Epaper_24-05-20 KHI

BISHKEK EPISODE NOT TARGETED AT PAKISTANIS, RESULT OF MISUNDERSTANDING:

founded, citing confirmation from the Kyrgyz government

He highlighted the immediate response by the Ministry of Foreign Affairs stating An emergency unit was activated right after the incident Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif and the entire government machinery are closely monitoring the situation ” He mentioned that despite the Kyrgyz ambassador being on leave his deputy provided detailed information on Saturday ensuring full communication between the governments

“The Bishkek incident was due to a misunderstanding, and various nationalities including Pakistani Indian Bangladeshi and Arab students were affected False reports are being spread on social media which is disgusting, said Dar He clarified that misleading information, such as mislabeling a Bangladeshi student’s picture as Pakistani, is being propagated He dismissed claims of assault against a female student as un-

The Deputy Prime Minister revealed that six Pakistani students were among the sixteen injured foreign students, currently receiving treatment in three different hospitals

He underscored the strong fraternal relations with Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing that the incident was not targeted against Pakistan “The situation is now normal, with Kyrgyz students visiting the injured

as a gesture of goodwill Security has been heightened in Kyrgyzstan as a precaution ” he added Kyrgyzstan visit cancelled Due to the incident a planned visit was canceled at the request of the Kyrgyz government, the minister said Instead, he added that two officers from the Ministry of Foreign Affairs were dispatched to Bishkek He assured that continuous contact is maintained with the students and their parents through the embassy We have facilitated the return of 130 Pakistani students so far, with over 50 more registered to return today Additionally, 540 students will return on commercial flights and a Pakistan Air Force flight is also arranged to bring students back from Bishkek Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi will personally welcome these students, he stated He also touched upon Pakistan’s international standing, noting, “Pakistan

was isolated on the international stage during the previous era, but under Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif ’s strategy the country s global image has been restored and diplomatic relations have improved He emphasized the importance of increasing the number of medical institutions in the country

Federal Minister Ameer Muqam affirmed the government’s ongoing contact with Kyrgyz authorities since the incident occurred It is crucial to set aside emotions and focus on the facts The education of students in Kyrgyzstan benefits both countries, and the government is providing comprehensive support to the victims ” he concluded Earlier the first special flight carrying Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan successfully landed at Allama Iqbal International Airport, Lahore A special flight KA-571 carrying more than 180 passengers along with Pakistani students from Bishkek the capital of Kyrgyzstan has landed at Lahore Airport PM directs to make arrangements to bring back Pakistani students

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has instructed the Ambassador of Pakistan in Kyrgyzstan Hasan Ali Zaigham to make all necessary arrangements regarding the special plane to bring back Pakistani students from Kyrgyzstan In his telephonic conversation with Hasan Ali Zaigham, the Prime Minister directed him to stay in touch with all Pakistani students and their families in Kyrgyzstan

Process of making passpor t will be made easier, says Naqvi

LAHORE: The staff of the 24/7 open Passport Office at Garden Town in Lahore was caught by surprise when they found Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi in their midst and that, too, on Sunday The people, present on the occasion, commended the minister for making improvements at the office, saying now there was no more agent mafia and they also don’t have to stand in long queues to wait for their turn The minister also met with the citizens who had come there to get their passports and inquired from them about their problems The visitors told Naqvi that now the agent mafia was nowhere to be seen because of you and the locals are very happy with such step They said you are in our hearts with our prayers May Allah give you more opportunities to serve the people they prayed for the minister S ta f f R e p o Rt

Intermediate exams postponed due to heatwave in S indh

KP govt offers to bear return expenses of stranded Pakistani students in Kyrgyzstan

Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur of Khyber

Pakhtunkhwa has pledged his government support to facilitate the return of Pakistani students stranded in Kyrgyzstan, emphasizing their importance as the nation’s future Expressing concern over the students’ predicament, Chief Minister Gandapur announced the readiness of the KPK government to cover the expenses for their safe repatriation to Pakistan Meanwhile Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI)

Chairman Barrister Gohar Ali Khan echoed the students dissatisfaction with the government s protective measures in Kyrgyzstan, calling for their immediate evacuation

Following interactions with more than 100 students from various universities in Kyrgyzstan, including Adel, Talha, Komal Gilani, Abdul Hai, Amir Afzal, and Shahzeb, Khan emphasized the urgent need for action due to the deteriorating public order situation and the students dissatisfaction with government responses

In response to Khan s plea the Deputy Foreign Minister of Kyrgyzstan assured that legal action would be taken against those responsible for the attack on students Pakistani Ambassador to Kyrgyzstan, Hasan Zaigham, met with the Kyrgyz Deputy Foreign Minister to address concerns regarding Pakistani students’ safety in Bishkek

The Deputy Foreign Minister reported that the situation in Bishkek has been brought under control with full security provided to hostels by local authorities

S enator S iddiqui dispels economy and politic al crisis myths

you hear of a poet whipping out a Kalashnikov and mowing down those attending a poetic symposium (mushaira) understand that they haven t been generous enough with their wah! wahs! One set of people who weren t going wah! wah! were the mothers of Gaza

FRIENDS OF K ASHMIR INT’L DELEGATION DISCUSSES K ASHMIR SITUATION WITH US MP

Khawaja Asif hails CM Mar yam for tak ing steps to meet modern day ’s needs

Punjab puts hospitals on alert to cope with looming three consecutive heat-waves

CONTINUED FR OM PAGE 08

Further the department told officials to keep a close liaison with all district/tehsil administrations Rescue 1122 district disaster management authorities, and to respond to any emergency situation immediately Meanwhile, the Punjab Disaster Management Authority (PDMA) has issued an alert regarding three consecutive heatwaves, raising concerns about potentially record-breaking temperatures in several cities including Lahore

The Punjab PDMA has warned of temperatures soaring up to 47 degrees this month with Lahore facing the possibility of shattering heatwave records The spokesperson of PDMA emphasized the severe risk of heatwave in major cities and plains of Punjab from May 21 to 27, prompting alerts to district administrations The PDMA advised stringent measures with strict legal action against those violating heatwave guidelines Authorities are urged to ensure the availability of clean water in public spaces and to provide first aid for heatstroke-related emergencies in hospitals and mobile health units Irfan Ali Kathia, Incharge of PDMA, has issued directives for citizens to take precautions, such as avoiding outdoor activities during peak heat hours wearing light-colored clothing and staying hydrated Special attention is urged for children and the elderly with unnecessary travel advised against ‘MOST PARTS OF COUNTRY TO REMAIN IN GRIP OF HEATWAVE FOR NEXT 10 DAYS’: On the other hand, the Met Office on Sunday said that extreme heat would persist in Sindh, Punjab and Balochistan for the next 10 days as the day temperatures would go up as high as 51 degrees Celsius in some parts of these provinces However it said that there were chances of a drop in temperatures in the first week of June

The Met Office informed that Dadu was the hottest place in the country Sunday as the maximum temperature in the city shot up to 48 degrees Celsius, while it was 47 degrees Celsius in Nawabshah Sukkur Dera Ghazi Khan 46 degrees Celsius in Sibbi 45 degrees Celsius in Hyderabad Sargodha and Sahiwal 44 degrees Celsius in Multan and Faisalabad 42 degrees Celsius in Turbat and Nokundi and 40 2 degrees Celsius in Karachi

Reports indicate that the helicopter carrying Ebrahim Raisi, the President of the Islamic Republic of #Iran, has experienced an incident in East Azerbaijan However some of the president’s companions on this helicopter pic twitter com/pwr0R3Qtze

It is dark and it has started raining but the search continues Rescue teams have reached the area however, the rain has created mud, making the search difficult,” a local reporter told state TV The national broadcaster had earlier stopped all its regular programming to show prayers being held

Neighbouring countries expressed concern and offered assistance in any rescue The White House said US President Joe Biden had been briefed on reports about the crash The European Union offered emergency satellite mapping technology to help Iran with the search H A R

N E I: The crash comes at a time of growing dissent within Iran over an array of political social and economic crises Iran s clerical rulers face international pressure over Tehran s disputed nuclear programme and its deepening military ties with Russia during the war in Ukraine Since Iran s ally Hamas attacked Israel on Oct 7, provoking Israel’s assault on Gaza, conflagrations involving Iran-aligned groups have erupted throughout the Middle East Raisi 63 was elected president in 2021 and since taking office has ordered a tightening of morality laws overseen a bloody crackdown on anti-government protests and pushed hard in nuclear talks with world powers In Iran s dual political system, split between the clerical establishment and the government, it is Raisi’s 85-year-old mentor Khamenei supreme leader since 1989 who holds decision-making power on all major policies For years many have seen Raisi as a strong con-

tender to succeed Khamenei who has endorsed Raisi’s main policies Raisi s victory in a closely managed election in 2021 brought all branches of power under the control of hardliners, after eight years when the presidency had been held by pragmatist Hassan Rouhani and a nuclear deal negotiated with Washington However Raisi’s standing may have been dented by widespread protests against clerical rule and a failure to turn around Iran s economy hamstrung by Western sanctions

Raisi had been at the Azerbaijani border on Sunday to inaugurate the Qiz-Qalasi Dam, a joint project Azerbaijan’s President Ilham Aliyev, who said he had bid a “friendly farewell” to Raisi earlier in the day, offered assistance in the rescue

President Asif Ali Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif expressed concern and prayed for the safety of the Iranian president and FM Abdullahian

“Deeply concerned to hear news about the helicopter incident carrying the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Foreign Minister Abdullahian & others President Zardari said on his official X timeline

Deeply concerned to hear news about the helicopter incident carrying the Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi, Foreign Minister Abdullahian & others My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-being & safety of President Raisi so that he may continue to serve the Iranian nation My heartfelt prayers & good wishes for the well-

Religious Affair Minister arrives in Mak kah to review Hajj arrangements

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Chaudhry Salik Hussain on Sunday arrived here after reviewing Hajj arrangements made by the Pakistan Hajj Mission in Madinah for Pakistani pilgrims He is scheduled to perform Umrah and visit the Pakistan Hajj Mission here to inspect the overall ongoing Hajj operation According to a spokesperson for the Ministry of Religious Affairs, the minister will also visit Saudi authorities catering companies and the residences of the Hujjaj The spokesperson added that so far 22 696 Pakistani Hajj pilgrims have arrived in Madinah through 93 flights With the assistance of Saudi authorities, he said more than 11,000 pilgrims have completed their visit to Riazul Jannah

316 Pakistanis will reach Madinah by May 24 through 146 flights From May 24 to June 09, as many as 114 flights will be operating to airlift 34,422 Pakistanis from major cities to Jeddah This year, 179,210 Pakistanis will perform Hajj, out of which 89 605 each will be arriving in the sacred places of Madinah al-Munawwarah and Makkah al Mukarramah under the government and private schemes

Earlier in the day during an interview with PTV news channel, the Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony Sunday assured

Ordeal in Bishkek

The incident in Bishkek shows some of the dangers of studying abroad

THE return home of the first batch of 180 students from Bishkek brings a certain sense of relief Initial reports suggested that some students had been killed and the knowledge that this was not true proved a relief This should not disguise the fact that there had been a quite serious riot, and that Pakistani students had been roughed up by invading mobs

The violence was sparked off a week ago when the harassment of some Egyptian female students had created tension between foreign students and local residents

This led to violent mobs invading hostels where foreign students were Bishkek is hardly the centre of the academic world, but it appears that South Asian students, especially Indians and Bangladeshis, apart from Pakistanis have flocked to its medical universities It appears that they are not only relatively cheap but culturally and geographically compatible However, while Russian occupation introduced medical teaching institutions in the Central Asian Republics it did not remove the xenophobia there

The government should realise that there are a number of other countries where Pakistani students have gone in large numbers Apart from Kyrgyzstan where the incidents took place the students in the other Central Asian Republics must be surveyed to find out where the students are Previously, students gravitated to the UK and the USA where wide-scale xenophobic incidents did not occur As a result students were never obliged to seek consular help However, that is changing The missions abroad should not be on their toes for xenophobia but should keep in mind the covid-19 epidemic and what happened when students were turned out of hostels and quarantine restrictions were clamped in place It should be noted that students go abroad wherever theory can for a medical or engineering education The rigorous testing and high merits are avoided by many students by getting admission abroad, in such countries as the CARs China or Cuba This does not include those who have gone abroad to pursue postgraduate studies abroad However, they have reached a number where the government is held responsible by their relatives very often irate parents There must now be developed protocols on how to handle any crisis facing our students, and the missions abroad must be ready to put them into operation when things go wrong

Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit

Best practices must be followed in education Pakistan could have shot down the missile, but chose the path of peace

OTNE of the defining features of democracy and an economy, is the quality of education, and the extent of children in schools

In fact, the level of cognition depends upon the quality of mental constructs in children which in turn are pathways determining aptitude Moreover good quality education strikes a healthy balance between conformity and creativity whereby societies where education over-emphasizes path dependency, and does not allow development of critical thinking not only lack enlightened citizenry, but also lag behind in innovation– an important determinant of inclusive and sustainable economic growth

Widespread education also helps reduce income inequality and overall poverty on one hand and enhances the political voice, which strengthens democratic culture For instance, in developing countries, including Pakistan, the level generally of educational, and economic empowerment is quite low leaving the demos weak in terms of firstly choosing better public representatives and secondly putting enough pressure to push them to legislate in the public interest like taxing the rich, and overall dismantling the extractive economic institutional design of the colluding politico-economic elites In terms of the importance of education for democracy noted philosopher and educationist John Dewey in his book The School and Society and Child and Curriculum pointed out in his book What the best and wisest parents wants for his own child that must the community want for all of its children Any

other ideal for our schools is narrow and unlovely, acted upon, it destroys our democracy Moreover, while trying to reform the education system especially on an emergency basis– as is being taken as a goal in recent statements of government–it is important to start from a holistic view of issues at hand of not just the education sector but also all the connected sectors Having said that, the issues within the sector– formulating curricula, training teachers, improving infrastructure, among other areas– receive a purpose-driven mission oriented widely encompassing approach Defining the mission-oriented approach renowned economist Mariana Mazzucato said in her book Mission Economy: a moonshot guide to changing capitalism Conventional wisdom continues to portray government as clunky bureaucratic machine that cannot innovate: at best, its role is to fix, regulate, redistribute; it corrects markets when they go wrong we cannot move on from the key problems facing our economies until we abandon this narrow view Mission thinking of this kind can help us restructure contemporary capitalism The scale of reinvention calls for a new narrative and new vocabulary for our political economy, using the idea of public purpose to guide policy and business activity This requires ambition – making sure that the contracts relationships and messaging result in a more sustainable and just society And it requires a process that is as inclusive as possible involving many value creators Public purpose must lie at the centre of how wealth is created collectively to bring stronger alignment between value creation and value distribution ’ At the same time while planning for educational reforms it may be important to look at success stories and in this regard Finland holds a very significant place as one of the leading countries in terms of education systems In the book Finnish lessons 2 0: what

While adequate infrastructural investments, fixing the price signals of services provided in the educational sector, including optimal level of pay and pension given to teachers and overall educational staff as broader reform goal of an educational reform policy, and as part of the needed incentive structure, along with bringing in improved governance structures for better regulation and overall development of the educational sector, in addition to providing high quality curricula, the quality of teaching is one of the defining features of a good education system

l i t i e s

Thankfully both countries showed restraint after this incident However, even if it was an accidental missile launch from the Indian airbase it raises some questions about the Pakistan air defence capabilities One of the major questions was why Pakistan did not shoot down that incoming cruise missile and wait for it until it exploded near Mian Channu, even though it knew that this cruise missile was capable of carrying nuclear warheads While analyzing the Pakistan air defense capabilities there is no doubt that in the recent years Pakistan has heavily invested in its a0ir defences Just a few months before the BrahMos missile incident, in October 2021, Pakistan Air defence forces inducted a Chinese made HQ-9/P Surface-To-Air Missile Defense System into service It is considered as a strategic long range Surface-to-Air Missile system with remarkable flexibility and precision capable of intercepting multiple air targets including aircraft, cruise and ballistic missiles

HQ-9/P has a capability for detecting beyond visual range weapons up to 125 km with a single shot kill probability This system is also considered equivalent to the Russian S-400 missile defense system However HQ-9/P is not the only missile defense system Pakistan have In 2017 Pakistan Army inducted a Chinese-made Low-toMedium Altitude Air Defense System (LOMADS) LY-80 The LY-80 is also known as HQ-16A in China and is a product of China Aerospace Science and Technology Corps (CASC) This missile defense system has a

Almost two years after this incident, in early 2024, PAF revealed that it acquired the Chinese HQ-16FE air defense system This is a vastly improved variant of the LY-80 already in service with the Pakistan Army and the Pakistan Navy The HQ-16FE seems to form the PAF's medium-to-long-range air defense layer This shows that Pakistan has learned its lesson from the BrahMos missile incident and now it is increasing its air defense sphere to avoid any future disaster

semi-active radar for tracking and guidance

This system can destroy incoming modern fighter jets cruise missiles and drones that are flying at an altitude up to 18 km Despite having these sophisticated air defense systems the Pakistani armed forces did not shoot down this incoming cruise missile, which raises many questions DG ISPR in his press briefing justified not shooting down the missile due to the absence of an ongoing war between India and Pakistan There are two supportive reasons for this justification

not shoot down this incoming cruise missile

Interest rate

Weather Crisis

ali mahmOOD Usmani

Dr Omer JaveD

The Mega Deal

The sticking-point is a Palestinian state

Tbut in all cases, avoid any direct attack An example is when Saudi Arabia had blamed Iran for a 2019 missile and drone attack on its oil plants which Tehran denies However, both rivals are engaged in proxy wars in the Middle East, including ib Syria and Yemen Besides, Iran's nuclear programme raises concerns for the kingdom so it has pledged to engineer its nuclear weapons if Iran does so; which is even deepening the concerns So the most important incentive in this treaty for Saudi Arabia is that whenever it is attacked by Iran, the USA will definitely defend it and will protect it in such a manner as it is committed to providing non-NATO security to Japan and South Korea Apart from this the Biden administration was jolted in March last year when Saudi Arabia and Iran announced they had agreed to a Chinese-brokered deal to restore relations This explicitly depicts how the USA wants to keep the kingdom dependent on it selling its security and weapons along with strengthening its presence in the region

However the deal will further deepen Saudi Arabia s dependence on the USA, which started when there was an oil embargo

or the first oil shock in the world during the Arab-Israeli war As a result OPEC countries imposed an oil embargo, which had adverse impact on the Western world both in the short and long term Afterwards, the USA knew that Saudi Arabia was a key player in oil and the Middle East so it committed not to undergo another embargo and kicked off figuring out ways for the Petrodollar to back the USA Since Saudi Arabia had multiplied its earnings in the embargo, royals of the kingdom pursued higher studies in schools and universities in Europe and the USA owned fancy cars and decorated their houses in western style This was the solution for the petrodollar Petrodollar is a system of purchasing oil in US dollars from oil-exporting countries that guarantees a fixed amount for the USA to purchase crude oil at the same rate and influences its currency globally Initially the USA toiled to garner some contracts in the kingdom to make a way towards it; for this she worked on infrastructure, electricity, modernizing the cities of Saudi Arabia, and improving the economy of Saudi Arabia Later, the kingdom was scared of possible attacks from its enemies in the region such as Iran and Israel So the USA committed to providing security and weapons to Riyadh and constructed a US airbase there Since then the USA has been selling weapons and providing security to Riyadh, constraining it to be almost dependent on US security

Apart from this for Saudi Arabia the deal includes Washington's assistance in building a civilian nuclear programme boosting modern technology and cooperation in artificial intelligence that will surely contribute to the social, economic, and digital well-being of Saudi Arabia in competition with its rivals or otherwise

For the Biden Administration the deal is win-win On the one hand it will export its technology artificial intelligence and weapons to the kingdom On the other hand the normalization of Saudi-Israeli ties will boost Biden's election campaign Since the Trump Administration brokered normalization between Israel and some Arab countries including the United Arab Emirates and Morocco under the Abraham Accord the competition for the Biden Administration is tough in this regard, so it is working on a normalization deal from the inception of its tenure to gain for its election campaign However, the Trump Administration accepted Moroccan sovereignty over the disputed territory of western Sahara and took Sudan off the State Department sponsors of terrorism list for the normalization so Saudi Arabia will be expecting more in exchange for the normalization, where the Biden Administration is working on it in the shape of a pathway to the Palestinian state and security and technology provision to it

Besides the Biden Administration s key focus is on strengthening its position in the Middle East after China made inroads there As part of the 'great game competition , the Middle East holds significance, so the Biden Aadministration will be committed to making allies there to extend its influence in the region and contain its arch-rival China s way into the region The treaty will help it secure its interest in this regard As a formal treaty, the security guarantee

deal requires ratification by two-thirds of the Senate but according to experts the ratification of the mega deal by the Senate will be challenging because it is linked with the demand of the sovereign state of Palestine

However, Saudi Arabia does not desire to be subject to the vagaries of US politics or the US president in the White House, so it wants ratification to avoid situations like the Iran nuclear deal which was first agreed upon by the Obama Administration but reversed later The USA is apparently working for the twostate solution, but it will be a hard nut to crack for them to go for it since its close ally Israel

Why Julian Assange’s fate matters

“Whatever the differences, the results have been extraordinar y. Given the range, depth, and accurac y of the leaks, the collaboration has produced by any standard one of the greatest journalistic scoops of the last 30 years”

a global howl of rage from journalists And the UK and US governments would quietly make sure the whole thing went away Now forget Gillian and think about Julian He s an Australian journalist living in London Only it s not Indian state secrets he s intent on spilling: it s American ones The Americans are at least after a while furious and threaten to extradite and jail him But with Julian there s no howl of rage just a mumble of vague disapproval The clue is in the inverted commas around journalist To my mind, Julian Assange is in some ways recognizably a journalist He s also a publisher, an entrepreneur, an activist, a whistleblower, an information anarchist and a hacker That’s true of many of this new breed of net warriors But in the work we did together when I was editor of The Guardian and he was editor of WikiLeaks we collaborated on a series of groundbreaking stories which were ab-

solutely journalistic However, to many journalists Assange is not a proper “journalist,” and they can’t really see what his fate has to do with theirs I think that’s a mistake This week Assange may learn his fate when judges in the UK High Court consider final representations from lawyers on both sides over the bid to extradite him to the US where he could face a lengthy spell in a maximum security prison I first came across Assange in 2007 when he was a relatively unknown figure on the internet living in Kenya and experimenting with the possibilities the digital space allowed dissidents and whistleblowers to release valuable if embarrassing, information It was an age of optimism about how the internet could challenge how power worked In January 2010 Hillary Clinton then secretary of state spoke about the potential of what she termed “a new nervous system for the planet She described a vision of semi-underground digital publishing the samizdat of our day that was beginning to champion transparency and challenge the autocratic, corrupt old order of the world But she also warned that repressive governments were “targeting independent thinkers who use these tools She had regimes like Iran in mind It wasn t long before Clinton realized that this new samizdat publishing system was literally uncontrollable Even by her own government Along with The Guardian, a handful of other established news organizations around the world The New York Times El País Le Monde and Der Spiegel worked with Assange on the vast spill of documents that Chelsea Manning collected while working for the US Army It was often a bumpy ride even Assange’s greatest supporters agree he is not the easiest person to work with but we did valuable journalism together Sarah Ellison writing in Vanity Fair concluded: Whatever the differences the results have been extraordinary Given the range, depth, and accuracy of the leaks, the collaboration has produced by any standard one of the greatest journalistic scoops of the last 30 years ” Clinton did not agree and nor did the prosecuting authorities Manning ended up in jail and Assange in a form of exile But the US government at the time maintained a sense of proportion about the harm done One of

then-President Barack Obama s last acts was to commute Manning s prison sentence so that she served only seven of the 35 years she was sentenced to I continue to believe there was a genuine public interest in publishing details of the killing of civilians in Afghanistan and Iraq and in the American authorities turning a blind eye to systemic torture and murder by their Iraqi allies in 2009

Any mainstream news organization would have gladly broken the 2010 “collateral murder video with its footage from an Apache helicopter that captured the killing of a dozen innocent people including two Reuters news staffers

Now it is true that Assange went further than his mainstream news collaborators in the extent of what he published via WikiLeaks It’s also true that he forfeited a lot of sympathy with his role in the subsequent leaks of emails stolen from the DNC and from Clinton s campaign chair John Podesta in 2016

But 52-year-old Assange is not being pursued for his leaks of 2016 Instead, the attempt to extradite him for “espionage” after nearly five years spent in a maximum security prison in the UK looks like a very belated attempt to punish whistleblowers and discourage journalists whether conventional or not, from poking their noses where they re not welcome More than 50 years ago history was made when the US Supreme Court rejected attempts by then-President Richard Nixon to prevent The Washington Post and The New York Times from publishing the so-called Pentagon Papers Daniel Ellsberg the Chelsea Manning or Edward Snowden of his time was, by the time of his death last year, considered something of a hero for exposing a hidden truth about the Vietnam War Who knows how Assange will be seen in a generation s time but his cause is one that should galvanize journalists in support if only because the significance of the Pentagon Papers case could so easily be reversed

The Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese has told President Joe Biden “enough is enough ” I hope the UK courts who are about to hear the latest case agree Alan Rusbridger is editor of the UK political monthly Prospect Magazine and was editorin-chief of the Guardian from 1995 to 2015

ALLEGATIONS about China s manufacturing overcapacity have sparked heated discussions among policymakers During her visit to China in April US Treasury Secretary Janet L Yellen argued that when the global market is flooded by artificially cheap Chinese products the viability of American and other foreign firms is put into question, adding that it was the same story a decade ago Yellen is partly correct: the SinoAmerican trade war has strengthened not weakened China s export competitiveness In 2023 China accounted for about 14% of total global exports up 1 3 percentage points from 2017 (before the conflict began) More striking still, China s trade surplus was around $823 billion in 2023, nearly double what it was in 2017

Over a decade ago China’s trade surplus was largely the result of an undervalued renminbi (RMB) Today’s circumstances are somewhat similar My research shows that in 2023 the RMB was 16% undervalued against the dollar contributing to China s high exports and trade surplus

I reached this conclusion because the inflation rate in the United States over the past two years has been ten percentage points higher than in China According to purchasing-power-parity calculations, the RMB should have appreciated by 10% against the dollar; instead, it depreciated by 11% From this perspective, the RMB was 21% undervalued against the dollar

Of course short-term exchange rates are influenced more by the interestrate differential than by the inflation rate I therefore used econometric methods incorporating factors such as the interest-rate spread and economic growth to estimate what the RMB exchange rate should be

My comparative studies found that the extent of RMB undervaluation has been much greater than that of major ASEAN currencies over the past two years Compared to the last round of US Federal Reserve rate hikes during 2015 to 2018 the extent of the RMB s undervaluation in recent years has also significantly increased

Strangely there is no evidence that the Chinese government is targeting the exchange rate Even the US agrees that China has not acted as a currency manipulator in recent years In this respect, the situation today is very different from a decade ago, as China has made significant progress in reforming its exchange-rate system in the intervening period As a result, the volatility of the RMB exchange rate has become more pronounced

This raises the question of why the RMB is still undervalued Looking at the balance of payments in 2020 and 2021 the cumulative net inflow of capital from direct and securities investments exceeded $400 billion whereas in 2022 and 2023, the cumulative net outflow from the capital and financial account exceeded $500 billion China’s enormous current-account surplus has not led to RMB appreciation – as one might expect – because of these high capital outflows This makes exchange-rate changes ineffective in adjusting the trade balance

Such capital outflows cannot be attributed solely to the changes in the interest-rate spread between China and the US In fact the capital outflow is mainly a result of non-economic factors, including some of China s own policies such as its clampdown on certain industries Recognizing this, the Chinese government began to incorporate non-economic policies into its self-assessment framework late last year

More importantly the recent escalation of Sino-American tensions has led the US to adopt a series of policies that discourage investment in China This includes limiting venture-capital flows into China and exaggerating the risks of traveling there

ali Zubair soomro

SAudI CROwn PRInCE, uS SECuRIt y AdvISER MEEt tO

Israeli attacks forced half of Rafah’s population to flee: UN

WikiLeaks ’ Julian Assange faces US extradition judgment day

said last week “Julian could be extradited, or he could be freed ” She said her husband hoped to be in court for the crucial hearing WikiLeaks released hundreds of thousands of classified US military documents on Washington s wars in Afghanistan and Iraq – the largest security breaches of their kind in US military history – along with swathes of diplomatic cables In April 2010 it published a classified video showing a 2007 US helicopter attack that killed a dozen people in the Iraqi capital Baghdad The US authorities want to put the Australian-born Assange on trial over 18 charges nearly all under the Espionage Act saying his actions with WikiLeaks were reckless damaged national security, and endangered the lives of agents His many global supporters call the prosecution a travesty, an assault on journalism and free speech, and revenge for causing embarrassment Calls for the case to be dropped have ranged from human rights groups and some media bodies to Australian Prime Minister Anthony Albanese and other political leaders D E TA

his case at a later date

hearing by that

WEB DESK

In a tragic incident at midnight on Sunday Vedant

Agarwal, son of Vishal Agarwal from Brahma Realty, collided with multiple vehicles while driving his speeding Porsche, resulting in the loss of two lives

#Pune: Vedant Agarwal, son of Vishal Agarwal of Brahma Realty caused a fatal accident in Kalyani Nagar at 3:00 AM on Saturday Driving his Porsche at high speed Vedant lost control colliding with multiple vehicles The crash resulted in the immediate deaths of Anis Avlia and pic twitter com/Vg7yLMlzaY Punekar News (@punekarnews) May 19, 2024

The incident occurred in Kalyani Nagar around 3:15 am coinciding with the departure of a young woman and her companions from the Ballr pub after a celebration Despite directives from the Police Com-

missioner, certain establishments continued operating beyond sanctioned hours, a fact underscored by the distressing aftermath captured on film showing the young woman sprawled on the pavement This incident has elicited widespread condemnation and raised questions regarding the implementation of curfew mandates particularly in areas where nightlife venues persist in flouting regulations Eyewitnesses recounted the chilling scene as emergency responders arrived, but their efforts were in vain, unable to save the two victims As inquiries into the cause of the accident unfold authorities are under scrutiny regarding the efficacy of curfew enforcement

Exper ts disc uss risk assessment tools for improved probation system

RAWALPINDI: A two-day seminar held recently brought together national and international experts to discuss the development and validation of a risk/needs assessment tool for probation in Pakistan known as

PUNJAB CM INVITES JAPANESE FIRMS TO BENEFIT FROM VAST INVESTMENT OPPORTUNITIES IN PUNJAB

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T

The delegation of the Karachi Bar Association (KBA) called on Sindh Senior Minister and Provincial Minister for Information, Transport, Excise, Taxation, and Narcotics Control, Sharjeel Inam Memon in Karachi

Karachi Bar Association General Secretary Akhtiar Ali Chana Raj Ali Wahid Abdul Qadir

Soomro, and Abdul Faheem Memon participated in the meeting In the meeting, various problems faced by the lawyer community in Karachi were discussed Karachi Bar Association leaders apprised Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon of other challenges faced by lawyers including transportation

Sindh Senior Minister Sharjeel

Inam Memon announced that the Sindh government will provide travel facilities to lawyers in Karachi He said that a shuttle service will be started from Pigeon Chowk to the City Courts to ease the travel problems of lawyers,

making it easier for lawyers in Karachi to travel from Malir Courts to the City Courts

Senior Minister Sharjeel Inam Memon said that the services of the Karachi Bar Association in promoting democracy and the rule of law are invaluable and cannot be forgotten

He said that the PPP's initiatives for lawyers are in line with the visionary leadership of Shaheed Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi Shaheed Bhutto believed in the important role of lawyers in protecting democratic principles and ensuring jus-

tice for all He said that Shaheed Bhutto's policies upheld the rights of the underprivileged and the independence of the judiciary and that Shaheed Bibi introduced several reforms to strengthen the judiciary and support the legal profession He said that the Sindh government of the People s Party is following the policies of Shaheed Zulfiqar Ali Bhutto and Shaheed Bibi The Sindh government will take all possible steps to solve the problems faced by lawyers

Dengue outbreak, measures to control disease in Turbat

March the DHMT (District Health Management team) team from Kech sprayed 76 areas of District Kech

Revolutionizing Pakistan’s Rishta Culture: Muzz unveils #MeriBhiS unLo c ampaign

ISLAMABAD:

cornerstone of marriage traditions but it often comes with challenges such as superficial judgments limited individual choice and societal pressures Muzz's #MeriBhiSunLo campaign seeks to empower individuals to take control of their marriage journey, breaking free from the constraints of traditional matchmaking This provides them a way to find their life partner on their own terms while still respecting their heritage The traditional rishta culture in Pakistan while cherished by many can sometimes feel restrictive Family involvement is key, which is wonderful for honouring tradition and our religious values But it can also lead to a situation where singles themselves have little say in who they meet STAFF REPORT

During the month of March when cases of dengue started appearing in Turbat, The DHO office Kech informed the Secretary of Health and the DG office on March 20th Subsequently the Secretary and DG office dispatched teams from WHO and VBD (Vector Borne Disease Program Baluchistan) to Gwadar on March 27th and 28th There, they provided training on larviciding and case management to the Gwadar and Turbat District health management teams doctors and paramedics (10 doctors and 10 paramedics from each district) Meanwhile, during the month of

On March 29th teams from WHO and VBD arrived in Turbat, where they investigated the affected areas (UC Jussak and UC Absor) Following their investigation they indicated that the main source of dengue prevalence was stored water in containers open water storage tanks, and leftover water containers in the houses The same day, the DHO, WHO, and VBD jointly released a video message for public awareness On April 2nd the DHO office wrote a letter to the DC office to convene a dengue committee where all line departments were sum-

moned to ensure their involvement in the anti-dengue campaign The DHO informed the people of Turbat about the situation of dengue and the preventive and safety measures through a video message

On April 3rd, the DHO engaged LHWs for a door-to-door campaign of larviciding and awareness sessions covering more than 3500 houses in UC Absor and 450 houses in UC Jussak

On April 4th, under the supervision of the DHO and the mayor of Turbat city, a joint meeting was conducted with the councilors of affected UCs They were called upon to make awareness campaigns based on the recommendation of the WHO and VBD teams

S TA F F R E P O R T

The Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce & Industry’s Businessmen Panel (BMP) has stressed the need for revisiting terms of power purchase agreements with a view to restore the viability of country s energy sector, as billions of rupees could be saved by making payments to IPPs in local currency instead of dollars FPCCI former president and BMP Chairman Mian Anjum Nisar said that in view of decreasing cost of production and lessen energy tariffs, the government should bring some

REPORT

KARACHI:

Punjab Puts hosPitals on alert to coPe with looming three consecutive heat-waves

to these regions A second heatwave forecasted for late May or early June could see temperatures soaring to 45 degrees for 4 to 5 days A third heatwave is projected for the first 10 days of June impacting Tharparkar, Umarkot, Sanghar, Badin, and Khairpur The Meteorological De-

in Islamabad Khy-

tures are

Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, Gilgit-Baltistan, and Balochistan during this period Citizens are urged to stay informed through various media channels and take necessary precautions to combat the impending heatwave onslaught The Punjab Primary and Secondary Healthcare Department s letter further directs the officials to disseminate information to the general public on how to

Dar, Saudi counterpar t review preparations for Crown Prince’s visit to Pak istan

Deputy Prime Minister (PM) and Foreign Minister Ishaq Dar and his Saudi Arabia counterpart Prince Faisal bin Farhan bin Abdullah on Sunday reviewed preparations for the visit of the Crown Prince and Prime Minister Mohammed Bin Salman Al Saud to Pakistan During a telephonic conversation on Sunday Ishaq Dar underlined that the people of Pakistan were eagerly looking forward to the visit of His Royal Highness at a mutually agreed date

The two leaders also discussed the robust bilateral relations between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, exploring various avenues for further strengthening cooperation across multiple sectors This dialogue underscored the profound and enduring partnership between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia

The ministers also discussed the grave situation in Gaza and other pressing regional and global developments of mutual concern

The two sides reaffirmed their dedication to fostering peace and stability in the region through collaborative efforts and dialogue Earlier in May, it was reported that the much-anticipated visit of Saudi Crown Prince Muhammad

Bin Salman’s visit would take place soon and it would surely be

and people of

istan are anxiously waiting for the

on May 19, for two days Sources said that officials from both countries are holding consultations to finalise date for Saudi Crown Prince Mohammad Bin Salman s Pakistan visit Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zehra Baloch made it clear on Friday that as soon the schedule was worked out between the two capitals, it would be made public She was confident that the Mo-

from the brotherly country MBS much-anticipated visit will be the

visit by the Saudi Crown Prince to Pakistan in five years The last time he was in Pakistan was in February 2019 The Saudi crown prince will land in Pakistan along with his delegation

The visit will see the third inperson meeting between Pakistan s Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Saudi Crown Prince Mohammed Bin Salman in

Tanveer allegedly fired at Colonel (retd) Tipu Sultan, narrowly missing him