WORLD COURT ORDERS ISRAEL TO HALT ASSAULT ON GA Z A’S RAFAH
physical destruction in whole or in part he said
The court also ordered Israel to open the Rafah crossing between Egypt and Gaza to allow in humanitarian aid and said it must provide access to the besieged enclave for investigators and report back on its progress within one month
The order was adopted by the panel of 15 judges from around the world in a 13-2 vote, opposed only by judges from Uganda and Israel itself It was handed down a week after it was requested by South Africa as part of a case accusing Israel of genocide
The ICJ is the highest UN body for hearing disputes between states Its rulings are final and binding but have been ignored in the past The court has no enforcement powers
Outside a small group of pro-Palestinian demonstrators waved flags and
ISLAMABAD
played a rap on a boom box calling for a free Palestine Israel has repeatedly dismissed the case s accusations of genocide as baseless arguing in court that its operations in Gaza are self-defence and targeted at Hamas fighters who attacked Israel on October 7 An Israeli government spokesman said on the eve of Friday’s decision that no power on Earth will stop Israel from protecting its citizens and going after Hamas in Gaza Israel launched its assault on the southern city of Rafah this month, forc-
ing hundreds of thousands of Palestinians to flee a city that had become a refuge to around half of the population s 2 3 million people Rafah on Gaza s southern edge has also been the main route in for aid, and international organisations say the Israeli operation has cut off the enclave and raised the risk of famine South Africa’s lawyers asked the ICJ last week to impose emergency measures saying Israel s attacks on Rafah must be stopped to ensure the survival of the Palestinian people
IHC summons law minister, ISI, MI, IB officials in poet abduction case
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P
The Islamabad High Court (IHC) on Friday ordered live broadcast of all cases involving missing persons and summoned several high-ranking officials to appear in person on May 29 in the case of missing poet Ahmed Farhad Shah
During the hearing, journalists informed the court about the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) notification
The court permitted the reporting of the proceedings, underscoring the significance of the case Shah, a journalist and poet, went missing from his home in Islamabad on May 14
Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani issued an eight-page written order in Urdu, demanding the appearance of the Federal Minister for Law, the Sector Commander of Inter-Services Intelligence (ISI) the Military Intelligence (MI) Director the Director of Intelligence Bureau (IB) and the secretaries of defence and interior
The court s directive stated that if the abducted individual is recovered before the next hearing a written report must be submitted to the Registrar s Office This marks the first time the Islamabad High Court has issued a written order in Urdu, authored by Justice Kayani
On Tuesday, the IHC ordered
the recovery of missing poet by May 24, accepting the attorney general for Pakistan s (AGP) request for additional time for this purpose
At the outset of the hearing the AGP requested an extension of two to four days for Shah s recovery assuring the court that the law enforcement agencies would be able to locate him within the timeframe
The court granted the requested extension with Justice Kayani questioning whether or not the AGP had given the assurance after consultation with the federal government The AGP replied that he had the federal government s complete backing
The petitioner ’s lawyer Imaan Mazari expressed frustration over the recurring instances of individuals being forcibly disappeared It always happens, they pick up people and then say that we
don t have them she added She continued that it was not just one case and emphasised that she represented such matters every day Mazari then pressed the AGP on progress made in the past six days in Shah s case suggesting that if the agencies were not involved, the kidnappers should at least be traceable
Commenting on the absence of the defence secretary she contended that he had never appeared in court whenever he was summoned Justice Kayani stressed the need to finish this culture
If a prime minister can appear before the court, everyone else can do so as well ” he added noting that nobody was higher in rank than the premier
The AGP assured the court that all resources would be used to track down the missing poet
In par
Profit S a t u r d a y, 2 5 M a y, 2 0 2 4 I | 1 6 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 5 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 G H U L A M A B B A S The wheat import scandal stemming from the decision by the interim government to allow the free import of wheat by the private sector has finally reached a conclusion The scandal which led to widespread protests and criticism from farmers has concluded its investigation with the suspension of five officials for 120 days: former Additional Secretary Incharge of the Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MNFSR) Capt Retd Muhammad Asif; Food Security Commissioner-II Imtiaz Ali Gopang; and Allah Ditta Abid, former Director General of the Department of Plant Protection (DPP) Additionally Dr Waseem ul Hassan Food Security Commissioner-I and Director Sohail who were not directly involved in the wheat import policy, were also suspended based on the inquiry committee s recommendations Director Sohail, who has never held the position of Director General in the DPP was suspended without clear reasons Insiders claim that additional recommendations were made to obscure the issue protecting the real culprits in the government while using irrelevant officers as scapegoats Insiders also revealed that the presence of Mr Imtiaz Ali Gopand, Food Security Commissioner-II in the meeting held in the Prime Minister office and chaired by Mian Shehbaz Sharif pertaining to wheat crises on 21st May along with the Secretary MNoFSR Dr Muhammad Fakhar Alam Irfan and the Federal Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain, irked Mian Shehbaz Sharif Witnessing Gopang in the meeting, the Prime Minister got angry and questioned Mr Asad Rehman Gilani the principal secretary why the official has not been suspended so far despite being responsible for a wheat crisis in the country The gentleman could not explain the reason in the meeting Even though he explained later that he had drafted the summary as dictated and desired by the former additional secretary incharge MNFSR Capt Retd Muhammad Mehmood Later the Principal Secretary instructed the Secretary Establishment to issue suspension orders of Capt Retd Muhammad Asif and Dr Waseem ul Hassan FSC-I two officers from the MNFSR and Mr Allah Ditta Abid and Mr Sohail two officers from the DPP in addition to Mr Imtiaz Ali Gopang, Food Security Commissioner-I Sources claimed that a senior member of the preliminary inquiry committee constituted by the Prime Minister on April 29 2024 excluded Capt Retd Muhammad Mehmood from the list of key accused This was allegedly done to protect him and divert attention from the real culprits The investigation, which lasted over a month did not summon any officials from the caretaker government nor Capt Retd Muhammad Mehmood the former Additional Secretary Incharge who initiated the wheat import summary This raised questions about the impartiality of the inquiry Critical questions remain unanswered: who initiated the wheat import summary from MNFSR during the interim period? Why did the Finance Division support private sector wheat imports instead of importing through the Trading Corporation of Pakistan (TCP)? Why was regulatory duty-free import allowed even after the shortfall was addressed? Why did the newly elected government not take action before the wheat crisis escalated? Why was Capt Retd Muhammad Mehmood not suspended? The import of surplus wheat caused the local market to crash forcing farmers to sell their wheat at lower prices Farmers in Punjab in particular are facing hardship due to decreased government procurement and plummeting prices, which have dropped to Rs 3000 per maund It is feared that the inquiry committee by penalizing a few seemingly uninvolved officials attempted to shield the real culprits in the wheat scandal who are close to the current administration Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif had ordered an investigation into the continued wheat imports post-February 2024, demanding a report within a week However the terms of reference were later expanded prolonging the investigation Documents reveal that the decision to allow duty-free wheat imports by the private sector without restrictions on volume and timelines was made by the caretaker government on the proposal of Capt Retd Muhammad Mehmood The Ministry of National Food Security and Research (MoNFS&R) had estimated a shortfall of 2 4 million metric tons, but Pakistan reportedly imported around 3 6 million metric tons resulting in a surplus of 1 2 million metric tons This surplus combined with the arrival of wheat during the domestic peak season, disrupted provincial procurement targets, leading to widespread farmer protests Historically, the Punjab Food Department procures 7 to 8 million tons of wheat in total but currently has around 2 5 million tons in stock Their failure to meet procurement targets has exacerbated the crisis The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KPK) government offered to buy wheat directly from farmers, but the Punjab government refused These factors have made the inquiry controversial and raised doubts about the credibility of the committee and the government s actions g F I V E O F F I C I A L S F R O M M N O FS R S U S P E N D E D O V E R A L LO W I N G O F W H E AT I M P O R T I N 2 0 2 3 Wheat Impor t Scandal: Caretaker gover nment cleared, officials blamed PR OFIT M O N I T O R I N G D E S K Pakistan and Saudi Arabia have reached a preliminary agreement for Islamabad to sell a 15% share of its holdings in the Reko Diq mining project to Saudi investors This move comes as Barrick Gold Corporation a key stakeholder in the project declined to divest its shares in this multibillion-dollar venture The divestment will adjust Pakistan s total share in the project from 50% down to 35%, according to a report by The News The provincial government of Balochistan will maintain its 25% stake while the share held by Pakistan s federal government s State-Owned Enterprises (SOEs) will decrease from 25% to 10% This development positions Pakistan as a minority shareholder, a change that, according to official sources, is manageable given Pakistan’s prior experience with joint ventures in various sectors including telecommunications and banking Officials reassured that protective clauses in the current Reko Diq agreement would prevent Barrick Gold from making unilateral decisions, particularly concerning significant investments These provisions ensure that Pakistan can intervene if necessary, maintaining some level of control over the project’s direction The anticipated deal comes at a critical time as Pakistan s investment-to-GDP ratio has hit a historic low over the past 50 years The involvement of Saudi Arabia is expected to boost the investment climate significantly Top government officials indicated that an official announcement regarding the agreement is expected in the coming weeks This deal is part of a broader strategy to enhance foreign investment with Saudi Arabia expressing interest in increasing its stakes further in the future Additionally, the signing of the Free Trade Agreement (FTA) with the Gulf Cooperation Council (GCC) which includes a Bilateral Investment Treaty (BIT) providing international arbitration rights is set to reinforce this investment framework High-level visits between Pakistan and Saudi Arabia, including recent trips by Pakistan s Chief of Army Staff and a Saudi minister to Pakistan, have been instrumental in advancing these multibillion-dollar investment discussions With the ratification of the FTA and BIT awaiting final signatures Pakistan has agreed to a structured process for resolving investment disputes, incorporating an obligatory eight-month domestic resolution period before escalating to international arbitration forums such as the Permanent Court of Arbitration (PCA) or International Centre for Settlement of Investment Disputes (ICSID) Reko Diq project sees major shift as Pakistan agrees to sell 15% stake to Saudi Arabia g PRELIMINARY DEAL STRUCK FOR SAUDI ACQUISITION OF REKO DIQ STAKES, WITH OFFICIAL ANNOUNCEMENT EXPECTED SOON
tnership with
THE HAGUE A G E N C I E S J U D G E S at the top United Nations court ordered Israel on Friday to halt its military assault on the southern Gaza city of Rafah in a landmark emergency ruling on South Africa s case accusing Israel of genocide Reading out the ruling by the International Court of Justice (ICJ), the body s president Nawaf Salam said the situation in the Palestinian enclave had deteriorated since the court last ordered Israel to take steps to improve it Conditions had been met for a new emergency order The state of Israel shall immediately halt its military offensive, and any other action in the Rafah governorate, which may inflict on the Palestinian group in Gaza conditions of life that could bring about its
R T
O
S TA F F R E P O R T Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday welcomed the decision of the International Court of Justice (ICJ) on a petition filed against genocide in Palestine The prime minister paid tributes to the courage of the 13 ICJ judges who made the decision and thanked South Africa for filing the petition In a statement, he reiterated Pakistan s support for the Palestinians and pledged to continue fighting for their rights He said Pakistan had extended support to the petition filed by South Africa The prime minister called upon the United Nations Security Council and the international community to immediately implement the International Court’s decision to stop the Israeli operation in Gaza He also urged the international community to ensure the provision of humanitarian aid and relief to the people of Palestine, besides providing immediate access to the United Nations investigation commission to Gaza and Rafah Pakistan would continue to play its role in protecting the basic human and legal rights of the Palestinian people, the prime minister assured PM lauds Ireland’s decision to recognize Palestine as independent state Meanwhile Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif praised the Government of Ireland s recent decision to recognize Palestine as an independent state P M w e l c o m e s I n t ’ l C o u r t ’ s r u l i n g , I r e l a n d ’ s r e c o g n i t i o n o f Pa l e s t i n e PR OFIT N E W S D E S K Pakistani authorities and the International Monetary Fund (IMF) team made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) on a comprehensive economic policy and reform program that can be supported under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) At the request of the Pakistani authorities an IMF team, led by Nathan Porter, the IMF s Mission Chief to Pakistan, visited Islamabad during May 13-23, 2024, to discuss Pakistan’s plans for a home-grown economic program that can be supported under the IMF’s Extended Fund Facility the IMF said in a press statement Building on the economic stabilisation achieved through the successful completion of the 2023 Standby Arrangement the IMF and the Pakistani authorities made significant progress toward reaching a Staff Level Agreement (SLA) on a comprehensive economic policy and reform program that can be supported under an Extended Fund Facility (EFF) ” Porter said in a statement at the end of the visit The authorities reform program aims to move Pakistan from economic stabilisation to strong inclusive and resilient growth To achieve this, the authorities plan to continue to strengthen public finances to reduce vulnerabilities by improving domestic revenue mobilisation through fairer taxation while scaling up spending for human capital social protection and climate resilience; secure energy sector viability including reforms to reduce the high cost of energy; continue progress towards low and stable inflation by appropriate monetary and exchange rate policies; improve public service provision through state-owned enterprise (SOE) restructuring and privatization; and promote private sector development by securing a level-playing field for investment and stronger governance th statement added
IMF make significant progress on staff-level agreement’ C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03
ORDERS OPENING OF RAFAH CROSSING TO ALLOW IN HUMANITARIAN AID, SAYING IT MUST PROVIDE INVESTIGATORS ACCESS TO BESIEGED ENCLAVE
ORDER ADOPTED BY PANEL OF 15 JUDGES FROM AROUND WORLD IN A 13-2 VOTE
‘Pakistan,
g
g
OGRA HIKES LNG PRICES BY 6.49% FOR MAY
S uccessful foreign tours
The decision was taken “to strengthen the Pakistani economy, support it and enhance cooperation between the two countries UAE s WAM news agency reported on Thursday Tarar during the press conference spoke about the role of Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC), which was established to attract investment in the country Without naming any particular party or individual he slammed the critics of the SIFC and termed them as those who wrote to the International Monetary Fund (IMF) against granting loan to Pakistan and running an antiGSP Plus campaign placing the country at risk of being cornered in the world on the economic front
The minister s comments came a day after Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif visited the gulf nation to meet with its President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan in Abu Dhabi on a day-long visit focused on inviting investments in Pakistan Tarar said the premier told the UAE that Pakistan does not need aid
You declared a person your redline our redline is SIFC, said Tarar, adding that the council is performing well
S t d y 25 M y 2024 | ISLAMABAD 02 NEWS ISLAMABAD a h m a D a h m a Da n i
H E Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) has increased the prices of Liquefied Natural Gas (LNG) by 0 86 per Million British Thermal Unit (MMBTU) for the month of May 2024 According to OGRA s notification the price of LNG has been raised by $0 80 per MMBTU for Sui Northern Gas Pipelines Limited (SNGPL) and the new price of LNG for SNGPL has been fixed at $13 74 per MMBTU LNG price for Sui Southern Gas Company (SSGC) has been jacked up by $0 86/MMBTU and the new price is set at $14 05 per MMBTU The increase in RLNG prices is mainly due to increase in DES (Delivered Ex-Ship) price,” said OGRA in a statement It is relevant to note that DES is a pricing mechanism that values LNG delivered at its final location Under such transactions ownership of LNG transfers to the buyer as it is unloaded at the receiving terminal As per sources of energy sector, the hike is aimed at maintaining the sustainability of LNG supplies and ensuring that the economic balance is maintained despite fluctuations in the international market The decision to increase LNG prices is driven by several factors, including the rising prices of LNG in the international market, fluctuations in supply and demand, and the need to ensure a steady and reliable supply of energy to meet the country’s growing needs OGRA s move is part of a broader strategy to adjust domestic energy prices in line with global trends, ensuring that the energy sector remains viable and sustainable It is pertinent to mention that consumers are expected to feel the impact of these increased price particularly in sectors heavily reliant on LNG The industrial sector, which uses LNG for various manufacturing processes, might see an uptick in production costs, potentially leading to higher prices for end consumers Similarly domestic users might experience increased utility bills as the new rates take effect
T
PSX’s KSE-100 surges past 76,000 mark Benchmark index witnesses bullish trend as investors reac t to IMF and UAE developments PR OFIT n e w S D e S k The Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) witnessed a bullish trend on Friday as investors reacted to the announcement of a $10 billion investment by the United Arab Emirates (UAE) and anticipation of an agreement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) According to the PSX website the benchmark KSE-100 index gained over 900 points and surged past the 76 000 level during the intraday trading After the opening bell, the benchmark KSE-100 index traded positively By 12:00 pm, the benchmark index rose by 956 44 points, or 1 27%, reaching 76 070 91 from the previous close of 75 114 47 Buying activity was observed across key sectors including automobile assemblers cement chemical commercial banks, oil and gas exploration companies, OMCs, and refineries On Thursday, the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced the allocation of $10 billion for investment in key economic sectors in Pakistan This announcement followed discussions between UAE President Sheikh Mohamed bin Zayed Al Nahyan and Prime Minister of Pakistan Shehbaz Sharif Pakistan authorities and the IMF made “significant progress” towards a staff-level agreement on a new program according to an IMF statement released on Friday The KSE-100 regained the 75 000 level on Thursday settling at 75 114 47 up by 157 8 points or 0 21% PR OFIT n e w S D e S k Economic analysts project a significant slowdown in Pakistan s headline inflation, with May 2024 figures expected to hit around 13 9% year-on-year This decline brings real interest rates to a noteworthy high of over 8% The expected decrease is largely due to a sharp drop in monthly prices and a favorable base effect from the previous year Analysts have observed a 1 4% decrease in monthly inflation, marking the second consecutive month of decline and a figure notably lower than the last 12-month average of 1 35% month-on-month This trend is anticipated to reduce the average annual inflation for the first 11 months of FY24 to 25 1% year-on-year a decrease from 29% in the corresponding period of FY23 Key contributors to the reduction in monthly inflation include a 440 basis point decrease in the Food index Significant price drops in commodities such as onions tomatoes chicken and wheat have driven this index down Additionally, the Transport index is also expected to decline, reflecting lower fuel prices Looking ahead projections suggest varying scenarios for annual inflation rates by the end of December 2024 based on different monthly consumer price increases: With a consistent monthly increase of 0 5%, annual inflation could drop to around 7 4% A monthly increase of 1% could see annual inflation decrease to approximately 11 7% Should monthly inflation continue at the last 12-month average of 1 35% annual inflation is projected to be about 14 8% PR OFIT n e w S D e S k Pakistan continues to attract significant foreign investment in Treasury Bills (TBills), with a net flow of $11 16 million recorded in the current month, according to the latest figures released by the State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) This investment follows a robust $25 64 million net inflow last month underscoring a growing confidence in Pakistan s financial stability and an attractive exchange rate The positive trend in investment has been consistent throughout the current fiscal year with the debt-laden country amassing a total net inflow of $168 14 million in T-Bills through the Special Convertible Rupee Accounts (SCRA) These accounts facilitate foreign and non-resident Pakistani investors to engage in local financial instruments including equities, government bonds, and Term Finance Certificates (TFCs) Highlighting the appeal of Pakistan’s T-Bills, the SBP noted that these instruments offer compelling returns of 21 60% for three-month bills 21 29% for six months and 20 41% for 12month tenures Payments on these investments are made in Pakistani rupees (PKR), further benefiting from the stable exchange rate currently observed The SCRA mechanism allows the seamless conversion of foreign funds into Pakistani rupees providing an efficient channel for international investments into the country s burgeoning financial market
inflation to drop to 14% YoY in M ay KP govt presents Rs 1.7 trn budget for FY2024-25; proposes 10% increase in salaries, pensions g A N N U A L I N F L AT I O N R AT E CO U L D VA R Y B E T W E E N 7 4 % TO 1 4 8 % B Y D E C E M B E R 2 0 2 4 , B A S E D O N M O N T H LY CO N S U M E R P R I C E I N C R E A S E S g ATTRACTIVE RETURNS ON T-BILLS FUEL FOREIGN INVESTOR INTEREST IN PAKISTAN, WITH RATES UP TO 21 6% g R AT E S R I S E TO $13 74/ M M BT U F O R S N G P L A N D $14 05/ M M BT U F O R S S G C E F F E C T I V E M AY 2024 Pa ki s t a n s e e s $ 1 1 m i n fl ow f ro m fo re i g n i nve s to r s i n to T- B i l l s i n M ay Cnergyico Pk Ltd announces resumption of refinery operations LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Cnergyico Pk Limited, a key player in Pakistan’s energy sector, has officially announced the resumption of its refinery operations starting May 25th 2024 The announcement was made in a formal communication to the Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) and subsequently shared with the Pakistan Stock Exchange (PSX) on Friday The notice, sent by Cnergyico s Manager of Customer Services, Shaikh M Omer referenced a previous communication from May 14th which initially informed the Ministry of Energy about the temporary shutdown The resumption marks a significant step in stabilising the company s operations and contributing to the local economy Majid Muqtadir, Company Secretary of Cnergyico, outlined in the disclosure to the PSX that the company has fulfilled all necessary legal obligations under the Securities Act of 2015 and the rules of the PSX He emphasised the importance of this move for stakeholders and TRE Certificate Holders of the Exchange The refinery’s operations are crucial for meeting local demand for refined petroleum products and this restart is expected to have a positive impact on supply chains and pricing in the region ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o
visits being made by the new administration
attract investment
and boost the economy
we go, we talk about
and trade We
talk about loans or grants
said the minis-
addressing a presser
Islamabad
by Commerce Minister Jam Kamal
Headline
R t A day after the United Arab Emirates (UAE) announced a $10 billion investment allocation for Pakistan, Information Minister Ataullah Tarar stated on Friday that the government’s adversaries were unable to accept the successful
to
opportunities
Wherever
investment
don’t
”
ter
in
flanked
H e a d d e d t h a t t h e S I F C i s a j o i n t e ff o r t o f P M S h e h b a z a n d a r m y c h i e f G e n e r a l A s i m M u n e e r t o s a v e t h e c o u n t r y f r o m d e f a u l t SIFC
the lifeline
T h e g o v e r n m e n t i s p r o v i d i n g f a v o u r a b l e e n v i r o n m e n t f o r f o r e i g n investors ” he maintained Tarar maintained that the UAE government has confidence in Islamabad as one success after another is being witnessed on the diplomatic front
whole world is witnessing the seriousness of the government’s behaviour
said the information minister adding that the world believes in Pakistan s immense capabilities and resources Meanwhile, Commerce Minister Kamal termed PM Shehbaz s UAE visit “historic”, stating that the government is working to improve economic development and encouraging foreign companies to invest in Pakistan He also acknowledged the role of Pakistan s own business community as key in improving the country s economy Kamal added that Islamabad was preparing for the UAE investment with many projects already discussed “[We are] working in energy trade and other sectors on a daily basis
is
of Pakistan
The
”
PR OFIT ag e n c i e S The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minister for Finance Aftab Alam on Friday presented Rs 1754 billion annual budget for the fiscal year 2024-25 with a surplus of Rs 100 billion The government has projected Rs 1,654 billion expenses, said the minister during budget speech in the assembly here, adding that as per the instructions of the Chief Minister Ali Ameen Gandapur the budget 202425 mainly focused on social protection peace employment opportunities and economic development The government has proposed 10 percent increase in both salaries and pension of the government employees and increase minimum wage from Rs 32000 to 36000 While giving details of the budget 202425 he said that the KP government anticipated receiving a total 1754 billion under different heads during the fiscal year 202425 including 1212 036 billion from the federal government under Federal Tax Assignment one percent of divisible pool on war on terror Straight Transfer under the head of royalties and surcharge on oil and gas windfall levy and net hydel profit He said that the KP province considerably improve its income during the last few years and had chalked out a mobilization plan and fixed a target of achieving Rs 93 5 billion revenue for the fiscal year 2024-25 He said the KP government has decided to improve tax net instead of increasing the taxes and for the purpose several steps have taken including reforms in sales tax, property tax, tobacco tax, cess and other taxes The government has decreased the sales tax ratio on different online services in the budget adding that the tax has reduced on hotels from eight percent to six percent and bound the hotels to use Restaurant Invoice Management System Similarly, fixed sales tax rate has been proposed for wedding halls Aftab said the government has also given relief in property tax and reduced the tax amount on per kanal for factories form Rs 13600 to 10 000 The tax on commercial property which was 16 percent of the monthly rent previously has been reduced to 10 percent and five percent for private hospital medical s t o r e s a n d o t h e r b u s i n e s s e s r e l a t e d t o health sector Additionally the government proposed to increase tobacco development cess to increase income on the production of tobacco, he said and informed the house that the government has reduced provincial tax from 6 5 percent to 3 5 percent on transfer of properties The government has earmarked Rs 362 7 billion for education sector including Rs 35 8billion for higher education and Rs 326 9billion for elementary and secondary education with an increase of 13 percent Similarly Rs 228 8 billion has been allocated for health sector with an increase of 14 percent Rs 140 6 billion for peace and order in the province with an increase of 15 percent, Rs 60 5 billion for roads and infrastructure with an increase of 03 percent, Rs 8 1 billion for social welfare with an increase of 06 percent Rs two billion for mineral with an increase of two percent Rs 7 5 billion for industry and commerce with an increase of 17 percent Rs 9 6 billion for tourism with an increase of 25 percent, Rs 28 6 billion for agriculture with an increase of 54 percent and Rs 30 8 billion for energy sector with an increase of 67 percent The current expenditure for the settled districts for the fiscal year 2024-25 was estimated Rs 1093 087 billion including provincial salaries, Health MTIs salary budget, Tehsil Salary, pension and nonsalary expenditures of health MTIs, Tehsil, capital expenditure and ways and means Similarly the current expenditure for the merged districts was estimated Rs 144 628 billion including provincial salary, Tehsil salary, pension, non-salary, temporarily displaced persons and non salary expenditure of Tehsils The government has allocated Rs 416 284 billion for development expenditures for settled and merged districts including Rs 120 billion for Provincial Annual Development Program, Rs 24 billion for district annual development program, Rs 36 billion for merged districts annual development program Rs 79 286 billion for Accelerated Implementation program (AIP), Rs 130 587billion for foreign project assistance and Rs 26 411 billion for federal PSDP The minister said that the budget 202425 was not just a budget document rather it was also a road map for development and prosperity of the province and also reflection of the government s strong resolve to uphold social justice, gender equality At the end he thanked the finance department, planning and development in drafting the budget document within very short span of time g G O V T F O R E C A S T S E X P E N S E S AT R S 1 6 T R I L L I O N , C H O O S E S TO B R O A D E N TA X B A S E O V E R I N T R O D U C I N G N E W TA X E S Pakistan’s border crossing with Iran at Taftan, Gabd to remain open 24/7 ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Pakistani Ambassador to Iran Muhammad Mudassir Tipu announced on Friday that Pakistan s border crossing with Iran at Taftan and Gabd will remain open 24/7 to promote business between the neighbouring countries Calling it a big step forward, the ambassador said it would hopefully sharply increase the flow of goods between the two countries and consequently widen economic opportunities Pakistan and Iran on April 24 reiterated the importance of energy cooperation and electricity trade, despite the warning of potential sanctions hinted at by the United States following the then Iranian president Seyyed Ebrahim Raisi’s three-day visit to Pakistan Agreeing to turn the common border between the two states from a border of peace to a border of prosperity , both countries had reiterated the importance of cooperation in the energy domain, including trade in electricity, power transmission lines and Iran-Pakistan gas pipeline project During Raisi’s visit to Pakistan both sides had underscored the imperative of a long-term durable economic partnership and collaborative regional economic and connectivity model, particularly for socio-economic development in Iran’s Sistan-Balochistan and Pakistan’s Balochistan provinces This was stated by the Foreign Office in a 28-point joint statement hours after the Iranian head of state had departed for Tehran from Karachi The two sides had reviewed the entire spectrum of Pakistan-Iran bilateral relations, exchanged views on regional and global issues of mutual concern, and signed multiple accords The two countries as per the statement had agreed to expeditiously finalise the free trade agreement (FTA) and boost their bilateral trade to $10 billion over the next five years through joint economic projects, setting up of joint border markets, economic free zones, and new border openings There was consensus to fully operationalise barter trade mechanisms between the two sides to facilitate economic and commercial activity particularly under ongoing collaborative endeavours, such as border sustenance markets Regarding connectivity, the two sides had expressed satisfaction over the regular shipment of goods under the TIR Convention and agreed to fully operationalize the Convention for further efficient speedy and barrier-free trade
are hard for govt rivals to accept, says Tarar
IHC, LHC ISSUE NOTICES ON PLEAS CHALLENGING PEMRA BAN ON T V REPORTING OF COURT PROCEEDINGS
g LHC, HOWEVER, TURNS DOWN PLEA FOR IMMEDIATE ACTION TO SUSPEND NOTIFICATION
TLHC
against any TV Channel, provided the notification is adhered to and followed in letter and spirit ” It ordered that notices be issued to the respondent
and adjourned the hearing till May 28 PEMRS NOTIFICATION: According to a notification issued by the electronic media regulator on Tuesday television channels were directed to refrain from airing tickers/headlines with regard to 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-judice matters which could prejudice their determination by a court or tribunal could be aired
The ban came amid strong remarks
KP chief minister lauds, opposition criticises provincial budget 2024-25
made by Islamabad High Court (IHC) senior puisne judge Justice Mohsin Akhtar Kayani about 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 pub-
127,200,000), while Iqbal faces a steeper charge of PKR 95 94 crore (PKR 959 420 000) in connection with the wheat cargo distribution PASSCO has taken swift action suspending both Zonal Heads and revoking their charges The FIA investigation is ongoing to determine the full extent of the alleged embezzlement and identify any potential accomplices
Injured Ghotki journalist succumbs to his wounds KARACHI
S TA F F R E P O R T
A journalist of a Sindhi newspaper known for his bold reporting against feudal lords and waderas, who was seriously injured in a gun attack a few days ago, succumbed to his wounds at a hospital in Karachi on Friday morning Journalist Nasrullah Gadani was left fighting for his life after he suffered serious gunshot wounds in the attack by unidentified assailants near Mirpur Mathelo in Ghotki district on Tuesday last The motorcycle-riding armed men were waiting for Nasrullah Gadani and sprayed him with bullets near Kori Goth 12 kilometres from Mirpur Mathelo when he was on way to the town on his motorcycle at around 11:00 am Gadani, who received three bullets, was first rushed to Shaikh Zayed Hospital in Rahimyar Khan but later he was shifted to Aga Khan Hospital in Karachi However, he breathed his last on Friday morning Local journalists in Ghotki said that Gadani, who worked for the daily Awami Awaz and also disseminated his news reports through social media was known for being a bold journalist for his reports against local feudal lords and political personalities, waderas and government officers which were not only published in his newspaper but were also uploaded on his social media accounts No one had personal enmity with him but many were annoyed at his journalistic style, they said Police brought Gadani who had suffered critical gunshot wounds to his abdomen and lungs to Mirpur Mathelo hospital where doctors provided him emergency medical aid and immediately sent him to Shaikh Zayed Medical College Hospital Rahimyar Khan for surgery
development projects
within the stipulated
Minister further
also
S hibli Faraz slams ruling PML-N for CDA raid on PTI central office
Senator Shibli Faraz of the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) came down hard on the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) on Friday stating that a wave of fascism has swept the country due to the incumbent government s undemocratic tactics
During a Senate session chaired Deputy Chairman Syedaal Khan Nasar, the PTI leader spoke about the recent arrests of party leaders and a raid on party’s central office in Islamabad He denounced these actions and demanded immediate release of his colleagues Faraz said that despite the government s attempts to suppress PTI politically the party s popularity remains
strong He warned the ruling PML-N against using undemocratic tactics In response, Law Minister and Senator Azam Nazeer Tarar clarified that the Capital Development Authority (CDA) acted in accordance with the law Tarar said he obtained the facts from the Capital Development Authority (CDA) adding that a Senate standing committee had instructed the CDA to expedite action against encroachments in the capital
The minister mentioned that the initial notice was served on the PTI in 2020 and subsequent reminders were sent, adding that the action of sealing the PTI office was initiated after a notice on May 10 Opposition members interrupted the law minister’s speech during the session Later the session was indefinitely adjourned
PM welcomes Int ’l Cour t ’s ruling, Ireland ’s recognition of Palestine
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The prime minister during a telephonic conversation with his Irish counterpart Simon Harris felicitated him on his assumption of office and remarked that his youth and dynamism would bring major changes in Ireland
He said Ireland s decision would send a message of hope and solidarity to the innocent Palestinians who were suffering Israel’s brutal atrocities “It would also go a long way in promoting the Palestine cause and would urge other countries to follow Ireland
The prime minister added that Pakistan had always advocated that a two-state solution in accordance with the relevant UN resolutions, was the only way to bring lasting peace to the Middle East
He reaffirmed Pakistan’s strong commitment to the just struggle of the Palestinian people and lauded the decision of the International Court of Justice to order Israel to stop its assault on Gaza and Rafah
He also expressed the hope that the oppressed people of Kashmir would receive similar attention from
the international community as they too had been enduring a brutal occupation and denial of fundamental human rights for the last seven decades
Prime Minister Simon Harris said that Ireland had taken a principled decision in consultation with other European allies because the extent of Israel’s military action in Gaza could no longer be condoned in any way The Ireland felt that the decision was necessary to promote normalization in the occupied territories
The two leaders exchanged views on bilateral ties between Pakistan and Ireland, and expressed their common desire to strengthen cooperation in areas of mutual interest
The prime minister lauded the Irish decision to open its resident mission in Pakistan and said that the new mission along with Pakistan s mission in Dublin would play a vital role in promoting bilateral trade, investment and people-to-people exchanges
He also extended a cordial invitation to Prime Minister Simon Harris to undertake an official visit to Pakistan
World Cour t orders Israel to halt assault on G aza’s Rafah
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A decision against Israel could heap more diplomatic pressure on the government of Prime Minister Benjamin Netanyahu The chief prosecutor of the International Criminal Court (ICC) – a separate court also based in The Hague – announced on Monday he had filed an application for arrest warrants against Netanyahu and Defense Minister Yoav Gallant as well as leaders of Hamas Prosecutor Karim Khan accused Netanyahu and Gallant of crimes including extermination using hunger as a weapon and deliberately attacking civilians Israel strongly denied those charges and called on allies to repudiate the court
South Africa s wider case at the ICJ accuses Israel of orchestrating a state-led genocide against the Palestinian people The ICJ has not ruled on the substance of that accusation – this could take years – but has rejected Israel’s demand to throw the case out In previous rulings the court ordered Israel to prevent acts of genocide against the Palestinians and allow aid to flow into Gaza while stopping short of ordering a
03 NEWS Saturday 25 May 2024 | ISLAMABAD ISLAMABAD/LAHORE
TA
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H E Islamabad and Lahore high courts on Friday issued notices to respondents on multiple petitions challenging a Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority’s (Pemra) notification barring reporting and airing of content on sub-judice matters
Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh took up the separate petitions filed by Advocate Samra Malik and Hafiz Muhammad Zainul Abdin and clubbed them for hearing As proceedings began on Friday, the petitioners urged the court to immediately suspend the Pemra notification However the court rejected the plea to the extent of immediate action and issued notices to the respondents, including Pemra In its written order, a copy of which is
available with Dawn com, Justice Sheikh noted that the pleas raised “important questions of law requiring determination by interpreting various articles of the Constitution and other laws Issuing a notice to Attorney General of Pakistan (AGP) Mansoor Usman Awan for court assistance, the judge adjourned the hearing till May 29 Meanwhile IHC Chief Justice Aamer Farooq conducted the hearing for the joint petition The written order a copy of which is available with Dawn com said: No coercive measure shall be taken
lic domain Pemra had subsequently barred reporting on court proceedings Two petitions were filed a day ago in the Lahore High Court (LHC) and a joint petition in the IHC LHC HEARING: At the outset of the hearing in the LHC, the counsel for the electronic media regulator contended that Pemra had issued the notification in accordance with the law The counsel further argued that since Pemra s head office was in Islamabad the jurisdiction for the case lay with the IHC rather than the LHC To this, petitioner Abdin s counsel Advocate Azhar Siddique replied that the LHC had jurisdiction to hear the petition No complaint had been made to Pemra that sought a ban on airing court proceedings on television Siddique claimed He asserted that tickers and headlines of court proceedings were prepared as per Pemra rules and regulations “Pemra has a Council of Complaints if court proceedings are misreported, Siddique said In case of wrongful judicial action the concerned court can proceed with contempt of court So far no case of incorrect reporting has surfaced ” he said “If a court asks not to air those remarks that is obliged ” The counsel further said every citizen had the right to a fair trial Here, Justice Sheikh noted that when Article 19 of the Constitution (freedom of expression) was introduced so was the Right to Information Act (Article 19-A) The judge then rejected the petitions to the extent of immediately striking down the Pemra notification Subsequently, the LHC issued notices to the relevant parties including Pemra and adjourned the hearing till May 29
PESHAWAR A Z I Z B U N E R I Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister appreciated the Provincial Budget for year 2024-25 while the leader of the Opposition in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Assembly Dr Ibadullah criticized the provincial budget 2024-25 on Friday and termed the budget “based on assumptions” Chief Minister Ali Amin Khan Gandapur on Friday said that despite the difficult financial situation the provincial government prepared an excellent and public welfare budget 2024-25 according to the party vision We have presented a surplus budget of 100 billion rupees,” he said and appreciated the role of all the departments especially the finance and planning department in the regard The CM said that everyone has to work together to implement the public welfare and corrective measures included in the budget, all departments in this regard He emphasized on ensuring progress within stipulated time adding the budget was prepared after hectic efforts much and determination and hoped its implementation in letter and spirit by all the stakeholders Gandapur
tax net
He vowed to gradually use all the available legal options to collect the outstanding dues from the federal government under different heads Talking to media here in assem-
premises after the budget, he said the provincial government claimed that it had presented the budget while breaking the tradition while there was nothing new for the people in the budget
said that special attention was paid to increasing the revenue of the province and improving the efficiency of the departments For this purpose he said the throwforward of the annual development program was reduced from 13 years to six years which he said was great achievement of the provincial government He said this initiative would enable
to be completed
time The Chief
said that attention was
given to improving the governance to bring forward the sectors which were left behind due to any reason We are introducing such reforms that will prove better for the province and future generations , ” he noted He said the provincial taxes imposed on transfers of properties were reduced and expected same from the federal government He said that in the new provincial budget, measures had been proposed to keep the tax rate low while increasing the
The CM said that he would spend considerable funds from his own resources on the development of the merged districts
bly
ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T
halt to Israeli military operations Israel launched its air and ground war on Gaza after Hamas fighters stormed into southern Israeli communities, killing 1,200 people and seizing more than 250 hostages according to Israeli tallies More than 35 000 Palestinians have since been killed in the offensive Gaza s health ministry says
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz on Friday inaugurated Punjab’s largest Multan Road Interchange along with Ring Road Southern Loop (SL) 3 On the direction of CM Maryam Nawaz the toll tax on SL 3 has been waived off for one month and citizens can travel for free Punjab CM has also directed for immediate action on SL 4 project She also reviewed the road from Addaplot to Multan Road Interchange Minister for Communication Punjab Malik Sohaib gave the briefing about the project and highlighted that SL3 Multan Road Interchange was the biggest interchange of Punjab Maryam Nawaz underlined about the project vitality stating that traffic congestion within city will be reduced with SL 3 The traffic on Thokar and Canal road will be less crowded SL 3 Lahore is crucial for traffic management in Lahore Maryam Nawaz commended the performance of secretary construction and building and team Senior Provincial Minister Marriyyum Aurangzeb, MNA Afzal Khokhar Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman IG Punjab Dr Usman Anwar, Commissioner Zaid bin Maqsood, DC Rafia Haider and other officials attended the inauguration ceremony D E V E L O P M E N T, S O L U T I O N TO P R O B L E M S R I G H T O F P E O P L E’: Meanwhile Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said that every sector of public welfare was her government s priority CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif was talking with MNA Dr Shazra Mansab and former MNA Chaudhry Abid Raza Kotla, in a meeting in which development projects and public issues of Nankana Sahib and Gujarat were discussed The Punjab CM assured them to resolve public issues at the earliest She said: We will ensure the solution of public problems at all costs ” The CM apprised them that solid waste management and landfill sites will be established across the province She said that 2 500 primary health centers and 300 rural health centers are being revamped across the province ” Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif said ”State-of-the-art cardiology and peds units will be set up in district hospitals She added: We will ensure the provision of best treatment facilities in every district so that no one has to go to another city for treatment ” CM Mar yam inaugurates Multan Road Interchange KP announces Summer vacations in schools from June 1 PESHAWAR S TA F F R E P O R T The Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Education Department has announced summer vacations in schools across the province According to the notification, primary schools in the province will be closed from June 1st while middle high and higher secondary schools will be closed from June 15th to August 31st In the upper districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa schools will be closed from July 1st to August 31st Earlier, the Sindh Education Department also announced summer holidays in all private and public sector schools colleges According to the notification issued here summer holidays in all public and private institutions in Sindh will be observed from June 1 to July 31 Prior to this, the Punjab government announced early summer holidays for all public and private schools due to the prevailing heatwave According to a notification, all government and private schools in Punjab will be closed from May 25 till August 15 It is pertinent to mention here that the climate change ministry stated that about 26 districts across Pakistan were boiling under a severe heatwave as of Thursday, with the current spell of sizzling temperature likely to last until May 30 The temperature is expected to hit 50 Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in at least two cities in the southern province of Sindh on Friday which has already delayed week annual school exams due to the blistering heat Woman shot six times by unknown assailants in Lahore NEWS DESK On Wednesday a woman namely Zainab Jamil was shot by unknow assailants in an upscale neighborhood of Lahore She was rushed to a local private hospital in critical condition where she received treatment The incident took place in Phase 5 DHA commercial area near J block park during the day Zainab who owns and runs a beauty salon by the name Evolve by A&Z was exiting her establishment and walking towards her car when two unknown assailants approached her on a a motorcycle and open fired In a statement, Zainab, a former actress and model, suspects that her husband is behind the attack She appealed to CM Punjab to help apprehend the assailants who fled the scene of the crime and are still on the run According to police sources Zainab revealed that she had been receiving threats and believes the incident was orchestrated by her husband The police have registered a case and initiated a search for the culprits The police have registered a case against two unknown attackers based on a complaint by Zainab s uncle Zainab reportedly took six bullets one of which hit her face Disturbing and graphic video from the scene of the shooting show multiple people helping her to her car to be driven to a hospital PASSCO officials suspended, face FIA case over billion-rupee Bardana scam ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) has registered a corruption case against three Pakistan Agricultural Storage & Services Corporation (PASSCO) officials for alleged embezzlement exceeding one billion rupees (PKR 1,000,000,000) in a wheat distribution scam The case names General Manager Field Zahoor Ranjha Zonal Head Borewala Rao Akram and Zonal Head Bahawalnagar Gibran Iqbal FIA s investigation stems from a complaint filed by PASCO s Additional Director General, Shazia Altaf According to the charges, Ranjha and Akram are accused of misappropriating PKR 12 72 crore (PKR
While obviously good news, UAE’s investment commitment is short on specifics
UAE President Muhammad ibn Zayed AlNahyan’s commitment to invest $10 billion in Pakistan, made to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif on his visit there, is good news, though for the time being it is too short on specifics to make it possible to assess how far it will go to ameliorate the country s foreign exchange which brought it to the edge of default last year and which is still not over, what with Pakistan needing well over $30 billion a year for the foreseeable future to service its debt One result has been its pursuit of the IMF, with ever more stringent terms in each package
While the commitment of $10 billion would be a shot in the arm for the economy, which sector the money is to go to, seems yet to be determined This would mean a delay as it would require investors to consider If they knew which sector they were going to enter, it would reduce the delay, and if they had already selected a project, the delay would be reduced even further At the moment, though, it seems as if the UAE has decided not to make any further loans to Pakistan, but to make investments However, the investments to be made have yet to be determined
It appears that the UAE is following the Saudi lead in the matter of helping Pakistan Saudi Arabia is changing its economic relationship with Pakistan, turning it from a source of labour into an investment destination Now the UAE is following suit Pakistan should realize that expectations from Saudi Arabia and the UAE will change Previously, neither country was interested in Pakistan s internal situation That will change as both will now take a proprietary interest in it especially if at all it begins to affect their investments At the same time Pakistan, its politicians and perhaps most importantly its bureaucracy must realize that they will be dealing with investors who are used to being treated well in the world s most advanced companies It will be interesting to see how Saudi and Emirati investors meld with Chinese Pakistan is asking for a further expansion of CPEC to take in the Diamer-Bhasha Dam which implies that it wants to increase Chinese investment even as it welcomes investors from the Gulf
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami
O C I E T I E S have always been shaped more by the nature of the media by which men communicate than by the content of the communication” (M McLuhan) Social
media is getting popular day by day among the youth in Pakistan Social media in Pakistan is used for five purposes; breaking the stories that are ignored by news agencies; gathering people for public protest and campaigns; highlighting the issues related to humanity from around the world; campaigning for a social cause and removing the gap between citizens and government Social media are computer-mediated tools that allow people to create share or exchange information ideas pictures/videos in implicit communities and networks such as Facebook Twitter Instagram among others In the proposal, However, there is a destructive impact of social media on the various aspects of our lives and it can be used to create propagandas The people from the different domains use it to gain their desired result by creating propaganda Ffirst they create an issue then propagate it through social media to gain their desired result We must consider proposing feasible solutions to reduce these challenges and harness the potential of social media for positive social change and community development in our region Youth in Pakistan are using social media extensively which has resulted in a number of issues that are significantly affecting several facets of their lives The degradation of mental health is one of the biggest problems, since the constant onslaught of carefully chosen and edited content on social media can cause anxiety, low self-esteem, and feelings of inadequacy A culture of rivalry and superiority has been fostered by the pressure to project a flawless online persona
and the fear of missing out which has made people feel forced to compare their lives to those of others all the time Young Pakistanis are experiencing an increase in incidents of depression, anxiety disorders, and other mental health problems as a result of this Also, the ease with which misinformation and disinformation can be spread on social media has led to the proliferation of fake news which can have serious consequences including the manipulation of public opinion and the incitement of violence The youth of Pakistan are also vulnerable to cyberbullying, online harassment, and exploitation, which can have devastating effects on their emotional well-being and sense of security
Additionally, the excessive use of social media has been linked to a decline in face-to-face communication skills deepening the sense of isolation and loneliness among young people The lack of digital literacy and critical thinking skills among Pakistani youth also makes them susceptible to online scams, phishing, and other forms of cybercrime Perhaps most alarmingly, social media has become a platform for extremist ideologies and hate speech which can radicalize and mobilize young people towards violent and destructive causes As a result it is essential to address these challenges and develop strategies to mitigate the negative impacts of social media on the youth of Pakistan, while harnessing its potential for positive social change and community development To address the challenges arising from the extensive use of social media among the youth in Pakistan a comprehensive set of solutions spanning from micro to macro levels is essential At the micro-level
AF T E R centuries of promoting democracy and echoing Abraham Lincoln’s slogan “for the people by the people and of the people heavyweights in the Western political arena finally realize that what they have vigorously promoted is a failed theory They also realize that China s unwillingness to embrace the mantle of democracy was correct Consequently, they have now begun the transition from democracy to people’s autocracy a rule that may appear harsh or less refined but ultimately serves the interests of the people and the nation They have also come to understand that democracy s true meaning often manifests as demonstrations, mob attacks, and various forms of anarchist acts Over the past decade, the West has been advocating for authoritarian regimes in South Asia They disregard the will of the people and instead of maintaining equilibrium they engage in a pick and choose process The West is subtly dismantling democratic procedures In the Indian subcontinent, Imran Khan, a genuinely pro-people and popular leader in Pakistan, faced political ruin when he went against Western interests Similarly promising Congress leader Rahul Gandhi in India has seen his political career tarnished by Western conspiracies The world s largest democracy, India, is now under the authoritarian rule of the Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) In Bangladesh, the main opposition leader, Tareque Rahman, is being misled and enticed into making wrong political decisions by Western agents The West does not wish to see Bangladesh as a democratic country because a democratic South Asia would limit their opportunities to pursue their core interests
A closer examination of the democratic process in the West reveals that they have disregarded democratic values and are attempting to transform them into a people s autocratic system of governance In the USA Donald Trump became the first president to disregard the people s mandate and displayed unfortunate antidemocratic behavior His successor, incumbent President Joe Biden, has infringed upon freedom of expression and the right to non-violent protest Recently students professors and academic activists across the US came together to express solidarity with the Palestinians and demand an end to Israeli atrocities against Gaza residents However, the Biden Administration, with the assistance of university authorities, suppressed the peaceful protests and arrested thousands of students and professors Western taxpayers are ensnared in a conspiracy theory: for the nation s security Western political leaders are allocating billions of dollars to the defence industry While Western citizens do not desire war their leaders impose it upon the nation The West imposes war on Russia and utilizes Ukraine as a pawn to further its geopolitical interests against Russia The Russia-Ukraine war is nothing but a manifestation of Western hegemony The West uses Mr Zelenskyy as its mercenary to undermine Russia s economic and military power disregarding the unwavering suffering of the Ukrainian people Conversely Western leaders turn a blind eye to Israeli atrocities against Palestinians, supporting Israeli genocide in Gaza despite strong global condemnation In the current geopolitical landscape it is evident that Western leaders do not respect the will of the majority of Western citizens They are transitioning from democratic values to an authoritarian system The ongoing wars serve not for the peace of any nation but for the benefit of the Western military-industrial complex, prioritizing the interests of a few over the rest of the nation which contradicts democratic principles Examining the USA reveals a political system that lacks opportunities for the younger generation with invisible barriers preventing fresh faces in politics Both the Democratic and Republican parties are dominated by figures like Donald Trump and Joe Biden, leaving little room for alternatives
The USA and its allies support the Saudi monarchy or Egyptian authoritarian regime while criticizing democratic governments in countries like Bangladesh Pakistan and India showcasing a double standard in their politics
The 2024 Parliamentary Election in Bangladesh exposed the controversial stance of the USA and its allies indirectly threatening Bangladesh with punitive actions to coerce compliance However the people of Bangladesh refused to surrender their sovereignty to any illegal demands exposing the West s dirty politics to the world Bangladesh now stands proud, having confronted and rejected Western interference with dignity and honour
Every nation has the right to choose its governing system Any prescribed ruling system may not work for the nation in question The democratic system has become a complete mess in the Arab world where leading proponents of democracy are abandoning it for themselves Ultimately, whatever the ruling system, it must prioritize justice and improvement for the nation In the future a pro-people governing system will likely lead the world as evidenced by emerging trends such as the Global South BRICS, and a multipolar world system
The writer can be reached at: writetomahossain@gmail com
Hockey despair
Social injustice
04 Saturday 25 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 E i n v e s t m e n t
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Editor Profit
PA K I S TA N S hockey woes have once again surfaced as the national team failed to qualify for the Olympic Games in Paris, marking the third consecutive setback in their quest for Olympic glory This disappointment follows their absence from last year ’s World Cup further underscoring the dire state of affairs in Pakistan hockey The decline of Pakistan hockey can be attributed to a myriad of longstanding issues that continue to plague the sport These include chronic funding shortages, a limited pool of players, dwindling interest from sponsors, inadequate facilities, and a shortage of qualified coaches These challenges have persisted over the years, hindering the development and competitiveness of the national team However the latest crisis gripping Pakistan hockey is perhaps the most perplexing yet The emergence of two rival bodies claiming to be the legitimate representatives of the Pakistan Hockey Federation has added another layer of confusion and chaos to an already troubled landscape This internal discord only serves to further undermine the prospects of revival for Pakistan hockey The repercussions of this turmoil extend beyond the domestic arena, as Pakistan now faces the prospect of being banned from the upcoming Azlan Shah Cup in Malaysia Such a scenario would be a severe blow to the country s sporting reputation and a source of profound embarrassment for its hockey community As the nation s pride and sporting legacy are at stake, it is imperative that all stakeholders come together to address the root causes of Pakistan hockey’s decline Only through collective effort, effective governance, and sustained investment can we hope to restore the glory days of Pakistan hockey and once again see our team competing on the world stage with pride and distinction GULAB UMID TURBAT
M Y younger brother is a government employee in Pakistan Railways in Lahore He got a flat in Railway Officer Colony Walton and an amount was being deducted for accommodation from his salary for the last nine months He could not visit his flat for two months due to our mother s illness When he went there, the apartment door was locked Upon inquiry, my brother came to know that a police assistant sub-inspector had taken over the place Besides using his own sources he had also somehow managed to stop the official deduction from the salary of my brother How was that possible? Will the higher authorities within Pakistan Railways take note of this matter? I do not know how many people are suffering from similar situations HASEEN AHMAD SHEIKHUPURA
principals T H E College Education Department working under the Sindh government issued a notification earlier this year outlining the administrative roles and responsibilities of college principals In the past seniority was a key factor in the appointment of college principals but things have taken a turn for the better over the last two years As things stand the government seems to have fulfilled its responsibility and it is now up to the principals to run their respective colleges effectively, and improve the academic atmosphere across the colleges DR ZAFAR FAROOQUI KARACHI 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
College
W e s t e r n e r s l e a v e t h e c o c o o n o f d e m o c r a c y Wh at m at te r s i s w h at wo r k s M a HOssain E v e r y n a t i o n h a s t h e r i g h t t o c h o o s e i t s g ov e r n i n g s y s t e m A ny p r e s c r i b e d r u l i n g s y s t e m m ay n o t wo r k fo r t h e n a t i o n i n q u e s t i o n T h e d e m o c r a t i c s y s t e m h a s b e c o m e a c o m p l e t e m e s s i n t h e A r a b wo r l d w h e r e l e a d i n g p ro p o n e n t s o f d e m o c r a c y a r e a b a n d o n i n g i t fo r t h e m s e l v e s
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initiatives such as implementing digital literacy programmes in schools and universities can equip young individuals with the skills to critically evaluate online content, identify misinformation, and safeguard themselves from cyber threats Additionally establishing mental health support services tailored to address the psychological impact of social media can provide guidance on managing anxiety building self-esteem and coping with online pressures Moving to the meso-level community engagement through workshops and seminars can promote responsible social media usage, foster digital citizenship, and create a support network for youth facing online challenges Advocating for a regulatory framework to govern social media platforms can combat the spread of fake news cyberbullying and extremist content ensuring online safety for users At the macro-level launching national awareness campaigns to educate the public on digital hygiene, online privacy, and the importance of verifying information can help mitigate the negative impacts of social media Collaborating with government agencies to formulate policies that promote responsible social media practices regulate online content and support digital literacy in educational curricula is crucial By integrating these solutions at various levels it is possible to empower young people in Pakistan to navigate the digital landscape safely, foster critical thinking and resilience, and harness the positive potential of social media for societal development and well-being The implementation of these solutions will require a collaborative effort from various stakeholders including government agencies educational institutions, community organizations, and social media platforms A phased rollout approach can be adopted, starting with trials in select regions and gradually scaling up to a national level To ensure the effectiveness of these initiatives a monitoring and evaluation framework will be established to track progress identify areas for improvement, and make data-driven decisions Furthermore, a dedicated task force comprising representatives from relevant stakeholders will be formed to oversee the implementation process, provide technical assistance and facilitate knowledge sharing By working together and adopting a multipronged approach we can create a safer more responsible and empowering online environment for the youth of Pakistan, ultimately contributing to the country s social, economic, and cultural development The writer is a freelance columnist
B y wo r k i n g t o g e t h e r a n d a d o p t i n g a mu l t i - p ro n g e d a p p ro a c h , w e c a n c r e a t e a s a f e r, m o r e r e s p o n s i b l e , a n d e m p ow e r i n g o n l i n e e nv i ro n m e n t fo r t h e yo u t h o f Pa k i s t a n , u l t i m a t e ly c o n t r i bu t i n g t o t h e c o u n t r y Ês s o c i a l , e c o n o m i c , a n d c u l t u r a l d ev e l o p m e n t T h e d i l e m m a s o f t h e d i g i t a l a g e H o w s o c i a l m e d i a i s s h a p i n g a n d s h a k i n g Pa k i s t a n i s o c i e t y
Owais Fayyaz
Strategic choices of Belarus in its region
The Russian relationship remains key
BE L A R U S situated at the crossroads of Eastern Europe faces a complex array of strategic options shaped by its geopolitical environment, economic dependencies, and domestic dynamics
The nation’s strategic alignment has traditionally been oriented towards Russia underscored by deep economic ties and military cooperation However, the ongoing conflict in Ukraine and increasing Western sanctions on Russia has amplified Belarus’ geopolitical risks In response, Belarus could explore a diversification of its foreign policy to reduce overreliance on Moscow potentially seeking closer ties with the European Union or China as alternative partners Economically, enhancing domestic industries and fostering rising prices could mitigate vulnerabilities from external shocks Domestically President Alexander Lukashenko’s regime must navigate internal dissent and demands for political reform balancing repression with potential concessions to maintain stability Thus, Belarus strategic options encompass a delicate balancing act between maintaining traditional alliances, exploring new partnerships, and addressing internal political and economic challenges At the end of April Belarus revised its Military Doctrine and National Security Concept in response to escalating security threats regional instability and the military expansions of neighbouring countries This strategic update reflects Belarus’ shift in defense posture to address the increasingly volatile geopolitical environment
The Kremlin welcomed these changes, interpreting them as a definitive move away from Minsk’s historically balanced approach towards a more robust alignment with Moscow This alignment underscores a deepening of military and strategic ties between Belarus and Russia signalling a unified front in the face of regional challenges Belarus and Russia share a long history, dating back to their time as part of the Grand Duchy of Lithuania, the Polish-Lithuanian Commonwealth the Russian Empire and the USSR This shared history has fostered strong cultural and linguistic ties with Russian widely spoken in Belarus Belarusian President Alexander Lukashenko and Russian President Vladimir Putin have maintained a strong personal and political alliance Lukashenko, in power since 1994 has often aligned his policies with Moscow s interests In 1999 Belarus and Russia signed a treaty to form a Union State aimed at greater political economic and military integration While the Union State has not fully materialized into a political entity akin to the European Union, it symbolizes the intent for deeper integration Russia has provided significant support to Belarus during periods of political unrest For instance after the disputed 2020 Belarusian presidential election, Russia backed Lukashenko amid widespread protests and international condemnation Russia is Belarus’s largest trading partner The two countries engage in extensive trade particularly in energy machinery and agricultural products Belarus relies heavily on Russian oil and gas often receiving these resources at subsidized rates Russia has frequently provided financial support to Belarus, including loans and debt restructuring, which have been crucial for the Belarusian economy Belarus and Russia conduct regular joint military exercises such as the Zapad exercises showcasing their military cooperation and interoperability The two countries are part of the Collective Security Treaty Organization (CSTO), a regional security alliance Belarus also hosts Russian military facilities including radar and communication centres Russia has pledged military support to Belarus in case of external threats reinforcing their strategic military alliance Both
I n d i a ’ s s h i f t t o w a r d s a u t h o r i t a r i a n i s m
countries have faced sanctions from the West leading to closer economic and political cooperation as they seek to mitigate the impact of these measures Belarus has supported Russia s stance on the conflict in Ukraine, including allowing Russian forces to use Belarusian territory for logistical and operational purposes This support has further isolated Belarus from the West but strengthened its dependency on Russia Cultural exchanges and social ties between the populations of Belarus and Russia remain robust, with shared media, education programs and significant cross-border family connections The alignment between Belarus and Russia is comprehensive involving deep political economic military and cultural ties This relationship while often asymmetrical with Belarus being more dependent on Russia, reflects a strategic partnership that both nations have cultivated over decades Belarus is heavily aligned with Russia through political military and economic ties
The Union State agreement and various military pacts bind Belarus closely to Russia limiting its foreign policy autonomy This alignment with Russia often puts Belarus at odds with the EU’s strategic interests in Eastern Europe Belarus is part of the EU’s Eastern Partnership initiative which aims to build a common area of shared values and economic ties between the EU and six Eastern European partners However, Belarus s participation has been limited due to its internal politics and alignment with Russia The disputed 2020 presidential election and subsequent crackdown on dissent have led to a significant deterioration in EU-Belarus relations The EU has increased sanctions and support for Belarusian civil society and opposition groups in response In 2021, Belarus was accused of orchestrating a migrant crisis at its borders with Poland Lithuania and Latvia as retaliation against EU sanctions This incident further escalated tensions and led to increased EU border security measures and additional sanctions against Belarus
Significant political reforms or changes in leadership in
future engagement with Belarus
The CIS is a regional organization formed during the dissolution of the Soviet Union, primarily aimed at fostering cooperation in political, economic, environmental, humanitarian, cultural and other fields among former Soviet republics Belarus benefits from trade agreements within the CIS allowing relatively free trade with member states
An excerpt from the Introduc tion of ‘ Twilight Prisoners: The R ise of the Hindu R ight and the D ecline of India’ by S iddhar tha D eb
India’s Election Commission: Murder of an institution
Elec tion Commission has not taken any ac tion on the complaints against the prime minister even af ter a month for violating the moral code by explicitly attacking a minorit y communit y in his c ampaign speeches
there Once an important locus of India s anti-colonial struggle home to the Nehru family that produced three prime ministers in postcolonial India, Allahabad had entered a period of decline decades ago But decline is one thing, disappearance another How was it possible that a city of 1 8 million people could have ceased to exist without my hearing a word about it? But there was no Allahabad on Google Maps no matter what I tried Instead occupying what looked suspiciously like the same pixelated spot on the screen was Prayagraj an entity I d never heard of before Clarity came, eventually, accompanied by a sinking feeling Allahabad, founded by the 16th-century Mughal emperor Akbar had been renamed for its notionally Islamic associations and in a perfect convergence between Hindu nationalism and global capitalism the new Hindu nomenclature had been made official by Google History had been rewritten, and barely anyone had noticed The erasure of the past and the rewriting of the present is a feature everywhere in our embattled times But its most powerful, and its most successful iteration is in India under the Hindu-right government led by Narendra Modi Unnoticed by the West because of its hubris as epicentre whether of history or of the end of history the mythmaking unleashed by Hindu nationalism in India has achieved almost total success, transforming material as well as virtual reality Dominating the physical landscape while also taking possession of the hearts and minds of a significant section of its population it is the most successful right-wing phenomenon of our times bridging Western fascism from the early twentieth century with the multiple overlapping digitally-inflected authoritarianisms of our era This should not be surprising Hindu nationalism is unrivalled in its capacity to bide its time;
over all During that dawn of the new millennium – a new millennium that now, just at the beginning of its third decade, already feels tired, old, and disorienting – Hindu nationalism came into its own As the country was eviscerated by capital both Western and domestic erasing all memory of left anti-colonial and Third World ideals stamping out any sense of alternatives to a homogeneous soulless globalisation Hindu nationalism inserted a mythical past that would offer a sense of belonging even as the plunder went on The high-rises and the highways, the rich in their towers and the poor dispersed everywhere were, it insisted, not just weak simulacra of the monochromatic world being ushered in globally but the trace of something unique a Hindu utopia stirring into life after millennia of oppression
This was the promise embodied by Modi as the most eloquent representation of Hindu nationalism when he became prime minister in 2014 Handed an even more resounding electoral victory five years later, in 2019 he moved swiftly to further this Hindu utopia by changing the constitutional status of Muslim-majority Kashmir by revising India s citizenship law in such a way that only Muslims were affected and by rushing to complete the construction of a massive temple to the Hindu god Ram in Ayodhya, a small pilgrimage town in Uttar Pradesh At the height of the pandemic – to which his government had responded primarily with a lockdown that sent millions of low-wage workers back to their villages on foot as they attempted to outwalk starvation – he appeared in Ayodhya to lay the foundation stone of the temple the event broadcast live onto a billboard in New York s Times Square
In spite of a stuttering economy and the precariousness that had been made starkly visible by the pandemic, Hindu nationalism retained the sense that its time is now It was in order to understand that triumphal sense of a toxic nationalism arriving at its moment to investigate its claims that the outline of a Hindu utopia was being put in place, that I travelled to Ayodhya that summer, an account of which appears in this book
EV E R since the BJP/RSS came to power with Narendra Modi at its helm institutions built under the Nehruvian-Ambedkar vision have been facing either servitude or total decimation India s Election Commission, one of the revered pillars of Indian democracy, appeared to have suffered the same fate as many others in their ongoing battle to move the nation towards a majoritarian rule rooted in the Hindutva philosophy Under the visionary leadership of Jawaharlal Nehru and B R Ambedkar, India had created institutions that preserved freedom and democracy for everyone If we look back at history, many other countries that have gained independence along with India failed in their quest to safeguard freedom for their citizens However India has succeeded whereas others have failed only because of those institutions that stood the test of time Undoubtedly, the Election Commission is one institution that conducts free and fair elections and guarantees peaceful power transfer to the victor of the people’s mandate every time BJP was only interested in free and fair elections until they reached the pinnacles of the power structure Soon they started meddling all around weakening institutions muzzling media and intimidating and removing civil society, all in their quest to perpetuate power and establish long-lasting control over every segment of society In their second term they must have been anxious for their tenuous hold on power considering their mammoth failures in tackling the nation s pressing problems such as rampant inflation youth unemployment and unrest in the agricultural sector Towards that end, they have decided to remake the Election Commission to make it a handmaiden, a blow to democracy and the established constitutional order Democracy means that all the people in a nation have a say in one way or another in everything that affects their lives That was the point of contention for a party like the BJP which believed in majoritarian governance Democracy is also a controversial concept often misused by dictators and single-party regimes to assert popular support to justify their power grab The Indian Constitution Article 324 establishes an independent Election Commission; Article 327 empowers Parliament to enact laws governing all aspects of elections Article 329 provides a mechanism for resolving electoral disputes through review by an independent judiciary These articles reflect the clear preference of the constituent assembly to ensure the autonomy and independence of the ECI protecting it from Executive interference (Devi and Mendiratta 2000) ECI has been considered one of the most trusted public institutions in India that ensured integrity and conducted 17 national and 370 state elections since India s independence in one of the most populous countries in the world However what has been happening during this election cycle under the watch of the current E C is genuinely disconcerting and tantamount
Saturday 25 May 2024 COMMENT 05
Belarus could open avenues for improved relations with the EU Russia’s influence over Belarus remains a critical factor Any shifts in Russia s foreign policy or internal dynamics could impact Belarus s alignment The EU s approach to Eastern Europe, particularly in balancing its stance
promoting democratic values and managing security concerns will shape its
between
which helps maintain its economy The CIS provides a platform for coordinating security policies and military cooperation which is critical for Belarus’ defence strategy The EAEU is an economic union of states located primarily in northern Eurasia aiming to achieve greater economic integration Membership in the EAEU provides Belarus with a common market and unified customs tariffs, facilitating easier and more profitable trade with other member states like Russia, Kazakhstan, Armenia, and Kyrgyzstan The EAEU allows for the free movement of labour which benefits Belarusian workers seeking employment opportunities within member states The CSTO is a military alliance of select post-Soviet states that seeks to ensure collective defence and security cooperation As a CSTO member Belarus receives military support and participates in joint military exercises which bolsters its defence capabilities The CSTO framework provides mechanisms for responding to regional crises and threats, enhancing Belarus security environment The Union State of Russia and Belarus is a supranational entity aimed at deepening the political economic and defense integration between the two countries Belarus benefits from energy subsidies and financial support from Russia, which is crucial for its economy The partnership ensures strong political alignment with Russia influencing Belarus foreign and domestic policies The Eastern Partnership is an initiative of the European Union governing its relationship with the post-Soviet states of Armenia, Azerbaijan, Belarus, Georgia, Moldova and Ukraine Although relations with the EU are complex the EaP provides a platform for dialogue and potential cooperation on various issues including trade and human rights Belarus can access development funds and technical assistance from the EU through the EaP, which supports its social and economic development projects Belarus’ regional partnerships are primarily influenced by its strategic orientation towards Russia and post-Soviet alliances which provide economic benefits security assurances and political support However, its engagement with the European Union through the Eastern Partnership also illustrates an attempt to balance its foreign relations and explore additional avenues for economic and social development The writer has a PhD in Political Science and can be reached at akramzaheer86@yahoo com
O N E recent summer morning I found myself looking for an Indian city that appeared to have vanished I was in Delhi, arriving there not long after a brutal wave of the pandemic had sent even well-to-do Indians scrambling for oxygen cylinders and hospital beds Now as the public health crisis seemed all but forgotten I made plans to travel to the North Indian state of Uttar Pradesh hotspot of the pandemic and heartland of Hindu nationalism In order to orient myself as I worked out a tentative route from Delhi on Google Maps, I looked for the city of Allahabad, one of the oldest and most significant cities in Uttar Pradesh sited on the banks of the notionally sacred and utterly polluted Ganges River It wasn’t
it outlasted the colonialism with which it collaborated during British rule; it outlasted too the Nehruvian decades of decolonisation during which it lurked in the slimy undercurrents of political life It emerged into the open only when the moment was right at the turn of the 21st century when the left had been defeated globally and the market ruled
dr MuHaMMad akraM zaHeer
SCR OLL s d d H a r t H a d e b
to betraying their sacred duty as the chief guardian of democracy in exercising their impartial judgment in the conduct of a free and fair election The move to reorganize the ECI outside of the collegium, outlined by the Supreme Court, where the prime minister, the chief justice, and the opposition leader together choose election commissioners was a grave mistake As a result the independence of the ECI has been lost and it has become another instrument in the hands of an administration with a history of subjugation to achieve its political ends Consequently, the court system is forced to work extra hours and sit in judgment on the issue of compliance with the election laws or with the moral code of conduct violations by the parties or their candidates The court has directly intervened and criticized the election commission for failing to address various complaints nationwide E C has not taken any action on the complaints against the Prime Minister even after a month for violating the moral code by explicitly attacking a minority community in his campaign speeches In that regard E C sent a notice to the BJP President rather than the individual who made that offending statement To any independent observer it becomes clear that the level of communal statements and hate speeches during the election cycle is on a much larger scale than in any other election in the past Subsequently, a Congress delegation met the Election Commission and gave a memorandum criticizing Modi’s statements that created false and divisive insinuations targeting a particular religious community which is a clear provocation to the general public to act and breach the peace The Supreme Court s dismissal of adding VVPAT to every EVM on the petition by the Association of Democratic Reforms was quite unfortunate and it has become abundantly clear now that the people lack faith in the current E C to fix the problems associated with these voting machines There are several reports of the malfunctioning of EVMS and subsequent delays in voting across the country The storage and safekeeping of this equipment until the counting is also under scrutiny as reports of CCTV camera failures emerge in this unusually long election cycle Why it would take two months to conduct an election and for whose convenience etc are also shrouded in mystery There is little doubt that EVMs are under the spotlight now, and real fears over fairness and openness in this regard are no longer limited to civil society debates Congress Working Committee member Gurdeep Sappal said that people have voted in large numbers to vote this government out Now the number of votes counted will decide the outcome the E C must ensure that people have faith in its process Unfortunately, this trust is missing E C s assertion that political parties must do their data analytics before coming to the commission was outrageous Any institution that indulges in such whataboutery has something to hide We never thought there would be a day in this country when the E C would refuse to give even the data of the votes polled on a particular day Mr Sappal added Indian democracy is in an existential crisis The values it embodies specifically the right to choose leaders in a fair and free election are under assault right now The system finds itself battered and weakened The slow and painful death of the Election Commission is another warning sign that India as a free society may cease to exist shortly unless people in large numbers realize the potential danger and speak out loud and together by casting their votes George Abraham is a political commentator
COUNTERCURRENTS G e O r G e a b r a H a M
C H I N A , B R A Z I L P R O P O S E R O A D M A P F O R
S O L U T I O N T O U K R A I N E C R I S I S
S audi Arabia bans visit visa holders from entering Mak k ah
this year
According to the Saudi Gazette the ministry announced that the expiry date for Umrah visas had been pushed back from Dhul Qadah 29 to Dhul Qadah 15 meaning foreign Umrah pilgrims must leave the country before Dhul Qadah 15
This move is part of the government’s attempt to ensure a smooth flow of pilgrims to the holy cities of Makkah and Madinah from all over the world for the annual pilgrimage of Hajj
The ministry also clarified that the validity of the three-month Umrah visa will begin from the date of issuance instead of the previously approved validity from the date of entry into the kingdom According to the ministry, the validity of the Umrah visa is three months
from the date of its issuance provided that it expires no later than Dhul Qadah 15 This date of Dhul Qadah 15 was approved, two weeks (14 days) earlier than the previously announced expiry date of Dhul Qadah 29,” the ministry added
S t d y 25 M y 2024 | ISLAMABAD 06 NEWS BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
H I N A and Brazil have jointly urged the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis and peace talks to be held with the participation of both Russia and Ukraine which shows the view of developing countries and provides a workable approach to solving the crisis amid new US weapons aid and the Western-convened “peace conference” in Switzerland Wang Yi a member of the Political Bureau of the Communist Party of China (CPC) Central Committee and director of the Office of the Foreign Affairs Commission of the CPC Central Committee had an in-depth exchange of views on pushing for the political settlement of the crisis with visiting Celso Amorim Chief Advisor to the President of Brazil, in Beijing on Thursday China and Brazil jointly issued a six-point consensus on their common understanding of the political settlement of the Ukraine crisis on Thursday calling on all relevant parties to observe three principles for de-escalating the situation – no expansion of the battlefield, no escalation of fighting and no provocation by any party – and stating that “dialogue and negotiation are the only viable way out of the crisis China and Brazil support an international peace conference held at a proper time that is recognized by both Russia and Ukraine, with equal participation of all parties as well as fair discussion of all peace plans Xinhua News Agency reported Thursday The two sides also agreed that efforts are needed to increase humanitarian assistance to relevant regions and prevent a larger scale humanitarian crisis; the use of weapons of mass destruction particularly nuclear weapons and chemical and biological weapons must be opposed; attacks on nuclear power plants and other peaceful nuclear facilities must be opposed; and dividing the world into isolated political or economic groups should be opposed Wang Wenbin a spokesperson for China s Foreign Ministry, said at Friday s routine press briefing that the Ukraine crisis has entered its third year, with spillover effects and high risk of escalation The international community believes the most urgent task is to de-escalate the situation and create conditions for cease-fire The consensus is proposed by China and Brazil, but we welcome members of the international community to support and endorse the above-mentioned common understandings and jointly play a constructive role in de-escalating the situation and promoting peace talks Wang Wenbin said Li Haidong, a professor at the China Foreign Affairs University, told the Global Times on Friday that the consensus can be seen as a representative of the Global South or developing countries road map for a way out of the prolonged conflict Despite calls for peace and deescalation, the US “is expected to announce an additional $275 million in military aid for Ukraine on Friday the Associated Press reported On Monday US Defense Secretary Lloyd Austin committed to keeping US weapons moving to Ukraine Chinese analysts noted that the sweeping Western sanctions against Russia and the continuous sending of weapons to Ukraine failed to defeat Russia or end the conflict which demonstrated the US approach does not work As for the “common understandings” issued by China and Brazil it is not a one-sided condemnation of any country but a constructive call to de-escalate the situation and seek a feasible solution to it, Li said, adding that the consensus also touched on how to establish a more balanced and sustainable security framework for Europe – equal participation and fair discussions A peace conference will be held in Switzerland in mid-June US President Joe Biden will reportedly miss the conference because it conflicts with a campaign fundraiser in California he s set to attend, Bloomberg reported Thursday Russian President Vladimir Putin on May 17 denounced the upcoming Ukraine peace conference as a means of putting pressure on Russia Putin criticized the fact that Russia was constantly being reproached for not attending, when the country was not even invited to the meeting Some Western media outlets are also not optimistic about the confere n c e C h i n a h a s n o t c o n f i r m e d whether it will participate but Li s a i d t h a t h e f e a r s t h e u p c o m i n g p e a c e c o n f e r e n c e w i l l b e a s t a g e for taking sides, and if so, it will n o t y i e l d a n y m e a n i n g f u l r e s u l t but could even risk further escalating tensions Meanwhile China and Brazil two major countries of the Global South, are coordinating to promote a Global South view on the issue and advocate for a more balanced and fairer global order, Li said It is heartening to see that the Global South countries represented by China and Brazil have achieved a collective rise and promoted a more balanced and reasonable structure of world power, Wang Wenbin said NEW DELHI A G E N C I E S S o u t h A s i a i s e x p e r i e n c i n g e x t r e m e weather conditions with at least nine killed due to a suspected heat stroke in I n d i a s w e s t w h i l e p a r t s o f B a n g l a d e s h a n d n e i g h b o u r i n g s t a t e s a r e l i k e l y t o b e h i t b y a c y c l o n e i n a couple of days E x t r e m e t e m p e r a t u r e s t h r o u g h o u t Asia last month were made worse most likely as a result of human-driven clim a t e c h a n g e , a t e a m o f i n t e r n a t i o n a l scientists said India’s summer temperatures often peak in May but scientists h a v e p r e d i c t e d m o r e h e a t w a v e d a y s than usual this year largely caused by f e w e r n o n - m o n s o o n t h u n d e r s h o w e r s a n d a n a c t i v e b u t w e a k e n i n g d r y E l Nino weather phenome n o n A t l e a s t n i n e d e a t h s i n R a j a s t h a n i n I n d i a s w e s t w e r e s u spected to have resulted from people falling sick i n t h e s w e l t e r i n g h e a t , l o c a l m e d i a s a i d The state s disaster management officials told Reuters they had yet to ascertain the cause, as medical examinations were not complete The news comes after the city of Barmer in Rajasthan topped temperature charts this week with a record 48 8 Celsius (119 84 Fahrenheit) on Thursday Weather officials have warned of conditions ranging from a heatwave to severe heatwave in many parts of the state as well as in the northern states of Punjab and Haryana Indian weather officials set the heatwave threshold at a maximum temperature of 40 Celsius (104 Fahrenheit) in the plains, as well as a departure of at least 4 5 Celsius (40 1 Fahrenheit) from the normal maximum temperature In Pakistan the climate change ministry said that about 26 districts in the country were boiling under a severe heatwave as of Thursday with the current spell of sizzling temperature likely to last until May 30 The temperature is expected to hit 50 Celsius (122 Fahrenheit) in at least two cities in the southern province of Sindh on Friday which has already delayed week annual school exams due to the blistering heat S o u t h A s i a f a c e s ex t r e m e we at h e r w i t h h e at wave i n I n d i a , c yc l o n e i n B a n g l a d e s h Prince Harr y and Meghan Markle likely to lose royal titles amid intensifying Royal Family politics LONDON W E B D E S K King Charles and Prince William have reportedly considered stripping Prince Harry and Meghan Markle of their royal titles but have refrained for one key reason Harry and Meghan recently had a successful tour of Nigeria where they were honored as Duke and Duchess The Sussexes were reportedly delighted about their royal titles being displayed Their tour, where they were treated like royals, left King Charles angered, according to insiders Following the tour, royal author Tom Quinn told The Mirror that Charles and William “have had lengthy discussions about stripping Meghan and Harry of their royal titles but they are terrified this would backfire and make the situation worse The last thing they want is to give the renegade royals something else to complain about William and his father know that even without their royal titles, Meghan and Harry would carry on traveling the world as if they were royals and most people in the world would still welcome them ” he added Harry and Meghan the Duke and Duchess of Sussex stepped down as working royals in 2020 and moved to California a few months later The duo have since given an explosive interview to Oprah Winfrey, claiming the royals were worried about what Prince Archie’s skin color would be like KE, S indh agree to work jointly for K arachi KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T A high-level meeting was held today between Sindh Government & K-Electric to discuss power Supply and loadshedding in Karachi Sindh Government was represented by Energy Minister Nasir Hussain Shah while K-Electric was represented by their CEO Moonis Alvi along with senior officials and company s leadership During the meeting it was decided to form a joint committee consisting representatives of Sindh Government and K-Electric to address load shedding and other issues of the city The committee will jointly work on addressing public grievances ensuring timely bill payments and develop strategies to minimize load shedding and ensuring uninterrupted power supply in the city CEO OF K-Electric while reiterating power utility s commitment to provide complete cooperation to the resident of city during heatwave highlighted that uninterrupted power supply is not possible without payments of bills BEIJING A G E N C I E S China voiced strong dissatisfaction and f i r m o p p o s i t i o n o n F r i d a y t o w a r d t h e U K c o n t i n u o u s l y f a b r i c a t i n g c h a rg e s and cases under the so-called pretext of n a t i o n a l s e c u r i t y a n d s t i g m a t i z i n g China and even arbitrarily arresting and prosecuting Chinese citizens in the UK The Chinese Foreign Ministry said the UK also interfered with the normal o p e r a t i o n s o f t h e H o n g K o n g E c onomic and Trade Office (ETO) in Lond o n w h e n a s k e d a b o u t t h e s e c o n d h e a r i n g o f t h e c a s e i n v o l v i n g a n e mployee of the office that took place at the Central Criminal Court in the UK on Friday The UK’s false accusations and malicious actions are a desecration of the spirit of the rule of law a political manipulation under the guise of national security, a serious violation of the legitimate rights and interests of Chinese citizens in the UK, a serious damage to China-UK relations, a serious violation of the principles of international law and the basic norms of international relations and also a serious damage to the UK s own image Wang Wenbin, spokesperson for the Chinese Foreign Ministry, said at a press conference on Friday C h i n a s t r o n g l y u rg e s t h e U K t o i m m e d i a t e l y c o r r e c t i t s w r o n g d o i n g s e ff e c t i v e l y s a f e g u a r d t h e l e g i t i m a t e rights and interests of Chinese citizens i n t h e U K , a n d e n s u r e t h e n o r m a l f u n c t i o n i n g o f t h e E TO i n L o n d o n , Wa n g n o t e d “ C h i n a w i l l t a k e s t r o n g m e a s u r e s t o r e s o l u t e l y s a f e g u a r d t h e l e g i t i m a t e r i g h t s a n d i n t e r e s t s o f o v e rs e a s C h i n e s e c i t i z e n s a n d i n s t i t ut i o n s t h e s p o k e s p e r s o n s a i d C h u n g B i u Yu e n 6 3 C h i L e u n g Wai, also known as Peter Wai, 38, and M a t t h e w Tr i c k e t t , 3 7 , w e r e a r r e s t e d earlier this month following an investig a t i o n b y t h e M e t r o p o l i t a n P o l i c e ’s Counter Terrorism Command accordi n g t o R e u t e r s T h e t h r e e m e n w e r e changed with assisting Hong Kong s foreign intelligence service in Britain Some media reported that Yuen is a retired Hong Kong police officer who i s l i s t e d a s a n o ff i c e m a n a g e r a t t h e ETO in London T h e C h i n e s e s i d e f i r m l y r e j e c t e d and strongly condemned the UK’s fabrication of the so-called case and its unw a r r a n t e d a c c u s a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e HKSAR government It has made serious representations to the UK side on the matter Trickett was found dead in a park i n M a i d e n h e a d , w e s t o f L o n d o n , o n S u n d a y a f t e r n o o n p o l i c e s a i d T h e y termed the death “unexplained” and are i n v e s t i g a t i n g t h e A P r e p o r t e d o n Wednesday T h e S e c r e t a r y f o r C o m m e r c e a n d Economic Development of the HKSAR g o v e r n m e n t , A l g e r n o n Ya u , m e t w i t h the Deputy Consul-General of the UK in Hong Kong on the incident regarding the ETO in London on Thursday Yau reiterated the HKSAR government s concern about the incident especially the death of a person who was arrested by the UK Police and reportedly a UK immigration officer, and dem a n d e d t h e U K s i d e g i v e a n o p e n account of the incident as soon as poss i b l e t o l e t t h e p u b l i c k n o w t h e t r u t h and prevent unwarranted speculation Yau also reiterated that the UK should fairly handle the matter, protect the legitimate rights and interests of the arrestees, and ensure the normal operation of the ETO T h e H o n g K o n g o ff i c i a l a l s o s t r e s s e d t h a t a l l E TO a c t i v i t i e s h a v e been conducted in accordance with the law The UK government is obliged to ensure the normal work and activities of the ETO are free from interruption and conducted in an orderly manner ‘Dissatisfied’ China firmly opposes UK fabricated charges against its citizens: FM MAKKAH N E W S D E S K In a bid to ensure the safety and security of pilgrims Saudi Arabia s Ministry of Interior has restricted entry to Makkah for all individuals holding visit visas during the upcoming Hajj season The Hajj season begins today and will continue until June 21 2024 In a statement the Saudi ministry clarified that visit visa holders are not permitted to perform Hajj, according to the Saudi Press Agency (SPA) The ministry advised visit visa holders to avoid traveling to Makkah without Hajj permission during this period and warned of penalties according to Saudi regulations Security and organizational measures are being implemented to ensure the safety of authorized pilgrims during the Hajj rituals It is important to note that Saudi authorities are preparing for potentially record-breaking attendance following a surge in Umrah pilgrims during Ramadan Since May 9, Pakistani pilgrims have been arriving in Madinah as part of pre-Hajj flight operations According to the Ministry of Religious Affairs a total of 28 743 Pakistani pilgrims have arrived in Madinah through 120 flights as of Tuesday This year, around 2 5 million faithful from across the world, including 179 210 from Pakistan will perform the religious obligation of Hajj This year s pilgrimage is expected to take place from June 14-19 In addition to the fresh restrictions, the authorities revealed the expiry date for Umrah visas for foreign pilgrims in April
C
DAR EMPHASIZES UNIFORM QUALIT Y MEDICAL EDUCATION IN COUNTRY
The seminar aimed to raise awareness about the potential safety hazards at retail outlets and the need for adherence to Standard Operating Procedures (SOPs) Industry experts shared valuable insights on the risks associated with inadequate safety measures and the consequences of neglecting consumer
The Pakistan Petroleum Dealers Association (PPDA) along with its Chairman also graced the occasion with their presence Participants included experts from PSO, Shell, Total, SGS, and Haseen Habib, who gave detailed presentations A panel of experts from the Oil Companies Advisory
Council (OCAC) Oil Marketing Association Pakistan (OMAP), Attock Petroleum Limited (APL), and Gas & Oil Pakistan Limited also contributed to the discussions Chairman OGRA and Authority members highlighted the significance of the subject matter emphasizing the need for collective efforts to ensure safety at retail outlets They vowed to continue raising awareness among the general public to minimize incidents and ensure a safe and secure environ-
Pak-Türkiye exper ts collabrate to protec t manuscripts
ISTANBUL: The one-week Preventive Protection of Manuscripts Training conducted by Turkish Cooperation and Coordination Agency (TİKA) in collaboration with the Directorate of Manuscripts Institution and the Directorate of State Archives was held at the Book Healing House located in the historic Rami Library and the State Archives in Istanbul Throughout the program, Pakistani experts from Punjab University Quaid e Azam University Pakistan National Library Pakistan National Museum and Sindh Archives attended the theoretical and practical trainings held by Turkish experts on the storage conditions of manuscripts, conservation and restoration routines and the materials used in these routines and visited different units of the Institutions to see the current situation on site in Türkiye They also visited Suleymaniye Library which is the biggest one of the eighteen manuscripts libraries located in different cities of Türkiye to examine the hundereds of years old manuscripts and the workshops in the library Dr Hamid Ali, Lecturer and Manuscripts expert, from the University of Punjab who participated in the training and experience-sharing program in Istanbul stated that within the scope of the program organized by TİKA they had the opportunity to visit Türkiye s great libraries such as Suleymaniye and Rami to see Türkiye s practices in preserving manuscripts Dr Ali, stating that they learned a lot in the one-week program, added that Türkiye has very good practices in this field and those who participated in the training benefited greatly from it PR
and Belarus The Ambassador of Pakistan to Belarus Sajjad Haider Khan along with First Deputy Chairman of the Minsk City Executive Committee Mrs Lazarevich Nadezhda, and the Director General of “Minsktrans” Mr Dziubenko Oleg Anatolievich inaugurated the Tram decorated with the traditional Truck Art Around 100 guests attended the ceremony PR
ment for consumers Industry stakeholders commended OGRA for organizing the seminar, acknowledging the importance of addressing
07 NEWS Saturday 25 May 2024 | ISLAMABAD CORPORATE CORNER ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T D E P U T Y Prime Minister Mohammad Ishaq Dar on Friday underlined the need to improve the regulatory framework for medical education in Pakistan besides establishing a coordination mechanism between medical institutions, and the public and private sector to ensure uniform high-quality education in the country He was chairing the first meeting of the “Committee on Medical Education” here that was constituted by the Prime Minister earlier this week on May 20 In its first meeting the deputy prime minister emphasized the important responsibility of the committee to address the gaps in medical education in the country Highlighting the importance of nurturing a conducive environment for medical students to excel and contribute meaningfully to the healthcare sector, Ishaq Dar stressed the importance of ensuring world-class quality of medical education across all provinces The committee conducted a comprehensive review of the medical education system in Pakistan including fee structures and identified key areas for improvement and development of a strategic plan to align medical education with international standards The committee specifically focused on devising a plan to solve the issues faced by Pakistani medical students studying abroad It also discussed strategies to support and empower medical students in their academic and professional endeavours T h e m e e t i n g w a s a t t e n d e d b y t h e Minister for Law and Justice the Coord i n a t o r t o t h e P r i m e M i n i s t e r o n H e a l t h , S e c r e t a r y H e a l t h , t h e D e p u t y C h a i r m a n P l a n n i n g C o m m i s s i o n a n d Chairman Higher Education Commission, MNA Dr Nafeesa Shah, heads of prominent public and private medical institutions and eminent experts from the medical community Members include key stakeholders from the medical community, the education sector, and government officials It aims to reform medical education across the country This initiative underscores the Government’s commitment to improve healthcare standards and ensure the highest quality of medical training for future generations of healthcare professionals After a detailed discussion in the meeting, a sub-executive committee was constituted with Dr Malik Mukhtar Ahmad National Coordinator for Health as Convener and Tariq Bajwa as Co-Convener The sub-committee will deliberate on the existing TORs along with additional tasks including synergies among regulatory bodies streamlining procedures for foreign students in Pakistan and the uniformity in curricula The committee will prepare its report with the objective to ensure that medical graduates in Pakistan are equipped with the knowledge and skills required to meet contemporary healthcare challenges and to provide the highest level of care to all Pakistani nationals This initiative is part of the Government s continuing efforts to elevate the standards of healthcare services in Pakistan and to prepare medical professionals to effectively serve in both domestic and global healthcare
SIFc will take steps for improvement, stability of other institutions: Nasir Shah K A R A C H I: Provincial Minister of Energy and Development and Planning Syed Nasir Hussain Shah has said that the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) is our institution which will take steps on a solid basis for the improvement of other institutions and the stability of the country tourism institutions will remain with the Sindh government This institution will take measures with the collaboration and mutual support of the Sindh government In this regard, a meeting was held between CM Sindh and SIFC in which the institution assured the Sindh government that whatever steps they will take They will do it by taking the Sindh government into confidence and by mutual consent Nasir Shah said that Sindh government will have the authority to decide the final steps regarding SIFC STAFF REPORT Former Provincial Minister Ibrahim Murad's Hard Work Pays O ff L A H O R E: The relentless efforts of former Caretaker Provincial Minister for Livestock Ibrahim Murad have begun to bear fruit resulting in a historic 55% increase in Pakistan s meat exports Last year, the country s meat exports stood at $307 million, but according to figures released by the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics, exports from July 2023 to April 2024 have reached a remarkable number of $431 million with a total of 104 513 metric tons of meat and meat products exported Former Provincial Minister Ibrahim Murad said the increase in exports was not just a win for the meat industry but a significant step towards strengthening the economy The role of farmers has been instrumental in this growth in meat exports Sincere intentions and strong determination always lead to success he said PR k a r a c h i : A group photo of Chief Guest Commissioner SECP Mujtaba Ahmed Lodhi along with Shariah Board members of Faisal Funds on the occassion of ceremony held for become first Certified Shariah Compliant Asset Management Company of Pakistan PR Pakistan s Male Champions of Change convene in Karachi for their quarterly meeting crafting a transformative strategy for gender equality and inclusion PR ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Oil and Gas Regulatory Au-
consumer and operational safety at retail outlets on May 23 2024 emphasizing the importance of safety measures to minimize incidents and near misses at petrol pumps The event, held at OGRA’s
presence of the
thority (Ogra) organized a seminar on
Auditorium was graced by the
senior government officials along with DG Oil and DG Explosives
safety
safety hazards in the oil industry The event was hailed as a crucial step towards safeguarding the industry and protecting consumers from potential risks
seminar concluded with a resolve to prioritize consumer and operational safety, ensuring a safer and more secure environment for all stakeholders consumer, operational safety crucial at retail outlets of P O L produc ts: Ogra Z indigi JS Bank, 5th Pillar Family Tak aful sign MoU to facilitate c ustomers for Hajj, Umrah on easy installments K A R A C H I: The Digital banking Initiative of JS Bank Zindigi has partnered with 5th Pillar Family Takaful, a prominent provider of Takaful products and services, to make Hajj and Umrah pilgrimages more accessible This collaboration brings together Zindigi's userfriendly digital platform with 5th Pillar s established Hajj and Umrah saving plans including the end-to-end value chain This means customers will be experiencing a hassle-free pilgrimage saving and traveling plan directly through Zindigi Mobile App PR Pa k- K u wa i t t i e s t o b o o s t i nve s t m e n t : A l e e m K h a n I S L A M A B A D : A high-level delegation headed by Federal Minister for Board of Investment Privatization and Communications Abdul Aleem Khan to visit Kuwait for boosting investment in Pakistan, highlighting possibilities of business projects and enhances bilateral cooperation Pakistani delegation is expected to have meetings with Prime Minister of Kuwait and Ministers of Foreign Affairs Power and Petroleum while Trade Minister of Kuwait will host Trade and business activities between the two countries will also be finalized and the visit to Kuwait will be made more useful in collaboration with the Ministry of Trade & Commerce Federal Minister of Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan presided over the important consultation meeting regarding the visit to Kuwait in which the necessary issues were finalized Federal Minister Abdul Aleem Khan said that during his visit to Kuwait there will be progress in providing employment to more workforce from Pakistan, especially health professionals and skilled labor, as well as taking the business community into confidence and the private sector Pakistan will increase cooperation through taking on board Pakistan s export companies for dairy farming meat products rice and other food items to move forward through accelerated measures, Abdul Aleem Khan added Federal Minister Board of Investment Abdul Aleem Khan further said that the visit by Pakistan’s delegation to Kuwait will be the beginning of a new era PR OGDcL collaborates with IPRI for endowment of economic security chair ISLAMABAD: Oil and Gas Development Company Limited (OGDCL) on Friday entered into a collaboration with Islamabad Policy Research Institute (IPRI) for an Endowment of Economic Security Chair The kick-off ceremony was graced by the Chairman Board of OGDCL and CEO of Bank of Punjab Zafar Masud; MD/CEO of OGDCL Ahmed Hayat Lak and senior officials of the industry The Endowment of Economic Security Chair at IPRI is for a period of three years, and it will be known as OGDCLIPRI Chair ’ This collaboration is a classic example of interaction between the corporate sector and academia PR cM Mar yam Nawaz S harif meets Naval c hief L A H O R E: Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif had a meeting with Chief of Naval Staff Admiral Naveed Ashraf in which social services of Pakistan Navy were discussed Madam Chief Minister said, The veterans of Pakistan Navy who defend Pakistan s maritime boundaries are commendable ” She added ”Pakistanis hold in high regard the valuable services of Pakistan Navy “ Rear Admiral Rizwan Ahmed Rear Admiral Shahzad Hamid and Commodore Sajid also attended the meeting Chief Secretary Zahid Akhtar Zaman and Principal Secretary to Chief Minister Sajid Zafar Dal were also present PR Farewell ceremony held in honor of retiring officer According to the details, a farewell ceremony was held in honor of retiring Constable Shakeel Ahmed at Rescue 15 field office Islamabad a public relations officer said He said that the SSP Operations Malik Jameel Zafar graced the occasion as chief guest while other officers were also present on the occasion The SSP Operations conveyed good wishes to retiring officers and said that retirement is part of the service as the one who joins the service has to retire one day He asked the serving police officials to do their best to earn respect for the department He was of the view that public servants can earn a good name by serving the citizens with devotion and dedication PR L'O réal Luxe par tners with Eleganz Luxur y to redefine Pakistan's luxur y retail with AL-Fatah H c L S tore launch L Oréal Luxe has transformed the Luxury retail landscape of Pakistan with a partnership with Eleganz Luxury by bringing Loreal Luxe brands into the local market This collaboration made a significant impact by shifting traditional outlets into modern retail luxury experiences AL-Fatah Hcl stands as a testament to being the first modern luxury retail store transformation by Loreal Luxe Boasting an unparalleled selection of Luxury perfume brands like Armani Yves Saint Laurent (YSL) Lancome Ralph Lauren and many more this flagship store promises to redefine the art of fragrance shopping in Pakistan PR
aids needy without
al bias:
ISLAMABAD: The Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) is providing financial assistance to all poor and deserving people irrespective of political affiliation This money is the right of the poor people and it is our responsibility to ensure that funds are provided to deserving women in a dignified and transparent manner These views were expressed by Mrs Rubina Khalid, Chairperson of the Benazir Income Support Programme, during her visit to the Benazir Income Support Programme payment centers in Swabi today The objective of Chairperson Rubina Khalid's visit to Swabi was to review the distribution process of payments to deserving women and to assess the necessary arrangements and facilities provided to the beneficiaries PR ‘Truck Art’ Tram inaugurated at Pakistani Embassy in Belarus M I N S K: The Embassy of Pakistan in Minsk, in collaboration with the Belarusian State Institution “Minsktrans”, inaugurated a Pakistani "Truck Art" Tram today as part of the activities celebrating the 30th anniversary of diplomatic relations between Pakistan
The
BISP
politic
Rubina
NEEDS TO BENEFIT FROM CHINESE EXPERIENCE TO PROMOTE IT INDUSTRY: PM
Iqbal, Industries Minister Rana Tanveer Hussain Interior Minister Syed Mohsin Raza Naqvi Minister for Power Awais Ahmed Khan Leghari Minister for Ports and Shipping Musadik Malik, PM s Special Assistant Tariq Fatemi, Chinese Ambassador to Pakistan and other officials concerned also
No respec t for anyone without due honour for cour ts: LHC chief justice
Lahore High Court (LHC) Chief Justice Malik Shahzad Ahmad Khan on Friday declared that they will respect everyone until courts are given due honour otherwise, no one should set high expectations
“Judiciary does not want face-off with any bar institution or government however “this gesture should be seen by all parties Justice Shahzad stated while addressing the concluding ceremony organised for the participants of a pre-service training course at Punjab Judicial Academy on Friday
The LHC CJ emphasised the need for avoiding confrontation among institutions saying: Beware of those who want to sow discord
Expressing views that confrontation would only weaken the institutions Justice Shahzad pointed out that they will “respect
everyone until the courts are given due honour, otherwise, no one should set high expectations” He also clarified that the legal fraternity would not work above the law at any cost
The senior jurist urged the judges, who completed their preservice training course, to realise a big responsibility on them which demands them to work fearlessly without accepting any pressure and greed
Fear the God on the throne we will not be afraid of those on the ground, he said Justice Shahzad stressed the legal fraternity not become the “B team” of any government agency or institution except for enhancing coordination to improve the system
He added that Punjab has 1 4 million cases pending in different courts as the province was facing a shortage of jurists while strikes in courts were also a big factor of the pending litigation
He praised the legal fraternity of Punjab, especially the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) and other Supreme Court judges for playing a vital role in ending the strike culture at the country s courts Justice Shahzad said that Justice Alvin Robert Cornelius the 4th CJP and Pakistan s first Christian chief justice was the first jurist who started the journey of realising the dream of an independent judiciary
He went on the say that many justices like Saeeduzzaman Siddiqui, Wajihuddin Ahmed, Nasir Aslam Zahid, Iftikhar Muhammad Chaudhry, and others played their parts to continue the journey
will be reviewed again,” he added Governor Haider also voiced his frustration over widespread corruption noting that billions are being misappropriated with impunity He criticized the existing legal and systemic weaknesses that allow such corruption to persist Our laws and system are so weak that people don’t care,” he lamented Addressing chronic corruption in Pakistan, Governor Haider pointed out that all political parties have contributed to the problem in every election ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) Chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman on Friday declared that he would rather prefer leave the country to subjugation to the establishment saying that he cannot live as a slave The establishment has deliberately divided our strength in the elections Rehman said criticising the manipulation in the political process We are witnessing forced adjustments in government formation, he added in an interview with a private digital media platform on Friday Rehman claimed that more rigging occurred in the 2024 elections than in 2018 leading to an enforced adjustment in forming the government Even now it is the minority representation that is governing he noted Besides fulfilling the numbers for the government, the PPP has no role, Rehman stated, accusing the establishment of managing the situation “We are on the ground against this ” He announced the initiation of a nationwide movement with a public rally scheduled for June 1 in Muzaffargarh Punjab We have spent our entire lives supporting this democratic system Rehman said but added, From this country to America, democracy is just a façade ” Rehman reiterated his opposition to the establishment’s political interference which he has opposed since 2018 The establishment is determined to achieve
The LHC CJ added that the judicial system was not established to serve powerful personalities but to defend the rights of innocent, helpless and weak people He urged the jurists to work tirelessly to realise the dream of an independent judiciary in the country
Minister Hossein Amir-Abdollahian and others During the visit, the prime minister met with the Iranian Supreme Leader Ali Khamenei and Acting President Mohammad Mokhber to offer condolence on behalf of the government
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 Saturday 25 May 2024 NEWS ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Friday said that Pakistan wanted to benefit from the Chinese experience to promote its Information Technology sector and boost exports He was talking to a delegation of the representatives of the Chinese companies which called on him at the PM House The prime minister while welcoming the delegation, said China and Pakistan enjoyed long-standing brotherly relations that were further strengthening with the passage of time “China has an important role in Pakistan’s development It has always helped Pakistan in difficult times for which the entire nation including me is grateful to the Chinese leadership and the people,” he said He emphasized that the security and protection of the Chinese workers and citizens was the top priority of the government The government has taken all possible measures to ensure foolproof security of the Chinese citizens in Pakistan,” he said, adding that in that regard a comprehensive plan had been prepared As regards the China Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) the prime minister said that his upcoming visit to China would be fully focused on the second phase of the mega project, besides further promoting bilateral economic relations PM Shehbaz pointed out that China was the second largest economy in the world which was a source of great satisfaction for Pakistan The way China lifted 700 million people out of poverty is a beacon for us The prime minister said Pakistan was an agriculture country and it wanted to utilize modern technology in the sector Commerce Minister Jam Kamal Khan Economic Affairs Minister Ahad Khan Cheema, Finance Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb, Planning Minister Ahsan
attended the meeting The prime minister informed the delegation that the government was taking measures on priority to increase the foreign direct investment in the country Reforms were being introduced at the government level to expand the tax net, discourage tax leakages and stop tax theft from the system He also invited the Chinese companies to invest in Pakistan s electric and hybrid auto sector The prime minister also directed the authorities concerned to resolve all the issues of the Chinese companies in Pakistan During the meeting Minister for Planning and Development Ahsan Iqbal briefed the prime minister about meeting of the Joint Coordination Committee of CPEC He said it was agreed in the meeting that the up-gradation of the Pakistan Railways Main Line 1 (ML-1), realignment of Karakoram Highway establishment of Special Economic Zones Gwadar port and Agriculture Demonstration Zones would be the prioritized projects of the second phase of CPEC PTI raises alarm about ‘threat’ to Imran’s life ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Senior leaders of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) on Friday raised alarm over the potential assassination threat to former prime minister Imran Khan Speaking at a press conference at the KhyberPakhtunkhwa House in Islamabad a day after the party’s Central Secretariat was sealed by Capital Development Authority (CDA) for violating building by-laws PTI Information Secretary Raoof Hasan Latif Khosa Firdous Shamim Naqvi and Ali Muhammad Khan underscored the grave dangers facing their leader Imran Khan had already expressed concerns about his life being in danger, and now it seems that is becoming a reality,” Raoof Hasan stated “They used to remove and install prime ministers at will but when things didn t go their way this time they orchestrated the drama of May 9 Raoof Hasan revealed that PTI s Secretariat was broken into last night Just a day before, a UN delegation was here, and they attacked us Even the UN vehicle was inspected,” he said “Their hatred has not subsided We have been living under state fascism for two years They couldn’t accept the election results showing massive public support for Imran Khan Despite all their tactics Khan s strength only grew Now, it seems their last resort is assassination Ali Muhammad Khan called the recent attack on the PTI Secretariat an attack on democracy itself “They are closing down spaces where the largest political party can communicate Last night’s incident shows that their intolerance knows no bounds he declared When political party offices are shut non-state actors get an opportunity Is the ideology of PTI just in a building? No, it resides in our hearts ‘Controversial T weets’: Swati’s interim bail extended till June 11 ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T The Special Judge Central Court on Friday extended until June 11 the interim bail of former federal minister Azam Swati in Controversial Tweets Case Counsels for Swati – Advocate Ali Sohail Khan and Advocate Murtaza Turi appeared on behalf of the PTI leader The bail plea of Azam Swati, however, could not be heard as Special Judge Central Court Humayun Dilawar was on leave Later Azam Swati s interim bail was extended until June 11 In his brief interaction with media persons at the Judicial Complex, Swati emphasised the supremacy of the constitution and law, stating that the country would not function properly unless judges and generals ensure adherence to the legal framework ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan has rejected the fresh order of the Indian Supreme Court upholding its earlier ruling that had endorsed the Indian government s unilateral decision of revoking the special status of Jammu and Kashmir by abrogating Article 370 of the Constitution through legislation in 2019 At her weekly news briefing here on Friday Foreign Office spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch said: We reject the fresh order of the Indian Supreme Court just as we had rejected the earlier order of December 11, 2023 Two verdicts fail to recognize the internationally recognized disputed nature of Jammu and Kashmir Indian Supreme Court judgments cannot distract the international community s attention from the gross and systemic human rights violation in Indian Illegally Occupied Jammu and Kashmir ” She also mentioned the prime minister ’s visit to Iran to offer
condolence on the demise of Iranian President Ebrahim Raisi Foreign
and the people of Pakistan
FO spokesperson said that Pakistan was ready to extend any support Iran may require to investigate the helicopter crash that led to the deaths of the Iranian president foreign minister
other highranking officials Pakistan for its part remains ready to extend any support that would be required by the Iranian authorities if such a need arises,” FO Spokesperson Mumtaz Zahra Baloch replied when asked whether Pakistan offered any assistance to Iran to investigate the helicopter crash Pakistan observed a day of mourning over the tragic incident and Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif travelled to Tehran to attend the funeral of President Raisi and others Raisi was in Pakistan only last month where both countries agreed to deepen their cooperation Iran s Supreme Leader Ayatollah Khamenei told PM Shehbaz that bilateral ties between the two countries would continue to grow under the new administration She said the Kashmiris had an inalienable right to self-determination as enshrined in the UN Security Council’s resolutions India has no right to make unilateral decisions on the status of disputed territory against the will of parties in the dispute –Kashmiris and Pakistan she added The FO spokesperson welcomed the announcement by Ireland, Spain and Norway to recognise the Palestine state, following a similar announcement by Bahamas Tobago Jamaica and Barbados and called it a milestone in the decades-old quest of the Palestinian people for their right to self-determination She said that the Gaza genocide and dire humanitarian situation underlined the urgency of the establishment of an independent Palestine state with Quds Al-Sharif as the capital Pakistan trashes Indian SC order failing to recognise J&K disputed status
RAWALPINDI S TA F F R E P O R T Punjab Governor Sardar Saleem Haider Khan has expressed concerns over the hastily passed defamation law suggesting that it should have been introduced after a thorough consultation with relevant stakeholders Speaking at a ceremony for distributing appointment letters to visually impaired individuals in Rawalpindi, Governor Haider emphasized the need for a thorough review of the defamation law involving journalistic organizations and other stakeholders I haven t read this law yet he stated but once I do my legal team will also examine it The Governor indicated he might request the Punjab government to reconsider the defamation law I am hopeful that the law
their desired results at any cost ” he said “Regardless of how the public perceives it we do not accept this We cannot live as slaves Rehman asserted If it comes to it, we will leave the country, but we will not accept subjugation by the establishment Rehman criticised the efforts to sideline any party serving Pakistan and called for improved relations with neighbouring countries “This region should unite to form an Asia bloc but the establishment remains the biggest obstacle he said Regarding India he noted Our dispute with India was over Kashmir Now that Kashmir has been given to them, this conflict should end Wi l l p re fe r to l e ave c o u n t r y to b e c o m i n g a ‘s l ave to e s t a b l i s h m e n t ’ : Fa z l
The
and
Punjab governor hints at sending defamation bill back for review
LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T