Epaper_24-04-30 ISB

GovT ImPlemenTInG ‘deeP-rooTed’

reFormS: Pm

PRIYADH

S TA F F R E P O R T

R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday highlighted Pakistan’s commitment to implement deep-rooted structural reforms and meaningful austerity measures expressing determination to address the nation s challenges amid challenging circumstances

He was speaking at the plenary meeting of the special World Economic Forum (WEF) session on the theme of Rejuvenating Growth

The prime minister underscored the urgent need to address revenue leakages, citing a staggering loss of revenue due to systemic loopholes “Our revenue sector is in tatters and what we receive annually in revenue we lose four times due to leakages in the system Unless we plug loopholes we will not recover from our problems in revenue collection, he explained PM Shehbaz identified inflation and the debt trap as critical concerns, describing the latter as a “death trap ” “Unless we tackle these issues head-on we cannot achieve sustainable economic growth, he added Expressing gratitude for support from Saudi Arabia and the UK, the premier acknowledged assistance in overcoming economic challenges particularly in sectors like health and education A friend in need is a friend indeed We are grateful for the unwavering support of our allies during these trying times,” he remarked

Shehbaz lamented the state of Pakistan’s power sector citing widespread

He highlighted significant steps taken including the

ciency in our institutions he stated Shifting to global concerns, PM Shehbaz emphasised the importance of permanent peace in Gaza for global stability He received applause as he called for global efforts towards peace in the region declaring The world will not be in peace unless there is a permanent peace in Gaza He cited the conflict in Ukraine, which led to soaring commodity prices, hampering Pakistan’s ability to import vital raw materials He also addressed the devastating floods of 2022 which inflicted significant economic losses and required substantial relief efforts We faced unprecedented challenges, but through resilience and cooperation, we will emerge stronger,” he asserted

PM attends Special Dialogue hosted by Prince Muhammed bin Salman

RIYADH

S TA F F R E P O R T

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif attended the Special Dialogue and Gala Dinner on Sunday evening hosted by Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman during the ongoing Special Meeting of the World Economic Forum (WEF) in Riyadh During the event, the prime minister exchanged views with the crown prince on matters of bilateral interest He congratulated the Saudi leadership on the successful organisation of the WEF special meeting and the excellent arrangements by the hosts Recalling his recent meeting in Makkah with the crown prince during his visit to Saudi Arabia in Ramazan the prime minister thanked Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman for sending a high-powered delegation to Pakistan led by Foreign Minister Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah The prime minister said that he had brought with him a high-powered delegation to Riyadh including key ministers responsible for investment, so that follow-up meetings could take place between relevant officials The prime minister conveyed his good wishes for the health happiness and long life of the Custodian of the Two Holy Mosques King Salman bin Abdulaziz Al Saud In addition to bilateral ties, the regional situation, particularly the crisis in Gaza also came under discussion Shehbaz reiterated his invitation to Crown Prince Mohammed to undertake an official visit to Pakistan at his earliest convenience

Pleas seeking Justice Babar Sattar’s recusal from audio leaks case disposed of

The Islamabad High Court (IHC) disposed of on Monday pleas by federal authorities seeking the recusal of Justice Babar Sattar from the audio leaks case Justice Sattar heard the applications and also fined the petitioners Rs0 5 million each The petitions were submitted by the IB, FIA, PTA and PEMRA During the hearing the justice inquired who gave the federal agencies authority to file the pleas The IB FIA PTA and PEMRA are serious institutions who gave them the authority to file the pleas? I will decide after listening to their arguments? argued the judge Additional Attorney General (AAG) Munawar Iqbal Dogal replied that the FIA requested to transfer the case to another court, as the agency had objected to Justice Sattar hearing the case as he was one of the six judges who penned a letter alleging interference in judicial matters by intelligence agencies

To this Justice Sattar inquired what was the link between the FIA and ISI and asked if the FIA was a proxy of the ISI? The judges of this court support Justice Shaukat Siddiqui s allegations, the judges also backed the demand for a probe into the allegations, the part of the letter you read is related to the ISI and not the FIA Does the FIA have anything to do with installing hidden cameras in judges houses? The AAG however replied in the negative and stated that he read the mentioned portion of the letter as it discussed the role of agencies Is this how you will define conflict of interest, the judge asked while referring to the pleas “If the executive blackmails the judges, will the judges then have a conflict of interest,” Justice Sattar inquired The court then disposed of the petitions with a fine and also hinted at contempt of court action against DG FIA The court expressing annoyance sought a reply from the IB regarding who directed the bureau to file the plea and also summoned the joint DG Expressing annoyance on the petitions, the IHC sought the IB’s reply on who directed the filing of the applications and also summoned the Joint DG IB Justice Sattar stated that the purpose of such pleas was to influence judicial proceedings Members of the legal faculty present in the courtroom also lauded the move by the IHC justice The FIA PTA PEMRA and IB had moved the court on Saturday seeking Justice Sattar s recusal from the case The applications contended that another IHC bench had already issued a verdict in a similar case

COA S, Turkish militar y chief discuss measure to enhance defence cooperation

Fazl backs PTI’s right to hold protest demonstrations

Chief of his own faction of Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F), Maulana Fazlur Rehman, has spoken out in support of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf ’s (PTI) right to hold a rally while also raising objections to the integrity of recent elections Fazl s remarks came during a session of the National Assembly chaired by Speaker Sardar Ayaz Sadiq on Monday

He affirmed, “It is the right of PTI to hold a rally I support the demand of Asad Qaiser We also objected to the 2018 election and we object to this (February 8 polls) one too If 2018 poll was rigged why the current one is not rigged today?

The session saw Asad Qaiser, the opposition leader from PTI, raising concerns regarding human rights and advocating for the party’s right to organise a rally

Following Qaiser ’s address Maulana Fazlur Rehman took the floor stating “The demand of Asad Qaiser is correct and it is the right of PTI to hold a rally He added that while talks with PTI have not yet commenced, his party harbours no opposition to them Fazl urged a thorough examination of the country s current situation, expressing dismay over what he perceived as a diminishing role of the establishment and bureaucracy “The establishment and bureaucracy had no role in achieving this country where does the bureaucracy and establishment stand today and where are the people?

He stressed the need for transparency and fairness in the electoral process, cautioning against compromises that could undermine democratic principles

Expressing dissatisfaction with the conduct of recent elections the JUI-F chief criticised what he described as flaws in the electoral system He remarked What kind of election is this where the losers are not satisfied and the winners are also upset the winners own leaders are rejecting their mandate ” He drew parallels with neighbouring India highlighting economic challenges faced by Pakistan and questioning the nation s adherence to its Islamic identity Where does democracy stand today? We compromised on the original and sold our democracy we made our ‘masters’ with our own hands today we cannot even make laws of our own will Just compare India and ourselves both countries were freed on the same day today they (India) are dreaming of becoming a superpower and we are on the verge of bankruptcy the forces behind the wall that control us make decisions but it us who are humiliated in front of whole world ” He lamented the failure to implement recommendations from the Council of Islamic Ideological (CII) emphasising the importance of upholding Islamic principles

and regional issues matters relating to enhancing the level and scope of bilateral military engagements and cooperation were discussed The dignitary lauded the high professionalism of Pakistan Armed Forces and acknowledged their sacrifices in fight against terrorism Earlier upon arrival at Joint Staff Headquarters a smartly turned-out tri-services contingent presented Guard of Honour to the visiting dignitary

g GLOBAL LENDER’S BOARD SUPPORTS NEW BAILOUT FOR CONTINUED ECONOMIC STABILIZATION AND STRUCTURAL REFORMS IN SOUTH ASIAN NATION

Every individual Pakistani owes Rs300,000 debt we ve turned the nation into a crowd Obtained in the name of Islam, today we have become a secular state Since 1973, not a single recommendation of the Council of Islamic Ideological (CII) has been implemented How can we be an Islamic country? We are begging to avoid bankruptcy and the IMF tranche is being celebrated today Earlier in the session, Asad Qaiser had questioned the existence of basic human rights in the country and criticised the imposition of Section 144, which restricts public gatherings He also expressed concerns about the weakening of the assembly comparing it unfavuorably to the Majlis-e-Shura of 1985

MARI PETROLEUM APPROVES RS2.5BN INVESTMENT IN ITS MINING SUBSIDIARY

MTPL, Abhi to submit binding offer to acquire majority stake in FINCA Microfinance Bank

The Monetary Policy Committee (MPC) of the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has decided to keep the policy rate unchanged at 22% for the seventh constant session

According to a press statement issued by the central bank on Monday the Committee noted that the macroeconomic stabilisation measures are contributing to considerable improvement in both inflation and external position amidst moderate economic recovery

However the MPC viewed that the level of inflation is still high At the same time, global commodity prices appear to have bottomed out with resilient global growth The recent geopolitical events have also added uncertainty about their outlook Moreover the upcoming budgetary measures may have implications for the near-term inflation outlook, the statement added

On balance, the Committee stressed the continuation of the current monetary policy stance to bring inflation down to the target range of 5% to 7% by September 2025

Since its last meeting the MPC noted the following key developments First, data for the first half of FY24 suggests that economic activity is recovering at a moderate pace, led by strong rebound in agriculture sector

Second the current account recorded a sizable surplus in March 2024 which helped to stabilize the SBP s FX reserves despite substantial debt repayments and weak financial inflows Third, inflation expectations of consumers inched up in April 2024, whereas those for businesses declined And lastly leading central banks

particularly in advanced economies have adopted cautious policy stance after noticing some slowdown in the pace of disinflation in recent months

REAL SECTOR

Incoming data continues to support the MPC s earlier expectation of a moderate recovery in this fiscal year with real GDP growth projected to remain in the range of 2% to 3% the statement said It further added that the agriculture sector remains the key driver with robust 6 8% growth in the first quarter of FY24

This outcome was supported by a significant increase in rice, cotton, maize and wheat harvests, according to the latest official estimates In the industrial sector large-scale manufacturing reported a 0 5 percent decline in JulyFebruary FY24 compared to a 4 0% contraction recorded in the same period last year, the MPC elaborated In the services sector, the Committee noted that the growth in H1 was slightly lower than expected reflecting the impact of subdued demand Based on relatively improved capacity utilization and business sentiments, as well as low base effect from last year, the MPC expects value-addition from the manufacturing and services sectors to recover in the coming months

EXTERNAL SECTOR The current account has turned out better than expected recording a sizable surplus of $619 million in March 2024, mainly owing to the Eid-related surge in workers’ remittances Cumulatively the current account

the

moderate economic activity This reduction in the current account deficit – amidst weak financial inflows –allowed SBP to make sizable debt repayments including that of a $1 billion Eurobond, while sustaining the SBP s FX reserves of around $8 0 billion The MPC emphasized that a further build-up in FX buffers is essential to enhance the country’s ability to effectively respond to external shocks and support sustainable economic growth

FISCAL SECTOR

In line with fiscal consolidation efforts, the primary surplus increased to 1 8% of GDP during July-January FY24 from 1 1% in the same period last year

This improvement is mainly led by a continuous increase in revenue collection and some restrain on non-interest expenditures A sizeable increase in both tax and non-tax revenues largely reflects the impact of taxation measures and ongoing economic recovery

The interest payments however have increased due to high debt levels and the government s reliance on expensive domestic borrowing

As a result, the overall deficit increased to 2 6% of GDP during JulyJanuary FY24 from 2 3 percent in the same period last year The MPC reiterated that the continuation of fiscal consolidation particularly through broadening the tax base and reducing losses of public sector enterprises, is essential for price stability and durable economic growth

MONEY AND CREDIT The broad money (M2) growth increased to 17 1% year-on-year in March 2024 from 16 1% in February 2024 In the same period, reserve money growth increased to 10 percent from 8 2 percent The increase in M2 was primarily attributed to expansion in net

foreign assets on the back of improved FX reserves and increased net budgetary borrowing from commercial banks On the other hand private sector credit continues to show a broad-based deceleration The MPC viewed that the recent growth in monetary aggregates is expected to decelerate in the coming months and this has already started to be reflected in the latest data Moreover the MPC viewed that the underlying compositional changes in M2 will have a positive impact on the inflation outlook

INFLATION OUTLOOK

In line with the MPC’s expectations, inflation has continued to moderate noticeably in the second half of the FY24 Headline inflation in March declined to 20 7% YoY from 23 1% in February In the same period, core inflation fell significantly to 15 7% from 18 1% in February Besides the coordinated tight monetary and fiscal policy response other factors that have led to this favorable outcome include lower global commodity prices, improved food supplies and high base effect The Committee was in the view that inflation to continue to remain on downward trajectory However the Committee also noted that this inflation outlook is susceptible to risks emanating from the recent global oil price volatility along with bottoming out of other commodity prices; potential inflationary impact of resolution of circular debt in the energy sector; and tax rate-driven fiscal consolidation going forward Cognizant of these risks the Committee assessed that it is prudent to continue with the current monetary policy stance at this stage, with significant positive real interest rates

Pakistan mulls introducing digital currency

g McKinsey to facilitate comprehensive digitalisation of economy, says finance minister

PR OFIT Ag e n c i e s

Pakistan s Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb said that the government is considering the possibility of introducing digital currency within its borders Speaking at the World Economic Forum (WEF) special meeting in Riyadh Finance Minister Aurangzeb expressed Pakistan s contemplation towards digital currency adoption We generate Rs9 4 trillion in annual revenues, yet half of our economy remains undocumented,” he stated Aurangzeb further said that an agreement was signed with McKinsey on Friday to facilitate comprehensive digitalisation of the economy They are going to come in and help us with the end-to-end digitalisation of our economy, the finance minister said Finance Minister Aurangzeb emphasized the urgent need to implement a framework for a green tax economy Even international institutions like the World Bank (WB) are exploring innovative financing structures he added The minister stressed the combination of domestic efforts and international financing to meet the country s financial requirements Back in July 2023, State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) Governor Jameel Ahmad revealed that the central bank was working on a plan to launch Pakistan’s first digital currency known as the Central Bank Digital Currency (CBDC) He made these remarks while briefing Senate s Standing Committee on Finance and Revenue The meeting was held under the chairmanship of Senator Saleem Mandviwalla at Parliament House The committee was told that many central banks are working to launch digital currency on a pilot basis and the SBP is trying to learn from their experience

UNAWARE OF ANY DIALOGUE BET WEEN PTI, ESTABLISHMENT:

INTERIOR MINISTER NAQVI

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

INTERIOR Minister Mohsin Naqvi Monday said that he has no information about any deal between the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

SHC orders payment of compensation to missing persons’ families

deal while speaking

remarks come as purported talks

the establishment have been the talk of

bench of the Sindh High Court (SHC) on Monday hearing missing persons case ordered payment of compensation to the

that the officials don t know the court orders about inquiry search and payment of compensation to the families of disappeared persons The court expressed disappointment over the government and police department’s performance with regard to the 11 missing persons’ case “The court had ordered payment of compensation to the families of missing persons Justice Zulfiqar Ali Sangi said The police officers and secretaries were in sleep for last three months, Justice Sangi questioned A police officer told the court that the whereabouts of a missing person have been traced, he was found transferred in the next hearing Isn’t it mockery with the court ” Justice Zulfiqar Sangi said Letters written to various institutions with no reply the police officers will now say we don t know when and how it will happen Justice Arshad Hussain said The court also expressed anger over the federal and provincial government lawyers “They come with the case, but don’t know anything ” the bench remarked

K arakoram Highway closed bet ween Kohistan, Gilgit due to rains, landslides

GILGIT

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Kohistan-Gilgit section of the Karakoram Highway has been closed off due to severe landslides triggered by recent heavy rains

Due to the recent rains debris from the landslide is still present on the road at the Doga bridge near Barsin The closure which has been in effect since Sunday, has disrupted land connectivity between Gilgit and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, affecting travel and trade in the region Efforts to reopen the highway have been hampered by the presence of mountain debris on the road Despite machinery being dispatched to the site clearance work has been delayed pending

favourable weather conditions The spokesman for the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa tourism authority has assured that once the weather clears efforts to clear the debris and reopen the highway will commence promptly He said the authority had issued an alert to tourists last night Hundreds of travellers are stranded in various areas of Kohistan and Diamer The work for the rehabilitation of the Karakoram Highway could not be started till now Furthermore a spokesman for the National Highway Authority has said that in view of the heavy rains, there are risks of landslides at several places on the Karakoram Highway A clearing operation is underway wherever possible he said adding that due to adverse weather conditions they have encountered difficulties

removing the debris The NHA

public

Govt implementing ‘deeprooted ’ struc tural reforms: PM Defence Minister, Commander Turkish Land Forces discuss defence collaboration

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Defence and Defence Production Khawaja Muhammad Asif was called on by Commander of Turkish Land Forces General Selcuk Bayraktaroglu on Monday Welcoming the dignitary, the Defence Minister expressed satisfaction over common understanding on regional and global geo-political situation Both sides acknowledged the strong relationship between their Armed Forces and committed to further expand defence collaboration said a news release Khawaja Asif also appreciated Turkiye s strong support for Pakistan on multiple foras He also stated that enhanced defence cooperation was an important aspect of the bilateral relationship, characterized by Joint Projects Joint Exercises and Military Training

Four terrorists gunned down in Tank IBO, says ISPR

RAWALPINDI

S ta f f R e p o R t

The Inter Services Public Relations (ISPR) announced on Monday that security forces had neutralized four terrorists in an intelligence-based operation (IBO) in Tank district The operation conducted on the night of April 28th to April 29th, 2024, targeted the reported presence of terrorists in the area According to the ISPR statement, the terrorists were effectively engaged by security forces resulting in their elimination In addition to the successful neutralization of the terrorists weapons and ammunition were recovered from their possession The ISPR highlighted that these terrorists were involved in various terrorist activities within the district

CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01

Regarding climate change the prime minister defended Pakistan s minimal contribution to emissions, despite suffering the consequences of natural disasters

He detailed the government’s efforts in flood relief and rehabilitation acknowledging support from international partners

We must work collectively to mitigate the impacts of climate change and build a sustainable future for our nation and the world ” he urged

Looking ahead PM Shehbaz highlighted the importance of youth empowerment, advocating for modern education and vocational training to harness the country’s youthful population

He outlined plans to promote agriculture through technology and maximise the country s mineral resources

Our youth are our greatest asset, and we must invest in their future, he affirmed In closing remarks, PM Shehbaz

reiterated Pakistan s potential for global recognition through hard work and collaborative efforts stressing the interdependence of nations in facing present challenges Together we can overcome any obstacle and build a prosperous future for Pakistan and the world, he concluded Pak-Saudi economic ties enter a new era with tradeboosting steps ahead: PM Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Monday said that the economic ties between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia had entered a new era as both countries were set to take concrete measures to boost the volume of bilateral trade The prime minister in a meeting with Saudi Minister of Commerce Dr Majid bin Abdullah Al-Qasabi on the sidelines of the Special Meeting of World Economic Forum here, said the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) was playing an active role in promoting and facilitating the foreign investment in the country The Saudi minister told the

prime minister that on the directives of Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed bin Salman the Kingdom was prioritising trade and investment in Pakistan A delegation of Saudi businessmen traders and investors would soon visit Pakistan, he added The Saudi minister said that the targets were being set to take the bilateral ties to a new height within one or one-and-half years

Prime Minister Shehbaz said that the Pakistani nationals had played a significant role in the progress and prosperity of Saudi Arabia Saudi Minister Al-Qasabi stressed the need to further promote the sentiments about the Pak-Saudi ties among the youth and new generation Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan, Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar Petroleum Minister Dr Musaddik Malik and Special Assistant to PM Tariq Fatemi also attended the meeting

PTI criticizes appointment of Ishaq D ar as deputy prime minister, acc uses S harifs of nepotism

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) has strongly criticized the appointment of Ishaq Dar as deputy prime minister alleging that the Sharif family is monopolizing key national positions Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif, Special Assistant to Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister For Information, voiced PTI’s concern, emphasizing that the Constitution does not provide for the position of deputy PM Instead of addressing the public s challenges the federal government is accused of favoring familial appointments he said The appointment of Dar as deputy prime minister was made public through a notification issued by the Cabinet Division on Sunday Dar is known for his close ties to Nawaz Sharif and has previously served as finance minister

Dar s appointment marks a departure from tradition as deputy prime ministerial roles are uncommon in Pakistan The move has drawn criticism from various quarters, with Ahmed Bilal Mehboob, President of the Pakistan Institute of Legislative Development and Transparency (Pildat) condemning it as an “extraconstitutional step driven by internal power struggles within the ruling party Meanwhile, lawyer Abdul Moiz Jaferii raised concerns about the legality of Dar s appointment, highlighting apparent irregularities in the notification However, Supreme Court Advocate Basil Nabi Malik pointed to Article 90(2) of the Constitution which grants the prime minister authority to act directly or through federal ministers Despite legal interpretations PTI s stance reflects broader concerns about political nepotism and the concentration of power within influential families

Four awarded life sentence for Ali

Rabia Ahmad steps into CEO role at Nutshell Group

ISLAMABAD

S ta f f R e p o R t

Nutshell Group, a leading player in Pakistan’s communication and strategic engagements domain proudly announces the promotion of Rabia Shoaib Ahmad to Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Nutshell Group Rabia Ahmad takes on her new role marking a significant milestone in the company s journey towards diversity inclusion and amplified female leadership Under Rabia s leadership, Nutshell Group is poised to make significant contributions to the corporate landscape Muhammad Azfar Ahsan Founder & Chairman Nutshell Group commented “Rabia’s strategic acumen coupled with a passion for excellence and a focus on empowering teams will guide the company through its next phase of growth and expansion Commenting on Rabia s dedication to the company s vision, Usman Yousaf, Director, Nutshell Communications, said, “I wish Rabia success in her new role and look forward to collaborating closely with her to execute our strategic vision and deliver outstanding results for our stakeholders Together we will build on our past achievements and create an even brighter future for Nutshell Group Previously serving as the Chief Operating Officer (COO) at Nutshell Group, Rabia has been promoted for the second time in her three-year stint at the organization Rabia brings a wealth of experience and a proven track record of excellence and dynamism Speaking about her new role Rabia Ahmad shared I am highly honored and very excited to take on the role of CEO at the company I have enjoyed building alongside a stellar team of professionals While I am extremely grateful to our partners and Board for their faith in my capabilities I am also eager to follow through with our legacy of Opportunity Access and Excellence I have complete trust in our teams and look forward to continually innovating adapting and driving the company toward excellence Nutshell Group has always been at the forefront of promoting women’s empowerment within its ranks With this appointment the company not only reaffirms its dedication to diversity but also sets a powerful example for the industry at large

Ishaq Dar’s role as Deput y Prime Minister is being kept deliberately vague

The initial criticism from some quar ters following the appointment of Ishaq Dar as D eput y Prime M inister of Pakistan has been to question whether any constitutional provision exists to justify the position

THERE is some precedent for the position The last person to occupy the office was Pervez Elahi, who was the Deputy PM in the Gilani Cabinet a position that had been created for him specifically to reward the PML-Q as a coalition partner Dar on the other hand is a veteran member of the ruling party The reason for him being appointed has more to do with internal party dynamics The foreign minister and former finance minister is a close relative and aide of Nawaz Sharif, who is set to once again be elected as President of the PML-N instead of his brother The appointment of Mr Dar and the return of the elder Sharif as the functional head of his party will weaken the position of Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and his writ and Chief Executive The return of Nawaz Sharif as President of the PML-N will mean he will have the power to direct the party’s parliamentarians as to how to vote in both the National and Punjab Assemblies This will effectively mean Shehbaz Sharif ’s influence in the Punjab government will be null and void, where already Mian Nawaz has been assisting his daughter Maryam who is the Chief Minister Meanwhile Mr Dar ’s appointment will mean he will be able to throw his weight around much more in the government This will be detrimental both for the prime minister and Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb Mr Dar has already been on a mission to undermine the new finance minister, and the only reason he has been kept away from the position is because the powers that be did not want to back Dar again to head the economy Especially since the IMF had their reservations with his brash talking attitude Now, as Deputy PM, Mr Dar ’s role is very vague On the one hand, the Deputy PM is not a constitutional position like Prime Minister or Speaker of the House It is rather an appointment in the same way that a Federal Ministry is The only difference is that the Deputy PM can fill in for the PM in whatever way the PM sees fit to delegate This is a deliberately vague role and has been given to Mr Dar possibly so Nawaz Sharif can exert more direct control in the government Remember Shehbaz Sharif is a seasoned politician with a base of his own and a faction within the party that is loyal to him Mr Dar on the other hand is entirely the elder Sharif ’s man The only fear is how far Mr Dar will go in exerting his influence on the economy where his direct action and interference in the past has been very detrimental to Pakistan’s fiscal health

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

URBAN sprawl characterized by the uncon-

trolled expansion of urban areas into surrounding rural lands has become a pervasive issue in Lahore and other major cities across Pakistan With rapid population growth, inadequate urban planning, and insufficient infrastructure, Lahore is grappling with the repercussions of unchecked urbanization

One of the most pressing concerns associated with urban sprawl is its detrimental impact on the environment As concrete jungles encroach upon green

spaces and agricultural land, biodiversity is threatened, and natural habitats are destroyed The loss of greenery exacerbates air pollution, contributes to the urban heat island effect and disrupts the local climate patterns Moreover rampant construction leads to increased deforestation soil erosion and the depletion of natural resources further aggravating environmental degradation

The proliferation of vehicles due to urban sprawl exacerbates air pollution, congestion, and carbon emissions, contributing to climate change and posing significant health risks to urban dwellers Traffic congestion not only wastes valuable time and resources but also leads to increased stress levels and respiratory illnesses among the populace Furthermore the reliance on automobiles perpetuates a cycle of dependency on fossil fuels, exacerbating Pakistan s energy crisis and hindering efforts towards sustainability

In light of these environmental challenges it is imperative to rethink our approach to urban development The solution lies in adopting principles of sustainable urban planning that prioritize compact walkable cities with efficient public transportation systems By promoting mixed land use, compact development, and the preservation of green spaces, we can mitigate the adverse effects of urban sprawl while fostering vibrant livable communities Creating walkable cities is paramount to reducing dependency on cars and promoting active modes of transportation such as walking and cycling Sidewalks, pedestrian-friendly streetscapes, and desig-

nated bike lanes encourage physical activity improve air quality, and enhance the overall quality of life for residents Furthermore, investing in safe and accessible public transportation systems, including buses metro trains and light rail provides affordable and environmentally friendly mobility options for citizens However the transition to sustainable urban development requires more than just infrastructure upgrades; it necessitates effective governance and participatory decision-making processes Empowering local governments with the authority and resources to plan and manage urban growth is essential for ensuring that development initiatives align with the needs and aspirations of the community Representative local governments accountable to the people they serve, can facilitate inclusive and equitable urban development that prioritizes the well-being of all citizens

Moreover fostering community engagement and collaboration is essential for addressing the complex challenges associated with urbanization By involving residents businesses civil society organizations and other stakeholders in the planning process, we can harness collective wisdom and creativity to design cities that are resilient, inclusive, and sustainable Public awareness campaigns education initiatives and capacity-building programs can empower citizens to become active participants in shaping the future of their cities In conclusion urban sprawl poses a significant threat to the environmental sustainability and livability of cities like Lahore However, by embracing the principles of sustainable urban development, we can chart a course towards a more prosperous and resilient future By creating compact walkable cities with reliable public transportation and representative local governments we can mitigate the adverse effects of urban sprawl while fostering thriving communities that are in harmony with nature It is time to reclaim our cities and build a future where prosperity and sustainability go hand in hand As we embark on this journey towards sustainable urban development it is essential to recognize the economic benefits of investing in resilient and livable cities By prioritizing smart growth strategies and efficient land

use planning cities can stimulate economic growth attract investment and create job opportunities for their citizens Compact, mixed-use developments not only reduce infrastructure costs but also enhance the productivity and competitiveness of urban areas Furthermore by preserving natural resources and green spaces cities can capitalize on their environmental assets to promote tourism recreation and sustainable agriculture Moreover sustainable urban development can help address social inequities and improve the quality of life for marginalized communities By ensuring access to affordable housing, healthcare, education, and public services, cities can promote social inclusion and reduce inequalities Mixed-income housing developments community facilities and cultural amenities can foster social cohesion and strengthen the social fabric of neighborhoods Furthermore, investing in green infrastructure and resilient design can enhance the resilience of communities to climate change and natural disasters, particularly for vulnerable populations In addition to environmental and economic benefits sustainable urban development offers significant health advantages for urban residents By promoting active transportation such as walking and cycling, cities can encourage physical activity and combat sedentary lifestyles, obesity, and related chronic diseases Access to green spaces, parks, and recreational facilities can improve mental health and well-being reduce stress levels and enhance overall quality of life Furthermore by reducing air pollution and congestion sustainable transportation systems can mitigate the adverse health effects of urban pollution and improve respiratory health for citizens As we confront the challenges of urbanization in Lahore and beyond it is crucial to adopt a holistic approach that integrates environmental economic social and health considerations into urban planning and development By embracing sustainable principles and innovative solutions, we can create cities that are resilient, inclusive, and prosperous for future generations Through collaboration, creativity, and collective action, we can transform the urban landscape and build a more sustainable and equitable future for all

The writer is a freelance columnist

FOR a huge period in the history of Pakistan agriculture has been the most common practice of landlords In parts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Sindh, Balochistan and specifically Punjab, people are widely into farming and raising livestock – given the abundance of fertile land and the presence of freshwater rivers That is perhaps the reason why Pakistan has remained an agrarian society since its inception However there are problems with the traditional methods of crop production and distribution, which undermines the agriculture sector, consequently, leading to food insecurity in Pakistan The population of the country is snowballing with each fleeting year It currently stands at 241 5 million increasing annually with an average of 2 55% since 2017 – according to the National Population and Housing Census 2023 The scientific community has continuously been warning states about the negative impacts of overpopulation The disparity between population growth and production growth ultimately contributes to food insecurity However Pakistan seems oblivious to this issue – as per a report, the country stands 99th on the Global Hunger Index, which is a serious situation and will continue to be worse if not taken care of On top of that floods remain a huge problem for farmers in Pakistan Since its independence the country has received 29 floods – and in the last decade it has witnessed floods each year consecutively The 2022 floods destroyed crops on a massive scale, hence resulting in food shortages all over the country This ultimately led to all-time high prices of wheat rice fruits and vegetables – making it difficult for consumers to buy Each time floods hit the country; the farmers demand subsidies from the government which is never a long-term solution Instead, the construction of dams and widening of irrigation canals might help in overcoming this issue To meet the needs of the public countries

r

more efficient means which could accelerate

o f agriculture to double up the yield Unfortunately, Pakistan is an oligarchic state – ruled and driven by the old people, where the de-

Focus on strategy

IRAN has responded to the Israeli attack on the Iranian consulate in Damascus, stressing that the life of those who have been killed by the occupiers of Palestine would not go waste However Iran should continue to reach out to nations that are helping the rogue Zionist state in continuing with the genocide in Gaza First Iran should ask Azerbaijan Brazil Russia and Gabon to stop supplying oil to the Zionist Israel Moreover, Israel s Tamar gas field has been redirecting supplies through a pipeline in Jordan That is something to work on Along with the Houthis in Yemen and freedom- fighters in Iraq, Iran has the potential to make a real impact It really does ANGABEEN AHMAD KARACHI

Seminar y abuse

UNFORTUNATELY acts of harassment and physical abuse in seminaries are taken lightly and are mostly ignored by people in villages across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) As such, one of my cousins son was recently beaten up in a seminary, leaving him unable to even move Harassment and physical abuse are prevalent in seminaries of Swabi, but no action has been taken to stop it Children go to the seminaries to seek religious knowledge but many of them face abuse and harassment This continuous trend of harassment abuse and ignorance must now end KHAWLA

Pendulum

among Pakistan’s top exports and now things are on the contrary – it imports from Russia and Ukraine However the government can still decrease the gap between population growth and food production with the adoption of precision agriculture technology It will not only help in increasing the yield but also reduce waste and function more efficiently The initial cost might be high but dreams of becoming an Asian tiger come at a high cost In addition since the government is battling with other problems, the fate of the poor and undernourished segments of society remains in question There are various cases of suicides reported each year just because of nonavailability or high prices of food The state is a creation of people; therefore the individuals must be the key priority of the state A little investment by the government can transform the agriculture sector – consequently increasing economic activity and ensuring food security in the country Furthermore, a hard check on middlemen in the distribution process would be a sigh of relief for the people The government must get rid of these exploiters that have plagued Pakistan for decades

writer is an editorial intern at the Associated Press of Pakistan; he can be reached at: muhtasimafridi166@gmail com

THERE was high excitement among all American Muslims to watch the recent solar eclipse Indeed, it was a rare sight and could not be missed They travelled far distances to catch the glimpse of the total darkness caused by the solar eclipse They firmly believed in the precision of science and were not disappointed However their conviction in science was soon proved to be short-lived The very next day the very same community was relying upon the eyes of its religious custodians whether not they had sighted the Shawwal moon so they could start the celebration of Eidul Fitr Interesting, right?

Potholes

muhtAsim Afridi

Yaum-e-Shuhda: Army’s Contribution during War and Peace Times

Similar practice continued in the provincial assemblies on various occasions PML-N PPP and some other political parties also asked the PTI for cooperation so as to achieve political stability which is essential for economic stability But, the PTI leaders refused any such collaboration alleging rigging in the elections

beloved country through an all-out war

EVeRY year, Pakistan Army celebrates Youm-e-Shuhada (Martyrs Day) on April 30 and the whole nation joins it to pay tribute to the departed souls of those valiant army officials who sacrificed their lives for the safety and security of the country and its people Several ceremonies are being held at the Garrisons all over the country, but the main ceremony is being held at Yadqar-eShuhada General headquarters (GhQ) Rawalpindi The families and relatives of the martyrs (Shuhada) serving and retired officers, including people, belonging to various segments of society are invited to attend a function at the GhQ to pay tribute to the national heroes Similarly, a sizeable number of near and dear ones of the martyrs are invited to attend the functions at the Corps headquarters

Since the partition of the Sub-continent the people of the state of Jammu and Kashmir (J&K) which comprised Muslim majority decided to join Pakistan But, Dogra Raja Sir hari Singh a hindu who was ruling over the J&K in collusion with the Indian Prime Minister Jawaharlal Nehru and Governor General Lord Mountbatten joined India Indian forces invaded Srinagar on October 27, 1947 and forcibly occupied the J&K in utter violation of the partition plan Despite Indian surprise invasion on Pakistan on September 6 1965 Pakistan s courageous armed forces defeated India while the entire nation stood united for the defense of the homeland against India which had threatened the territorial integrity of the

In fact it was due to the moral force that despite qualitative and numerical superiority over Pakistan, while showing courage, and by sacrificing their lives, the Pakistani forces not only recaptured the Indian territories but also took Khem Karan from Indian forces as well as various regions of Rajasthan Sindh and Chumb in Kashmir however, there were many national heroes like Brigadier Ahsan Rashid, Major Raja Aziz Bhatti, Sqn Ldr MM Alam, Sqn Ldr Sarfaraz Ahmed Rafiqui, etc , who fought courageously with the Indian militaries At this critical hour Pakistan s armed forces have been coping with internal and external challenges of grave nature in order to maintain the security of the country In one way or the other, Indian fanatic rulers are also escalating tensions with Pakistan In this context the country is facing the challenge of hybrid war Some internal entities have been distorting Army s image in such a way that general masses should forget the sacrifices and services of the armed forces Recall armed forces’ innumerable services and sacrifices particularly of Army such as the resettlement of the Internally Displaced Persons during the Swat and Malakand military operations counter-insurgency operations and restoration of law and order on many occasions during catastrophic periods floods, earthquakes, coronavirus pandemic, locusts’ attacks etc also giving matching response to Indian shelling at the Line of Control and to stop infiltration of terrorists inside Pakistan from Afghanistan Now more than four and half months have passed But, Indian fanatic government led by the extremist Prime Minister Narendra Modi continued military lockdown in the Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir (IIOJK) Modi-led regime unilaterally abrogated the special status of the IIOJK on August 5 2019 when Indian Parliament revoked articles 35A and 370 of the Constitution The act split the IIOJK into two territories to be ruled directly by New Delhi The purpose was to turn Muslim majority into minority Indian PM Modi-the leader of the extremist ruling party BJP had got a land sliding victory in the Indian general elections

2014 and 2019 During the election-cam-

paign hindu majority was mobilized on hate Muslim slogans and anti-Pakistan jargons hence, Modi continues anti-Muslim and anti-Pakistan policies Former Chief of the Army Staff Gen Qamar Javed Bajwa and Chief of Army Staff General Syed Asim Munir have frequently said that Pakistan s armed forces are fully ready to meet any Indian prospective aggression

Internally, Pakistan s armed forces and country’s primarily intelligence agency ISI have successfully broken the backbone of the foreign-backed terrorists Peace has been restored in the Balochistan province and Karachi including other vulnerable regions Despite it in the recent past terrorist attacks particularly in the provinces of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa and Balochistan which is central point of the China-Pakistan economic Corridor (CPeC) show that the CIA-led Indian RAW want to damage the CPeC project which is part of China s One Road (OBOR)

or Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) as the US and India have already opposed this project Pakistan Army has not only been successful in uprooting the anti-state and separatist elements, but also contributed a lot in socio-economic development of Balochistan besides giving military training to the youth while protecting mega-projects and the CPeC staff

When more than 250 children died of malnutrition and diseases in 2019 in Thar region of Sindh, Pakistan Army established a free medical camp in Tharparkar Army doctors and paramedics provided essential medical treatment to over 1 800 patients

Since 1984 Pakistan s military is fighting against the Indian forces in the Siachen Glacier region despite the unfavorable weather conditions In these various events, many soldiers of the armed forces, especially Army have been martyred

It is notable that before the start of the military operation Zarb-e-Azb terrorists had been primarily waging a war against the citizens of Pakistan 200 million people of the country had been facing various kinds of terrorism related assaults, being conducted by the AI-Qaeda the Islamic State group (Also known as Daesh ISIS and ISIL) Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan (TTP) and other militant

outfits But unlike other countries war against terrorism including the US-led Western countries war against these nonstate actors, Pakistan s armed forces displayed unbelievable progress through the military operations Zarb-e-Azb and Radd-ulFasaad against the militants in North Waziristan Agency (NWA) and other vulnerable regions and afterwards extended to other tribal areas, has almost, successfully, achieved their objectives It is of particular attention that when the unprecedented deadly floods and extraordinary monsoon rains which began in June 2022 have destroyed lives livelihoods and infrastructure in Pakistan s various areas especially Sindh Gen Bajwa himself supervised the Army s rescue and relief operations in the affected areas Besides the efforts of Pakistan Navy and Pakistan Air Force, Army also saved the lives of thousands of individuals These forces also provided the people of the flood-stricken regions with basic needs of life as well as safe shelters

It is mentionable that analysts agree that in the post-election scenario, Pakistan s multiple crises and challenges would increase and the stakes for the new coalition government would be enormously high The most immediate task for the government would be to negotiate a new bailout agreement with the IMF which has been done and the country has to seek a new loan of at least of $6 billion to repay billions in debt due this year to avoid a default and to stabilise the economy In the recent election Nawaz Sharif ’s party PML-N gained a simple majority while the leadership of PTI party of jailed former PM Imran Khan claims that the election results had been changed to divest the party of its two-thirds majority in the parliament the independent winners linked to Khan have emerged as the largest group in the lower house With the support of other parties particularly PPP Shehbaz Sharif leader of the PML-N secured a comfortable win over the Sunni Ittehad Council-the PTI which also choosed PTI leader Omar Ayub as the opposition leader The elected National Assembly met for the first time with lawmakers taking oaths amid protests on the floor of the house by supporters of the Sunni Ittehad Council-PTI

Campus protests: This could be the moment when Israel loses the West

The chief of JUI-F (party) Maulana Fazlur Rehman who had confirmed contacts with the PTI repeatedly stated that he would launch a nationwide movement against the alleged vote rigging, accusing the establishment of it The Sunni Ittehad Council-the PTI and some parties have also decided to launch movement which has almost started PML-N and some other parties opine that if elections were rigged or establishment interfered against the PTI as to how independent candidates, mostly loyal to Imran Khan, swept the polls in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province by winning 91 out of 113 provincial seats, and PTI leader Ali Amin Gandapur was elected as the chief minister On the one side PTI workers continue protest-rallies against the rigging in elections while on the other PTI has also filed cases in the courts in this respect also about forms 45 and 47 however, it shows their ambivalent approach Nevertheless it was due to the selfless practical unity among the Muslims under the leadership of Quaid-i-Azam that Pakistan became a tangible reality on August 14 1947 But, that unity started declining after passing through various crises, and the result was separation of east Pakistan in 1971, as India manipulated differences between east Pakistan and West Pakistan

Nonetheless the importance of the Youm-e-Shuhada this year has been increased as the Pak forces have also become target of malevolent campaign, being launched by the anti-Pakistan foreign entities in wake of Indian aggressive designs against the country And playing national songs on the occasion the TV channels must also give a matching response to the hostile forces which are working against the integrity of the country, and are distorting the image of Pak Army The government, the opposition leaders, including all other segments of society must show selfless national unity which is very necessary to pull the country out of the ongoing serious crises

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad logic@yahoo com

The Tet Offensive a surprise attack launched by the Viet Cong and the North Vietnamese People s Army of Vietnam in January 1968, was a military failure It was designed to spark an insurrection in South Vietnam that never ignited After the initial shock the South Vietnamese army and the US forces regrouped and inflicted heavy losses on the Viet Cong s best troops But it had a major consequence on the Vietnam War General Tran Do, the North’s commander at the battle of huế, recalled: "In all honesty we didn t achieve our main objective which was to spur uprisings throughout the South Still we inflicted heavy casualties on the Americans and their puppets and this was a big gain for us As for making an impact in the United States, it had not been our intention - but it turned out to be a fortunate result " The Tet Offensive proved a tipping point in America’s support for the war The Pentagon came under unprecedented criticism for its optimistic assessment of the course of the war and while the Viet Cong lost 30,000 troops, the US suffered 11,780 losses in the following year, proving the North’s military resilience A large credibility gap opened up between then US President Lyndon B Johnson (LBJ) and public opinion LBJ himself lost faith in his military leadership and replaced it

In 1968, Columbia University became one of the epicentres of anti-war protest, spurred on by Columbia University’s ties to the defence industry Students occupied five buildings and took its dean henry Coleman hostage for 36 hours There is an iconic image of a student smoking a cigar in his office The police were called in There were hundreds of student arrests, injuries, a strike and then resignation of Columbia’s president, Grayson Kirk Anti-war protests reached a climax outside the Democratic National Convention in Chicago and were later seen as one of reasons for the election of Richard Nixon In the meantime the antiwar movement had spread like wildfire around the world There was a major demonstration in West Berlin Vietnam was one of the sparks behind weeks of street fighting around the worker and student uprising of May 1968 in Paris and across France To this day bullet holes in the Marais in Paris can be seen The May 68 protest movement was shortlived politically The insurrection in Paris lasted only ten weeks, although at one

point the elysee felt so close to losing control that its incumbent President De Gaulle fled the country The French president sheltered in the warm embrace of Nato Where else would he go? he fled to the hQ of the French Army stationed in Germany alongside its Nato allies The next day, half a million workers marched through Paris chanting "Adieu de Gaulle" De Gaulle recovered to win the next election but the shock of the news was profound It changed a whole generation in France 1968 TODAY The parallels between 1968's protest movement against the Vietnam war and today’s global protest against the Gaza War are many Like the Tet Offensive the mass prison breakout of Gaza engineered by alQassam Brigades on 7 October went out of control within hours This was caused in part by the unexpectedly rapid collapse of the Israeli army’s Gaza Brigade in southern Israel An attack against military targets in which hundreds of Israeli soldiers were killed turned into a series of massacres against civilians either kibbutzniks or the music festival-goers that hamas and other groups rampaging over the border stumbled across In the words of one Gulf state official, the attack on 7 October was the mother of all miscalculations But the Israeli response a seven-months-long demolition job on Gaza a genocidal campaign against every citizen and family in the strip regardless of their affiliation, the destruction of their houses, hospitals, schools, universities, has proved a turning point in world opinion Once again support for this war is provided by a Democrat US president in an election year Once again Columbia has been at the centre of the revolt with an encampment protesting Israel s assault sparking a wave of similar actions on college campuses across the US Columbia, Yale, and harvard are all in the crosshairs of this student revolt because of the universities ties with Israel At Columbia students are demanding the university end its investments in the tech giants Amazon and Google which have a $1 2bn cloud computing contract with the government in Tel Aviv At Yale, students are demanding the university divest from "all weapons manufacturing companies contributing to Israel s assault on Palestine Yale has exchange students with seven Israeli universities harvard has programmed with three of these universities, while Columbia has relations with four of them As in 1968, many of these protests have been met by force Columbia President Nemat Minouche Shafik ordered

which led to the arrest of 100

College students,

ish their academic semester At Yale, 50 protesters were arrested on charges of "aggravated trespassing At Ohio demonstrators were beaten and tasered Nearly 900 protesters have been arrested nationwide since the original confrontation at Columbia on 18 April None of this is new

In 1970 the Ohio National Guard opened fire on protesters killing four and wounding nine students in what became known as the Kent State Massacre Then as now police brutality against students has only caused the protest to spread hours after the administration shut down an encampment at Princeton, hundreds of students occupied a central courtyard, bringing books, laptops and blank canvases to set up a "Popular University for Gaza Faculty members joined in leading teach-ins and discussions Police have been called into 15 universities across the US and there are protests in a further 22 other universities and colleges The US protests have spread to British universities although they have received less media attention At Trinity College Cambridge the portrait of Lord Balfour the British foreign secretary responsible for a statement recognising the right of Jews to a homeland in Palestine, was defaced and slashed before being removed by the university

London has just seen its 13th national demonstration since the war began The protests against the war in Gaza in their persistence and size are only matched by the million-plus demonstration against Tony Blair s decision to invade Iraq, which in 2003 was the biggest of its kind The protest movement is having a deep effect on Gaza itself because for once the Palestinian people enduring this onslaught do not feel they are on their own Palestinian journalist and content creator Bisan Owda said: "Keep going because you’re our only hope And we promise we will hold our ground and tell you the truth always And please don't let their violence scare you They don t have any other options but to silence and terrify you because you are demolishing decades of brainwashing ZIONISM IS THE TARGET Owda is right If the targets of 1968 protest movement were the Pentagon, or the repressive paternalism of the Gaullist state the targets today are Zionism and Israel’s armourers in the US the UK and Germany This is the pro-Israel lobby libelling and smearing politicians as antisemitic for their support of Palestine They are the ones causing gutless and panicky universities to kick lecturers out of their jobs They see themselves as democrats but their hands are deep in the toolkit of fascists They endanger the rule of law free speech and the right to protest Spearheading the revolt against Zionism is a new generation of Jews who are turning up in increasing numbers at these protests One student at Columbia and two at Barnard explained why: "We chose to be ar-

rested in the movement for Palestinian liberation because we are inspired by our Jewish ancestors who fought for freedom 4 000 years ago When the police entered our encampment we locked arms and sang Civil Rights era songs that many of our more recent ancestors recited in the 1960s We belong to the legacy of progressive Jewish activism that has worked across race, class and religious lines to transform our communities "The arrest and brutalization of over 100 pro-Palestinian Columbia students is the worst act of violence on our campus in decades The moment Columbia asked the NYPD to arrest hundreds of student protestors, our university normalized a culture in which political differences are met with violence and hostility As we write this Israeli students passing by call us animals in hebrew because they think none of us will understand - reminiscent of Israeli Defense Minister Yoav Gallant s remarks that Palestinians in Gaza are 'human animals'" The Gaza war is causing an unprecedented debate among Jewry, with leading intellectuals like the Canadian journalist Naomi Klein arguing that Zionism is a false idol that has taken the idea of the promised land and turned it into a deed of sale for a militaristic ethnostate Klein wrote: "From the start it has produced an ugly kind of freedom that saw Palestinian children not as human beings but as demographic threats – much as the pharaoh in the Book of exodus feared the growing population of Israelites and thus ordered the death of their sons

"Zionism has brought us to our present moment of cataclysm and it is time that we said clearly: it has always been leading us here It is a false idol that has led far too many of our own people down a deeply immoral path that now has them justifying the shredding of core commandments: thou shalt not kill Thou shalt not steal Thou shalt not covet "

events will not be without their

In the immediate future the anti-Gaza war movement has revived the

Palestinian national cause as never before Fading graffiti commemorating Fatah and PLO s battles in refugee camps in Lebanon have been replaced by bright new symbols celebrating the attack on 7 October The inverted triangle depicting hamas parachuting over the barrier in Gaza is everywhere each demonstration around the world is headed by the Palestinian diaspora which has reacted in the opposite way to what was intended by Israel and its supporters Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu thought that if he killed off the elders their sons and daughters would forget the struggle Instead Netanyahu has recreated and reinforced the bond of Palestinians everywhere to their lost land Ask Palestinians in the Jordanian refugee camp of hitten where their home is, and the overwhelming answer is Gaza or the West Bank

This wave of support has similarly undone years of planning to disconnect the Palestinian cause from the Arab World events helped The Arab Spring and its suppression, and the civil wars that followed, supplanted Palestine as the main source of news for at least a decade Israel’s attempt to bypass the Palestinian national cause by reaching out directly to the richest Gulf states was just about to succeed when hamas staged its attack

Seven months later, Palestine is everywhere All polls show it Instead Israel itself is in the dock of international justice, under court investigation at both the International Criminal Court which is about to issue warrants for the arrest of Netanyahu and others and the International Court of Justice for genocide

These are the immediate consequences, but there are two long-term consequences which could be far more important The first is that for the first time in the history of this conflict Gaza - both its people and its fighters - are displaying a determination to stand and fight which the PLO and Yasser Arafat never showed For the first time in its history, Palestinians have a leadership which will not give up its major demands and which commands their respect

The second consequence is that a new generation is coming of age in America the only country that can stop this conflict by withdrawing its military, political and economic support for Israel It is still now the only country that Israel listens to and takes seriously

The Jews amongst them are horrified by what is being done in their name horrified by how their religion has been morphed into an apology for ethnic cleansing horrified by how their proud and painful heritage has been reduced into a licence to kill horrified by the power exerted by Israel over the US Congress UK parliament and every mainstream party in europe

Jews are challenging the claim that Zionism owns their narrative For this they are variously accused of being traitors, "Kapos" (the Jews assigned by the Nazi SS to supervise forced labour), self-hating, or simply "animals" But for me they are the biggest single source of hope in this bleak landscape The Vietnam War was to last another seven years after the Tet offensive And Israel s occupation of Gaza will not be easily ended But we could well have reached the tipping point in support for Israel in the US, UK and europe and this is of historic significance David Hearst is co-founder and editorin-chief of Middle East Eye

Humz a Yousaf sTeps Down as sCoTl anD’s firsT minisTer afTer power-sHaring Deal Coll apses

SCOTLAND

S TA F F R E P O R T

sC O T L A N D s First Minister Humza Yousaf resigned from his role following a no-confidence motion on Monday This decision came after the breakdown of his coalition with the Scottish Green Party as reported by the BBC Earlier reports indicated that he was preparing to step down amidst legislative moves to oust the 39-year-old leader During the resignation speech, he paid an emotional tribute to his family saying: “I am in absolute debt to my wonderful wife my beautiful children and my wider family for putting up with me over the years

He also joked: I m afraid you ll be seeing a lot more of me from now, You are truly everything to me

The SNP chief said he had “underestimated the level of hurt after ending a power-sharing deal with the Scottish Greens last week however he said

would be holding the position until a replacement is found He urged other parties to act in “good faith” and not just “oppose for opposition’s sake”, which according to him is vital for having a functioning government under Scotland s political system Yousaf wished MSPs from other

Khalistan slogans heard during Trudeau’s speech at Toronto’s Khalsa Day celebrations

TOR ONTO

A G E N C

Khalsa Day festivities in Canada s Toronto were marked by slogans raised in favour of the Khalistan movement during a speech by Prime Minister Justin Trudeau, Indian media outlets reported on Monday The festival of Vaisakhi also known as Baisakhi honours the founding of the Sikh community known as the Khalsa in 1699 It also marks the beginning of a new solar year and the harvesting season India s New Delhi Television Ltd reported that loud chants were raised in Sunday s celebrations attended by “thousands” amid the presence of the Canadian premier, opposition leader Pierre Poilievre, Toronto Mayor Olivia Chow and prominent Canadian Sikh leader Jagmeet Singh chief of the New Democratic Party Trudeau in a staunch assurance to the Sikh Community in the country has said that the government is always there to protect their rights and freedoms at all costs, the report said “To the nearly, 800,000 Canadians of Sikh heritage across this country we will always defend your community against hatred and discrimination ” he was quoted as saying in the report

The Canadian prime minister mentioned that they re improving security and infrastructure by adding more security to community centres and places of worship, like gurdwaras,” reported IndiaToday The movement wants an independent Sikh state carved out of India and dates back to India and Pakistan s independence in 1947 when the idea was pushed forward in negotiations preceding the partition of the Punjab region between the two new countries

The Sikh religion was founded in Punjab in the late 15th century and currently has about 25 million followers worldwide Sikhs form a majority of Punjab’s population but are a minority in India comprising two per cent of its population of 1 4 billion Sikh separatists demand that their homeland Khalistan meaning the land of the pure be created out of Punjab

h e d

Khalistan movement is considered a security threat by the Indian government The bloodiest episode in the conflict between the government and Sikh separatists occurred in 1984 Then-prime minister Indira Gandhi sent the military into the Golden Temple, the holiest shrine for Sikhs, to evict separatist leader Sant Jarnail Singh Bhindranwale and his supporters which infuriated Sikhs around the world A few months later Gandhi was assassinated by her Sikh bodyguards at her home in New Delhi The army launched operations in 1986 and 1988 to flush out Sikh militants from Punjab Sikh militants were also blamed for the 1985 bombing of an Air India Boeing 747 flying from Canada to India in which all 329 people on board were killed off the Irish coast

parties well and acknowledged that politics is a brutal business which takes a toll on people from all sides of Scotland’s divides He also called SNP a “family”, adding “I will always be with you campaign alongside you At the conclusion of his speech

Monday Yousaf said that he was so grateful and so blessed to have had the opportunity that so few get to lead his country Who could ask for a better country to lead than Scotland? he asked proudly before ending his speech The leader expected to face a vote of no-confidence this week Yousaf has been serving as Scotland s first minister since March 2023

He was facing two no-confidence votes at Holyrood after he decided to withdraw from a coalition agreement and try to run a minority government Yousaf sacked the Scottish Greens who have now joined hands with the opposition to oust him MP Neale Hanvey who is Alba Party s Westminster leader, told Sky News that Yousaf s hand is being forced from within the SNP”

“It seems that the internal manoeuvrings within the SNP have made it impossible for the First Minister to continue he said

X i to visit top three EU nations, char t blueprint for ties

Chinese President Xi Jinping will pay state visits to France Serbia and Hungary from May 5 to 10 at the invitation of President Emmanuel Macron of the Republic of France, President Aleksandar Vucic of the Republic of Serbia and President Tamas Sulyok and Prime Minister Viktor Orban of Hungary Foreign Ministry

Spokesperson Hua Chunying announced on Monday, a trip that experts believe is expected to shape the future of relations between China and Europe

The visit shows that both China and Europe are striving to explore the space and prospects of cooperation in an era when major power strategic competition intensifies and geopolitics returns, Chinese and European experts noted

The visit will inject momentum for the further development of China-Europe relations showcasing that the two sides can maintain positive interactions and mutually beneficial cooperation transcending

traditional geopolitics, experts said This will be the first overseas tour of the Chinese president this year It is also the first time that the Chinese top leader visits Europe in five years It underlines the fact that the Chinese leadership attaches great importance to Europe and highlights the prominent position China places on Europe in its global strategy and foreign economic policy Xin Hua director and chair professor of the Center for European Union Studies

Shanghai International Studies University, told Chinese media

Xi’s visit to France, the first in five years comes as this year marks the 60th anniversary of the establishment of diplomatic relations between China and France In January, the Franco-Chinese year of cultural tourism was launched and a series of events will be held in both countries to celebrate cultural cooperation Pierre Picquart an expert in geopolitics and human geography from the University of Paris-VIII told the media that France s long tradition of diplomacy and openness to international

relations and its early recognition of the economic potential of China as an expanding market and as an important trading partner made France the first major Western country to establish diplomatic relations with China As France has significant influence on relations between Europe and China, “by choosing France as the first stop of his European tour President Xi is sending a strong message about the importance of China-Europe cooperation and his commitment to multilateralism and dialogue diplomacy,” Picquart said In a telephone call with the French president’s Diplomatic Counselor Emmanuel Bonne on Saturday China s top diplomat Wang Yi said that China stands ready to strengthen high-level exchanges with France, give play to the leading role of head-of-state diplomacy, and add new connotations to the comprehensive strategic partnership between the two countries

Xi will hold talks with French President Macron to have in-depth exchange of views on China-France relations, China-EU relations and international and regional hotspots of mutual interest according to the Chinese Foreign Ministry China looks forward to working with France through this visit to carry forward our good tradition, embrace the future, and further enhance political mutual trust solidarity and cooperation so that we can jointly elevate our comprehensive strategic partnership inject impetus to a sound and stable China-EU relationship, and make new contribution to global peace, stability, and development, said the ministry

ISSI and ISAS conclude first MoU between Pakistan and S ingapore think-tanks

The Institute of Strategic Studies Islamabad (ISSI), represented by its Director General Ambassador Sohail Mahmood and the Institute of South Asian Studies National University of Singapore represented by Director Dr Iqbal Singh Sevea signed a Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) in a virtual ceremony today This represented the beginning of a new chapter, being the first MoU signed between the think-tanks of Pakistan and Singapore In addition to Ambassador Sohail Mahmood and Dr Iqbal Sevea the MoU signing ceremony was joined by Ms Rukhsana Afzaal High Commissioner of Pakistan to Singapore; Mr Muhammad Junaid, Director East Asia & Pacific Division, Ministry of Foreign Affairs Pakistan; Dr Talat Shabbir, Director China Pakistan Study Centre, ISSI; team India Study Centre ISSI; and colleagues at ISAS In his remarks on the occasion DG ISSI Ambassador Sohail Mahmood hailed the MoU as a crucial step towards instituting a formal relationship between the two Institutes PR

China’s national political advisory body holds leadership meeting

The 14th National Committee of the Chinese People s Political Consultative Conference (CPPCC), the national political advisory body held its 18th Chairperson’s Council meeting here in Beijing on Monday

Wang Huning a member of the Standing Committee of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and chairman of the CPPCC National Committee, presided over the meeting and delivered a speech Wang stressed the importance of acknowledging the western region’s significant role in China’s overall reform development and stability He urged efforts to conduct in-depth research and active consultation to facilitate the advancement of the western region s large-scale development in the new era He also called on political advisors to solidly carry out CPC discipline education and ensure strict Party selfgovernance within the national political advisory body It was decided at the meeting that the Standing Committee of the 14th CPPCC National Committee will convene its seventh session from June 4 to 6 During the meeting, a document on organizing study and research activities for members of the Chairperson’s Council was deliberated and approved

Pa l e s t i n i a n p r i s o n e r i n I s r a e l w i n s t o p f i c t i o n p r i z e

CORPORATE CORNER

NBP

continues to empower Farmers, Women in Agriculture with Discounted Loans

The National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) is proudly expanding its Agricultural Loan Program and encourages women in the agricultural sector NBP understands the unique challenges faced by women entrepreneurs in agriculture and offers a comprehensive package of benefits to eliminate financial barriers and encourage greater female participation To empower women in agriculture NBP offers discounted markup rates on loans eliminates minimum earning requirements, provides flexible terms, and prioritizes swift loan processing, ensuring women have timely access to financing for long-term investments in equipment and resources The NBP Agricultural Loan Program offers a significant advantage to all farmers through its competitive 7% markup rate The loan can be used to finance a range of agricultural needs including warehouse, solar tube-well, fisheries, new tractors, agriculture baler, seeds, soil, pesticides, etc To promote cutting-edge agricultural technology like High-Efficiency Irrigation Systems NBP partners with Agriculture Universities Tractors & Implements Businesses and Punjab & Sindh Agriculture Departments PR

AKUH's Global Recognition: Pakistan's Healthc are Excellence in the Limelight

LBoard of Directors of Al Baraka Bank (Pakistan)

Limited

meet Federal Minister for Finance and Revenue

i z i n g a l l r e s o u r c e s t o p r ov i d e b e s t f a c i l i t i e s t o H a j j p i l g r i m s

ISLAMABAD

S

NCHR holds consultation to disc uss challenges faced by PWDs

Harmony Dr Syed

Ata-ur-Rehman said sixty-nine thousand pilgrims would perform Hajj this year under the Government Hajj Scheme He said the government has also slashed one hundred thousand rupees Hajj expenditure this year while the airlines have also been asked to reduce their ticket fair He said the Sponsored Hajj Scheme introduced this year would also be improved Elaborating the details of new initiatives taken by the Ministry of Religious Affairs to facilitate the Hajj pilgrims, Dr Ata-ur-Rehman said the government has also introduced Short Hajj this year comprising 20 to 25 days However its expenses would be little high due to airlines routes He said the government utilizing modern technology, has also launched Hajj App and all communication with the intending pilgrims has been made through this App He said the pilgrims would have to install this App in their smart phones to avoid any kind of complexity

The Secretary Hajj said Pre-installed SIM has been introduced which would be issued to the pilgrims before travelling to Saudi Arabia He said the SIM would help resolve the issue of telephone calls through WhatsApp as well

O G D C L a n n o u n c e s f i n a n c i a l r e s u l t s f o r p e r i o d e n d e d M a r c h 3 1 , 2 0 2 4

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Board

FFC Announces First Quarterly Results for Year 2024

M C H S , Main Shahrah-e-Faisal, Karachi 74400 at the close of business on May 09 2024 will be treated in time for the purpose of above entitlement to the transferees T h e B o a r d o f D i r e c t o r s a ppreciated the efforts of the management for taking effective steps f o r t h e i m p l e m e n t a t i o n o f t h e company’s aggressive exploration program

Ac t i o n a g a i n s t e l e c t r i c i t y d e f a u l te r s by I E S CO co nt i n u e s

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to the vision of the Gov-

IESCO

GOHAR QUASHES RUMOURS OF HOLDING ‘BACKDOOR TALKS’ WITH ESTABLISHMENT

ISLAMABAD

S TA F F R E P O R T

TH E PTI is not currently holding backdoor talks with anyone clarified party chairman Barrister Gohar Khan on Monday, just a day after it was reported that the incarcerated founding party chairman Imran Khan had green-lit negotiations with the establishment and political forces The party chairman s remarks came while addressing a presser alongside party leader Sher Afzal Marwat following a meeting with Imran at Adiala jail He stated that the ex-premier had only sought names for holding negotiations but no talks were being held right now Today the PTI founder was barred from addressing the media by the jail administration, while several of our legal representatives were denied entry into the jail,” he added He said PML-N supremo Nawaz Sharif had been “exonerated of all charges while the PTI founder was being punished in fabricated cases

The police are being used against our party Maryam Nawaz dressed in police attire sends a clear message that the police is subordinate to them, Gohar quoted the PTI founder as saying during their meeting

Taking over from Gohar PTI leader Sher Afzal Marwat said the PTI founder criticized Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar s appointment as deputy prime minister

PTI slams ‘fascist government’ for use of force against farmers

ISLAMABAD

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Monday lambasted the fake and inept Punjab government for economic murder of farmers by destroying their livelihoods through its wrong, flawed and anti-people policies and strongly condemned the harassment and use of force against the famers PTI spokesperson in a strongly-worded reaction over the farmers protest against the government s delay in procuring wheat and harassment of farmers vehemently denounced the detention of Punjab Kisan Board head and harassment of the farmer leaders through illegal raids at their houses He noted that the farmers were coerced to sell wheat in the open market at a much lower than the officially fixed rate owing to the inept and incompetent imposed government s faulty and anti-poor policies with regard to the procurement of wheat PTI spokesperson recalled that history was a witness that whenever pirates of Jati Umra grabbed the powers, who were anti-people, they did the worst economic exploitation of the farmers of the country He warned the mandate thieves against shifting and placing of the burden of their worst economic policies onto the shoulders of the farmers adding that it was estimated that the rural economy specially the farmers would face billions rupees of loss due to the possibility of selling wheat at a rate 20% or 25% less than the farmers support price PTI spokesperson pointed out that the farmers were bearing the brunt of the government s wrong decision of importing 3 million tons of more wheat then the local s needs in October He asked that the government should give an explanation as to what was the strategy and rational behind importing extra wheat at such high price PTI spokesperson went on to say that the fake government’s flawed policies and mismanagement as well as its inability to ensure timely purchase would directly impact the public in the form of expensive flour

and termed him Nawaz s frontman Consultations are ongoing for the selection of chairman of the Public Accounts Committee (PAC), and a final decision will be announced tomorrow,” added Marwat whose name is also in the running Addressing reports of former PTI leaders rejoining the party they maintained that only Imran will have a final say on the matter

A day earlier, it was reported that Imran had given the green light to his party for negotiations with both the establishment and political adversaries However he made it clear that any talks must play by the rulebook, stressing the party s willingness to sit down with both the powers that be and political adversaries for the greater good

“The manner in which the negotiations will take place and in what environment should be decided first only then will the way for the negotiations be paved with those who are the stakeholders, he added PTI leader Shibli Faraz urged for the release of the PTI’s female members and political detainees insisting that legal proceedings should only be pursued where justified Moreover Shehryar Afridi clarified that the PTI s objective is not to seek a National Reconciliation Ordinance (NRO) for itself but rather to negotiate for the betterment of Pakistan’s future He also mentioned Imran Khan’s longstanding desire to engage with the establishment from day one lamenting the absence of a response thus far

Regulator y approval granted by CCP for 40% acquisition of GO by Aramco

The Competition Commission of Pakistan (CCP) has given the green light to Aramco, a global leader in integrated energy and chemicals for its acquisition of a 40% equity stake in Gas & Oil Pakistan Ltd (GO) This landmark transaction marks Aramco s debut in Pakistan s fuel retail market, signifying its confidence in the country’s economic potential and its dedication to fostering growth

Earlier in December 2023 Aramco the biggest Oil and Gas company in the world and a market leader in energy and chemicals, signed the agreement to acquire 40% stake in GO The strategic investment was aimed to strengthen Aramco’s downstream value chain internationally and providing GO with a significant boost in the competitive market

As per details of the development, Aramco Asia Singapore Pte Ltd , a Singapore-based wholly-owned subsidiary of Saudi Aramco submitted the premerger application to the CCP The company specializes in various services including sales marketing, procurement, logistics, and exploration, drilling, refining, and marketing of hydrocarbon substances

The CCP’s merger analysis

concluded that the acquisition would not lead to post-transaction dominance by the acquirer in the relevant market Thus, the merger received the CCP s approval, in line with its mandate to promote competition and ensure a fair business environment Saudi Aramco and Pakistan: Saudi Aramco officially known as the Saudi Arabian Oil Company, stands as the world s largest oil producer and exporter Founded in 1933, it plays a pivotal role in the global energy market boasting extensive oil reserves and advanced extraction capabilities As the crown jewel of Saudi Arabia s economy, Aramco operates across the entire oil value chain, from exploration and production to refining and distribution With its vast infrastructure and strategic importance Aramco s policies and decisions reverberate globally influencing oil prices and shaping energy geopolitics This move follows Aramco’s acquisition of Valvoline Inc ’s global products business in February 2023 and the planned acquisition of GO is expected to secure additional outlets for Aramco s refined products and open new market opportunities for Valvoline-branded lubricants Although the talks have been delayed at one stage Saudi Aramco was also

on-board with setting up a $10 billion oil refinery in Pakistan The petroleum ministry still remains positive about the potential in that deal Were that deal successful, access to a large retail market in Pakistan places Aramco directly in the market’s driving seat Mohammed Y Al Qahtani Aramco Downstream President at the time of this agreement, stated that, Our second planned retail acquisition this year aligns with Aramco’s downstream expansion strategy with a clear path ahead for growing an integrated refining marketing lubricants trading and chemicals portfolio worldwide GO has a significant storage capacity, high-quality assets and growth potential, which will help launch the Aramco brand in Pakistan ” GO: Meanwhile GO the targeted Pakistani company is a licensed oil marketing company operating nationwide It plays a vital role in the procurement, storage, sale, and marketing of petroleum products and lubricants With more than 1200 retail outlets GO is the largest retail outlet operator in Pakistan in the private sector Its oil storage depots and terminals across the country can hold approximately 200,000 MTs of fuel A 2nd upcountry storage network and a fleet of 800 tank trucks equipped with satellite tracking systems ensure round-theclock deliveries to its retail outlets

Police launches crackdown against farmers in Punjab over protest call

Judge safely recovered following abduction by armed men

I S L A M A B A D: District and Sessions Judge Shakirullah Marwat who was abducted by armed individuals near the border area of Tank and Dera Ismail Khan in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa on Monday, has been safely recovered, according to sources Adviser to KP Chief Minister on Information, Barrister Muhammad Ali Saif confirmed Marwat’s safe return stating that he has been relocated to his residence unharmed Further details regarding the incident are expected to be disclosed later, said Barrister Saif Authorities reported that a security operation in the Kulachi area of DI Khan facilitated the successful recovery of Judge Marwat He is reported to be in good health following the ordeal The incident occurred on Saturday when armed men abducted Judge Marwat while he was en route from South Waziristan to DI Khan According to Deputy Superintendent of Police (DSP) Mohammad Adnan, the abduction took place near a village named Bagwal in the border region between Tank and DI Khan Following the abduction the Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) filed a First Information Report (FIR) against unidentified perpetrators The FIR lodged by the judge s driver Sher Ali recounted how armed men intercepted their vehicle fired shots blindfolded the driver, and forced the judge to change his attire After setting the vehicle ablaze, the assailants left the area, leaving the driver unharmed A special team was promptly assembled to secure the judge’s release with both the KP government and the Peshawar High Court (PHC) taking notice of the incident The PHC summoned the KP Home secretary and provincial police chief, urging swift action for the judge s recovery S TA F F R E P O R T

CTD arrests four ‘terrorists’ involved in Besham suicide attack on Chinese engineers

PESHAWAR: The Counter-Terrorism Department (CTD) announced significant progress on Monday, revealing the arrest of four key operatives affiliated with the Tehreek-e-Taliban (TTP) in connection with the Besham terror attack that claimed the lives of five Chinese nationals last month The attack which occurred on March 26 involved a vehicle-borne suicide bomber targeting a convoy escorting Chinese engineers in the remote Besham area of Khyber-Pakhtunkhwa The explosion resulted in the deaths of six individuals, including the driver of the targeted vehicle The Chinese engineers en route to their camp in Dasu from Islamabad were struck by an explosive-laden vehicle on the Karakoram Highway near Lahore Nala According to a statement from the Chinese Embassy the attack targeted a bus belonging to a Chinese company working on the Dasu Hydropower Project Confirming the involvement of the TTP, the CTD disclosed that the attack was carried out with support from the terrorist organization Investigations revealed that the suicide bomber was brought from Afghanistan and the explosives-laden vehicle was transported through Chaman to DaraZinda town in Dera Ismail Khan district for a sum of Rs0 25 million Among the arrested individuals are mastermind Adil Shehbaz, along with Muhammad Shafiq Qureshi, Zahid Qureshi and Nazeer Hussain all from district Mansehra Shehbaz confessed to his pivotal role in orchestrating the Besham attack S TA

Punjab farmers move LHC against gov t’s refusal to buy wheat

LAHORE: Punjab farmers on Monday moved Lahore High Court (LHC) against the provincial government s refusal to buy wheat from the farmers As per details a petition was filed by Farhat Manzoor Chandio in Lahore High Court challenging the Punjab government s refusal to purchase wheat from farmers

The petitioner prayed that the government is bound to buy wheat from farmers at the official price and they had announced a policy to purchase wheat from farmers at Rs 3 900 per maund but it has not implemented it The Punjab government was supposed to start buying wheat from farmers from April 22, but no development so far on the wheat purchase, leaving farmers vulnerable to selling their crops at lower prices due to rains The petitioner urged the court to direct the government to purchase wheat from farmers and take action against the mafia

On Sunday sources within the Food Department revealed that the government of Punjab has not made a decision on wheat procurement yet On the other hand, farmer leader Sultan Javed said that the deadline for the decision is Monday (today), and an announcement about the future course of action will also be announced the sources said

PTI holds govt responsible for malicious, condemnable c ampaign against Justice Babar S attar

matchless sacrifices for upholding judicial independence and supremacy of the constitution which was evident from the PTI s boycott of the 2008 elections and the incarceration of the party Founding Chairman PTI spokesperson vowed that even today if any party would play a lead role in the movement for restoration of the rule of law and independence of the judiciary, it would be PTI PTI spokesperson made it clear that Pakistani nation and PTI stood by the judges who took firm