TRussia arrests suspected gunmen as concer t death toll soars to 143
PM, Saudi Defence Minister discuss regional issues, defence cooperation
Govt to ‘seriously ’ mull reviving trade with India: FM
energy “Now the world is saying that nuclear and hydro energy are the safest and best for taking on the challenge of climate change ”
In par tnership with Profit S u n d a y, 2 4 M a r c h , 2 0 2 4 I 1 3 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 6 I 8 Pa g e s I Ka r a c h i E d i t i o n NATION RENEWS ALLEGIANCE TO QUAID’S VISION WITH MAGNIFICENT MILITARY PARADE ON PAKISTAN DAY LONDON S TA F F R E P O R T Minister for Foreign Affairs Ishaq Dar Saturday said the government of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif would seriously look for opening trade with India Addressing a press conference here after attending the Nuclear Energy Summit in Brussels Dar said relations between Pakistan and India faced a setback after India revoked the constitutional and legal status of Jammu and Kashmir in August 2019 “We will seriously look into matters of [opening] trade with India he added He said he would also look into the complaints of closure of social media platform X in Pakistan He said the government would implement a fiveyear road map to put Pakistan on the road of economic progress and bring down inflation to lessen economic difficulties of the common man Dar said the 16-month government of Shehbaz Sharif saved Pakistan from economic collapse after the bad policies of the previous government which devastated economy of the country He said Pakistan had vision for nuclear energy since 1960s and despite the scrutiny of the world it continued to harness the benefits of nuclear
MOSCOW R E U T E R S Russia has arrested 11 people including four suspected gunmen in connection with a shooting rampage that killed at least 143 people in a concert hall near Moscow the Kremlin said on Saturday Militant group Da ish claimed responsibility for Friday s attack, the deadliest in Russia for 20 years But there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link despite a statement from Ukrainian presidential adviser Mykhailo Podolyak that Kyiv had nothing to do with it The FSB security service said all four terrorists had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border, and that they had contacts in Ukraine It said they were being transferred to Moscow “Now we know in which country these bloody bastards planned to hide from pursuit – Ukraine ” Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram A senior Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov said that if Ukraine was involved then Russia must deliver a worthy clear and concrete reply on the battlefield State TV editor Margarita Simonyan published a video of one of the suspects, a young bearded man, being interrogated by the side of a road She said the death toll had climbed to 143 but did not give the source of her information Russia s Investigative Committee earlier said at least 115 had died in the attack in which camouflage-clad gunmen opened fire with automatic weapons at concertgoers in the Crocus City Hall near the capital It said some died from gunshot wounds and others in a huge fire that broke out in the complex Reports said the gunmen had lit the blaze using petrol from canisters they carried in rucksacks People fled in panic Baza a news outlet with good contacts in Russian security and law enforcement said 28 bodies were found in a toilet and 14 on a staircase Many mothers were found embracing their children, it said ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
H E nation is celebrating Pakistan Day 2024 on Saturday with a renewed pledge to work hard for the progress and stability of the country with a magnificent Pakistan Day Military parade held at Shakarparian Parade Avenue in Islamabad wherein tri-services demonstrated exemplary professionalism and military prowess Saudi Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman Al Saud was the guest of honour in today s event while the contingents of China and Azerbaijan also featured in the parade President Asif Zardari, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, and all the service chiefs were present at the occasion The impressive ceremony kicked off with the flypast of fighter jets of the Pakistan Air Force and Pakistan Navy Newly inducted J-10 C indigenously built JF-17 thunder F-16 and Mirage fighter jets as well as AWACs, P-3C Orion and ATR participated in the fly past Air Chief Marshal Zaheer Ahmed Babar Sidhu led the flypast which included the J-10C and F-7PG fighter aircraft Contingents of Pakistan Army Navy Pakistan Air Force Special Services Group Frontier Corps Rangers Khyber Pakhtunkhwa police and Gilgit Baltistan Scouts marched past the dais presenting salute to the chief guest and the guest of honor Mechanized columns including tanks armored personnel carriers rocket launchers air defense system guns UAVs short and long range missiles Ra ad Nasr Babur Shaheen Ghauri and Ababeel were showcased on the occasion Engineering corps also presented its state of the art equipment The parade featured the march past of the helicopters of Pakistan Army, Navy and Air Force The troops from Azerbaijan and China participated in the parade Amidst applause by the audience, formations of Sherdils and JF-17 Thunder and F16 fighter jets presented breathtaking aerobatic maneuvers spreading a range of colours in the skies Floats depicting culture of Azad Kashmir Gilgit Baltistan and the four provinces were part of the parade This was followed by the fly past of helicopters of Pakistan Army PAF and Navy The sky divers of Special Services Group exhibited free fall from a height of ten thousand feet, carrying national flags and those of services Afterwards, the national flag was presented to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif The parade culminated with presentation of a special song themed Pochay Jo Naam Koi Tum Pakistan Batana PA K I S TA N D AY: The Pakistan Day (March 23) marks the adoption of the historic Lahore Resolution on this day in 1940 which provided a framework for the realisation of the goal of a separate homeland for Muslims of South Asia N AT I O N C E L E B R AT E S PA K I S TA N D AY W I T H N AT I O N A L Z E A L A N D Z E S T: Nation celebrated Pakistan Day with a renewed pledge and commitment to transform the country into a true Islamic welfare state as per the ideology of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah and ensure its progress prosperity and a strong defence The day dawned with 31gun salute in the federal capital and 21-gun salute in provincial capitals Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayers for progress and prosperity of the country Radio Pakistan PTV and other TV channels are airing special programs to highlight the importance of this day and pay tributes to the leaders and activists of Pakistan Movement ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud on Saturday held an in-depth discussion on bilateral matters, issues related to regional peace security and the situation in the region Besides Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud also held separate meetings with President Aasif Ali Zardari and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir Defence Minister of Saudi Arabia Prince Khalid Bin Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud called on Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif at PM s House to discuss regional matters and cooperation in defence, said a statement issued by the Prime Minister House after the meeting Minister for Defence Khawaja Asif and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir also attended the meeting held here at the PM House PM Shehbaz and Saudi Defence Minister exchanged views on increasing cooperation between the two countries in the areas of defence and security The prime minister congratulated the Defence Minister on receiving Pakistan s highest civil award Nishan-e-Pakistan and thanked him for attending the Pakistan Day Parade as the chief guest He requested the Saudi dignitary to convey his best wishes and immense gratitude to the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques His Majesty King Salman Bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and Crown Prince and Prime Minister Prince Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud PM Shehbaz said that Pakistan was looking forward to the visit of His Royal Highness Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman He underlined that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had close brotherly ties based on the common religion history and culture which were further strengthening with the passage of time Pakistan, he said, greatly valued its relations with Saudi Arabia, adding that Saudi Arabia fully supported Pakistan through thick and thin Sharif said during his previous tenure as a prime minister, Saudi Arabia played a critical role in improving the economic condition of Pakistan The people of Pakistan have a special place in their hearts for the Saudi royal family he added About the Special Investment Facilitation Council, the Prime Minister said one window operation was created for the investors through the establishment of the council which would facilitate business activities and investment He said that immense opportunities were present in Pakistan in different fields including agriculture, livestock, information technology, mining, renewable energy, etc
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 g PA R A D E F E AT U R E S C O N T I N G E N T S O F C H I N A A N D A Z E R B A I J A N W I T H S A U D I D E F E N C E M I N I S T E R A S G U E S T O F H O N O U R g P R E S I D E N T U R G E S P O L I T I C A L PA R T I E S TO U N I T E A N D W O R K TO G E T H E R F O R D E V E LO P M E N T O F PA K I S TA N g V I S I T I N G S A U D I M I N I S T E R A L S O M E E T S W I T H P R E S I D E N T, C O A S
CDA imposes heav y taxes on proper ties in Islamabad
PM establishes Cabinet Committee on Chinese investment projec ts
Zones ( S E Z s ) w i t h i n P a k i s t a n e m p h a s i s i n g t h e i m p o r t a n c e o f i n d u s t r y - s p e c i f i c c l u s t e r s t o a t t r a c t i n v e s t m e n t D i s c u s s i o n s a l s o c o v e r e d e ff o r t s t o e n h a n c e r e g i o n a l c o n n e c t i v i t y t h r o u g h p r o j e c t s s u c h a s t h e G w a d a r P o r t a n d t h e M - 8 m o t o r w a y t o b o l s t e r t r a d e l i n k s a n d r e g i o n a l i n t e g r a t i o n P l a n i n g M i n i
h i n e s e A m b a s s a d o r J i a n g Z a i d o n g c o n g r a t u l a t e d M i n i s t e r A h s a n I q b a l o n h i s a p p o i n t m e n t a n d c o m m e n d e d P a k i s t a n ’s d e d i c a t i o n t o C P E C i n i t i a t i v e s T h e y a ff i r m e d t h e i r c o m m i t m e n t t o e x p e d i t i n g P h a s e - 2 o f C P E C a n d a n n o u n c e d t h e e s t a b l i s h m e n t o f a w o r k i n g g r o u p f o r f i v e n e w e c o n o m i c c o r r i d o r s T h e s e c o r r i d o r s i n c l u d e C o r r i d o r o f J o b C r e a t i o n C o r r i d o r o f I n n o v a t i o n C o r r i d o r o f G r e e n E n e rg y, a n d I n c l u s i v e R e g i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t T h e P l a n n i n g M i n i s t r y a n d C h i n a ’s N a t i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t a n d R e f o r m C o m m i s s i o n ( N D R C ) w i l l d e v e l o p c o n c e p t p a p e r s o u t l i n i n g t h e s t r a t e g i c r o a d m a p f o r e a c h c o r r i d o r t o b e p r e s e n t e d a t t h e u p c o m i n g J o i n t C o o r d i n a t i o n C o m m i t t e e ( J C C ) m e e t i n g i n 2 0 2 4 I q b a l p r o p o s e d a c o l l a b o r a t i v e o n e p l u s f o u r m o d e l t o e n h a n c e t h e effectiveness of Special
S indh Police announces major recruitment drive for over 11,000 personnel
President,
PM c all for following in footsteps of founding fathers
su day 24 Ma ch 2024 | KARACHI 02 news PR OFIT n e w S D e S k P AKISTAN and China have accelerated efforts to advance Phase-2 of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and agreed to establish a Working Group to explore five new economic corridors aligning with Pakistan s Planning Ministry framework T h e d e c i s i o n w a s m a d e f o l l o w i n g a m e e t i n g b e t w e e n P a k i s t a n s F e d e r a l M i n i s t e r o f P l a n n i n g , D e v e l o p m e n t , a n d S p e c i a l I n i t i a t i v e s A h s a n I q b a l a n d C h i n e s e e n v o y J i a n g Z a i d o n g a t t h e P l a n n i n g M i n i s t r y B o t h s i d e s d i s c u s s e d c o l l a b o r a t i o n i n a d v a n c i n g C P E C p r o j e c t s a n d f o s t e r i n g e c o n o m i c g r o w t h C
Economic
s t e r r e i t e r a t e d P a k i s t a n ’s c o m m i t m e n t t o e n s u r i n g t h e s e c u r i t y o f C h i n e s e p e r s o n n e l i n v o l v e d i n C P E C p r o j e c t s T h e m e e t i n g a l s o h i g h l i g h t e d t h e s h a r e d d e t e r m i n a t i o n o f P a k i s t a n a n d C h i n a t o d e e p e n e c o n o m i c c o o p e r a t i o n and realize the full potential of CPEC for m u t u a l b e n e f i t a n d r e g i o n a l d e v e l o p m e n t PAKISTAN, CHINA TO ADVANCE PHASE-II OF CPEC WITH FIVE NEW CORRIDORS PR OFIT S ta f f R e p o R t The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) released its Consumer Confidence Survey for February 2024 revealing a 4 1% monthly decline in consumer confidence equivalent to a 1 4-point drop This decrease in the Consumer Confidence Index (CCI) was driven by a 7 9% fall in the current Economic Conditions Index (CEC) and a 0 9% reduction in the expected Economic Conditions Index (EEC) According to SBP data urban household confidence decreased to 32 8 a 2 3-point drop, while rural household confidence increased by 1 9 points to 27 9 The CCI for new households fell by 0 6 points to 31 9 and for rotating households it decreased by 2 8 points to 31 3 The survey measures consumer sentiment on economic conditions and personal financial situations, ranging from 0 to 100 A score above 50 indicates optimism while below 50 reflects pessimism about future economic conditions The survey also noted a 1 1-point decrease in consumers Inflation Expectations to 72 3 Expectations for food inflation rose by 0 2%, non-food non-energy inflation by 1 5% and energy inflation by 1 6% The unemployment outlook improved slightly with a 1 7% decrease to 72 8 suggesting a positive shift in labor market expectations Interest rate outlook for the next six months increased marginally by 0 4% to 69 6 Despite the central bank maintaining the policy rate at 22% consumer sentiment on the timing for purchasing durable goods declined by 7 1% to 24 However, future income expectations rose by 1 8% compared to the previous survey
KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t The Sindh Police department has unveiled a significant recruitment campaign aiming to bolster its ranks with over 11,000 new personnel across the province The announcement made on March 23 2024 opens doors for young men and women between the ages of 18 and 28 to join the force Prospective candidates can submit their applications online for Grade 7 positions until April 23, 2024 The online application process has been introduced to streamline the initial stages of recruitment ensuring efficiency and accessibility Following the submission of applications, successful candidates will undergo an initial online test Those who pass this stage will progress to the subsequent phase, which involves physical fitness assessments administered by the IBA Sukkur This rigorous two-stage process aims to select candidates based on both academic proficiency and physical aptitude The planned recruitment breakdown by region is give as in Karachi there are 3 108 positions for male candidates 583 for female candidates and 194 for minority personnel Hyderabad will see the enlistment of 498 personnel, with representation from women and minorities Similarly, Shaheed Benazirabad is slated to recruit 3 322 personnel inclusive of women and minorities In Mirpur Khas, 597 positions are available, with 90 specifically designated for women Sukkur aims to enlist 638 personnel including 96 women Larkana plans to recruit 2 000 personnel with 318 positions allocated for women Additionally there are 114 positions open for recruitment in other districts T h i s e x t e n s i v e r e c r u i t m e n t d r i v e i s a n t i c i p a t e d t o b o l s t e r t h e Sindh Police force significantly By e m b r a c i n g a d i v e r s e p o o l o f n e w r e c r u i t s t h e d e p a r t m e n t a i m s t o e n h a n c e i t s a b i l i t y t o s e r v e a n d s a f e g u a r d t h e p o p u l a c e o f S i n d h Notably, the inclusion of women in the recruitment process underscores a c o n c e r t e d e ff o r t t o p r o m o t e g e n d e r e q u a l i t y w i t h i n l a w enforcement
Consumer confidence dips 4.1% in Februar y
PR OFIT M o n to R i n g D e S k Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has formed the Cabinet Committee on Chinese Investment Projects (CCoCIP) to enhance investment from China and facilitate Chinese investors As per a notification issued by the Prime Minister ’s Secretariat the Minister for Planning Development and Special Initiatives will serve as the chairman of the CCoCIP The committee members include the Minister for Foreign Affairs, Minister for Interior, Minister for Finance, Minister for Commerce, Minister for Petroleum, Minister for Power, Minister for Railways, and Minister for Science and Technology Additionally the notification states that the CCoCIP may also invite the governor of the State Bank of Pakistan, secretary of Foreign Affairs, secretary of Interior secretary of Finance as well as other secretaries of ministries and divisions In a related development Pakistan and China have accelerated efforts to advance Phase-2 of the ChinaPakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and agreed to establish a Working Group to explore five new economic corridors These corridors include Corridor of Job Creation Corridor of Innovation Corridor of Green Energy and Inclusive Regional Development The decision was made following a meeting between Pakistan s Federal Minister of Planning, Development, and Special Initiatives, Ahsan Iqbal, and Chinese envoy Jiang Zaidong at the Planning Ministry
PR OFIT M o n i to R n g D e S k Capital Development Authority (CDA) has imposed heavy taxes on real estate properties in federal capital Islamabad According to Geo News, owners of 140 square yards plots in sectors and housing societies like Shehzad Town Margala Town and Rawal Town will now pay Rs24 000 in taxes Farmhouse owners with eight kanals will pay Rs180 000 while those with 90 to 120 kanals will pay Rs442 000 Commercial properties in the blue area will be taxed at Rs32 per square foot for ground floor, Rs22 per square foot for basement, and residential apartments at Rs26 per square foot Private hospitals will be taxed at Rs22 per square foot petrol pumps and CNG stations at Rs180 per square yard and marquees and marriage halls at Rs13 per square foot, as per the notification SECP stipulates procedure for payment of subscription money PR OFIT n e w S D e S k The Securities and Exchange Commission of Pakistan (SECP) has issued a notification specifying the time, manner, and conditions for payment of subscription money, payable by a subscriber in accordance with his undertaking in the memorandum of association against subscribed shares The notification issued in terms of Section 17 of the Companies Act 2017 states that the subscription money is payable in cash through the banking channel, immediately after incorporation of the company, but not later than a period of thirty (30) days from the date of incorporation The issuance of shares by the company is contingent on the full subscription money received from each subscriber If there are any issues with the receipt of subscription money the company will proceed according to the Registrar s direction Any contravention or default in complying with the requirements of the Notification or the direction issued by the registrar shall be liable to appropriate action in terms of relevant provisions of the Companies Act 2017 g C C I d e c l i n e d d u e t o 7 9 % f a l l i n E c o n o m i c C o n d i t i o n s I n d e x a n d a 0 9 % r e d u c t i o n i n E x p e c t e d E c o n o m i c C o n d i t i o n s I n d e x g C o m m i t t e e w i l l o v e r s e e a n d f a c i l i t a t e C h i n e s e i n v e s t m e n t i n i t i a t i v e s g S u b s c r i p t i o n m o n e y i s p a y a b l e i n c a s h t h r o u g h b a n k i n g c h a n n e l
wat challenges KP governor’s powers to convene assembly session ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) central leader Sher Afzal Marwat has challenged the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa governor s authority to convene the assembly session and raised concerns about the recent allocation of seats in the provincial assembly Marwat questioned the legality of the governor ’s action claiming it violates the constitution He further expressed suspicion regarding the ongoing recount process alleging attempts to reduce PTI s representation in the assembly through the re-count of results in 20 constituencies In what could be seen as a commentary on potential conflicts of interest, Marwat argued that lawyers cannot be separated from party politics Marwat specifically contested the allocation of reserved seats for women and minorities highlighting that no court has yet ruled on PTI s request for specific seats in these categories He further questioned why PTI was denied these seats while other parties like PML-N, PPP, and JUI apparently received them He emphasized that the constitution doesn’t allow such reallocation and that these seats should either be granted to PTI based on their performance or remain unallocated Marwat said that the PTI had already challenged the Peshawar High Court s verdict on reserved seats allocation in the Supreme Court, revealing the plan to form a coalition with Sunni Ittehad Council and independent candidates to nominate an opposition leader similar to the PDM had nominated Shehbaz Sharif The PTI stalwart accused the political rivals of conspiring to weaken the party s influence, expressing the suspicion that the Election Commission might not accept the party’s recently held intra-party election results “It is part of a big plot to limit PTI’s strength in the upcoming Senate election” he added Reiterating unwavering support for PTI Founder Imran Khan Marwat emphasized unity in the party in the face of multifarious challenges He reminded everyone of the PTI s remarkable journey from political obscurity to becoming a prominent force in Pakistani politics g N e w c o r r i d o r s i n c l u d e J o b C r e a t i o n , I n n o v a t i o n , G r e e n E n e r g y, a n d I n c l u s i v e R e g i o n a l D e v e l o p m e n t PESHAWAR a z i z B u n e R i The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has allocated a massive amount to address bureaucratic needs, procure vehicles, and provide allowances under the Rural Investment and Institutional Support Project (KP-RIISP) being launched in collaboration with international financial institutions The financial burden of the KP-RIISP estimated at a total of 110 billion rupees, will be partially borne through a loan exceeding 80 billion rupees from the World Bank, with the remainder funded by the provincial government The project aims to enhance infrastructure and administrative facilities across tribal districts with separate units established to ensure efficient monitoring A substantial portion of the allocated funds, totaling 2 39 billion rupees, has been earmarked for bureaucratic incentives, procurement of vehicles, and the establishment of upscale offices Additionally 240 million rupees have been set aside for staff salaries and project management including the monthly wage of the project director amounting to three million rupees Apart from this, 420 4 million rupees have been kept for vehicles, traveling allowance, POL seminars and other office supplies and equipment Moreover substantial allocations have been made for the purchase of office equipment, vehicles, and hiring staff for the Project Management and Coordination Office (PMCO), with a total expenditure of 590 1 million rupees The PMCO will oversee various aspects of project implementation including technical coordination procurement and financial management Furthermore, 680 2 million rupees have been set aside for the establishment of the project office at the local government department and for staff salaries allowances and procurement of office supplies while other departments such as Agriculture Irrigation and Public Health Engineering will also receive funds for developmental projects Currently, the KP government has accumulated debts amounting to a staggering 630 billion rupees from international financial institutions with additional agreements worth 970 billion rupees already signed Gandapur reaffirms struggle for justice as PA adopts resolution on Pakistan Day PESHAWAR/LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Ali Amin Gandapur Saturday reaffirmed on Pakistan Day that it is a collective duty to take the country out of crises and take it on the path of development while a resolution was submitted in the Punjab Assembly to reiterate commitment to the objectives of the creation of Pakistan In a special message on the occasion of Pakistan Day, Ali Amin Gandapur stated that the establishment of Pakistan is undoubtedly the result of the long struggle tireless work and great sacrifices of the Muslims of the subcontinent We will continue to fight for justice equality transparency and the rule of law in the country he reiterated adding that today we pay homage to the day and night struggle of our ancestors and their sacrifices for the establishment of the dear country ” Gandapur further said that Pakistan Day binds the entire to play role for the survival security and stability of our country He continued to say that there is a need to play a role in making Pakistan a great and truly Islamic welfare state, our forefathers made the establishment of Pakistan possible through mutual agreement and unity Resolution in Punjab Assembly on ‘Pakistan Day’ On the other hand, a resolution was submitted in the Punjab Assembly on the occasion of ‘Pakistan Day i e March 23 The resolution was moved by Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) member Hina Parvez Butt which said that this House reiterates its commitment on Pakistan Day to run the country in accordance with the principles laid down in the light of the objectives envisaged for the creation of Pakistan The resolution stated that the two-nation ideology will be implemented in the true sense There is an urgent need to raise the awareness of the two-nation ideology among the young generation The text of the resolution added that today is reminding us that we have to collectively promote those concepts and traditions in Pakistan that will raise the people of Pakistan as a free and independent nation in the world In the text of the resolution it was said that the federal government provincial governments and all institutions have to set their goals to achieve the original goals and objectives of the establishment of Pakistan Everyone Alloc ation of foreign loans to bureaucrac y under KP Rural Investment Projec t raises concerns ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t President Asif Ali Zardari has stressed upon the nation to participate in the nation-building process actively embracing the values of hard work integrity and compassion The day s celebrations began with a 31-gun salute in the federal capital and 21gun salutes in the provincial capitals Special prayers were offered in mosques for the country s progress prosperity and solidarity The national flag has also been hoisted on major government buildings The grand military parade featured contingents of the three armed forces and other security forces conducting a march past while fighter planes presented aerobatic manoeuvres In his message on Pakistan Day President Zardari honoured the commitment and sacrifices made by the Quaid-i-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah and his companions Our armed forces civil administration, police, and law enforcement agencies have, with unwavering commitment, ensured our nation’s safety security and sovereignty “Their triumphant role in the twodecade-long war against terrorism rapid response to the call of duty in times of natural disasters
Mar
TNation renews allegiance to Quaid’s vision with magnificent militar y parade on Pak istan Day
different areas including defence, agriculture, education, health, and technology ” he mentioned
The president said that Pakistan is a strong country in terms of defence and the country s armed forces are always ready for the nation
Speaking about the issues being faced by the nation, Zardari said that the country is facing economic, social and political challenges as well as increasing population climate change education and poverty
He added that Pakistan went through a successful electoral phase to elect a democratic government, adding that it was now everyone’s responsibility to solve these issues together
“I believe that just like we faced the challenges in the past we can still rid
Pakistan of these challenges A special investment facilitation council has been set up for the country’s economy Through this plan, we will attract foreign investment and develop agriculture livestock minerals mining information technology and energy sectors he said I request all political parties to keep aside their political benefits to find a solution to the problems and work together for the development of Pakistan ” said President Zardari
He added: “In our region one of the main reasons for instability is the Indian Illegal Occupation of Jammu & Kashmir
The Kashmiri people have been demanding their right to selfdetermination for 76 years We condemn the brutalities and human rights violations carried out by the Indian government against innocent and unarmed Kashmiri people and ask the international community to ensure the
The president said, With regards to human catastrophes unfolding in Gaza, we appeal to the international community to take measures to ensure that the killing of innocent Palestinian people including children and women is immediately halted a ceasefire is announced and a humanitarian corridor is opened at priority Pakistan will continue to support the people of Palestine till the resolution of the Palestine issue as per the aspirations of their people ” Highlighting the security challenges the president said that Pakistan wants relations with all its neighbours as it is a peace-loving country and a responsible state However, we will not compromise on our sovereignty Our nation and armed forces are always ready to respond to any aggression at all times We will not tolerate any efforts by terrorists or any groups to destabilise our country Today s parade is a reminder of our unity strength and pride In his concluding remarks, the president thanked China, Saudi Arabia, United Arab Emirates (UAE) Turkey and other countries for standing with Pakistan in hard times
Russia arrests suspec ted gunmen as concer t death toll soars to 143
CONTONUED FROM PAGE 01
The Kremlin said FSB chief Alexander Bortnikov had reported to President Vladimir Putin that those detained included four terrorists and that the service was working to identify their accomplices R
u t 3 4 0 k m ( 2 1 0 m i l e s ) s o u t h w e s t o f M o s c o w o n F r i d a y n i g h t a n d d i s o b e y e d i n s t r u c t i o n s t o s t o p He said two were arrested after a car chase and two others fled into a forest From the Kremlin account it appeared they too were later detained Khinshtein said a pistol a magazine for an assault rifle and passports from Tajikistan were found in the car Tajikistan is a mainly Muslim Central Asian state that used to be part of the Soviet Union
SUSPECT INTERROGATED he suspect in the interrogation video was shown replying in heavily accented Russian to a series of barked questions He said he had flown from Turkey on March 4 and had received
instructions from unknown people via Telegram to carry out the attack in exchange for money
The man was trembling throughout the questioning He was initially shown lying on his stomach with his hands bound behind his back, his chin resting on the boot of a figure in camouflage uniform Later he was hauled up onto his knees
Another man with cuts and bruises to his face was shown being questioned via an interpreter while sitting on a bench with bound hands and feet Russia has yet to publicly present evidence of any Ukrainian link to the attack
Let s be straight about this: Ukraine had absolutely nothing to do with these events,” Ukrainian adviser Podolyak said “We have a full-scale, all-out war with the Russian regular army and with the Russian Federation as a country And regardless of everything everything will be decided on the battlefield Putin, re-elected last Sunday for another six-year term, has yet to comment publicly on the attack The Kremlin said he had held conversations with the leaders of
PM, S audi Defence Minister disc uss regional issues, defence cooperation
Belarus and Uzbekistan in which all sides affirmed their willingness to work together to fight terrorism
GUNFIRE AND SCREAMS
T h e v e r i f i e d v i d e o s h o w e d p e o p l e t a k i n g t h e i r s e a t s i n t h e c o n c e r t h a l l , t h e n r u s h i n g f o r t h e e x i t s a s r e p e a t e d g u n f i r e e c h o e d a b o v e s c r e a m s T h e o t h e r v i d e o s h o w e d m e n s h o o t i n g a t g r o u p s o f p e o p l e S o m e v i c t i m s l a y motionless in pools of blood Suddenly there were bangs behind us – shots A burst of firing – I do not know what ” one witness who asked not to be identified by name told Reuters Long lines formed in Moscow on
Gov t to ‘seriously’ mull reviving trade with India: FM
CONTONUED FROM PAGE 01
He said the previous governments of Pakistan Muslim League(N) completed various nuclear projects and 3800 megawatts of electricity were added to the national grid While representing Pakistan at the recent nuclear energy summit in Brussels the FM said he called for aggressive financing from the international financial institutions and multilateral institutions Nuclear energy is expensive but is environment friendly and the world needs it We are ready to share our expertise with the global community,” he added He said Pakistan was emitting less than one percent of the global carbon emissions but was among the 10 most climate vulnerable countries in the world Pakistan was devastated by the worst floods of its history in the recent past and the federal government in collaboration with the provinces spent Rs 100 billion on the relief and rehabilitation of flood-affected people He said on the sidelines of the nuclear energy summit he held bilateral meetings with the foreign ministers of Turkey Azerbaijan UAE and the Director General of the International Atomic Energy Agency (IAEA)
During meetings with the foreign ministers of Turkey, United Arab Emirates and Azerbaijan, they agreed to enhance cooperation in areas of trade, investment, defence and economy During meeting with the Turkish Foreign Minister “we agreed to enhance our bilateral trade volume The minister said he had a productive meeting with the Director General of IAEA who had visited Pakistan at the inauguration of C5 nuclear power project He said during his meeting with the Foreign Minister of UAE, they agreed to enhance cooperation in the field of nuclear energy He also held a substantive meeting with the Chinese Vice President and exchanged views on diverse areas of cooperation and he agreed to visit Pakistan in the future he added China was all weather friend of Pakistan who supported Pakistan on all issues and at international forums, he remarked He also told about his meetings with ministers of the United Kingdom, during which it was agreed that UK government would further invest in development projects in Pakistan He expressed best wishes for King Charles and Princess of Wales who were diagnosed with cancer To a question about Congressional hearings in the United States about matters related to Pakistan, he urged that Pakistanis should leave behind politics when they were outside the country and get united To a question about elections Ishaq Dar said “We have comprehensive constitutional and legal cover for elections adding different parties got the mandate of the people and it should be accepted Legal forums were available to address the election-related complaints and a person could approach Election Commission, election tribunals and higher judiciary, he noted He said Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa had agreed to work with the federal government which was a positive development He recalled Pakistan had suffered a lot due to policy failures adding due to the successful policies of the last government of Nawaz Sharif inflation came down, economy grew, and the international financial institutions acknowledged the economic achievements of Pakistan The minister said after attack on the Army Public School a national action plan was devised and it was decided not to allow use of Pakistani territory against any other country
PR OFIT N e w S D e S k
HE World Bank has approved $149 7 million in financing for Pakistan to support two projects According to a press statement issued here, the Digital Economy Enhancement Project ($78 million) will support the expansion of digitally enabled public service delivery for citizens and firms Financing for the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project ($71 7 million) will support better resilience to floods and improvements in the reliability, safety, and management of the Sindh barrages “The catastrophic floods that hit Pakistan in 2022 were a tragic reminder of the importance of building resilience to such disasters, including by strengthening barrages and their management ” said Najy Benhassine World Bank Country Director for Pakistan Also supporting the growing digital economy in Pakistan is key for economic and social development broadening connectivity and access to government and financial services for citizens and entrepreneurs, particularly women ” The Digital Economy Enhancement Project (DEEP) will develop digital authentication and data-sharing platforms to enable Pakistan to respond more effectively and efficiently to shocks deliver better e-government services to citizens and firms, and support regulatory reforms in the sector, including to enable greater private participation, and strengthening personal data protection and online safety The project will also promote financial inclusion by enabling women in particular to open bank accounts or apply remotely for credit through a smartphone application It will also contribute to addressing barriers such as limited mobility and digital literacy The digital economy and demand for digital government services have been growing across the country increasing the need for connectivity digital payments and secure and trusted digital transactions The project takes a whole-of-government approach to digital transformation and will help ensure that digital platforms are inclusive and trusted, said Shan Rehman, Task Team Leader for the project The second additional financing for the Sindh Barrages Improvement Project (SBIP) will support the full completion and commissioning of the Guddu and Sukkur barrages rehabilitation works and improve the management of three barrages in Sindh including Guddu, Sukkur and Kotri Having safe and effective barrages to convey flood waters downstream is a crucial part of building climate resilience in Sindh The additional financing will also contribute to strengthening the provincial Barrage Management Unit s technical capacities promoting women s participation in emergency preparedness, and implementing extensive citizen engagement and stakeholder participation “Barrages such as the ones supported by SBIP are critical for the livelihoods and climate-resilience of the Sindh Province said Francois Onimus Task Team Leader for the project The project will increase the resilience of the canal systems that are fed from these barrages, reducing the adverse impacts of extreme floods and drought events 03 NewS S nday 24 March 2024 KARACH WORLD BANK APPROVES $149.7M FINANCING FOR PAKISTAN CONTONUED FROM PAGE 01 Special prayers were offered in mosques after Fajr prayer for the prosperity and solidarity of the country The national flag was hoisted on major government buildings Change of guard ceremonies were held at the mausoleums of Quaid-eAzam Mohammad Ali Jinnah in Karachi and Dr Allama Iqbal in Lahore Air Vice Marshal Tariq Mahmood was the chief guest at the ceremony held at Iqbal s mausoleum in Lahore where Pakistan Airforce troops took over guard duty from Chenab Rangers Zardari calls for unity for development prosperity of Pakistan President Asif Ali Zardari began his speech by welcoming Saudi Arabia s Minister of Defence Prince Khalid bin Salman Khalid Bin Aziz, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif, members of parliament, Chairman of the Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza and parade commander President Zardari in his address said that March 23 holds national importance as on this day, Muslims of the subcontinent demanded a separate nation for themselves “Today, we pay homage to leaders, martyrs and ghazis who sacrificed their lives for independence ” said the president adding that the Pakistani nation from its independence till today has gone through ups and downs Despite the difficulties, we developed in
implementation of the UNSC resolution on Kashmir “I want to remind the Kashmiris once again that the people of Pakistan will always stand by them in their just struggle against trinity
F i n a n c i n g w i l l b e g i v e n f o r e n h a n c e m e n t o f d i g i t a l e c o n o m y a n d i m p r o v e m e n t o f b a r r a g e s i n S i n d h
g
u s s i a n l a w m a k e r A l e x a n d e r K h i n s h t e i n s a i d t h e a t t a c k e r s h a d f l e d i n a R e n a u l t v e h i c l e t h a t w a s s p o t t e d b y p o l i c e i n B r y a n s k r e g i o n a b o
Saturday for people to donate blood Health officials said more than 120 people were wounded Da’ish, the militant group that once sought control over swathes of Iraq and Syria claimed responsibility for the attack the group s Amaq agency said on Telegram Da ish said its fighters attacked on the outskirts of Moscow, killing and wounding hundreds and causing great destruction to the place before they withdrew to their bases safely” The statement gave no further detail
CONTONUED FROM PAGE 01 The Prime Minister also underlined the need for further cooperation between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia in the fields of defence and economy The Saudi Defence Minister felicitated the Prime Minister on assuming his office and expressed best wishes for him He thanked Pakistan for inviting him as a chief guest for the Pakistan Day parade and said he had the opportunity to witness the best capabilities of the Armed Forces of Pakistan during the parade He mentioned that the recent visit of Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir to Saudi Arabia was very important and fruitful to further promote defence relations between the two countries He thanked Pakistan for inviting him as a special guest for the Pakistan Day parade and said he had the opportunity to witness the best capabilities of the armed forces of Pakistan during the parade He said that the recent visit of COAS Munir to Saudi Arabia was very important and fruitful to further promote defence relations of the two countries ‘PAKISTAN ACCORDS UTMOST IMPORTANCE TO RELATIONS WITH SAUDI ARABIA’ While welcoming the visiting dignitary, the president said that Pakistan accorded utmost importance to its relations with Saudi Arabia as both countries enjoyed a fraternal bond marked by shared faith and historical relations He underscored the need for further increasing bilateral cooperation in various fields President Zardari deeply thanked KSA for the support provided to Pakistan during challenging times He lauded the leadership of Salman bin Abdul Aziz Al Saud and the vision of the Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman Al Saud that would propel Saudi Arabia towards remarkable progress Prince Khalid highlighted that Pakistan and Saudi Arabia enjoyed strong historical, strategic and defence cooperation He further stated that both countries should work together and support each other to further deepen bilateral relations He highlighted that his country believed in regional prosperity and had succeeded in increasing economic integration Earlier, President Zardari conferred the Nishan-i-Pakistan award, during a Special Investiture Ceremony on Prince Khalid in recognition of his meritorious services towards further strengthening bilateral cooperation and his contribution towards peace in the region The President congratulated Prince Khalid on the conferment of the award and thanked him for his role in promoting defence ties PRINCE KHALID BIN SALMAN BIN ABDULAZIZ AL SAUD CALLS ON COAS Following the Pakistan Day ceremony according to Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud held a meeting with the army chief During the meeting, they discussed mutual interests, enhancing bilateral relations, and increasing cooperation, particularly in various fields including defence Saudi Arabia and Pakistan share historic and strong brotherly relations; Saudi Arabia and Pakistan have always remained wellwishers of each other, the Saudi minister was quoted as saying by the ISPR The army chief expressed gratitude to the Saudi minister for visiting Pakistan The esteemed guest also thanked the COAS for inviting him as the guest of honour at the Pakistan Day parade After a successful one-day visit to Pakistan, the Saudi minister departed for his homeland Before his departure, the army chief bid farewell to Prince Khalid at the Nur Khan Air Base SAUDI DEFENCE MINISTER HONORED WITH NISHAN-E-PAKISTAN AWARD Saudi Arabia Defence Minister Prince Khalid bin Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud was honored with the Nishan-e-Pakistan award on Saturday During the ceremony at the presidential Palace President Asif Ali Zardari awarded the Saudi Defence Minister with the Nishane-Imtiaz
Centre seeks thousand acres of land from Sindh for private expor t Zone in Thatta KARACHI S ta f f R e p o R t The federal government has requested the Sindh government for a thousand acres of land in Thatta district to establish a private export processing zone for the private sector entity Pakistan Car and Machinery Zones Private Limited At a high-level meeting of the Federal Ministry of Industries, it was revealed that Pakistan Car and Machinery Zones Private Limited requires land in Thatta district for developing a private export processing zone Representatives from the Federal Ministry of Maritime Affairs Secretary of the Board of Revenue Sindh, Port Qasim representatives, and representatives from the Sindh Investment Department attended the meeting The Secretary of the Board of Revenue informed the meeting that land approximately 6 kilometers away from the national highway is available in Thatta district However it requires infrastructure development including carpeting of Branch Road, to make it accessible The Chief Executive Officer sought clarification on whether the developmental work within these 6 kilometers would be carried out by the Sindh government or Pakistan Car and Machinery Zones Private Limited The representatives of the Board of Revenue assured that the Sindh government would undertake the developmental work within this area to facilitate Pakistan Car and Machinery Zones Private Limited
P a n d a B o n d s
THOUGH Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb was the one to announce that Pakistan would try to raise $300 million in Panda Bonds , he was also careful to lay the credit at Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s door, as the initiator of the proposal Mr Sharif, a long time ago, had trained to be an economist, though circumstances did not allow, and he had to go into the family business However, apart from the Panda bond decision he also has acted to show that he will take all major economic decisions himself He has decided to personally chair the Economic Committee of the National Economic Council and the Economic Committee of the Cabinet These are tasks that previous PMs have been wont to leave to the Finance Minister who would be a technocrat The present Finance Minister is also a technocrat, but the PM will chair these committees himself He had left these tasks in his previous tenure to the Finance Minister, so he clearly did not enjoy that arrangement He is also showing his tremendous appetite for work by taking these tasks on, which involve a tremendous amount of paperwork
At the same time, the decision to go for Panda Bonds, which are yuan-denominated, may seem a good way of bolstering foreign exchange reserves, but may run into problems with the IMF First of all, it seems a little too much like the way Senator Ihaq Dar bolstered Pakistan’s foreign exchange reserves during his earlier tenures as Finance Minister: by borrowing That was how he kept down the value of the dollar by using those (borrowed) dollars The IMF caught on and made State Bank independence a concition so that such tricks could be stopped Hopefully Mr Aurangzeb will not take this route to earning IMF ire Another problem is that the IMF, which is after all a Bretton Woods institution, looks askance at those the USA does not like Mr Aurangzeb should keep in mind how huffy the IMF gets about even the idea that its money could go to service Chinese debt
The government may find that the US support it says it is getting for the new package, vanish very fast if it goes ahead with the Panda Bond issue If Mr Sharif has his heart set on it, as well as the package, he may find that he may have to engage in some deft diplomatic
The Taliban and TTP: Bond Beyond Breakage?
Tcards in their political game
to maintain security The reason is clear: The Taliban will not negotiate because the TTP is their backbone playing a crucial part in their military and the government Being landlocked Afghanistan depended entirely on Pakistani ports to access international markets About 80 percent of Afghanistan's trade passed through it since 2010 Surprisingly, the Taliban even decided to spit on this gold mine instantly for the sake of TTP To disrupt this reliance they have now committed to invest $35 million in Iran s Chabahar seaport The Taliban have started to prioritize business with India and China, as food trade with India increased by 43 percent last year to
also indicate dissatisfaction towards Pakistan, providing a signal that Pakistan must be careful regarding its security while considering the TTP It appears that historical allies are at war with each other considering the death toll of 2023 About 1524 people died from 789 terrorist attacks according to a think tank report, and dozens of further TTP attacks have occurred since the start of 2024 Furthermore, a UNSC report published on 23 January sheds light on the fact that the Taliban have been actively supporting the TTP by providing them with sniper rifles advanced firearms and even night vision equipment They are also paying $50 500 monthly to TTP leader Noor Wali Mehsud; it should not be difficult for the reader to conclude that it is all directed towards Pakistan
The Taliban have a long-standing tactic of deceiving Pakistan by temporarily detaining TTP fighters only to release them later and celebrate their freedom
It is disheartening to see the governor of Kandahar extend congratulations to Pakistan and express optimism for friendly relations, only to be met with a suicide bombing on a Pakistani military post on March 16 This incident highlights the double standards of the Taliban leadership, mirroring the approach taken by their TTP counterparts who employ a strategy of both attacking and negotiating The Taliban strategically utilize the issues of Afghan refugees the FATA merger reversal in KPK and the status of the Durand Line as
a l
t i o n a n d a s y m m e t r i c w a r f a r e , o u r w o r l d h a s b e c o m e a w e b o f t e r r o r i s t o r g a n i z a t i o n s . T T P a s a n o f f s h o o t o f ‘ A l - Q a e d a ’ , i s p o i s e d t o e s t a b l i s h i t s l i n k s a r o u n d t h e w o r l d u s i n g A f g h a n i s t a n ’ s l e g a l c h a n n e l s N o t o n l y P a k i s t a n s h o u l d b e w a r y , b u t o t h e r r e g i o n a l s t a t e s l i k e C h i n a , I n d i a a n d I r a n s h o u l d a l s o p r a c t i s e c a u t i o n w i t h t h e T a l i b a n , c o n s i d e r i n g t h e T T P a n d i t s I d e o l o g i c a l g o a l s
T h e e n d o f s e c u l a r i s m i n I n d i a ?
T h e B J P i s d e s t r o y i n g t h e I n d i a n C o n s t i t u t i o n
Most people overlook that the TTP is inspired by Al-Qaeda With Al-Qaeda stripped of its strong leadership the TTP represents a strong hope of continuing its legacy The UNSC report mentioned above also discusses Al-Qaeda donating vehicles and establishing eight training camps for TTP in Afghanistan Their goal is to create an emirate in the KPK province and further expand into India, Iran, China, Bangladesh and even Jerusalem
It is important for the public to understand that the Taliban harboured resentment towards Pakistan for its support of NATO To address this grievance Pakistan altered its stance with the assistance of the Taliban s mission to regain control over Afghanistan However, the Taliban have begun betraying Pakistan by aligning themselves with the TTP despite the absence of NATO forces The reason is their rigid extremist ideology fueled by an imperialist agenda which drives their actions The TTP has now founded a cover organization, Tehrik-e-Jihad Pakistan, to avoid responsibility for its suicide bombings It also backs anti-Shia militants in Balochistan and provides them with a haven in Afghanistan which in turn has the potential for destabilizing Iran as well Given their anti-Shia ideology and hatred for other religions others in the world must know that after Pakistan the TTP will surely come for them They also avoid attending forums where human rights are discussed, and their absence from the UN meeting in Doha is a fresh example The Taliban’s actions demonstrate they continue to follow the extremist ideology of Al-Qaeda Improved intelligence sharing between Pakistan and regional partners can help disrupt TTP activity and educating people regarding the ideological roots of the Taliban is also critical to disrupt their propaganda In this era of globalization and asymmetric warfare, our world has become a web of terrorist organizations TTP as an offshoot of ‘Al-Qaeda’, is poised to establish its links around the world using Afghanistan s legal channels Not only Pakistan should be wary but other regional states like China India and Iran should also practise caution with the Taliban considering the TTP and its Ideological goals
The writer is a freelance columnist
04 Sunday 24 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
footwork Pr i m e M i n i s te r t a ke s a h a n d s - o n a p p ro a c h
Dedicated to
legac
tation challenges THOUSANDS of students use shuttle buses to go to the University of Karachi every day Most of them keep standing throughout the commute because of overcrowding In November 2023 a student had died after falling from one of the university shuttle buses The government should provide new buses to the university ZAHID RASHEED HUB Public transpor t ONE of the primary issues with our public transport system is the lack of cleanliness in vehicles and at bus stands Accessibility is another significant challenge, particularly for individuals with disabilities or special needs Almost all public transport vehicles lack ramps and designated seating areas for the disabled making it difficult for these individuals to be able to move around independently Furthermore long waiting times and irregular schedules disrupt travel plans and cause inconvenience to the commuters, especially during peak hours Taking measures to enhance the efficiency of operations and improve service reliability is essential for addressing these issues and enhancing the overall commuter experience ABDULLAH ALI KARACHI Crimes in Larkana ROBBERIES theft and street crimes in Larkana have escalated to an alarming extent Recently three armed robbers killed a shopkeeper during a robbery attempt A few days later another boy was mercilessly killed by criminals as he tried to resist their attempt to snatch his bike Such incidents have raised the level of fear in the local population The locals avoid going outside after sunset and are afraid to run their businesses The police force has failed to protect citizens’ life and property The authorities concerned should take immediate and necessary action to provide safety and a sense of security to the innocent people of Larkana G AKBAR PALIJO LARKANA Politicians' apathy THE news of the recent killing of nine Pakistani labourers in Iran was shocking What was, and is, more disheartening is the apathy of the political parties who failed to utter a single word of condemnation from any political party even when they were busy wooing voters ahead of the recent elections The government should pay adequate compensation to the bereaved families and make arrangements for the education of the children of the deceased QAMER SOOMRO SHIKARPUR Potential of Balochistan THERE is a misperception that Balochistan is a barren stretch of land The fact is that most of the developed land in Balochistan is arable, covering 1,850sqkm, while the cultivated land area is merely 167sqkm Kech stands out as one of the most arable districts in the province Date farming is currently the most common agriculture practice but there was a time when rice used to be a major crop Diminishing rainfall and lack of alternative irrigation sources led to its decline Following the inauguration of Mirani Dam barren stretches of land have now been contributing to the economy with crops like cotton rice mustard plants, watermelon and others The provincial authorities need to invest in the sector to harness the true potential of Balochistan MUNAEZA NASIR TURBAT 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
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
the
y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor Transpor
HE preamble of the Indian Constitution clearly states that India is a secular sovereign and socialist republic where justice equality and liberty would be ensured Gone are days of those principles Currently, India is moving towards Hindu Nationalist values which are clad in anti-Muslim rhetoric and apathy towards the minorities The drive to make India a sectarian state is being led by Prime Minister Narendra Modi The BJP government has been taking all the steps necessary to snub the critical voices and shun the constitutional principles The objective is simple: to make India the cradle of a Hindutva state governed by an omnipotent and zealous political party Secularism has retained a significant value in Indian history From earlier Muslims Empires to the Congress government until 2014, there was a vivid emphasis on the secular values like reason, equality, justice, tolerance, and freedom to every segment of the society During different ages harmonious society flourished in India because of the secular values where people were free in their personal and social conduct It is interesting to decipher the secular values and principles enshrined in the Indian Constitution which are being loathed and challenged by the BJP led government Articles 25 to 28 of the Indian Constitution lay the foundation of the principles of secularism Article 25 categorically stresses that every citizen has the right to follow any religion without any persecution and coercion Article 26 validates that the state would not interfere in the religious matters of the masses Ostensibly, Articles 27 and 28 elucidate that there would be no taxation for religious purposes and citizens would be not compelled in matters of their conscience Unfortunately all of these principles along with the democratic values like inclusiveness, transparency, and social justice, are being sacrificed at the altar of Hindu Nationalism Few events can be discussed to decipher how secular values are becoming rarer in Modi s India Religious extremism is tearing apart the fabric of Indian society According to a report by India Hate Lab there have been 668 incidents of religious violence against Muslims in 2023 alone Last Friday, a policeman thrashed and kicked Muslims offering their prayers in Delhi Similarly hate speech is on constant rise against the religious minorities particularly Muslims In states like UP there have been countless incidents of demolition of properties belonging to the Muslim community Adding insult to injury, the UP government showcased bulldozers, the symbol of state state terror in the 26 January India Day parade This is nothing but erosion of inclusiveness Political leaders who spew more hatred are rewarded with powerful positions at state and national level The new citizenship law further reduces the space for the democratic and secular values The Citizenship (Amendment) Act (CAA) allows followers of all religions except Muslims from Pakistan Afghanistan and Bangladesh to adopt the citizenship of India if they feel oppressed and marginalized in their respective country It is the first time that India is using religious affiliation as the basis for citizenship It sounds quite impressive as it provides ample opportunity to minorities from these three Muslims majority countries to get citizenship Yet simultaneously it discriminates against Muslims It is just the tip of the iceberg The Modi government has been working to introduce the National Register of Citizens(NRC), which would lead to cancellation of citizenship of millions of Muslims Massive protests were held in 2019 when it was proposed But with each passing day the BJP government is showing its intention to implement that controversial law It has caused an irreparable dent in the intricate fabric of India This law is marginalizing 200 million Muslims and making India a Ram Rashtra On the other hand, the BJP government has stifled every form of opposition The independence of the media has been crushed by the government The news channels are mouthpieces of the Modi government Newspapers are silent on the scandals and atrocities of the government According to the World Press Freedom Index, India has been ranked 161 out of 180 in 2023 Independent media like BBC are under ferocious regulatory pressure and victim of raids by the government agencies on fallacious pretexts Whereas BJP followers have effective and efficient control over narrative generation through social media Trolling and hate campaigns are constantly run by the party against the opposition and minorities Overall secular and democratic values are under threat in India under the rule of Modi The BJP is using hyper-nationalism and extremist religious slogans as a political manifesto and electoral strategy which are harmful for the masses, particularly Muslims The Modi government must realize, diversity, multiculturalism, and pluralism are essential for a diverse and now divided Indian state The writer is a civil servant He can be reached at khaliqlakk1@gmail com O v e r a l l , s e c u l a r a n d d e m o c r a t i c v a l u e s a r e u n d e r t h r e a t i n I n d i a u n d e r t h e r u l e o f M o d i T h e B J P i s u s i n g h y p e r - n a t i o n a l i s m a n d e x t r e m i s t r e l i g i o u s s l o g a n s a s a p o l i t i c a l m a n i f e s t o a n d e l e c t o r a l s t r a t e g y , w h i c h a r e h a r m f u l f o r t h e m a s s e s , p a r t i c u l a r l y M u s l i m s T h e M o d i g o v e r n m e n t m u s t r e a l i z e , d i v e r s i t y , m u l t i c u l t u r a l i s m , a n d p l u r a l i s m a r e e s s e n t i a l f o r a d i v e r s e a n d n o w d i v i d e d I n d i a n s t a t e
H E fall of Kabul in 2021 was fast followed by the resurgence of the Tehrik-e-Taliban Pakistan which sent waves of terror across the whole of Pakistan The TTP is now inside a safe stronghold with all competition crushed Pakistan being first on their target list is now working hard to pressure the Afghan Taliban to stop the TTP militants from operating through Afghanistan Pakistan has tried halting trade expelling refugees, and even launching counterterrorism missions However, the Taliban vehemently denied TTP guilt, and instead shifted the blame to Pakistan for its failure
$578
Chinese petroleum company will invest $540 million over 25 years, with $49 million invested already These developments indicate the Taliban’s disinterest in negotiating with Pakistan and give a signal that the Taliban are going to allow TTP to go on operating in Pakistan Moreover the words of senior Taliban officials
million Also, a
Th e Ta l i b a n h a ve a l re a d y w i t h s t o o d m u c h p re s s u re t o p ro t e c t t h e T T P I n
g
o
t h i s e r a o f
l
b
i z a
AhsAn KhAn niAzi
INDIA COURT EFFECTIVELY BANS MADRASAS IN BIG STATE BEFORE ELECTIONS
Abut we are against discriminatory practices We are against illegal funding, and the government will decide on further actions after going through the court’s order Modi s office did not immediately respond to an email on Saturday seeking comment on the court ruling ‘I am scared’ Arguing for the federal government, which was a respondent in the case, Sudhanshu Chauhan told the court that “religious education and religious instructions of a single religion cannot be included in school education and the state government has no power to create statutory education boards permitting re-
ligious education
China urges Philippines not to undermine South China Sea stabilit y
BEIJING
S r i L a n k a’s PM G u n aw a r d e n a t o v i s i t C h i n a
common understandings reached by leaders of the two countries, expand exchange and cooperation in various fields, including high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, and strive for new progress in the strategic cooperative partnership featuring sincere mutual assistance and ever-lasting friendship he added
K ate M i d d l e tow n r eve a l s ‘m a j o r s u r g e r y ’ l e a d i n g to c a n c e r d i a g n o s i s a s r e a s o n b e h i n d l e n g t hy a b s e n c e f r o m p u b l i c l i fe
Kate, the Princess of Wales, has revealed in a video message released on Friday that she has been diagnosed with cancer and is currently undergoing chemotherapy This announcement comes two months after she underwent major abdominal surgery
The specific type of cancer has not been disclosed Kate began her chemotherapy treatment in late February coinciding with King Charles her father-in-law also receiving cancer treatment
In the video filmed at Windsor on Wednesday, Kate, 42, shared, “This news came as a significant
shock, and William and I have been actively managing and processing this privately for the sake of our young family ” She also mentioned the time it took to recover from the major surgery before commencing her treatment
The cancer was discovered during post-operative tests following her abdominal surgery in midJanuary Initially it was believed that her condition was non-cancerous
The Princess requested the public for space, time and privacy while dealing with her condition W E B D E S K
China on Saturday condemned the Philippines trespassing into the adjacent waters of Ren ai Jiao of China s Nansha Qundao and urged it not to undermine the peace and stability of the South China
Sea China Coast Guard spokesperson Gan Yu said in a statement that the Philippines on Saturday once again sent two coast guard ships and one supply ship to trespass into waters off Ren ai Jiao in an attempt to transport construction materials to its illegally grounded military vessel, after only 18 days since the last resupply Gan said the Philippines was causing trouble and provoking disputes deliberately disrupting the peace and stability of the South China Sea
Despite multiple warnings and route controls from the Chinese side the Philippines supply ship forcefully entered the area, he said China Coast Guard lawfully and professionally implemented regulation, interception, and expulsion,” he added Gan warned the Philippines that “those who play with fire will get burned China Coast Guard is on high alert at all times and will resolutely defend the country s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights, he added The Chinese Foreign Ministry on Saturday also urged the Philippines to immediately stop its infringement and provocation and refrain from undermining peace and stability in the South China Sea In a statement the spokesperson for the ministry said China Coast Guard took necessary measures at sea to safeguard the country s rights, firmly obstructed the Philippines vessels, and foiled the Philippines attempt Nansha Qundao and its adjacent waters including Ren’ai Jiao have always been China’s territory according to the statement This is established in the long course of history and complies with international law If the Philippines insists on going its own way, China will continue to adopt resolute measures to safeguard its territorial sovereignty and maritime rights and interests said the statement
The Philippines should be prepared to bear all potential consequences it added
S d y 24 M h 2024 | K AR ACHI 06 NEWS
S
F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
TA
NEW DELHI R E U T E R S
court in India essentially banned madrasas in the country’s most populous state, a move that could further distance many Muslims from Prime Minister Narendra Modi s Hindunationalist government ahead of national elections The Friday ruling scraps a 2004 law governing madrasas in Uttar Pradesh, saying it violates India’s constitutional secularism and ordering that students be moved to conventional schools Reuters could not contact Rathore or determine if he is connected to any political group India holds a general election between April and June that Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is widely expected to win Muslims and rights groups have accused some BJP members and affiliates of promoting anti-Islamic hate speech and vigilantism and demolishing Muslim-owned properties Modi denies religious discrimination exists in India The BJP says the government is undoing historical wrongs including by recently inaugurating a Hindu temple on the site of a 16th-century mosque razed in 1992 Many Hindus believe the mosque was built where God-king Ram was born and over a temple demolished under the Mughal ruler Babur Rakesh Tripathi, a spokesperson for Uttar Pradesh BJP, which runs the state government, said it was not against madrasas and was concerned about the education of Muslim students We are
against any madrasa
not
He said the government was not planning to revive a federal policy stopped in March 2022 that had provided funds to madrasas to teach subjects like mathematics and science Madrasa official Javed national secretary of the BJP s minority wing said that as a Muslim he is often caught between the priorities of his party and members of his community He said he has been fielding numerous calls from fellow Muslims since Friday’s order, which came during the Muslim holy month of Ramazan Sometimes it becomes very difficult he said I have to balance a lot because, being a Muslim, the party sends me to the community to convince them to vote for us and join the party I am scared and I walk with personal security whenever I go to any public event or programme ” The BJP s Tripathi responded that Muslim BJP leaders had no reason to fear because their community equally benefits from various government welfare programmes “I am Hindu and I visit the Muslim community often and get good support from them he said The fact is that the BJP and the government is very serious about education and it s doing its best
UNITED NATIONS S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T The US draft sets up preconditions for a ceasefire, which is no different from giving a green light to continued killings, and thus unacceptable according to China’s United Nations envoy in comments made on Friday after China voted against the US-led UN resolution on Gaza The UN Security Council on Friday turned down the resolution proposed by the US, on which China, Russia and Algeria voted no while Guyana abstained Reuters reported Zhang Jun China’s permanent representative to the UN offered an explanation about China s voting position and relevant considerations after the vote Zhang said that more than 160 days have passed since the outbreak of the Gaza conflict In the face of this human tragedy in which more than 32 000 innocent civilians have lost their lives and has left millions suffering from famine the most urgent action to be taken by the Council is to promote an immediate, unconditional, and sustained ceasefire, which is the universal call of the international community But the Council has dragged its feet and wasted too much time in this regard Zhang said The envoy added that the US has always evaded and dodged the most essential issue which is a ceasefire The final text remains ambiguous and does not call for an immediate ceasefire, nor does it even provide an answer to the question of realizing a ceasefire in the short term This is a clear deviation from the consensus of the Council members and falls far short of the expectations of the international community An immediate ceasefire is a fundamental prerequisite for saving lives, expanding humanitarian access, and preventing further conflict The US draft, on the contrary, sets up preconditions for a ceasefire which is no different from giving a green light to continued killings and thus unacceptable Zhang noted The Chinese ambassador also said that the draft is very unbalanced in many other aspects, in particular, with regard to Israel s recent and repeated declarations of plan for a military offensive on Rafah, the draft does not clearly and unequivocally state its opposition, which would send an utterly wrong signal and lead to severe consequences Zhang emphasized China s position on releasing hostages saying that China has from the outset called for the immediate release of all hostages, which is also a repeated demand in Security Council Resolutions 2712 and 2720 “We welcome the mediation efforts by Egypt Qatar and others to this end and we hope that all detainees will be released at an early date he said China rejects the groundless accusations by the US and the UK against China s voting position, Zhang added, noting that if the US was serious about a ceasefire, it wouldn’t have vetoed time and again multiple Council resolutions and wouldn t have taken this detour and played a game of words while being ambiguous and evasive on critical issues US -led resolution unbalanced, ambiguous, sets up preconditions for ceasefire: C hinese envoy BEIJING S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister of Sri Lanka Dinesh Gunawardena will pay an official visit to China from March 25 to 30 at the invitation of Chinese Premier Li Qiang said a Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Sharing details of the visit during his regular briefing, Lin Jian informed that President Xi Jinping will meet with Gunawardena and Premier Li Qiang and Chairman Zhao Leji will have talks with him respectively The leaders of the two countries will have in-depth exchange of views on carrying forward traditional friendship, deepening political mutual trust, expanding practical cooperation and international and regional issues of common interest he added Terming China and Sri Lanka as traditional friends and neighbors he said that since the establishment of diplomatic ties the two countries have always stood together and moved ahead shoulder-to-shoulder, setting a good example of equality and friendly relations between countries In recent years the two countries have had frequent high-level interactions advanced political mutual trust strengthened exchanges and cooperation in economy trade, people-to-people exchange and other fields, and maintained sound communication and coordination on regional and international affairs Lin Jian said that China attaches great importance to its relations with Sri Lanka We stand ready to work with Sri Lanka to implement the important
LONDON A G E N C I E S Amnesty International has said that Narendra Modi-led Indian government s growing crackdown on rights defenders, journalists, peaceful dissent and political opposition is a clear depiction of its blatant disregard for human rights and rule of law Aakar Patel chair of board at Amnesty International India, was responding to the arrest of Arvind Kejriwal, Delhi state Chief Minister and opposition leader from the Aam Aadmi Party along with freezing of bank accounts of another leading opposition party Indian National Congress In a statement posted on Amnesty International’s website, Aakar Patel said “The BJP led Indian government s crackdown on peaceful dissent and opposition has now reached a crisis point The authorities have repeatedly exploited and weaponized various financial and terrorism laws to systematically crackdown on human rights defenders activists critics non-profit organisations journalists students academics and political opposition The arrest of Arvind Kejriwal and the freezing of Indian National Congress’ bank accounts a few weeks before India holds its general elections show the authorities blatant failure to uphold the country s international human rights obligations What we are witnessing is a brutal crackdown on human rights including through the misuse of central investigative and financial agencies attacks on peaceful protests arbitrary arrests use and export of invasive spyware for unlawful surveillance systematic discrimination against religious minorities to feed into their majoritarian Hindutva politics and targeted suspension of opposition leaders from the Parliament who dare to hold the authorities to account he said He urged the Indian authorities to respect, protect, promote and fulfill the human rights of everyone in the country including human rights defenders C r a c kd ow n o n o p p o s i t i o n s h ow s M o d i g ov t ’s b l at a n t d i s r e g a r d fo r h u m a n r i g h t s : A m n e s t y
(Shaheed) Arty Maj Saqib Hussain (Shaheed), Sigs, Capt Sagheer Abbas (Shaheed) AD Sub Sikandar Ali (Shaheed) Punjab Sub Asghar Ali (Shaheed), FC KP (S), Sub Azhar Hussain (Shaheed), FC Bln (S), N/Sub Gul Sher (Shaheed), Arty, N/Sub Minhaz Ahmed Shakir (Shaheed), FF, N/Sub Sahib Khan (Shaheed) FF N/Sub Qasim Khan (Shaheed) AK N/Sub Taj Mir (Shaheed) AK N/Sub Muhammad Zafaryab (Shaheed) EME N/Sub Muhammad Asif Khan (Shaheed) FC Bln (N) Dfr Muhammad Zakar (Shaheed), AC, Hav Muhammad Ameer (Shaheed), Punjab, Hav Muhammad Anwar (Shaheed), Baloch, Hav Muhammad Azhar Iqbal (Shaheed), FF, Hav Muhammad Changaiz Chughtai (Shaheed) AK Hav Ghulam Mehdi (Shaheed) NLI Hav Umer Hayat (Shaheed) FC KP (S) Hav Ferosh Khan (Shaheed) FC KP (S) Hav
Hindut va-aligned traders’ body ask Muslim shopkeepers to leave Uttarakhand town
S TA F F R E P O R T
Nova C ity Islamabad unveils
Majestic Masjid: A testament to excellence in architec ture and community spirit
In yet another example of growing intolerance and bigotry towards India’s Muslim community, Muslim traders have been asked to leave the Dharchula town in Uttarakhand state by the local traders association dominated by the Hindutva BJP and RSS activists
The local traders association not only asked
Special committee formed for legislation in Punjab Assembly
Pakistani fishermen group becomes millionaire after c atching 700 most expensive Suwa fish
Saleem Khan (Shaheed) FC KP (S) Hav Zamin Hussain (Shaheed) FC KP (S)
Hav Abdul Rahim (Shaheed) FC Bln (N), Hav Rashid Mehmood (Shaheed), FC Bln (N), Hav Nadeem Iqbal (Shaheed), FC Bln (N), Hav Shadi Ullah (Shaheed), FC Bln (N), Hav Muhammad Irfan (Shaheed) FC Bln (N) L/Hav Saqib Mahmood (Shaheed) Engrs NK Sajid Hussain (Shaheed) Arty NK Muhammad Attique (Shaheed) Punjab NK Rajjab Ali (Shaheed), Punjab, NK Javed Ali (Shaheed), Punjab, Nk Muhammad Ibrahim (Shaheed), FF, NK Zaheer Abbas (Shaheed) FF NK Abid (Shaheed) FF NK Muhammad Asad (Shaheed) FF NK Muhammad Atif (Shaheed) AK NK Maweez Khan (Shaheed), FC KP (S), NK Hamayum Khan (Shaheed), FC KP (S), NK Fazal Janan (Shaheed), FC KP (S), NK Javed Iqbal (Shaheed), FC KP (S), NK Sher Muhammad (Shaheed) FC Bln (S) NK Baqir Ali (Shaheed) FC Bln (S) ALD Amin Ullah (Shaheed) FC Bln (N) ALD Waqar Ali (Shaheed) AC ALD Muhammad Pannah (Shaheed), AC
is enough for us “Nothing on earth can challenge the determination of Imran Khan and his team, which we proved and we will become a reality which will become an example for our coming generation he vowed PTI MNA stated that Imran Khan was the chosen one who would endure all difficulties but won t compromise in any circumstances He called upon the participants that they should not be worried and disappointed “I salute to sisters and mothers of the nation who do not sole their conscious and youth is my pride Shehryar added
07 NEWS Sunday 24 March 2024 K AR ACHI iioJK Hc quashes detention of four Kashmiris booked under draconian Psa SRINAGAR S TA F F R E P O R T The High Court of Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir has quashed detention of four innocent Kashmiris booked under draconian Public Safety Act (PSA) and ordered their immediate release According to Kashmir Media Service a bench of Justice Vinod Chatterji Koul allowing four separately filed habeas corpus petitions quashed the detention orders of Rashid Habib Zargar of Kupwara Amir Ahmad Rather of Kulgam, Danish Bashir Dar of Srinagar, and Suhail Shabir Ganie of Budgam While Zargar was booked on 27 6 2022, Rather was detained on April 8 2022 Similarly Dar was taken into preventive custody on 8 3 2023 while Ganie was booked on August 30 2022 While quashing their detention orders the court directed authorities to release the detainees from preventive custody forthwith provided they are not required in any other cases senior citizen tr ying to deposit hard-earned cash kidnapped and shot dead by bank employee ISLAMABAD M O N I T O R I N G R E P O R T Muhammad Ibrahim, a 40-year-old resident of Parachinar KPK met a tragic fate at the hands of an officer from a reputable bank The elderly man visited a local branch to deposit his hard-earned savings totaling roughly Rs 57 Lacs sent by his overseas brothers Upon arrival at the bank to open an account, Ibrahim was requested by the Sales Officer, Syed Imran, to visit his house to sign Zakat forms for completing formalities However he became the victim of a brutal assault by the officer resulting in his demise Subsequently the officer deposited the cash into his personal account Hours later following a distressing search his family and law enforcement authorities, upon reviewing CCTV footage, discovered that he had gone with the officer His lifeless body was found at the Sales Officer’s residence Shockingly the Officer Syed Imran has confessed to committing the reprehensible act driven by greed The incident has triggered outrage on social media with many blaming the bank for failing to avert this tragedy and calling for justice for Muhammad Ibrahim CORPORATE CORNER ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R E S I D E N T of Pakistan Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday conferred the Military awards to the officers and soldiers of Pakistan Army Navy and Air Force A Sitara-i-Basalat 135 Tamgha-iBasalat 45 Imtiazi Asnad 148 Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Commendation Cards, 23 Hilal-i-Imtiaz (Military), 109 Sitara-i-Imtiaz (Military) and 137 Tamgha-i-Imtiaz (Military) were awarded to officers and soldiers, an Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) news release said
following soldier has been conferred with Sitara-i-Basalat: Sepoy Israr Muhammad, SSG
following officers and soldiers have been conferred with Tamgha-iBasalat: Brig Mustafa Kamal
CMI Lt Col Safdar Ali Khan NLI Maj Muhammad Jawad
FF
Mian Abdullah
The
The
(Shaheed)
(Shaheed)
Maj
Shah
President confers military awards on officers, soldiers of tri-services AIOU to establish state - of ar t c ampus in Mardan I S L A M A B A D: Allama Iqbal Open University (AIOU) will establish a state of the art campus in Mardan In this regard Vice Chancellor AIOU Prof Dr Nasir Mahmood called on Mayor of Mardan, Hamayatullah Mayar, and Additional Deputy Commissioner, Naik Mohammad Khan yesterday(Saturday) While giving a detailed briefing on the educational services of the university Dr Nasir said that if AIOU could get land at a suitable place in Mardan the University will build a state-of-the-art campus of the university, which will provide a lot of convenience to the students of Mardan All the facilities will be available to them at their doorstep Hamayatullah Mayar and Naik Muhammad Khan assured to lease suitable land to the University in Mardan for the construction of the campus In these meetings Director General Regional Services AIOU Dr Malik Tauqeer Ahmed Khan accompanied the Vice Chancellor The delegation of Allama Iqbal Open University led by the Vice Chancellor also participated in a seminar organized in Abdul Wali Khan University regarding Pakistan Day Dr Nasir Mahmood also called on the vice chancellor of Kohat University of Science and Technology Prof Dr Naseeruddin in his office yesterday VC AIOU will also visit the campus in Mardan PR
DEHRADUN
at least 86 Muslim traders to leave but also cancelled the registration of their shops The Association while targeting the Muslim community blamed them of being outsiders The trigger for this drastic action was the arrest of a Muslim barber on the false charge of abducting two Hindu girls Members of the Muslim community in Dharchula town have expressed deep concern and dismay over the situation They refute the accusations of being outsiders and assert that they have been contributing to the local economy for years without any issues The cancellation of their shop registrations has put their livelihoods at risk leading to economic uncertainty and hardship Meanwhile a Muslim person was beaten up by a Hindutva man in BJP-ruled Uttar Pradesh state The Muslim man, Abdul Aziz, was collecting donations for a mosque when he was attacked by Neeraj Bhatti in Salarpur village of Noida Abdul Aziz from Bihar ’s Kishanganj was beaten up by a local resident named Neeraj Bhatti at a village in Noida, police said Deputy Commissioner of Police (Noida) Vidya Sagar Mishra said, “A 35-year-old man, who had come to Salarpur from Bihar to collect donations was assaulted by a 45year-old local resident
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T A special committee has been formed until the formation of standing committees for the legislation in Punjab assembly According to the details in these 12 members of committee government and oppositions members are included Committee s member has been nominated to Munawar Hussain, Khalid Mehmood Ranjha and Khurram Khan Work The committee’s member will be Bilal Yasin Usama Lughari and Muhammad Arshad Malik Similarly, Murtaza Iqbal, Ali Raza Khan Khakwani and Qasim Nadeem will also be members of the committee Hasan Zaka, Sara Ahmed, Salma Butt have also been nominated in the committee The committee will look into upcoming ordinances and other referred matters for legislation till the formation of standing committees KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T A group of Pakistani fishermen succeeded to ensnare most expensive and quite rare Suwa fish [or golden fish] as an Eid gift from the deep sea near Kitty Bandar which also helped them out to become millionaire in a moment Coastal Media Spokesman Kamal Shah confirmed that more than 700 Suwa fish were caught by the local fishermen and brought out of the Arabian Sea in three fishing boats Reportedly, quite rare Suwa fish is valued due to having some rare and expensive medicinal substances in its belly It also used for making a surgery thread Suwa fish also valued culturally and traditionally for local cuisines too As per the market cost of a Suwa fish is between Rs70 000 to Rs100,000 per piece Interestingly, unexpected existing of this rare fish in deep see close to the Pakistani beach areas intrigued discussions about the reasons among the fishermen and sea life experts
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) celebrated Pakistan Day with the renewed spirit that they would spare no effort to make Pakistan a truly independent Islamic welfare state, where the constitution and rule of law would reign supreme Speaking at a function organized to celebrate Pakistan Day PTI Chairman Barrister Gohar Khan said that March 23 was the day of renewal of the pledge that the Muslims of the subcontinent rendered matchless and sacrificed to get an independent state where they could live their lives freely, where the constitution and rule would be supreme of law He said that they struggled to break the shackles of the British s subjugation to secure independence to make a true democratic state However the PTI Chairman said that despite the lapse of 84 years, the people of the country were battling for the restoration of the constitution and upholding the rule of law in the country, as PTI Founder Imran Khan party leadership including women and workers were unjustly languishing in jails Barrister Gohar said that like Quaid-eAzam, Imran Khan also believed in true democracy, which could be judged from his decision that he awarded tickets to the party’s loyalists and made him the Chairman of his party He urged Supreme Court to advise the ECP to make the Senate s votes verifiable so as to put a halt on sale and purchase in senate elections and to make the voting process in the upper house more transparent Speaking on the occasion PTI senior leader and MNA Asad Qaiser said that Allama Iqbal was a source of inspiration for them who awaked the nation, adding that PTI was a beautiful bouquet of unity and harmony in the country He said that March 23 was a day of the renewed commitment but they must have to think whether the purpose for which Pakistan was created was served and an Islamic welfare state was formed in Pakistan PTI leader lamented that it was not the Pakistan for which their ancestors rendered matchless sacrifices as constitution of the country was virtually suspended and there was no rule of law in the country adding that PTI and its founding Chairman were striving and battling to make Pakistan a truly independent country where there was rule of law and no one could be subjected to oppression and suppression Asad Qaiser went on to say that Punjab was virtually converted in to a police state where even rallies and public gatherings were not allowed You have insulted the mandate of our people, remember we will not let you sit in peace until we take back the stolen mandate ” he vowed He made it clear that the time had gone when PTI people were coerced to join other party adding that if anyone think that they would take decisions of their choice and would run the country s affairs as per their free will, they were really mistaken as the time had changed “I will ask my party leadership that byelections are to be held; hence they should announce schedule for public gatherings in Punjab instantly PTI leader added Asad Qaiser made it clear: Don t push us against the wall and don t drag us to the point of no return ” He said that situation at borders were very concerning especially on Afghanistan side demanding to immediately activate diplomatic channels so as to normalize the ties with neighboring countries PTI leader demanded CJP to form a judicial commission to probe May 9 riots and take decision on merit to punish the actual culprits adding that if fair investigation was carried out to the incident it would be established that Mohsin Naqvi and IG Punjab were behind the entire episode He went on to say that Imran Khan was the only hope of the nation and only he could navigate the country out of the prevailing quagmire On the occasion PTI senator Walid Iqbal said that he joined PTI because of Imran Khan was an incorruptible and unconpromisable leader H e s a i d t h a t Q u a i d - e - A z a m w a s a g r e a t a d v o c a t e o f w o m e n p o l i t i c a l p a r t i cipation and Imran Khan accomplished his d r e a m w h i c h s h o w e d t h e r e p r a c t i c a l p a rticipation in the February 8 2024 general e l e c t i o n s During his speech, PTI leader shed light on the struggle and vision of Quaid-e-Azam Addressing the event, former GilgitBaltistan chief minister Khalid Khurshid said that it was a great day for him because he could see happiness on the faces of PTI people who were subjected to worst brutalities and barbarism during the past two years Our leader is in jail because he is struggling to make Pakistan a truly independent country because our ancestors did not render sacrifices for a slave Pakistan ” he added Speaking on the occasion PTI senior leader Shehryar Afridi urged that they should not compromise on their self-believe come what may because our Allah
O n Pa k i s t a n D ay, P T I r e n e w s p l e d g e t o a c c e l e r a t e e f f o r t s f o r ‘ H a q e e q i A z a d i ’
I S L A M A B A D: Nova City Islamabad, in line with its vision to provide world class amenities to our esteemed customers achieved another mile stone and inaugurated its grand mosque Masjid – Afzaal by arranging a grand and blissful gathering for Jumma prayers which was attended by Ch Junaid Afzaal Chairman Nova Group Mr Amir Saleem CEO Nova Group along with well-known and respected dignitaries of Islamabad and surrounding The grand mosque is a worthy addition and a marvel of architecture for the people of Islamabad Speaking on the occasion Chairman Nova Group once again expressed his committement to provide modern and world class infrastructure to people of Pakistan He said that he is focused on providing basic infrastructure to people planning to build homes in this project well ahead of time lines and is proud that along with mosque the project has already delivered a world class school already functional along with sports complex birds aviary and commercial projects Mr Mazurd Khan Chairman and founder of Pakistan Sweet home appreciated Chairman efforts and extended full support to the group and extended his well wishes PR
Mubashir
‘Pakistan stands with Russia’: PM condemns Moscow attack
FBR launches tax registration scheme for retailers in major cities
PTI founder reiterates pledge to mak ing Pak istan truly sovereign Islamic welfare state
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 021-32640318 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 5:05 6:00 1 30 5:00 6:17 8:00 sunday 24 March 2024 news ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T As the nation celebrates Pakistan Day Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Founding Chairman Imran Khan felicitated the nation, reiterating his party s commitment to carrying forward the vision of Quaidi-Azam Mohammad Ali Jinnah making Pakistan a truly sovereign Islamic welfare state as envisaged by the forefathers In a special message on the occasion of Pakistan Day PTI Founding Chairman, incarcerated in Adiala Jail, Today we commemorate the Resolution for the founding of a separate homeland for the Muslims of the subcontinent – our beloved homeland Pakistan ” Imran Khan said that March 23 was a day of pledge to achieve and establish an Islamic welfare state The PTI Chairman-for-life stated that on this auspicious day the Muslims of the slave India taking light from Allama Iqbal s philosophy of Khudi and independence, pledged to achieve an independent state under the visionary leadership of Quaid-i-Azam Imran Khan reminded that the goals of the founders of Pakistan were to achieve an independent sovereign Islamic state adorned with rule of law justice and democratic values and traditions for the muslims of India He vowed: On Pakistan Day, we reiterate our commitments to transform Pakistan into a democratic welfare state in the light of the visions and decrees of the founders of Pakistan However PTI Founding Chairman reiterated that they would not accept slavery in any form and manifestation and would not be satisfied with anything less than the supremacy of constitution, rule of law and Haqeeqi Azadi of the nation PR OFIT A H M A D A H M A D A N I P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif assented to head the newly-formed Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) himself in a bid to address challenges and enhance efficiency in the energy sector The Cabinet Division announcing the formation of the Cabinet Committee on Energy (CCoE) on Friday, issued a notification in this regard To be chaired by the prime minister, the committee is comprised of key ministers and officials including the Minister for Economic Affairs Minister for Finance Minister for Petroleum Minister for Planning Development & Special Initiatives and Minister for Power Additionally, top officials from relevant divisions and regulatory bodies, such as the Finance Division, Power Division Petroleum Division Law and Justice Division National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (NEPRA) and Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) have been co-opted as members, as per a notification issued by the Cabinet Division According to the Cabinet Division’s notification in the absence of the prime minister the Minister for Petroleum will chair the meetings of the CCoE The Terms of Reference (ToRs) outlined for the CCoE underscore its pivotal role in ensuring the smooth implementation of energy projects currently underway or in the pipeline, in particular projects falling under the umbrella of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor well within timelines stipulated for these projects The committee is also tasked with identifying and removing bottlenecks in the expeditious implementation of these projects and deficiencies in the existing legal and institutional framework governing the energy sector and formulating reform initiatives Similarly the CCoE is further mandated to review the current energy policy to rectify its weaknesses Likewise CCoE will formulate policies and plans on energy conservation and ensure regular monitoring of the implementation phase, conduct inter-ministerial coordination whenever required but at least once every fortnight and ensure adequate stock of petroleum products in the country Furthermore, the committee aims to develop efficient energy markets through deregulation within limits allowed by regulators; reduce theft losses in the energy sector and pass on benefits to consumers P R I M E M I N I S T E R T O P E R S O N A L LY H E A D C A B I N ET C O M M I T T E E O N E N E R G Y g IN ABSENCE OF PRIME MINISTER, MINISTER FOR PETROLEUM WILL CHAIR MEETINGS OF CCOE PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The stock market started positively but faced uncertainty over potential interest rate cuts ending the week on Friday with a moderate gain The benchmark index closed at 65 152 points on Friday up by 335 points or 0 5% The week started with the Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) meeting, where the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) kept the interest rate unchanged at 22% This decision had little effect on the market as it was anticipated Talks with the IMF on the second review of the Stand-By Arrangement (SBA) concluded by signing a staff-level agreement on Tuesday, boosting the equity market and attracting international investors, as evidenced by the rise in dollar bonds and the KSE100 index Discussions also revealed the focus on tax base expansion including plans to tax retailers through electricity bills and recommendations to end GST exemptions on petroleum products posing risks to inflation despite the recent easing Economically, the current account showed a surplus of $128 million in February, with an 8-month deficit of just under $1 billion The SBP’s reserves increased by $105 million week-on-week totaling $8 billion Market activity rose by 13% with an average daily volume of 323 million shares Key financial updates included $6 68 billion borrowed a 17 1% drop in FDI, a 32% increase in IT exports, and a Supreme Court order for NBP to pay Rs60 billion in pensions Performance varied across sectors, with notable movements in Transport Investment Banks/Securities and Tobacco sectors According to a report by AKD Research the potential new taxes and price hikes especially with the GST on petroleum, may affect inflation and delay interest rate cuts, possibly dampening market performance However, successful tax reforms could enhance long-term economic stability With the SBP’s real effective exchange rate at 102 2 in February currency devaluation risks persist The brokerage firm advised the investors to remain cautious and focus on fundamentally strong stocks with attractive dividends M a r k e t e n d s w e e k w i t h m e r e 0 . 5 % g a i n a m i d s t i n t e r e s t r a t e d e c i s i o n , I M F t a l k s g P OT E N T I A L N E W TA X E S, E S P E C I A L LY G S T O N P E T R O L E U M, M AY A F F E C T M A R K E T P E R F O R M A N C E, R E P O R T PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has initiated a mandatory tax registration scheme for retailers and wholesalers in six major cities, effective from April 1 2024 As per a statutory regulatory order (SRO) issued by the FBR the retailers registration aligns with the conditions set by the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for approving a $1 1 billion loan tranche Retailers and wholesalers in Karachi, Lahore, Islamabad Rawalpindi Quetta and Peshawar must register under this new scheme which also targets other supply chain participants The scheme mandates registration and advance income tax payment, with the first payment due on July 15 Non-compliance by April 30 will lead to automatic registration by the FBR A centralised database will facilitate tax payments and registration with a minimum annual income tax requirement of Rs1 200 for all traders Furthermore the FBR is offering a 25% tax incentive for traders who pay their taxes in advance or file returns for 2023 Tax payments are based on the annual rental value of business premises, set at 10% of the market value, with specific valuation guidelines provided by the FBR
g G O V T TA R G E T S W H O L E S A L E R S A N D R E TA I L E R S I N L A H O R E, K A R A C H I, I S L A M A B A D, R A W A L P I N D I, Q U E T TA, A N D P E S H A W A R
Hassan takes over as PIO ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Senior Information Officer of Grade 20 Mubashir Hassan was appointed as Executive Director General/Principal Information Officer (BS-21) of the Press Information Department (PID) The appointment was made in accordance with subsection 10 of the Civil Servants Act, 1973, said a notification issued by the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting on Thursday Mubashir Hassan is a senior officer of Information Group who has held various important positions and also successfully completed National Security and War Course 2024 from National Defense University Islamabad recently
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday strongly condemned Friday s concert hall attack in the Russian capital Moscow “I strongly condemn the heinous attack in Moscow last night that has resulted in the loss of many precious lives My heartfelt condolences to families of the victims he said on X The premier said his country stands with Russia at this difficult time Gunmen opened fire at concertgoers late Friday, killing over 140 people and injuring dozens of others The attack took place as the rock band Picnic was about to perform at the Crocus City Hall just west of Moscow Militant group Da ish claimed responsibility for the attack but there were indications that Russia was pursuing a Ukrainian link, despite emphatic denials from Ukrainian officials that Kyiv had anything to do with it The FSB security service said “all four terrorists” had been arrested while heading to the Ukrainian border and that they had contacts in Ukraine It said they were being transferred to Moscow Now we know in which country these bloody bastards planned to hide from pursuit – Ukraine, Foreign Ministry spokeswoman Maria Zakharova said on Telegram A senior Russian lawmaker Andrei Kartapolov said that if Ukraine was involved then Russia must deliver a worthy clear and concrete reply on the battlefield Ukrainian military intelligence spokesman Andriy Yusov told Reuters: Ukraine was of course not involved in this terror attack Ukraine is defending its sovereignty from Russian invaders, liberating its own territory and is fighting with the occupiers’ army and military targets not civilians ” He said the FSB version that the suspects were arrested en route to Ukraine was of course another lie from the Russian special services The United States, European and Arab powers and many former Soviet republics expressed shock and sent their condolences The United Nations Security Council condemned what it called a “heinous and cowardly terrorist attack” Russia tightened security at airports transport hubs and across the capital – a vast urban area of over 21 million people – and big public events were cancelled across the country
PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has initiated a shake-up within the cabinet redistributing important roles among top officials mainly to Pakistan Muslim League-N (PMLN) leaders Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb finds himself removed from chairmanships in two crucial committees while Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar takes on a prominent role in financial affairs Under the prime minister s directive, four cabinet committees have been reconstituted Finance Minister Aurangzeb now chairs only one committee a departure from previous norms where finance ministers typically led three out of four committees The cabinet division has officially announced the reconstitution of these committees PM Shehbaz has retained leadership of the vital Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) instead of appointing Muhammad Aurangzeb as its head However, Aurangzeb will chair ECC meetings in the prime minister ’s absence Insiders within the PML-N suggest resistance to appointing the finance minister as ECC chairman, indicating a shift in dynamics within the party Furthermore, PM Shehbaz has appointed Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar as chairman of the Cabinet Committee on Privatisation (CCOP) a position previously held by the finance minister Amid discussions within the PML-N about appointing a new finance minister it was decided that Dar would remain involved in economic matters but in a different capacity Aurangzeb retains chairmanship of the cabinet committee on State-owned Enterprises (CCoSOEs) while Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal heads the Cabinet Committee on Chinese Investment Projects Additionally, new responsibilities have been delegated regarding the outsourcing of airports and privatisation of Pakistan International Airlines with Minister for Defense and Aviation Khawaja Asif assuming chairmanship of the relevant committee Aurangzeb ousted from key committees as Dar assumes prominent financial role g FINANCE MINISTER NOW CHAIRS ONLY ONE COMMITTEE, A DEPARTURE FROM THREE OUT OF FOUR COMMITTEES PR OFIT G H U L A M A B B A S While various committees of the newly formed cabinet continue to surprise with their chain of command the Prime Minister has unveiled a new and specialised committee This committee will be dedicated to enhancing the ease of doing business in the country, as per the notification received from the Prime Minister ’s house Chaired by Mr Abdul Aleem Khan Minister for Investment and Privatisation the committee boasts a lineup of distinguished members representing various governmental bodies, including chief secretaries from different provinces, Mr Hamid Yaqoob Sheikh, and delegates from pivotal organisations such as the Pakistan Single Window According to the World Bank s Ease of Doing Business report, Pakistan s ranking has fluctuated, reflecting persistent obstacles such as bureaucratic red tape complex tax regulations and insufficient infrastructure In the 2020 Doing Business report Pakistan ranked 108th out of 190 economies showing some improvement from previous years but still indicating significant room for enhancement Previously the country was even worse off, standing at 136 in 2019 In PTI’s tenure of 2018-2021 a high level steering committee was formed to oversee the progress of reforms on each of the 10 indicators measured under the ease of doing business report This resulted in significant improvement in Pakistan’s rankings however the new government has come up with a new more ambitious goal Outlined in its Terms of Reference (ToRs) the committee s key objectives include: Establishing an Investment Single Window: The committee aims to upgrade the investment landscape by streamlining processes ranging from approvals to utility connections through a centralised platform to bolster efficiency Developing Single Investor Interface: Building upon the success of the Pakistan Single Window (PSW) model this initiative seeks to empower investors to electronically submit all required documentation thereby curtailing paperwork and bureaucratic hurdles Cleansing Regulatory Requirements: The committee also endeavours to eliminate redundant and cumbersome regulations within a year This would curtail the key problems of unnecessary red tape around business This involves a lengthy permit approval and licensing process that leaves the businessman at the behest of the bureaucratic inefficiencies of the system Improving Pakistan’s Global Ranking: The committee has also set a rather ambitious target to propel Pakistan into the top 10 economies in the World Bank s Ease of Doing Business Report within three years It is important to note that Pakistan is currently not even in the top 100 countries as per the latest rankings As per the TORs this will be done by implementing transformative reforms to enhance Pakistan s global competitiveness Harmonising Provincial Regulations: Through the standardisation of regulations across provinces the committee also aspires to forge a unified nationallevel framework to facilitate investment seamlessly Aleem Khan to head c abinet committee on improving ease of doingbusiness. What measures will it take? g COMMITTEE AIMS TO BRING PAKISTAN UP BY A HUNDRED PLACES IN EODB RANKING WITHIN THREE YEARS
