Epaper_24-04-18 ISB

worded reaction to

development PTI senior leader Musaddiq Abbasi said that the accountability bureau and its Chairman were also part of the entire London Plan under which first, Nawaz and his sons were called from abroad to clear them of a whooping Rs1,100 billion corruption cases He said that now the watchdog proposed the court to exonerate Nawaz in Toshakhana case making mockery of the justice system in the country because the NAB was clearly siding with the thieves Brigadier (retd) Musaddiq stated that NAB could not close corruption cases rather it was duty-bond to recover all illegally taken gifts and vehicles from the thieves PTI leader revealed that 15 out of 25 witnesses had already appeared in the Toshakhana

East will be the most beautiful expressway of Punjab The chief minister was informed that an investor conference will be held in May for the construction of Multan-Vehari Expressway under public-private partnership

On the occasion, the chief minister was apprised that the construction and mainte-

Regulated tobacco sector urges stringent implementation of anti-tobacco laws

December 2023 This decline was attributed to high taxes on regulated cigarettes, widening the price gap between legal and illicit products and thus boosting the market share of taxevading entities

Ms Uroos underscored the rise of illicit cigarette manufacturers, particularly in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) and Azad Jammu & Kashmir (AJ&K) who are gaining substantial market share while contributing minimally to national revenue

presence of low-priced, non-tax-paid cigarettes in the country “The widespread availability of cheap illicit cigarettes is causing a significant decline in volumes for the regulated sector she stated during a media briefing here on Wednesday Highlighting the financial impact, the PMP team revealed an 86 percent decrease in total income during the fiscal period of January to

The surge in illegal cigarettes across Pakistan followed the increase in federal excise duty (FED) in February ’23, with the illicit market share now comprising 63 percent of the total market

Three main categories of illicit cigarettes were identified including smuggled packets mainly manufactured in the UAE, non-registered local cigarettes, and counterfeit prod-

ucts of registered brands These products evade taxes, selling at prices significantly lower than regulated brands Despite the introduction of tax stamps and the track & trace system to combat illicit tobacco trade implementation remains lacking with counterfeit cigarette packs openly available in markets

Responding to criticisms from anti-tobacco organizations regarding the effectiveness of tax increases on reducing smoking rates

Ms Uroos argued that these groups overlook the issue of illicit cigarettes, which bypass taxes and disregard health warning laws

She cautioned that further tax hikes coupled with inadequate enforcement would not only impact government revenue but also undermine public health objectives by driving consumers towards illicit alternatives

A U D I Foreign Minister Faisal ibn Farhan was in Pakistan with a large delegation, and by meeting the President Prime Minister Foreign Minister and Chief of Army Staff, seemed to touch all bases He made no announcement, even of follow-up, to compare with those made when Pakistani Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia a week ago which meant that his visit was essentially a follow-up It was also preparatory, for it was also meant to pave the way for a visit by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Muhammad Bin Salman who had agreed to visit Pakistan during Mr Sharif ’s visit However, there was an indication of the shift in the relationship s dynamics The shift was not sudden, for Prince Farhan s meeting with COAS Gen Asim Munir reflected the traditional security relationship as Pakistani forces are deployed in Saudi Arabia, thereby freeing up Saudi forces for other tasks However apart from the traditional aid of making deposits with the State Bank of Pakistan (the deposit amount having been increased to $5 billion during Mr Sharif s visit), there is a greater emphasis on investment Saudi Arabia intends to invest $5 billion in Pakistan centring around increased trade and commerce while apart from $21 billion to be put up in an oil refinery in Gwadar, and $7 billion in copper mines, not to mention an investment of $1 billion in the Reko Diq gold mining project Pakistani economic ties have been based on the large labour force of Pakistanis, who are both an important source of the energy of the Saudi economy and of foreign exchange remittances to Pakistan Apart from security and the economy Pakistan is tied to Saudi Arabia by religion, as it is home to two of the holiest sites in Islam, the religion of the overwhelming majority of Pakistanis Concern about the third site Masjid Al-Aqsa came through when Mr Ibn Farhan and his counterpart both condemned the Gaza situation Both

W h a t t h e y d o n o t t e l l y o u

U s u a l l y k n o w i n g l y s o

there If you allow them to convince you that you can slim down by eating/drinking certain things, you are in for endless frustration because that is simply never going to happen Unfortunately, there is nothing in this world that makes an individual shed excess kilograms by the simple (and pleasant) act of getting outside it It is safe to say that had anybody discovered such a magic substance there would not be so many overweight people everywhere Except water and fibre, everything one eats or drinks comes with calories of its own (whether more or less), and needs to be included in the balance sheet If you refuse to account for it your body certainly will; and the results will be there for all to see There is no free lunch may be a figurative expression but it is literally true as well

Things other than exercise and diet can be significant too, but only indirectly so Support and encouragement from friends and loved ones are crucial because they keep one focused in the face of temptations of junk food and laziness Appreciation also motivates one to keep it up when one is doing well on the diet and work-out fronts Having genuine interests and avocations in life go a very long way towards helping maintain this sort of discipline Continuity of purpose in life helps like nothing else can as all these things undeniably are; from the perspective of weight

management they are important not in themselves but, because of how they affect one s lifestyle (quality and quantity of one s diet and workout regimen)

Similarly, sufficient sleep is a great help too But not because there is something intrinsically weightreducing in it but because of the decreased appetite levels it causes (leading to less consumption as a result) No to mention all the trips to the refrigerator you do not make on account of being asleep The same goes for dark chocolate, boiled vegetables and the like They help you slim down not because there is some mysterious or magic ingredient in them, but by virtue of (and strictly to the extent of) making you feel satiated enough to keep the more calorie-rich items at bay Massage is an especially tricky one There is no denying the various scientific studies that have demonstrated its efficacy as a weight reducing activity The source of the misconception surrounding it is probably the fact that most people fail to appreciate the rather subtle point that according to all studies it is the masseur who ends up shedding weight; never the individual enjoying the massage

The author is a connoisseur of music literature and food (but not drinks) He can be reached at www facebook com/hasanaftabsaeed

immensely

management This obvious and simple fact (despite

simplicity or probably because of it) cannot be stressed enough That is, in the final analysis, you lose weight as a result of two things and two things alone: exercising and eating/drinking less (not more) Do not let anybody tell you otherwise, no matter how fit or pretty It is usual for models and actresses to give health and fitness tips on TV and the internet that revolve around eating this or drinking that Whether they do it as part of a planned marketing campaign or because they do not want to give away the real secret – the way they have done it (i e exercise and careful diet), is neither here nor

T h i n g s o t h e r t h a n ex e rc i s e a n d d i e t c a n b e s i g n i f i c a n t t o o , bu t o n ly i n d i r e c t ly s o S u p p o r t a n d e n c o u r a g e m e n t f ro m f r i e n d s a n d l ov e d o n e s a r e c r u c i a l b e c a u s e t h ey k e e p o n e fo c u s s e d i n t h e f a c e o f t e m p t a t i o n s o f j u n k fo o d a n d l a z i n e s s A p p r e c i a t i o n a l s o m o t i va t e s o n e t o k e e p i t u p w h e n o n e i s d o i n g w e l l o n t h e d i e t a n d wo r k - o u t f ro n t s H av i n g g e n u i n e i n t e r e s t s a n d avo c a t i o n s i n l i f e g o a v e r y l o n g w ay t ow a rd s h e l p i n g m a i n t a i n t h i s s o r t o f d i s c i p l i n e

Lahore

Utilizing waste for energy can generate electricity, provide fuel for heating, create jobs, reduce global warming, and contribute to effective waste management Most of the rural areas are deprived of gas and electricity It will also fulfil rural areasÊ energy needs, decreasing the energy dependence on fossil fuels since they can produce their own fuel and electricity

HASAN AFTAB SAEED

return to Myanmar has drawn censure from Bangladesh and international human rights organizations sparking concerns regarding humanitarian principles and refugee rights

Ia similar incident where a US Justice Department indictment suggested involvement of an Indian government official in orchestrating the assassination of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun The US Department of Justice leveled charges against an Indian individual accusing him of collaborating with the Indian government to execute the planned assassination of a Sikh separatist leader in New York The formal accusations, linking Prime Minister Narendra Modi s government to the attempted murder of US citizen Gurpatwant Singh Pannun followed leaks to newspapers referencing the case The US Justice Department announced murder-for-hire and conspiracy charges

against Indian national Nikhil Gupta 52 who is believed to reside in India Federal prosecutors identified Gupta as an associate of an Indian government agency employee referred to as “CC-1” described as a senior field officer with experience in security management and intelligence previously associated with the Central Reserve Police Force

The indictment claimed that CC-1 directed the assassination plot from India, recruiting Gupta around May 2023 to coordinate it Gupta allegedly contacted an individual he believed to be a criminal associate who unbeknownst to Gupta was actually a confidential informant working for US law enforcement

This informant then connected Gupta with an undercover law enforcement officer posing as a “hitman” for the Drug Enforcement Administration (DEA) Gupta agreed to pay the hitman $100 000 for the task providing him with an advance of $15 000 in cash in Manhattan around June 9 Gupta was subsequently apprehended and detained by Czech authorities on June 30, facing a maximum sentence of 20 years if convicted, with the federal district court responsible for determining the sentence India s neighboring countries have grown weary of its actions with a burgeoning India Out movement gaining traction across these nations In a neighboring country last year, Muhammad Muizhu, who campaigned for the presidential election under the slogan ‘India Out’ secured victory over the so-called pro-India President Muhammad Saleh Following this triumph Muhammed Muizzu gravitated towards China, pressuring India to withdraw its forces from Maldives in the name of security, a process now underway Resentment towards India is widespread among its neighbours Pakistan contends with terrorism originating from India pro-China sentiments in Nepal are fueled by disdain for Indian influence, Sri Lanka experiences tensions with India due to Tamil and Basism issues, Maldives expelled Indian presence, Bhutan gravitates towards China, and a burgeoning ‘India Out’ movement has emerged in Bangladesh This campaign initiated by influencers social activists influential figures and supported by the public and sections of opposition politicians, gained momentum following the Awami League s recent victory in

an election boycotted by the opposition party

BNP A video shared by a social media user recently depicted discussions on boycotting Indian products under the ‘India Out’ campaign by the People’s Activists Coalition a coalition spearheading the movement

In the intricate landscape of South Asian geopolitics the relationship between India and Pakistan has long been characterized by tensions, rivalries, and occasional conflicts

Amidst this backdrop, discussions regarding potential Indian involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs have surfaced intermittently igniting debates and raising profound inquiries about the intricacies of regional power dynamics security considerations and the pursuit of national interests

Accusations of Indian interference in Pakistan’s internal matters have remained a recurring motif in the bilateral relationship between the two nuclear-armed neighbors Indian intelligence agencies are purportedly linked to supporting separatist movements inciting unrest in sensitive regions such as Balochistan and Gilgit-Baltistan, and allegedly backing terrorist activities within Pakistani territory

The scenario of Indian intervention in Pakistan’s internal affairs carries significant security ramifications for the region and beyond Existing tensions between India and Pakistan, already strained by territorial disputes, cross-border terrorism, and ideological disparities, could potentially escalate further if suspicions of Indian meddling gain traction within Pakistani political and military circles

Heightened security protocols military mobilizations and diplomatic maneuvers could exacerbate instability in the region raising concerns regarding the likelihood of armed conflict and its catastrophic repercussions for millions of people residing on both sides of the border The theoretical disclosure of Indian involvement in Pakistan’s internal affairs would likely precipitate a diplomatic crisis between the two nations with repercussions extending beyond bilateral relations to impact regional and global dynamics

Recent reports in The Guardian allege that the Indian intelligence agency has been responsible for the deaths of 20 individuals in Pakistan since 2020 According to the publication sleeper cells associated with Indian intelligence have been active in operations within Pakistan The report further asserts that these operations, purportedly orchestrated by

the Indian government, have been directed by the Research and Analysis Wing (RAW), under the auspices of the Indian Prime Minister ’s Office Allegedly, Indian intelligence operations have also targeted Sikh separatists affiliated with the Khalistan Movement in Western countries An Indian intelligence official cited by the newspaper purportedly indicated that Indian intelligence operations abroad were inspired by the practices of Israeli and Russian intelligence agencies India manoeuvres through a complex matrix of international relations on the global stage encountering challenges in fostering positive relationships with various countries The relationship between India and China is characterized by a multifaceted blend of economic collaboration, geopolitical rivalry, and territorial disputes

Escalating border tensions particularly along the Line of Actual Control (LAC) in the Himalayas have resulted in fatal clashes and military standoffs in recent years exacerbating mistrust and competition for regional influence between the two Asian powers, thereby posing significant challenges to regional stability and security While India and the USA share strategic interests and cooperate across multiple domains including defence and counterterrorism their relationship has been marred by trade disputes and policy divergences Frictions over tariffs, market access, and intellectual property rights have strained economic ties, leading to trade tensions and retaliatory measures Additionally disparities regarding issues such as climate change human rights and geopolitical alignments have occasionally strained diplomatic relations, underscoring the intricacies of managing a multifaceted partnership India’s relationship with Nepal, its landlocked northern neighbour has encountered hurdles in recent times primarily stemming from border disputes and perceived instances of interference in Nepal s internal affairs

The recent inauguration of a road by India in the disputed region of Lipulekh Pass has once again ignited tensions between the two nations Diplomatic disputes, trade interruptions and nationalist fervour have strained bilateral relations complicating efforts towards reconciliation and collaboration India s rapport with Bangladesh a significant regional ally, has encountered obstacles, particularly concerning the Rohingya refugee crisis and disagreements over water distribution India’s stance on the Rohingya predicament which includes advocating for their

BMoreover, disagreements over water-sharing arrangements, notably concerning the Teesta River, have exacerbated tensions between the two nations, underscoring the challenges of managing transboundary water resources

In the intricate fabric of international relations the principle of non-interference in the internal affairs of sovereign states stands as a pillar of stability, peace, and mutual respect among nations Nonetheless, instances of foreign intervention in the domestic affairs of other nations persist presenting significant challenges to global security sovereignty and the rule of law

At the core of the imperative to prevent foreign intervention lies the principle of safeguarding the sovereignty and independence of nations Every nation possesses the inherent right to determine its political system, governance structures and socio-economic policies without external coercion or intrusion By honoiring states sovereignty the international community upholds the principle of equal rights and mutual respect among nations, fostering an environment conducive to peaceful coexistence and collaboration Foreign intervention in the internal affairs of other nations often undermines peace and stability exacerbating tensions conflicts and instability Efforts to manipulate or influence domestic political processes, incite violence, or support insurgent groups can deepen existing grievances and divisions within societies By respecting states’ sovereignty and territorial integrity the international community can prevent conflicts from escalating and promote peaceful dispute resolution through dialogue negotiation and diplomacy The prohibition against foreign intervention in the affairs of other nations is enshrined in international law and norms, including the United Nations Charter and customary international law States are obliged to refrain from interfering in the internal affairs of other sovereign nations as outlined in the principle of non-intervention Upholding these legal principles and norms reinforces the rule of law and strengthens the foundations of the international order, fostering trust, predictability and

l s h o t d ow n t h e m a j o r i t y o f I ra n i a n d ro n e s a n d m i s s i l e s

last November, 550 economists called for ambitious debt cancellation to allow global south governments to respond to their immediate and long-term development needs including the climate crisis At a time when global solidarity is pivotal to averting environmental disaster, that would be both a radical and a realistic approach The

from subSaharan Africa to the Caribbean will continue to go backwards, haemorrhaging the cash they need to fund social services and combat the climate emergency A recent United Nations Development Programme (UNDP) study found that lowincome countries are spending far more on debt repayments to creditors than on social assistance or healthcare Meanwhile the fragility of the global economic recovery and higher interest rates in advanced economies have led foreign lenders to back away from extending new loans Faced with a crisis that directly impacts on key international priorities, a business-as-usual approach is both unethical and unsustainable Belatedly rich

sues do not have a high resonance in comparison to livelihood concerns But the survey also shows that the BJP and its allies have a comfortable 12 percentage point lead over the INDIA bloc, with leadership and socio-cultural issues determining higher preference for the ruling party The dichotomy in voter perceptions on key issues versus

Ccore of China’s core interests, and it will never be compromised

The PLA will not tolerate any Taiwan secessionists activities or external support Dong told Austin via the video call The current situation in the South China Sea is generally stable, and regional countries have the willingness, wisdom and capability to resolve issues The US should recognize China’s firm stance respect China’s territorial sovereignty and maritime rights in the South China Sea and take practical actions to maintain regional peace and stability and the stability of China-US military relations, Dong said Meanwhile, the economic and financial working groups of China and the US held their fourth meeting in Washington DC on Tuesday with the two sides engaging in in-depth pragmatic and constructive dialogue on how to implement the consensus reached earlier by the leaders of both nations, the macroeconomic situations of both countries and the world how to achieve balanced growth and other topics The fourth meeting came after the US

Treasury Secretary Janet Yellen wrapped up a high-stakes six-day visit to China last week during which the two countries reached new areas of consensuses in economic and financial fields and also agreed on future meeting arrangements

From the meeting between the leaders of China and the US in San Francisco last November to their phone call in early April this year there has been effective communication between the two sides in practical areas Regardless of whether differences still exist, the communication itself is effective and represents a breakthrough, some Chinese experts said Analyzing statements released by the US Li Haidong a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University believes US sincerity in communication and exchanges with China is insufficient

The starting point of their communication is not aimed at moving toward China to better manage differences and resolve conflicts Instead the US is motivated by the need to bolster its allies confidence in how it handles relations with China demonstrating its capability to keep China-US relations under control This, in turn, assures its allies to more confidently follow the US in its strategic competition with China ” Li told media on Wednesday

The latest talk between the defense chiefs of the two countries which is a

major breakthrough in fully resuming the military-to-military communication is likely to add possibilities for a future face-to-face meeting at Shangri-La Dialogue in Singapore later once both sides confirm their attendances, some experts said But there are still many uncertainties, which are largely linked to the upcoming actions of the US or whether the US will challenge and break China s bottom line on its core interests A US P-8A anti-submarine patrol aircraft flew through the Taiwan Straits

times, resolutely safeguarding national sovereign security and regional peace and stability the spokesperson added In a readout issued by the Pentagon on Tuesday it reiterated that the US remains committed to our longstanding one China policy, which is guided by the Taiwan Relations Act, the Three US-China Joint Communiques, and the

Congratulations to Shaza Fatima Khawaja on her appointment as Minister for IT and Telecom!

K aspersky uncovers 100 unique infostealer malware types targeting internet users

Evaluation committee recommends10 high-yielding pulses varieties to boost loc al agric ultural produc tion

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T (PR&P PARC) Variety Evaluation Committee (VEC) meeting of Pulses held at the Pakistan Agricultural Research Council (PARC) concluded with the unanimous recommendation of ten high-yielding pulses varieties poised to revolutionize agriculture in Pakistan Pulses play a crucial role in global food security and nutrition of the country Pakistan needs 1 56 mil-

lion tons of pulses annually We have become self-sufficient in mung production during 2021-22 which was 0 263 million tons against the total requirement of 0 180 million tons Nowthe country is focusing on increasing the production of other pulse crops, such as chickpea, lentil and mash bean The meeting was attended by representatives from the Federal Seed Certification and Registration Department (FSC&RD) Ministry of National Food Security & Research (MNFS&R) as well as scientists from pulses research institutes across the country Member Plant Sciences Division (PSD) PARC Dr Imtiaz Hussain presided over the VEC meeting Dr Muhammad Mansoor National Coordinator Food Legumes, PARC, Islamabad presented 10 candidate varieties before the committee After detailed deliberations, VEC recommended 10 pulses varieties that included 05 chickpea and 01 mung bean variety of NIAB Faisalabad 01 lentil and 01 mung bean variety of Pulses

Iraqi observed that we need to do more work to empower women in Pakistan He said that women should have the freedom to make their own decisions about their future He informed that women are strong pillars of society and no civilized society can be developed without them

A speaker the Director of the State Bank of Pakistan Museum Dr Asma Ibrahim said that the purpose of coming into the world is not just

the apprehension of numerous accused individuals, who were subsequently detained for identification parades subjected to physical remands or involved in investigative procedures before being discharged or remanded to judicial custody on various occasions The petitioner argued that obvious bad intentions’ are apparent from the procedural mistakes and illegal actions Two additional PTI leaders one of whom was an accused were implicated in this case at a later stage despite their prior incarceration since May 2023 Supplementary challan reports under section 173 of CrPC were once again submitted before the adjudicating trial court concerning their involvement Following the framing of charges on November 21 2023 the court ordered the trial of the accused to be conducted within the confines of the central jail, under an order issued on October 4, 2023 The approval was granted for the trial concerning the aforementioned FIR filed with the Sarwar Road police in central jail Lahore The petitioner implores that an examination of the contents of the impugned order reveals an absence of reference to the competent authority or cabinet approval, either at the provincial or federal level The former governor alleged that the order was issued by a section officer on behalf of the additional

The Bahawalnagar incident which drew widespread attention after videos depicting individuals in army uniforms purportedly assaulting police officials circulated on social media, sparked outrage among citizens and journalists alike Addressing the events on Friday the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) issued a statement emphasising that prompt action was taken to address as well as resolve the matter collaboratively between the military and police authorities

ISPR regretted that certain elements with ulterior motives exploited the situation to propagate divisive narratives on social media aiming to sow discord between state institutions and government bodies The Punjab Police also denounced what they termed as

false propaganda surrounding the incident on various social media platforms Later, senior officers from both institutions mediated a peace agreement between the police and military personnel In a video of the occasion officers from both sides can be seen chanting slogans in support of the Pakistan Army and Punjab Police in the presence of their respective superiors Addressing the media at Rawalpindi’s Adiala Jail Imran remarked that the treatment meted out to Punjab Police officials in

Bahawalnagar was akin to that of slaves rather than brothers He lamented the prevailing state of affairs, attributing it to what he termed as the “law of the jungle” prevailing in the country Khan cautioned against acquiring loans from the International Monetary Fund (IMF), predicting a new wave of inflation, and highlighted the risks to the economy and the exacerbation of poverty due to a dearth of investment

He stressed that the country s governance lacked adherence to the Constitution, rule of law, or democracy, asserting that stability in the economy and currency cannot be achieved through loans Khan warned that IMF loans would unleash inflation, disproportionately affecting the salaried and impoverished segments of society Moreover he underscored that the dearth of investment would escalate debt and poverty, imperiling the country’s future The former prime minister lamented that over the past 18 months Pakistanis had made substantial

wishes for

and development of

leadership and people, reaffirming PTI’s dedication to playing a constructive role in this regard The latest development adds to a series of controversies involving Marwat who has previously caused internal discord within the party RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T Security forces on Tuesday killed at least seven terrorists trying to infiltrate the Pak-Afghanistan border in the KP s North Waziristan district, the military’s media wing said in a statement “On 16 April 2024 movement of a group of

try-

to

Afghanistan

by security forces in general area Spinkai, Ghulam Khan of North Waziristan District,” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said The statement said that the infiltrators were surrounded effectively engaged and after an intense fire exchange all seven territories were killed A large quantity of weapons, ammunition and explosives was also recovered from the killed terrorists ” it added ISPR said that Pakistan has consistently been asking the interim Afghan government to ensure effective border management on their side of the border “Interim Afghan government is expected to fulfil its obligations and deny the use of Afghan soil by terrorists for perpetuating acts of terrorism against Pakistan it added It further said that the security forces of Pakistan are determined and remain committed to securing its borders and eliminating the menace of terrorism from the country Yesterday the military top brass had described terrorist groups

operating from Afghanistan as proxies acting against Pakistan and its economic interests especially the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) posing a threat to regional and global security Chairing the 264th Corps Commanders Conference at the General Headquarters, Chief of Army Staff (COAS) Gen Syed Asim Munir directed the top military commanders to pro-actively deny any space to the terrorists the ISPR said in a news release According to the ISPR, Gen Asim praised the untiring efforts of the army and the law enforcement agencies (LEAs) in successfully thwarting several terrorist attacks and neutralising key terrorist commanders during the ongoing counterterrorism operations