchdog for the nation That fact is most evident on social media where conversations are hermetically sealed from most of the outside world and journalists seem content to mostly write articles for one another Rather than calling for more trustworthy institutions reflecting

shArjeel

IUkraine attacks Russian city and refinery on second day of presidential election

Chinese UN envoy: Security Council’s Afghanistan resolution fails to reflec t developments

mained unchanged for over two years which is clearly a disconnect with reality he added

Since its establishment in 2002 the UNAMA has, in line with the changing situation, made several adjustments to the UN secretary-general’s reporting cycle to the Security Council according to the Chinese envoy In light of the overall stabilization of the security situation in the country China proposed, during the consultations on the draft resolution, that the reporting cycle be extended as appropriate, said Geng

said Geng

“The

The draft resolution submitted by the

gives the impression that the situation (in Afghanistan) has re-

That would not prevent the Security Council from considering the Afghanistan issue whenever necessary nor would it in any way imply any weakening of support for the Afghan people he added Geng said that China s overall consideration is that actions taken by the Security Council with regard to Afghanistan should be in line with the development of the situation and the needs of the Afghan people and that China stands ready to continue its communication with all parties on relevant issues, he said

Unlocking travel: China’s visa-free move strengthens global links

comprehending it

The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs Defense Development Cooperation and Foreign Trade of the Luxembourg Government also highly welcomes China’s new visa-free policy

Upon receiving an interview with China Media Group the ministry stated that this facilitation of travel will encourage more Luxembourg citizens to visit China and will help to strengthen people-to-people and trade exchanges between the two countries

With its steady advancement of high-level opening up as well as the proactive implementation of visa-free policies for six European countries China is sending a positive signal according to Huo Jianguo, the vice chairman of the China Society for World Trade Organization Studies Investments from Europe in China are substantial and there is a significant flow of business professionals With the introduction of the visa-free policy many convenience issues will be alleviated for these individuals, thereby facilitating further development of bilateral trade and investment between China and Europe Huo explains More travelers on their way

The number of inbound tourism bookings to China from the six countries mentioned on Thursday increased nearly twofold compared to the previous year, and about 40 percent compared to the same period in 2019 according to data from Ctrip an online travel platform Among them Switzerland Belgium and Hungary saw increases of over threefold

Since China announced its visa-free policy on March 7, the search volume for China-related keywords from these countries has increased steadily The

years and now engaging in economic and trade cooperation between the two countries a Belgian businessman finds the new visafree policy ideal for his travel needs

“I believe the visa-free policy is an excellent opportunity for Europeans,” he said “It is a perfect example of China s open-up policy a heartwarming measure that helps people go beyond understanding China to truly

A Ukrainian missile attack killed two people in western Russia and a separate drone strike set an oil refinery ablaze on Saturday the second day of an election that President Vladimir Putin has accused Kyiv of trying to disrupt The Ukraine war has cast a shadow over voting in the three-day presidential election, which is all but certain to hand Putin six more years in the Kremlin In the Belgorod region where cross-border attacks from Ukraine have become part of daily life the governor reported the deaths of a man and a woman Video obtained by Reuters showed fires ablaze and air raid sirens sounding on the empty streets of Belgorod city Dmitry Azarov, governor of the Samara region 850 km (530 miles) southeast of Moscow said the Syzran refinery was on fire but an attack on a second refinery had been thwarted Russia s Defence Ministry said it had repelled attempts by Ukrainian forces to cross the border into the Belgorod region Governor Gladkov said that, given “the current situation”, schools in much of the region would close on Monday and Tuesday, and that shopping centres in Belgorod city would be shut on Sunday and Monday Ukraine has staged repeated strikes this week on Russian soil particularly against oil refineries Russia mounted its deadliest attack in weeks on Friday when its missiles hit a residential area in Ukraine s Black Sea port city of Odesa, killing at least 20 people and wounding more than 70 Putin’s hold on power is not under threat Aged 71 and in office as president or prime minister since the last day of 1999 he dominates Russia s political landscape and none of the other three candidates on the ballot paper presents any credible challenge His leading critics are in prison or have fled abroad, prompting the opposition to call the vote a sham Russia’s best known opposition politician, Alexei Navalny died in an Arctic penal colony last month and his supporters have accused Putin of having him killed The Kremlin denied that and his death certificate said he died of natural causes High turnout in some regions The Kremlin is hoping for a high turnout to demonstrate that the country is united behind Putin Overall turnout had topped 40% by the afternoon of day two Some of the highest rates – approaching 70% – were reported in the Belgorod region where the missile strike occurred and in Russian-controlled regions of Ukraine where Kyiv says voting is illegal and void Russia’s governing party, United Russia, said on Saturday that it was facing a widespread denial of service attack – a form of cyberattack aimed at paralysing web traffic – and had suspended nonessential services to repel it

China,

Angola

upgrade ties as presidents hold talks

Chinese President Xi Jinping held talks with Angolan President Joao Lourenco in Beijing on Friday when the two heads of state announced the elevation of bilateral relations to a comprehensive strategic cooperative partnership Analysts hailed the upgrade of bilateral relations, saying it would further boost China-Angola cooperation, especially in trade and business, and also inject new impetus into ChinaAfrica cooperation this year While meeting with President Lourenco on Friday President Xi noted that China and Angola jointly celebrated the 40th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations last year and relations between the two countries have stood the test of international vicissitudes and benefitted the two peoples China supports Angola in safeguarding its national sovereignty security and development interests exploring a modernization path suited to its national conditions and realizing national development and revitalization he said China is also willing to strengthen exchanges of governance experience with Angola, upgrade bilateral strategic relations, and jointly promote the modernization process of each country, Xi noted President Lourenco said that the friendly relations between the two countries have maintained a high level of development and China s support and cooperation have greatly promoted Angola s infrastructure construction and economic and social development, setting an example of mutually beneficial cooperation

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and martyrs’ memorials defiled, and also Lasbela helicopter crash said that the PTI has remained involved in disrespecting the martyrs He paid tribute to the martyrs on behalf of the entire nation which saluted them for their unforgettable” sacrifices The minister said there is no soft corner in the hearts of the people for those who had disrespected its martyrs We will not compromise on the dignity and honor of the martyrs and the law will take its course Such vile campaigns against martyrs and national institutions laid bare the reasons of foreign funding being received by the PTI

he said alleging that such initiatives were meant to appease the terrorists and enemies of Pakistan

Attaullah Tarar said the PTI had sided with the terrorists which was reflected from such a condemnable and insulting behavior and that too against the martyrs of the nation The minister recalled the recent protest by the PTI supporters outside the IMF office abroad to destabilize the economy

The PTI had nothing to do with the interests of Pakistan and the sacrifices of martyrs Tarar noted Strict legal action would be taken against a handful of miscreants who were not part of a political party instead they were mere “rioters and militants”

Bank Alfalah inaugurates flagship Islamic Premier Branch with all-in- one integrated banking

I M R A N G R E E N L I G H T S C O O P E R AT I O N O F K P G O V T W I T H C E N T R E , S E C U R I T Y A G E N C I E S

Fin light of today s deadly attack in North Waziristan Imran Khan expressed regret over the incident and directed Chief Minister Gandapur to take all necessary measures to enhance the security situation in K-P He emphasised the importance of cooperation with security agencies in this endeavor In addition to security matters, the discussion also touched upon the restoration of health cards and the Ramazan package in K-P Imran Khan expressed satisfaction with the progress made in these areas reflecting his commitment to the welfare of the province s residents

hails UNGA’s

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

The Foreign Office (FO) on Saturday hailed the adoption of a Pakistan-sponsored resolution by the UN General Assembly (UNGA) on measures to combat Islamophobia Titled Measures to Combat Islamophobia , the FO said the resolution was presented by Pakistan on behalf of the Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) as a follow-up of the General Assembly Resolution

76/254 which designated March 15 as the International Day to combat Islamophobia, and passed by an overwhelming majority of 115

combating Islamophobia P T I h a s n o t h i n g to d o w i t h p ro te s t o u t s i d e I M F o ffi c e : G o h a r

RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on Saturday categorically declared that PTI had nothing to do with a demonstration staged outside the International Monetary Fund (IMF) office, asserting there was no directive to prevent aid to Pakistan in the letter to the IMF

Speaking to the press outside Adiala Jail Barrister Gohar clarified that while a protest did occur outside the IMF office abroad, there was no directive to prevent aid to Pakistan in the letter to the IMF “Instead, the focus was on ensuring clean and transparent elections he added

votes to 44 abstentions India and Israel abstained while China, the United States and Russia voted in favour

“The General Assembly has condemned the incitement to discrimination hostility or violence against Muslims as manifested in the increasing number of incidents of desecration of the Holy Quran, attacks on mosques, sites and shrines and other acts of religious intolerance negative stereotyping hatred and violence against Muslims the FO said

The General assembly has also called upon the member states to take legislative and policy meas-

ures to combat religious intolerance, negative stereotyping, hatred, incitement to violence and violence against Muslims ” It also welcomed the appointment of a UN special envoy to combat Islamophobia saying the historic appointment would be the first of its kind, exclusively dedicated to combating the scourge of Islamophobia” The FO pointed out that the adoption of the resolution came at a critical time amidst rising Islamophobia as manifested by an increasing number of incidents of discrimination, violence, and incitement against Muslims around the world

RAWALPINDI: Former prime minister and the founder of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Imran Khan on Saturday shared insights on various pressing issues ranging from the recent protests outside the IMF office to the state of the country s economy and political landscape Addressing the protest staged in front of the IMF office abroad, Khan acknowledged its legitimacy but disclaimed any awareness of anti-army sloganeering that might have transpired during the demonstration PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan on the other hand asserted that PTI had no involvement in orchestrating a demonstration outside the International Monetary Fund office The statements were made amidst accusations of attempting to disrupt the bailout package negotiations with the newly-formed government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif Turning his attention to electoral matters, Khan underscored the need for an audit of the election results emphasising discrepancies in the vote count He highlighted PTI’s significant share of 30 million votes compared to the cumulative tally of 17 opposing parties advocating for transparency and accountability in the electoral process Commenting on recent political developments, Khan expressed concern over Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur s meeting with Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, cautioning against potential repercussions for the region He said Gandapur should not have taken pictures with Shahbaz “I am afraid that the federal government will not release the fund for Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa he remarked Discussing the state of the economy Khan issued a stark warning asserting that the country s economic trajectory was heading towards a downward spiral He called for urgent and stringent reforms, criticising the incumbent government s perceived inability to address pressing economic challenges S TA F F R E P O R T

our party’s women adding that after the election Palestine will not be allowed in National Assembly adding that this is a misunderstanding which may have happened due to the noise in the house On the resolution on Women’s Day, he said women who are enduring prosecution should also be highlighted Gohar said we are trying to strengthen the faith in democracy and ensure that money is not spent in the Senate election He further said that the secrecy of the vote in the Senate election should be maintained and that the ECP should oversee the procedure for verifying this vote

thumbs-up to PTI’s

and Azam Swati, Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl s (JUI-F) Talha Mehmood, and Dilawar Mohmand have already submitted their nomination papers in connection with the Senate elections The electoral process will see 143 members of the provincial assembly exercising their voting rights on the designated date

Moreover Sanam Javed will contest Senate elections as the party s candidate for the women s seat while Dr Yasmin Rashid will be a candidate for the technocrat seat in the Senate elections from Punjab The electoral watchdog is set to hold the Senate election next month to fill the 48 seats fell vacant upon the expiration of the 6-year term of the incumbent senators last week

A zma Bukhari highlights Ramazan package progress, steps to check price hike

LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Information Minister Azma Bukhari said on Saturday that for the first time in the country s history a step had been taken to provide Ramazan hampers at doorstep of more than 6 4 million families in Punjab Addressing a press conference along with Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen here at DGPR, she said that flour, sugar, rice, gram flour and ghee were included in Ramazan hampers She said that the Nigheban Ramazan package and model bazaars were running simultaneously to facilitate the maximum number of people She said model bazaars had been set up in 15 districts of Punjab where model bazaars were not set up previously, adding that agriculture fair price shops had been established in 25 districts of Punjab Azma Bukhari said that essential items were available in these model bazaars at 25 percent less rate than the open market She said that price control magistrates were discharging their duties in field after getting training and they were being monitored through a dashboard Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yaseen said that there was no single complaint related to the quality of items included in Ramazan hampers He said that vendors which were engaged by the district governments had been clearly told that if there was any complaint related to the quality of items action would be taken against them as per law He said that by today 50 percent target of distribution of Ramazan hampers had been completed and the remaining would be completed by the end of the holy month Bilal Yaseen said that before the start of Ramazan onion was selling at Rs 350 per kg and today it was available at Rs 250 per kg and in the coming days it would further reduce to Rs 200 per kg ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Amnesty International along with a coalition of human rights activists and civil society organisations on Saturday called for the immediate restoration of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) blocked in Pakistan since February 17 X has been inaccessible since former Rawalpindi commissioner Liaquat Chattha resigned over what he said was alleged “election rigging” in the Rawalpindi division The platform ban came after the blockage of mobile phone services on election day – February 8 The arbitrary blocking of platforms, including the prolonged and unannounced disruption of “X” (formerly known as Twitter) since 17 February 2024, is a sobering illustration of growing digital censorship in the country said the statement The international non-governmental human rights organisation s statement highlighted the detrimental impact of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocking on political discourse and the free flow of information particularly in the lead-up to and following crucial electoral processes Such actions not only silence diverse political voices but also create an environment which contributes to the spread of misinformation The Amnesty International statement comes amidst mounting concerns over the erosion of freedom of expression and access to information in the country The human rights organisation also criticised the complete silence of the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and termed it extremely alarming as the authority failed to furnish any reasons for the ban and exceeded its mandate to block an entire internet platform” “The absence of transparency in the decision-making processes surrounding network shutdowns and platform blocking and complete disregard for any accountability has resulted in an obvious erosion of trust between the state and its citizens, added the statement Elaborating on the concerns, the organisation said the reported throttling of Virtual Private Networks (VPNs) further impedes people’s access to information and infringes upon their right to privacy Amnesty International and its partners called for immediate action to reverse the course of digital censorship in Pakistan Specifically, Amnesty International urged the government to unblock X, repeal censorship-enabling laws such as Section 37 of The Prevention of Electronic Crime Act(PECA) and act transparently on decisions impacting internet usage for political and economic purposes Additionally, the human rights organisation and other signatories of the statement demanded a clarification outlining the legal basis for recent platform blockages and a commitment to upholding Pakistan’s international obligations to freedom of expression and access to information The incoming government regulators and public bodies were implored to recognise the enduring impact of actions that restrict the flow of information and impede citizens’ ability to express themselves particularly concerning political participation Pakistan entered on Saturday its fourth week of nationwide disruption to social media platform X, with activists waging a court battle to get it restored A m n e s t y I n t e r n a t i o n a l u r g e s ‘ i m m e d i a t e ’ r e s t o r a t i o n o f X i n Pa k i s t a n