PPunjab unveils ‘mini-budget’
wor th over Rs4,480bn
Afghan Taliban condemn attack, urge Pakistan to stop ‘continuation’ of wrong polices
Umar Ayub says no dialogue with govt sans release of PTI leaders
No additional funds to pay dues of Chinese power plants, Pakistan assures IMF
g FUND QUERIES PAKISTAN'S POWER SECTOR POLICIES AMID RISING DEBTS AND INEFFICACIES
Af ter SSGC, SNGPL also seeks up to 147% hike in gas tariff
SBP plays it safe with policy
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T PTI leader Umar Ayub said that as long as PTI leaders were not released, there will be not dialogue with the government He claimed that Shehbazled government has no knowledge of the economy therefore there was no use to discuss economic challenges with him He said Shehbaz led government destroyed the economy in the past and this time they will do the same Meanwhile, the antiterrorism court in Lahore granted interim bail to Umar Ayub Khan in five cases till April 20 The court ordered Umar Ayub to submit a bond of fifty thousand Babar Awan Advocate appeared on behalf of Umar Ayub PTI leader was accused in setting containers on fire during protest demonstrations on May 9 besides torching PML-N office
Eight terrorists, including HV T commander, killed in Waziristan IBO
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T
Security forces killed eight terrorists including a commander during an intelligence-based operation in North Waziristan, said the InterServices Public Relations (ISPR) on Monday The terrorist commander was identified as Sehra aka Janan and was killed after an intense gun battle along with the other militants
In par tnership with Profit Tu e s d a y, 1 9 M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 I 8 Ra m a z a n , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 2 6 1 I 8 Pa g e s I I s l a m a b a d E d i t i o n PAKISTAN HITS TTP BASES INSIDE AFGHANISTAN AMID RISE IN TERRORIST ATTACKS PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K Pakistan has committed to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) that it will not allocate extra-budgetary funds to clear the Rs493 billion owed to Chinese power plants According to a news report, the global lender has raised concerns about the effectiveness of Pakistan’s campaign against power theft and questioned the recent steep rise in electricity prices attributing it to the misuse of costly imported fuels by the energy ministry The IMF doubts the government s ability to limit the fiscal year ’s non-bill recovery losses to Rs263 billion, noting that losses have already neared Rs200 billion in seven months This trend threatens the goal of containing the total circular debt of Rs 2 31 trillion by June 2024 The Fund inquired about Pakistan’s financial planning for the Chinese power projects with energy officials confirming no plans for additional funding beyond the budgeted Rs48 billion The dues under the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) have surged to Rs493 billion violating the 2015 Energy Framework Agreement that requires adequate budget allocation to shield Chinese investors from circular debt The IMF also expressed skepticism about the long-term efficacy of the antitheft campaign and the military’s role in overseeing power distribution companies The government s claim of recovering Rs82 billion through this campaign lacks detailed public accountability Pakistan s energy sector faces challenges with low bill recovery and high line losses, contributing to the annual circular debt increase of Rs589 billion Despite an ongoing anti-theft drive, the government anticipates Rs263 billion in losses from poor bill recoveries this fiscal year The energy ministry has projected a slight improvement in bill recovery rates and expects additional government subsidies to manage the circular debt However, the IMF remains critical, especially following a controversial Rs7 per unit electricity price hike questioning the rationale behind it and the overall management of fuel resources by the energy ministry Additionally the IMF has requested a revised timeline for phasing out agricultural tube-well subsidies in Balochistan, highlighting ongoing fiscal management challenges in Pakistan’s power sector
PR OFIT A H M A D A H M A D A N I In a move that could add a financial burden to the inflation-hit consumers, Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) has sought approval from the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) to increase gas prices by 147% As per details after Sindh and Balochistan preparations are in full swing to increase the gas prices for Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa as the SNGPL has requested a price increase of Rs 2,646 18 per Million British Thermal Unit (mmbtu) and requested to set a new average price of Rs 4446 89 which would multiply the burden on the people already grappling with soaring rates Sui Northern has estimated a revenue shortfall of Rs 189 billion and 18 crore The OGRA will hear the SNGPL s application on March 25 in Lahore and March 27 in Peshawar If SNGPL s request is approved, the increase in gas price will be applicable from July 2024 It may be noted here that Sui Southern Gas Company has also sent a request to OGRA for an increase of Rs 274 40/mmbtu in gas prices from July 1, 2024, and to fix the average gas price of Rs 1740 80/mmbtu which is expected to burden consumers by Rs 79 billion and 63 crores The SSGC has estimated a total revenue shortfall of Rs 79 billion and 63 crore rupees in the application for the next financial year, of which Rs 56 billion and 69 crore are due to local gas and Rs 22 billion and 93 crore due to RLNG OGRA conducted a hearing on Monday on Sui Southern s application to jack up the gas prices for its consumers by 18 71% in Karachi while OGRA will also conduct a hearing on March 20 in Quetta In two separate petitions filed by both the Sui companies (SNGPL & SSGCL) with the OGRA for the determination of Estimated Revenue Requirement/Prescribed Prices for FY2024-25, the SNGPL and SSGCL have also sought the transfer of RLNG cost of service at Rs 325 08 per mmbtu and Rs 39 56 per mmbtu respectively for FY2024-25 The revenue requirement of the petitioners will enable the company to meet the cost of gas, operating costs and return on assets g S N G P L R E Q U E S T S A P R I C E I N C R E A S E O F R S 2 , 6 4 6 1 8 / M M B T U
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Finance Minister Mian Mujtaba Shujaur Rehman has presented the provincial budget for the fiscal year 2023-24 worth Rs4 480 7 billion in Punjab Assembly session on Monday Mujtaba Shuja-urRehman said that Maryam Nawaz after being elected as first woman chief minister of Punjab gave a message of reconciliation to the opposition While presenting three months budget for the year 2023-24 in Punjab Assembly he said that in last 21 days Punjab CM Maryam Nawaz had started 28 big projects He said it was happening for the first time in the history of Punjab that in short period of time budget was being presented for such big projects He said these projects were being implemented, adding that it was continuity of public service passion of Muhammad Nawaz Sharif and Shehbaz Sharif He said this three months budget was aimed at progress and prosperity of people of the province This budget was for the facility of investors and strengthening of different sectors including health, education etc He said it was a vision of Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz to make Punjab a digital province by taking revolutionary steps in various sectors He said One cannot deny inflation but the Punjab government under the able leadership of Maryam Nawaz is fully focusing to mitigate the sufferings of people He said that ‘Ramazan Nigheban package’ was being implemented successfully with a cost of Rs 30 billion He said the Punjab government had made price control system fully active and prices and supply of essential items were also being monitored The Punjab Finance Minister said that zero tolerance policy had been adopted to overcome hoarding, adulteration and illegal profiteering Demand and supply of agricultural and essential items were also being improved, Mujtaba Shuja added g O P E R AT I O N L A U N C H E D A G A I N S T T E R R O R I S T S B E LO N G I N G TO H A F I Z G U L B A H A D U R G R O U P ISLAMABAD M I A N A B R A R
A K I S TA N I forces carried out intelligence-based operations (IBOs) across the border into Afghanistan against terrorists launching attacks into Pakistan from Afghan soil the Ministry of Foreign Affairs (MoFA) confirmed on Monday The target of Monday s operation was the terrorists belonging to Hafiz Gul Bahadur Group, which along with the banned Tehreeke-Taliban Pakistan (TTP) is responsible for the March 16 attack in Mir Ali North Waziristan and multiple other terrorist attacks in the country, resulting in deaths of hundreds of civilians and law enforcement officials On Saturday, at least seven Pakistan Army soldiers including a lieutenant colonel and captain embraced martyrdom after gallantly fighting with terrorists as they attacked a security forces post in the Mir Ali area of North Waziristan, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) The Foreign Office (FO) issued a detailed statement on the matter saying that Pakistan for the past two years has repeatedly conveyed its serious concerns to the interim Afghan Government over the presence of terror outfits including TTP inside Afghanistan It said that these terrorists pose a grave threat to Pakistan’s security and have consistently used Afghan territory to launch terror attacks inside Pakistani territory Pakistan accords prime importance to the sovereignty and territorial integrity of Afghanistan It has therefore always prioritised dialogue and cooperation to confront the terrorist threat We have repeatedly urged the Afghan authorities to take concrete and effective action to ensure that the Afghan soil is not used as a staging ground for terrorism against Pakistan We have also called on them to deny safe havens to TTP and to hand over its leadership to Pakistan the FO said PR OFIT M A R I A M U M A R FA R O O Q The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) met today to decide about the Monetary Policy and opted to maintain the policy rate at 22% during its meeting on Monday March 18 2024 The decision was in line with analysts expectations The central bank last hiked the policy rate by 100 basis points (bps) to 22% in an emergency meeting in June ahead of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) Since then it has maintained the rate at 22% The MPC acknowledged that as anticipated, inflation has started to decrease significantly in the latter part of the fiscal year 2024 Headline inflation registered a broadbased and considerable year-on-year decline from 28 3% in January to 23 1% in February Core inflation, which is another measure that excludes volatile components such as food and energy prices from inflation calculations and had previously shown resistance to change also slowed to 18 1% in February from 20 5% in January The MPC attributed the improvement in inflation to the combined impact of contractionary monetary policy, fiscal consolidation better food supplies moderating global commodity prices and favourable base effect However the MPC observed that while energy inflation also decelerated on a yearon-year basis in February, the adjustments in administered energy prices have continued to contribute to inflation directly and indirectly Going forward any further adjustments in administered prices or fiscal measures that may push prices up pose a risk to the near- and medium-term inflation outlook Cognisant of these risks, the Committee assessed that it is prudent to continue with the current monetary policy stance at this stage This warrants a cautious approach and requires continuity of the current monetary stance to bring inflation down to the target range of 5-7% by September 2025 The Committee reiterated that this assessment is also contingent upon continued targeted fiscal consolidation and timely realisation of planned external inflows read the monetary policy press release The MPC also observed that globally, while the overall trajectory of commodity prices remained stable there was an uptick in oil prices driven in part by ongoing tensions in the Red Sea region This development carries the potential to escalate inflationary pressures Finally, MPC also took into consideration the cautious approach taken by major central banks in both advanced and emerging economies that have opted to maintain a prudent monetary policy stance in their recent meetings due to uncertainty of inflation outlook Earlier today, Bloomberg predicted that the SBP would likely maintain the current policy stance The reason it cited was: that the policy rate is below the inflation rate resulting in negative real rates which is already supporting growth The report by Bloomberg also highlighted that a potential rate cut could prompt capital outflows, exacerbating the depletion of foreign exchange reserves which presently cover less than two months of imports Additionally the repayment of a $1 billion bond due on April 15 would further strain these reserves In the post-analyst briefing, the governor reiterated that SBP’s foreign exchange reserves stand at around $8 billion currently and the SBP is targeting minimum foreign exchange reserves of $ 9 1 billion by the end of June 2024 IMF equation Concurrently, Pakistan is undergoing the last review of the IMF’s $3 billion SBA The review began on Thursday March 14 and is expected to last four days Pakistan will receive the last tranche of $1 1 billion if the last review is successful This review will also set the tone for the negotiations of a longer economic bailout package to sustain the economy g M P C M A I N TA I N S P O L I C Y R AT E AT 2 2 % F O R S I X T H T I M E I N L I N E W I T H M A R K E T E X P E C TAT I O N S
g C O M P L E T E LY E R A D I C AT I N G M E N A C E O F T E R R O R I S M R E M A I N S TO P P R I O R I T Y: P M KABUL: The Taliban government confirmed Pakistani strikes but rejected Pakistani claims that those attacks killed any militants Condemning the strikes as a violation of sovereignty, Zabiullah Mujahid, the Taliban spokesperson, claimed attacks killed five women and three children in the eastern border provinces of Khost and Paktika “The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan does not allow anyone to compromise security by using Afghan territory Mujahid said in a statement Last night at around 3am, Pakistani planes bombed the houses of civilians,” said the IEA spokesperson He added that the bombings resulted in the deaths of six civilians including three women and three children in Paktika with an additional two women losing their lives due to the collapse of a house in Khost province The Paktika province is located near Pakistan s South Waziristan district while Khost is situated near North Waziristan The person named Abdullah Shah, who the Pakistani side claims was targeted in the incident, is in Pakistan, on the other hand, there is a tribe living on both sides of this region who have daily trips and close relationships claimed Mujahid The Islamic Emirate of Afghanistan strongly condemns these attacks and calls this reckless action a violation of Afghanistan s territory, said the Taliban spokesperson and warned that the interim government of Afghanistan, which has a “long experience of freedom struggle against the superpowers of the world does not allow anyone to invade its territory
rate. Was there any other choice?
C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03
Gov t to launch
land record ser vices for
Tuesday 19 March 2024 ISLAMABAD 02 NEWS
overseas
PR OFIT m o N to R i N g d e s k The government is ready to launch an online service next month to provide digital land record services to its overseas citizens beginning with Saudi Arabia This program, designed to boost foreign investment, will be available through Pakistani foreign missions and is expected to expand to other countries with significant Pakistani populations including the UAE the US and the UK followed by Spain Italy and Canada According to a media report, the Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis (MOP) and Punjab Land Revenue Authority (PLRA) will initiate the service jointly, supported by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif will inaugurate the scheme which will offer services like the issuance of land rights records (Fard) e-Girdawari and eregistration of deeds Technical and financial aspects of the service have been finalised, including fees and tax structures The Ministry of Overseas Pakistanis and PLRA have agreed on a revenue-sharing model with the majority of service charges allocated to PLRA Additional fees will be charged for services at foreign missions The program is set to address challenges faced by overseas Pakistanis in managing land transactions aiming to reduce fraud and the need for physical presence in Pakistan The service will accommodate various transaction scenarios enhancing accessibility for the global Pakistani community
nomination papers scrutiny begins KARACHI s ta f f R e p o R t The scrutiny of nomination papers for Senate election begins today (Monday) and will complete on March 19 Overall 35 candidates including from the Pakistan People s Party (PPP), MQM-P and other parties as well as independents have filed nomination papers for 12 Senate seats of Sindh Returning Officer Sharifullah conducting scrutiny of the nomination papers of the candidates MQM-P s Rauf Siddiqui and independent candidate Faisal Vawda reached the RO office for scrutiny of their nomination papers Twenty-one candidates have submitted nomination papers for general seats in upper house, six candidates file papers for women’s two reserved seats while five candidates have been fielded for technocrats two seats and three candidates filed papers for the minorities reserved seat According to the election schedule appeals can be filed upto March 21 against approval or rejection of nomination papers The election tribunals will decide appeals by March 25 A revised list of candidates will be released on March 26 Candidates can withdraw their nomination papers till March 27 The Senate election will be held in national and provincial assemblies will be held on April 02 Pakistan People’s Party (PPP), the Sindh’s ruling party, has fielded its candidates on all vacant Senate seats from Sindh PPP has finalised the names of Sarmad Ali and Barrister Zameer Ghumro on the Technocrat seats Quratul Ain Marri and Rubina Qaimkhani will contest Senate elections on women’s reserved seats, while Poonjo Mall Bheel will be PPP’s candidate on the minority seat Similarly Sarfaraz Rajjar Ashraf Jatoi Masroor Ahsan Nadeem Bhutto Dost Ali Jaiser and Kazim Shah will be the party s candidates for general seats of the Senate ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t
H E Gilgit-Baltistan Development Working Party (GBDWP) has given the green light to projects worth a staggering Rs 56 46 billion As per details notable among these is the approval of the Special Protection Unit Phase I which allocated a budget of Rs 754 28 million Chaired by Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan, the second session of the GBDWP also saw approvals for the procurement and installation of Diesel Generator (DG) sets for various power sector projects totaling Rs 501 million Additionally the acquisition of Turbine Generator (TG) sets for hydel stations in GilgitBaltistan with costs amounting to Rs 723 3 million received the committee s nod A significant highlight of the session was the approval of the 3 2-megawatt Hydro Power Project in Batote Noma Gilgit with an allocated budget of Rs 628 9 million Moreover converting the 160-kilowatt Hydro Power Station in Tangir to a 2-megawatt station was approved, with a substantial budget of Rs 829 9 million Other notable projects include the modification of the Diyamir region bridge, extension of an 18-kilometer road and the construction of sewage treatment plants for Zone 2 and 3 of Gilgit city among others Expressing grave concern over persistent delays and inefficiencies in development projects particularly in the electricity sector, Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan emphasized the urgent need for stringent action against responsible officers He underscored the importance of rectifying PC-1 discrepancies and promptly initiating work on projects to prevent further setbacks to the national exchequer and ensure timely benefits to the public Furthermore the Chief Minister noted with regret that due to PC-1 inaccuracies the vital Shahrah-e-Resham to Shighar-Thang Road project, faced delays despite recommendations for its accuracy verification by GB DWP Recognizing the project’s significance, the provincial government has prioritized rectifying the PC1 and promptly commencing work on the project GB DEVELOPMENT WORKING PART Y APPROVES RS 56 BILLION PROJECTS ISLAMABAD a h m a d a h m a da N i Already burdened power consumers should get ready to bear a financial additional as a power tariff hike of Rs 4 99 per unit is on the cards on account of fuel charges adjustment (FCA) for February 2024 Central Power Purchasing Agency (CPPA), on the request of power distribution companies (DISCOs) has submitted an application to National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) to increase the electricity price by Rs 4 9917 per kilowatt hour (kWh) under the FCA of February 2024 Following this request, the NEPRA has called a public hearing on March 28 2024 In a public hearing notice the NEPRA has invited all the interested/affected parties to raise written/oral objections as permissible under the law at the public hearing The CPPA, in its application, has claimed that the total electricity generated with various fuels in February 2024 was recorded a 7 130 GWh at Rs 8 6950 per unit The total cost of energy was Rs 61,996 million The power generation with the hydel source was 1 766 GWh (gigawatt per hour) constituting 24 77 percent with zero cost of power generation while power production with coal-fired power plants was 1,291 GWh (local + imported coal: 994+ 135 GWh) which was 15 83 percent and the total power generated for Rs 16827 million (Rs 34 4061/unit) Similarly the power generation from gas-based power plants was 787 GWh 11 04 percent of the total generation totaling Rs12 3794 per unit and the generation from Re-gasified Liquefied Natural Gas (RLNG) was 1 450 GWh which was 20 33 percent of total generation, at Rs 22 0262 per unit Likewise, power production from bagasse recorded at 101 GWh, the price of which has been calculated at Rs 5 9822 per unit The electricity generated from wind was recorded at 108 GWh 1 51 per cent of total generation and solar at 90 GWh, 1 26 per cent of the total generation in February 2024 Moreover, electricity generation from nuclear sources was 1 660 GWh which came out at Rs1 3213 per unit 23 29 per cent of the total generation and electricity imported from Iran was 26 GWh amounted to Rs 27 1968 per unit, 0 36 per cent of the total power generation in the said month of February 2024 It is also learnt from the data submitted by the CCPA with NEPRA that net electricity delivered to DISCOs in February 2024 was 6 876 GWh (96 43pc) at a rate of Rs 9 4254 per unit, the total price of which was Rs 64,804 million I t i s p e r t i n e n t t o m e n t i o n t h a t t h i s hike in electricity tariff would apply to all consumer categories excluding specific groups CPPA seeks another Rs4.99/unit increase in power tariff g N E W R AT E H I K E I S S O U G H T O N A CCO U N T O F F U E L C H A R G E S A D J U S T M E N T ( F C A ) F O R F E B R U A R Y 2 0 2 4 g M A J O R P R O J E C T S I N C LU D E I N F R AS T R U C T U R E D E V E LO P M E N T L I K E S P U - P H AS E1 A N D B ATOT E N O R M A H YD R O - P OW E R P L A N T S PR OFIT N e w s d e s k In a strategic move to invigorate its trade relations Pakistan has revealed plans to establish nine new trade missions across Africa, Europe, and Asia This decision comes in the wake of stagnant exports which have hovered around the $25 billion mark lagging behind its peers The lack of advancement in export figures is attributed to the ineffectiveness of existing trade missions and inconsistent domestic policies The initiative, requiring an annual budget of Rs70 million for the new missions, is set to be funded in the upcoming 2024-25 fiscal year budget by the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N)led government According to commerce ministry officials the expansion will include two missions each in Africa and Europe with an additional five in Asia This plan has received formal approval from the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which also sanctioned the requisite funding to be sought in the FY25 budget This move is partly influenced by the Look Africa policy aimed at tapping into the South African market s vast potential estimated at $100 billion Despite the large market Pakistan s trade footprint in Africa has been minimal, with exports barely surpassing the $4 billion mark in the fiscal year 2019-20 The commerce ministry attributes this to a lack of engagement with African nations a situation it hopes to remedy with the establishment of new trade missions In Europe where Pakistan benefits from the GSP Plus status, resulting in boosted export volumes through duty incentives, the new missions aim to deepen engagement and secure a larger market share Additionally, the focus on Asia particularly Central Asia is seen as a counter to the active Indian influence in the region The previous PML-N administration under Nawaz Sharif had shown a keen interest in this area, aiming for a free trade agreement with the Eurasian Economic Union (EEU), though diplomatic hurdles with Armenia have stalled progress g I N I T I AT I V E, R E Q U I R I N G A N A N N UA L B U D G E T O F R S 70 M F O R T H E N E W M I S S I O N S , I S F O R M A L LY A P P R O V E D B Y S I F C PR OFIT N e w s d e s k The International Monetary Fund (IMF) has advised the Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) in Pakistan to broaden the scope of Capital Gains Tax (CGT) to encompass cryptocurrencies This recommendation is part of a broader proposal to enhance tax collection on capital gains, which includes the reassessment of tax slabs for real estate and listed securities ensuring taxation on all gains The IMF s guidance suggests a need for property developers to monitor and report all property transfers before the completion and registration of property titles to curb the unregulated trade of plot files in housing schemes Non-compliance by developers could lead to penalties, aligning with the IMF s efforts to integrate these transactions into the tax framework These proposals are likely to be integrated into Pakistan’s upcoming bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) and may be included in the next fiscal year s budget through the finance bill The IMF’s technical assistance report highlighted the challenges faced by Pakistani authorities in taxing capital gains from real estate transactions Due to the lack of formal registration until the property’s legal completion many transfers and the resulting capital gains go untaxed The IMF suggests imposing responsibilities on property developers to report these transactions, making them liable for any uncollected taxes In addition to real estate the IMF aims to bring investments like cryptocurrencies under capital gains taxation advocating for a review of the tax slabs for various assets to ensure comprehensive taxation of capital gains The recommendation also includes amending the Income Tax Ordinance to expand the definition of “personal movable property to capture a wider range of investment assets Over 10 Pakistani companies to exhibit at Techtextil and Texprocess 2024 ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t Techtextil and Texprocess renowned international trade fairs for textile and garment manufacturing are scheduled to take place from April 23rd to 26th, 2024, in Frankfurt am Main Texprocess will showcase the latest machinery and services in garment and textile manufacturing while Techtextil the leading trade fair for technical textiles and nonwovens will also be held concurrently at the same venue These events play a pivotal role in supporting companies as they navigate their digital transformation journey With more than 1,600 exhibitors from around 50 countries, Techtextil and Texprocess serve as premier platforms for showcasing the latest advancements and innovations in the industry The comprehensive program includes lectures on digitalization, production technology, intelligent textiles, digital printing, and supply chains These sessions shed light on cutting-edge digital technologies that are revolutionizing textile production addressing labor shortages sustainability demands and enhancing efficiency Among the exhibitors, over ten Pakistani companies, including Lucky Textile, Master Textile Mills, Nishat Fabrics, and Sapphire Finishing Mills will showcase their products at Techtextil Additionally Triple Tree Solution will participate in Texprocess In 2022 both shows collectively attracted 1 334 exhibitors, with Texprocess hosting 182 exhibitors from 29 countries and Techtextil featuring 1,152 exhibitors from 46 countries With more than 63 000 trade visitors these fairs reaffirmed their status as Europe’s premier innovation platforms for the sector I M F p ro p o s e s i n c l u s i o n o f c r y p to c u r re n c i e s i n t a x f r a m ewo r k g T H I S R E C O M M E N D AT I O N I S PA R T O F A B R O A D E R P R O P O S A L T O E N H A N C E TA X C O L L E C T I O N O N C A P I TA L G A I N S PR OFIT N e w s d e s k Pakistan witnessed an increase of 35% in the export of raw food products in February rising to $702 46 million compared to $518 87 million in the same month last year as reported by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics This marks the seventh consecutive month of growth in raw food exports during the current fiscal year despite the country experiencing record-high food inflation The surge in food exports has led to a 20 2% increase in food inflation for February, as domestic prices for essential goods such as wheat flour, rice, onions, sugar, meat, and vegetables have risen The onset of Ramazan has further driven up the prices of vegetables and fruits to new highs After a slow start to the fiscal year with a 7 56% decline in raw food product exports, there was a turnaround to positive growth in August Subsequent months saw substantial increases culminating in growth rates exceeding 100% in December and January Over the first eight months of FY24, food exports have grown by 54 05% to $4 96 billion from $3 22 billion in the previous year The spike in prices and shortage of supplies particularly of onions and bananas prompted the caretaker government to temporarily ban their export with assurances from Commerce Minister Jam Kamal that the ban would be lifted post-Ramazan to stabilize domestic supply during the holy month Analysts attribute the export surge to the significant depreciation of the rupee and heightened international demand due to supply chain disruptions and higher prices abroad Additionally, India s recent ban on rice exports has beneficially impacted Pakistan’s rice export figures, especially basmati rice, leading to an 85 83% increase in rice exports in the July-February period of FY24 Food expor ts rise 35% in Februar y amid high inflation P a k i s t a n t o e s t a b l i s h n e w t r a d e m i s s i o n s i n k e y g l o b a l m a r k e t s g T H I S M A R K S T H E S E V E N T H C O N S E C U T I V E M O N T H O F G R O W T H I N R AW F O O D E X P O R T S D U R I N G T H E C U R R E N T F I S C A L Y E A R
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The statement added that Pakistan has great respect for the people of Afghanistan; however, certain elements among those in power in Afghanistan are actively patronising TTP and using them as a proxy against Pakistan Such an approach against a brotherly country which stood with the people of Afghanistan through thick and thin, manifests shortsightedness It ignores the support extended by Pakistan to the people of Afghanistan over the last several decades”
“We urge these elements in power to rethink the policy of siding with Khwarij terrorists shedding the blood of innocent Pakistanis and to make a clear choice to stand with the people of Pakistan, it added The FO further stated that terrorist groups like TTP are a collective threat to regional peace and security “We fully realise the challenge Afghan authorities face in combating the threat posed by the TTP Pakistan would therefore continue to work towards finding joint solutions in countering terrorism and to prevent any terrorist organization from
CPEC ’s
Imposter arrested for extorting money in name of NAB chairman
has been tarnished in the eyes of the general public which is not permissible under the law, said the defamation notice
is behind the “growing terrorism in Pakistan” A statement issued by the military’s media wing on Monday said that Pakistan s security forces have been engaged in the war against terrorism for the past two decades
It is clear to all that the recent wave of terrorism in Pakistan has full support and assistance of Afghanistan,” it added The communique further stated that the rise in terror attacks in Pakistan is a result of supply of modern weapons into the country with the help of Afghan Taliban The ISPR said that there is clear evidence of Afghan terrorists’ involvement in attack on Zhob Garrison on July 12, 2023, in which nine soldiers embraced martyrdom and five terrorists were killed Clear evidence of terrorists coming from Afghanistan the military s media wing said is the reason behind growing incidents of terrorism A day after the attack, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif had said militants were using Afghanistan soil to carry out terrorist attacks inside Pakistan “Terrorism against us is mostly being conducted from Afghanistan the defence minister had said while speaking to the media in Sialkot
Met Office predicts Eidul Fitr 2024 in Pakistan on April 11
Eight
a longer period However, there is a growing consensus amongst analysts that the trend of monetary easing is likely to commence in April Bloomberg too anticipates monetary easing in April when inflation potentially slows down to 20%, resulting in positive real rates Furthermore, if the ongoing discussions with the IMF are favourable, Pakistan would have a larger forex reserve buffer
Tuesday 19 March 2024 SLAMABAD NEWS 03 After SSGC, SNGPL also seeks up to 147% hike in gas tariff CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 After the hearing by OGRA the decision will be sent to the federal government and after the approval of the federal government OGRA will issue a notification to increase gas prices The proposed price hike, if sanctioned by OGRA, would substantially elevate the cost of natural gas, intensifying the economic challenges faced by households and businesses across the country With inflation already at alarming levels this development is likely to further burden citizens who are already struggling to make ends meet SBP plays it safe with policy rate. Was there any other choice? CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 It is worth noting that the tight monetary stance of the SBP aimed at curbing the price riding levels has been influenced, at least in part by the conditions set by the Fund In the briefing with analysts the Governor highlighted that discussions are ongoing with the IMF for the final review under the StandBy Arrangement (SBA), and it is expected to conclude soon He stated that the central bank has taken all required actions and measures PROBLEMS WITH MAINTAINING HIGH-INTEREST RATES: The elevated policy rate has had a notable impact on the country s business environment Companies have faced challenges in meeting their working capital requirements at these heightened financing rates Additionally, there has been a decline in demand for goods and services as a result of decreased consumer spending Speaking to Profit independent economic analyst AAH Soomro highlighted the cost of maintaining a high policy rate on Pakistan s economy He said that high finance costs for businesses would translate into delayed growth in the profitability of companies thereby delaying capital formation job creation and tax collection “The prevailing risk-off sentiment will continue to persist Capital holders to refrain from investing in the real economy and continue to enjoy risk-free (albeit sovereign) exposure in the government bonds (treasury bills) and banks (in the form of deposits)”, lamented Soomro “High policy rate will lead to additional fiscal cost of debt servicing which would be funded by further taxation measures resulting in higher inflation added Soomro These factors support the argument for maintaining interest rates for
sabotaging bilateral relations with Afghanistan ” the statement concluded C O M P L E T E LY E R A D I C AT I N G M E N A C E O F T E R R O R I S M R EM A I N S TO P P R I O R I T Y: P M Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif on Monday visited the residence of Captain Ahmed Badr Shaheed who embraced martyrdom while gallantly fighting the terrorists
district North
Pakhtunkhwa The prime minister while expressing his sympathies with the bereaved family said that he was very impressed by their patience and determination He said the whole nation was proud of the sacrifice, Captain Ahmed has rendered for the cause of the country Interacting with the local elders on the occasion Premier Shehbaz Sharif said these martyrs were the pride of the nation and the entire nation was indebted to their sacrifices He reaffirmed the national resolve to eliminate the menace of terrorism from the country and said the sacrifices of our martyrs will not go in vain The prime minister especially acknowledged with pride the courage and patience of Shaheed Captain Ahmed’s parents He announced to establish a school in the area which will be named after the Shaheed Captain as per the desire of his father Earlier the prime minister also visited the residence of Lt Colonel Syed Kashif Ali Shaheed in Rawalpindi and offered his heartfelt condolence to the family He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant eternal peace to the martyrs and patience to the bereaved families to bear the loss with courage He said the brave jawans and officers of Pakistan Army had sacrificed their lives to safeguard their motherland PM Shehbaz further said that the entire nation including himself
to them
families of martyrs are a matter of pride for the entire nation he remarked The prime minister said the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces till complete eradication of the menace of terrorism T E R R O R I S M L O O M S L A R G E A S T T P U S I N G A F G H A N S O I L TO H I T PA K I S TA N: As the country witnesses another wave of terrorist activities the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) has said that the continuous use of Afghan soil
in
Waziristan of Khyber
pay tributes
“The
Pa k i s t a n h i t s T T P b a s e s i n s i d e A fg h a n i s t a n a m i d r i s e i n t e r r o r i s t at t a c k s
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t A resolution condemning the attack on Mir Ali’s checkpost of North Waziristan was submitted to the Punjab Assembly The resolution was submitted by Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz s (PML-N s) member of Punjab Assembly Kanwal Liaquat advocate In the resolution, it was stated that this house (Punjab Assembly) strongly condemns the cowardly attack of the enemy on the checkpost in Mir Ali area of North Waziristan The entire nation pays tributes to the soldiers who embraced martyrdom in this terrorist attack The resolution further stated that the salutes its brave sons, the nation was standing united with the forces of Pakistan The eternal sacrifices of the martyrs of the country were unforgettable, the martyrs who sacrificed their lives were people s pride the resolution said
Resolution condemning Mir Ali checkpost attack submitted in
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t The intelligence wing of the National Accountability Bureau (NAB) arrested an impostor pretending to be chairman of NAB along with his accomplice here on Monday According to the details the intelligence wing of NAB Lahore has arrested the fraudster along with his accomplice on the charge of blackmailing the citizens and receiving huge amount of money by pretending to be the chairman of the accountability bureau As per the NAB s spokesperson complaints have been lodged against two individuals Awais Zahoor and Aamir Zahoor, for allegedly misusing the name of a senior NAB officer to extort money These individuals are accused of intimidating citizens and subjecting them to undue pressure The spokesperson has directed for prompt action to be taken in response to these allegations NAB Lahore Intelligence Wing acting on these orders arrested the two accused red-handed and handed them over to Chung police station for further investigation The spokesperson further stated that the accused are close brothers who used to extort money by threatening the target
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Meteorological Department (PMD) has predicted that Eidul Fitr 2024 in Pakistan was likely to be celebrated on April 11 Being a deep spiritual, cultural, and religious day for Muslims, Ediul Fitr represents community togetherness and thankfulness Muslims congregate for special prayers on the day of Eidul Fitr known as Salat-Al-Eid which are held in mosques open spaces or sizable communal locations The Met Office said that this year, Pakistani nation will have 30 fasts during the Holy month of Ramazan this year as the Shawwal month will likely be sighted on April 10 (Wednesday) The experts said the Eidul Fitr will likely fall on April 11 in Pakistan Separately the people of the United Arab Emirates are likely to observe the first day of Eidul Fitr on Wednesday, April 10, 2024 PESHAWAR S ta f f R e p o R t
H E district and sessions judge on Monday ordered PTI leader and former provincial minister Shaukat Yousafzai to pay Rs 150 million to Chief of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan in defamation lawsuit As per details, the district and session judge issued the five-page written verdict stating that Shaukat Yousafzai did not appear before the court despite summon notices In 2019 Chief of Awami National Party (ANP) Asfandyar Wali Khan served a defamation notice to the then KP Information Minister Shaukat Yousafzai for libelous statements without the support of any reasonable proof or justification The notice was issued through late senior lawyer Abdul Latif Afridi asking the then provincial minister to tender a public apology and get it published with the same prominence as the defamatory remarks otherwise Asfandyar will proceed to prosecute him in a criminal court of law The notice is issued under section 8 of the Defamation Ordinance 2002 asking the minister to retract statement within 14 days failing which as per his right under the law will initiate a defamation suit of worth Rs 100 million in damages in the competent court of law After the opposition parties political gathering in Peshawar on July 25 Yousafzai in his press conference has said that opposition parties couldn t gather even 2000 people He has alleged that during ANP government in the province, Asfandyar has sold Pakhtuns on 25 million dollars The notice said that Asfandiyar Wali Khan is the son of late Khan Abdul Wali Khan and grandson of Khan Abdul Ghaffar Khan alias Bacha Khan who is amongst the prominent and internationally known leaders of the freedom movement and they have left an impact on the politics in Pakistan Asfandyar Wali Khan is the central president of ANP and is a well-known politician in Pakistan He is four times elected as MNA served four times elected as MNA served as a Senator and was also elected to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Provincial Assembly “That your defamatory accusation against Asfandiyar has left an adverse effect on the public minds and thus Asfandayar ’s status
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t More than 2500 kilogram of contaminated and substandard meat was disposed off during separate actions in various cities of Punjab including Lahore Punjab Food Minister Bilal Yasin Food Authority teams conducted inspections of various markets to check quality of meat being sold to customers Taking action against sellers of substandard meat, the Food Authority teams disposed of 2500 kg contaminated meat besides issuing warning notices to violators of rules Food Minister Bilal Yasin visited in Mughalpura Lahore with Food Authority teams and assessed the quality of meat in the markets The minister informed media that substandard and expired meat kept for sale in meat shops was immediately seized He informed that action was taken upon the discovery of foul-smelling, substandard meat in dirty freezers He mentioned that some shops lacked proper cleanliness arrangements and were infested with insects The minister directed the Food Authority teams to ensure complete traceability of meat supplied across Punjab, including Lahore Bilal Yasin said that ensuring safe food supply to the people of Punjab especially during the holy month is our mission In line with the directives of the Chief Minister of Punjab a series of actions against the counterfeit mafia are underway and Food Authority teams are fully active The minister appealed to the citizens to support the Food Authority in eliminating adulteration and counterfeiting in food and to report any complaints to 1223 so that our teams can take disciplinary action promptly upon arrival at the scene
ver 2500 kg contaminated meat disposed of across Punjab SHAUK AT YOUSAFZ AI ORDERED TO PAY RS150M TO ASFANDYAR WALI IN DEFAMATION CASE ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Timely completion of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor s (CPEC) phase II has been reaffirmed by Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong During a meeting of Chinese Ambassador Jiang Zaidong with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar here on Monday, both agreed to further expand cooperation between Pakistan and China in different sectors The Foreign Minister declared Pakistan-China all-weather strategic cooperative partnership indispensable for the progress and prosperity of the two countries and an anchor of regional peace and stability He reaffirmed Pakistan s commitment to making joint endeavours for further deepening bilateral relations and to advance phase II of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor as envisaged by the leadership of the two countries Ambassador Jiang underscored the special importance China accords to Pakistan and its firm support for Pakistan s socioeconomic development, and industrial and agricultural cooperation He also agreed with the Foreign Minister for high-quality development of phase II of CPEC Earlier on March 13, Prime Minister (PM) Shehbaz Sharif said Pakistan and China will march toward shared development and prosperity with joint investments in diverse projects In an interview with a Chinese news agency, PM Shehbaz said the friendship between Pakistan and China spanned more than 70 years and has been nurtured by both countries’ leadership to promote friendly relations He added that the two countries have developed as all-weather, Iron Brothers and have unique associations of friendship that have stood the test of time “This friendship now must achieve higher heights ” he added
O
timel y completion
D ar, C hinese envoy
reiterated by
terrorists, including HVT commander, killed in Waziristan IBO CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 He was involved in orchestrating the terrorist attack on security forces post in Mir Ali on 16 March and was highly wanted by the law enforcement agencies, said the statement Forces launched a sanitization operation in the surrounding areas following the IBO ensuring the elimination of any lingering terrorist threats The security forces of Pakistan are determined to wipe out the menace of terrorism from the country, the ISPR statement said In a similar operation in North Waziristan on March 16, at least six terrorists were killed in the Mir Ali While a lieutenant colonel and a captain among seven soldiers were also martyred in the terrorist 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 explosives-laden vehicle into it, later carrying out multiple suicide bombings
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami
Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
Twhere people share their opinions on various issues
and
Tfor the government of Pakistan to simply ban the platform is not the way forward because users have already found the alternative “VPN” And in fact it will further question the transparency of the system This is perhaps the most crucial part of Pakistan s history as people are now getting more interested in politics than ever before They are keen to know what is happening between the top leadership of Pakistan In such a chaotic situation, it undeniably comes to individuals’ responsibility to see through the blurred lines When it comes to the political sphere things are trickier The content that politicians or any other influencers share on social media has the capacity to test your critical thinking Majority of the social media users mostly share things without even verifying them The incoming news might be disinformation, intended to deceive the receiver So, perhaps the first thing is to get yourself educated or critically prepared enough to differentiate between correct information and disinformation The second most important thing is the credibility of the sources It might be a bit absurd to say but even
the influencers with verified accounts on social media platforms share baseless content which maligns the minds of other common users Influencers want
they earn money through these platforms On critically analyzing the shared content one might observe that the information is too good to be true It is easy to believe in things without double-checking them with other sources but to survive the trap of propaganda verifying it first is the one way out Lastly the users must get into the depth of things Instead of simply believing in the headlines they should go beyond them and do some research
Whenever the users receive any news, they might refer to print media for further clarification The body of the articles in newspapers contains a detailed note on various issues which might help in understanding the message clearly Relying solely on a single sentence is the same as getting half the information
Therefore each issue or case must be studied and analyzed deeply These are some handful of things that might help netizens from falling into the hands of propagandists In addition, the government should run awareness campaigns about the misuse of social media because the prospects seem alarming!
is a research intern at the Institute of
The
Studies Islamabad; he can be reached at:
Lastly, the users must g et into the depth of things Instead of simply believing in the headlines, they should go beyond them and do some research Whenever the users receive any news, they might refer to print media for fur ther clarification The body of the ar ticles in newspapers contains a detailed note on various issues which might help in understanding the messag e clearly Relying solely on a single sentence is the same as g etting half the information Therefore , each issue or case must be studied and analyz ed deeply
Stigma breakers
I N 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
P E A C O C K S are known for their stunning beauty and graceful demeanour captivating hearts with their
i t i m a t e r e i g n t o p s f ro m t h e b o t t o m , i . e 1 4 6 t h , Pa k i s t a n , 1 4 2 t h w i t h 0 . 5 7 5 a n d S a u d i A r a b i a , a b i t b e t t e r a t 1 3 1 t h w i t h 0 . 6 3 7 . T h e s c o r e 1 i n d i c a t e s , a s t h e r e p o r t k ey s ay s , c o m p l e t e p a r i t y b e t w e e n m e n a n d wo m e n . T h e s c o r e a n d s t a n d i n g s a r e c o u n t e d u p o n fo u r i n d i c a t o rs : e d u c a t i o n a t t a i n m e n t , e c o n o m i c p a r t i c i
04 Tuesday 19 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 N o s u r p r i s e s
O R months now the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has maintained the policy rate at a staggering 22% a move aimed at appeasing the International Monetary Fund (IMF) while adopting conservative policies to steer Pakistan’s economic trajectory back on track This resolute stance comes amid ongoing negotiations with the IMF, where the fund demands stringent measures to rectify Pakistan’s economic woes The decision to keep the policy rate at an unprecedented high reflects the government s commitment to adhering to the IMF s prescriptions for fiscal discipline With the IMF s conditionalities stressing the importance of stabilizing Pakistan’s economy through austerity measures and structural reforms the SBP’s move is perceived as a step towards fulfilling these obligations By demonstrating a willingness to implement tough monetary policies, Pakistan aims to restore confidence among international investors and secure muchneeded financial assistance from multilateral institutions Nevertheless while these measures may be deemed necessary for stabilizing Pakistan s macroeconomic indicators they come at a cost to the domestic economy The exorbitant policy rate severely constrains the ability of businesses to access credit stifling investment and hampering economic activity Small and medium enterprises (SMEs), which serve as the backbone of Pakistan’s economy, bear the brunt of these stringent monetary policies, as they struggle to sustain operations amidst soaring borrowing costs One must remember that there is very little choice but to do this and comply with the fund s suggestions But businesses are paying for the short sighted decisions of governments past Moreover the persistently high policy rate exacerbates the challenges faced by Pakistan in achieving robust economic growth With borrowing becoming prohibitively expensive, businesses are reluctant to expand operations or undertake new ventures, leading to stagnation in productivity and employment generation This prolonged period of sluggish growth not only undermines the country s efforts to alleviate poverty and unemployment but also dampens prospects for long-term economic development Furthermore the reliance on conservative monetary policies to address structural imbalances overlooks the need for comprehensive reforms aimed at enhancing productivity, promoting innovation, and fostering inclusive growth While austerity measures may offer short-term stability, they risk exacerbating income inequality and widening the gap between the rich and the poor To ensure sustainable economic recovery Pakistan must prioritize investments in human capital development infrastructure and technology to unleash the full potential of its economy While the SBP’s decision to maintain a high policy rate underscores Pakistan’s commitment to fiscal discipline and adherence to IMF prescriptions, it poses significant challenges to domestic businesses and hampers prospects for economic growth As negotiations with the IMF continue, policymakers must strike a balance between meeting international obligations and safeguarding the interests of the domestic economy Only through a holistic approach that addresses structural weaknesses and fosters inclusive growth can Pakistan chart a path towards sustainable prosperity
F
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
vast expanses
majestic
splendour
the region
recent events
shadow
this idyllic scene, as reports emerge of peacocks succumbing
mysterious illness Tharparkar, a region famed
its desert landscapes and rich cultural heritage, is home to a significant population of peacocks estimated at over 120
birds
them
flocks
domesticated birds
cherished
locals
illegal
as hunting
smuggling
the peacock population
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 plaguing the peacocks remains elusive, adding to the sense of urgency and concern Both wild and domestic birds are affected, indicating the widespread nature of the threat As grieving villagers mourn the loss of their beloved birds they are also raising their voices in demand for action They call upon the relevant authorities to intervene swiftly and decisively to stem the tide of deaths before it is too late In the poignant verses of Shah Abdul Latif Bhittai, the renowned poet of Sindh, echoes of the plight of the peacocks resound: The lovely peacocks are all dead, not one swan remains Crafty snipers once again inhabit my native land ” These words serve as a haunting reminder of the fragility of life and the urgent need for stewardship of the natural world The fate of the peacocks of Tharparkar hangs in the balance their once vibrant presence now overshadowed by the spectre of illness and death To avert further tragedy concerted efforts must be made to investigate the root causes of the disease Measures to protect vulnerable populations must be implemented and communities must engage in conservation efforts FAHAD RIND JOHI 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
vibrant feathers and elegant dances In the
of Tharparkar Sindh these
birds have long been cherished residents adding to the natural
of
However
have cast a
over
to a
for
000
Among
are both wild
and
kept as
pets by
In the past the people of Thar demonstrated a strong commitment to conserving these precious creatures actively opposing
practices such
and
that threatened
The recent wave
H O U G H articulated in the UN charters and in the Constitutions of countries trading on the path of democracy or otherwise women s rights violations are alive and kicking in one way or the other in direct means or under the veneer of laws muscular power or cage of norms Subject to limitation and discrimination for millennia, the plight of women is unchanged even in the realm of the 21st century T h e ‘ w o m e n s a n s r i g h t s ’ t a l e i s g r i m brutal and prejudiced throughout history with men always in guard with harnessed paws of p a t r i a r c h y i n o r d e r t o k e e p t h e s u b j e c t subjugated Dialling back the clock leads to the testimonials of a milieu reigned supreme by muscularity, subjecting the rest merely a creation of lesser importance Other than the system in initial centuries of human existence the band system in the rest of social frameworks men had always held an upper hand over the feminine connotation by hook or by crook Considering their being of lesser importance as mentioned above, the feminine creature is also thought to be incompetent physically puny and psychologically unable to create recreate invent innovate or has the ability to hold her nerve in a dilemma Although endeavoured hard to shun the gender inequality in early times by the likes of John Stuart Mill in 19th century and as recent as the #MeToo movement sparkled in 2017 to bring an end to gender inequality and incentivize empowerment of all regardless of the sex so far it is a distant dream for the world to experience an environment filled with equality and harmony not hegemony The spike generated by John Stuart Mill s book The Subjection of Women paved a narrow way to adjust the other gender other than ‘men’ in the European countries and the west the rest till now are in the cage of norms and traditions facing social exclusion and suffering under the heel of discriminatory treatment in every walk of male-dominated life Though it s a widespread mayhem ranging from the Caribbeans to sub-Saharan Africa, in specific terms the Muslim world has done the damage more as compared to other countries Take Afghanistan as an example Although there was a marginal relaxation under the U S triggered regime for women to get educated have social participation and be enrolled in the workforce in equal terms and exercise their will, the Taliban takeover of Kabul on 15th of August, 2021 made a gridlock situation especially for women The country poses an anti-egalitarian modus operandi towards their presence in the workforce in university and other social places and that treatment dials us back to another Arab country having no mercy upon women: Saudi Arabia Under the veneer of the Committee of Protection of Virtue Prevention of Vice or CPVPV in abbreviated version maintained a monopoly not to educate the feminine gender Though an indication was sparked by King Saud for educating girls too in the mid twentieth century, the resistance by Grand Mufti and Ulama catalysed to reverse the decision till the 21st century, i e 2002 According to the World Economic Forum 2023 Gender Gap Report both the countries including ours top from the bottom with lowest scores Afghanistan as expected given the Taliban s illegitimate reign tops from the bottom, i e 146th, Pakistan, 142th with 0 575 and Saudi Arabia, a bit better at 131th with 0 637 The score 1 indicates, as the report key says complete parity between men and women The score and standings are counted upon four indicators: education attainment economic participation health survivability and political empowerment Ironically, none of the countries scores 1-1 Which means no country on earth has complete parity Pakistan’s national level representation in political terms by female is narrow since other than Hina Rabbani Khar as foreign minister Sherry Rehman as Climate and Shireen Mazari as Human Rights, no women came under the spotlight The same is true with Saudi Arabia and Afghanistan The disproportionately disenfranchisement of women doesn’t put them in an inviolability box since the parity suggests the exercise of will freedom of social choice and an environment with no restrictions in workforce participation As long as the opposite gender is excluded from the crew members, the ride is always destined to be a bumpy one It is prime-time to sow the seeds to turn it as strength what is Achilles s heel before make this March an eyeopening call to reality what is before fool s paradise and catalyst the empowerment of women a primary purpose to bring the prosperity to arm s length distance The writer is a freelancer He can be reached at @insafalibangwar98@gmail com W o m e n s a n s r i g h t s insaf ali Bangwar A c c o rd i n g t o t h e Wo r l d E c o n o m i c F o r u m 2 0 2 3 G e n d e r G a p R e p o r t , b o t h t h e c o u n t r i e s i n cl u d i n g o u rs t o p f ro m t h e b o t t o m w i t h l ow e s t s c o r e s . A f g h a n i s t a n , a s ex p e c t e d g i v e n t h e Ta l i b a n Ês i l l e g
p a t i o n , h e a l t h s u r v i va b i l i t y a n d p o l i t i c a l e m p ow e r m e n t .
H E social media has led to a substantial increase in polarization in the past few years leading to an atmosphere of uncertainty and distrust The netizens around the country are now caught between accurate and distorted news People have started to lose interest even in state-controlled media, let alone private news channels The widely used platforms, including X (Formerly Twitter) Instagram and Facebook are patently a fine source of communication and knowledge sharing However due to its multiplier factor the flow of information has massively increased, creating a mess for the public to differentiate between truth and false In the past decade, these platforms have been used by certain entities to spread fake news and propaganda The accounts’ privacy in these tools makes it hard for the authorities to trace back the users who run them Unfortunately in such situations the only viable option left for the government is to put a ban on these platforms, which might help in the short run but not in the long term – as these platforms are also a source of disseminating public service messages For instance during the COVID-19 pandemic social media applications served exceptionally in circulating public announcements The mainstream media outlets cannot function effectively alone to deliver a message to the public –because the attention span of people is very low and so they rely more on social media for concise news For instance the awareness of security threats on a large scale is only possible through social media –given the huge presence of netizens Perhaps that is why the government ultimately lifts the ban as usual after some time However, replaying the same methods over and over is not the solution This a ‘Post-Truth Era,’ where objective facts have less part in shaping public opinion as compared to sentiments and personal beliefs of individuals People are quite emotional today and respond to things that align with their ideology – thus neglecting rationality and logic The irony is that even the educated class falls victim to fake news and propaganda – simply accepting it because it supports their thought Despite knowing that incoming news is suspicious believing it without verification is merely a question of sincerity to self X
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questioned its dedication to promoting communal harmony and religious coexistence
aBdul
Tand Muslim communities led to numerous fatalities and the displacement of thousands The BJP s purported role in exacerbating communal tensions preceding the riots has been intensely scrutinized, with critics alleging the party’s utilization of divisive rhetoric and identity politics to polarize voters along religious lines for electoral advantage Political adversaries of the BJP have
In recent years, cow vigilantism has emerged as a focal point for communal tensions in India Vigilante groups claiming to safeguard cows revered in Hinduism have been implicated in numerous attacks on individuals, primarily Muslims and Dalits, suspected of slaughtering or consuming beef Despite the BJP condemning vigilantism its ideological alignment with cow protection has emboldened such groups and fostered an environment of impunity
The inefficacy of law enforcement agencies in curtailing cow vigilantism has heightened apprehensions regarding the safety and rights of minority communities
Moreover, the enactment of the Citizenship Amendment Act (CAA) in 2019 sparked nationwide protests and controversy due to its perceived discriminatory nature
The CAA offers an expedited pathway to Indian citizenship for undocumented migrants from Afghanistan, Bangladesh, and Pakistan, while excluding Muslims from its scope This legislation contravenes the secular principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution and discriminates against Muslim immigrants undermining India s commitment to religious pluralism and equal treatment under the law Its implementation has raised apprehensions about the marginalization and exclusion of Muslim communities
The inauguration of the Ram Temple in Ayodhya stands as a pivotal moment in India s socio-political landscape symbolizing the resolution of a protracted legal and ideological dispute over the site believed to be the birthplace of Lord Ram
While celebrated by many as a testament to religious fulfillment and national unity, the timing of the inauguration, amidst ongoing political developments and preceding crucial state elections has sparked discussions regarding its underlying motivations and electoral ramifications
The BJP is actively involved in several initiatives aimed at appealing to the Hindu majority voters The Ram Temple has long been a focal point of Hindu nationalist aspirations with the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) and its ideological allies advocating for its construction as a symbol of Hindu pride and identity The Supreme Court s historic verdict in November 2019 which granted the disputed site to Hindu litigants for the temple’s construction, was celebrated as a victory by supporters of the temple movement including the BJP However the timing of the inauguration ceremony on August 5 2020 amidst the COVID-19 pandemic and ahead of elections in Bihar and other states, has led to speculation regarding its political motivations
The BJP’s decision to prioritize the inauguration of the Ram Temple during the pandemic and electoral campaigns is seen as a calculated political move aimed at mobilizing its Hindu nationalist base and consolidating support before crucial elections By aligning itself with a deeply revered religious cause, the party aims to appeal to voters’ religious sentiments and rally support thereby bolstering its electoral prospects Additionally the symbolism of the temple inauguration fulfilling a longstanding promise reinforces the BJP s narrative as a champion of Hindu interests and aspirations, further solidifying its appeal among its core supporters
Moreover the timing of the temple inauguration is viewed within the context of the BJP’s broader political agenda, which includes promoting a robust form of Hindu nationalism and asserting its dominance in India s political arena The temple inauguration serves as a powerful symbol of the BJP s ideological agenda which prioritizes Hindu identity and cultural nationalism while marginalizing minority communities and dissenting voices By highlighting the temple inauguration as a pivotal milestone in its governance agenda the BJP aims to project an image of resolute leadership and ideological consistency setting itself apart from its political adversaries
The Modi government’s plans to overhaul India’s education curriculum are also significant Textbooks influenced by the Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) under Modi s leadership are reshaping Indian history and science Schools affiliated with BJP ideology are altering the curriculum at the government s direction Critics, including historians and scientists, have accused the Modi government of modifying school curricula to align with its Hindutva agenda The Bharatiya Janata Party and its supporters intend to utilize education to shape the minds of millions of young Indians, many of whom will vote for the first time in upcoming Indian elections expected between March and May In these schools influenced by the Modi government only curricula promoting Hindutva ideology are being taught to children distorting the portrayal of historical heroes not associated with the Hindu religion The aim of the RSS in operating such a vast network of schools across the
country is to indoctrinate the younger generation with its Hindutva ideology These schools propagate ideas against Muslims, Christians, and portray a narrative of Hindu supremacy a practice that has been ongoing since the BJP first came to power between 1999 and 2004 The BJP initiated a similar curriculum overhaul during its initial governance, and now, under Modi s leadership, Indian history and science are being reshaped in school curricula to further these ideological aims
It has been 17 years since the tragic incident involving the Samjhauta Express yet the victims are still awaiting justice On February 18, 2007, miscreants set fire to the Samjhauta Express, which was traveling between Delhi and Lahore, at Panipat The tragedy resulted in the loss of lives of 68 individuals including 43 Pakistanis 10 Indian citizens and 15 unidentified persons while 10 Pakistanis and 2 others were injured The incident also claimed the lives of Indian nationals Following the event, the arrest of Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) activist Kamal Chouhan led to suspicions of an Indian conspiracy Subsequently during the investigation RSS leader Swami Aseemanand and his associates were implicated in the Samjhauta Express tragedy before a judicial magistrate Additionally, a serving military officer from the Indian Intelligence Corps, Lt Col Purohit, was arrested in connection with the incident Colonel Purohit confessed during the investigation to instigating armed conflict between Pakistan and India as part of the Samjhauta Express tragedy The organization behind the incident, Abhinav Bharat, founded in 2006 by retired Indian Army Major Ramesh Upadhyay and Lt Col Prasad Shrikant Purohit was identified as the mastermind
Le s s t h a n 5 0 p e rce nt o f A m e r i c a n s s u r ve ye d t h i n k t h e i r co u nt r y i s d e m o c rat i c a n d 4 3 p e rce nt o f re s p o n d e nt s g l o b a l l y t h i n k d e m o c ra c y i n t h e i r co u nt r i e s i s t h re ate n e d by t h e U S
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c o n t ro v e r s y f ro m t h e v e r y b e g i n n i n g, a ro u s i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l o p p o s i t i o n a n d s c e p t i c i s m
GLOBAL TIMES
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TT h e M o d i g ov e r n m e n t Ês p l a n s t o ov e r h a u l I n d i a Ês e d u c a t i o n c u r r i c u l u m a r e a l s o s i g n i f i c a n t Tex t b o o k s i n f l u e n c e d by t h e R a s h t r i ya S w aya m s eva k S a n g h ( R S S ) u n d e r M o d i Ês l e a d e rs h i p a r e r e s h a p i n g I n d i a n h i s t o r y a n d s c i e n c e S c h o o l s a f f i l i a t e d w i t h B J P i d e o l o g y a r e a l t e r i n g t h e c u r r i c u l u m a t t h e g ov e r n m e n t Ês d i r e c t i o n C r i t i c s , i n cl u d i n g h i s t o r i a n s a n d s c i e n t i s t s , h av e a c c u s e d t h e M o d i g ov e r n m e n t o f m o d i f y i n g s c h o o l c u r r i c u l a t o a l i g n w i t h i t s H i n d u t va a g e n d a . Th i s h e l p e d u s t a b u l ate t h e to t a l a m o u nt e a c h p a r t y h a d re ce i ve d, re ve a l i n g t h at t h e B J P h a d p o c ke te d R s 8 , 2 5 0 c ro re o f R s 1 6 , 4 9 2 c ro re b o n d s re d e e m e d – j u s t ove r h a l f t h e m o n e y g i ve n t h ro u g h e l e c to ra l b o n d s
rights disasters to
to resolve
The US
own problems attempts to
the focus externally Under the name of so-called challenges to the international order and threats to the democracy worldwide, the US seeks to monopolize the global agenda through the Summit for Democracy, monopolizing the power to define democracy merely as another tool to maintain its hegemony What did South Korea get? A year ago when South Korea took over the responsibility of hosting the third summit, it seemed to align well with the ambitious “value-based diplomacy” concept of the Yoon Suk-yeol government However things have changed Faced with the upcoming parliamentary elections in April
The writer is a freelance columnist
Electoral bonds: What we know so far, what we will know soon – and what we may never know
SCR OLL S u p r i ya S h a r m a & p r o j e c t e l e c to r a l B o n d
Tuesday 19 March 2024 COMMENT 05
H E third Summit for Democracy takes place from March 18 to 20 in Seoul South Korea Two years ago the first summit organized by the Biden administration caused great controversy Last year, the second summit ended amid widespread doubts and criticism and then the low-key convening of the summit this year has gained less attention in the international community I recently visited Seoul the host of this year s Summit for Democracy I found that there was little coverage of the event in major Korean media, and no one mentioned it in our exchanges with Korean officials and think tanks It is important to note that as a multilateral summit it was already doomed to fail when it generated far more controversy than attention to the outcome In this so-called Summit for Democracy led by the US, the selection of participating countries has been full of controversy from the very beginning arousing international opposition and skepticism As early as the first summit some Western countries pointed out a major problem: the US even invited some non-democratic countries that are favorable to US geopolitical interests to participate in the summit China had no interest in this farce created by the US but the fact that the US had invited regional leaders from the Taiwan province to the first two summits with malicious intentions, which constituted a blatant violation of the one-China principle, forced China to respond The Summit for Democracy organized by the US is in fact a blatant attempt to create division in the world and trample on the true spirit of democracy The US lauds itself as the beacon of democracy, but what is the reality of democracy in the US? According to a report released by Germany-based Dalia Research and the Alliance of Democracies less than 50 percent of Americans surveyed think their country is democratic and 43 percent of respondents globally think democracy in their countries is threatened by the US How can the US be in a position to criticize the democracy of other countries if American democracy is failing to win the trust of its own people? T h e U S h a s i n c i t e d t h e N e o - M o n r o e D o c t r i n e i n L a t i n A m e r i c a f o m e n t e d c o l o r r e v o l u t i o n s i n E u r a s i a , a n d i n s t ig a t e d t h e A r a b S p r i n g i n We s t A s i a a n d North Africa
and the ongoing crisis in the medical sector the Yoon government seems to have lost its initial enthusiasm for this summit Lee Sook-jong, a senior fellow at the East Asia Institute, an independent think tank based in the South Korean capital stated in an interview with Swiss media that as a co-coordinator of this summit she found that South Korea did not provide the necessary resources, infrastructure and technical support She pointed out that many countries have become lukewarm toward this summit admitting that she did not know if the summit could continue after the third summit Looking at its attendance it could hardly be called a summit The initiator, US President Joe Biden, does not personally attend this summit and only sent Secretary of State Antony Blinken to Seoul Very few top leaders will attend the event in person and many leaders only sent short videos The public opinion both in South Korean and from the globe has lost interest in the attendance list, let alone the content and achievements of the summit It is doubtful if anyone in the world knows what results this summit will achieve With the upcoming US presidential election American-style democracy seems to have reached a new crossroads No one knows if the Summit for Democracy can continue, and it may be time for this farce to come to an end The author is specially appointed research fellow at the Department for AsiaPacific Studies China Institute of International Studies
is interested in the Summit for Democracy
This has brought continuous social chaos and human
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H E Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP), a prominent political entity in India has come under scrutiny for its alleged involvement in incidents perceived as discriminatory or antagonistic towards minority communities These occurrences have ignited discussions regarding the party’s commitment to secularism, religious tolerance, and inclusive governance Despite the BJP frequently asserting its dedication to the well-being of all citizens irrespective of their religious or cultural affiliations its detractors point to several contentious events as indicative of a different reality One significant example is the 2002 Gujarat riots which transpired during the tenure of Chief Minister Narendra Modi later to become India s Prime Minister The riots predominantly targeting Muslims resulted in widespread violence, loss of lives, and mass displacement The state government, led by the BJP, faced accusations of failing to prevent the violence and of being complicit in the assaults on minority communities These riots continue to cast a shadow over Modi s political legacy and raise doubts about the BJP s professed commitment to minority rights Another contentious event is the 2013 Muzaffarnagar riots in Uttar Pradesh, where clashes between Hindu
H E floodgates have opened After six years of secrecy surrounding who gave money to political parties through electoral bonds, information has finally started to come out on the orders of the Supreme Court of India However the information is still partial – and confusing The Election Commission released one set of data on March 14 another on March 17 – and more is expected to come before March 21 So what did each data set contain and what has it revealed? Why is the data that is still to come out crucial? Here is an explainer to help you navigate this big developing story that could have far reaching implications in India We start with some important background WHAT ARE ELECTORAL BONDS?: Before the Supreme Court struck them down as illegal on February 15 electoral bonds were paper instruments that anyone could buy from the State Bank of India and give to a political party which could redeem them for money When the Modi government introduced the scheme in 2018, it claimed that electoral bonds would help clean up political finance in India by allowing donors to contribute money to parties anonymously Until then political parties only had the option of accepting contributions above Rs 20,000 through regular bank cheques and transfers, and they had to mandatorily disclose the names of those donors in annual reports filed to the Election Commission WERE THE BONDS ACTUALLY ANONYMOUS? Technically yes Unlike a bank cheque the bond did not carry any names – no name surfaced in the banking system when the bond was redeemed While this allowed a donor to remain anonymous, recent disclosures have made it clear that donors declared their identities to the parties while handing them over the bonds This means political parties knew the identities of the donors But crucially the Indian public did not The electoral bond scheme allowed political parties to get away without making any significant disclosure to the Election Commission using the (false) argument that the bonds were anonymous The Supreme Court struck down the scheme as illegal on grounds that the public had the right to know who gave money to political parties It ordered the State Bank of India to disclose information on both the buyers and the beneficiaries of the bonds The bank was asked to give the data to the Election Commission by March 6 which would then make it public On March 4 the bank asked for an extension till June The court rejected the plea, setting in motion the release of the bond data, with the first dataset coming out on March 14 WHAT DID THE FIRST DATASET REVEAL? On March 14 the Election Commission of India uploaded two lists on its website The first was a list revealing the names of the buyers of each and every bond purchased between April 12, 2019 and January 2024, with the date and the denomination of the bond This list revealed that the largest buyer of the bonds was a lottery company that infrastructure and pharmaceutical companies were major donors that Reliance-linked firms bought bonds, among other things It also showed 21 companies bought bonds after they were raided by central agencies like the Enforcement Directorate The second list released by the Election Commission on March 14 featured the date and the amount of each bond encashed by political parties This helped us tabulate the total amount each party had received, revealing that the BJP had pocketed Rs 8,250 crore of Rs 16,492 crore bonds redeemed – just over half the money given through electoral bonds WHAT WAS MISSING FROM THE FIRST DATASET? Two things were missing One, the unique code of every bond that could help match the buyer and the beneficiary The existence of this hidden alphanumeric code on the bonds was first revealed by journalist Poonam Agarwal in 2018 after she purchased two bonds and got them tested by a forensic lab Two the lists did not contain data for bonds purchased before April 12, 2019 – which amounted to over Rs 4,000 crore The cut-off was the date of an interim order passed by the Supreme Court in April 2019 Hearing petitions challenging the legality of the electoral bond scheme the court had then ordered that while it was still deciding the matter, the Election Commission must collect information on electoral bonds from all political parties and submit it to the court in a sealed cover When the Supreme Court finally passed its final judgement in the case in February 2024 it asked for only data related to electoral bonds bought and encashed after the interim order of April 12, 2019 to be made public Explaining the rationale, the judges said on March 18: “We took that date because it was our considered view that once the interim order was pronounced everybody was put on notice The court seemed to imply that until the interim order was passed, those who donated money through bonds did so assuming their identity would remain anonymous and hence, their privacy should be protected – as opposed to those who donated after the interim order date But the second dataset released by the Election Commission ended up inadvertently revealing the identities of some of the pre-April 2019 donors WHAT DID THE SECOND DATASET REVEAL? The second dataset was uploaded on the Election Commission’s website on March 17 It contained the reports that political parties had filed to the commission between 2019 and 2023 that had been submitted to the Supreme Court in sealed covers There was no standard format to these disclosures Most parties only revealed the date and amounts of the bonds they had redeemed Three parties – the Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam the All India Anna Dravida Munnetra Kazhagam and the Janata Dal (Secular) – revealed the names of all their donors – busting the myth that the bonds were anonymous The DMK disclosure showed its largest donor was the lottery company Future Gaming and Hotel Services Private Limited The Janata Dal (Secular) revealed among those who had donated to the party ahead of the 2018 Karnataka election was Infosys –the software giant s name had not surfaced in the first dataset since it did not contain the names of the buyers of bonds pre-April 2019 Two other parties ended up revealing the names of the bond donors for 2019: the Aam Aadmi Party and the Nationalist Congress Party They did not disclose information for the subsequent years, though WHAT DATA IS STILL TO COME OUT? The unique codes of the bonds are still to be revealed On March 18 the Supreme Court asked the State Bank of India to submit data with the alphanumeric number of all bonds purchased and redeemed and file an affidavit by March 21 stating no information related to the bonds had been suppressed Once the codes are known it will become possible to map donors to recipients revealing who gave money to which party This information can be used to unearth quid-pro-quo relationships between donors and parties, either in the form of policy concessions or other favours granted by governments, or as payments made to get investigative agencies off their back But even after the codes are revealed a crucial gap will remain in the data: the period between March 2018 and April 2019 Since the Supreme Court has taken the view that information for the period before April 12, 2019 must not be revealed, it will be hard to draw a definitive picture of about Rs 4 000 crore of bond money that transferred hands in the lead up to the Lok Sabha election in which the BJP won a landslide victory This report is part of a collaborative project involving three news organisations – Newslaundry Scroll The News Minute –and independent journalists
BaSit alvi
pwill see him overtake Josef Stalin and become Russia s longest-serving leader for more than 200 years if he completes it Putin won 87 8% of the vote the highest ever result in Russia s post-Soviet
China to forge stronger ties with New Zealand: Wang Yi
achievement in national development and construction under Putin s leadership, Xi said Noting that China attaches great importance to the development of China-Russia relations Xi said China stands ready to maintain close communication with Russia to promote the sustained, sound, stable and in-depth development of China-Russia comprehensive strategic partnership of coordination for a new era to benefit the two nations and their people S TA F F R E P O R
with China in areas including the economy and trade, peopleto-people exchanges, education, tourism, agriculture, technology and climate action, said the prime minister
Israeli troops raid Gaza’s Al-Shifa hospital
GAZA R E U T E R S
Israeli troops raided Gaza s AlShifa hospital early on Monday in an operation that Palestinian health authorities said has caused multiple casualties and set off a fierce fire in one of the buildings
The Israeli military said soldiers conducted a precise operation and were fired upon when they entered the compound
The troops responded with live fire and hits were identified Our troops are continuing to operate in the area of the hospital ” it said in a statement The operation was based on intelligence information which indicated the hospital was being used by senior Hamas leaders, the military said
“Suddenly, we started to hear sounds of explosions several bombings and soon tanks started to roll they came from the western road and headed toward Al Shifa then sounds of gunfire and explosions increased, Mohammad Ali, 32, a father of two, who lives
around one kilometer from the hospital told Reuters via a chat app
We don t know what is happening, but it looked as if it was a re-invasion of the Gaza City, he added, saying that the military activities began at around 1:00 a m (2300 GMT Sunday) Gaza’s Hamas-run health ministry said a fire broke out at the entrance of the complex causing cases of suffocation among displaced women and children in the hospital
It said communication had been cut off, with people trapped inside the surgery and emergency units of one of the buildings
There are casualties including deaths and injuries and it s impossible to rescue anyone due to the intensity of the fire and targeting of anyone approaching the windows,” the ministry said
The Israeli military issued grainy drone footage of the operation which it said showed troops coming under fire from a number of buildings in the hospital complex
It said troops had been instructed on the importance of operating cautiously as well as on
measures to be taken to avoid harm to patients civilians medical staff and medical equipment and said patients were not required to evacuate Hamas said in a statement the Israeli military had committed a new crime by directly targeting the hospital buildings without caring about patients medical staff or displaced people in it Israel came under fierce criticism last year when troops first raided the hospital, where they uncovered underground tunnels they said were used as command and control centers by Hamas
The hospital in Gaza City is one of the few remaining health facilities left in the besieged enclave and the Israeli military has long accused the Islamist movement Hamas of using it as a base for its fighters
Hamas and hospital officials have denied the accusation and the hospital has been at the center of accusations of war crimes on both sides, with Palestinians accusing Israel of targeting hospitals and Israel saying the sites were being used to shelter armed fighters
Hindu nationalists attack foreign students for offering Ramazan prayers in India
online depict the violent episode with individuals chanting Jai Shree Ram a Hindu rallying cry against Muslims
An Afghan student reported that initially, three people disrupted their prayers, but the situation escalated when a larger group arrived pelting stones and damaging property Despite having permission to pray on campus the students expressed fear for their safety and urged the university to relocate them to a secure location
The university s vice chancellor confirmed the clashes and assured an ongoing investigation, with police scrutinising video evidence to determine the cause of the confrontation
T d y 19 M h 2024 | ISLAMABAD 06 NEWS india’s top cour t asks sBi for data to link political fund donors, recipients NEW DELHI R E U T E R S India’s Supreme Court ordered the State Bank of India (SBI) on Monday to submit all the details of socalled electoral bonds issued under an opaque political funding system just a month before general elections The further details of the controversial funding mechanism, introduced in 2017 but subsequently scrapped, are expected to make public information linking donors to political parties over the last five years and the size of their donations Corporate funding of political parties is a sensitive matter in India where the February scrapping of electoral bonds along with the publicising of the names of donors and recipients, has become a hot topic ahead of elections due by May The Supreme Court gave the state-run lender until Thursday to provide the Election Commission of India with the unique identification numbers of the bonds so as to allow donors to be matched with recipients You have to disclose all details we must have finality to it, Chief Justice D Y Chandrachud said The election commission, in its turn, was directed to make the information public “forthwith” Last week the commission made public some data on donations made since April 2019 under the funding mechanism that allowed anonymous unlimited donations by companies and individuals using the electoral bonds Some of India s biggest companies, such as Vedanta Ltd, Bharti Airtel, RPSG Group and Essel Mining were among the top political funders over the last five years the data showed But last week s data did not link donors to recipients though it showed that nearly half of all donations were received by the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) of Prime Minister Narendra Modi, who will seek a rare third term at the polls Critics say such bonds helped companies hide their donations to avoid any accusations of winning favours from the ruling party On Sunday the leader of the main opposition Congress party Rahul Gandhi accused Modi s government of using electoral bonds to extort money from companies, an accusation the government has strongly denied Industry bodies Assocham the Confederation of Indian Industry and the Federation of Indian Chambers of Commerce and Industry sought to stop the court from making public information about who donated to which party Protection of anonymity is critical for preserving donors’ privacy and guarding against any adversity by any opposing political factions to whom the investment is not made by a corporate ” Assocham said The court did not hear their plea MOSCOW A G E N C I E S
R E S I D E N T Vladimir Putin won a record post-Soviet landslide in Russia s election, cementing his already tight grip on power in a victory he said showed Moscow had been right to stand up to the West and send its troops into Ukraine Putin a former KGB lieutenant colonel who first rose to power in 1999, made it clear that the result should send a message to the West that its leaders will have to reckon with an emboldened Russia whether in war or in peace for many more years to come The outcome means Putin 71 is set to embark on a new six-year term that
pollster the Public Opinion Foundation (FOM) The Russian Public Opinion Research Centre (VCIOM) put Putin on 87% First official results indicated the polls were accurate The United States Germany, the United Kingdom and other nations have said the vote was neither free nor fair due to the imprisonment of political opponents and censorship Communist candidate Nikolai Kharitonov finished second with just under 4% newcomer Vladislav Davankov third and ultra-nationalist Leonid Slutsky fourth, partial results
history, according to an exit poll by
tory speech in Moscow that he would prioritise resolving tasks associated with what he called Russia s special military operation in Ukraine and would strengthen the Russian military “We have many tasks ahead But when we are consolidated – no matter who wants to intimidate us suppress us – nobody has ever succeeded in history they have not succeeded now and they will not succeed ever in the future, said Putin Supporters chanted Putin, Putin, Putin” when he appeared on stage and “Russia Russia Russia” after he had delivered his acceptance speech Inspired by opposition leader Alexei Navalny who died in an Arctic prison last month thousands of opponents protested at noon against Putin at polling stations inside Russia and abroad Putin told reporters he regarded Russia s election as democratic and said the Navalny-inspired protest against him had had no effect on the election’s outcome In his first comments on his death he also said that Navalny s passing had been a sad event and confirmed that he had been ready to do a prisoner swap involving the opposition politician When asked by a NBC, a U S TV network, whether his re-election was democratic Putin criticised the U S political and judicial systems “The whole world is laughing at what is happening (in the United States) he said
CONfliCT jusT ONe sTep fROm WORld WaR-3, WaRNs puTiN afTeR l aNdslide eleCTiON WiN BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T China can achieve its full-year growth target of around 5 percent for 2024 via enhanced efforts a spokesperson of the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) said Monday Although the environment for economic development remains complex and grave, the fundamentals of the Chinese economy have continued to improve and the positive factors driving economic recovery are accumulating and strengthening NBS spokesperson Liu Aihua told a press conference concerning the country s economic performance in the first two months of 2024 The Chinese economy had solid start in January and February with most indicators maintaining sound momentum, which has laid a good foundation for full-year growth, Liu told the press She mentioned positive factors such as a more dynamic flow of people and goods greater market vitality and rapid growth in new types of consumption Liu also expects the government s supportive policies to play a larger role in economic recovery, including large-scale equipment renewal, trade-ins of consumer goods and the issuance of ultra-long special treasury bonds However, she noted that as external instabilities and uncertainties as well as domestic problems such as the lack of effective demand remain the foundations of economic recovery still need to be consolidated “It is necessary to further observe the economic trend in the latter part of the year and further improve the implementation of policies she said Observers said the upbeat data offer an encouraging sign that the world s second-largest economy is not only consolidating the recovery momentum but also picking up pace The industrial output grew 7 percent year-on-year in the first two months according to data released by the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) on Monday, well above the 5 percent forecast from analysts polled by Reuters It is also the fastest since March 2023 The strong start in 2024 which presages a raft of bright spots ranging from high-tech to consumption of this year s growth path, also rebuts squarely recent skepticism and badmouths on Chinese economy hyped by certain Western media It projects great confidence in China s economic trajectory toward a growth rate of around 5 percent in 2024, a goal set by this year ’s Government Work Report that Chinese officials believe – albeit faced with external and internal headwinds – will come to fruition with earnest endeavors In January-February period, retail sales expanded 5 5 percent from the same period last year, versus a Reuters forecast of 5 2 percent while fixed-asset investment also gained 4 2 percent in year-on-year terms surpassing market estimates of 3 2 percent With the macro policies taking effect, China’s national economy has continued to recover and turn for the better in the first two months NBS spokesperson Liu Aihua said at a press briefing of the State Council Information Office on Monday “The positive macro-economic indicators reflect that the country’s GDP growth rate in the first quarter of this year will be higher than 5 percent and that the economy is bottoming out after facing constant growth pressure seen in the past 10 years or so, Cao Heping, an economist at Peking University, told the Global Times on Monday C h i n a’s e c o n o my s t a r t s o f f p r o j e c t i n g t r a j e c to r y towa r d 5 % G D P t a r g e t
suggested Putin told supporters in a vic-
Russia-NaTO
WELLINGTON S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T China is ready to forge a stronger bilateral comprehensive strategic partnership with New Zealand visiting Chinese Foreign Minister Wang Yi said on Monday during a meeting with New Zealand Prime Minister Christopher Luxon in Wellington Wang, a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, also met with New Zealand’s Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Winston Peters on Monday Noting that New Zealand takes education technological innovation infrastructure its business environment and export expansion as policy priorities, Wang told Luxon that China is willing to be a reliable strategic partner in these areas China is happy to see New Zealand’s continued participation in the Belt and Road Initiative and looks forward to working with New Zealand to explore new growth areas of cooperation such as science and technology green development and innovation while strengthening cooperation in traditional fields, he said The Chinese economy enjoys both a solid foundation and a broad space for growth, which will continue to inject more impetus into the world economy and bring new opportunities to New Zealand he added Both China and New Zealand advocate multilateralism support the central role of the United Nations in international affairs, and are committed to resolving international disputes by peaceful means, Wang said China is ready to work with New Zealand to strengthen solidarity, cooperation, unilateralism and protectionism and also resist the Cold War mentality oppose reversing the course of history and safeguard the right direction of human progress he said For his part Luxon told Wang that the bilateral ties are important and urged closer high-level exchanges to promote mutual understanding The comprehensive strategic partnership between
Zealand and China has provided an important driving force for bilateral cooperation Luxon
adding
New Zealand will continue to adhere
the one-China policy New Zealand is ready to deepen cooperation
New
said
that
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NEW DELHI A G E N C I E S An investigation has been initiated by authorities in western India following reports of an attack allegedly carried out by far-right Hindu nationalists against foreign university students observing prayers during the holy month of Ramazan CNN reported This incident comes amidst simmering religious tensions preceding a crucial general election According to Ahmedabad police clashes erupted at Gujarat University on Saturday when students from various countries, including Afghanistan, Sri Lanka, and Tajikistan, commenced prayers on campus grounds Two people were detained following clashes Commissioner GS Malik stated that a group of 20-25 individuals confronted the students insisting they should pray in a mosque instead This confrontation escalated into stone-pelting and vandalism of the students accommodations The Ministry of External Affairs confirmed at least two foreign students were injured In response the state government vowed strict action against the perpetrators as stated by spokesperson Randhir Jaiswal on social media This incident adds to a series of communal clashes in India reflecting the growing religious polarisation under Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Hindu nationalist government Eyewitnesses recounted how the students were interrupted during prayers by a group chanting Hindu slogans leading to physical altercations and further vandalism Videos circulating
BEIJING: Chinese President Xi Jinping on Monday congratulated Vladimir Putin on his reelection as Russian president In recent years the Russian people have united as one overcome challenges and made steady progress towards national development and revitalization, Xi said, adding that the reelection of Putin as Russian president fully reflects the Russian people’s support for him Russia will surely make greater X i c o n g r at u l ate s P u t i n o n r e e l e c t i o n a s R u s s i a n p r e s i d e n t
SAP Appoints Saquib Ahmad as Managing Director for Bahrain in addition to Pakistan, Iraq and Afghanistan
Provision of low-cost and affordable living opportunities must be our priority: Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada
S ecretar y M/o NHSR & C direc ts PIMs administration to elevate its standards of public ser vice deliver y
H u awe i d e l e g at i o n c a l l s o n
M i n i s te r fo r I T & Te l e co m
Director Subsidiary Board Mr Shahzad Rasheed CEO Huawei Cloud Mr Yu Shaoning Deputy CEO Public Affairs and Mr Saad Talha Saeed Director Public Affairs Government Relations Huawei
Ne e d m o re t re e s to t a c k l e e nv i ro n m e nt a l c h a n g e s, co nt ro l p o l l u
Governor Punjab Muhammad Balighur Rehman has emphasized the need for more trees to protect the future generations from the effects of environmental changes and to control environmental pollution
He was speaking on the occasion of launching spring tree planting campaign in Punjab along with his wife by planting saplings at the Governor House Lahore on Monday
Muhammad Balighur Rahman said that during the spring a tree planting campaign will be conducted across the province He urged the people from all walks of life to actively participate in this campaign From the life and Aha Hadees of the Prophet we get numerous examples about the importance of trees he added The Governor Punjab further said that according to experts, each tree provides enough oxygen in a day which was equal to meeting the oxygen re-
quirement of forty people He said that we have to increase the number of trees and green areas in cities to eliminate the effects of environmental pollution Balighur Rahman said that he appeals the people of the province and especially the children to do your part in this campaign and do your part to make the country greener by planting more trees and focus on their growth along with planting to achieve the objectives of the plantation drive
C hina’s industrial output up 7 percent in Jan-Feb
NUST hosts a color ful 3- day Olympiad 2024
LONDON A G E N C I E S
Despite the rising tide of de-globalization and protectionism, China has played an important role in advocating economic globalization and its efforts in promoting highstandard opening-up are worth noticing, several British experts told Xinhua recently “Trade is the source of prosperity and the source of stopping poverty ” said Stephen Perry president emeritus of Britain s 48 Group Club during a recent interview with Xinhua In the long run, globalization and multilateral forms of trade
07 NEWS Tuesday 19 March 2024 ISLAMABAD
ISLAMABAD: China s value-added industrial output, an important economic indicator, went up 7 percent during the January-February period of 2024, data from the National Bureau of Statistics (NBS) showed Monday The growth accelerated 0 2 percentage points from December 2023, according to the NBS On a monthly basis industrial output edged up 0 56 percent in February from the previous month The industrial output is used to measure the activity of enterprises each with an annual main business turnover of at least 20 million yuan (about 2 82 million U S dollars) S TA F F R E P O R T PR OFIT N E W S D E S K P A K I S TA N s mobile phone imports showed a robust increase of 156 43% valued at $1 148 billion during the first eight months (July-Feb) of the FY2023-24 as compared to $447 854 million recorded in the same period of the previous year However data from the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) indicates a monthly decrease, with imports falling 17 46% to $160 899 million in February 2024, down from $194 928 million in January 2024 Year-on-year figures for February show an impressive growth of 386 78% with imports rising from $33 054 million in February 2023 to $160 899 million in February 2024 The overall telecom sector also experienced growth with imports totaling $1 434 billion between July and February 2023-24, up 102 44% from $708 796 million in the same period the previous year February 2024 alone saw a 195 81% year-on-year increase in telecom imports, reaching $191 504 million compared to $64 740 million in February 2023 Despite this growth the month-onmonth figures for February 2024 show a 17 71% decline in telecom imports from $232 709 million in January 2024 In the realm of local production, January 2024 saw 2 27 million mobile handsets manufactured/assembled in Pakistan a notable increase from 0 24 million units imported for commercial purposes The production included 0 72 million 2G handsets and 1 55 million smartphones According to the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), the market consists of 60% smartphones and 40% 2G phones The local manufacturing sector experienced a 4% decrease in 2023 impacted by import restrictions and challenges in opening Letters of Credit for mobile phone accessories MOBILE PHONE IMPORTS SURGE 156% AMID LOCAL MANUFACTURING DECLINE g O V E R A L L, T E L E C O M S E C TO R E X P E R I E N C E D G R O W T H, W I T H TOTA L I M P O R T S R E A C H I N G $ 1 4 3 4 B I L L I O N F R O M J U LY TO F E B R U A R Y I N F Y 2 3 - 2 4
CORPORATE CORNER
K A R A C H I: SAP has appointed Saquib Ahmad as the Managing Director for Bahrain in addition to his current role of leading operations in Iraq Afghanistan and Pakistan With close to 25 years’ experience in the regional IT and Telecommunications industry Ahmad will focus on supporting the digital transformation and AI capabilities of companies in the geography he oversees The countries that Saquib Ahmad will cover represent an important growth market for SAP, particularly in digital transformation and we expect to see them benefit from the enormous potential of Business AI ” said Ahmed AlFaifi Senior Vice President of SAP Middle East and Africa – North to whom Ahmad will report directly PR
Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada Federal Minister for Housing and Works chaired a meeting of the Federal Government Employees Housing Authority (FGEHA) at the Ministry During the meeting, Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada was apprised about the management and working of the department by Capt (Retd ) Muhammad Zafar Iqbal Director General FGEHA The Federal Minister emphasized the importance of ensuring that plots are allocated strictly on merit He urged the identification and removal of any irregularities to uphold transparency in the allotment process Furthermore, he directed the DG to conduct a thorough and transparent audit of the authority stressing the need for stringent measures against corruption as no one will be spared on any irregularity Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada said that we must deliver what we committed to the allottees and highlighted the urgency of completing ongoing and stalled development projects to facilitate the government employees and the general public PR
I S L A M A B A D: Secretary Ministry of National Health Services Regulations & Coordination (NHSR & C), Iftikhar Ali Shallwani, has emphasized the importance of ensuring the highest standards of healthcare delivery and availability of doctors and medicine within hospitals He was Chairing a meeting concerning administrative financial matters, and the performance assessment of Pakistan Institute of Medical Sciences (PIMs) The meeting was attended by the officials from M/o NHSR & C and PIMs The Secretary was briefed by PIMs officials on the pressing issue of human resource shortages affecting the performance of the hospital It was also brought to his notice that the problem was exacerbated by the overwhelming patients load from not only Islamabad but from other regions across the country In response, Iftikhar Ali Shallwani directed the administration of PIMs to accelerate the recruitment process for personnel to address the growing patient influx effectively PR Pakistan Pover ty Alleviation Fund Receives Prestigious International Energy Workforce Award 2024 Renewable Energy Programme Recognized for Combatting Climate Change in off-grid communities, Benefits Over 300,000 PeopleIslamabad: In a proud moment for the nation, the Pakistan Poverty Alleviation Fund (PPAF) has been honoured with the esteemed International Energy Workforce Award 2024 by the Energy Institute (EI) of the United Kingdom This accolade underscores PPAF s exceptional dedication to building a skilled workforce and combatting climate change through its Renewable Energy Programme in remote regions of Pakistan PR
of Khyber and Institute of Cost & Management Accountants Par tner for Internship Oppor tunities P E S H AWA R: Bank of Khyber (BoK) and the Institute of Cost and Management Accountants (ICMA) have partnered through the signing of a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) BoK will provide ICMA students, affiliates, and members with valuable internship opportunities within various BoK departments The MoU was signed by Irfan Saleem Awan MD/CEO (A) & CFO of BoK and Shehzad Ahmed Malik President of ICMA The signing ceremony was attended by distinguished representatives from both organizations, including Muhammad Asif, Group Head HRDG, Moin Rana, Group Head Operations, Ihsan Ullah Ihsan, Group Head RAMG, Ali Khan Arbab Group Head IBG (A) and Mudassar Iqbal Chief Internal Auditor amongst others PR
Bank
I S L A M A B A D: NUST hosted Olympiad 24 (NOL) in spring 2024 a national event showcasing various activities including sports science & technology arts & media literature technical amusement, adventure, sustainability, and community service Over 20 competitions and games were organized by NUST's clubs and societies with the opening ceremony attended by former international cricketer Mr Saqlain Mushtaq and NUST Rector Engr Javed Mehmood Bukhari Over 1900 participants from across the country participated, fostering unity and friendship through sports, competitions, social nights, drama plays, fireworks, and a cultural fest The event provided networking, entertainment, and engaging discussions for students The closing ceremony with speeches and prize distribution marked NOL 24 as a historic success creating lasting memories for all involved PR CDA launches ambitious Bic ycle L ane Projec t to enhance sustainability and well-being in Islamabad I S L A M A B A D: The Capital Development Authority (CDA) proudly announces the launch of a transformative project aimed at enhancing the well-being of Islamabad s residents and fostering a culture of sustainability Taking proactive steps towards creating a healthier environment the CDA is spearheading the implementation of the Capital Development Authority (CDA) Bicycle Lane Project (BLP) Under this visionary initiative, the CDA will oversee the construction of an extensive network of bicycle lanes spanning approximately 374 kilometers across various sectors and areas of Islamabad within the next 18 months With an allocated budget of 2 4 billion rupees this project represents a significant investment in promoting eco-friendly transportation alternatives and reducing environmental pollution The Capital Development Authority (CDA) Bicycle Lane Project (BLP) will see the integration of cycling tracks along highways including those linked to the Purple Line Metro Bus project such as Khayaban Iqbal Sector G-6 G-7 G-8 Green Double Lane Jinnah Avenue and Red Double Line These dedicated lanes will not only facilitate commuters but also encourage a healthier lifestyle among citizens PR ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T A delegation of Huawei Pakistan called on Minister of State for IT and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima Khawaja in her office on Monday The Huawei team led by Mr Ethan Sun, CEO Huawei Pakistan, discussed various programs initiatives and ICT infrastructure in the meeting Minister of State for IT Shaza Fatima Khawaja shared Ministry s vision of digitalizing Pakistan, create opportunities for youth and leverage technology to build their capacity and achieve economic growth Mr Sun said as a key stakeholder contributing to the digitalization of the economy and the country Huawei is committed to creating a fully connected, intelligent world The delegation apprised that Huawei has designed a Super App that serves as a one-stop digital ecosystem connecting government services, service hotlines, providing health and education services and connecting to various mini-apps With internet connectivity this app can create smart cities across Pakistan it added The meeting was attended by Mr Jahanzeb Rahim Member Telecom, Mr Faisal Ratyal, DG Telecom, Dr Babar Majid Bhatti, CEO, NITB, Mr Ahmed Bilal Masud,
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are inevitable, because they are the only way to get what people want which is better and safer conditions Perry said Martin Wolf chief economics commentator at the London-based Financial Times, said that because of economic realities, China has to push for globalization “It makes sense for China in every circumstance to push for an open world economy China-Britain Business Council Chair Sherard Cowper-Coles said China s push for globalization is a win-win story Speaking at the “Icebreakers” 2024 Chinese New Year celebration he noted that China matters more than it s ever done to the United Kingdom, to post-Brexit Britain ” Cowper-Coles told Xinhua during the event that China’s advocacy of economic globalization is terribly important Britain needs China needs this market for our goods and services, needs Chinese investment, needs Chinese students,” he said Commenting on China’s recent measures to push forward its highstandard opening-up he said that it s a win for the Western firms that want to enter the Chinese market It s also a win for the Chinese consumers who get more choices, more options So it’s very positive in every way ” Jean Christophe Iseux von Pfetten chairman of the Institute for East-West Strategic Studies in Britain, said some good decisions are being made in China such as nurturing and strengthening the private economy which is welcomed by China and the foreign community At the same time Pfetten expressed his concern that in terms of foreign direct investment in the West, it will be much more complicated for Chinese companies “The United States is not benefiting from its protectionist action ” Pfetten said adding that the socalled de-risking and de-coupling are totally wrong Keith Bennett, an international relations consultant in London, told Xinhua that although there is a lot of talk about protectionism and restrictions on trade and there are some measures in that direction the main trend is very much towards globalization “What’s important is that China puts forward an inclusive and fair globalization ” he said “China is giving a constructive lead on that to make it fair and equitable for all said Bennett, adding that he thinks the overwhelming majority of countries in the world support China’s initiatives on this ” “And it’s gaining more and more understanding in some countries Even if there is some pushback or hesitancy from the government, it s very much supported by the business community who don’t want any political issues to interfere with trade and business ” he said China is the only country so far as I know that organizes expos and conferences to encourage people to export to the Chinese market and to bring their high-quality, niche and specialized products to China ” Bennett said
suppor t impor tant for economic globalization; say British exper ts
China’s
PTI
backs Amnest y International’s demand for immediate restoration of social media in Pakistan
CM Mar yam breaks bread with female inmates at Kot Lakhpat jail iftar dinner
US envoy meets Zardari, Dar; disc usses high level dialogue, fight against
ISLAMABAD
U S Ambassador Donald Blome met today with President Asif Ali Zardari to
Khushbukhat Shujaat for the governorship to replace Kamran Tessori
Well placed sources in the party said the majority of the MQM-P s Rabita Committee was in favor of retaining Kamran Tessori as Sindh Governor The sources said the majority of the committee members also opposed giving senate ticket to Faisal Vawda
The sources disclosed that the committee was informed that on the instructions of Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui MQM-P assembly members signed Faisal Vawda s nomination papers
Meanwhile, MQM-P on Monday expressed willingness to see former federal minister Faisal Vawda join its ranks ahead of the Senate elections set to take place on April 2 “We had invited Vawda to join [MQM-P] in the past [ ] I pray that he joins the party s ranks MQM-P leader Rauf Siddiqui said while speaking with journalists in Karachi Commenting on the upcoming Senate elections, MQM-P s Siddiqui who himself is a candidate for the polls said the party has fielded a total of eight candidates for the upper house However Vawda has reiterated that he’s still an independent political leader I m still independent Vawda said during a presser in Karachi adding that he would consider joining a political party when it s in season , as independent candidates are currently trending Expressing his views on the political landscape and prospects of the Pakistan Peoples Party’s (PPP) role in the Centre Vawda who’s contesting the Senate elections in an independent capacity said he doesn t see the Bilawal Bhutto-led party securing power in Islamabad Without taking any names, the ex-minister recalled his 14-year-long association with the PTI stressing that both the party and its founder were full of themselves during their time in power Vawda whose party membership was terminated by the PTI in 2022 over his remarks on the party s long march has been quite vocal in the political arena
Last week, the ex-minister had termed Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz as Buzdar II a reference to ex-CM Usman Buzdar who served as the province’s chief executive during PTI’s tenure Ever since his departure from the PTI Vawda has often been found critical of former prime minister and party founder Imran Khan It is worth mentioning that soon after developing the situation over
ECP asks contesting candidates to submit returns
Commerce Minister engages with sugar millers and ethanol manufac turers
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 051-2204545 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PRAYER TIMINGS Fa j r S U n r i S e Z U h r a S r M ag h r i b S h a 5:15 6:10 1 30 5:00 6:14 8:00 Tuesday 19 March 2024 NEWS
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson on Monday said that PTI fully endorsed Amnesty International’s demand for immediate restoration of social media platform X (formerly Twitter) saying that Pakistan had been made a laughing stock in the international community due to the unjustified blockage on social media and the chain of oppression against own citizens PTI Spokesperson said that the fake government’s unjustified closure of the Internet especially social media websites on daily basis in order to conceal facts regarding the mandate theft in the general elections provided opportunities to the world to ridicule Pakistan He stated that the constitution of the country was virtually suspended during the past 23 months and basic constitutional rights were being openly trampled upon under the feet PTI Spokesperson said: It is shameful that X has remained blocked in the country for over one month now We fully endorse 28 civil society organisations demand for immediate removal of ban on the social media platform allowing free flow of information as should be the case in a democratic country ” He went on to say that the murder of freedom of expression and press had been the topmost priority of the usurped and anti-constitutional group PTI Spokesperson stated that all kinds of coercive and brutal tactics ranging from enforced disappearances to blackmailing their families had been used to target the impartial journalists and social media workers He lamented that despite all state oppression, efforts were afoot to strangulate the freedom of expression and press to suppress the critical sane voices in order to establish unconstitutional control over the media PTI Spokesperson stated that the unelected and undemocratic government of people-rejected PDM-2 continued the shameful series of violations of all fundamental and constitutional rights without any fear of accountability He continued that the people’s basic constitutional right of freedom of expression and press was usurped in order to conceal the facts relating to theft of people mandate in the general elections and to impose the rejected characters on the nation once again fraudulently PTI Spokesperson made it clear that the closure of social networking websites by the authorities without any reason and justification was a violation of Article 19 of the Constitution and international laws He said that PTI supported the statement of Amnesty International and demanded immediate restoration of social media platform X PTI Spokesperson stressed that the unelected and unconstitutional government should avoid steps such as imposing restrictions on freedom of expression and press to save its fake rule because it would further escalate the political and economic instability in the country ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday visited the families of two army officers martyred in Mir Ali terrorist attack Lt-Col Syed Kashif Ali Shaheed and Captain Ahmed Badar Shaheed to offer his heartfelt condolence to the bereaved family Expressing sympathies with the bereaved family, the prime minister said he was very impressed by their patience and determination Earlier the prime minister also visited the residence of Lt Colonel Syed Kashif Ali Shaheed in Rawalpindi and offered his heartfelt condolence to the family He prayed to Allah Almighty to grant eternal peace to the martyrs and patience to the bereaved families to bear the loss with courage He said the brave jawans and officers of Pakistan Army had sacrificed their lives to safeguard their motherland He said the entire nation including himself pay tributes to them The families of martyrs are a matter of pride for the entire nation , he remarked Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif said the entire nation stood shoulder to shoulder with its armed forces till complete eradication of the menace of terrorism Defence minister Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Information Minister Attaullah Tarar also accompanied the prime minister P M V I S I T S FA M I L I E S O F A R M Y O F F I C E R S M A R T Y R E D I N M I R A L I T E R R O R I S T AT TA C K PR OFIT G H U L A M A B B A S Federal Minister for Commerce, Jam Kamal Khan, embarked on a proactive initiative to tackle pressing issues and stimulate sustainable growth within the sugar and ethanol industries While tackling the issue the minister found himself being pulled in opposite directions over a sugar byproduct As per details On Monday significant meetings were held with representatives from the Sugar Mills Association and the Ethanol Manufacturer Association, at the Ministry of Commerce The primary objective of these gatherings was to establish a constructive dialogue aimed at identifying practical solutions to the challenges impeding the progress of these sectors During the deliberations, members of the Sugar Mills Association articulated their concerns regarding the anticipated surge in tariffs for Molasses exports They emphasised that the export of molasses play a pivotal role in fortifying foreign reserves Molasses is the main byproduct of sugar mills and its quantity is almost proportional to the quantity of sugar produced It is a useful product in developing animal feeds and alcohol production These properties mean that molasses remains a key export of the sugar industry According to the Sugar Mill Association of Pakistan the amount of molasses used locally is close to 5% of the total domestic production of this byproduct This means that the sugar millers export the remaining 95% This year, the sugar millers are concerned that if, like last year, the tariffs on molasses exports are raised to collect additional tax their profit margins and competitiveness on a key cash-generating product will take a hit That is the reason they stressed the imperative need for not only reducing the tariffs but also investing in infrastructure enhancements to augment terminal capacity This will facilitate broader access to international markets, making molasses export much easier Now since ethanol a form of alcohol also uses molasses in its manufacturing process representatives from the Ethanol Manufacturer Association in their meetings with the commerce minister demanded the opposite of what the sugar millers asked Ethanol manufacturers underscored the significance of implementing sustainable longterm policy measures to safeguard the domestic ethanol industry expressing apprehensions over the excessive Molasses exports They urged authorities to exercise caution, and prioritise local production Additionally, the Chairman of the Ethanol Manufacturer Association advocated for the import of raw sugar to sustain domestic sugar manufacturing Responding to all these apprehensions Minister Jam Kamal could only reaffirm the government s unwavering commitment to mitigating challenges faced by both sectors He pledged to expedite efforts in resolving pertinent issues emphasising the pivotal role of industrial growth in bolstering the nation’s economic landscape and augmenting foreign reserves The meetings culminated with a shared commitment to collaborative endeavours aimed at surmounting obstacles and fostering an enabling environment conducive to the sustainable growth of the sugar and ethanol industries Minister Jam Kamal reiterated his steadfast support for the prosperity and advancement of these critical sectors highlighting their pivotal role in propelling economic progress and fortifying national resilience
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Chief Minister (CM) Maryam Nawaz did her iftar with women prisoners in Central Jail Lahore in Kot Lakhpat on Sunday The chief minister instead of mixing up with the guests, extended her support to the prisoners by eating with them at Iftar and presenting gifts clothes and assistance of Rs15 000 to them Punjab Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb shared a video which showed CM Maryam Nawaz presenting samosas, pakoras, fruits and food to the women prisoners She also visited different sections of the jail and planted a sapling in the lawns of Kot Lakhpat Jail She also visited the cell where her father and former prime minister Nawaz Sharif was kept during his period of imprisonment She, while recalling those days spent in jail got emotional Besides meeting the prison officials Maryam also spoke to the prisoners and asked about their issues and problems The chief minister also inaugurated a 20-bed hospital for rehabilitation of drug-addicts in the Central Jail Maryam also inaugurated the video call facility for prisoners a first of its kind CM Maryam visited kitchen of the jail and checked and reviewed the quality of food being prepared for prisoners Former Senator Pervez Rasheed Provincial Minister for Information & Culture Azma Bokari Chief Secretary Secretary Home, Special Secretary Home, IG Prisons Farooq Nazir and other officials also accompanied
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discuss a broad range of issues important to the bilateral relationship including U S support for continued economic reforms human rights and regional security The Ambassador highlighted the importance of the two countries’ shared interests and the many opportunities to advance our shared goals including through high level dialogues and the Green Alliance framework The Ambassador conveyed his condolences for the loss of Pakistani soldiers in the recent terrorist attack in Waziristan and assured the President the United States stands with Pakistan in its fight against terrorism Separately U S Ambassador Donald Blome met today with Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar to discuss a wide range of bilateral issues including U S support for economic reforms in Pakistan According to Acting U S Mission Spokesperson Thomas Montgomery, both the leaders discussed regional security, the potential for growth in the trade and investment relationship and the enduring importance of the U S -Pakistan Green Alliance framework Ambassador Blome conveyed the United States commitment to working with the government and people of Pakistan, underscoring that prosperity and security for Pakistan remains a top priority for the United States
MQM-P stands ‘divided’ over Sindh Governor appointment , Faisal Vawda’s senate ticket KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T There were serious differences in the Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQM-) erupted and the party has been split over the change of the Governor Sindh and Faisal Vawda’s senate ticket on Monday The MQM-P’s Rabita Committee was unaware of who proposed the name of
terrorism
sitting Governor
Islamabad
consult his close friends
the issue of the new Sindh Governor,
Kamran Tessori left for
to
PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) has asked the contesting candidates of senate elections to submit their return of election expenses on formsc within 30-day A notification issued here advised the candidates to do the needful within a specified time to avoid action under section 136(4) and 136(5) It said that the prescribed form could be downloaded from the ECP website, www ecp giv pk/general-election-2024 g B OT H I N D U S T R I E S D I V I D E D O V E R I S S U E O F M O L A S S E S E X P O R T; M I N I S T E R E N S U R E S TO O P T I M I S E E X P O R T PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Peshawar High Court has restrained the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) from taking any action against Sunni Ittehad Council leader MNA Shandana Gulzar This decision comes in response to a case against Gulzar of alleged campaigning against state institutions During the court proceedings, the additional attorney general raised objections to the jurisdiction of the petition questioning the authority of the FIA Lahore to conduct an inquiry against a resident of another province The notice was issued to her from Lahore, he argued Justice Waqar Ahmed echoed this concern, asking whether the FIA’s jurisdiction was limited to Lahore and not extended to other regions “How does FIA Lahore conduct an inquiry against a resident of this province? he asked The judge further asked if the FIA only had an office in Lahore and no other location Justice Syed Arshad Ali questioned what violations the suspect has committed In response the AAG cited alleged statements made against national institutions as the basis for potential action However, Justice Ali requested detailed information regarding the nature of these violations The parties involved were instructed to provide comprehensive explanations and the court adjourned the hearing until March 25 On March 9 the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) Cyber Crime Circle in Lahore summoned Shandana Gulzar for questioning on March 14 following accusations of slandering state institutions and government officials on social media platforms The summons come in response to allegations against Gulzar for making derogatory remarks against state and government figures as well as inciting people to revolt through her social media posts P H C re s t r a i n s F I A f ro m t a ki n g a c t i o n a g a i n s t P T I ’s S h a n d a n a G u l z a r
