Epaper_24-03-20 LHR

g

g

Responding to a question, Naqvi said that smear campaigns

app was suspended in the country

Austerity: Zardari to travel in first class, Shahbaz and service chiefs in business class

g

Tarar responding to queries regarding X’s (former Twitter) suspension said that the platform was already banned when they came to power, whereas, there was no official notification regarding the ban Stressing the need for a charter on “do’s and don’ts”, the info minister said that there should be talks between the political parties that which red lines should not be crossed on the social media platform

He expressed his annoyance over allegation against women, abuses, misbehaviour and

smear campaign against martyrs’ sacrifices on the social media Disruptions continue despite court orders

Besides a complete suspension of internet on the polling day netizens have been facing sporadic disruptions and hindrances in accessing the social media platform despite different courts orders for the resumption and uninterrupted access to the masses, Geo News reported earlier In addition to this human rights activists and civil society organisations had also sought immediate resumption of X in a joint statement expressing profound concern over the increasing instances of internet shutdowns and social media platform blocking on March 13

Calling out the “arbitrary blocking of platforms” the rights activists and civil society organisations

Mar wat doubles down on Mar yam Nawaz assassination plot allegations

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leader Sher Afzal Marwat asserted on Monday that he had furnished evidence to the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) implicating Maryam Nawaz in an alleged assassination plot against him Marwat maintained that the Pakistan Muslim LeagueNawaz (PML-N) leader had contracted individuals for his assassination, branding them as contract killers ’ He emphasized that this alleged contract wasn’t just a verbal threat but involved concrete financial transactions According to Marwat, the involvement of the chief minister surfaced through intercepted telephone conversations which he intended to share with relevant investigative authorities He had earlier explained on a private TV channel talk show that the FIA had summoned him not in relation to his press conference against the Punjab Chief Minister but rather due to a tweet targeting her The PTI leader claimed that Maryam Nawaz had authorized a payment of $100 000 for the nefarious scheme with the transaction purportedly occurring in Dubai “Evidence supporting this claim has been submitted to the FIA today ” he asserted PML-N responsible if any harm comes to me: Marwat Later, addressing reporters outside the FIA office, the PTI leader asserted that if any harm befell him, the blame would lie with the PML-N However he emphasized his resilience in the face of threats to his life Marwat further alleged that a man who had absconded to Dubai from Pakistan 15 years prior was approached by individuals in India at the behest of the Punjab CM to orchestrate his murder

TPak istan records current account surplus of $128m in Februar y

Chinese

Magnitude 5.4 ear thquake shakes par ts of Balochistan

called upon the Supreme Court to intervene suggesting a scrutiny of electoral practices particularly focusing on the authenticity of Form 45 and 47 documents Abbasi proposed that presiding officers take oaths on the Quran to verify the integrity of these forms, underscoring the need for transparency in the electoral process Asserting the importance of national unity Abbasi underscored the necessity for dialogue and cooperation among key stakeholders including political judicial and military leadership He urged for consensus-building efforts to address the challenges facing the nation, emphasizing the imperative of inclusivity and collaboration in steering the country forward As anticipation builds for the emergence of the new political party led by Shahid Khaqan Abbasi political dynamics in Pakistan are poised for potential transformation in the coming months

Fake Degree Case: SC abolishes disqualification of Samina Khawar

ISLAMABAD

s ta f f R e p o R t

The disqualification of former MPA Samina Khawar Hayat in fake degree case was abolished by the Supreme Court of Pakistan on Tuesday Quoting the seven-member larger bench s declaration the court said that one couldn t be disqualified in a suo-motu case This case would also be seen in light of the judgment of seven member bench Advocate Tariq Mehmood, the petitioner ’s

ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Spokesperson expressed grave concerns over the alarming upsurge in the criminal activities of dacoits of Kacha and added that they intensified their gruesome acts and heinous crimes since the thugs of Pakka (settle areas) seized the powers fraudulently through polls robbery in the darkness of the night

PTI Spokesperson strongly reacted to the dangerous escalation in criminal and unlawful activities of robbers of Kacha areas and stressed that ensuring safety of life and property of the citizens without discrimination was the constitutional obligation of the state

He sounded alarm that social media activists, media representatives and ordinary people were constantly warning and highlighting gruesome and heinous crimes of Kacha’s bandits while the national media was observing criminal silence and was unable to report the alarming situation under the shadow of strict restrictions

PTI Spokesperson expressed shock that the criminal activities of the dacoits of Kacha witnessed an alarming surge since the robbers of Pakka usurped the power after they openly robbed people of their mandate He lamented that the people of the country had been facing the worst exploitation and oppression and suppression due to the widespread lawlessness and discriminatory implementation of the law

S indh govt to launch digital payment system for Peoples Bus S er vice

PTI Spokesperson pointed out that people s lives property and fundamental rights were under serious threat, while professional criminals and seditionists were roaming freely since the certified criminals took the reins of the country

He urged that the dacoits of “Pakka” sitting in the center Punjab and Sindh must stop patronage of dacoits of Kacha to ensure the safety and security of the lives and property of the people of the country

Ta k i n g o n t h e Ta l i b a n

T h e d e a t h o f s e v e n s o l d i e r s h a s r e s u l t e d i n Pa k i s t a n ’s a t t a c k s o n t e r r o r i s t b a s e s i n s i d e A f g h a n i s t a n

Th E attack on bases in Afghanistan belonging to the hafiz Gul Bahadur Group should have sent the message to the Taliban government there that Pakistan is capable of taking on those forces responsible for the escalation of terrorist attacks in the country The immediate trigger would have been the attack on a post in Mir Ali in KP’s North Waziristan district, in which seven soldiers were killed, including a lieutenant-colonel and a captain That attack shook the establishment, and the President and Chief of Army staff gave a shoulder to the coffin of Lt Col Kashif at his funeral The Prime Minister missed the funeral, but visited the homes of Colonel Kashif and Captain Badar where he condoled with their families The attacks on the bases were reminiscent of those on Balochistan Liberation Army bases in iran s Balochistan in response to iran s having launched missiles against Jundullah bases in Pakistan s Balochistan The episode makes it clear that Pakistan does not intend to tolerate any attacks on its law-enforcing agencies by forces which think that the Taliban government in Afghanistan can provide safe havens to the Tehrik Taliban Pakistan or anyone else While shattering the myth of the Taliban being under Pakistan s control, the attack shows that no one is protected by connections hafiz Gul Bahadur, it should be remembered, is supposed to be the Pakistani contact of interior Minister sirajuddin haqqani At the same time, all the boastfully selfcongratulatory celebrations about the replacement of the Ghani government by the Taliban are shown to have been premature The attack was preceded by a telephonic contact between the countries Foreign Ministers, and the topic of TTP militancy in Afghanistan, and the safe haven it enjoyed there, was an important part of the conversation Pak-iran relations have not fully recovered, and now Afghanistan is added Pakistan had first propounded that a return to power of the Taliban would bring an end to terrorism This proved over-optimistic Now it remains to be seen whether the current strikes will bring about an end to the terrorism, which is what the whole exercise is about it is clear that Pakistan needs a fresh approach to Afghanistan, and those in charge of it should make way for other forces, and more input must be sought from recently elected representatives

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

U k r a i n e a n d G a z a t h r e a t e n U S l e a d e r s h i p a n d p o l i t i c s

US prestige has taken a battering

pressed itself in a range of protest movements cultural social and political that led to challenges to authority on all levels

The intense opposition to Vietnam tore apart the Democratic Party, resulting in a chaotic 1968 Democratic Convention, and ultimately brought down Lyndon Johnson’s presidency

Washington Watch

This era’s wars in Ukraine and Gaza are having a more dramatic impact both on global alignments and Us politics than the wars in Vietnam and iraq had in their respective eras And this is happening without any American troops directly engaged in either conflict

The war in Vietnam was fought at the peak of the Cold War during which time global alliances were largely set in stone as the “West” and its allies were confronting the soviet bloc and the national liberation movements they were supporting The non-aligned movement of countries who claimed independence from both blocs was largely dismissed by the UsA as being influenced by the soviets and China Despite representing a humiliating American defeat, the Vietnam War concluded without any significant changes in global alliances

The real impact of Vietnam was felt within the UsA as divisions over the war and the military draft of millions of young people spurred mass protests

The resultant broader social discontent ultimately contributed to the breakdown of the dominant culture that had taken hold since World War ii What emerged in its wake was a counterculture that ex-

The war on iraq occurring in the post-9/11 period had less of a domestic impact despite mass protests

But as divisive as the war was to some it took years before the Us was forced to withdraw from iraq which it did without declaring victory or acknowledging defeat Despite its costs, in lives and treasure, the war wasn’t transformative to the political culture and had no significant impact on the national debate

Though a majority of Americans from both parties became weary and wary of new wars as a result of the failed and costly efforts in Afghanistan and iraq there still has not been a calling to account for the lies that led us into these wars or the behaviour of Us forces or intelligence agencies in combat or the “war on terror ” if anything, the toll of the iraq war was felt internationally The arrogant unilateralism of the Bush Administration alienated some European allies and caused other nations to question the UsA s coercive behaviour

We squandered both the political capital we had secured at the end of the Cold War and the sympathy we gained after the horrors of 9/11 instead of a nation to be admired, we came to be seen as a bully to be feared Now to the present

The wars in Ukraine and Gaza are each negatively impacting the UsA s global standing in different ways To be fair the seeds of the unraveling of the UsA s standing in the world predated these wars, going back at least to the turn of the century Despite our obvious strengths, the damage done by the failed adventures in Afghanistan and iraq, the chaotic twists and turns in our approaches to the rest of the world from Bush to Obama to Trump and now Biden and our persistent deference to israel s interests instead of the pursuit of a just israeli-Palestinian peace all have taken a toll on the respect other nations have for us They ve also contributed to strengthening China s

There are differences in the domestic reactions to the US role in these two wars. While a significant minority of Republicans and Democrats are resisting budget outlays for continuing to arm Ukraine, the AdministrationÊs backing for Israel has the suppor t of Republicans but is contributing to fracturing the Democrats. Like Vietnam, this internal dissent has resulted in mass protests and various expressions of opposition in local communities across the country

role together with other nations demonstrating more independence from the UsA in world affairs America s European allies were shocked by Russia s assault on Ukraine and largely supportive of the Us-led effort to punish Russia and support Ukrainian sovereignty They agreed to expand NATO, embraced Us sanctions against Russia, and boycotted Russian imports Two years into this war that support is fading several months back French President Macron asked whether it was wise to continue following the Us lead in foreign affairs When we polled public opinion in seven NATO member nations, we found that majorities everywhere agreed that their countries should not There are signs of this playing out across the continent With the Us Congress unable to pass a new aid package for Ukraine there are signs of restiveness in some European countries about their continued levels of support For its part Russia has found workarounds to Us-led sanctions that the Biden Administration believed would bring the country to its knees instead, Russia has strengthened economic ties with China and iran both of which have also been contending with Us-imposed sanctions and with countries in the Global south that have been unwilling to allow Us dictates to trump their self-interests

The Biden Administration s handling of israel s war on Gaza has taken an even greater toll on Us leadership Not unlike the Bush Administration’s response to 9/11, israel squandered widespread support following the hamas attack of October 7 by launching a genocidal assault on the Palestinian population For months the UsA has repeatedly blocked international appeals for a ceasefire and despite its feeble calls on israel to protect civilians, the Biden Administration has resisted taking effective measures to restrain israeli actions, increasingly isolating the UsA not only in the Global south but also from many of its closest European allies There are differences in the domestic reactions to the Us role in these two wars While a significant minority of Republicans and Democrats are resisting budget outlays for continuing to arm Ukraine, the Administration’s backing for israel has the support of Republicans but is contributing to fracturing the Democrats Like Vietnam this internal dissent has resulted in mass protests and various expressions of opposition in local communities across the country

The writer is President of the Arab American Institute

Surgeon needed

to capitalize on the increasing demand for logistics and connectivity services

TAlso, Pakistan has been encouraged to implement structural changes to improve its export capabilities and competitiveness by the indiaEFTA agreement Pakistan may strengthen its export potential and become a more desirable investment destination by making investments in infrastructure development, technology advancement, and regulatory framework simplification

To strategically handle the ramifications of india’s trade agreement with the EFTA Pakistan needs to take a diverse approach To resolve issues with trade imbalances and market access Pakistan and india should have positive bilateral discussions Pakistan can also use its diplomatic channels to establish stronger commercial ties with other trading partners, expanding the markets to which it exports goods and decreasing its dependence on any one market

Pakistan should take a leading role in regional initiatives that support connectivity and economic integration throughout south Asia Pakistan can generate favorable trade and investment flows by promoting stronger economic cooperation with its neighbors and coordinating its trade policy with regional agreements like the south Asian Free Trade Area (sAFTA)

Pakistan needs to give top priority to internal reforms that will increase productivity, encourage innovation, and make doing business easier Pakistan has to invest in the development of its human capital to create a dynamic and robust economy that can withstand external shocks and take advantage of opportunities in the global economy institutions need to be strengthened and entrepreneurship encouraged Apart from its immediate economic effects, the trade agreement between india and EFTA has geopolitical repercussions for the south Asian region india is reaffirming its place as a

major actor in the world economy as it deepens its trade relations with European countries This increased prominence may change the balance of power in the region, impacting diplomatic ties and strategic partnerships in south Asia

Pakistan’s need to diversify its economic alliances and lessen its reliance on any one market is highlighted by the changing trade landscape Although the india-EFTA agreement has its share of difficulties Pakistan should take note of this and quicken its efforts to modernize and imple-

economic reforms Prioritizing infrastruc-

technology, and human capital development would help Pakistan become more resilient and

in the face of changing worldwide Beyond its economic implications Pakistan has significant strategic ramifications from the trade agreement between india and EFTA india is a significant player in international affairs and has the potential to grow in geopolitical influence as it strengthens its economic ties with Europe The dynamics of power in the area as well as Pakistan s strategic goals and alliances may be impacted by this Moreover the strengthening economic relations between india and the EFTA may intensify the animosity that currently exists between Pakistan and india in particular

The trade agreement between india and EFTA presents Pakistan’s economy with both chances and challenges Even though trade imbalances and increased competition could present serious obstacles Pakistan should take advantage of its advantages and take proactive measures to deal with the changing trade environment Through adopting structural changes, promoting regional cooperation, and pursuing diplomatic engagement Pakistan may reduce risks and

The trade agreement between India and EFTA presents PakistanÊs economy with both chances and challeng es Even though trade imbalances and increased competition could present serious obstacles, Pakistan should take advantag e of its advantag es and take proactive measures to deal with the changing trade environment Through adopting structural chang es, promoting regional cooperation, and pursuing diplomatic engag ement

FaZZal abbas

NI n e q u a l i t y a n d d i s c r i m i n a t i o n i n P a k i s t a n ’ s e d u c a t i o n i n s t i t u t i o n s

A report titled “Education and Inequality: Discerning the Foundation of Citizenry which reported on a survey jointly conducted by The Human Rights Commission of Pakistan (HRCP) and The Institute of Development Research and Corresponding Capabilities (IDRAC) in 2019, found an alarming level of discrimination in schools on the basis of faith or religion The report showed that around 60 percent of non-Muslim students experience or feel that they are discriminated against and disrespected Similarly, 72 percent of parents reported that their children were discriminated against in educational institutions on account of their faith Even the teachers belonging to minority groups are not on the safe side as 70 percent of them said they faced discrimination on account of their faith

The Punjab government s recent data on social and economic wellbeing in the province reveal that one-third of the women belonging to religious minorities attend schools as compared to two-thirds of women of the religious majority According to this survey conducted by the Punjab Commission on the Status of Women, women of minority groups lag behind by 28 percent as compared to the literacy rate of women belonging to the majority community in Pakistan These figures reflect the condition of the status of religious minority groups education and their suffering in education institutions

The problems for them in schools col-

leges or universities increase due to external factors The Hindu minority students face trouble when any untoward incident takes place in India that is committed by the Hindus against Muslims there Christian students become targets when the American government follows any anti-Muslim policy anywhere in the world

One of the problems that religious minority group students face in educational institutions is the attitude of their teachers and fellow students belonging to the mainstream religious group The parents of the minority group students remind them to remain cautious while engaging in discussion with the followers of majority religion on any sensitive religious topic Their fear is legitimate given whatever has been happening with minority students in educational institutions in Pakistan on issues of a trivial nature

In classrooms, while selecting the class monitor (class representative) normally teachers avoid making the minority students as head of the class The majority faith students mingle with minority faith students including drinking and eating together with them, not as much as they do among themselves Teachers are more likely to favour the Muslim students in any dispute, no matter who is right or wrong Such revelations appeared in a study titled On the Same Page? Perceptions on religious content in curricula and textbooks: impact on harmony and tolerance published

T h e s o c i e t y s h o u l d b e e d u c a t e d a n d m a d e e n l i g h t e n e d a s t o r e l i g i o u s t o l e r a n c e . T h e m i n o r i t y s t u d e n t s s h o u l d n o t b e m a d e t o s t u d y s u c h r e l i g i o u s s u b j e c t s w h i c h t h e y d o n Ê t w a n t t o s t u d y a n d t h e g ov e r n m e n t mu s t e n s u r e t h e p rov i s i o n o f t e a c h e r s t o t e a c h m i n o r i t y s t u d e n t s t h e i r f a i t h b o o k s

by the National Commission for Justice and Peace (NCJP) The study claimed that when a Muslim student made an insensitive comment or posed such a question about a minority religion, some teachers sided with or encouraged such students A syllabus biassed against minority religions is also an issue to cope with The developers of school curricula and textbooks don t consider all the religious groups present in society and develop such textbooks which foster a sense of prejudice as regards non-Muslims The Sikhs and Christians complain that their religions are inadequately represented and that there is hate content in the public curriculum which they term as religiously biased The Human Rights Observer 2023 report of the Center for Social Justice (CSJ) revealed that the religious content against minorities increased in the curriculum and in textbooks during 2022 Minority students are compelled to study Islamic content in compulsory subjects like languages history social studies and general knowledge This is against the spirit of the Constitution, Article 22 of which states No person attending any educational institution shall be required to receive religious instruction, or take part in any religious ceremony or attend religious worship if such instruction ceremony or worship relates to a religion other than his own There is also a pressure to convert for the students of minority faith Female students are more prone to it than male students The fear of forced conversion, also linked with

forced and early marriages impacts minority girls education

According to the report of Human Rights Observer 2023 the number of incidents of forced conversions surged in 2021 The year saw an increase of 80 percent of such reported incidents as compared to 2020 and 50 percent as compared to 2019 Due to this phenomenon the girls in minority groups have restricted access to schools and education

The need is to mitigate the inequality prevalent in the education system in Pakistan For it the curriculum should be reformed to make it free of religious bias Such content should be incorporated in textbooks which highlight the importance of minorities in the development of the country The government should implement the international conventions and treaties, which Pakistan has signed and ratified, regarding the elimination of all kinds of intolerance and discrimination based on religion or belief Society should be educated and made enlightened as to religious tolerance The minority students should not be made to study such religious subjects which they don t want to study and the government must ensure the provision of teachers to teach minority students their faith books In short, a comprehensive set of legal policy and administrative measures are required to prevent and eliminate religious discrimination in the education system

The writer is an education activist and can be reached at m ilyas kalhoro mi@gmail com

T h e U S d o e s n ’ t u n d e r s t a n d I n d i a n d i p l o m a c y

Though India and the United States are on the same page vis-à-vis China’s revisionist ambitions of world domination, and both countries do subscribe to the idea of a strong India-U S strategic par tnership to counter China, India carefully maintains a guarded distance from the United States and does not wish for an alliance

posturing At the same time, when the United States government is at odds with India on the issues of democracy, human rights, minorities and the recent Canada-India row it is perceived as a bully by Indians

a

DThe United States must understand that India s stance on the Ukraine issue is not a novelty; it has existed since India emerged as a sovereign nation During the Cold War, India adopted a non-alignment policy, refusing to align with the Western and Soviet power blocks However by the 1970s India came closer to the USSR because of the overt U S support to Pakistan over the Bangladesh issue and the resultant IndiaPakistan war India also shared socialist sentiments and a rich civilizational connection with Russia But, despite this tilt, India reasonably maintained its strategic autonomy India’s history and civilizational ethos suggest that the Indian worldview on statecraft diplomacy and war tends to reject rigid binaries India s historical and civilizational experience has not witnessed the division of the world into alliances and blocs based on ideological differences Ideological “isms” and the “us versus them” mentality were not absent However they were never the dominant vectors Likewise a hegemon exercising an overarching influence over the weaker states based on sheer and brute power is not a characteristic feature of India’s strategic thought Indian strategic thought places a high premium on multipolarity in global affairs where states retain strategic autonomy and the freedom to pursue independent foreign policy based on their geography, core national interests, and values In such a set-up, a unipolar hegemon lording over weaker states, conquering them by force, interfering in their internal affairs forcing humiliating treaties and alliances and dictating values and beliefs is an aberration This is not to say that there were no aggressive hegemons in Indian history, but such behavior was not accepted as the norm for a powerful state

The best example of India’s multipolar ideal comes from the sixteen Mahajanpadas of the legendary Vedic era The sixteen Mahajanpadas were sovereign states sprawling from Afghanistan to today s Bengal two and a half millennia ago Among them were powerful kingdoms like Kurus, Panchalas, and Magadhas However, the powerful kingdoms did not gobble up the smaller kingdoms as a standard practice It was primarily symbolic even when the smaller states were defeated in wars and subjugated In rare cases the conquerors deposed the ruler and occupied the territory to rule Wars were fought for specific reasons, and great importance was accorded to the idea of Dharmayuddha (“the righteous war”) Restoring moral order not economic gain or territorial aggrandizement was the object of conflict

Bilateral diplomacy was the most preferred and effective tool for conducting foreign policy instead of over-arching and divisive military alliances On the other hand, in the West, alliance systems and great power competition have been a fundamental part of international relations since at least the seventeenth century culminating in the

First World War, the Second World War, and the Cold War Delving deeper into the history of diplomacy war and statecraft in the West and India is not the key focus of this piece However suffice it to say that some of the fundamental tenets of India s foreign policy particularly the importance of strategic autonomy, aversion to military alliances, strong displeasure and resilience against the pressure tactics of global powers, and preference for bilateral diplomacy and multipolarity in the world order emanate from its strategic subconscious rooted in its collective civilizational-historical experience and ethos

Today, India has successfully bypassed the pressure from the West While fearlessly guarding its strategic autonomy, it has maintained an independent foreign policy based on national interests values history and geography Be it the Russia-Ukraine conflict ChinaU S rivalry or the Israel-Hamas war India has taken a principled stand of neutrality

At the same time, India s posture is not the pessimism of fence-sitters New Delhi is making reasoned, pragmatic, and valuebased judgments on various global conflicts listening to its moral conscience and rationality amid the external pressure and polarization of the dominant power blocs India s activism on global affairs is based on enlightened self-interest, evident in its stance on various international issues

Also India has found an effective way of navigating the polarized geopolitical landscape through its successful bilateral diplomacy Over the last two years India has developed robust bilateral

ing

of

have

of

with

Delhi’s diplomatic community have suggested they highly regard India s strategic autonomy Most believe India is a powerful nation that can sustain its independent foreign policy Also it enjoys a unique position to do so because of its history of taking a principled and non-aligned stand on global issues However, the United States must be more perceptive and understand India’s unique approach toward international relations Such an approach is an effective way to prevent the world community from falling into rival military alliances and escalating to war In today s polarized world, India s hallmark “tightrope” balancing between rival power blocs and nations does not always sit well with the Western foreign ministries

Dr Abhinav Pandya is a founder and CEO of Usanas Foundation an India-based geopolitical and security affairs think-tank and the author of Radicalization in India: An Exploration

Wednesday

HE United States (US) warned the Taliban to prevent Afghanistan from becoming a safe haven for

terrorists and to ensure thattheir

Xi inspects Changsha in central China’s Hunan Province

luted city overall Conversely, Las Vegas, Nevada was recognized as the cleanest major city in the U S For the first time in the history of the report Canada emerged as the most polluted country in Northern America, with its 13 most polluted cities situated within its borders Notably, 70% of the real-time air quality data in Latin America & the Caribbean region was sourced from lowcost sensors

Despite the increasing number of countries and regions with air quality monitoring, significant gaps persist in government-operated regulatory instrumentation worldwide Low-cost air quality monitors facilitated by citizen scientists researchers community advocates and local organizations have proven invaluable in bridging these gaps and enhancing air monitoring networks globally Frank Hammes, Global CEO of IQAir emphasized “A clean healthy and sustainable environment is a universal human right In many parts of the world the lack of air quality data delays decisive action and perpetuates unnecessary human suffering Air quality data saves lives Where air quality is reported, action is taken, and air quality improves ”

The ABCs of new qualit y produc tive forces

Q: What are the drivers, basic connotation and core hallmark?

A: Drivers: revolutionary technological breakthroughs innovative allocation of production factors and deep industrial transformation and upgrading Basic connotation: the improvement of workers, means of labor, subjects of labor and their optimal combinations

Core hallmark: a substantial increase in total factor productivity Marked by innovation and with high quality as the key, new quality productive forces are advanced productivity in essence

Q: Why it matters?

top priority of the government’s work in 2024 in the government work report Here

Q: What does it mean?

leading role, new quality productive forces mean advanced productivity that is freed from the traditional economic growth mode and productivity development paths features high-tech high efficiency and

high

A: Promoting high-quality development has become the consensus and conscious action of the whole Party and society in the new era There are still many factors restricting high-quality development which must be guided by a new productivity theory

Q: How to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces?

A: 1) To continue to well leverage innovation to speed up the development of new quality productive forces

w Sci-tech innovation can generate new indus-

tries, new models and new growth drivers, which are the core elements of the development of new quality productive forces

w Strengthen sci-tech innovation especially original and disruptive innovation

w Sci-tech innovations should be applied to specific industries and industrial chains in a timely manner

w Expedite the green transformation of growth models and contribute to carbon peaking and carbon neutrality

w To further deepen reform in an all-round way and form a new type of relations of production appropriate to the development of new quality productive forces

w Deepen reforms of the economic system and the science and technology management system, work hard to remove bottlenecks that hinder the development of new quality productive forces

w Further deepen reform in an all-round way and form a new type of relations of production appropriate to the development of new quality productive forces

w To smooth the virtuous cycle of education, science and technology as well as talent in accordance with the requirement of developing new quality productive forces and improve the mechanism of talent training introduction use and flow

CHANGSHA S ta f f C o R R e S p o n d e n t Xi Jinping general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee inspected Changsha capital city of central China s Hunan Province, on Monday During the inspection, Xi visited a campus of Hunan First Normal University and a battery materials joint venture He learned about the university’s efforts in putting resources related to the Party’s heritage to great use its adherence to fostering virtue through education and local endeavor to accelerate the development of new quality productive forces and promote high-standard opening up Xi inspects spring farming work in Changde, Hunan Province Xi Jinping, general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee, walked into a field to inspect spring farming and its preparation work during his inspection of the city of Changde in central China s Hunan Province on Tuesday Sound spring farming and its preparation work is crucial to ensuring grain harvest and food security, Xi said All regions and departments should define their responsibilities, ensure adequate spring sowing area, refine spring field management, ensure sufficient agricultural supplies and strengthen socialized agricultural services Xi noted He called for enhanced efforts to deepen the integration of high-quality seeds farming methods farming machinery and farmland Supportive policies for agriculture and farmers should be well implemented to ensure grain farmers income and galvanize them to plant grain so as to secure a good start in increasing grain output and farmers’ income for the whole year Xi said Dos Dont’s in developing new quality productive forces President Xi Jinping called for focusing on high-quality development as the top priority, urging efforts to step up innovation, foster emerging industries, adopt forward-thinking plans for developing future-oriented industries and improve the modernized industrial system Developing new quality productive forces does not mean neglecting or abandoning traditional industries Xi said It is necessary to prevent a headlong rush into projects and the formation of industry bubbles and avoid adopting just a single model of development, he noted

CALIFORNIA S ta f f R e p o R t American DJ and rapper Jonathan H Smith also known as Lil Jon has embraced Islam According to reports from a Turkish newspaper Lil Jon announced his conversion during the first Friday

of

Chinese, Pakistani vocational institutions sign collaboration agreement

Zong 4G celebrates Ramazan with free Islamic ringback tones and content! I

NE C hina university launches training course for Pakistani employees

BEIJING

S TA F F R E P O R T

Liaoning Petrochemical College held the launching ceremony of a training program in March for Pakistani employees of Shandong Zhongyang Group to study in China Gwadar Pro reported on Tuesday Yu Zhongdang the college president, expressed his gratitude to the Department of Education of Liaoning Province, the Embassy of Pakistan in China Shandong Zhongyang Group and Tang International Education Group for their long-term support and assistance to the college He also extended a warm welcome to all Pakistani students who participated in the training He pointed out that the college’s technical skills training for foreign

employees of Chinese-funded enterprises and its full support for the construction of Shandong Zhongyang Group s Nigerian Petrochemical Industrial Park project are important measures for the college to deeply implement the spirit of the Opinions on Deepening the Reform of Modern Vocational Education System Construction It is a common practice at the college to implement Liaoning’s three-year action for new breakthroughs in all-round revitalization and promote cooperation between vocational colleges and enterprises to expand overseas operations

The college will fully utilize the advantages of talents and practical training software and hardware It will assign experienced teachers based on the safety pro-

duction requirements of enterprises engage front-line experts from businesses, and appropriately schedule training courses, said Yu Based on natural gas methanol production process the college will leverage its advantages in the petroleum and chemical industry to serve Chinese-funded enterprises It aims to establish a vocational education model focused on international expansion through deep integration of school-enterprise collaboration The project aims to tell the story of China s vocational education disseminate the latest ideas in China s vocational education, and

Pakistan denounces fresh round of curbs on Kashmiri political parties

ICP

release patriotic song in commemoration of Pakistan D ay

The

Holding open

t best way to find out

Nawaz heads multiple Punjab Govt meetings despite holding no official position

Maryam

siraj dissatisfied with

NAB repor t sought in Toshakhana c ase against Nawaz, Gilani, and Zardari

founder acquitted in two Long March vandalism cases