UAE PRESIDENT COMMITS $10B INVESTMENT IN PAKISTAN
(FIA) on Wednesday sought permission of Islamabad High Court (IHC) to present the statement of US Assistant Secretary Donald Lu given before a congressional committee in Washington as evidence in the cypher case In a miscellaneous application the FIA requested the IHC bench comprising Chief Justice Aamer Farooq and Justice Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, to allow filing of more evidence in the cypher case against Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) founder Imran Khan and senior leader Shah Mahmood Qureshi During the hearing the chief justice expressed concern that the FIA wanted to present extra evidence when the hearing of the appeals was about to complete Justice Miangul Hassan asked whether the prosecutor wanted to present Lu as a witness or it might be an attempt to delay the case Chief Justice Aamer Farooq said that as per the criminal law the prosecution had to tell the reasons that whether the evidence was relevant Though the prosecution
During the
informed
the
and Qureshi were
ECC likely to green-light $2.58m package for Chinese workers killed in Besham attack
advocate
on behalf of the
on
and they appeared before the trial court on January 27 State counsel Abdul Rehman said that when they appeared they were instructed by the trial court to conduct the cross-examination The court sought affidavit from the state counsel, who had conducted the cross-examination of witnesses on behalf of the two accused The court summoned the special prosecutor for arguments on
who was killed in the same attack
a Chinese company killed in Besham terror attack on March 26 According to senior officials of the Cabinet Division, the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) is expected to approve the compensation package in its next meeting
The Inter-Ministerial Committee (IMC) has recommended the amount as compensation to the ECC based on the GDP per capita and purchasing power parity Similarly a compensation of Rs2 5 million has also been recommended for a Pakistani national
The official source claimed that the committee s secretariat has received a summary seeking $2 58 million in compensation for the five Chinese employees of China Gezhouba the company working on Dasu Hydropower project
The amount will be transferred to the account of the Pakistan embassy in Beijing, which will then transfer the payments to the families of the victims via appropriate channels
The IMC recommended the compensation almost two months after the Besham terror attack that claimed the lives of six people five Chinese engineers and one Pakistani working on the Dasu Dam The victims were killed when an explosive-laden vehicle hit a
bus carrying Chinese workers on Karakoram Highway in Besham area
Following the attack, civil work at the sites of the Dasu and Diamer-Bhasha Dams was temporarily suspended by the Chinese companies overseeing operations due to security concerns
Approximately 991 Chinese engineers were working on both projects, while the local staff was told to stay at home till further instructions
Reacting to the deadly attack Chinese Foreign Ministry Spokesperson Lin Jian termed the terror bid an attempt to sabotage China-Pakistan relations
“Beijing remains firm in its commitment to working with Islamabad in various fields the official said
In par tnership with Profit Fr i d a y, 2 4 M a y, 2 0 2 4 I | 1 5 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 2 4 I 8 Pa g e s I I s l a m a b a d E d i t i o n PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K The visiting IMF team has informed Pakistani authorities that the next bailout package under the Extended Fund Facility (EFF) will only be considered after presenting an aligned upcoming budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 and securing its approval from parliament This could initiate formal negotiations and lead to a staff-level agreement for a fresh bailout package, possibly augmented by $6 to $8 billion in climate finance, likely in July 2024 According to a news report the IMF team collected data on major economic fronts and specified the type of budget they expect for 2024-25 The government needs to devise a roadmap for increasing the taxto-GDP ratio, which might decline to 9 percent of GDP for the current fiscal year The FBR is struggling to collect Rs 9 415 trillion and independent experts predict a shortfall If the FBR collects Rs 9 trillion the IMF will require an increase to over Rs 12 trillion in the next budget, necessitating a Rs 3 trillion increase despite a nominal growth rate of 16% Non-tax revenue targets will also rise with a carbon levy under consideration On the expenditure side the IMF team urged the government that it must rationalise SOEs, pensions, and subsidies to reduce current expenditures Development projects of a provincial nature will be abandoned in the next fiscal year Regarding tariffs the IMF has called for raising the power tariff through baseline fuel price adjustment and quarterly adjustments Gas tariffs will also increase For solar net metering, the government plans to hire a Chinese consultant to study the issue independently due to its impact on DISCOs’ grids and the power sector’s fiscal woes g GOVT MUST MEET STRINGENT IMF REQUIREMENTS TO SECURE EXTENDED FUND FACILITY, GLOBAL LENDER TELLS PAKISTANI AUTHORITIES New bailout package contingent on IMF-approved budget PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K Pakistan faces a crucial deadline of June 30 to implement a series of reforms, primarily through binding parliamentary approvals and legislation, to finalize a staff level agreement (SLA) with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) for its upcoming bailout program This development surfaces as the fortnight-long dialogue between Pakistani authorities and the IMF mission concludes Led by Nathan Porter, the IMF staff mission wrapped up discussions covering pivotal economic sectors including major reforms in power and gas stateowned entities pensions revenue mobilization and monetary policy adjustments in alignment with inflation expectations Both parties have established a broad consensus on the necessary actions and their respective timelines, with a focus on ensuring these measures receive parliamentary sanction within the stipulated timeframe One key requirement from the IMF is the parliamentary endorsement of the reform and policy actions, reflecting the need for stability given the volatile political climate The mission is set to depart this Friday, with plans to formally announce the SLA by the end of June or early July 2024 contingent on satisfactory compliance with the agreed measures These measures include adjustments in gas and electricity tariffs approval of taxation and trade tariff policy measures, and amendments in tax laws which are to be enacted through the Finance Bill 2024-25 The federal budget, crucial for implementing these changes is scheduled for presentation on June 7 just after the Eid-ul-Azha holidays allowing limited time for parliamentary debate Tax-related measures are a significant part of the discussions, with plans to simplify tax slabs for salaried individuals, redefine agricultural income taxation, and increase penalties for non-compliance among tax filers Additionally discussions have included removing the cap on the petroleum development levy and introducing a carbon tax aimed at revenue enhancement and creating financial buffers On the energy front, both sides have agreed on upward revisions of natural gas prices for various sectors beginning the new fiscal year and have discussed detailed plans for reducing the gas sector ’s circular debt Moreover the IMF and World Bank have been involved in discussions on managing rising capacity payments and addressing the debt repayment challenges associated with CPEC-related projects A list of 24 state-owned enterprises (SOEs) has been shared with the IMF categorizing them for strategic relevance or potential privatization underscoring Pakistan s commitment to reducing government involvement in business functions better served by the private sector As discussions continue, the future of state-run media and other public enterprises remains a key topic, with both sides exploring options to enhance transparency and efficiency in these institutions IMF demands parliamentary approval for critical economic reforms by June 30 g REVISED TAX MEASURES AND ENERGY TARIFFS UNDER DISCUSSION AS GOVT AIMS TO MEET IMF CONDITIONS FOR FINANCIAL AID g IMC ALSO RECOMMENDS RS2 5M COMPENSATION FOR PAKISTANI NATIONAL KILLED IN SAME ATTACK g AMOUNT TO BE TRANSFERRED TO ACCOUNT OF PAKISTAN EMBASSY IN BEIJING FOR ONWARDS TRANSFER TO VICTIMS’ FAMILIES ‘Cypher Case’: FIA seeks IHC’s nod to present Lu’s congressional testimony ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Federal Investigation Agency
stage
Friday and adjourned the case PR OFIT A P P
R E S I D E N T of the United Arab Emirates (UAE) Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan on Thursday assured his country’s full support to Pakistan in all circumstances, pledging to invest $10 billion in its multiple sectors The UAE President made the commitment during a bilateral meeting with Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif The meeting provided an opportunity to discuss the whole gamut of bilateral relations including cooperation in political economic social cultural and defence sectors The prime minister underscored the importance of galvanizing existing cooperation and strengthening strategic partnerships including in the fields of information technology renewable energy and tourism He highlighted the steps taken by the government aimed at ensuring socio-economic stability in the country and building the investors confidence He reiterated Pakistan s commitment to ensure meaningful implementation of investment cooperation agreements in the areas of energy port operations projects wastewater treatment food security logistics minerals and banking & financial services PM Shehbaz expressed gratitude to the UAE leadership for hosting 1 8 million Pakistani diaspora and highlighted Pakistan s huge human resource potential that could be engaged in multiple sectors Both leaders exchanged views on other issues of mutual interest, including regional and global developments The prime minister reiterated his invitation to the UAE president for an official visit to Pakistan which was accepted by the latter PM Shehbaz was accompanied by Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar, Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif and Special Assistant to Prime Minister Syed Tariq Fatemi The prime minister also offered condolences on the passing away of close family members of Al Nahyan family late Sheikh Tahnoun bin Mohamed Al Nahyan and late Sheikh Hazza bin Sultan Al Nahyan
had the legal right to file a miscellaneous application he added the court had serious reservations on its filing at the current
hearing,
Islamabad
general
the court that state counsel
PTI founder
appointed
January 26
P
g P M S H E H B A Z R E A F F I R M S PA K I S TA N ’ S C O M M I T M E N T TO I M P L E M E N T I N V E S T M E N T C O O P E R AT I O N A G R E E M E N T S I N E N E R G Y, P O R T O P E R AT I O N S, F O O D S E C U R I T Y, LO G I S T I C S, M I N E R A L S, A N D B A N K I N G & F I N A N C I A L S E R V I C E S ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
likely
greenlight a $2 58 million compensation
for the employees
The Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) is
to
package
of
PAKISTAN’S INveSTMeNT RATIo hITS
S uzuki Motors to expand operations with new biogas plant in K arachi
g feder al MInISter r ana tanveer HuSSaIn cOMMItS tO SuppOrtIng SuzukI'S expanSIOn In pakIStan, eMpHaSISIng autO InduStry'S rOle In natIOnal ecOnOMIc grOw tH
istan’s economy, noting its substantial contributions to employment economic growth and technology transfer He emphasised the government s ongoing support for the automotive sector, which includes tax breaks and incentives for automakers, particularly in the adoption of new technologies like Electric Vehicles (EVs) and hybrids
The government has already taken steps to promote the localization of this industry by providing duty-free imports of plant and machinery necessary to establish EV manufacturing plants Recently, the government issued manufacturing certificates to 43 com-
panies for the local production of EV 2/3 wheelers During the meeting Ayukawa shared Suzuki s long-standing commitment to Pakistan noting the company s 40-year history of manufacturing and exporting vehicles from Pakistan He particularly highlighted the recent commencement of exports for Suzuki Swift and GS-150 motorcycles marking a significant milestone in Pakistan s position in the global automobile market Minister Hussain encouraged the auto sector to leverage these benefits to boost export revenues significantly
Pak-
M o N i to R i
e S k The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has intensified its efforts to enforce tax compliance by blocking over 11 000 mobile phone SIMs of non-tax filers a move confirmed by FBR spokesperson Bakhtiar Mohammad According to Mohammad, a total of 11,252 SIMs were blocked up until May 22, as part of the enforcement actions outlined in the Income Tax General Order This aggressive push for tax compliance has been met with legal challenges The Islamabad High Court (IHC) recently issued clarifications re-
garding its stay order Initially it was believed that the order prevented the blocking of SIMs but the IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq later specified that the stay was only intended to protect the petitioners, specifically the telecom operator Zong, and not to halt the overall SIM blocking initiative Despite resistance from telecom providers and a temporary delay in the execution of these blocks the FBR released a list on April 30 identifying 506,671 individuals who had not filed their tax returns for 2023 These individuals faced immediate SIM blocking as a penalty although telecom companies contested the deci-
sion, arguing it was hastily made and would negatively affect customers The Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) on May 4 declared that it would not comply with the FBR s directive stating that such enforcement was outside its legal jurisdiction This stance was supported by telecom companies which, in a collective letter to the Ministry of IT expressed their obligation to provide uninterrupted service to their customers barring specific circumstances outlined in the Telecom Act However, by May 10, after several key meetings between the FBR, PTA, and telecom operators, an agreement was reached to begin manually blocking SIMs of non-filers
F d y 24 M y 2024 | ISLAMABAD 02 NEWS PR OFIT M o N to R i N g D e S k P A K IS TA N S investment ratio has fallen to its lowest level in 50 years, reaching 13 1% of the economy in the outgoing fiscal year, according to figures approved by the National Accounts Committee (NAC) The fixed investment-to-GDP ratio dropped 11 4% from 12 4% last year Private sector investment declined to 8 7% of GDP, the lowest in nearly 25 years Public sector investment fell to 2 8% the lowest in four years due to fiscal constraints and incomplete budget allocations This drop reflects the challenges faced by the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) in attracting investment without addressing fundamental economic issues and achieving political stability The data also revealed a discrepancy in the population figure used by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) The official per capita income was overstated at $1,674, based on an outdated population figure of 236 million instead of the 2023 census figure of 241 5 million Provisional National Accounts estimates indicate that investments and savings as a percentage of Pakistan s economy have remained below official targets The investment-to-GDP ratio fell short of the 15 1% target, dropping to 13 1%, the lowest since the fiscal year 1973-74 when it was 13 2% The current 13 1% investment-to-GDP ratio remains below regional peers down from 14 1% last year Pakistan expected up to $5 billion in investment from Saudi Arabia during the ongoing fiscal year, but these assurances have not materialised into concrete agreements The International Monetary Fund (IMF) during recent talks inquired about expected investments for this fiscal year and the next While the SIFC has improved coordination among federal and provincial governments and addressed procedural issues, its efforts have not significantly increased foreign or domestic investment On the flip side frequent changes in taxation policies and biases towards the manufacturing sector have further reduced investment in the manufacturing sector The country’s productivity is declining, and economic growth is largely driven by consumption which accounts for about 88% of the economy s growth The failure to meet the investment target of 15 1% of GDP has limited the government s ability to address infrastructure and social sector issues, increasing reliance on loans for development projects The savings-to-GDP ratio slightly decreased from 13 1% to 13% falling short of the official target The estimated size of the national economy for the current fiscal year is $373 6 billion, up from $338 2 billion last year, reflecting a 10 5% increase in dollar terms due to a stable exchange rate However this is still below the $375 6 billion size two years ago which decreased due to devaluations
50-YeAR low AT 13.1% of GDP Merit Packaging sells land and factor y building to SIZ A Ser vices transac tion aims to reduce finance costs and pave the way for growth and turnaround PR OFIT N e w S D e S k Merit Packaging Limited has announced the completion of the sale of its land and factory building to SIZA Services (Private) Limited, a related party of the company Merit Packaging informed about this development to the Pakistan Stock Excahnge through a notice on Thursday that this move is in accordance with Section 96 of the Securities Act 2015 and clauses 5 6 1(a) and 5 6 6 of the PSX Regulations The transaction was approved by the members of the company during an Extraordinary General Meeting held on February 15, 2024 “This transaction will significantly reduce the company’s finance cost alleviating the pressure on the company s bottom line and will allow a new phase of growth and turnaround for the company, read the notice SIZA Services (Private) Limited currently holds 48,391,907 shares of Merit Packaging Limited The company has requested the TRE Certificate Holders of the Exchange to be informed accordingly about the completed transaction Merit Packaging Limited was incorporated on January 28, 1980 in Pakistan as a public limited company under the repealed Companies Ordinance, 1984 The company is mainly engaged in the manufacture and sale of printing and packaging materials PR OFIT M o N i to R i N g D e S k Petroleum Minister Dr Musadik Malik announced on Wednesday that Pakistan and Turkmenistan will independently finance the multibillion-dollar TAPI pipeline project This decision comes in the wake of the international community s reluctance to recognize the government in Afghanistan, which has stalled foreign funding During Pakistan’s Energy Symposium Malik emphasised ongoing efforts within the TAPI – TurkmenistanAfghanistan-Pakistan-India – framework and discussed potential strategies to expand Turkmenistan s gas exports Turkmenistan, rich in gas reserves and currently only selling to China has considered exporting its gas to Europe via an LNG train Malik explained According to the plan gas would flow through pipelines to Pakistan and then be transported to Europe by train Further complicating regional energy dynamics Malik highlighted Pakistan s interest in importing gas from Iran though this has been hindered by international sanctions He noted that Pakistan is actively seeking exemptions similar to those granted to other countries The symposium also touched on Pakistan s renewable energy prospects Malik pointed out the significant reductions in the costs of solar and wind energy from 22 and 23 cents per kWh in 2018 to merely 3 to 5 cents currently He advocated for a hybrid system combining solar wind and water energy bolstered by advances in battery technology, to enhance Pakistan s green electricity production capabilities As these discussions unfold Pakistan remains committed to diversifying its energy sources and enhancing its energy security through both regional collaborations and technological advancements in renewable energy Yasmin Rashid’s health deteriorates, shifted to ox ygen suppor t LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t PTI leader Dr Yasmin Rashid s health has deteriorated despite being transferred to Services Hospital in Lahore for medical care Severe dehydration has been reported along with persistent pain, with the medical team resorting to pain-relieving injections and oxygen support to manage her condition They have also advised against presenting her in court Dr Yasmin Rashid who was moved to Services Hospital on Wednesday due to her deteriorating health, continues to struggle as her condition remains critical According to the attending doctors her body is severely dehydrated and she has been complaining of significant pain since Thursday morning Despite receiving pain-relieving injections her condition has not shown any signs of improvement, prompting doctors to administer oxygen to aid her breathing Punjab Health Minister Khawaja Salman Rafique revealed the seriousness of Dr Yasmin Rashid’s condition saying that according to doctors her condition is not good He emphasized that the medical team has been directed to provide treatment on merit, ensuring that she receives the best possible care without any external interference “Full health facility is the fundamental right of every patient ” Rafique stated Rafique assured that the Punjab government is not interfering with the medical treatment of Dr Rashid He reiterated that the doctors at Services Hospital are fully empowered to make all necessary medical decisions regarding her treatment “Doctors will decide whether to admit the patient to the hospital for treatment ” he added On Wednesday the former minister was shifted to Services Hospital Lahore from Kot Lakhpat Jail due to a complaint of diarrhoea She underwent an emergency checkup by surgeons, while senior doctors were called in for her the purpose TA P I p i p e l i n e to b e f u n d e d b i l ate ra l l y a m i d l a c k o f i nt ’ l s u p p o r t Government considering shutting down social media platforms that don’t have offices in Pakistan g I n a b S e n c e O f I n t e r n at I O n a l f u n d I n g , pa k I S ta n a n d t u r k M e n I S ta n ta k e r e I n S I n f I n a n c I n g S t r at e g I c p I p e l I n e p r O j e c t g natIOnal accOuntS cOMMIt tee fIgureS HIgHlIgHt ecOnOMIc cHallengeS deSpIte SIfc’S effOrtS PR OFIT N e w S D e S k In a significant move to expand its operations in Pakistan, Suzuki Motor Corporation has expressed interest in setting up a biogas plant in Karachi
proposal was
by Kenichi
Global Vice President
Suzuki Motor
Federal Minister
This
discussed
Ayukawa
of
Corporation during his meeting with the
for Industries and Production, Rana Tanveer Hussain, in Islamabad on Thursday The Federal Minister welcoming Suzuki’s delegation highlighted the auto industry s crucial role in
PR OFIT
N g D
batches resolving
week-long
signif-
ongoing drive
expand Pakistan
tax base FBR blocks over 11,000 SIMs of non-tax filers amid legal disputes g Ov e r 11,000 S I M S O f n O n - ta x f I l e r S b lO c k e d aS f b r I n t e n S I f I e S ta x cO M p l I a n c e e f f O rt S SBP-held reser ves rise by $22m, now stand above 9b PR OFIT N e w S D e S k Foreign exchange reserves held by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) increased by $22 million to $ 9 15 billion during the week ended on May 17, 2024 According to the latest data shared by the SBP, the total liquid foreign reserves held by the country stood at $14 5 billion as of May 17 2024 The break-up of the foreign reserves position shows that 9 15 billion were held by the central bank while net foreign reserves held by commercial banks stood at 5 428 billion PTI urges SC to allow Khan to appear in person in NAB Amend Case ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Thursday demanded that PTI Founder Imran Khan should be allowed to appear in person in the Supreme Court (SC) in the NAB amendment case A PTI spokesperson, in a statement, said that Imran Khan, as the former Prime Minister and leader of the largest and most popular political party in the country has the fundamental constitutional right to appear in person in the apex court He said that Imran Khan wanted to fight this case himself despite facing baseless, frivolous, bogus and politically motivated cases because it is a matter of national interest PTI Spokesperson termed the SC’s decision of not allowing Imran Khan to speak during the previous hearing and imposing a ban on live broadcasting of the proceedings as disappointing because he was not only a leader of the biggest political party but a national hero, who was the most effective voice against corruption and the corrupt leaders of the country He recalled that he was the only leader who was declared Sadiq and Amin because all his asset was declared and in Pakistan while the others crooked seized powers through polls fraud, were involved in Panama leaks, Pandora box leaks and Dubai leaks PTI Spokesperson demanded that the SC should allow Imran Khan to appear in person during the next hearing and the proceeding should be livestream MONITORING REPORT The federal government is reportedly mulling over a social media regulation policy that would not allow any social media platform to operate in the country unless they had an official presence within Pakistan This was reported by a private news outlet citing government sources As per the report, sources have indicated that new regulations are being finalized to control social media and legislation may be introduced to provide a legal framework The government has already banned X, formerly Twitter, in Pakistan However, the prime minister, federal ministers, ministries, and the general public continue to use the service through proxies There are concerns that the ban may be extended to other platforms as well The government has already proposed amendments to the Pakistan Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) 2016 and formed a committee after the federal cabinet did not approve the amendments The committee will review PECA and seek political consensus on the proposed amendments by consulting all stakeholders The committee is chaired by Adviser to the Prime Minister on Political Affairs Rana Sanaullah and includes Law Minister Azam Nazir Tarar Information and Broadcasting Minister Attaullah Tarar Education Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui Minister of State for Information Technology Shaza Fatima Khawaja, Senator Sherry Rehman, Nawabzada Khalid Magsi, and Attorney General for Pakistan Mansoor Usman Awan These developments coincide with the Punjab government s approval of the highly controversial Punjab Defamation Bill-2024” by the provincial assembly Over 80 civil society organizations and journalists have signed a petition to reject the bill Journalist groups have described the Punjab Defamation Bill (2024) as a severe violation of the fundamental rights to freedom of expression and press freedom They have labeled the bill as a draconian and regressive tool aimed at suppressing dissent and criticism particularly targeting journalists and the public The bill s provisions such as allowing defamation actions without proof of actual damage and imposing hefty fines, are seen as legal intimidation tactics By replacing district courts with tribunals, the bill creates opportunities for undue interference according to journalist bodies
in small
a
standoff This decision marked a
icant step in the FBR s
to
s
BROKE BEGGING BOWL AS NATIONS PROSPER THROUGH HARD WORK , NOT AID: PM
Committee to evaluate medic al educ ation standards notified af ter Bishkek violence
Colombia to open embassy in Palestinian territor y
BOGOTA s ta f f R e p o R t Colombian President Gustavo Petro has ordered the opening of an embassy in the Palestinian city of Ramallah, Foreign Minister Luis Gilberto Murillo told journalists on Wednesday “President Petro has given the order that we open the Colombian embassy in Ramallah the representation of Colombia in Ramallah, that is the next step we are going to take,”
Pakistan Coast Guard recoveres
2.2 tons of hashish
said the DG Passport
ABU DHABI s ta f f R e p o R t P RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Thursday said that he had broken the begging bowl as no nation had ever achieved prosperity through the begging bowl or aid rather through sacrifice and hard work Gone are the days when I will go to a brotherly country with a begging bowl I have broken that bowl The bowl will lead us nowhere When was the last time that a country prospered through aid and bowls? Only the nations made their mark and left indelible footprints through sacrifice hard work sweat and blood ” he said addressing a roundtable conference titled: Innovate together: UAE-Pakistan Tech Collaboration during his daylong visit here This event was organized by Pakistan Software Houses Association (P@SHA) and Pakistan Software Export Board (PSEB) in collaboration with Ministry of Information Technology and Telecommunication and Pakistan Embassy in Abu Dhabi The event was attended by representatives and heads of Information Technology (IT) companies based in UAE as well as Pakistani IT experts The prime minister who was on his daylong visit to the UAE said that in his scheduled meeting with the UAE President Mohammed bin Zayed Al Nahyan he would not seek any loan but joint collaboration and joint investments to have mutual benefits for investors Explaining the parameters of his government’s program he said the Pakistani workers would be imparted the highest standard of vocational training so that they come to UAE and open their offices, provide remote services and make livelihood “I am prepared to take that risk because nothing can be achieved without taking risks I am ready to move forward in this field he told the ceremony which marked the signing of three MOUs between Pakistani and UAE IT companies to implement digital transformation He appreciated the UAE president’s vision of taking lead in IT artificial intelligence and constructing information infrastructure on modern lines to build the national economy which should not be dependent on oil and gas, and making the country a hub of imports and exports Lauding the Pakistani IT professionals playing their role in digitizing the UAE economy he said “That is what we need to replicate in Pakistan Pakistan offers great potential in terms of its population with 60% comprising youth aged 15-30 years Highlighting his government’s focus on the promotion of IT and AI in various sectors of the economy like agriculture mines and minerals skills and empowering the youth he said the roundtable conference was the reflection of what could be achieved in the sector We want to transform our economy I have an iron resolve to completely transform the economy of Pakistan in collaboration with UAE be it a joint venture collaboration or knowledge-sharing partnership Lauding the contribution and efforts of around 1 5 million Pakistani diaspora in the UAE the prime minister urged them to learn the expertise and experiences of the Emirates to replicate them for Pakistan’s progress and prosperity He recalled strong institutional and people-to-people linkages between the two countries He said that both countries share the collective ambition to embrace innovation and progress Together we have to work and march forward and with joint efforts we will be great Ummah Both will prosper together provided we march in unison, join hands and shun all our concerns and fears ” he remarked The prime minister also held an interactive discussion with the participants and responded to various comments and suggestions He shared the commitment of his government for improving investment ecosystem in digital economy of the country and invited investors to visit Pakistan The event concluded with the distribution of mementos amongst the UAEbased clients of Pakistani IT companies in recognition of their contribution and strengthening of business-to-business cooperation The event was also attended by the Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign Minister Muhammad Ishaq Dar Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan Minister for Defence Khawaja Muhammad Asif Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar Minister of State for IT and Telecom Shaza Fatima Khawaja and SAPM Syed Tariq Fatemi 03 NEWS Friday 24 May 2024 | SLAMABAD
Power Outages: Hafiz Naeem calls for reviewing IPP agreements LAHORE s ta f f R e p o R t Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) Emir Hafiz Naeemur Rehman on Thursday lamented the power outages in the country Expressing his thoughts in Lahore Rehman said: The entire nation is facing the hardships of inflation and load shedding The situation led to the decline of the industry There is a need to review the agreements of the Independent Power Producers (IPPs),” he added Rehman lamented: “The people are leaving the country due to frustration considering the current situation A specific segment of society is also taking the country s wealth abroad Separately on Wednesday the JUI-F and PTI discussed common ground for unified struggle to protect the constitution JUI-F supremo Maulana Fazlur Rehman claimed: “The parliament has lost its importance and democracy is losing its case while the constitution has expired as it could not provide peace to the common man We should have one voice on commonality hinting that differences between JUI-F and PTI were not less but could be softened ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t A 25-member high-powered committee was formally notified on Thursday to assess the standards of medical education and private colleges, admission processes, and reasons for students going abroad for medical education The notification was issued under the direction of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif and Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar will lead the committee The committee is tasked with compiling a report within 10 days based on five terms of reference
education admission
standards of private medical colleges
students
medical education abroad
current regulatory framework
to improve coordination between the public and private sectors in the medical field In the 25-member high-powered committee, federal ministers, members of the National Assembly and heads of medical universities and institutions are included Key members of the committee are Federal Minister Ahsan Iqbal Law Minister Senator Azam Nazir Tarar Health Coordinator Malik Mukhtar Bhatti, National Assembly Member Nafisa Shah, Deputy Chairman of the Planning Commission Jahanzeb Khan, Federal Health Secretary Special Secretary for Foreign Affairs Chairman of the Higher Education Commission (HEC) and Chairman of the Pakistan Medical and Dental Council (PMDC) The committee will also put forward recommendations for enhancing the quality of medical education in the country It is worthy to mention that Wednesday the PM took notice of the Bishkek incident with Pakistani medical students and announced forming the committee to sort out the issue
(TORs) The committee will investigate the quality of medical
procedures
and reasons behind
seeking
Furthermore, the committee will review the
and propose recommendations
Murillo said Murillo added he believes more countries will soon begin backing the recognition of a Palestinian state before the United Nations efforts Colombia has already supported At the beginning of this month, Petro, who had already recalled the Colombian ambassador from Tel Aviv said he would break diplomatic relations with Israel over its actions in Gaza The embassy was closed on May 3 Petro has heavily criticized Israeli Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu and has requested to join South Africa’s case accusing Israel of genocide at the International Court of Justice Israeli Foreign Minister Israel Katz accused Petro of being “antisemitic and full of hate” following Colombia’s decision to cut ties with the Middle Eastern country saying the move was a reward for Hamas Ramallah, in the West Bank, serves as the administrative capital of the Palestinian Authority
May 10, the United Nations General Assembly overwhelmingly backed a Palestinian bid to become a full UN member by recognizing it as qualified to join and recommended the UN Security Council “reconsider the matter favorably ” Israel has been rooting o u t H a m a s i n G a z a o v e r a b r u t a l r a m p a g e b y H a m a s m i l i t a n t s i n Israel on October 7 in which 1,200 people were killed and more than 250 taken hostage Nearly 36,000 P a l e s t i n i a n s h a v e b e e n k i l l e d i n t h e w a r a c c o r d i n g t o t h e G a z a health ministry
On
flights from Pakistan to United Kingdom to restar t soon ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t The security assessment team from the UK Department for Transport (UK-DfT) has completed its evaluation of Islamabad International Airport Air Cdre (R) Shahid Qadir, Director Avsec of the Pakistan Civil Aviation Authority (PCAA), hosted the assessment team The UK-DfT team expressed satisfaction with the aviation security measures implemented at the airport The purpose of the visit was to evaluate the overall security measures in place at the airport particularly for direct flights to the UK according to the statement The inspectors thoroughly reviewed the aviation security procedures and processes implemented by various entities at the airport including passenger staff baggage and vehicle screening as well as aircraft and baggage protection measures Additional security measures for direct flights to the UK and other measures at the airport were also examined All entities responsible for implementing aviation security measures at the airport were scrutinized and generally found to adhere to the standards set by the UK-DfT,” reads the statement The team commended the airport for its stringent security measures to ensure safe flight operations However they also provided a few recommendations to the PCAA during the debriefing The final report will be submitted to the PCAA within three weeks, it added At the conclusion of the visit, Mr Gaffar, First Secretary Aviation (UK-DfT) at the British High Commission expressed appreciation for the warm reception extended to the team by the Airport Manager and the Directorate of Avsec PCAA He affirmed that such engagements between the two countries will further enhance aviation ties between them The UK-DfT security assessment team will depart for the UK tomorrow Gov t running campaign to create awareness about heatwave ISLAMABAD s ta f f R e p o R t The Federal government in collaboration with all the relevant departments including National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) is running a comprehensive campaign to create awareness among the masses about hazardous impacts of current heatwave across the country This was stated by Coordinator to Prime Minister on Climate Change Romina Khurshid Alam while addressing a news conference flanked with officials of NDMA in Islamabad on Thursday She said the Ministry of Climate Change and the NDMA have also made an endeavor to spread mass awareness for public through adopting preventive measures about heatwave and to reduce its impacts through issuing advisories public service messages ring back tone and awareness campaigns through television Radio and social media platforms Romina Khurshid Alam said global climate change induced erratic weather patterns are causing increased recurring disasters with intense impact She said the rising global temperature across the world is a matter of serious concern She said Pakistan being least contributor towards carbon emissions is the 5th most disaster vulnerable country The Coordinator on Climate Change said the months of May and June are recorded as driest and hottest in Pakistan with higher monthly average temperature She said heat wave severity in these months has increased rapidly She informed the media that thirteen districts of Sindh nine in Punjab and four districts of Balochistan are experiencing severe heatwave ISLAMABAD N e w s D e s k Director General Immigration and Passports Mustafa Jamal Kazi Thursday clarified the directorate s stance about the discrepancy highlighted in the policies of National Database and Registration Authority (Nadra) and passport issuing authority regarding married women The matter pertains to the condition of a married woman s passport bearing the name of her husband instead of the father a move that has raised questions regarding the contradictions between the policies of two government institutions that possess data of citizens across the country as well as the policy s discrimination towards women T h e m a t t e r c a m e t o l i g h t w h e n K h a d i j a B u k h a r i a l a w y e r a n d p e t i t i o n e r i n t h e c a s e b e i n g h e a r d a t t h e L a h o r e H i g h C o u r t s p o k e a b o u t t h e i s s u e t h a t c o u l d c a u s e i n c o n v e n i e n c e a n d d i s t r e s s f o r women who want to retain their f a t h e r s n a m e o n t h e i r i d e n t i f i c a t i o n d o c u m e n t s , r e g a r d l e s s o f w h e t h e r t h e y r e m a i n m a r r i e d o r d i v o r c e d Bukhari said she faced no issues when she had her Computerised National Identity Card (CNIC) updated with Nadra after she was married, as she chose to retain her father s name and mention her marital status When she wanted her passport renewed with the same procedure the authority s staff told her that mentioning her husband is a must and that she should also have a new CNIC made and then get the passport made The issue raised by Bukhari stirred a debate regarding women facing discrimination at the hands of government institutions as even in the case of a divorce the woman s identity will continue to be linked with her former husband without any acknowledgement of her will Kazi declined to comment on the specific case terming it subjudice but responded to the argument later Passport and Nadra s record is different, as latter s registration is local and will only be used in Pakistan, he said, adding that passport is used as an international document and is made according to international agreements Normally, women face difficulty when they have their passport made using their father ’s name and the issue arises when they travel with their children This makes it difficult to determine their biological relationship if the children s father is not travelling along,
I n t h e l a s t s e v e r a l y e a r s , t h e p a s s p o r t a u t h o r i t y h a s f a c e d l i t i g a t i o n s w h e r e a d i v o r c e i s n o t f o r m a l l y d e c l a r e d h e s a i d K a z i m a i n t a i n e d t h a t a c c o r d i n g t o t h e l a w, c i t i z e n s m u s t r e g i s t e r a n d d e c l a r e b o t h N i k a h a n d d i v o r c e However issues arise when these developments are not officially registered and declared which also raises issues regarding the custodianship of children It is legal for a married woman to enter her husband s name along with her name in the passport,” he said When asked about how the issue will be dealt with in case of a divorced woman the DG Passport said that modifications will be made in the passports and a box will be added for mentioning the name of the exhusband Meanwhile Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi also took notice and has formed a committee to resolve the matter with Interior Secretary Khurram Ali Agha appointed as its head Naqvi has directed the committee to review all the issues pertaining to the passport for women and devise a workable solution to address the matter Recommendations should be made keeping in mind the convenience and ease of married women Naqvi ordered adding that the ministry is working towards finding an immediate solution as per the rules and regulations Passpor t polic y for married, divorced women to be modified WEB DESK T h e P a k i s t a n C o a s t G u a r d s ( P C G ) h a d c o n d u c t e d o p e r a t i o n s a l o n g t h e c o a s t a l a r e a s t o p r e v e n t d r u g t r a ff i c k i n g a n d s m u g g l i n g A c c o r d i n g t o d e t a i l s , 2 0 5 2 k i l o g r a m s o f h a s h i s h , a l a rg e q u a n t i t y o f b e t e l n u t s c i g a r e t t e t o b a c c o s m u g g l e d f a b r i c d a i r y p r o d u c t s b a k e r y i t e m s v a r i o u s g r o c e r y p r o d u c t s , c o s m e t i c s , e l e c t r o n i c i t e m s i n c l u d i n g d i s p e n s e r s , u s e d l a p t o p s , r e f r i g e r a t o r s , a n d t i l e s w e r e r e c o v e r e d M o r e o v e r t y r e s s p a r e p a r t s s p e e d b o a t s v a r i o u s t y p e s o f v e h i c l e s I r a n i a n p e t r o l a n d d i e s e l a n d e v e n f i v e c a m e l s w e r e a l s o r e c o v e r e d M e a n w h i l e , l e g a l action was also being taken against the 25 illegal immigrants
Direct
ON E of the most frightening consequences of the current slavish obedience to the IMF has shown up in the dismal investment figure for the current fiscal year, which at 13 1 percent of the GDP, is to record a 50-year low The combined saving and investment figure largely determines the next year s GDP growth, and this low figure therefore does not bode well for the coming year The poor investment figure has drawn attention to the role of the Special Investment Facilitation Council set up last year and its failure despite much fanfare to deliver all that much Perhaps part of the problem is that the SIFC is too narrowly focused on foreign investment, while the National Accounts Committee came up with an overall figure for investment, which also reflects domestic investment by local entrepreneurs, who will have gained access through loans to bank deposits or by appeals to the public through the bourses for savings to invest as capital in their enterprise An important part of investment comes from the Public Sector Development Programme Cutting it is always anti-growth, and perhaps the most direct contribution to growth that any Finance Minister can make is to prevent the PSDP being cut Unfortunately when it comes to reducing spending the first thing the IMF seems to see is the PDSP where it enforces cuts, which have a negative effect on the savings rate To make matters
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late)
R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif held one of his most important meetings the other day, one on stunting Stunting is unfortunately too common in Pakistan About 20 percent of children suffer from it This compares unfavourably even with the South Asian average of 33 percent, which is much too high as it is That is because stunting is not just children not reaching the height they were meant to, but also means impairment to cognitive learning It is caused by malnutrition and just as the child’s bones do not grow as much as they are supposed to nor does his or her brain Why do parents inflict this on children? Essentially, they ensure that the child stays alive even if he or she is hungry Secondly, they only keep the child short of food because they are too poor to afford it It is not because they opt for luxuries Apart from being a parenting issue stunting causes high healthcare expenses illnesses deaths decreased physical productivity and impaired cognitive learning and up to a phenomenal 46 percent loss of earnings in later years of life It is not purely a poverty issue No less than 22 percent of the top fifth of the population’s children are stunted True 57 percent of the children of the poorest fifth of the population are stunted and it is observable that stunting decreases the richer the population There are two related problems which accompany stunting, and which are also caused by malnutrition: wasting, when children are underweight, and anaemia, caused by a shortage of iron It is not only problematic for expectant and feeding mothers, but also likely to perpetuate Their daughters will become anaemic mothers in turn and the vicious cycle is thus perpetuated But how can the government do anything? The best indeed the only feasible route is school meals It is possible to work out what are the shortages in nutrition, and provide them in school meals Of course, for it to be possible, one would have to ensure that children are at school However for the children presently at school if they are not fed properly the learning outcomes may be limited because the child s ability to learn is compromised by poor nutrition Free meals would be an added benefit, as they might help in pupil retention Already, many children attend madressas because they give free food and lodging Even full meals are not necessary Suitably enriched even a plain biscuit and a glass of powdered milk can deliver a useful supplement to regular meals which the child is getting at home An important aspect of any scheme is to ensure that the parents are on board, indeed are invested in the project It should not be ignored that parents generally want the best for their children and if they are convinced they will play an important role in making sure that their children are fed the right things Napoleon Bonaparte s promise Give me an educated mother, I shall promise you the birth of a civ-
i s i n g s t a r t , b u t r o o m f o
ilized, educated nation”, seems apposite In his era, school meals were not on the table anywhere but he expressed the ethos of the age The purpose is not just to have educated people but healthy ones as well Education is primarily about making people fit for the workplace of the future It is also about enabling them to live a rich and satisfying life However, to compete in the world, the populace needs to be both educated and healthy There’s no point in having the best of educations if one is too sick to use it That is one of the prime reasons why the modern state is so deeply involved in education and health If the workforce is productive because well-educated, and is healthy, then it can pay more taxes And of course, a healthy workforce does not need as much spent on healthcare Therefore stunting wasting anaemia and all other forms of malnutrition are enemies of the government not just of the nation While they prove a hurdle in the way of the nation living a fulfilled and prosperous life, they also deprive the government of potential taxes, and make it spend more on healthcare For too long, the nation has had misplaced priorities Education and health are low priorities and there is no school meal programme not even a token Spending has gone on other national priorities To take an example the national nuclear programme has consumed funds However, it was only possible because of scientists bright enough to learn how to make a nuclear device Luckily for not just
Mango production plunge
are harmonized with global standards
their risk levels and proposes proportionate regulations for each category High-risk AI systems such as those used in critical infrastructure or law enforcement, would be subject to stricter requirements for transparency, accountability, and human oversight Pakistan can learn from the EU’s risk-based approach and consider adopting similar classifications for AI systems This would allow for more targeted and effective regulation focusing on high-risk applications while avoiding unnecessary burdens on low-risk AI innovations Additionally, the EU AI Act emphasizes the importance of human oversight and intervention in AI systems particularly in high-risk scenarios Pakistan can incorporate similar provisions to ensure that humans remain in control of critical decision-making processes and can intervene if AI systems malfunction or produce unintended consequences
PERSONAL EXPERIENCE: PAKISTAN’S
L
In my experience as a lawyer and tech entrepreneur I ve witnessed firsthand the transformative potential of AI in the legal field after publishing my book My team and I developed YourMunshi, Pakistan s first legal AI assistant, designed for legal research and drafting The response has been overwhelmingly positive with lawyers and legal professionals embracing the technology as a valuable tool in their practice The unexpected success of my book ChatGPT for Lawyers: 101 Prompts, which quickly became an Amazon bestseller, further highlights the growing interest and demand for AI solutions in the legal sector in Pakistan
Physician issues
The draft policy appears to be primarily a product of government deliberations While government leadership is crucial
more robust and inclusive legal framework would benefit from broader public consultation and stakeholder engagement Legal experts, civil society organizations, industry representatives, and the general public should have a voice in shaping the country’s AI future This can be achieved through public consultations workshops and online forums By incorporating diverse perspectives the policy can better address the concerns and aspirations of all stakeholders and ensure that AI is developed and used in a manner that benefits society as a whole
However despite this enthusiasm and the evident potential of AI to address local challenges we ve also encountered hurdles due to the lack of a supportive regulatory environment funding, and access to resources This underscores the urgent need for a comprehensive AI policy that not only addresses legal and ethical concerns but also fosters an ecosystem that nurtures and encourages AI innovation in Pakistan C O N C L U S I O N By incorporating these legal refinements and drawing inspiration from international best practices, Pakistan can create a comprehensive and forward-looking legal framework for AI that fosters innovation while safeguarding ethical values and legal principles This will not only benefit the country s technological advancement but also ensure that AI is used to enhance the lives of all citizens and contribute to the nation’s overall development The writer is an Advocate of the High Court He specializes in Cyber and Technology Laws advising various local and international tech firms government ministries and international organizations He
Police recruitment
04 Friday 24 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
a c k o f i n v e s t m e n t
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worse, the money thus saved goes to make debt-servicing payments
most effective contribution any Finance Minister
make is to defend the PDSP
reached a pass where PSDPs are pitched in full expectation that
be cut This time the IMF has to be told that
PSP
remain at the level where it is pitched and Finance Minister Muhammad Auranzeb must be prepared to defend it against any cuts Another sign of the pressures on the economy that must be avoided came in the form of a State Bank report on inflation, which blamed political uncertainty as one of the prime drivers in the high inflation which has been confronting the consumer for what is now a prolonged period Again, the IMF is to be blamed, for it is behind the fuel and power tariff hikes that have fuelled inflation of other commodities, apart from their own direct pressure on the consumer How to stop the IMF from being anti-growth and pro-inflation,
Investment figure plunges to 50-year low
Editor
Today
Perhaps the
can
Things have
they will
the
will
while trying to extract a new programme from it? Mr Aurangzeb has his work cut out for him
M A Niazi
Pakistan
Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Founding
Editor
T H E continuing decline in mango production in Pakistan has reached a critical point For the third consecutive year, our mango yields are suffering, with Punjab anticipating a drop to 35-40% and Sindh to less than 20% This significant reduction expected to cut total production by 600 000 tonnes poses a severe threat to our agricultural economy and export markets Climate change is wreaking havoc on our mango orchards Unpredictable weather patterns, including long winters, heavy rains, hailstorms, and severe heatwaves, have significantly impacted the growth and quality of mangoes As a result, export-quality mangoes are becoming scarce which is a major setback for a country that exports to key markets such as China America Turkey and Japan The economic implications are substantial Last year mango exports fell short of the 125 000-tonne target reaching only 100 000 tonnes This year the projected revenue from mango exports is $90 million Moreover, the value-added sector, which includes mango processing, packaging, and warehousing, is grappling with soaring costs of electricity, gas, transportation, and water management This makes it increasingly difficult to compete in the international market It is imperative that both federal and provincial governments take immediate and effective action to mitigate the effects of climate change on our agriculture Increased investment in agricultural research is crucial to develop new mango varieties resilient to climatic changes Furthermore, comprehensive support for farmers in terms of modern agricultural practices and disease management is essential to sustain and boost mango production Without serious and urgent efforts to address these issues we risk not only the decline of our prized mango industry but also the significant economic contribution it makes SANNAN AKRAM LAHORE
B U R N O U T among medical residents is a pressing issue According to a report, almost one-third of medical trainees face burnout This concern leads to a feeling of physical and emotional exhaustion Some residents also experience insomnia gastrointestinal problems and mental health issues like depression and anxiety If left unchecked this problem may compromise the health of both medical trainees and patients Therefore it is imperative that medical institutions prioritise residents wellbeing through flexible scheduling, sufficient human resources, and supportive measures, such as recreational programmes to mitigate the effects of burnout so that a sustainable environment for the medical workforce can be fostered DR AWAIS KARACHI
H U N D R E D S of police constables are being recruited in Sindh police My only concern is that their selection process should be on merit, and not on political basis or recommendation of feudal lords and influential people To make it transparent, the tests should be digitised, and include a psychological and intelligent quotient (IQ) test as well Only making the aspirants run one or two miles is not enough They should be physically and medically fit and must have a good intelligence level and integrity Their training should also include some communication skills so that they learn to speak politely and courteously Besides police officials are often seen on the roads without wearing their uniforms Such tendencies should be curbed KHAYYAM DURRANI 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 P A K I S TA N S draft National AI Policy is a commendable step towards harnessing the transformative power of artificial intelligence for the nation’s socio-economic development The policy recognizes the importance of AI in various sectors including healthcare agriculture manufacturing and education and outlines ambitious plans for research, development, and skill-building in this field As a technology lawyer deeply invested in the intersection of law and innovation I am both excited and cautiously optimistic about this endeavour A R E A S F O R L E G A L R E F I N E M E N T While Pakistan s draft National AI Policy is a commendable start, several areas warrant closer scrutiny and refinement from a legal perspective The policy’s current focus on data privacy, while essential is not comprehensive enough to address the multifaceted legal and ethical challenges that AI presents A more robust legal framework is needed to ensure that AI is developed and deployed responsibly and ethically EXPANDINGTHE SCOPE OFAI REGULATION The policy should expand its scope beyond data privacy to encompass a broader range of ethical and legal considerations This includes addressing issues such as algorithmic bias transparency, explainability, and accountability AI algorithms, often opaque and complex, can perpetuate biases, discriminate against individuals, and even cause harm The policy should mandate transparency and explainability in AI systems particularly those used in high-stakes decision-making processes like loan approvals or criminal justice risk assessments Clear guidelines and standards should be established to mitigate biases and ensure fairness in AI applications S T R E N G T H E N I N G E N F O R C E M E N T M E C H A N I S M S While the proposed AI Regulatory Directorate (ARD) is a positive step, the policy lacks details on its enforcement powers and the specific penalties for non-compliance with AI regulations A robust legal framework requires clear and effective enforcement mechanisms to deter violations and ensure that AI is developed and used responsibly The ARD should be empowered to investigate complaints, conduct audits, and impose penalties for non-compliance It should also have the authority to order the modification or removal of AI systems that pose risks to fundamental rights or societal values A D D R E S S I N G I N T E L L E C T U A L PROPERTY RIGHTS IN THE AGE OF AI The policy briefly mentions intellectual property (IP) rights but does not adequately address the unique challenges posed by AI-generated inventions and creations For instance if an AI system generates a piece of art or music who owns
E N H A N C I N G I N T E R N AT I O N A L C O L L A B O R AT I O N A N D S TA N D A R D S
F O S T E R I N G P U B L I C C O N S U LTAT I O N A N D S TA K E H O L D E R E N G A G E M E N T
L E A R N I N G F R O M T H E E U A I A C T The European Union (EU) has been at the forefront of AI regulation
its proposed AI Act can serve as a valuable reference for Pakistan The EU AI Act categorizes AI systems based
the copyright? Can an AI system be listed as an inventor on a patent application? These are complex legal questions that require careful consideration in the policy framework Pakistan should develop clear guidelines on IP ownership and inventorship in the context of AI It should also consider joining international discussions on AI and IP to ensure that its laws
The policy’s emphasis on international collaboration is laudable but it lacks specifics on how Pakistan will engage with global AI governance initiatives and align its regulations with international standards AI is a global phenomenon, and Pakistan must be an active participant in the international discourse on AI ethics, standards, and regulations This includes collaborating with international organizations participating in standard-setting bodies and contributing to the development of global AI governance frameworks
a
and
on
E G A L A I L A N D S C A P E
Pa ki s t a n’s N at i o n a l A I Po l i c y
can be reached at adam qasurilaw@gmail com A p r o m
r l e g a l r e f i n e m e n t
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AdAM JAbbAr
them but the entire nation they had not suffered stunting in their childhood at least not enough to stop them from being able to master a complex technology Stunting would have been instrumental in making them ill It seems a minor factor, but if the country s nuclear scientists had not been healthy enough, they would not have been able to put together a nuclear weapon What happens when the quality of manpower declines? The organizations will begin to shrink The other alternatives to let incompetents man those organizations In either case those organizations will no longer be able to perform their functions What happens when the stunted children of today are elected to the assemblies of tomorrow? Or are appointed to the courts of tomorrow? Oldsters like to claim that things were better when they were young the girls prettier kids brighter the food tastier; things generally better What if this is not just nostalgia for their past youth? What if they are right? And the dumbing-down effect of stunting has begun? All institutions, all organizations, need to play the long game, and while they should show concern about their own budget allocations they need to consider the budget allocations for health and education as well It should also be remembered that these two subjects are firmly provincial that federal ministries were downsized so that there was no overlap The ministries exist so that provinces do not receive foreign aid directly Besides, even if some organisations have education or health set-ups for their own personnel, the general standard of health and education in a society will determine the quality of future recruits There is an inherent problem Mian Shehbaz Sharif and his party will face an election in 2029 or earlier In five years, even if funds are sprayed at the problem, stunting will not be eliminated The decline in the quality of recruits will not be noticed by then The temptation is to kick this problem down the road Mian Shehbaz will have to stay the course and make sure that the state begins to combat this problem There will be great temptation to leave the problem to a future generation Unfortunately, it might already be too late It is certainly too late for the little ones who have already been affected The writer is a member of staff S t a r v i n g i n t o s t u p i d i t y At Penpoint M A N I A Z I T h e t e m p t a t i o n i s t o k i ck t h i s p ro b l e m d o w n t h e ro a d M i a n S h e h b a z w i l l h a v e t o s t ay t h e c o u r s e a n d m a k e s u r e t h a t t h e s t a t e b e g i n s t o c o m b a t t h i s p ro b l e m T h e r e w i l l b e g r e a t t e m p t a t i o n t o l e a v e t h e p ro b l e m t o a f u t u r e g e n e r a t i o n U n fo r t u n a t e l y, i t m i g h t a l r e a d y b e t o o l a t e I t i s c e r t a i n l y t o o l a t e fo r t h e l i t t l e o n e s w h o h a v e a l r e a d y b e e n a f f e c t e d T h e f u t u re o f t h e e n t i re n a t i o n i s a t s t a ke
RU S S I A N President Vladimir Putin s recent visit to China marks a pivotal moment in the deepening relationship between two global powers This trip which took place on the 75th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Russia and China underscores the evolving strategic partnership between these nations Putin’s choice of China for his first foreign visit after commencing a new presidential term signals the significance Moscow places on Beijing During his stay from May 16 to 17 Putin engaged in extensive talks and sealed key agreements that promised to bolster economic ties and enhance cooperation against shared global challenges The itinerary included stops in Beijing and Harbin where he met with Chinese leaders to discuss mutual interests and future collaborations This visit is emblematic of a shifting geopolitical landscape where Russia and China are drawing closer amidst a backdrop of global uncertainties As the world watches, this reinforced alliance could have far-reaching implications, from economic exchanges to coordinated geopolitical strategies Putin s visit not only celebrates a historic milestone but also sets the stage for a robust future partnership The meeting between Russian President Putin and Chinese President Xi Jinping at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing stands out as a significant moment The extensive and substantive negotiations covered an impressive array of topics emphasizing the development of bilateral relations and addressing critical global issues During an informal yet pivotal meeting, the two leaders tackled important issues head-on, including
the ongoing crisis in Ukraine Xi succinctly shared insights from his recent European tour and outlined China’s initiatives for a peaceful resolution of the conflict The personal rapport between Putin and Xi plays an undeniable role in the burgeoning relations between their countries Their mutual regard is evident in their repeated references to each other as dear friends ” Their private conversations, joint walks, and tea ceremonies, which often extend for hours highlight the unique blend of personal and professional camaraderie that underpins their interactions
With around 40 meetings over the years the depth of their relationship is clear In a world increasingly defined by shifting alliances, the bond between Putin and Xi, forged through countless hours of dialogue and shared moments is a testament to the enduring power of personal diplomacy in shaping the course of international affairs
During his talks with President Putin, President Xi highlighted the bedrock principles guiding China-Russia relations Xi articulated five core tenets that define this partnership First mutual respect is paramount with each nation supporting the other s core interests This principle ensures a foundation of trust and loyalty Second win-win cooperation drives the relationship, fostering a paradigm where mutual benefits are paramount This collaborative spirit aims to enhance economic and strategic ties
Third the commitment to lasting friendship perpetuates the Sino-Russian bond emphasizing a historical camaraderie that both nations cherish and aim to preserve Fourth, strategic coordination underpins their global
stance, guiding efforts to steer international governance toward shared goals Lastly, fairness and justice form the core purpose of their relations with a dedicated focus on the political settlement of global conflicts This principle underscores their joint commitment to international stability and peace These five principles not only model an exemplary relationship between neighboring powers but also chart a course for continued success in China-Russia relations navigating the complexities of a multipolar world with a unified vision Presidents Putin and Xi signed a comprehensive joint statement aimed at deepening their partnership and strategic interaction This document outlined future development paths for bilateral relations and underscores the pivotal role of Russia and China in shaping a fair and democratic world order The leaders also witnessed the signing of over ten key cooperation documents, underscoring their commitment to robust economic and strategic collaboration Putin’s presence at the eighth ChinaRussia Expo in Harbin highlighted the economic dimensions of this partnership infusing new energy into bilateral trade and cooperation Under the strategic guidance of both presidents, China and Russia have steadily developed their relations on principles of non-alignment, non-confrontation, and non-targeting of any third party This approach exemplifies peaceful coexistence and mutually beneficial cooperation between major powers The deepening ties between China and Russia not only serve the fundamental interests of their peoples but also contribute significantly to regional and global peace, stability, and prosperity Under the strategic direction of their respective leaders the China-Russia bilateral
trade volume reached an unprecedented $240 1 billion in 2023 surpassing their $200 billion target ahead of schedule and continuing to grow rapidly in 2024 In 2023 Russia set a record in oil and
year, according to China’s General Administration of Customs The export of liquefied natural gas (LNG) to China also saw
Ilan Pappé sees hope for ‘collapse of Zionist project’
PCOUNTERCURRENTS
N i l o fa r S u h r awa r dy
R I M E M I N I S T E R Narendra Modi a master-strategist in the art of electoral maneuvering to stay ahead in political drama seems at a loss about which strategies will spell his electoral success at a grand scale Certainly, he has always been an expert at convincing crowds of “credibility” of his words But now it seems the world-reputed politician himself isn t too convinced by impact of his words upon the voters he is trying to reach out to And pray, the obvious question is that if he doesn t seem satisfied by his own communication strategy, how and why should the people he is trying to reach out to be expected to be satisfied by the same? His command at this skill played the crucial role in not just winning parliamentary elections in 2014 and 2019 but also in ensuring his command within and outside his camp In addition to propagating his image as that of Modi-wave at national level, internationally, he succeeded in promoting the belief of there being no other leader of his caliber/class in India To a degree, international media still seems quite convinced about this; this is at least suggested in general by their coverage accorded to Modi In contrast national media has of late started displaying a tacit withdrawal from giving extensive and exclusive coverage only to him Of course, it is too early and would also be hasty to link this with possible electoral results, though this has already begun being speculated at certain levels Nevertheless certain ground realities cannot be ignored One is that which has perhaps been taken strong note of by Modi himself Notwithstanding his success on the Ayodhya-front people at large don t appear to be giving it much importance Chants of Modi-wave, hailing him for his accomplishments, don’t seem to be echoing around as loudly and frequently as they earlier did Of course the heat-wave could be partly responsible for this Or would it be fair to assume that people are not as convinced by Modi s claims rhetoric and his anti-Congress addresses as they earlier seemed to be? This is possible He has been in command for ten years, which for young voters as well as economically weak sections and others was sufficient time for him to accomplish his promises, which certainly were not confined to Ayodhya-issue which is display and use of his religious card Modi s ten-year stay in power apparently now being judged more strongly by voters than it has probably been earlier He is being judged by
Now the hard-reality that a considerable number of even andhbhakts don t seem to be as enamored by Modi-wave as they earlier were cannot be ignored This is certainly contributing to quite a notable dip in Modi-wave True, to a degree, the hype earlier raised about Modi-wave was manipulated/manufactured
Now reservations as well as restraint seem to be exercised on this front too It is possible Modi-wave matters little or has little appeal in context of grievances faced by common Indians Manipulated image probably bears no importance against hard grass-root realities being faced by people Perhaps Not surprisingly, even religious along with anti-Congress addresses of Modi and other BJP-stalwarts are not being of much help in enhancing their electoral appeal
The preceding points suggest notable shifts in voting trend in several ways Statistically chances of Modi and his party being supported by as many votes as earlier are hardly strong This may also be stated as vote-bank favoring BJP appears to be weaker in comparison to 2014 and 2019 But prospects of BJP not faring as well as it did earlier and/or the number of seats it wins/loses cannot be delinked from few other factors Of these one is in whose favor do votes choosing not to support BJP turn to? Division in these votes may still help BJP win If these voters decision is primarily decided by their anti-BJP attitude, then a lot is likely to be dependent on who do they vote for, whether there is unity/division in this decision of theirs or not This trend may strongly be dependent on nature of unity and electoral strength displayed by BJP s rivals Electoral strength of BJP s rivals would be primarily decided by voters move for/against them Clearly, the campaigning of Congress and other rivals of BJP as well as seat-sharing deal of I N D I A –bloc cannot be ignored However the results are not going to be simply decided by positive/negative impact of those campaigning for/against Modi (BJP) A lot is dependent on how serious as well as united their electoral power – to defeat Modi proves to be The key role in deciding the results is dependent on how voters exercise their power The final decision rests on not simply whether they are more strongly moved by Modi’s rivals or not But on whether they want Modi to return for the third term or not If they want the question of their voting for none else but BJP s election symbolthe lotus needs no deliberation But if they are strongly against his returning to power, chances of their taking a determined and decisive stand on this front matters a lot Rift within BJP over Modi’s return may also turn tables against him However not much noise is being made about this The same may be said about strong sections of voters having chosen silently to oppose his return by voting against BJP It is not simply the question of their voting against BJP but that for the candidate as one bloc to ensure his/her victory against the former (BJP) Though statistically, these elections are a game of numbers but this gamble is proving challenging for master strategist(s) too apparently because of strategies being exercised silently by voters at the very grass-roots From this angle 2024 elections may be viewed as display of democratic strategy being exercised strongly and silently by voters to ensure the command of their electoral prowess in ensuring success/defeat of the party in power Or more explicitly the key question rests on how many votes are specifically cast for Modi or against him!
Nilofar Suhrawardy is a senior journalist and writer with specialization in communication studies and nuclear diplomacy
IS R A E L I historian Ilan Pappé, a prominent antiZionist, expressed hope for a free, democratic Palestine in which Jewish and Arab people can coexist during an interview with Democracy Now! following his interrogation by U S federal agents last week Pappé director of the European Center for Palestine Studies at the University of Exeter in the United Kingdom, was interrogated by the agents for two hours about his views after arriving in Detroit on a flight from London The agents took his phone away before returning it Pappé initially said the Federal Bureau of Investigation had interrogated him but later clarified that he was not sure which U S federal agency the agents represented Pappé cited the interrogation in Detroit as an example of the sheer panic and desperation of Israel and proIsrael lobbies due to fear the country will become a “pariah state ” The interrogation came amid crackdowns on pro-Palestine demonstrations on U S college campuses as well as arrests of protestors and cancellations of pro-Palestine intellectual activity in Europe
In that interview Pappé denounced Israel s historical policy toward Palestinians, declaring it to be clearsighted in its cruelty and intentional in its methods, as he has long done in his scholarly work, most notably in his 2007 book The Ethnic Cleansing of Palestine Referring to events in the late 1940s he told Democ-
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home-state, Gujarat Besides, earlier, voters struck by Modi-wave hardly exercised any deliberation while choosing to go by whatever he said In essence BJP’s electoral-fate was decided by a considerable number of voters being andhbhakts (blind devotees) of Modi Of course the fact that these did not help BJP gain even fifty percent of the votes cannot be ignored But yet the party won
voters across the country, who are not
to his
the two nations particularly in the energy sector During his state visit to China, President Vladimir Putin announced plans for the Power of Siberia 2 gas pipeline, a major project poised to further deepen energy cooperation This pipeline will transport Russian gas to China through Mongolia providing up to 50 billion cubic meters of gas annually Such initiatives highlight the strategic importance both countries place on their energy partnership, cementing a relationship that significantly impacts the global energy market and geopolitical landscape Both leaders also delved into pressing international issues including the conflict in Ukraine and the stance of the USA In their joint statement, they urged the U S to halt military-biological activities that jeopardize the security of other nations Both countries voiced their opposition to the formation of exclusive blocs and military alliances in the Asia-Pacific region targeting any third party Beyond economics the collaboration between Russia and China extends into cultural domains On May 16, Presidents Putin and Xi inaugurated the China-Russia Years of Culture at the Great Hall of the People in Beijing They also explored sports cooperation coordination within international organizations such as BRICS and the Shanghai Cooperation Organization (SCO), and the maintenance of international stability through the United Nations The close partnership between Russia and China is increasingly seen as a pillar of global stability This year Russia takes on the rotating presidency of BRICS while China will soon assume the rotating presidency of the SCO Together, they are committed to promoting regional stability and development enhancing the synergy between the Belt and Road Initiative and the Eurasian Economic Union and fostering cooperation among the SCO BRICS and countries of the Global South Both nations champion multilateralism and stand firmly against hegemony and unilateralism in international organizations such as the United Nations and the G20 Their efforts are geared towards democratizing and multipolarizing the global order while staunchly upholding international fairness and justice Nonetheless, Putin s 2024 visit to China not only reaffirms the close ties between the two nations but also marks the beginning of a further deepening of their strategic partnership aimed at promoting global peace and prosperity The writer is a freelance columnist Putin’s 2024 China visit: Char ting a course for strategic cooperation aSlaM JavEd C e m e n t i n g t i e s i n a b r o a d s p e c t r u m B o t h n a t i o n s c h a m p i o n mu l t i l a t e r a l i s m a n d s t a n d f i r m ly a g a i n s t h e g e m o ny a n d u n i l a t e r a l i s m i n i n t e r n a t i o n a l o rg a n i z a t i o n s s u c h a s t h e U n i t e d N a t i o n s a n d t h e G 2 0 T h e i r e f fo r t s a r e g e a r e d t ow a rd s d e m o c r a t i z i n g a n d mu l t i p o l a r i z i n g t h e g l o b a l o rd e r, w h i l e s t a u n c h ly u p h o l d i n g i n t e r n a t i o n a l f a i r n e s s a n d j u s t i c e
gas exports to China, supplying 107 million tons of oil a 24 percent increase from the previous
a nearly 25 percent rise These figures underscore the strengthening economic ties between
racy Now! That the Nakba is a bit of a misleading term because it means, in Arabic, a catastrophe But really what the Palestinians suffered was not an actual catastrophe, but rather ethnic cleansing, which is a clear policy motivated by clear ideology ” “There is not one moment in the history of the Palestinians in Palestine since the arrival of Zionism in Palestine in which Palestinians are not potentially under danger of losing their home their fields their businesses and their homeland he added Pappé has argued that as ugly as that history may be, the current war in Gaza is even worse a step up from ethnic cleansing to genocide, in his view His forthcoming book Lobbying for Zionism on Both Sides of the Atlantic documents the influence of the pro-Zionist lobbyists in the U S the U K and elsewhere Despite that influence Pappé said that he sees signs that the ideological hold of Zionism is weakening, and a freer, more democratic Palestine may be possible I think we are seeing processes, important processes, that are leading to the collapse of the Zionist project Hopefully, the Palestinian national movement and anyone else involved in Israel and Palestine would be able to replace this apartheid state this oppressive regime with a democratic one for everyone who lives between the river and the sea and for all the Palestinians who were expelled from there since 1948 until today I am really hopeful that there will be a different kind of life,” he added, “for both Jews and Arabs between the river and the sea under a democratic free Palestine ” Edward Carver is a staff writer for Common Dreams
COMMON DREAMS E dwa r d C a rv E r
HINA is not a threat to the US itself, but rather a threat to US hegemony, US scholar Jeffrey Sachs said in a recent interview with Chinese media He described the US’ reaction to China s rise as neurotic pointing to publications like Foreign Affairs magazine which constantly discuss how to maintain US superiority over China and spread paranoia about China Basically, what s happening is that China poses a threat to US hegemony It’s not a threat to taking over the US, to you, or to me, but a threat to the claim that the US runs the world ” Sachs pointed out Sachs emphasized that China is not trying to take over the US and the reason why China is deemed as a threat by the US is because China is showing that it does not run the world the way the US likes to think it does In the US nowadays, various versions of “China threat” theories are rampant revealing a neurotic sense of anxiety about China-related issues among US media and elites From weather balloons to Chinese corn factories garlic and cranes and the recent hype about the socalled overcapacity brought by Chinese electric vehicles, US elites seem fixated on anything that could be perceived as a “China threat” and use this to justify their crackdown on China This only reveals their anxiety about China’s rise and their fear of losing hegemony analysts believe Other foreign scholars have also expressed views similar to those of Sachs We should not underestimate just how important being No 1 is to America s sense of identity wrote British scholar Martin Jacques in a column for the Global Times Jacques argued that for sustaining US hegemony, rather than seeing China as a relatively benign partner, the US instead regards China as a threat to its global primacy and find ways to contain weaken and undermine it “No one country should consider itself leader of the whole world because we need a world that is diverse multipolar and governed not by decisions of one country or the primacy of one country but by international law, especially the UN Charter,” said Sachs in a previous interview with the Global Times, urging the US to develop a cooperative relationship with China “Right now we are on a dangerous course American foreign policy toward China is misguided and a serious mistake he warned noting that US politicians have been on a campaign to discredit China and to build an alliance of nations against China, which is obviously a very misguided and dangerous idea Joseph Solis-Mullen a political scientist and economist at the Libertarian Institute also told the Global Times that the US must learn how to live with and deal with large powerful states that do not acquiesce to US security prerogatives It is up to Americans to start demanding new and better ones, ones geared toward cooperation and the prosperity of all, not attempted global hegemony ” he added Stephen Roach a faculty member at Yale University and former chairman of Morgan Stanley Asia refuted the increasingly rampant Sinophobia in the US in an article in the South China Morning Post on March 28 In the article, Roach said, There is good reason to worry about an increasingly virulent strain of this phobia spinning out of control in the US ” China is not a threat to the US, but to US hegemony GLOBAL TIMES Th e s a m e m ay b e s a i d a b o u t s t ro n g s e c t i o n s o f vo te r s h av i n g c h o s e n s i l e nt l y to o p p o s e h i s re t u r n by vo t i n g a g a i n s t B J P
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t Chinese Premier Li Qiang will be attending the 9th trilateral summit meeting between China Japan and South Korea in Seoul from May 26 to 27 the Chinese Foreign Ministry announced on Thursday The resumption of the meeting after over four years’ suspension is “an encouraging sign,” experts said, while noting that risks brought by geopolitical games and external interference remain They warned Japan and South Korea not to step on China s red line regarding the Taiwan question Premier Li Qiang, together with leaders of Japan and South Korea, will attend the upcoming trilateral summit meeting the China-Japan-South Korea business summit and other important events and exchange views on China-Japan-South Korea cooperation, Wang Wenbin, the Foreign Ministry spokesperson, said at Thursday’s media briefing With complex changes unfolding in our region and beyond we hope that the forthcoming summit meeting will inject new impetus into the trilateral cooperation and provide better ways towards mutual benefit for the three countries, Wang said China stands ready to work with
Japan and South Korea to implement the Trilateral Cooperation Vision for the Next Decade and other important common understandings, deepen economic and trade, sci-tech and cultural cooperation to advance regional economic integration in East Asia and promote regional and global peace stability and prosperity the spokesperson added China Japan and the ROK are neighbors and major economies in Asia and the world In the course of jointly tackling the Asian financial crisis, our three countries launched trilateral cooperation Twenty-five years on we have put in place a China-Japan-ROK cooperation framework centering on the summit meeting and supported by ministerial meetings, senior officials meeting and over 70 working-level mechanisms Chinese experts lauded the trilateral cooperation mechanism saying it held great importance as the three neighboring countries are inseparable and have a high degree of complementarity The three economic powerhouses have a common desire for cooperation, just as the saying goes, ‘unity brings benefits, while discord leads to harm’ ” Lü Chao an expert on the Korean Peninsula at the Liaoning Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times on Thursday
The reasons for a hiatus of nearly four and a half years are quite obvious Apart from the COVID-19 pandemic, significant changes in the international landscape and the differing stances among the three on various global issues, as well as tense China-US relations have all played a major role observers noted In light of this the resumption of this meeting is indeed an uplifting development that indicates a hard-won consensus on reinstating cooperation Lü believes it can gradually push the East Asian region into the center of the global economy while also stimulating global economic growth Overall the restart of the meeting presents more opportunities than challenges, it s more about communication rather than friction, Da Zhigang, director of the Institute of Northeast Asian Studies at the Heilongjiang Provincial Academy of Social Sciences told the Global Times Da said consensus is likely to be reached in managing differences and promoting win-win cooperation while advancing further trade facilitation measures including institutionally Observers also expect the meeting to expedite a new round of negotiations on China-Japan-South Korea free trade agreements which once integrated with the Regional Comprehensive Economic
Partnership (RCEP) may stimulate higher levels of institutional cooperation among the three Nevertheless, Chinese analysts warned of a number of remaining risks that would hinder trilateral cooperation, including Tokyo and Seoul’s geopolitical games in which they serve the US Indo-Pacific strategy while also exerting their own regional influence by meddling in China s internal affairs regarding the South China Sea and the Taiwan question
Another major influencing factor is the US which does not wish to see the three Asian countries join hands and it has spared no effort interfering in regional issues that led to the disruption of this trilateral mechanism, Lü warned Chinese ambassador to Japan Wu Jianghao on Monday voiced strong opposition to Japan’s sending more than 30 parliamentarians to Taiwan region to congratulate the new regional leader at a so-called inauguration ceremony Also on Thursday, Foreign Ministry spokesperson Wang Wenbin reiterated that the Taiwan question is at the very core of China’s core interests It bears on the political foundation of China-Japan relations and is a red line that must not be crossed
Schengen visas fees to increase significantly from next month
DESK
From June 11 the European Commission plans to raise the cost of Schengen visas The Ministry of Foreign and European Affairs of Slovenia has confirmed that, while the fee for adult visas will increase from €80 to €90, children between the ages of six and 12 will also see a rise in fees from €40 to €45 Moreover nations that refuse to assist their citizens who are staying
Slovenian government said in a statement The fee increase comes after the Schengen Visa Code-mandated review of EU visa fees in December 2023 which takes place every three years The EU justifies the raise by pointing to inflation and the pay of civil servants
King Charles’ shocking decision angers citizens
WEB DESK King Charles III is facing criticism from locals in Windsor and Maidenhead over a surprising decision to end free admission to Windsor Castle for residents The Royal Collection Trust’s move effective June 1 will force locals to pay 50% of the entrance fee, sparking outrage among those who have enjoyed free entry for 200 years Locals who previously visited the castle for free with a Royal Borough of Windsor and Maidenhead Advantage Card will now have to pay £15 in advance or £16 50 on the day, with free entry for one child up to 17 The decision has been slammed by residents who feel priced out of visiting their local landmark Liberal Democrat parliamentary candidate Julian Tisi said, “Visiting the castle for free is a great pleasure for many of us in Windsor
Fr day 24 May 2024 | ISLAMABAD 06 NEWS CAIR O R e u t e R S I SRAELI forces killed at least 35 Palestinians in aerial and ground bombardments across the Gaza Strip on Thursday and battled in close combat with Hamas resistance fighters in areas of the southern city of Rafah Israel s invasion of Gaza has killed more than 35 000 people with thousands more feared buried under the rubble Israeli tanks advanced in Rafah’s southeast, edged towards the city’s western district of Yibna and continued to operate in three eastern suburbs residents said The occupation is trying to move further to the west they are on the edge of Yibna, which is densely populated They didn t invade it yet, one resident said, asking not to be named “We hear explosions and we see black smoke coming up from the areas where the army has invaded It was another very difficult night he told Reuters via a chat app Simultaneous Israeli assaults on the northern and southern edges of Gaza this month have caused a new exodus of hundreds of thousands of Palestinians fleeing their homes and have cut off the main access routes for aid raising the risk of famine Israel claims that the attack on Rafah is to root out battalions of Hamas freedom fighters which it believes are sheltering there Its troops have been slowly moving into the eastern outskirts of Rafah since the start of the month UNRWA the main United Nations agency in Gaza estimated as of Monday that more than 800,000 people had fled Rafah since Israel began targeting the city in early May, despite international pleas for restraint In parallel Israeli forces stepped up a ground offensive in Jabalia where the military has razed several residential areas and struck nearby Beit Hanoun town areas where Israel declared major operations over months ago Israel claims it has had to return to prevent Hamas from regrouping there The Israeli military said in a statement that its forces began conducting targeted raids in Beit Hanoun The military claims that three of its soldiers have been killed on Wednesday Suze van Meegan the Norwegian Refugee Council s emergency response leader in Gaza says many civilians are trapped in western Rafah as Israeli troops fight their way towards them “The city of Rafah is now comprised of three entirely different worlds: the east is an archetypal war zone the middle is a ghost town and the west is a congested mass of people living in deplorable conditions she said in a statement In parallel, Israeli forces stepped up a ground offensive in northern Gaza s Jabalia camp, where the military has razed several residential areas and struck nearby Beit Hanoon town – areas where Israel declared major operations were over months ago Israel says it had to return to prevent Hamas from regrouping there The Israeli military said in a statement soldiers began conducting targeted raids in Beit Hanoon “to eliminate terrorists, locate and strike terror infrastructure below and above the ground
Xi chairs symposium, urging fur ther reforms center on Chinese modernization BEIJING S ta f f C o R R e S p o n d e n t C h i n e s e P r e s i d e n t X i J i n p i n g o n T h u r s d a y s t r e s s e d f u r t h e r d e e p e n i n g r e f o r m a c r o s s t h e b o a r d w i t h e ff o r t s c e n t e r i n g o n a d v a n c i n g C h i n e s e m o d e r n i z a t i o n P r e s i d e n t X i , a l s o g e n e r a l s e c r e t a r y o f t h e C o m m un i s t P a r t y o f C h i n a C e n t r a l C o m m i t t e e a n d c h a i r m a n o f t h e C e n t r a l M i l i t a r y C o m m i s s i o n m a d e t h e r em a r k s w h i l e c h a i r i n g a s y m p o s i u m i n J i n a n S h a nd o n g P r o v i n c e a t t e n d e d b y r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s f r o m b u s i n e s s e s a n d a c a d e m i a N i n e r e p r e s e n t a t i v e s s p o k e a t t h e s y m p o s i u m t o p u t f o r w a r d o p i n i o n s a n d s u gg e s t i o n s o n d e e p e n i n g r e f o r m a c r o s s t h e b o a r d , c o ve r i n g s u c h i s s u e s a s d e v e l o p i n g v e n t u r e c a p i t a l i n v e s t m e n t u p g r a d i n g t r a d i t i o n a l i n d u s t r i e s i m p r o vi n g t h e c o r p o r a t e g o v e r n a n c e o f p r i v a t e e n t e r p r i s e s a n d o p t i m i z i n g t h e b u s i n e s s e n v i r o n m e n t f o r f o r e i g n e n t e r p r i s e s R e f o r m i s t h e d r i v i n g f o r c e f o r d e v e l o pm e n t , X i s a i d H e n o t e d t h a t t o d e e p e n r e f o r m f u rt h e r o n a l l f r o n t s , e ff o r t s s h o u l d b e f o c u s e d o n t h e o v e r a r c h i n g g o a l s o f i m p r o v i n g a n d d e v e l o p i n g t h e s o c i a l i s t s y s t e m w i t h C h i n e s e c h a r a c t e r i s t i c s a n d m o d e r n i z i n g C h i n a ’s g o v e r n a n c e s y s t e m a n d c a p a ci t y C h i n a s h o u l d t a k e r e s o l u t e s t e p s t o r e m o v e t h e i d e o l o g i c a l a n d i n s t i t u t i o n a l b a r r i e r s h i n d e r i n g t h e a d v a n c e m e n t o f C h i n e s e m o d e r n i z a t i o n a n d d o u b l e d o w n o n i t s e ff o r t s t o r e s o l v e d e e p - s e a t e d i n s t i t ut i o n a l c h a l l e n g e s a n d s t r u c t u r a l i s s u e s , X i s a i d XI URGES HARD WORK TO IMPROVE PEOPLE’S WELL-BEING Xi Jinping general secretary of the Communist Party of China Central Committee stressed that only through hard work can the people s well-being be improved during an inspection tour in the city of Rizhao in east China s Shandong Province on Wednesday afternoon During a visit to a coastal greenway, Xi inspected the restored ecosystem of the coastline and had a cordial conversation with local residents and tourists who were relaxing and exercising by the seaside BEIJING S ta f f R e p o R
President
C h i n e s e P r e m i e r L i t o at t e n d C h i n a - J a p a n - S o u t h K o r e a t r i l at e r a l s u m m i t m e e t i n g D O Z
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in the EU irregularly with their readmission may have to pay increased visa fees of €135 or €180 The European Commission adopted a decision to increase short-stay Schengen visa (visa type C) fees worldwide by 12 percent The increase will apply worldwide as of 11 June 2024,” the
President Federation of Pakistan Chambers of Commerce and Industry Atif Ikran Sheikh Senior Vice President Saqib Mangoo Kokab Iqbal Mudassir Alam Mian Zahid Hussain among other members of the Federation standing at Federation House Karachi here on Thursday
BISP
C hairperson makes surprise visit to Islamabad Payment Center
and the Benazir One Window Center in G-7 Islamabad The purpose of the visit was to inspect the payment disbursement process the necessary arrangements and facilities provided to the women beneficiaries receiving their quarterly Benazir Kafaalat stipends During her visit PR
meeting of Board of Directors of Pakistan Housing Authority Foundation (PHA-F) Meeting was also attended by Dr Shahzad Khan Bangash, Secretary Housing and Works, and other senior officers of the Ministry of Housing Ministry of Finance CDA DG FGEHA and MD PHA-F The agenda items relating to different development projects of PHAF were presented before the Board Detailed discussions were made and different proposals/strategies to augment the pace of development work on various ongoing projects were deliberated and decisions were taken accordingly During the meeting reservation of allotment quota of plots/flats to the employees of Ministry of Housing and Works and its attached departments FGEHA and PHAF also came under discussion Mian Riaz Hussain Pirzada, expressed his dissatisfaction on the reservation of such quota and stated that PHA-F and FGEHA are the custodian of the money deposited by the federal government employees for the allotment of plots/flats PR
07 NEWS Friday 24 May 2024 | ISLAMABAD CORPORATE CORNER PR OFIT N E W S D E S K T H E State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) sold Pakistan Investment Bonds (PIBs) worth Rs96 88 billion in an auction on Wednesday, falling short of the target of Rs190 billion According to the latest data shared by the SBP, the total amount offered was Rs203 9 billion for the 3-year 5year and 10-year PIBs with no bids received for the 15 20 and 30-year bonds The central bank accepted Rs24 28 billion for 3-year bonds, Rs45 4 billion for 5-year bonds, and Rs14 95 billion for 10-year bonds through competitive bids Additionally SBP accepted Rs12 26 billion from non-competitive bids bringing the total amount raised to Rs96 88 billion The cut-off yields were 16 645% for 3-year bonds 15 45% for 5-year bonds, and 14 3% for 10-year bonds Compared to the last PIB auction on April 16, 2024, the yields for the 3-year, 5-year, and 10-year PIBs decreased by 1 basis point, 3 basis points, and 5 basis points respectively This decline in yields reflects market expectations of an imminent rate cut In the previous auction the central bank secured Rs6 83 billion for 3 5 and 10year bonds against a target of Rs190 billion, with yields dropping by up to 13 basis points S B P S E L LS R S 9 6 . 8 8 B I N PA K I S TA N I N V E S T M E N T B O N D S AT LO W E R Y I E L D S g D E C L I N I N G Y I E L D S R E F L E C T M A R K E T E X P E C TAT I O N S O F A R AT E C U T Engro Fertilizers recognized internationally with IFA Green Leaf Award 2024 for safety and sustainability K A R A C H I: Engro Fertilizers Pakistan s premier seed-to-harvest solutions provider has been recognized as the winner of the prestigious International Fertilizers Association (IFA) Green Leaf Award 2024 in the Nitrogen Category, for its exceptional performance in health, safety and environmental (HSE) practices Presented every two years the IFA Green Leaf Award is regarded as the gold standard for fertilizer manufacturers globally In 2024 a record 47 eligible applications from 27 member companies were received by IFA An independent panel of judges evaluated the award based on performance records in key areas such as lost-time injury, sickness rate, and annual emissions over the previous five years Previously Engro Fertilizers secured the first runner up position in nitrogen category at the IFA Green Leaf Award 2020 STAFF REPORT N B P join hands with TouchPoint to build a strong par tnership National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) and TouchPoint, a leading provider of self-service solutions, have solidified their strategic partnership to expand the reach and optimize the efficiency of over 1 200 Diebold Nixdorf ATMs across NBP branches nationwide The official signing ceremony held at National Bank Head Office in Karachi, marked a significant milestone in the collaboration between the two companies Dignitaries from both organizations were present at the signing ceremony held at National Bank Head Office in Karachi Mr Sohail Malik Acting Chief Digital Officer and Mr Amin Manji Chief Information Officer were representing National Bank of Pakistan From Diebold Nixdorf, Mr Habib Hanna, Vice President of ME and Retail MEA, and Mr Osama Awad, Area Manager, attended the event TouchPoint was represented by its Chief Executive Officer Mr Tabish Salah and Executive Director Mr Haider Wahab The event facilitated insightful discussions on the future of self-service solutions within the Pakistani banking industry PR Confronting Terrorism: Strategies for Pakistan in 2024 The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Lahore, hosted a seminar titled "Confronting Terrorism: Strategies for Pakistan in 2024" on Thursday, 23 May 2024 The event focused on examining the multifaceted challenges posed by terrorism to Pakistan's national security and exploring effective strategies to combat this menace In his introductory remarks Air Commodore Khalid Iqbal (Retd), Director at CASS Lahore, identified three streams of terrorism confronting Pakistan: antiChina Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) disruptive assaults, sporadic activities of separatist terrorists and ethno-sectarian clashes PR O ver 30 thousand sacrificial animals arrive in Cattle Market for Eidul A zha K A R A C H I: More than 30 000 sacrificial animals from different parts of the country have arrived in Karachi s largest cattle market on the Northern Bypass A large number of animals including cows, bulls, and goats from Punjab, Sindh, KPK and Balochistan are still arriving in the market for Eid-ulAdha Also more than 100 camels from Shaheed Benazirabad (Nawab Shah) arrived in the Cattle Market and different breeds of camels including Lari Sindhi Thri Sakra Pahari and Desi are available Adjacent to the block for camels, a special enclosure for goats has been set up where goats from Mirpur Khas and Nawab Shah are available PR LAHORE: Chief Traffic Officer (CTO) Amara Athar distributes side-mirrors and indicators to motorcyclists during a road safety campaign at Charring-Cross STAFF PHOTO In just a few years Sunridge has become a household brand that promises quality food with its farm-to-fork approach and nutrientrich atta Sunridge continuously seeks innovative methods to deliver fortified nutrition for healthy minds and bodies The brand goes beyond merely serving its customers understanding the importance of healthy eating and amplifying efforts to tackle societal issues In recent years, Sunridge has focused on a growing problem in Pakistan; malnutrition The brand determined that 45% children in Pakistan suffer from malnutrition, largely due to a lack of access to hygienic food and insufficient resources To address this problem Sunridge launched its Taqatwar Pakistan campaign through which it delivered Sunridge ration packs to 150,000+ families It partnered with the NGOs, Hospitals, Orphanages and Government bodies committed to delivering food to those in need Building on the success of Taqatwar Pakistan, Sunridge has introduced another significant initiative with perfect timing This Mother's Day, it released a beautiful campaign titled 'Taqat ki Misaal highlighting the extraordinary mothers of differently-abled children It is estimated that there are 3 3 million people in Pakistan with disabilities, which can include intellectual and physical PR ‘Celebrating A Mother ’s S trength’: S unridge’s Taqa t ki Misaal star ts unique conversation NCHR launches repor t on irregular migration from Pakistan ISLAMABAD: The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) has called for addressing root causes of migration through sector-specific programs and local development initiatives The recommendation was made in a study titles “Perilous Journeys: Unravelling Irregular Migration from Pakistan launched by NCHR in collaboration with International Organisation on Migration (IOM) and Ministry of Foreign Affairs Denmark on Tuesday Federal Minister for Law and Justice Azam Nazeer Tarar was the chief guest on the occasion PR S I E H S p a r t i c i p at e s i n t h r e e - d ay e x p o s h o wc a s i n g t e c h n o l o g i c a l i n n o vat i o n s i n h e a l t h c a r e Karachi is currently abuzz with the prestigious threeday Health Care Expo and Conference held from May 21st to 23rd The event a beacon of innovation and collaboration in the medical sector showcases an extensive array of cutting-edge machinery and facilities from numerous companies specializing in medical health care The exhibition, a cornerstone event in the region s healthcare calendar has garnered attention from industry leaders professionals and enthusiasts alike The event is a significant step in fostering dialogue and progress within the healthcare community During his address, Brig Tarique Quadir Lakhair highlighted the active deployment of the PreHospital medical emergency care PR Meezan Bank & IBA- CEIF jointly hold graduation ceremony for Meezan Justuju, Islamic Finance Talent Development Program K A R A C H I: The graduation ceremony for the flagship Islamic Finance Talent development program – Meezan Justuju, was held today at the Institute of Business Administration (IBA) in Karachi Chairman IBA CEIF (Centre of Excellence in Islamic Finance) and ex-Governor State Bank of Pakistan – Dr Ishrat Hussain graced the occasion as the Chief Guest Founding President & CEO Meezan Bank – Mr Irfan Siddiqui, Deputy CEO Meezan Bank – Syed Amir Ali, Director IBA CEIF & Group Head Shariah Compliance, Meezan Bank – Mr Ahmed Ali Siddiqui were also present at the ceremony PR HBL hosts 'Global Markets O utlook 2024' seminars across Pakistan HBL, Pakistan's leading Bank, held "Global Markets Outlook 2024" seminars in Karachi Lahore and Islamabad to provide stakeholders with broad local and global perspectives helping them understand the trends and drivers shaping the economic landscape These seminars reflect HBL s ongoing commitment to shaping the future of the financial landscape and contribute to the broader economic discourse in Pakistan, aligning with the Bank’s strategy of "Growing Pakistan's Economy " Commenting on this Sultan Ali Allana Chairman –HBL stated Navigating economic tides requires clarity and foresight Let s equip ourselves with the knowledge to make informed choices and steer towards success PR
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FBR chairman inaugurates new building of regional tax office Islamabad Chairman FBR, Malik Amjed Zubair Tiwana inaugurated the new building of Regional Tax Office Islamabad on Thursday While addressing the inauguration ceremony Chairman FBR said that this new state-of-the-art building of RTO Islamabad reflects our commitment to modernise FBR and making our tax system more efficient, transparent and taxpayer-friendly He stated that establishment of this office underscores our dedication to promote a culture of tax compliance and trust between the tax authorities and the citizens Chairman FBR added that the new facility is fully equipped with modern technology to provide better facilitation to taxpayers and to streamline the process of tax collection PR DHA City Karachi provides comfortable, affordable commute to residents & visitors with launch of EV bus service K A R A C H I: With the intimate support of Govt of Sindh, DHA City Karachi is proud to announce the launch of Electric Bus (EV Bus) Service commencing operations from May 23rd 2024 This initiative not only marks a significant step towards a sustainable future for the DHA City community but also provide a comfortable and affordable commute towards Down Town to the residents of nearby / surrounding Goths and industrial areas PR Minister reviews measures to increase impor ts through Gwadar Por t ISLAMABAD: In a continued effort to boost economic growth and streamline trade operations, a follow-up meeting was convened today under the Chairmanship of Federal Minister Maritime Affairs Qaiser Ahmed Sheikh As per the directives of the Prime Minister of Pakistan this meeting second in a series focused on enhancing measures to increase imports through Gwadar Port and sought proposals from stakeholders Held at the Ministry of Maritime Affairs, the session brought together key stakeholders, including representatives from the Ministry of Maritime( KPT PQA GPA KoFHA
Benazir Income
Programme (BISP), Mrs Rubina
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Pak-China Center
Chairman Synergy Group Mr Ahmed Kapadia along with Islamabad team celebrating Synergy Group s Silver Jubilee Anniversary PR
O C I A L M E D I A M I S U S E
LHC, IHC petitioned against Pemra ban on T V repor ting of cour t proceedings
Petitions were filed in the Lahore and Islamabad high courts on Thursday against the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) notification ban reporting and airing of content on sub-judice matters on TV channels
According to the electronic media regulator s notification issued on Tuesday, television channels were directed to “refrain from airing tickers/headlines about court proceedings and shall only report the written orders of court
However where court proceedings were broadcast live, the proceedings may be reported, the notification had said It had also said that all satellite TV channel licences were directed to not air content including commentary opinions or suggestions about the potential fate of sub-ju-
dice matters which could prejudice their determination by a court or tribunal could be aired
The ban came amid strong remarks by Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior puisne judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani about the intelligence agencies and government officials in multiple court hearings on the case of a missing Kashmiri poet
The remarks had prompted criticism from Law Minister Azam Nazeer Tarar who said that such remarks from court proceedings should not make their way into the public domain
He had said: It would be good if whatever the decision is, is passed through a court order instead of such sensationalised news coming out which spreads more unrest ” Pemra had subsequently barred reporting on court proceedings However the Press Association of the Supreme Court (PAS) and the
Islamabad High Court Journalists Association (IHCJA) had rejected the Pemra notification in a joint statement on Wednesday, saying that the gag order was against the independence of the courts “Pemra has no legal authority to prohibit the reporting of court proceedings the joint statement had said Article 19 (freedom of expression) and 19A of the Constitution gives the right of access to information to the public ” the statement said adding that the notification issued by Pemra was a flagrant violation of the Constitution
Both associations had called for the withdrawal of the notification, warning that they would otherwise challenge it in court
On Thursday two separate petitions were filed in the Lahore High Court and one by the PAS and IHCJA in the IHC against the Pemra notification U n l
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
on the same amount of channels and defended your party it would ve been better commented journalist Mansoor Ali Khan on his daily YouTube vlog Political inter ference by an institution hur ting nation, says Omar Ayub
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T
Opposition Leader in National Assembly Omar Ayub Khan has criticised the involvement of certain institutions in politics, stating that such actions are detrimental to the country s development and that law enforcement agencies cannot assume the ‘mantle of the state’ “An institution should not interfere in politics as it harms the country ” Ayub flanked by his Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) leaders said while speaking to the media outside Adiala Jail in Rawalpindi on Thursday
On December 16, 1971, Pakistan was divided into two parts due to General Yahya Khan’s decision Today, we still see individual decisions being made, which will have similar consequences The current government which I call Form 47 is responsible for the present situation in Pakistan Ayub also warned of repercussions if party members Hammad Azhar and Mian Aslam Iqbal are arrested If Hammad Azhar and Mian Aslam Iqbal are detained, we will condemn it in the assembly We will organise peaceful protests across Pakistan We will not accept any statements taken under pressure from Mian Aslam Iqbal Hammad Azhar and Mian Aslam Iqbal should complete their legal processes and lead the party g COMMITTEE TO MAKE RECOMMENDATIONS
The Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf
(PTI) has denounced the unlawful raid by Islamabad police on PTI central office in the presence of a UN delegation, saying this incident sends a disturbing message to the entire world that the constitution and law have become meaningless and hold no value in Pakistan
A PTI Spokesperson in a statement vehemently condemned the Islamabad police for their illegal raid on the PTI central office, involving a massive contingent, and the harassment of the United Nations delegation present at the scene
He said that the police unlawfully raided the central office under the guise of search operation in the presence of the UN delegation without a warrant
PTI Spokesperson stated that
the unfortunate incident was a part of the long and ending series of attempts to harass and intimidate the party and its workers and leaders
However he said that this shameful incident sent wrong a message to the international community, including the UN, that there was no respect for the constitution and law in Pakistan
“The entire world now knows that the dignity and privacy of the Pakistani people and sanctity of four walls are under threat from their own protectors, he added
PTI Spokesperson went on to say that the non-elected forces occupying the country were continuously making mockery of Pakistan through their ridiculous actions adding that the UN delegates were present at the PTI central office to discuss the blatant rigging in the elections, when police raided
He stated that the purpose of
the police raid on the PTI office was to prevent the facts about the electoral fraud from coming to light and to protect the national criminals PTI Spokesperson said that the government which came to power through fraudulent means, was trying to maintain its illegal authority by keeping under carpets all international reports exposing electoral fraud He made it clear that PTI would not be intimidated by such shameful tactics and would not budge an inch from its stated and principled demand to reclaim the stolen mandate PTI Spokesperson demanded that Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif and Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi should be held accountable for the police unlawful raid on PTI central office
He vowed that PTI would raise this issue of police shameful act on all forums including parliament more emphatically
Bill targeting dual citizenship of public ser vants, judges tabled in National Assembly
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam-Fazl (JUIF) MNA Noor Alam Khan has submitted a bill in the National Assembly (NA) against dual citizenship of government officers, claiming that the officers escape accountability after fleeing to foreign nations post-retirement
The bill stated that an individual holding dual nationality or foreign citizenship should not be given right to be appointed as a civil servant Interestingly the draft bill states that a dual-national individual shall not be appointed as a Supreme Court (SC) or a High Court (HC) judge – perhaps pointed to target higher judiciary
Provided that a civil servant holding dual nationality or citizenship of any foreign country shall not be entitled for appointment,” reads the bill
Published by Asad Nizami at Plot # 7, Al-Baber Centre, F/8 Markaz, Islamabad, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 051-2204545 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 Friday 24 May 2024 NEWS ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P A K I S TA N Muslim League-N (PML-N) leader Rana Sanaullah announced plans to strengthen the Prevention of Electronic Crimes Act (PECA) to prevent the misuse of social media Speaking to a local TV channel the former interior minister highlighted the government s intention to make PECA more stringent and effective through amendments Rana Sanaullah invited the opposition to join discussions on the PECA law “The only way to resolve problems is to sit together Putting people in the dock won t help Political parties must work together he said He urged the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) to join in the discussions, emphasizing that both PML-N and the People’s Party had learned their lesson and signed the Charter of Democracy Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif recently formed an 8-member committee t o a m e n d t h e P E C A A c t H e a d e d b y R a n a S a n a u l l a h t h e c o m m i t t e e i nc l u d e s L a w M i n i s t e r A z a m N a z i r Tarar, Information Minister Attaullah Tarar, Federal Ministers Khalid Maqb o o l S i d d i q u i a n d S h i z a F a t i m a a n d Attorney General of Pakistan Mansoor Usman Anwar The committee is tasked with building political consensus and will submit its recommendations within 15 days On May 9, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif approved amendments to the PECA Act 2016 and the establishment of a Digital Rights Protection Agency under the PECA Act 2024 to regulate social media PTI blasts gov t for KP CM’s alleged exclusion from SIFC meeting ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K The PTI on Thursday lashed out at the government for allegedly excluding Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur from an upcoming meeting of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) The government formed the SIFC in June 2023 to bring together provincial and federal government representatives as well as military officials in a decision-making forum Its goals include seeking solutions for economic revival and increasing FDI inflows Moreover, the council is managed by an apex committee comprising the prime minister, chief of army staff chief ministers and other high-ranking government officials In a SIFC meeting in March PM Shehbaz had hailed the attending civil-military leadership for coming together for the country s development and prosperity He had stated that seeking support from provincial governments was crucial to successfully implement macro-economic agendas The meeting was also attended by CM Gandapur The PTI on Thursday alleged through a post on X that there was clear malice behind an alleged decision to not invite CM Gandapur to the unconstitutional and illegal SIFC meeting “Dozens of government-run motels have already been taken over by military companies through the caretaker military government of KP ” the party said referring to the caretaker KP government s February decision to lease out 17 motels of the Pakistan Tourism Development Corporation to a military entity for a period of 30 years It is feared that the purpose of not inviting the KP CM is to keep secret the plans for further military occupation of the resources of KP which is rich in natural resources ” the PTI alleged The party said it strongly condemned the alleged move and demanded that all details about the performance of this unconstitutional and fraudulent institution should be made public in a transparent manner The alleged move comes at a time when CM Gandapur is already at odds with the current government PR OFIT G H U L A M A B B A S In response to the persistent efforts of Chief Minister Gilgit-Baltistan Haji Gulbar Khan Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif has established a high-level committee to present recommendations for resolving the long-standing issues of Gilgit-Baltistan The nine-member committee will be chaired by Muhammad Aurangzeb Minister for Finance & Revenue and includes Sardar Awais Ahmad Khan Leghari Minister for Power Division; Musadik Masood Malik, Minister for Water Resources; Rngr Amir Muqam, Minister for Kashmir Affairs & GilgitBaltistan; the Secretary of the Ministry of Kashmir Affairs & Gilgit-Baltistan; Engineer Mohammad Ismail Minister for Finance GB; Engineer Mohammad Anwar Minister for Agriculture GB; Fateullah Khan Chairman BOI GB; and the Chief Secretary Gilgit-Baltistan The committee s mandate includes making recommendations on financial matters, net hydel profits, establishment of new districts, the electricity crisis and the wheat subsidy It is expected to submit its report to the Prime Minister within 30 days providing a comprehensive roadmap for addressing the issues faced by the people of Gilgit-Baltistan Chief Minister Haji Gulbar Khan welcomed the formation of the committee, expressing gratitude to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif for his prompt response He assured the people of Gilgit-Baltistan that his government would work tirelessly to implement the committee’s recommendations and resolve the region s long-standing issues This committee represents a significant step towards addressing the challenges of Gilgit-Baltistan and ensuring its economic and social development The people of Gilgit-Baltistan have long faced challenges related to financial matters, electricity crisis, and wheat subsidies and this committee offers a hopeful solution The establishment of this committee underscores the Prime Minister s commitment to addressing the issues faced by Gilgit-Baltistan and promoting the region s development and prosperity PM constitutes committee to resolve issues of Gilgit-Baltistan under finance minister RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T General Syed Asim Munir Chief of Army Staff (COAS) is currently on an official visit to Germany according to a statement issued on Thursday by the Inter-Service Public Relations (ISPR), the military s media wing During his visit, General Munir was welcomed by General Carsten Breuer, Chief of Defence at the Federal Ministry of Defence where an Honour Guard ceremony by the German Armed Forces was held in his honour The army chief also held discussions with Lieutenant General Alfons Mais, Chief of the German Army and toured the Army Combat Training Centre in Gardelegen Here he was briefed on the centre s various facets and observed the training being conducted for both the German Army and international contingents The COAS witnessed a demonstration on urban warfare and inspected different training facilities The visit included high-level meetings with key civilian officials General Munir met Mr Jens Plötner Foreign Policy and Security Advisor to the Federal Chancellor, Mr Tobias Linder, Minister of State for Foreign Affairs, and Mr Nils Hilmer State Secretary at the Ministry of Defence Discussions focused on matters of mutual interest according to the statement The German leadership acknowledged Pakistan Army s role in the fight against terrorism and its efforts to maintain peace and stability in the region, the ISPR statement noted General Munir is also scheduled to visit the German Armed Forces Command & Staff College in Hamburg There he will address students from various countries discussing Pakistan s regional and international security perspectives and the contributions of Pakistan Armed Forces in United Nations missions COA S m e e t s c i v i l - m i l i t a r y l e a d e r s h i p d u r i n g G e r m a ny v i s i t Atta
’embarrassing’ photo session
Tehran draws criticism ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif landed in Tehran earlier today to pay respects to late President Raisi who passed away days earlier in an unfortunate helicopter crash After landing at the airport Shehbaz Sharif made his way out of the plane to be greeted by individuals from the Iran government At this moment Federal Minister for Information Attaullah Tarar, seemingly morphed into the PM s personal photographer, as he aggressively started taking pictures and videos of the PM’s arrival from every possible angle in an almost cartoonish fashion Tarar s antics drew the ire of netizens who described the episode as humiliating shameful and embarrassing In a tweet on X (formerly twitter) a user said Tarar was described as Information minister cum personal photographer ’ However some users had a different take on the incident Apart from pointing out that Tarar displayed humbleness by takingin the role of photographing the PM as a Federal Minsiter there is an aspect of cost saving by taking up dual roles Much of the criticism is coming from PTI circles that miss no opportunity to berate Tarar due to his very public rivalry with members of the party But the PTI itself has had a similar moment of overzealous photography of the party leadership by senior members Faisal Javed who is sometimes referred to as PTI founder Imran Khan s announcer due to his colorful hosting of PTI jalsas He can be seen in the picture below snapping a picture of Imran Khan in an awkward fashion similar to Tarar ’s “The amount of angles you took picture from if you had instead appeared
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