FIRST BATCH OF STUDENTS ARRIVES AS GOVT MOVES IN TO RESCUE PAKISTANIS IN BISHKEK
g
g
ISLAMABAD
The Pakistani embassy in Bishkek refuted the reports about deaths of Pakistani students clarifying there were no deaths Moreover Kygyz Ministry of Internal Affairs has also issued press releases stating that the situation is under control, it said State-run Pakistan Television (PTV) said that a special flight with the first batch of Pakistani students from Bishkek arrived at the Lahore airport
The government has been in contact with the Kyrghyz Government to ensure the safety and security of its nationals at risk in view of the mob riots of last night in the Kyrghyz Republic The Kyrghyz authorities have expressed regret at the incidents of violence against foreign nationals including Pakistanis in Bishkek last night They have also pledged to hold an inquiry and punish the perpetrators Embassy of Pakistan has opened emergency helplines and responding to queries of students and their families Ambassador to the Kyrgyz Republic Hassan Ali Zaigham has been in close contact with senior Kyrgyz authorities According to the Kyrgyz Health Ministry, four Pakistanis were provided first aid and discharged while one is under
students including Pakistanis According to Pakistan s embassy in Bishkek foreign students living in the Kyrgyz capital including those from Pakistan, were attacked by locals in the aftermath of their brawl with Egyptian nationals on May 13 The report quoted the Kyrgyz health ministry as saying 29 people were injured in the violence The country s foreign ministry meanwhile said 14 foreigners were discharged from hospitals after treatment
monitoring the situation himself and would not leave the students alone in this situation
The Pakistani Government was in contact with the Kyrgyz government he added
Deeply concerned over the situation of Pakistani students in Bishkek, Kyrgyzstan I have directed Pakistan’s Ambassador to provide all necessary help and assistance ” earlier the prime minister wrote on his X timeline According to Pakistan’s Embassy in Bishkek foreign students living in Bishkek including those from Pakistan were subjected to violence by locals in the aftermath of their earlier brawl with Egyptian nationals a few days ago As per reports, some hostels of medical universities in Bishkek and private residences of international students including those of Pakistanis were attacked However the embassy said that so far they had received no confirmed reports of death or rape of any Pakistani student there My office is also in touch with the Embassy and constantly monitoring the situation,” the prime minister added The embassy has already shared the helpline numbers +996555554476 and +996507567667, and had responded to a hundreds of calls from the students and their families
treatment for jaw injury The Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister has directed the Foreign Office to monitor the situation round-the-clock and to fully assist and facilitate Pakistani nationals Kyrgyz envoy handed over demarche Earlier in the day Charge d’Affaires of the Kyrgyz Embassy in Pakistan
Melis Moldaliev on Saturday was called to the Foreign Office for a demarche by Director General (ECO & CARs) Aizaz Khan, conveying the deep concerns of the Government of Pakistan about the reports of last night’s incidents against Pakistani students studying in Bishkek
Chief Justices Conference in Azerbaijan His departure signifies Pakistan s active engagement in international judicial cooperation and dialogue Justice Qazi Isa s participation in the international conference is seen as an important step in promoting judicial cooperation and enhancing the legal framework in the ECO region Their engagement at the conference aims to address common legal challenges and share insights on judicial practices among member states
KHUSHAB
S TA F F R E P O R T
As many as 14 members of the same family including nine children died and 12 others sustained injuries after a passenger van fell into a ditch on Panj Pir Manawan Road in Khushab district on Saturday According to rescuers and police, the passengers were on their way to Soon Valley from Bannu for work
The rescuers said the circumstantial evidence suggested that the accident occurred due to brake failure “The van fell into a ditch after its brakes failed,” they suspected
The rescue personnel reached the site of the accident and started providing medical aid
All those who lost their lives and sustained injuries in the accident belonged to the same family
whereas identity of the others is yet to be ascertained Rescue personnel provided onsite medical aid to four people with minor injuries The other eight with critical injuries were shifted to THQ Hospital Naushera Meanwhile Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz expressed grief and sorrows over the grue-
Seven of the 14 deceased persons were identified as 14-year-old Ishaq 14-year-old Omar 45-yearold Rahim 40-year-old Muhammad Khan seven-year-old Aleesha, eight-year-old Ghazala and five-year-old Gul Rahim
some accident and sympathised with the bereaved family She prayed for eternal peace and rest of the deceased persons and early recovery of the injured Interior Minister Mohsin
In par
Profit S u n d a y, 1 9 M a y, 2 0 2 4 I | 1 0 Z i l - Q a d a h , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 3 1 9 I 8 Pa g e s I Ka r a c h i E d i t i o n PR OFIT I N P The technical-level discussions between Pakistan s economic team and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) mission have been concluded, while the policy-level negotiations are slated to commence on May 20 According to sources the upcoming talks will be crucial in determining the size of a new loan program with detailed discussions expected to finalise the future conditions and goals of Pakistan s economic policies They indicate that these policylevel talks will also establish the tax and non-tax revenue targets for the next financial year The Ministry of Finance will work with the IMF to set macroeconomic targets for the new financial year These targets will form the backbone of Pakistan’s economic strategy moving forward ensuring alignment with IMF standards and expectations A staff-level agreement is anticipated after these policy discussions, providing a framework for future economic reforms and financial stability However the IMF has yet to give a definitive green light for the final disbursement of funds indicating that they are meticulously reviewing Pakistan s economic targets and performance Pakistan s debt crisis has reached alarming levels, with interest payments on loans exceeding the government’s income by a staggering Rs205 billion in just nine months The country s total debt and liabilities have ballooned to over Rs80 086 billion, according to the State Bank s statistics As negotiations with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new bailout package continue the government is under pressure to reduce its expenditure and bring down the debt ratio Sources close to the negotiations reveal that the upcoming budget will include strict measures against unregistered traders, aiming to bring them into the tax net Notices will reportedly be sent to businesses not registered through the Tajir Dost app and penalties under Section 182 of the Income Tax Ordinance are anticipated for non-compliance Unregistered businesses could face fines of up to Rs10,000, as per the sources Moreover in a bid to curb tax evasion and enhance revenue collection the budget is expected to propose increased taxes on cash withdrawals by non-filers Currently, non-filers are subjected to a 0 6% advance tax on bank withdrawals exceeding Rs50,000 g U P C O M I N G TA L K S W I L L B E C R U C I A L I N D E T E R M I N I N G S I Z E O F A N E W LO A N P R O G R A M Pakistan-IMF technical talks conclude; policy-level discussions to begin on May 20 Fixing ‘baseless’ T yrian case for rehearing a ploy to keep Imran imprisoned: PTI ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) spokesperson expressed grave concerns over the fixing of the Tyrian case against PTI Founding Chairman Imran Khan for rehearing after a year, despite two judges of a threemember bench having already ruled against the maintainability of the case calling it a shameful attempt to keep Imran Khan in jail unlawfully PTI Spokesperson in a strongly-worded reaction on Saturday, said that PTI Founding Chairman s opponents now pinned their hopes on this absurd and baseless case after facing humiliation to achieve their desired goals in the Toshakhana Cipher and Al-Qadir Trust cases He stated that the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq proved once again his bias against Imran Khan by constituting a fresh bench to hear the case instead of announcing the three-member bench s verdict headed by him, wherein two judges ruled against the maintainability of the case and even uploaded the decision on the court website PTI spokesperson pointed out that the IHC’s six judges in their letter also highlighted several instances of clear interference by the state institutions and pressure on judges in the Tyrian case He emphasized that after exposing the meddling of state institutions and pressure on judges in politically motivated cases including Tyrian case, there was no legal or moral justification to proceed with the case anymore PTI spokesperson termed the filing of bogus fake and fabricated cases like Tyrian and Iddat cases against Imran Khan were a clear sign of the defeat and moral degradation of those who were hell-bent on making Imran Khan subject to their personal revenge He stated that like the around 200 bogus and false cases registered against Imran Khan the plaintiff in the Tyrian case remained unknown but enjoyed the special patronage of state lawyers PTI spokesperson dubbed the decision for formation a new bench in the case that had already been declared non-maintainable by two honorable judges, as utterly illegal and unacceptable He demanded that keeping in view the legal requirements the case should be dismissed forthwith instead of proceeding with this baseless case instead of proceeding with this baseless case Cornered Nawaz plays ‘victim card’ again, laments ouster of 1993 gov t LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Cornered and ousted Nawaz Sharif on Saturday played victim card again, lamenting that Pakistan would have been Asia’s strongest country had his government not been overthrown in 1993 Our country would have been at the forefront in Asia today had the agenda given for the country s development at that time been implemented, the elder Sharif told a party s Central Working Committee (CWC) meeting here Nawaz expressed satisfaction at the substantial turnout of PML-N leaders remarking on the rarity of such a significant assembly He stressed the representation from all provinces and acknowledged the shared hardships endured by its leaders, ranging from exile to unjust legal proceedings “It is very good that the leadership of every province is present here We have gathered after a long time ” said the PML-N supremo Commending the resilience of party members in confronting these challenges Nawaz highlighted the positive shift where individuals previously embroiled in legal battles were now actively engaged in assemblies, with some holding constitutional roles He affirmed the debunking of false cases against the party Reflecting on past cooperation attempts with former premier Imran Khan Nawaz recalled his initial endeavours including a visit to the PTI founder s residence in Banigala in 2013, aimed at fostering national collaboration However, he lamented subsequent events “A plot was hatched in London” where Imran travelled to right after the meeting protests erupted upon his return I visit you and you stab me in the back by assuring cooperation and then you begin protests in Islamabad s D-Chowk? he said He highlighted his decision to not call the police on the protestors despite his cabinet members insisting on it
tnership with
EMBA SSY, FOREIGN OFFICE, GOVT IN CLOSE CONTACT WITH SENIOR KYRGYZ AUTHORITIES TO ENSURE SAFETY OF STUDENTS
SSADOR REFUTES REPORTS ON THREE DEATHS, SAYING FOUR STUDENTS GOT INJURIES
g AMBA
FO SUMMONS KYRGYZ CHARGE D ’AFFAIRES FOR A DEMARCHE, CONVEYING CONCERNS ABOUT PAKISTANIS WELLBEING
BISHKEK/ISLAMABAD S A L E E M J A D O O N A special flight Saturday night landed at Lahore s Allama Iqbal International Airport with the first batch of Pakistan students from the “troubled Kyrgyzstan capital of Bishkek” where several foreigners were subjected to mob violence last night Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi received the students at the airport However, there was a lack of clarity about the number of students in the flight with the state broadcaster saying 30 140 and 180 in separate posts on X The development comes hours after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced the federal government will bear all travel expenses of stranded Pakistani students who wanted to return to the country after mob violence against foreigners in Kyrgyzstan s capital Bishkek On the other hand Kyrgyz police said they had mobilised forces in the Central Asian nation s capital yesterday to quell the violence, in which hundreds of Kyrgyz men attacked buildings housing foreign
Naqvi expressed grief over the accident and extended his condolences to the families of the deceased He prayed for the early recovery of the injured 1 4 o f s a m e f a m i l y p e r i s h i n K h u s h a b r o a d a c c i d e n t
ISLAMABAD
TA F F R E P O R T
Akhtar, known for his legal acumen and dedication will temporarily lead the judiciary during this period
swearing-in ceremony took place in the Supreme Court where Justice
administered the oath to Justice
Supreme Court judges, law officers and staff participated in the swearing-in ceremony
appointment of Justice Muneeb Akhtar as Acting Chief Justice will ensure continuity in the leadership of the Supreme Court It is pertinent to note that Chief Justice Qazi Faez Isa is currently on an international tour with Justice Mansoor Ali Shah Justice Qazi Faez Isa will attend the Economic Cooperation Organization (ECO)
Justice Muneeb sworn in as Acting CJP
S
Justice Muneeb Akhtar Saturday took oath as Acting Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) According to the details, Justice Muneeb
The
Yahya Afridi
Muneeb
The
TA F F R E P O R T
S
embassy The prime minister advised him to remain in contact with the parents and provide them timely information, adding that immediate arrangements should be made for those injured Pakistani students who wanted to return to Pakistan The government would bear all the expenses in this regard he said The prime minister, expressing his concerns, further said that he was
Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday expressing concerns over the violent situation in Bishkek, directed Pakistan’s Ambassador in Kyrgyzstan Hassan Ali Zaigham to provide all necessary support to the Pakistani students The prime minister asked him to personally visit the hostels of Pakistani students and meet them, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release The ambassador apprised the prime minister that Pakistani students were safe and those injured were being assisted by the
P M S h e h b a z s a y s p e r s o n a l l y m o n i t o r i n g B i s h ke k s i t u a t i o n C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03
O R P O L I C Y G U I D A N C E
I L
Sunday 19 May 2024 | KARACHI 02 NEWS ISLAMABAD A h M A D A h M A DA n i P RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has constituted an Economic Advisory Council (EAC) with the induction of renowned economists to ensure the availability of the best possible professional advice to the government on economic policies A c c o r d i n g t o a n o t i f i c a t i o n i s s u e d b y t h e F i n a n c e D i v i s i o n t h e p r e m i e r h a s c o n s t i t u t e d t h e E c o n o m i c A d v i s o r y C o u n c i l v i d e P M O s U O l e t t e r N o 2 0 ( 8 ) / D S ( E A - 11 ) / 2 0 2 4 d a t e d 1 7 t h M a y 2 0 2 4 w i t h i m m e d i a t e e f f e c t t i l l f u r t h e r o r d e r s EAC includes Jahangir Tareen, Saqib Shirazi, Shahzad Saleem, Musadik Zulqarnain, Dr Ijaz Nabi, Asif Peer, Zaid Bashir and Salman Ahmed The EAC will be chaired by the prime minister who will convene its meetings with any required frequency According to sources, the EAC is mainly constituted to ensure that the best possible professional advice is available to the government to inform optimise and synergise the formulation and implementation of its economic and financial policies T h e c o u n c i l i s e x p e c t e d t o p l a y a p i v o t a l r o l e i n s t r e n g t h e n i n g t h e g o v e r n m e n t s c a p a c i t y t o d e s i g n a n d introduce sound and effective policies for rapid and continued social and economic a d v a n c e m e n t h u m a n r e s o u r c e d e v e l o p m e n t i m p r o v e m e n t o f b u s i n e s s p r o c e s s e s a n d s t r e n g t h e n i n g o f d a t a services said sources The council will also facilitate capacity building of the government in conducting policy analysis and will assist the government in reaching out to the international network of recognised economists to invite them to contribute to Pakistan s development they said It is pertinent to mention that this development has come as Pakistan engages in negotiations with the IMF for a new bailout, following a period of slight economic stabilization after completing the previous IMF program P M F O R M S E C O N O M I C A D V I S O R Y C O U N C
F
PR OFIT n e w s D e s k The import bill for the petroleum group declined to $1 26 billion in April 2024 showing an 8 87% decrease year-on-year compared to $1 38 billion in April 2023 according to data from the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) However, imports of petroleum products increased by 14 77% month-onmonth from $1 1 billion in March 2024 The share of petroleum products in the total import bill of the country was 28 36% in April 2024 For the first 10 months (July-April) of the fiscal year 2023, the import bill for petroleum products dropped by 25 21% year-on-year to $12 34 billion down from $16 5 billion in the same period last year Overall, the total import bill of the country rose by 22 77% year-on-year to $4 45 billion in April 2024 On a monthly basis imports decreased by 2 74% from $4 57 billion in March 2024 C u m u l a t i v e l y, i n t h e f i r s t 1 0 m o n t h s o f f i s c a l y e a r 2 0 2 4 t o t a l imports decreased by 5 27% year-ony e a r t o $ 4 3 3 5 b i l l i o n c o m p a r e d t o $ 4 5 7 7 b i l l i o n i n t h e s a m e p e r i o d o f fiscal year 2023 Petroleum group impor t bill decreases by 8.87% YoY in April 2024 g E A C i n c l u d e s J a h a n g i r Ta r e e n , S a q i b S h i r a z i , S h a h z a d S a l e e m , M u s a d i k Z u l q a r n a i n , D r I j a z N a b i , A s i f Pe e r, Z a i d B a s h i r a n d S a l m a n A h m e d g I m p o r t b i l l f o r p e t r o l e u m p r o d u c t s d e c l i n e d b y 2 5 % Yo Y t o $ 1 2 3 4 b i n 1 0 M F Y 2 4 , f r o m $ 1 6 5 b i n s a m e p e r i o d l a s t y e a r Gold prices surge by Rs3,100 per tola in Pakistan PR OFIT n e w s D e s k G o l d p r i c e s i n P a k i s t a n i n c r e a s e d b y R s 3 1 0 0 p e r t o l a o n S a t u r d a y, t o r e a c h R s 2 4 8 , 1 0 0 p e r t o l a T h i s r i s e r e f l e c t s a p r i c e h i k e f o r p r e c i o u s y e l l o w m e t a l i n t h e i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t T h e p r i c e o f 1 0 - g r a m g o l d w a s r e c o r d e d a t R s 2 1 2 , 7 0 6 , a n i n c r e a s e o f R s 2 6 5 8 a c c o r d i n g t o t h e A l l P a k i s t a n G e m s a n d J e w e l l e r s S a r a f a A s s o c i a t i o n ( A P G J S A ) I n t e r n a t i o n a l l y t h e g o l d r a t e i n c r e a s e d o n S a t u r d a y T h e A P G J S A r e p o r t e d t h e p r i c e a t $ 2 4 1 4 p e r o u n c e ( i n c l u d i n g a $ 2 0 p r e m i u m ) u p b y $ 3 0 d u r i n g t h e d a y O n F r i d a y g o l d p r i c e s i n P a k i s t a n h a d d e c l i n e d b y R s 6 0 0 p e r t o l a L a s t m o n t h , g o l d i n t h e l o c a l m a r k e t r e a c h e d a n a l l - t i m e h i g h o f R s 2 5 2 2 0 0 p e r t o l a S i l v e r r a t e s a l s o r o s e s t a n d i n g a t R s 2 , 8 5 0 p e r t o l a , w i t h a n i n c r e a s e o f R s 1 2 0 g L o c a l g o l d p r i c e s r i s e w i t h i n t e r n a t i o n a l m a r k e t t r e n d s PR OFIT n e w s D e s k Pakistan’s current account recorded a surplus of $491 million in April 2024 up from a revised surplus of $434 million in March 2024 according to data released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) For the first 10 months of the fiscal year, the current account balance showed a deficit of $202 million, significantly lower than the $3 92 billion deficit in the same period the previous year In April 2024 Pakistan’s exports of goods and services were recorded $3 28 billion while imports were $5 28 billion Remittances for the month amounted to $2 81 billion During the first 10 months of the fiscal year, the country’s total exports of goods and services reached over $32 1 billion, and imports stood at $51 7 billion Worker remittances totaled $23 85 billion a 4% increase compared to the same period last year The current account is crucial for Pakistan which relies heavily on imports A widening deficit pressures the exchange rate and depletes foreign exchange reserves Pakistan is currently negotiating with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for a new extended bailout to bolster its foreign exchange reserves which currently stand at $14 62 billion Pakistan’s c urrent account records surplus of $491m in April Gov t to restrict cash use in real estate to curb money laundering PR OFIT M o n to r i n g D e s k T h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t h a s d e c i d e d t o r e s t r i c t c a s h u s e a n d i m p l e m e n t r e f o r m s i n t h e r e a l e s t a t e s e c t o r t o c u r b m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g a n d t e r r o r f i n a n c i n g A p r i v a t e t e l e v i s i o n c h a n n e l r e p o r t e d t h a t t h e s e d e c i s i o n s w e r e m a d e i n a m e e t i n g o f t h e N a t i o n a l A n t i - M o n e y L a u n d e r i n g a n d C o u n t e r F i n a n c i n g o f Te r r o r i s m A u t h o r i t y, c h a i r e d b y A h m e d S u k e r a d u r i n g t h e f i r s t w e e k o f M a y T h e m e e t i n g a l s o a p p o i n t e d E h s a n S a d i q , a B P S - 2 1 o ff i c e r a s t h e A u t h o r i t y s d i r e c t o r g e n e r a l O t h e r o ff i c i a l s w i l l b e a p p o i n t e d o n d e p u t a t i o n t o o p e r a t i o n a l i s e t h e a u t h o r i t y w i t h p e r m a n e n t s t a ff t o b e h i r e d a f t e r f i n a l i z i n g t h e r e l e v a n t r u l e s a n d r e g u l a t i o n s T h e m e e t i n g r e v i e w e d t h e p r o g r e s s o n i m p l e m e n t i n g t h e I n t e r n a l N a t i o n a l A c t i o n P l a n ( I N A P ) c o n c e r n i n g c a s h i n o rg a n i s e d c r i m e s I t i d e n t i f i e d u n r e g i s t e r e d r e a l e s t a t e b u s i n e s s e s a s a p a r t o f m o n e y l a u n d e r i n g c a u s i n g s i g n i f i c a n t r e v e n u e l o s s e s t o t h e n a t i o n a l e x c h e q u e r T h e a u t h o r i t y d e c i d e d t o s e e k p r o v i n c i a l s u g g e s t i o n s o n r e a l e s t a t e s e c t o r r e f o r m s I n M a r c h t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t a n n o u n c e d p l a n s t o r e s t r u c t u r e t h e N a t i o n a l C o u n t e r- Te r r o r i s m A u t h o r i t y ( N a c t a ) a m i d r i s i n g t e r r o r i s t a t t a c k s Pakistan’s foreign direct investment surges by 172% in April PR OFIT n e w s D e s k The inflow of Foreign Direct Investment (FDI) in Pakistan increased by 172% year-on-year (YoY) to $358 84 million in April 2024 up from $131 9 million in April 2023 According to the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) data released on Friday, this is the highest monthly FDI inflow in 51 months On a month-on-month (MoM) basis FDI inflow jumped 39% reaching $258 04 million in March 2024 In the first 10 months (July-April) of FY24 FDI inflows increased to $1 46 billion compared to $1 35 billion in the same period of FY23 Countrywise data shows China as the largest investor in April 2024 with a net FDI of $177 37 million, followed by the UAE and Canada which invested $51 93 million and $51 89 million respectively Sector-wise the highest FDI inflows were in the power sector totaling $194 million in April 2024 g H i g h e s t m o n t h l y F D I i n f l o w s i n o v e r f o u r y e a r s, l e d b y i n v e s t m e n t s f r o m C h i n a g C u r r e n t a c c o u n t b a l a n c e s h o w s a d e f i c i t o f $ 2 0 2 m i n 1 0 M F Y 2 4 , s i g n i f i c a n t l y l o w e r t h a n $ 3 . 9 2 b d e f i c i t l a s t y e a r PESHAWAR A z z B u n e r i President, Sarhad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (SCCI) while giving proposals for fiscal year 2024-25 demanded further reform measures to broaden existing taxbase He said KP is a net exporter of electricity and gas despite the fact that provinces were being charged equal rates with other federating units, which is totally unfair and unjustifiable KP total oil production is 31000 barrels per day which is 42 percent share of the whole country s oil production, Fuad said He suggested the establishment of an oil refinery in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa wherein oil reserves were available in surplus quantity Fuad asked to revive IDBP for the provision of loans on easy terms to promote industry in the province He mentioned that from 30 to 32 billion dollars through human resources were official and the same figure amount was unofficial in the shape of foreign exchange Therefore he called for launching a special technical training program for human resources of the country Fuad Ishaq was speaking during the All Pakistan Presidents Conference held in Islamabad said in a statement issued here on Saturday The conference was attended by presidents of all chambers of Pakistan FPCCI office bearers and association presidents The SCCI president said KP is producing 6500 megawatt electricity in which 2700 megawatt is utilized in summer and only 1100 megawatt in winter season rest of the produced electricity exported to the national grid H e s a i d t h e U S h a s i m p o s e d a n t i - d u m p i n g d u t y o n C h i n a , t h e r e i s a n o p p o r t u n i t y o f 1 0 0 b i l l i o n d o l l a r e x p o r t f o r P a k i s t a n H e a s k e d t h e g o v e r n m e n t t o p u r s u e C h i n e s e i n v e s t o r s t o m a k e i n v e s t m e n t s a n d t a k e b e n e f i t f r o m 1 0 0 b i l l i o n d o l l a r e x p o r t t h a t w i l l p r o m o t e i n d u s t r i a l a n d e c o n o m i c a c t i v i t i e s i n K P a n d c r e a t e e m p l o y m e n t o p p o r t u n i t i e s f o r m a n y p e o p l e i n t h e p r o v i n c e Giving examples of Bangladesh Japan and Korea Fuad said these countries open import and produce finishing products by getting raw material and then exporting and increasing their foreign exchange The SCCI chief expressed grave concern over payment of Rs8 Trillion interests on loans Talking about hydel nuclear and thermal power Fuad said all these resources expenditure is only Rs11 per unit but due to inefficiency of power distribution companies, thieves and growing line losses, Rs23 per unit has been increased in it, calling for steps for its eradication at government level The chamber president while commenting on the increasing gas crisis and low pressure said that people have been forced to disconnect gas over high gas prices and use alternative sources of fuel Emphasizing the need of broadening tax-base through reforms Fuad said according to rough estimates, nearly 30million people were paid various taxes in which salaried class also included and it is quite visible that only 120,000 members of the business community were paid over Rs 1 Million taxes every year The SCCI chief called for reviewing IPPs to overcome the current economic crisis He gave a proposal of issuance of all vehicle number plates at national level and to make distribution of income and tax-revenue as per population of the province He informed KP is earning a revenue of Rs 1 Billion on head of vehicle registration and taxes while Islamabad is gaining Rs 20 Billion annually Earlier the participants of the conference thoroughly deliberated on various proposals for FY budget 2024-25 and expressed grave concern over the huge burden of loans on the country Tribal districts, Malakand taxed after decades of exemption PESHAWAR A z i z B u n e r i The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) government has begun profiling non-custom paid vehicles in the province s tribal districts and Malakand Division, aiming to integrate them into the tax system This follows a recent statement by the federal finance minister proposing taxation in these regions The move has sparked resistance from locals and traders They argue that the region has enjoyed tax exemption since the British era and imposing taxes now would be unfair Despite the opposition, the government is determined to proceed, citing the need to generate revenue and integrate the region into the national economy Excise Department officials acknowledge the region’s historical tax-free status which has led to the widespread use of non-custom paid vehicles To address this the government has profiled over 5000 vehicles so far, with thousands more to be included The government estimates that taxing these vehicles could yield billions of rupees However, traders and locals fear the move will impose a heavy financial burden and harm the local economy The government s initiative to introduce taxation is seen as a major step towards mainstreaming the tribal districts and Malakand s economy However, successful implementation hinges on addressing the concerns of locals and traders, whose resistance promises to be a major challenge In February the deployment of Excise officers in Malakand Division sparked protests and shutdowns Locals and traders remain resolute in their opposition citing the region s longstanding tax exemption SCCI demands fur ther reform measures to broaden tax-base
CHAN SAYS ELECTION RESULTS PROVED TO BE MORALE BOOSTING FOR PTI FOUNDER
First batch of students arrives as govt moves in to resc ue Pakistanis in Bishkek
minister
have
now
to
Pakistani nationals in the Kyrgyz Republic and their families may contact the unit at 051-9203108 and 051-9203094
The Crisis Management Unit may also be contacted via email cmu1@mofa gov pk
the
Kyrgyz police are providing
hostels, with the matter being
GPS mobile and Wi-Fi connectivity enhancing its versatility and usability According to software experts at NADRA the All-in-One kit holds immense potential for national identification programs and voter registration initiatives Law enforcement agencies are also poised to benefit greatly from its comprehensive capabilities The introduction of this state-of-the-art digital identity kit is expected to bolster Pakistani international trade, with its global sale opening up avenues for foreign exchange earnings Moreover its availability at NADRA centers across the country will streamline the issuance of identity documents facilitating citizens and enhancing administrative efficiency Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi s recent announcement regarding the establishment and renewal of identity cards at the Union Council level aligns with NADRA s ongoing efforts to enhance accessibility and efficiency in identity registration processes Biometric machines are slated to be installed at Union Council levels nationwide, underscoring the government’s commitment to modernizing identity management systems During his recent visit to NADRA headquarters in Islamabad, Minister Naqvi commended Chairman NADRA Lt Gen Muhammad Munir Afsar and his team for their dedication and laudable efforts
: Meanwhile the Kyrgyz Ministry of Foreign Affairs in a statement said that the law enforcement agencies of the Kyrgyz Republic took prompt measures to arrest the people involved in the incident “The situation is completely under the control of the security forces and the safety of citizens and public order have been ensured There were no serious injuries among those who took part in the incident About 15 citizens applied to medical institutions for examination,” it was added
On the other hand the Ministry of Foreign Affairs has activated its Crisis Management Unit on the instruction of Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar
rectly supervised by the Kyrgyz President The government will take legal action against the perpetrators of the recent attacks All fourteen injured foreign nationals including some Pakistanis were discharged after first aid, with one Pakistani still receiving treatment Earlier, the embassy stated that the Kyrgyz Ministry of Internal Affairs had issued press releases confirming that the situation was under control The embassy also noted it hadn t received any confirmed reports of Pakistani students deaths or rapes in Kyrgyzstan, despite social media claims However, there were reports of minor in-
Earlier Islamabad s envoy to Bishkek urged students to stay indoors In view of mob violence around student hostels in Bishkek, the embassy strongly advise all Pakistani students in Bishkek to stay indoors until the situation return to normal Pakistan s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan Hasan Zaigham wrote on X, formerly Twitter, early on Saturday
We are liaising with the local law enforcement authorities to ensure safety of our student fraternity,” he added
The spokesperson for the Ministry of Foreign Affairs Mumtaz Zahra Baloch acknowledged the message received from the Pakistani embassy and confirmed that the embassy is in contact with Kyrgyz authorities The protection of Pakistanis is of utmost importance,” the spokesperson said Mumtaz Zahra Baloch Pakistani Foreign Office spokeswoman said the embassy was in contact with the Kyrgyz authorities and has responded to hundreds of queries from distressed students and their families
Lahore -Paris R ally to promote positive image of Pakistan: R ana Mashhood
LAHORE A P P
Chairman of Prime Minister ’s Youth Programme (PMYP) Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan has announced that the Lahore-Paris Rally 2024 will significantly promote Pakistan's cultural heritage and enhance its positive image globally Addressing a press conference held at Aiwan-e-Iqbal here on Saturday he said the government was committed to promoting tourism and making Pakistan an attractive tourist destination He revealed that the Lahore-Paris rally will commence its journey on August 26, 2024 with its final destination being Paris (France) Participants in the rally will travel through 12 countries covering a distance of 20,000 kilometres in 70 days The
route includes major countries such as Pakistan, Iran, Turkey, Greece, Italy, Switzerland, Germany, Austria, Hungary, Romania, Bulgaria and France he added The rally is being organised by the Globe Series and Cross Route Club in collaboration with the Prime Minister s Youth Programme and the Pakistan Tourism Department, he said Emphasising the significance of the rally, Rana Mashhood said “The Lahore-Paris rally is not only a means of promoting our national culture but also an excellent opportunity to project a positive image of Pakistan to the world He assured full support and resources for the participants, including safety measures for women and children taking part in the rally This initiative aims to strengthen cultural ties and foster
friendly relations between different nations, he asserted Rana Mashhood highlighted that the rally would inspire Pakistani youth with a renewed sense of enthusiasm and determination This rally will maintain Pakistan s unique identity while opening new avenues for tourism in the country, he added and extended an invitation to tourists worldwide, emphasising Pakistan's peaceful environment, hospitable people and scenic beauty as a haven for tourists In response to a question Rana Mashhood mentioned that the rally s logo would be unveiled in the coming days Additionally, floats representing Pakistani culture will be part of the rally with cultural programs planned in each country along the route to showcase Pakistan s positive image
Fire engulfs Margalla Hills amidst intensifying heat-wave
The bushfire on the iconic Margalla Hills in Islamabad continues to spread as scorching heatwave adding to its intensity According to media reports Romina Khurshid Alam, Assistant to Prime Minister for the Ministry of Climate Change, disclosed that the fire has spread across an expansive area, spanning over three kilometers Collaborative efforts by the Ministry of Climate Change and Capital Development Authority (CDA) personnel are underway to contain the inferno
Attributing the escalation to the heatwave and heightened wind speeds, Romina Khurshid Alam underscored the challenges posed by the fire s rapid
2012 It is a collection of Yasir ’s ghazal
Famed artist and intellectual Aslam Kamal and eminent poet Shahzad Ahmad wrote its flaps in addition to a sparkling foreword by popular poet Aslam Kolsari Unfortunately all of the three scribes are no more Aslam Kamal considers Yasir s poetry as highly imaginative wondrous ecstatic and illuminative Shahzad Ahmad is of the view that Yasir is led to compose poetry under some inexplicable intuitive impulse with no pretence to sound didactic Aslam Kolsari thinks that alongside prosodic variations in rhyme Yasir s verse is also rich in thematic varieties He further notes that Yasir excels in using odd and outlandish words in his verse with an unusual artistic penchant Yasir is temperamentally (in terms of his mood and attitude or what he names it in the vernacular as ‘mizaj’) anti-convention a non-status quoist so to say His verse (ghazal here) is a testament to his poetic beliefs and practices; his socio-political consciousness finds a glimmering expression in the bulk of his poetic construct Lutanay kay liye baqi nahi raha kuch bhi/Dikhanay ko sar-e-maidaan aabru hi rahi
Subh say undroon uthnay
spread near Loi Dundi, Rata Hotar, and Pirsuhaha The swift propagation, fueled by strong winds, has posed a formidable challenge to containment efforts Approximately 150 personnel are diligently working to extinguish the flames prioritizing the prevention of any loss of life Even amidst the late hours of the night officials from the CDA and Ministry of Climate Change remain steadfast on-site coordinating firefighting operations As efforts persist to quell the raging fire, vigilance remains paramount to safeguarding both lives and the invaluable natural ecosystem of the Margalla Hills Around 150 personnel from Capital Development Authority and the Ministry of Climate Change on Friday took part in controlling the fire that broke out in the forests of Margalla hills a ministry spokesperson said
‘Nafeeri’ is a musical instrument of the flute family which symbolizes a lament supplication or a cry for help or succour Khalid Iqbal Yasir the kind of innovator he is uses the word as an objective correlative in lieu of his concern for certain values that he would love his poetical outpourings to imbibe and also disseminate with a view to engrafting them on his readers Integrity, altruism, objectivity, an all pervasive internal chaos arising from the prevailing societal disequilibrium, nihilism as a prelude to an erosive cultural disorientation, uncertainty, and pessimism are some seminal constituents of Yasir ’s poetics The book comprises a miscellany of verse such as ‘na’at’ ‘hamd’ ghazal and nazm the genre of ghazal being the poet s favourite medium of expression here Noted educationist and literatus (pl literati) Dr Farhat Jabeen Virk has rendered an indepth analytical appraisal of Yasir s person and art in her foreword to the publication The socio-political undertones of his (Yasir s) poetry serve to enlighten the reader on certain unpalatable truths relating to his diurnal existence in the wider context of a modernistic socio-cultural paradigm embracing sociology politics and technology Yasir enlists his poetic manifesto on the
back cover of the book Resistance, self-defence, and reaction are ingrained in human nature Seeds of resistance are embedded in humanism whereas self-defence is also a kind of resistance which is born of the forced acceptance of tyranny perpetuation of oppression high-handedness denial and trampling of human rights, injustice, favouritism, and disregard of talent and merit All this is the warp and woof of his poetry He thinks that the poet basically addresses the reader, not the critic True poetry is an aesthetic blend of life and art Kuch nahi jaantay Yasir pas-e-deewar hai kya/Hum samajhtay to yahi haiN k sabhi jaantay haiN Kuch samajh Yasir nahi aa i magar/Guftani naguftani may kuch to hai
‘Aarsi’
It is Yasir ’s latest poetic publication Ms Najeebah Arif Chairperson Pakistan Academy of Letters has rightfully lauded Yasir s poetics in her flap added to the book She views Aarsi as collection of his experiential poetry that focuses on feminism and figures out feministic sense and sensibility in general He delineates the picture of a Pakistani woman in her conventional role yet not unaware of her importance in the larger perspective of the indigenous socio-cultural constraints that make a cognisable impact on the universal role of woman in general and the native social fabric in particular In the preface to the book, the poet spot-
lights the significance
03 NEWS Sunday 19 May 2024 | KARACHI ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P EOPLES Party leader Nadeem Afzal Chan has said that the election results proved to be morale boosting for PTI founder Imran Khan and other factors also encouraged him to defy the government In an interview with a private TV Channel Chan delving in Pakistani politics’ dynamics said that the people feel there must be a writer behind a revolution Commenting on the political career of Nawaz Sharif Nadeem Afzal Chan said that he is a veteran politician, who inflicted loss to himself A person s exit should be excellent and robust, which didn’t happen with Mian Sahib ” PPP leader said “There are mistakes of Nawaz Sharif and his advisers for this exit ” he further said He couldn t become the prime minister again in his advance age and now he has not been active in the politics , he said What is party s president, his daughter and brother are doing the active politics, Nadeem Afzal added Talking on the PML-N’s offer to the PPP to join the Cabinet, he said, “it is not easy for the People’s Party” “We will see when the matter will be discussed within the party he further said Official inquiry in the wheat scandal is mere a lollypop commenting on the wheat scam Nadeem Afzal Chan said ” The NAB would have been in action in case of a fair inquiry ” he said “We are in talks with farmers organizations to lodge an application from a joint forum PPP leader said Efforts are being made to bury the wheat scandal but we won t let it happen he said There are big people involved in the wheat scandal, which are bureaucrats and technocrats, Chan said “They had strangled the person if a politician would have involved in the scam,” he observed “We have prepared draft of the petition and will file it to become complainant in the NAB or court PPP leader said The National Accountability Bureau (NAB) should have itself take notice of this massive wheat scandal he added
CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 01 In a press statement issued in Islamabad Foreign Office spokesperson said It was impressed on the Kyrgyz Charge d affaires that the Kyrgyz government should take all possible measures to ensure the safety and security of Pakistani students and citizens residing in the Kyrgyz Republic Meanwhile Pakistan s Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan
met with Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister
Almaz on Saturday to con-
concerns of Pakistani nationals in Bishkek following violent attacks
in-
students including Pakistanis The envoy s meeting followed the Kyrgyz government s confirmation that no Pakistani student had died in the recent violence The violence, triggered by a May 13 incident involving Egyptian students erupted in Bishkek affecting many foreigners including Pakistani students During the meeting, Ambassador Zaigham
safe-
‘S I T U AT I O N C O M P L E T E LY U N D E R C O N T R O L O F S E C UR I T Y F O R C E S
C M U A C T I VAT E D O N B I S H K E K S I T U AT I O N:
Zaigham,
Imangaziev
vey
on
ternational
emphasized the need for
guarding Pakistani nationals The Kyrgyz
assured that local authorities
controlled
situation which is
returning to normal
security
all
di-
juries to some Pakistani students
S TA F F R E P O R T
ISLAMABAD
SYED AFSAR SAJID Khalid Iqbal Yasir s poetic assets Syed Afsar Sajid Titles: (1) ‘Mizaj’ (2) ‘Nafeeri’ (3) Aarsi Khalid Iqbal Yasir is a reputed litterateur a scholar of history Pakistan studies and Iqbaliyaat, with a PhD degree earned by him in the last mentioned discipline He is a veteran poet, a prolific writer, a discreet critic, an adept translator and a keen researcher in the allied domains of history and literature with more than twenty-five publications to his credit; he has also served in the higher echelons of a host of literary, cultural,
scientific
public sector
The
published
and
organizations in the
‘Mizaj’
book was
way back in
wala dhu aN /Sham kay waqt bairoon bhi aa ey ga ‘Nafeeri’
other’s
holy
binding
life The expression ( Aarsi Mashaf ) thus signifies the role and distinctivity of woman, the distaff side of the gender divide, in the Pakistani social hierarchy Woman empowerment is a loud but efficacious implication of this phenomenon Ghazals forming part of this collection as assumed by the poet in his introductory tend to bring out the organic, psychiatric, cultural, and contextual delicacies as well as intricacies of male ‘relativity’ vis-a-vis feminism which nowadays looks like an oft-repeated social cliché Literature as Yasir holds is asexual that is that it is indivisible and hence cannot be bifurcated into male and female compartments The book is therefore a wonderful exposition of this cerebral conceptualisation Bhali acchi rawaN thi apnay rastay/Woh peechay daikh kar patthar hui thi Koi uski wakalat ko uttha nahi/Apni sangeeN saza rokti rah gai Tabdeel usay karnay ki khwahish ko chupa kar/Woh us say nahi apni tabiyyat say lari hai B ook Review: Khalid Iqbal Yasir ’s poetic assets President visits family of Shaheed Major Babar, offers Fateha ISLAMABAD A P P President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday visited the family home of Shaheed Major Babar Khan in Mianwali and expressed condolences to the family members of the martyr During the visit the president offered Fateha for Major Babar Khan who was martyred in Zhob He prayed to Allah Almighty to elevate the rank of the martyred in paradise and grant courage to the bereaved family to bear this loss with patience He also paid tribute to martyred Major Babar Khan for sacrificing his life for the sake of the country said a press release issued by the President House Press Wing The president said that the entire nation was proud of its martyrs and salutes them He also appreciated the Shaheed's devotion to duty, patriotism and his services for the country Mohsin Naqvi orders crackdown on encroachments in Capital ISLAMABAD A P P Federal Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi on Saturday ordered a crackdown against the encroachments in Islamabad He directed the Capital Development Authority (CDA) staff to remove and eliminate all encroachments without discrimination and without accepting any pressures from anywhere He ordered Islamabad administration, CDA and police to conduct joint operation against the encroachment Chairman CDA and Chief Commissioner Islamabad Muhammad Ali Randhawa immediately took action on the direction of the federal minister and launched an operation against encroachments in Islamabad The authorities demolished enchroachments of Raja Gulfraz Farm in Sangjani Sasing and sealed another factory The farmhouse was built illegally by constructing 10 rooms on 24 kanal area The Islamabad administration and the police led by the DC and CDA jointly conducted the operation against encroachments Kundi, Aleem Khan resolve to boost investment oppor tunities ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Faisal Karim Kundi and Federal Minister for Privatisation Abdul Aleem Khan resolved on Saturday to boost investment opportunities in the country According to details, Kundi called on Aleem Khan During the meeting, the different proposals were considered to increase the opportunities for employment Aleem Khan had felicitated Kundi on becoming the KP governor Kundi said that there were wide opportunities to work in the fields of minerals and tourism The natural resources can be utilised for creating employment opportunities, said Kundi Earlier this month, Aleem Khan expressed solidarity with the labour fraternity and recognised Labour Day as a day of practical acknowledgment of workers’ rights globally In his message in line with International Labour Day the Istehkam-e-Pakistan Party (IPP) President acknowledged the unwavering spirit, resilience, and dedication of the workers NADRA introduces all-in-one digital identit y kit for efficient identification ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The National Database and Registration Authority (NADRA) have introduced an innovative All-inOne digital identity kit integrating cutting-edge biometric authentication features into a single device The proud achievement spearheaded by experts from NADRA Technologies Limited (NTL) and NADRA Technology Research (NTR), a subsidiary agency of NADRA, marks a significant leap forward in digital identity solutions The new digital kit, set to be showcased at the prestigious ‘ID for Africa Conference’ in Cape Town, boasts an array of advanced features including a high-resolution camera iris fingerprint and face recognition capabilities Additionally the kit is equipped with essential functionalities such as a battery
of its quaint albeit pertinent title Aarsi Mas haf is an Islamic marital custom wherein bride and bridegroom view each
reflection in a mirror with the
Qur’an in the centre firmly
the wedding couple together for a happy and safe future course of
ural gas (LNG) provide temporary relief they do lit-
PAKISTAN a nation striving for progress amidst numerous challenges, finds itself caught in the grips of an energy dilemma With a growing population and an industrial sector in ruins the demand for energy continues to escalate yet the country limps with inadequate infrastructure and heavy reliance on imported fuels This juxtaposition begs the question: how can Pakistan navigate its energy landscape towards sustainability while under the IMF s debt trap?
One pressing issue is the country s substantial dependence on imported fuels and non-renewable energy sources primarily coal and liquefied natural gas Recent events such as the global energy crisis sparked by geopolitical tensions have underscored the vulnerability of Pakistan s energy sector to external shocks The soaring prices of oil and gas on the international market have intensified the country's economic woes, leading to inflationary pressures, and hindering efforts for equitable development Pakistan s energy mix remains distorted with a significant portion still derived from environmentally harmful sources like coal and furnace oil While short-term solutions, such as importing liquefied nat-
Addressing energy governance issues is another critical aspect of Pakistan's energy transition Strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing transparency, and combating corruption are essential for creating an enabling environment for sustainable energy development Building institutional capacity and promoting good governance practices will instil confidence among investors and stakeholders, facilitating the flow of capital into the renewable energy sector Integrating climate change considerations into energy planning is vital to ensure resilience against climate-related risks. Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change, including extreme weather events and water scarcity, which can disrupt energy infrastructure and exacerbate energy insecurity Adopting climate-smart energy policies and investing in climate adaptation measures will enhance the country's ability to cope with climate challenges while advancing its sustainable development goals Renewables provide a solution
tle to address the long-term sustainability of the energy sector The environmental consequences of continued reliance on imported fuels, including air pollution and climate change, loom large, necessitating a shift towards cleaner alternatives Fortunately Pakistan possesses abundant renewable energy resources including solar wind and hydropower Despite this potential the country has yet to fully harness these sources to meet its energy needs Recent shifts in renewable energy, such as the inauguration of new hydel, solar and wind projects, offer glimpses of progress However, bureaucratic hurdles inconsistent and incompetent policies and lack of investment continue to hinder the widespread adoption of renewables
To overcome this impasse Pakistan must prioritize the development of renewable energy infrastructure through strategic planning and investment Government initiatives, such as incentivizing renewable energy projects through tax breaks and subsidies, can stimulate private sector involvement and attract foreign investment Additionally fostering partnerships with international organizations and adopting best practices from countries with successful renewable energy transitions like Bangladesh, Nepal, and India can expedite progress In a recent development, Pakistan marked a significant milestone in its quest for sustainable energy with the inauguration of the Dasu Hydropower Project With an estimated capacity of 4 320 megawatts upon completion Dasu is poised to become one of the largest hydropower projects in Pakistan, promising to alleviate the strain on the national grid and diversify the energy mix The Dasu Hydropower Project holds immense promise not only in meeting Pakistan's growing energy needs but also in promoting socio-economic
M o v i n g o v e r t o i n v e s t m e n t
people Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman especially came to Makkah from Riyadh and held important meetings with him After due deliberations, they reached some understanding as to how to boost brotherly relations further and help Pakistan overcome its
prevailing economic and financial crisis In quick succession to the PM's visit a high level Saudi Arabia delegation headed by Foreign Minister Prince Farhan bin Faisal visited Pakistan within a week obviously under special instructions from the Saudi Crown Prince The delegation included Ministers and senior officials concerning investment , energy, agriculture and other sectors and they held a series of meetings with their counterparts in a positive and productive manner The acceleration in strengthening of existing very warm brotherly relations between two countries continued as PM Shehbaz Sharif paid a three-day official visit to Saudi Arabia towards the end of last month to attend the World Economic Forum's Special Meeting on "Global Collaboration Growth and Energy for Development in Riyadh along with a delegation comprising Federal Ministers Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Muhammad Aurangzeb and others at the invitation of the Saudi Crown Prince He availed the opportunity so offered,held another important meeting with the host Saudi Crown Prince thanked him for sending a high level delegation to Pakistan and told him that he has brought with him some federal ministers for holding follow-up meetings Then in the first week of May 2024, a 50member strong Saudi delegation of investors and businessmen representing 30 companies paid a two-day visit to Islamabad to attend a specially organized Pak-Saudi Investment Conference It was at this conference leader of the visiting Saudi delegation Deputy Investment Ibrahim Almubarak quite categorically expressed his country s keen interest in Pakistan's economic potential, saying that the Saudi gov-
ernment and companies considered Pakistan a high priority economic investment and business opportunity Citing the strategic partnership of his country with Pakistan he highlighted the strong fraternal ties rooted in shared faith, culture and values between the two countries He also underscored Saudi Arabia's firm belief in Pakistan's demographic advantage, strategic location and abundant natural resources adding that they wanted to see Pakistan as one of their leading international partners The occasion also afforded the visiting Saudi delegation to hold meetings with 70 leading investors and businessmen of the host country The Saudi delegation afterwards returned home without offering comments and impressions after the conclusion of the Conference They were most likely to brief the Saudi Crown Prince about their visit and recommendations following their meetings held in Islamabad Pakistan was now keenly forward to an expected visit by Saudi Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohaammad bin Salman, in the coming weeks hopefully, after about five years During the upcoming visit of the Saudi Crown Prince agreements and Memorandums of Understanding in the range of $5 billion to $10 billion are to be unveiled boosting Saudi investment in different sectors here Needless to mention here Saudi Arabia was quite appreciative of a welcome and positive shift in Pakistan policies indicating shifting to investment both foreign and local and discarding aid and loans as early as possible PM Shehbaz Sharif while commenting on the quite successful visit of the Saudi investors and businessmen delegation was reported to have termed the visit as a significant headway in the existing brotherly relations between the two countries
The country would be hoping that following the Saudi delegations visits PM Shehbaz Sharif s two visits to Saudi Arabia and holding of important deliberations there with the Saudi Crown Prince and positive indications by Saudi delegations topped by expected upcoming visit of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman all augurs well in furtherance of robust partnership in the best interests of both the countries
The writher is Lahore-based Freelance Journalist Columnist and retired Deputy Controller (News) ,Radio Pakistan, Islamabad and can be reached at zahidriffat@gmail com
College
display
04 Sunday 19 May 2024 COMMENT Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 I K arachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545 I Web: www pakistantoday com pk I Email: editorial@pakistantoday com pk
growth P R I M M E M i n i s t e r S h e h b a z S h a r i f t o l d a m e e t i n g t h a t m e a s u r e s n e e d e d t o b e t a k e n t o s t o p s t u n t i n g I t m i g h t b e d e e m e d a n i n t r us i o n i n t o a p r o v i n c i a l s u b j e c t b e c a u s e s t u n t i n g i s a m a t t e r o f c h i l d r e n s h e a l t h , a n d h e a l t h i s a p r o v i nc i a l s u b j e c t H o w e v e r, a p a r t f r o m t h e g e n e r a l s u p e rv i s o r y r e s p o n s i b i l i t i e s o f t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t s t u n t i n g i s t o o i m p o r t a n t a m a t t e r f o r t h e f e d e r a l g o v e r n m e n t t o i g n o r e S t u n t i n g i s t h e r e s u l t o f m a ln u t r i t i o n , a n d i m p l i e s t h a t a c h i l d h a s n o t r e a c h e d t h e h e i g h t h e o r s h e s h o u l d h a v e a t t h e p a r t i c u l a r a g e T h e r e a r e t w o o t h e r p r o b l e m s t h a t m u s t b e w a t c h e d f o r : w a s t i n g a n d a n a e m i a Wa s t i n g m e a n s t h a t t h e c h i l d b e t w e e n t h r e e a n d f i v e i s u n d e rw e i g h t A n a e m i a m e a n s t h a t t h e c h i l d s u f f e r s a n i r o n d e f i c i e n c y, a n d m a y p e r s i s t i n t o a d u l t h o o d , i n w h i c h c a s e a n a e m i c m o t h e r s a r e l e s s a b l e t o b e a r t h e r i g o u r s o f c h i l d b e a r i n g a n d m a y t h e n a g a i n b e a r a n a e m i c c h i l d r e n T h e b e s t a d v o c a t e s f o r t h e c h i l d r e n a r e t h e p a re n t s T h e y w i l l f i g h t t h e h a r d e s t t o e n s u r e t h a t t h e i r c h i l d r e n a r e n o t s t a r v e d , a n d t h a t t h e y a t t a i n t h e i r f u l l h e i g h t s H o w e v e r i t n o t j u s t a m a t t e r o f l o o k s T h e p r o b l e m w i t h s t u n t i n g a n d w a s t i n g i s t h a t t h e y a r e n o t r e v e r s i b l e W h a t e v e r d a m a g e h a s b e e n d o n e i s d o n e A s t u n t e d c h i l d h a s l o s t t h e s k e l e t a l g r o w t h t h a t h e s h o u l d h a v e e x p e r i e n c e d o n a p r o p e r d i e t A w a s t e d c h i l d w i l l h a v e l o s t t h e b r a i n g r o w t h t h a t s h o u l d h a v e o c c u r r e d i f h i s o r h e r d i e t h a d b e e n a d e q u a t e I t i s n o t j u s t t h e p r o b l e m t h a t t h e s e c h i l d r e n a r e p e r m a n e n t l y d e p r i v e d o f r e a c h i n g t h e i r f u l l p o t e n t i a l , t h a t i s c r ea t e d b y t h e i r g e n e t i c i n h e r i t a n c e A n d i t i s n o t j u s t t h e y r e a c h a l o w e r h e i g h t t h a n t h e i r g e n e s s a y t h e y s h o u l d b e T h e y a r e a l s o l e w s s i n t e l l i g e n t a n d m o r e s u s c e p t i b l e t o d i s e a s e I t i s n o k i n d n e s s t o p r e v e n t s t u n t i n g a n d w a s t i n g I t s a v e s t h e m f r o m t h e f a t e o f h a v i n g t o b e t a k e n c a r e o f , a n d m a k e s t h e m p r o d u ct i v e m e m b e r s o f s o c i e t y T h e r e w i l l b e m o p o i n t i n g e t t i n g o u t - o f - s c h o o l c h i l d r e n i n t o s c h o o l i f t h e y h a v e b e e n s t a r v e d i n t o s t u p i d i t y, a n d i n a b i l i t y t o l e a r n T h e r e a r e a n u m b e r o f d e f i c i e n c i e s i n s c h o o l f a c i l i t i e s , b u t a l o n g w i t h f i l l i n g t h e m , a m e a l s p r o g r a m m e m u s t a l s o b e d ev i s e d f
r i m m e d i a t e a p p l i c a t i o n s o t h a t t h e n a t i o n a l l o s s o f s t u n t i n g i s e n d e d s o o n e r t h a n l a t e r I t i s a rg u e d b y s o m e t h a t a l a rg e a n d y o u n g p o p u l a t i o n i s a c t u a l l y a n a d v a n t a g e T h a t i s o n l y t r u e i f i t i s a b l e t o l e a r n , a n d h a s n o t h a d i t s f a c u l t i e s s t u n t e d b y m a l n u t r i t i o n M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor Media mar t yrs JOURNALISTS in Gaza have remained steadfast in their professional task of exposing the dark realities of life More than 100 media professionals have been martyred since Oct 7 last year The horrible stories of several journalists served as a stark reminder of the dangers inherent in reporting from Gaza Their courageous pursuit of truth ultimately cost them their lives underscoring the grave risks faced by journalists in conflict zones Just like journalists in any other region, those in Gaza have the right to freedom of speech and press However, they are being killed, subjected to violence, and arrested The global community and authorities should condemn such acts of state violence and hold the perpetrators of attacks on the press accountable NEELA HASSAN DERA BUGTI Middle class moralit y THE practice of double standards in our lives in the name of religion happens to be in sharp contrast to the true spirit of the religion While women empowerment is a buzzword, it is ironic that women themselves happen to be a hurdle in the way of progress on this critical front The protagonists of women’s rights often employ poor housemaids on paltry wages deprive them of their rightful holidays and do not give them any overtime These maids are humiliated exploited and at times even subjected to harassment and violence Also the girls working at shopping and food outlets come to the workplace all covered up but then change into Western attire that is a job requirement They do this because their families and neighbours do not feel comfortable Should we call it a case of middle-class morality? KHAYYAM DURRANI KARACHI
Stunted
o
The College Education Department working under the Sindh government issued a notification earlier this year outlining the administrative roles and responsibilities of college principals In the past seniority was a key factor in the appointment of college principals but things have taken a turn for the better over the last two years As things stand, the government seems to have fulfilled its responsibility, and it is now up to the principals to run their respective colleges effectively, and improve the academic atmosphere across the colleges DR ZAFAR FAROOQUI KARACHI
THERE has been lately a rising trend on various social media platforms where certain vloggers showcase their material possessions and lavish lifestyles conse- quently fuelling a culture of materialism and greed among their followers, giving further impetus to the trend which is already wellentrenched in society Such displays of wealth have led to an increase in the number of crimes as well as mental health issues in society People are no more satisfied with their happy and peaceful lives They watch these fake lives of these socalled stars and get excited about their own chances Such a display of wealth and personal life distorts reality and perpetuates harmful norms in society fostering a sense of depriva-tion and greed among those who are unable to attain similar levels of luxury in their lives I wonder at the length the vloggers go for the sake of a few more followers Our society needs to have a meaningful discussion on critical the matter aimed at addressing the underlying issues of greed and materialism in this digital age FEHMINA FATIMA KARACHI E d i t o r ’ s m a i l Send your letters to: Letters to Editor Pakistan Today 4-Shaarey Fatima Jinnah Lahore Pakistan E-mail: letters@pakistantoday com pk Letters should be addressed to Pakistan Today exclusively
AUDI Arabia and Pakistan are important founding members of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) and both have very brotherly, friendly and committed relations Saudi Arabia has a quite appreciable history of helping Pakistan in its every difficult situation be it floods devastation war situation petrol shortage problem or economic and financial crisis topped by threat of default The people and the government of Pakistan in every difficulty have looked towards Saudi Arabia and they have never been disappointed as the requested and required help and assistance every time comes as soon as possible Brotherly bilateral relations between the two countries are gaining strength and being promoted as mutually beneficial as high level delegations exchanges are taking place quite frequently This continued as high level Saudi delegations visited Pakistan in April 2024 one after the other following and before the visits of Prime Minister Mohammad Shehbaz Sharif particularly after his assuming the high office for the second time following the February 2024 general elections in the country PM Shehbaz Sharif visited Saudi Arabia in the first week of April to perform umra Committed and sincere friend of Pakistan and its
principals
Luxur y on
S
MuhaMMad zahid RifaT
development in the region Beyond its role in providing clean and reliable electricity the project is expected to generate employment opportunities, stimulate local economies, and improve living standards for nearby communities Enhancing energy efficiency across sectors is paramount to reducing energy demand and mitigating environmental impact Implementing energy conservation measures in industries promoting energy-efficient appliances creating awareness and investing in smart grid technology can optimize energy usage and alleviate strain on the national grid Now, Pakistan stands at a critical juncture in its energy journey, facing both challenges and opportunities By embracing a dedicated approach that prioritizes sustainability innovation and inclusivity Pakistan can pave the way for a brighter greener future The time for decisive action is now and concerted efforts from government industry and civil society are essential to surmounting the energy dilemma and steering Pakistan towards a path without darkness It's also crucial to highlight the potential of decentralized energy solutions particularly in rural areas where access to centralized grids is limited Offgrid solar solutions and mini-grid systems can play a pivotal role in providing electricity to remote communities, empowering them economically and socially Initiatives to promote decentralized energy infrastructure should be integrated into national energy policies to ensure inclusivity and equitable access to energy resources Investing in research and development (R&D) for renewable energy technologies is imperative to drive innovation and reduce costs associated with renewable energy production and storage Collaborations between academia, industry, and government can foster innovation ecosystems conducive to the development of cutting-edge technologies tailored to Pakistan s specific energy needs Addressing energy governance issues is another critical aspect of Pakistan s energy transition Strengthening regulatory frameworks, enhancing transparency, and combating corruption are essential for creating an enabling environment for sustainable energy development Building institutional capacity and promoting good governance practices will instil confidence among investors and stakeholders facilitating the flow of capital into the renewable energy sector Integrating climate change considerations into energy planning is vital to ensure resilience against climate-related risks Pakistan is particularly vulnerable to the adverse impacts of climate change including extreme weather events and water scarcity which can disrupt energy infrastructure and exacerbate energy insecurity Adopting climate-smart energy policies and investing in climate adaptation measures will enhance the country's ability to cope with climate challenges while advancing its sustainable development goals The wirter
a freelance columnist
is
E n e r g y D i l e m m a
Tanzeel Khanzada
The country would be hoping that following the Saudi delegations’ visits, PM Shehbaz Sharif's two visits to Saudi Arabia and holding of important deliberations there with the Saudi Crown Prince and positive indications by Saudi delegations topped by expected upcoming visit of Crown Prince Mohammad bin Salman, all augurs well in furtherance of robust partnership in the best interests of both the countries
Saudis come visiting
Apocalyptic prophecies and the Chosen People
bring about the end of the world
their past civilizational and political preeminence
SOLAR eclipse in April, red heifer, second coming, and rebuilding of the Temple are the key words pronounced now-a-days everywhere among people of the three Abrahamic religions Why are believers majoring on apocalyptic prophecies in this era?
Every age produces a variety of apocalyptic movements appropriate to its circumstances When an apocalyptic sense of imminence spreads eschatological groups emerge under the influence of their religious scholars and politicians Eschatological religious beliefs may interact politically both at the international and local level Now Eschatology can have a significant impact on how Christians approach the world around them
Radical literal readings of the Bible and prophecy are pushing dangerous political ideas which can lead to chaos and war in the world Christian Fundamentalists believe in the literal nature of all prophecies, and this makes them susceptible to many dangerous claims They believe that all prophecies in scripture will be fulfilled, especially the endtimes prophecies of a Millenial kingdom (Where Christ will reign on earth for 1000 years) and a pre-tribulation rapture
They also believe that the Temple of Solomon must be rebuilt and Israel must be reunited in the land For all of this to occur, a popular but misleading claim among these folks is that they need the current state of Israel to have all the land because that will allow for the tribulation to begin and
The political implications are obvious they believe in a one-state solution Moreover, Jews deceive by saying they are God s chosen people, and Christians should be ready to support Israel Every faith says that its followers are chosen The question is who are God s Chosen people?
The Israelites were God s chosen people in the past But they rejected Christ as the Messiah These Chosen People didn t believe in Christ, rather tried to kill him When the Quran speaks about the Israelites as God’s Chosen People the Quran speaks of this as not a categorical matter there is always a condition And this is in the Bible as well: If you do what God says then you remain God s chosen people, but if you disobey God, then obviously you are disqualifying yourself from this kind of close relationship with God They were chosen for purpose and that purpose spelled out for them in the Torah Now therefore if ye will obey my voice indeed and keep my covenant then ye shall be a peculiar treasure unto me above all people: for all the earth is mine: and ye shall be unto me a kingdom of priests and a holy nation (Exodus 19:5-6)”
Their history reveals human frailties more than any other nation They exhibited such wickedness once that God proposed to wipe them out! They were rebellious against the LORD from the very first (Deuteronomy9:24)” And their unfaithfulness to the LORD was demonstrated throughout their subsequent history in the Old Testament (Hosea 9:1) The chosen people are those who obey God And the Quran speaks about it in a more general way whoever submits himself entirely to Allah and he is the doer of good (to others) he has his reward from his Lord, and there is no fear for him nor shall he grieve (2 112)” Jewish prophecies about the end times remain a force in the world today and they are the main source of shaping policies and impacting the world Like Israeli PM Benjamin Netanyahu, who has misquoted the Torah for Israel’s own interest, all the Jewish
s c u s s i o n s a b o u t t h e w a i t o f e v e r y A b r a h a m i c r e l i g i o n ’ s M e s s i h i a h
M o s t o f t h e t i m e t h e y m i s l e a d a n d c r e a t e f e a r s w i t h h o p e l e s s n e s s i n
s o c i e t y ; s o t
literature is misleading by stressing that it is the foremost duty of Christians to support Israel against innocent Palestinians’ genocide Since the war started against Palestinians many articles have been written to justify genocidal acts by Israel and convince the world by moulding their minds A hot discussion in papers is that America has been discovered by Columbus to settle Jews and that paved the way for the New World This made me study more about it Zionist writers are trying to create a view that Jews participated and even led the way for nation-building in the USA Now it has become the duty of Christians especially American Christians to support Jews for the creation of Greater Israel, and the complete annihilation of the Palestinians; otherwise Americans should be ready for a complete disaster due to the anger of God who is always in favor of Jews– the Chosen People As far as I studied in German Rabbi Meyer Kayserling s book there is no hint that Columbus himself might have been a Jew To the contrary, Kayserling criticized Columbus for his religious fanaticism and for his lack of sympathy towards Jews who were after all being expelled from Spain at the very moment he was setting out to sea In the last century no one suggested that Columbus was anything other than what he
India’s despotic election
claimed to be- namely, a religious Catholic and a native of Genoa To the question, “was Columbus Jewish or not?” the response is who cares It is an untimely question and obviously useless discussion too The interpretation of prophecies which has been moulded in Jews favour is going to be infused in Christians and the rest of the world Even some Muslims are looking for the end of time ahead, waiting for their Mehdi and believing as everything would be in their favour even without any struggle
Nowadays many Muslims talk about the end of times the sacrifice of the red heifer and some other Jewish prophecies Taking it as part of their fate, they have started believing that now time for Israel and the Third Temple has come as the prophecies predict and Arabs will have to suffer till the Second Coming Such beliefs are creating unrest and disappointment among the new generation Prophecies have been used politically as religion has been used in the past Many scholars and reformers have criticized the social cultural and political passivity of the Arab and non-Arab Muslims of this age who transferred their hopes of regeneration to the miraculous powers of a Mahdi-to-come while in truth it was up to the Muslims themselves to actively struggle for a renewal of
India is no longer the model free -market democrac y that Westerners spent years imagining, encouraging, and touting With Prime Minister Narendra Modi having bent the media, big business, and democratic institutions to his will, India's markets and politics are becoming less free – as the ongoing elec tion is set to confirm
A century ago Rashid Rida a prominent Islamic scholar and political thinker of the late 19th and early 20th centuries, dealt with the concept of the apocalyptic Mahdi as a doctrinal item representative of the inherent weakness and unreliability of the classical corpus of apocalyptic Hadith Similarly Allama Iqbal the poet and thinker of the East contrary to his prose in which he is not sure about the existence of a character like the Mehdi, does emphasize the coming of Mehdi in his poetry
The same concept was appropriated by the German philosopher Friedrich Nietzsche which eventually paved a way for their material progress and development Nietzsche introduced the concept of Superman to the western world and prepared them for the same An overman is a main character from his philosophical fiction “Thus Spoke Zarathustra” (1881) who is ready to risk everything for the sake of enhancement of humanity The book explains how to live if you want to participate in the advancement of humankind
Iqbal admits that the concept of Mahdi among Muslims has led to their intellectual decline as they have started relying only on Mahdi and they themselves have become complacent In his poetry Iqbal is not hopeless about the coming of Mahdi but he emphasizes that Muslims should not
Alegitimizing power of democracy, they use its processes to rise to power, often through polarizing identity politics Once in office, they then move to capture or hollow out democratic institutions – including the judiciary and independent media – that otherwise might serve as a check on their majori-
money The last parliamentary election in 2019 was estimated to have been the most expensive ever held anywhere Total spending exceeded $7 billion, which was more than the $6 5 billion spent in the 2016 US presidential and congressional elections (even though America’s per capita GDP is 32 times greater)
India s campaign finance system has always lacked transparency and accountability, but it has grown even more opaque under Modi In 2017, the government opened the floodgates for dark money by introducing electoral bonds that allowed for unlimited undisclosed campaign donations to parties Dark money distorts democracy by making it easier to hijack elections, and by privileging secretive special-interest groups over voters in policymaking After years of civil-society groups challenging the legality of electoral bonds India’s Supreme Court finally ruled against this financing instrument in February Since then, court-ordered disclosures of previously private donations have revealed just how closely corporate capital has become intertwined with politics Modi’s Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) – which reportedly spent around $3 billion in the 2019 campaign – had cornered 84% of all electoral-bond funding Policies have been regularly made and unmade on the basis of donations In a blatant conflict of interest, the BJP has accepted millions of rupees from government contractors that depend on public procurement (such as tenders to build tunnels and rail lines) Companies facing regulatory scrutiny from government agencies have magically found relief after buying BJP bonds Modi clearly has had no qualms about using the state’s power to bend big business to his will and to press firms into underwriting despotism
The money trails also confirm that India s historically apolitical bureaucracy now unabashedly works for the ruling party, having abandoned any pretense of neutrality Neither does the party feel compelled to hide its strong arm This became abundantly clear just before the election when Modi handpicked two commissioners to stack the three-member Election Commission in his favor That move followed from a new law, enacted last year, that changed the process by which commission members are appointed (a seat previously reserved for the neutral chief justice now goes to a government minister) UNCHECKED IMBALANCES Predictably, the Election Commission has since turned a blind eye to even the most obvious violations by the BJP which is openly deploying vile “othering tropes against Muslims to mobilize Hindu votes One of its promotional videos was so replete with hate speech that Instagram removed it And Modi
himself is giving speeches calling Mus-
lims infiltrators who produce more children than Hindus and claiming that if Congress comes to power, it will seize Hindus wealth and distribute it to Muslims Even though these statements violate election rules that clearly prohibit using religion in electoral campaigns the commission is simply ignoring them along with hate-speech complaints that have been lodged against the prime minister At the same time, a submissive judiciary says there is nothing that can be done about it
The Election Commission has also ignored repeated complaints by opposition parties and civil-society groups about the reliability of electronic voting machines and the absence of a matching paper trail to cross-check votes Precisely because they are not considered fully secure no other major democracy relies solely on electronic voting As the seven-phase election proceeds the commission s actions have continued to raise questions The BJP has already won two seats without a vote, because the opposition candidates left the race One simply dropped out, and while it is widely assumed that pressure had been brought to bear the commission has made no inquiry into the matter There are also widespread reports of Muslim voters being removed from electoral rolls, as happened in the 2019 elections And adding to the fears of vote rigging the commission has been inexplicably slow in releasing voter turnout data; and even when it does issue figures they are incomplete and suspiciously incongruous An election watchdog manifestly beholden to the incumbent government raises serious questions about the validity of the process especially when seen in conjunction with the flagrant use of other governing institutions to fortify executive power Federal agencies have been routinely harassing opposition figures with raids, detentions, and interrogations until they fall into line, leaving opposition parties splintered and their leaders silenced or forced to switch allegiances Two opposition chief ministers have even been thrown in jail over unproven charges making elections in these two states not too different from the sham elections seen in countries like Bangladesh In a functioning democracy, the media would have shone a spotlight on such grievous violations of democratic governance But the media is among the institutions that Modi has tamed the most Once a riotous lot that aimed to outdo one another in exposing government failures, much of the mainstream media – especially national-level news channels – now compete for the government s affections
Known collectively as the godi ( lapdog ) media, these outlets have ceased to be a watchdog, and instead dutifully churn out pro-government
messages The smallest of Modi s events are broadcast live while the biggest opposition rallies sometimes receive no coverage at all Mainstream outlets also enthusiastically spread hate against Modi’s chosen enemies – Muslims the opposition and liberals As in Viktor Orbán s Hungary this comprehensive transformation of India s media landscape has been achieved partly by having cronies and sympathetic tycoons buy up the big publishers, whose newsrooms are duly purged The government also uses its status as a major source of advertising revenues and business favors to keep media companies in line Indeed some of the biggest buyers of electoral bonds were media companies with other business interests Bombarded by the media’s proModi spin and high on public incitement against minorities a sizeable share of India s electorate has come to see Modi as a national saviour With many of the institutional checks and balances that one associates with democracy fundamentally weakened India has become what Thomas Jefferson would call an elective despotism Power is increasingly concentrated in the hands of the (technically) elected political executive While some of India s democratic shortcomings predate Modi’s rule, they have worsened significantly under the BJP For example there is effectively no internal democracy within the political parties because anti-defection laws allow parties to exercise absolute control over legislators As a result, a ruling party with enough seats – like the BJP – can ram any law through parliament without debate or deliberation making the legislature redundant Last December BJPnominated House speakers suspended 141 opposition lawmakers from both chambers of Parliament and then legislated unopposed for the remainder of the session The concentration of political power under the BJP coincides with a concentration of economic power with each feeding off the other The market share of the five biggest conglomerates has doubled since the 1990s, while the share of the next five big business groups has halved India is no longer the model freemarket democracy that Westerners spent years imagining encouraging and touting Both its markets and its politics are becoming less free – and ever more entwined This election is yet another manifestation of this drift Free and fair elections are the most basic criterion of democracy Modi’s India falls far short of meeting it Debasish Roy Chowdhury is the coauthor (with John
sit idle rather they should go on striving endlessly in the path of knowledge and create a platform for him to come Social media has become a powerful tool for news dissemination and social movements Now it is an integral part of our daily lives It is the duty of social media handlers bloggers and Youtubers to promote authentic news which paves the way for hope and struggle without creating unrest in society No doubt, discussions on prophecies will be informative but there is a need of deep knowledge in this regard Either theRe are writings about biblical prophecies which are going to be manipulated for Jewish political benefits or they are just simple discussions about the wait of every Abrahamic religion s Messihiah Most of the time they mislead and create fears with hopelessness in society; so they should be handled carefully as the young generation is already frustrated due to the poor economy and political instability Otherwise it will not be beyond to say that the next generation will be in trance of Waiting for Godot The Writer can be reached at aishaz99@gmail com and tweets @aishaz99 Sunday 19 May 2024
COMMENT 05
couple of months before India s general election began on April 19 (voting will continue until June 1), the opposition Indian National Congress made a stunning disclosure at a press conference in New Delhi Apparently Prime Minister Narendra Modi s government had frozen some of the party s main bank accounts and slapped it with an outsize bill for a minor tax-filing lapse five years earlier leaving it with no money even to pay for electricity or salaries let alone conduct an election campaign The freeze was soon lifted but the message was clear: this wasn t going to be a regular election Modi’s government has spent a decade eroding civil liberties and minority rights curtailing dissent undermining democratic institutions and building a cult of personality While Western governments continue to pretend that India is the world s largest democracy, the country is beginning to resemble a Central Asian dictatorship “ONE OF THE WORST” Those monitoring the health of democracy around the world are unanimous in their bleak prognosis of India under Modi Freedom House describes India as only partly free, and the VDem Institute in Sweden has, since 2018, categorized it as an “electoral autocracy ” In its 2024 Democracy Report V-Dem singles India out as one of the worst autocratizers lately From Russia
Turkey
common pattern
tury autocratizers
unlike textbook authoritarians
new
cunningly stop short
destroying
fully dismantling democracy
ing the
tarianism Modi s decade in power has offered a masterclass in this process CASH IS KING Indian electoral outcomes have become almost entirely a function of
and Hungary to
and (until recently) Poland, a
of the twenty-first-cen-
is that,
the
despots
of
or
Recogniz-
Keane) of To Kill A Democracy: India s Passage to Despotism (Oxford University Press, 2021)
aiSHa Noor N o d o u b t , d i s c u s s i o n s o n p r o p h e c i e s w i l l b e i n f o r m a t i v e b u t t h e r e i s a n e e d o f d e e p k n o w l e d g e i n t h i s r e g a r d E i t h e r t h e R e a r e w r i t i n g s a b o u t b i b l i c a l p r o p h e c i e s w h i c h a r e g o i n g t o b e m a n i p u l a t e d f o r J e w i s h p o l i t i c a l b e n e f i t s o r t h e y a r e j u s t s i m p l e d i
h e y s h o u l d b e h a n d l e d c a r e f u l l y a s t h e y o u n g g e n e r a t i o n i s a l r e a d y f r u s t r a t e d d u e t o t h e p o o r e c o n o m y a n d p o l i t i c a l i n s t a b i l i t y O t h e r w i s e i t w i l l n o t b e b e y o n d t o s a y t h a t t h e n e x t g e n e r a t i o n w i l l b e i n t r a n c e o f W a i t i n g f o r G o d o t
PR OJECT SYNDICATE d E B a S S H r oY C H oW d H U r Y
A new
FINANCIAL TIMES E d i to r i a l B oa r d
growth plan for London
OR London the past 15 years have been particularly bruising The city s productivity growth has been sluggish since the global financial crisis Its standing as a launch pad for trade with mainland Europe also took a blow following the Brexit referendum And the rise of remote working post-pandemic now means Londoners spend just 2 3 days per week on average in their plush offices Few cities would be able bounce back after such a pummelling, but London has proved resilient Its cosmopolitan talent base and cluster of industries ranging from global banks to tech start-ups coupled with its favourable international timezone has given it staying power Its worldclass financial and professional services sector attracted the most foreign investment projects of all global financial districts from 2019 to 2023 Fewer traders fled to the continent than expected, and its population is only projected to grow But London s strength should not be taken for granted Its growth is limited by space and high living costs Taking on fierce competition from rivals like New York and Singapore for highly skilled workers also requires strong leadership which it lacks The ruling Conservative party risks deterring global talent as it clamps down on immigration Labour, which leads the polls ahead of this year s election, has proposed higher taxes on the wealthy The latest campaign to be London’s mayor, which last week saw Labour ’s Sadiq Khan return for a third term did not inspire The city contributes over a fifth of the UK s output and national revenue Despite the need to level up less thriving regions outside London it cannot be achieved by levelling down the capital One priority ought to be giving it more space to grow London is hemmed in by a greenbelt of protected land on its edges, and height restrictions A dearth of housing has sent property prices and rents soaring which makes the city less attractive for workers Developing commuter hubs outside the city with improved public transport links would help Existing land and buildings within the city could also be utilised more efficiently For measure, one study estimates that London’s golf courses could provide space to home 300,000 Office vacancies in the West End Square Mile and Canary Wharf are also forecast to rise this year The multipurpose use of underutilised commercial space such as for start-up hub and science labs could help create a larger community to ensure the capital stays alive, particularly on remote work days Companies also have a role in encouraging staff back into the office London’s wider appeal as an international business destination needs fortifying too Maintaining close ties with the EU to minimise regulatory divergence is important for the financial sector and efforts to unlock long-term capital pools are needed to support innovative firms to scale up in London, rather than abroad Lowering application costs for skilled worker visas would help businesses compete for talent Indeed the cumulative burden of regulation and taxation matters when places like Dubai are luring professional services expats with tax-free salaries Raising livability including by cutting traffic raising air quality and supporting cultural services also adds an edge The next government needs to work with Khan to help drive London’s growth The city’s fortunes will depend on national-level strategies on regulation, transport investment and taxation The devolution of further powers including for planning reforms and revenue-raising will also determine how effectively the mayor can lead the city London is the brightest jewel in Britain s economy It must be kept shining
is the brightest jewel in Britain’s economy
London
Now B iblic al prophecies are being exploited politic ally
ISRAELI CABINET RIFTS OVER GA Z A BREAK OUT INTO THE OPEN
S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
The Central Military Commission (CMC) and Ministry of National Defense have blasted the US for its recent wrongful actions regarding China s Taiwan region and urged it to stop sending wrong signals to Taiwan independence forces, a few days before the scheduled inauguration of Taiwan regional leader-elect Lai Ching-te
Experts noted that it sent a clear signal, reminding the US not to indulge “Taiwan independence,” nor to create tension and crisis in China-US relations
The Office for International Military Cooperation of CMC told the US Assistant Secretary of Defense in a video call on Thursday that the military collusion between the US and China s Taiwan region, as well as the separatist acts of the Taiwan independence forces, are the main sources of disruption to the current stability in the Taiwan Straits The Chinese military is resolutely determined to defend national sovereignty and territorial integrity
The defense ministry on Friday also slammed the recent wrongful actions and provocations conducted by the US and Taiwan authorities In response to the guidedmissile destroyer USS Halsey recently sailing through the Taiwan Straits and trespassing into the territorial seas of China’s Xisha Islands Zhang Xiaogang spokesperson for the defense ministry said that in the current crossStraits situation deliberate provocations by the US pose a threat to China s sovereignty and security, send wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces and damage regional peace and stability
“The US’ wrongdoings are not conducive to maintaining the momentum of stabilization of China-US state-to-state and mil-to-mil relations and preventing their further deterioration The Chinese People s Liberation Army will stay on high alert take resolute countermeasures against any infringement and provocations, and firmly safeguard our national sovereignty and territorial integrity,” Zhang said Additionally the DPP authorities are reportedly seeking to increase the number of its so-called military
attachés at the Taipei Economic and Cultural Office in Honolulu from four to 10 to increase coordination and intelligence sharing with US Indo-Pacific Command Zhang blasted the DPP’s actions, saying they are doomed to fail The US should fully realize the extreme sensitivity of the Taiwan question stop any form of official interactions and military contact with China s Taiwan region and stop sending wrong signals to the Taiwan independence separatist forces, and deliver on its commitment of not supporting Taiwan independence,” Zhang said “China will take resolute and decisive countermeasures against any ‘Taiwan independence’ separatist activities and foreign connivance and support the spokesperson noted Li Haidong a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday that it sent a clear signal to the US, reminding the country not to play with fire on the Taiwan question, given that adhering to the one-China principle is a key prerequisite for the stability of China-US relations
S d y 19 M y 2024 | KARACHI 06 NEWS BEIJING
C h i n a u r g e s U S t o s t o p s e n d i n g w r o n g s i g n a l s t o ‘ Ta i w a n i n d e p e n d e n c e’ China remains engine for global growth and attractive destination for investment: FM BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T China s stable economic growth and opening-up will continue to make the country an engine for global growth and promising destination for foreign investment China welcomes foreign enterprises to continue to invest in the country, deepen their presence and be successful, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin said on Friday The remarks came following the European Commission recently upgrading its forecast for China s 2024 economic growth to 4 8 percent up by 0 2 percentage points compared with its previous projection In the first quarter of the year, the Chinese economy got off to a strong start, with GDP growth hitting 5 3 percent year-on-year In April, the country’s purchasing managers’ index (PMI) for the domestic manufacturing sector was reported at 50 4 Last month the country s foreign trade soared 8 percent to 3 64 trillion yuan, hitting a new high compared with corresponding historical period, official data showed The upward recovery momentum has made the international community positive on the Chinese economy and increase investment in China Recently international financial institutions including Goldman Sachs Morgan Stanley and UBS have upgraded their forecasts for China s economic growth this year The Asian Development Bank data estimated China will account for 46 percent of growth in developing Asia in 2024-25 Foreign investors confidence in China is on the rise The country improved its ranking as an attractive destination to invest over the next three years jumping to the third place from the seventh in 2023 and continuing to lead emerging markets, according to a report recently released by consulting firm Kearney China seeks development amid continued opening-up and welcomes the world to share China s opportunities Wang said at a regular press conference JERUSALEM R E U T E R S I S R A E L I government splits over the war in Gaza broke open this week after the defence minister demanded a clear strategy from Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu as troops returned to battle Hamas resilient fighters in areas the army was fighting in months ago The comments from Defence Minister Yoav Gallant who said he would not agree to set up a military government in the enclave, reflect growing unease in the security establishment at the lack of direction from Netanyahu over who will be left to run Gaza when the fighting stops They also brought out the sharp split between the two centrist former army generals in the cabinet Benny Gantz and Gadi Eisenkot – who both backed Gallant s call –and the hard right nationalist religious parties led by Finance Minister Bezalel Smotrich and Internal Security Minister Itamar BenGvir who condemned the comments That s no way to run a war the rightwing Israel Today tabloid headlined its Thursday edition over a photo of Netanyahu and Gallant facing in different directions Apart from dismantling Hamas and returning some 130 captives still held by them, Netanyahu has not articulated any clear strategic goal for the end of the campaign killing at least 35 000 Palestinians in a brutal offensive that has left Israel increasingly isolated internationally However, backed by Ben-Gvir and Smotrich, both close to the West Bank settler movement, he has rejected any involvement in running postwar Gaza by the Palestinian Authority set up under the Oslo interim peace accords three decades ago and seen internationally as the most legitimate Palestinian governing body However, Palestinians in Gaza do not recognize the PA as a governing authority Netanyahu struggling to hold his fractious coalition together has so far stuck to his pledge of total victory over Hamas Afterwards, Gaza could be run by a non-Hamas civilian administration with an Israeli military responsibility, overall military responsibility”, he told CNBC television on Wednesday Israeli officials have said that Palestinian clan leaders or others may be recruited to fill the void but there has been no evidence that any such leaders have been identified and no friendly Arab countries have stepped forward to help “From Israel
options are either they end the war
they withdraw or they es-
for all intents and purposes a military government there, and they control the entire
for who knows how long because once they leave an area, Hamas will reappear,” said
an associate fellow with the Middle East and North Africa Programme at Chatham House G U E R R I L L A TA C T I C S: Gallant s refusal to contemplate any form of permanent military government reflects the costs of an operation that could stretch the military and the economy painfully, reviving memories of Israel’s years-long occupation of southern Lebanon after the 1982 war Yedioth Ahronoth, Israel s biggest circulation newspaper, quoted a confidential assessment from the defence establishment on Friday which estimated the cost of maintaining a military government in the Gaza Strip at about 20 billion shekels ($5 43 billion) a year in addition to the costs of reconstruction The additional troop requirements would draw forces away from the northern border with Lebanon as well as central Israel and mean a sharp increase in reserve duty requirements it said Taking full control of Gaza would require at least four divisions, or around 50 000 troops said Michael Milshtein a former intelligence officer and one of Israel s leading specialists on Hamas While thousands of Hamas freedom fighters have been killed in the campaign and Israeli commanders say most of the movement’s organised battalions have been broken down smaller groups have popped up in areas the army left in the early stages of the war The likely cost to Israel of a prolonged insurgency was illustrated on Wednesday when five Israeli soldiers were killed by an Israeli tank in friendly fire as Israeli troops fought in the Jabalia area north of Gaza City where the army said in January that it had dismantled Hamas military framework after weeks of fighting At the time, it said militants were still present in Jabalia but they were operating without a framework and without commanders On Friday the army said it was conducting a divisional level offensive in Jabalia, where troops were fighting in the urban centre It said forces had killed more than 60 fighters and had found dozens of long-range rockets Israel s military spokesman Rear Admiral Daniel Hagari, said the military s job was to “break down those places where Hamas is returning and trying to reassemble itself but he said any question of an alternative government to Hamas would be a political decision
the
and
tablish
territory
Yossi Mekelberg,
Spain refuses por t of call to ship carr ying arms ‘from India’ to Israel MADRID R E U T E R S Spain has denied port of call – or temporary docking facility – to a ship carrying ammunition to Israel Madrid will not authorise ships carrying weapons for Israel to call at its ports, Foreign Minister Jose Manuel Albares said after the country refused to let a ship call at the southeastern port of Cartagena According to TRT the ship was reportedly loaded with 27 tonnes of explosive material from Indian port of Chennai and heading towards Haifa, the port city of Israel The ship was the first to be denied access to a Spanish port, Albares said, adding the refusal was consistent with the government’s decision not to grant weapon export licences to Israel since Oct 7 as Spain doesn t want to contribute to war This is the first time we have done this because it is the first time we have detected a ship carrying a shipment of arms to Israel that wants to call at a Spanish port,” he told reporters in Brussels “This will be a consistent policy with any ship carrying arms to Israel that wants to call at Spanish ports The foreign ministry will systematically reject such stopovers for one obvious reason The Middle East does not need more weapons it needs more peace, he added He did not mention the name and origin of the vessel, however Madrid s prominent news outlet, El Pais said that the vessel Marianne Danica which had requested permission to call at the southeastern port of Cartagena on May 21 which was loaded with ammunition from Chennai India
AT UN, PAKISTAN URGES REMOVAL
NATIONS S TA F F R E P O R T
A K I S TA N has called for the removal of undue restrictions on providing to developing countries access to new and emerging technologies to enable them to make progress in order to address contemporary challenges “We underscore the imperative of removing barriers for gaining equitable and non-discriminatory access to scientific knowledge equipment material and technology, including its transfer to developing nations, Ambassador Usman Jadoon, deputy permanent representative
Diagnosis and Management This Seminar was fully endorsed by the International Pediatric Nephrology Association (IPNA), Asian Society of Pediatric Nephrology (ASPNA), Pakistan Society of Nephrology (PSN) Pakistan Pediatric Association Nephrology Group (PPANephrology) and the Accreditation Council for Continuous Medical Education It was a whole day activity in which about 100 in-person registrants and there about 400 online registrants from 30 countries The target audience was all the healthcare workers who are involved in the care of children who are diagnosed with hypertension Among the participants there were Nephrology trainees and Consultants of both Adult and Pediatric Specialties as well as a large number of Pediatric Consultants and Trainees Hypertension is known to be a “silent killer” PR
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Committee Members Unanimously Appoint Imran Rana as Secretary, Pledge to Support FPCCI s Leadership and Advance Pakistan s Agenda In a significant milestone the FPCCI Standing Committee on Communications & PR held its first meeting at the residence of Shujaat Ali Baig, Convener of the FPCCI Central Standing Committee for Corporate Relations and Communication & PR The meeting marked the beginning of a new chapter in the committee s journey as members gathered to deliberate on plans and strategies for the term 20242025 The meeting was hosted at a lavish brunch from the Convener Shujaat Ali Baig at his residence The meeting was attended by prominent figures including: - Syed Turab Shah, Deputy Convener of the Committee & Director Marketing Ausaf Group, - Imran Rana, Senior Director
of Pakistan to the United Nations, told UN Security Council’s “Arria-Formula” meeting on ‘Unlocking the Potential of Science for Peace and Security Switzerland convened the 15-member Council meeting under the format of Arria formula, which is named after a former Venezuelan UN ambassador, Diego Arriva It is a very informal consultation process which affords the Council the opportunity to hear persons in a confidential informal setting Unless fair and equitable access to new and emerging technologies is provided to developing countries, and all undue restrictions removed, the Global South will lag even further behind in achieving the Sustainable Development Goals (SDGs),” Ambassador Jadoon added Opening the meeting, Thomas Gurber State Secretary of the Federal Department of Foreign Affairs of the Swiss Confederation said that the 15-member Council has a mandate to deal with the many crises that are shaking the world
But, he said, even in these difficult times, it was crucial that the world community took a longer-term view ’
Communications, Innovations & Insights at K-Electric and newly appointed Secretary of the FPCCI Committee - Farhan Ahmed Head of Corporate Communication HBL & President of Communications Association of Pakistan - Changez Hussain Khan, Head of Corporate Communication, PIA - Hassan Saeed Akbar, Head of Corporate Communication and Marketing PR JS Bank Group - Muddasir Alam Director Marketing Profit/Pakistan Today
- Ammar Muzaffar, Deputy Manager Media and PR, K-Electric - Rubina Rashid, former Director, CPNE During the meeting the committee members unanimously appointed and congratulated Imran Rana as the Secretary of the FPCCI Standing Committee for Corporate Relations, Communication & PR The convener and members also discussed ways to support the FPCCI's leadership by forming a bridge between the Federation and its diverse stakeholders
Sindh govt plans expansion of bus ser vices across province
The Sindh government has decided to bring in more buses for the entire province in the new financial year A high-level meeting of the Transport Department was held in Karachi under the chairmanship of Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport Mass Transit Excise Taxation, and Narcotics Control Sharjeel Inam Memon Secretary of Transport Asad Zaman, Sindh Mass Transit Authority MD Kamal Hakeem Dayo and other officials participated in the meeting Speaking on the occasion of the meeting, Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the vision of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari and President Asif Ali Zardari is to connect the tehsils
with the district headquarters We are considering bringing the scheme under this vision He said that under the instructions of Chairman Bilawal Bhutto, a people s bus service will be started from Sukkur to Larkana and Sukkur to Khairpur In the meeting, Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon was given a detailed briefing on the construction of various BRTs signals and reconstruction of bus terminals as well as the construction of a U-turn for the People's Bus Service Additionally, it was decided to construct a parking plaza to reduce traffic pressure in the central areas of Hyderabad In the meeting the senior minister Sharjeel Inam Memon was also briefed regarding the completion of the construction work of eight bus terminals Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon was informed that the work on these eight bus terminals has been completed and they will be functional by June
S TA F F R E P O R T The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) of Pakistan has
07 NEWS Sunday 19 May 2024 | K AR ACHI CORPORATE CORNER
P
UNITED
noting that the number of conflicts was increasing and the challenges to peace and security becoming ever more complex The consequences of climate change are exacerbating existing risks, new technologies are having a profound impact on our societies and disinformation is threatening trust between states,” the top Swiss official added In his remarks Ambassador Jadoon said that Pakistan recognizes the transformative potential of science in advancing peace and security Scientific knowledge and tools also enable us to anticipate threats more effectively, the Pakistani envoy said, pointing out that climate modeling, disease surveillance systems and early warning mechanisms have demonstrated the power of scientific data in informing proactive responses At the same time he said modern science and technologies have also led to the advent of new tools of warfare – moving from sticks and stones to gun powder to nuclear weapons and cyber warfare B r i d g i n g D i g i t a l D i v i d e : How 5 G Te c h n o l o g y C a n D r i ve S u s t a i n a b l e D eve l o p m e n t i n Pa ki s t a n WTISD 2024 celebrates the power of digital innovation in advancing sustainable development and prosperity for all We at Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) aim to raise awareness of the possibilities that the use of Internet and other information and communication technologies (ICTs) can bring to societies and economies as well as ways to bridge the digital divide This year s theme highlights how technological advancements can bridge the digital divide and contribute to a more sustainable & smart future PTA is taking enabling steps to usher in era of 5G Introduction of latest technologies including 5G, IoTs, satellite broadband etc promises to revolutionize digital connectivity and interaction offering ultra-fast download and streaming speeds minimal latency for real-time applications and the capability to connect numerous devices simultaneously 5G technology can increase access to digital services, promoting financial inclusion, e-learning, and telemedicine 5G networks are more energy efficient supporting sustainable development PR
K A R A C H I : World Hypertension Day is celebrated on May 17th every year At the Sindh Institute of Urology and Transplantation (SIUT) in 2024 a Seminar was organized by the Department of Pediatric Nephrology about Childhood Hypertension: Call to Action for Early
SIUT marks World Hypertension Day with seminar
FPCCI
inaugural
S tanding Committee on Communic ations & PR char ts future course at
meeting
OF CURBS ON TRANSFER OF NEW TECHNOLOGIES TO DEVELOPING COUNTRIES Zindigi par tners with One Network for MTag Top -Ups I S L A M A B A D : Commuters with M-Tags can now enjoy hassle-free journeys through toll plazas without stopping reducing congestion and wait times by simply topping up their M-Tag accounts through the Zindigi app One Network, the ICT services company managing the M-Tag infrastructure and services for Frontier Works Organization has orchestrated an integration agreement between FWO and Zindigi the digital banking initiative of JS Bank for integrating MTag top ups with no extra charges for convenience and efficiency This collaboration aims to augment the M-Tag seamless travel experience for travelers, allowing them to recharge their M-Tag accounts from the Zindigi app, in addition to already available One Network Mobile App and other digital wallets The agreement signing ceremony was held in the presence of esteemed executives from both participating organizations Both One Network and Zindigi prioritize security and reliability, ensuring that transactions always remain secure and accessible This ensures a smooth, secure, and hassle-free toll payments and travel experience for travelers on motorway PR IG Islamabad holds orderly room; to address officials ’ concerns I S L A M A B A D : According to the details the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, holds an orderly room at Central Police Office Islamabad, to ensure timely and prioritized resolution of institutional and personal matters concerning police officers The establishment of an orderly room aims to prioritize and address issues faced by police officers on a timely basis emphasizing their welfare and issue resolution The orderly room was attended by all divisions police officers During the orderly room, police officers brought forth both personal and official concerns before the IG Islamabad IG Islamabad reinstated the suspended officers in minor cases while imposing severe punishments on the officers involved in corruption misuse of authority and involvement in other illegal activities On the occasion, the IG Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi highlighted various measures taken for the welfare of police officers including initiatives aimed at improving residence facilities enhancing healthcare provisions and raising educational standards STAFF REPORT Pak Ethanol leads national consor tium to bid for PIA K A R A C H I: Pak Ethanol (Private) Limited is proud to announce the formation of a national consortium, in collaboration with leading international aviation groups to bid for Pakistan International Airlines (PIA) Pak Ethanol (Private) Limited – Pakistan is the co-lead entity with other consortium members a) Serene Air (Private) Limited – Pakistan b) Air Sial Limited – Pakistan c) AsiaPak Investments Limited – Hong Kong d) Swiss Aviation Group AG – Switzerland e) Airport Competence – Austria f) Pearl Asset Management PTY Limited –Australia g) Capital A Consultancy (Air Asia Aviation Group) – MalaysiaThis strategic partnership underscores our commitment to contributing to the nation s economic growth and revitalizing its aviation industry by combining local expertise with global best practices Pak Ethanol believes that the key to turning around Pakistan International Airlines lies in a collaborative approach rooted in national spirit By bringing together the best minds and resources from Pakistan and around the world, we are demonstrating our dedication to a unified effort aimed at achieving a common goal This consortium embodies the spirit of teamwork and national pride reflecting a shared vision for PIA s future STAFF REPORT Muslim Hands Pakistan applauds govt's #EducationEmergenc y Initiative; reaffirms commitment to inclusive education ISLAMABAD: Muslim Hands, a nongovernmental organization dedicated to promoting education in Pakistan has lauded the Prime Minister s recent declaration of an "Education Emergency" aimed at enrolling 26 2 million out-of-school children (OOSC) The organization has reaffirmed its commitment to supporting the government s efforts in this critical initiative In a statement issued on Saturday Syed Javed Gillani, Executive Director of Muslim Hands Pakistan, emphasized the organization s extensive contributions to the education sector over the past 25 years Since its inception Muslim Hands has diligently worked to provide quality education to marginalized communities particularly in remote and disasteraffected areas PR KARACHI
O R T
S TA F F R E P
ISLAMABAD
National
national
if they operate in accordance with the UN Principles on National Institutions commonly known as the Paris Principles These principles set the standards to which commissions must comply in order to be considered internationally credible and to operate effectively When a Commission proves its compliance with the Paris Principles, it can seek accreditation and become part of the global network known as GANHRI Despite it being extremely rare for commissions to attain A status in the first round Pakistan s NCHR NCHR ranks amongst top Commissions in world as Pakistan welcomes A-Status Accreditation by UN body LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif presided over a special meeting relating to the Board of Revenue Reforms A briefing was given on the Punjab Urban Land Systems Enhancement (PULSE) CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif issued directions to undertake essential steps for the digitalisation process She ordered to ensure collaboration of relevant departments during the land digitalisation process It was informed during the briefing that the land record digitisation process is being undertaken with the cooperation of the World Bank under the 'Plus Project Punjab Land Record Authority and Management of Estate Land gave a briefing about the business plan affairs Owner based digitalisation of all neighbourhoods( mouzas) will be carried out in Punjab The revenue system will be made transparent through partition of land and parcel document The government will declare a clear property from every aspect as Green The lands having issues will be declared as Blue and Red The proposal to abolish joint property system will be seriously reviewed Legal complications will be reduced with the allotment of a separate property number to every seller Record of Rights-Holders(FARD) Ownership and land transfer system will also be simplified after undertaking the digitalisation process Overseas property transfer service for the overseas Pakistanis will be reviewed Record of Rights-Holders(Fard) Mutation E-Girdawari and Registration facilities will be provided in the Overseas Property Transfer Service Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari,MPA Sania Ashiq, Chief Secretary, Chairman P&D Heads of SMU and other officers attended the meeting CM Mar yam Nawaz direc ts stakeholders to ensure close coordination for land record digitisation Elevating Pioneering Cricket x Art Collaboration: Three time PSL winner Islamabad United, Iconic Artist Imran Qureshi unveil 'Game Changer' ISLAMABAD: Islamabad United the most decorated team in Pakistan Super League history with three championships proudly unveil Game Changer, - a unique artwork by internationally acclaimed artist Imran Qureshi This piece embodies the electric energy of cricket and celebrates the unwavering spirit of Islamabad United “‘Game Changer ’ incorporates both the energy of cricket and the vocabulary of internationally acclaimed visual artist Imran Qureshi said Amna Naqvi, Co-Owner of Islamabad United The figure is wielding a bat almost like a sword and it is composed of cricket balls which are covered with Qureshi’s floral like motifs which are inspired by the landscapes of Indian Mughal court paintings The stance of the batsman is as powerful as the team it symbolizes! Qureshi is master of action painting and here instead of a brush he throws six balls at the canvas to complete the over STAFF REPORT
been accredited as an A-status
Human Rights Institution (NHRI) by UN-linked body, the Global Alliance of National Human Rights Institutions (GANHRI) the largest network of national human rights institutions in the world GANHRI conducts reviews of
NHRIs to determine
DAR, MUQAM LEAVE FOR BISHKEK TODAY AMID MOB VIOLENCE AGAINST STUDENTS
Balochistan Chief Minister (CM) Mir Sarfraz Bugti announced the highest award for Shaheed Major Babar Khan Niazi who was martyred during an intelligence-based operation against terrorists in the Sambaza area of district Zhob in Balochistan He said Balochistan is indebted to Shaheed Major Babar Khan Niazi and the sacrifices of the martyrs can never be forgotten
The CM visited Mianwali on Saturday, where he condoled with Noor Khan the father of Major Babar Khan Niazi and the brothers of the martyr who was martyred during an operation against terrorists Provincial Ministers Sardar Sarfraz Ahmed Domki Mir Shoaib Noshirwani, Chief Secretary Balochistan Shakeel Qadir Khan, Commissioner Sargodha Division Muhammad Ajmal Bhatti, RPO Shariq Kamal Siddiqui and Deputy Commissioner Khalid Javed Goraya were also present on the occasion Speaking to the media after the condolence the CM said We are proud of Major Babar Khan Niazi who scarifies his life on the protection of mother land against the menace of terrorism He demonstrated the bravery he showed while fighting against the terrorists is an example of himself” CM Mir Sarfaraz Bugti said he fought bravely on many fronts against terrorism and sent many terrorists to hell
Shaheed was a brave young man of the Pakistan Army, on whom the whole nation is proud Shaheed was the brave son of a brave father We pay tribute to his father, Noor Khan, who with courage, determination, patience and steadfastness accepted the martyrdom of his brave son for the dear country If such a father continues to give birth to such
brave sons, then no power in the world can defeat Pak-
of Major Babar
Niazi Shaheed will
avenged as his blood has been shed for the protection of us and our people Major Babar Khan Niazi Shaheed has sacrificed his life to protect the innocents and people of Balochistan are indebted to him
The CM has announced the highest award for the bereaved family of Shaheed Major Babar Khan Niazi from the government of Balochistan Sarfraz Bugti stated that he has informed the father of Shaheed Babar that Balochistan is his second home
He emphasised that the people have equal rights in the province and assured that the great sacrifice and kindness will never be forgotten
“We are here to convey the message that every child of Balochistan stands with its army We are united in the war against terrorism ” he said
He further said that everyone must fight this war against terrorism and prove that every individual in the nation will stand as a solid barrier against the nefarious activities of terrorists
should contact the Pakistani ambassador in Kyrgyzstan and take measures to ensure the safety and security of the students to facilitate their safe and sound return to the country In a separate statement, a PTI spokesperson said that Pakistan’s bordering areas were under constant tensions due to the government’s failed foreign policies and the government s silence over the continuous violent incidents on the Pak-Afghan border after tension on Pak-Iran border was really concerning, with alarming reports emerging continuously over the last three days
PTI spokesperson stated that the puppet rulers who
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 021-32640318 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk PRAYER TIMINGS FA J R S U N R I S E Z U H R A S R M AG H R I B S H A 4:20 5:02 1 30 5:15 7:00 8:45 Sunday 19 May 2024 NEWS ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif has decided to send Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and Federal Minister for Kashmir Affairs Engineer Amir Muqam to Bishkek Kyrgyzstan to provide assistance and support to Pakistani students who are stranded there due to recent unrest According to a statement issued by the Prime Minister’s Office on Saturday the two ministers will travel to Bishkek on a special plane on Sunday morning The prime minister has been monitoring the situation closely and has been in touch with the Pakistani ambassador in Bishkek Despite the situation being under control, the government has decided to send this delegation to provide necessary assistance and support to Pakistani students who are in need Foreign Minister Dar will hold highlevel meetings with government officials in Bishkek and ensure that the wounded students receive medical treatment He will also look into the arrangements for the return of Pakistani students The prime minister expressed deep concern over the recent violence against foreign students in Kyrgyzstan saying that Pakistani students should not be left alone in times of trouble We will ensure that the best medical facilities are provided to Pakistani students who are injured the prime minister said The prime minister also assured that the government will not leave Pakistani students stranded abroad and will make arrangements for their immediate return to Pakistan if they so desire Prime Minister Shehbaz stressed the importance of maintaining continuous communication between students and their parents, and directed the embassy to provide all necessary assistance to achieve this goal In the statement the prime minister said that Pakistan will not abandon its children and will ensure their safety and well-being in times of crisis Muqam also expressed concerns over the violent clashes in Kyrgyzstan and asked the students to stay in touch with the Pakistan Embassy adding that the safety of Pakistani students was our foremost priority and we as government putting all efforts in this regard He said the confirmation that no Pakistani student died in the violence, is a big sigh of relief for the whole nation and we will ensure safety and security of our students Meanwhile, the Islami Jamiat Talaba (IJT), the students wing of Jamaat-e-Islami (JI), held a protest outside the Kyrgyzstan Embassy in Islamabad demanding the government to take immediate action to protect Pakistani students who are stranded in Kyrgyzstan due to recent violence The protesters, led by IJT leaders, chanted slogans and held placards, demanding the government to ensure the safety and well-being of Pakistani students They also demanded that the government establish contact with the parents of the students and provide them with updates on their children s situation The IJT leaders addressed the protesters, saying that they are present outside the embassy to show solidarity with the Pakistani students who are facing difficulties in Kyrgyzstan They also criticised the local authorities for harassing Pakistani students and demanded that the government take immediate action to protect them The protesters also demanded that the government provide assistance to the Pakistani students who are stranded in Kyrgyzstan and ensure their safe return to Pakistan The protest was peaceful and the protesters dispersed after a few hours Coal procurement delay snags operation of Jamshoro’s 660MW power project KOTRI S TA F F R E P O R T The initial production of 660MW electricity could not be commenced from the coal-fired power project in Jamshoro despite completion of the first phase of the 1320MW project According to details the initial production of 660MW electricity could not be begun due to different issues – primarily the delay in coal procurement, compounded by logistical obstacles The project is designed to be run on a blend of 80 percent of imported coal and 20 percent Thar coal However the absence of a railway line from Chhoor City to Islamkot poses a significant challenge in transporting Thar coal, raising questions about the project s adherence to its coal-sourcing agreement Moreover, concerns over irregularities in coal procurement have surfaced, with allegations of favoritism toward a second-ranked company over the lowest bidder casting a shadow on the project s integrity Attempts to seek clarification from key stakeholders including Chief Executive Officer Thar Mill Powerhouse Abdul Wakil and newly appointed Project Director Bashir Ahmed Babbar, have been met with silence, exacerbating concerns about transparency and accountability Sources regretted that the inaction to address these challenges has not only stalled the project s activation but has also incurred substantial financial costs with more than Rs130 million being paid continuously as interest on loans from the Asian Bank With the project’s progress hampered by these issues, stakeholders, including Mohammad Sajan Panhoor of WAPDA Pegham Union and General Secretary of Pakistan Wapda Hydro Union Sami Fauji have voiced their discontent highlighting the urgency for swift resolution to salvage the project from further damage President summons Senate session on May 21 ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT President Asif Ali Zardari has summoned the session of the Senate on Tuesday (May 21) at 05:00 pm The president summoned the session of the Upper House in exercise of the powers conferred by Article 54(1) of the Constitution of the Islamic Republic of Pakistan ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan expressed grave concerns over the incidents of mob violence against Pakistanis in Bishkek demanded the Ministry of Foreign Affairs to take immediate steps to ensure safety and security of Pakistani students studying in Kyrgyzstan and facilitate their unhurt return to Pakistan Moreover, the PTI chief also slammed the non-representative government for its silence over the escalating tensions on PakAfghan border urging the state to reassess its priorities and develop a solid strategy to find out a durable and permanent solution to the issue PTI Chairman said that Pakistani students contacted him and informed him about the precarious security situation in Kyrgyzstan Barrister Gohar stated that a sizable number of Pakistani students were studying in various universities in Kyrgyzstan particularly in Almaty University in Bishkek who hailed from Punjab, Balochistan and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Keeping in view the gravity of the situation, PTI Chairman demanded that the Ministry of Foreign Affairs
seized the powers through fake Form 47 did not have the authority and powers to make decisions in the best interest of the country and nation He alarmed that the recent situation in Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) was a precursor to the instability brewing on external borders due to incompetence of the government PTI spokesperson criticized the government for its reckless attitude towards the recent unrest in Kyrgyzstan leaving Pakistani students stranded and helpless which spoke volume of the government s flawed and failed foreign policies He stated that the national criminals, who always prioritized personal interests over national interests made Pakistan a laughing stock during the past two years because of their non-serious attitude PTI spokesperson expressed concerns that the ineptitude and failed foreign policy of the non-representative government would lead to Pakistan’s global isolation He emphasized that the alarming escalation in the internal instability was pushing the country towards economic catastrophe and political stability was the sole answer to the prevailing crises plaguing the country He urged the state to reassess its priorities and adopt a solid strategy to address the escalating tensions on bordering areas PTI concerned over mob violence against Pak istanis in Bishkek, escalation on Pak-Afghan border Gandapur’s interim bail extended till May 28 in arson case RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T The Additional District and Sessions Court Rawalpindi on Saturday extended the interim bail of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur till May 28 in in a case of arson and hampering in government affairs The Additional District and Sessions judge conducted hearing on interim bail plea for Gandapur while Advocate Muhammad Faisal Malik appeared on behalf of the KP chief minister During the hearing, a request was submitted by KP CM Gandapur for exemption from attending court proceedings which was accepted by the court Gandapur had made the request due to his official engagement in government affairs Later the additional district and sessions judge extended the interim bail of CM Gandapur till May 28 It is to be remembered that the case was registered against Gandapur by the Rawalpindi Nasirabad Police Sanaullah plays down Gandapur’s fier y statement LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Former interior minister and Advisor to Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah said on Saturday that Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur s bellicose posture was no more than rhetoric and that the provincial government would do what the federal government asked him to do Talking to the media here, Sanaullah, also a PML-N stalwart, said that the government had no objection to parleys between the PTI and the establishment Right from the very start the PTI has issues with the establishment he said adding The party wants the latter to stand by it; to intervene in the country s politics When the PTI was in power, the adviser went on to say, it wanted to crush the opposition “But when the establishment did not support it its leaders started calling army generals Mir Jaafar and Mir Sadiq he added He was of the view that by looking at former prime minister and ex-PTI chairman Imran Khan s picture leaked following his appearance in the Supreme Court via a video link on Thursday, one got the impression as if all prohibited substances were being provided to him inside the jail ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Ahmad al-Maliki on Saturday welcomed Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and both sides discussed matters of mutual interest Pak-Saudi relations and cooperation in various fields Saudi ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Ahmad al-Maliki assured full support for Islamabad police for which Mohsin Naqvi thanked Saudi Arabia ambassador for arranging housing facility for FC personnel They also discussed Saudi Arabia’s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman s visit to Pakistan The minister said that the historic brotherly friendship of Saudi Arabia and Pakistan is turning into the most beneficial economic relations He said that the recent visit of Saudi Arabia s investors to Pakistan was very successful The people of Pakistan are waiting for visit of Saudi Arabia s Wali Ahad said Mohsin Naqvi adding that Saudi Arabia s Crown Prince Mohammed bin Salman lives in the heart of Pakistani people He said that the visit of Saudi Crown Prince will prove to be a game changer in relations between the two countries because Saudi Arabia has always supported Pakistan in every difficult time In the present era relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia are reaching new heights, said Mohsin Naqvi Saudi Ambassador Nawaf Bin Said Ahmad alMaliki assured that he will do everything possible to build the Islamabad police on modern lines He said that Saudi Arabia attaches great importance to its relations with Pakistan Naqvi lauds historic Pak, S audi relations
MIANWALI
P O R
S TA F F R E
T
single
istan”, he said The CM said that every
drop of the blood
Khan
be
C M B u g t i a n n o u n c e s h i g h e s t awa rd fo r S h a h e e d M a j o r B a b a r K h a n N i a z i