Z ARDARI ORDERS ‘ELIMINATION’ OF CRIMES IN SINDH TO BOLSTER PUBLIC CONFIDENCE
tional cricket matches He assured the president of daily monitoring and proactive measures to maintain law and order in the province
been resolved with 43 arrests and 13 fatalities in encounters Similarly out of 136 cases involving 174 injuries 49 cases have been resolved with 114 arrests and nine fatalities in encounters
President Zardari directed CM Murad to ensure effective execution of the operation against street crime to bolster public confidence He questioned why police were not targeting markets and individuals involved in the sale of stolen goods, emphasising the need for action and progress reporting
MQM-P leader Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui praised President Zardari s focus on Karachi s law and order suggesting monthly meetings to enhance citizen trust in the government
CM Murad apprised the president of the improving law and order situation highlighting recent peaceful events such as the visit of the Iranian president and the smooth conduct of PSL and interna-
During the meeting, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) provided a comprehensive briefing on the current state of law and order President Zardari was informed that while crimes against persons had slightly decreased compared to the previous year, there was a concerning rise in property crimes Efforts to address these issues were discussed, including strategies to reduce crime rates across various categories In response to inquiries Zardari was briefed on the fluctuating trends in street crime cases, revealing a slight decrease in March and April compared to January and February
Regarding crime resolution it was reported that out of 48 street crime cases resulting in 49 fatalities 27 cases have
The Sindh CM highlighted Karachi’s remarkable improvement in the global crime index dropping from sixth place in 2014 to 82nd in 2024 He juxtaposed Karachi s crime index of 56 5 with other major cities, emphasising the city s comparatively lower crime rate President Zardari expressed concern over Karachi’s persistent high crime rate despite lacking discernible reasons Efforts to combat street crime include the revitalisation of the Shaheen Force with 386 deployed motorcycles, bolstering Madadgar-15 with 168 additional vehicles and 120 motorcycles, and proposals for E-Tagging of repeat offenders and the Sindh Smart Surveillance System (S4) project
Concerning the Kacha area, measures such as the establishment of 107 police pickets along the left bank of the River Indus and efforts to combat kidnapping were discussed President Zardari instructed the establishment of police pickets on the right bank to cover Shikarpur and Kashmore districts Regarding dacoit operations it was reported that 63 dacoits were killed 120 injured and 418 arrested with 469 weapons recovered President Zardari urged intensified operations against dacoits and severe measures against kidnappers
He instructed the completion of the Karachi Safe City project fencing/dualisation of the Northern bypass and development along the River Indus He directed community engagement to resolve tribal feuds in the Kacha areas President Zardari directed Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi to facilitate Sindh Police in acquiring sensitive equipment Regarding narcotics coordinated efforts between police Rangers and the ET&NC department were emphasised
COA S, UK counterpar t discuss measures to elevate bilateral
defence ties fur ther
RAWALPINDI
S TA F F R E P O R T
Chief of Army Staff (COAS)
General Asim Munir met his British counterpart General Sir Patrick Sanders where the two discussed measures to further elevate bilateral defence relations, the military’s media affairs wing said on Wednesday In the meeting which was also attended by CGS-designate of the UK Army General Sir Roland Walker, both sides discussed matters of professional interest and measures to further elevate bilateral defence relations” the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) said The army chief thanked Gen Sanders, the chief of general staff (CGS) of the UK Army, for his services in enhancing bilateral military ties and felicitated Gen Walker on his nomination as the UK Army s next CGS the statement added COAS Munir and Gen Sanders addressed the opening session of the sixth Pakistan-UK Regional Stabilisation Conference at Islamabad’s National Defence University on Tuesday the ISPR
said The UK Army s CGS-designate also attended the event The conference is a flagship defence and security dialogue between Pakistan and the UK held alternately in the two countries the statement noted It brings together a formidable corpus of subject matter experts in diverse domains, including diplomats defence officials intellectuals and civil society representatives In connection with the conference, a 30-member UK delegation led by Standing Joint Force Commander Major General Tom Bateman was visiting Pakistan from April 29 to May 3 the ISPR said During the conference dele-
gations from both sides will
In par tnership with Profit T h u r s d a y, 2 M a y, 2 0 2 4 I | 2 3 S h a w w a l , 1 4 4 5 R s 2 0 0 0 | Vo l X I V N o 3 0 2 I 8 Pa g e s I La h o r e E d i t i o n
KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T P R E S I D E N T Asif Ali Zardari on Wednesday directed the Sindh Chief Minister to initiate a vigorous operation against street criminals in Karachi and dacoits in Kacha area asking provincial government to check drug traffickers across the province in coordination with other regions Chairing a high-level law and order meeting at CM House in Karachi on Wednesday, the President expressed zero tolerance for illegal land occupation ordering its immediate cessation He urged for the implementation of posting tenures for police officers, with strict performance monitoring and removal protocols for underperforming officers The meeting, attended by key officials including Federal Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi and Federal IT Minister Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui focused on enhancing security measures Notable attendees also included Senior Minister Sharjeel Memon, Minister of Energy Nasir Hussain Shah, and other provincial and federal officials Additionally President Zardari instructed the chief minister to ensure foolproof security for foreign nationals residing and working in Sindh, with particular emphasis on safeguarding Chinese nationals involved in CPEC-related projects
g C M S H A H J U X TA P O S E D K A R A C H I ’ S C R I M E I N D E X O F 5 6 5 W I T H OT H E R M A J O R C I T I E S, E M P H A S I S I N G C I T Y ’ S C O M PA R AT I V E LY ‘ LO W E R C R I M E R AT E ’ g C H A I R S H I G H - L E V E L M E E T I N G, D I R E C T S V I G O R O U S C R A C K D O W N O N S T R E E T C R I M I N A L S, K A C H A D A C O I T S, A N D D R U G T R A F F I C K E R S A C R O S S P R O V I N C E
exchange perspectives on global and regional environment and its impact on national security and regional peace and stability ” it added The ISPR highlighted that this year the scope of discussion had been expanded from bilateral to regional issues and that defence offi-
of both countries were also participating in the conference In a meeting with COAS Munir last year during his Pakistan visit the UK CGS had acknowledged the Pakistan Army s sacrifices in the fight against terrorism He had also called on Chairman Joint Chiefs of Staff Committee General Sahir Shamshad Mirza
cials
PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The conclusion of Pakistan s $3 billion standby arrangement with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) has coincided with a steep increase in the nation s budget deficit, reaching Rs4 33 trillion for the current fiscal year ’s July-March period This spike raises concerns over the efficacy of IMF-prescribed policies intended to bolster Pakistan’s economic stability The Ministry of Finance revealed on Tuesday that despite a primary surplus reaching 1 8% of GDP in the first half of fiscal year 2024 a figure praised by IMF Deputy Managing Director Antoinette Sayeh the broader economic scenario remains challenging A key issue is the country’s historic high interest rate of 22% which has consumed around 60% of the budget Interest payments alone during this period amounted to Rs5 52 trillion, surpassing the government s net income by Rs205 billion This indicates reliance on new borrowing to manage these payments, showing a 54% increase over the previous fiscal year The high interest rates which are part of IMF’s strategy to control inflation have not been as effective as hoped Inflation rates have been revised to an anticipated 24 8%, and the cost of domestic debt servicing has risen to Rs4 8 trillion in the nine months However Pakistan did achieve a primary budget surplus of Rs1 2 trillion meeting the IMF’s conditions but excluding the large interest payments that exceed total net income contributing to the country s escalating debt Including interest costs, the federal budget deficit climbed to 4 1% of GDP, a 23% increase amounting to Rs803 billion compared to the previous year Total federal spending also surged by 38% to Rs9 6 trillion with current expenditures up by 40% to Rs9 3 trillion Significant rises were also noted in defense spending which increased by 22% to Rs1 22 trillion The cumulative burden of debt servicing and defense obligations totaled Rs6 74 trillion, surpassing the government’s net income The government allocated Rs473 billion for subsidies and slightly reduced development expenditures to Rs322 billion In a positive turn non-tax revenues saw a dramatic 95% increase to Rs2 4 trillion, primarily driven by revenue from the petroleum levy which totaled Rs719 billion Profits from the central bank also remained robust at Rs972 billion The Federal Board of Revenue reported a 30% increase in tax collection bringing in Rs6 7 trillion over nine months and raising gross federal revenue receipts to Rs9 1 trillion Yet, after distributing provincial shares, the net income of the federal government stood at only Rs5 3 trillion, insufficient to cover the soaring interest payments Sayeh emphasized the importance of continuing reforms particularly in the energy sector where Pakistan has made strides in stabilizing circular debt through better tariff management and collection improvements However, further reforms are deemed crucial for addressing deeper systemic issues and ensuring sustainable economic health Pakistan faces fiscal pressures after concluding $3b IMF programme g KEY ISSUE IS COUNTRY ’S HISTORIC HIGH INTEREST RATE OF 22%, WHICH HA S CONSUMED AROUND 60% OF BUDGET ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) expressed dismay over the conduct of the Chief Justice of Pakistan (CJP) during the Supreme Court’s (SC) proceedings on the issue of meddling by intelligence agencies in judicial affairs and demanded a full court except CJP to hear the matter on a daily basis Speaking at a press conference here on Wednesday along with Gilgit-Baltistan former chief minister Khalid Khursheed and PTI Core Committee member Advocate Abuzar Salman Niazi PTI Central Information Secretary Raoof Hasan said that the meddling in the judicial affairs was a very serious issue but unfortunately a spectacle was staged in the apex court the other day He demanded that the matter should be heard by full court consisting of the existing judges of the top court to decide the issue as per the constitution and law of the land but the CJP should disassociate himself from the bench because he could not do justice Raoof said that the six judges of Islamabad High Court (IHC) penned letter to chief justice to take up the matter of spy agencies’ meddling in judicial affairs in the Supreme Judicial Council but he referred the matter to the executive and prime minister was asked to form a commission to investigate the matter However, he said that they should not forget that two persons who were implicated one of them was prime minister and other was operatives of intelligence agencies, adding that giving responsibility to an implicated person to constitute commission and appoint its head to look into the matter was in itself a crime in our view, which was committed by CJP He made it clear that if punitive actions were not taken against the meddling of judicial affairs by operators of spy agencies the practice could be not reined in come what may PTI CIS stated that the entire judiciary was standing on one side about the interfering in judicial affairs while the CJP on the other side, who always kept on saying that there was meddling in judiciary during his tenure despite the fact that even a common man knew that even today there was a judiciary was infringed upon Raoof went on to say that the IHC judges letter and the high courts responses were the indictment and the chief justice should have proceeded the matter as per the constitution; however, he adopted a entirely a different view on the matter, adding that this person was fighting against the entire judiciary He noted that all the judges were on same page that they should take tangible and practical measures to erect firewall against meddling in judicial affairs in future, but no one could judge as to which side the incumbent Chief Justice was standing at present despite the fact that PHC and LHC also submitted responses regarding meddling in judicial affairs About Labor Day he said that Imran Khan-led government had taken a number of initiatives to make Pakistan a welfare state; however unfortunately his dream could not be materialized due to the conspiracy to oust his government P T I d e m a n d s f u l l c o u r t m i n u s C J P t o h e a r m e d d l i n g c a s e C O N T I N U E D O N PA G E 03 g GEN A SIM MUNIR THANKS GEN SANDERS FOR HIS SERVICES IN ENHANCING BILATERAL MILITARY TIES Pakistan strongly condemns deadly mosque attack in Herat ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan on Wednesday strongly condemned heinous terrorist attack on a mosque in Afghanistan s Herat city that resulted in loss of precious lives and injuries At least six people including imam of the mosque and a three-year-old child were killed in the attack, with local residents, claiming the minority Shia community had been targeted “The people and government of Pakistan extend their heartfelt condolences to the people of Afghanistan Our thoughts and prayers are with the victims and their families in this hour of grief a Foreign Office statement said on Wednesday Pakistan condemns terrorism in all its forms and manifestations, including despicable attacks on places of worship ” it added While no group claimed the attack the regional chapter of Da ish is the largest security threat in Afghanistan and has frequently targeted Shia communities The Taliban government has pledged to protect religious and ethnic minorities since returning to power in August 2021, but rights monitors say they’ve done little to make good on that promise The most notorious attack linked to Da ish since the Taliban takeover was in 2022 when at least 53 people –including 46 girls and young women – were slain in the suicide bombing of an education centre Taliban officials blamed Da ish for the attack, which happened in a Shia neighbourhood of the capital Kabul Afghanistan’s new rulers claim to have ousted Da’ish from the country and are highly sensitive to suggestions the group has found safe haven there since the withdrawal of foreign forces Taliban authorities have frequently given death tolls lower than other sources after bombings and gun attacks, or otherwise downplayed them, in an apparent attempt to minimise security threats
MOST TO ENSURE MANDATORY ‘MANUFACTURING AND EXPIRY DATES’ ON CEMENT BAGS
Ton bags and collectively on bales for export but omit them for local products He stressed the need for a collaborative control mechanism involving all stakeholders
The Ministry pledged full assistance to the CCP in protecting consumer interests as mandated in Section 10 of the Competition Act, 2010 It was decided in the meeting that the matter
A delegation of Pakistani elite youth which recently visited Urumqi Kashgar and Atush said that Xinjiang s ethnic groups enjoy social stability, religious freedom and Economic development During the visit, the delegation engaged in in-depth exchanges with local people of all ethnic groups and experienced the actual situation of social stability economic development improvement of people s livelihood, religious harmony, cultural prosperity, and thriving tourism in Xinjiang, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday “All ethnic groups in Xinjiang live in harmony and enjoy the beauty of various cultures You can always see people dancing together happily and I really feel that the life of Xinjiang people is sweeter than honey, stated Hina Pervaiz Butt, a leader of the Pakistan Muslim League-N
She expressed that Xinjiang is so beautiful and she is looking forward to visiting again with her family and friends
Woman kidnaps her own son in Narowal
ago Police said in this regard that in order to humiliate and scare the relatives the mother had created a drama of child abduction The police said that woman s husband is living abroad The police recovered the child in two days with the help of human intelligence source and modern technology The abducted child was hidden by a quack a friend of child’s mother in his tent the police said After two days of child s abduction the concerned police arrested the quack who also was involved in the kidnapping of Muhammad Zubair However, Rehana Bibi, the mastermind of the child’s abduction has managed to escape, said police Narowal police had registered a case of kidnapping on the complaint of Muhammad Zubair s uncle Muhammad Shehbaz The child was suddenly abducted from outside the house on April 27, the police said
The delegation visited several villages in Atush and learned about the development of rural tourism there The villages in Xinjiang are so beautiful; the villagers courtyards are clean, neat, and well-decorated I think people here are full of confidence in their future development Xinjiang is developing very rapidly with convenient transportation and well-
developed city clusters, said Qasim Qamar, an official from Sindh Province, who visited Xinjiang eight years ago The delegation experienced the vitality of Xinjiang’s high-quality economic development after visiting the Kashgar Comprehensive Free Trade Zone and Urban Planning Hall of Urumqi Cultural Center
Covering 180 square kilometers, the Xinjiang pilot FTZ has been granted more autonomy to implement reforms and attract investments China deems it necessary to contribute to building a golden channel between Asia and the West Predictions suggest that the FTZ will create opportunities for Central Asia, West Asia, and South Asia Pakistan as the home of China-Pakistan Economic Corridor and a close ally of China is uniquely positioned to reap the benefits of the FTZ and Xinjiang said Shakeel Ahmad Ramay, one of the delegation members and a political economist
“The Chinese government is focusing on preserving culture enhancing people’s
Not understanding Jinnah’s anti-Israel ideology is disloyalt y to Pakistan, says JUI-F chief
ISLAMABAD
S ta f f R e p o R t
Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) chief, Maulana Fazlur Rehman has criticised the government s policies and said that there is no region in the world under the name of Israel historically but there are talks in Islamabad of recognising it
While addressing the National Palestine Conference held in Lahore on Wednesday Fazl expressed solidarity in Arabic language with the Palestinian leaders attending the conference
He said that the name of Israel is not found anywhere in history, adding that the Jews were settled under the support of Great Britain with a conspiracy Pakistan was not established when the resolution for the establishment of Israel was approved he said Maulana Fazlur Rehman said that we did not even understand the anti-Israel ideology of Quaid-e-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, which is a dis-
loyalty to the Pakistan ideology
Surprisingly there is not a state named Israel nor its location is defined and here we are taking about recognising it, he added
Referring to the 1967 UN resolutions he said that these are yet to be implemented The UN actually justifies Israel s defence as the Muslim World is reluctant Israel occupied the Golan heights There was bipolar power balance before the Soviet Union s invasion to Afghanistan and as a result the power balance was disturbed ” he remarked Fazl said Al-Aqsa mosque belongs to the whole Muslim world and we are also ready to die for the protection of Holy places in Saudi Arabia
The JUI-F chief also criticised the government, saying that where is the government of Prime Minister Shahbaz Sharif? He raised a question mentioning Captain Safdar Did he [Safdar] scold us or his in-laws? Go and scold those who are in power he said
He also came down hard on the US and Europe for being involved in war crimes Unite States is a killer of human rights and the first in the history to use nuclear weapons it is also involved in human rights violations at Abu Ghuraib jail he said while exposing the human rights claims of the US Fazl said that Iraq was doomed and oppressed Saddam Hussain is still alive those who killed him are dead today,” he remarked He appreciated the role of South Africa for bringing the Gaza issue to the International Court of Justice Hamas has actually launched the war to liberate the Palestine and the whole world is recognising this stance, he said The JUI-F chief said that Hamas attacked Israel to free Palestine “World is calling the war launched by Hamas as a war launched for the liberation of Palestine he added
Pakistan, Turkey, Iran, Azerbaijan, Kazakhstan and Tajikistan delegation visits Beijing
BEIJING S ta f f R e p o R t
A delegation comprised over 15 participants from the Economic Cooperation Organization Science Foundation (ECOSF) including Pakistan Turkey Iran Azerbaijan Kazakhstan and Tajikistan visited Beijing
The delegation representing the ECOSF, an intergovernmental organization for scientific and technological cooperation was here for a two-week international training course from April 15 to 29, Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday
The training sponsored by China s National New Energy Vehicle Technology Innovation Center aims to enhance the participants understanding of China s NEV industry and explore potential cooperation in the field of
sustainable energy
The training workshop was led by leading Chinese experts in the field of electric vehicles (EVs) who delivered insightful sessions and lectures on various important topics such as electric vehicle policies, drivetrain technologies, battery technologies, smart manufacturing, autonomous driving and charging and battery swapping infrastructure among others
Participants also gained valuable insights through their visits to Launch Design (a global leader in turnkey solutions for electric vehicles), Baidu Autonomous Driving Center, Great Wall Motors Manufacturing Facility, Hydrogen Fuel Cell Technology, Lithium Ion Battery Assembling and Energy Hub’s battery swapping station
As representatives of the ECO Member States the delegation presented a comprehensive electric mobility
market analysis and delivered tailored approaches for achieving the region s electric mobility targets
One of the most impressive aspects was the level of innovation evident in Chinese automakers, particularly in reducing manufacturing time from 48 months to less than 24 months ” Engr Khalil Raza, a seasoned Pakistani professional with expertise in sustainable energy told Gwadar Pro adding this demonstrates both remarkable time efficiency and resource efficiency as new technologies enable the production of NEVs with fewer material resources, consequently reducing costs China s leading role in the EV sector globally is attributed to a robust domestic supply chain, a highly skilled and trained workforce and a meticulously crafted policy framework that incentivizes and supports Chinese automakers he explained
skills, and providing education in religious studies, Shakeel said during his visit to a state-of-the-art madrassa for the Muslim community in Urumqi After visiting an exhibition on the fight against terrorism and deradicalization in Xinjiang members of the delegation expressed their support for Xinjiang s efforts to combat terrorism and extremism
“This is the real Xinjiang Harmony, stability, and prosperity prevail, which starkly contrasts with the portrayal by some Western media Murtaza Mehmood a member of the National Assembly of Pakistan emphasized that terrorism transcends boundaries, religion, or nationality, and Pakistan has also been a victim of it China’s experience in Xinjiang is worth learning from “What we saw in Xinjiang is that people s livelihoods are improving people are experiencing the benefits of modernization drive, Muslims and other communities live together peacefully We would like to show the
Thursday 2 May 2024 LAHORE 02 NEWS ISLAMABAD G h u l a m a b b a S
H E Ministry of Science and Technology has decided to send the Competition Commission of Pakistan s (CCP) proposal about the revision of national cement standards to the PSQCA for deliberation in the Technical Committee The proposal required the PSQCA an attached department of the MoST to ensure the disclosure of manufacturing/expiry dates on cement bags As per details a CCP team, led by Member Office of Fair Trade (OFT) Saeed Ahmad Nawaz, held a follow-up meeting with Ali Tahir, Additional Secretary (Incharge) of the Ministry of Science and Technology (MoST) to discuss the proposal to amend the National Cement Standards making the manufacturing/packaging and expiry/best before dates on cement bags mandatory The proposal was sent through a Policy Note issued on 7 March 2024 to MoST and the Pakistan Standards and Quality Control Authority (PSQCA) During the meeting Member CCP emphasized the importance of these disclosures due to cement s hygroscopic nature noting that non-disclosure violates Section 10 of the Competition Act 2010 He highlighted the current practice where manufacturers disclose manufacturing/packaging and expiry/best before dates individually
will be referred to PSQCA for deliberations in the Technical Committee meeting which is scheduled on 7 May 2024 The participants of the meeting also agreed with Member CCP s proposal of convening a meeting with stakeholders, including the cement manufacturers association, to discuss the issue and inform them about potential enforcement actions The meeting was also attended by senior officials from CCP the MoST and the PSQCA Currently, all types of cement in Pakistan adhere to packaging standards set by the PSQCA The introduction of mandatory manufacturing and expiry date disclosures is a small step to empower consumers and foster true competition among brands A note by CCP set on April 16th emphasized the need to align Pakistan s standards with international labeling practices to ensure consistency and transparency in the domestic market It also aims to address the disparity between domestic and export labeling requirements thereby safeguarding the interests of local consumers The CCP in its note, condemned the omission of material information on cement packaging as deceptive marketing and advocated for the mandatory printing of expiry dates to protect consumer interests and promote fair competition within the industry An advisory was sent to the All Pakistan Cement Manufacturers Association (APCMA) and its members urging compliance with the new labeling requirements to prioritize consumer safety and satisfaction
ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t The Committee on Science and Technology of the Organization of Islamic Cooperation (COMSTECH) has partnered with Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM) to provide training programs for technicians covering a range of disciplines in both medical and STEM (Science, Technology, Engineering, and Mathematics) fields The primary goal is to build and strengthen scientific and technological capacities within OIC member states Gwadar Pro reported on Wednesday In this collaborative effort titled the COMSTECH-Hunan University of Chinese Medicine (HUCM) Technicians Training Program, 13 individuals from seven countries will visit China from May 6 to May 17 to receive advanced training in Medical Sciences and Science and Technology The training program will include instruction on NMR and MRI techniques as well as sessions focusing on Ethno Medicine Innovation and Traditional Chinese Medicine (TCM) Training will be conducted in two cities: Changsha and Beijing Technical visits will also be part of the program, with trainees visiting Tianjin Tasly Holding Among the 13 selected individuals two are from Pakistan two from Cameroon two from Indonesia and two from Bangladesh Additionally one participant each hails from Sudan Kazakhstan, Egypt, and the UAE (with Pakistani origin) The candidates represent diverse educational and professional backgrounds, ranging from Lab Supervisors and Research Assistants to Lecturers and Assistant Professors at their respective institutions Khazima Muazim Program Manager emphasized the prioritization of female candidates from Least Developed Countries (LDCs) to address marginalization and ensure inclusivity within the program This initiative was launched in December 2023, and after a rigorous selection process at COMSTECH and HUCM, we have selected 13 individuals from seven countries to be part of this program,” she said, acknowledging the leadership of HUCM particularly Prof Dr Wei Wang Dean and WHO focal persons on TCM for his incredible support as well as the technical partners of the program Tianjin Holding Prof Dr M Iqbal Choudhary, Coordinator General of COMSTECH, outlined the first phase of the program, which includes two components: the technician training program and Post-Doc study at Hunan University COMSTECH is also in the process of initiating similar programs with Ningbo University and Xinjiang Medical University Additionally, COMSTECH has established a joint program with Huawei Technologies China in the field of cybersecurity “OIC organizations will collaborate with China for the benefit of Muslim member states In the first phase 13 individuals have been selected from seven member countries Next we aim to engage more individuals not only at the technological educational and scientific levels, but also in the promotion of TCM, said Dr Iqbal, adding that 20 doctors from Pakistan will also receive training in Chinese traditional medicines in China
g M E E T I N G H E L D B E T W E E N CC P T E A M A N D S C I E N C E M I N I S T RY I N C H A R G E TO D E L I B E R AT E P R O P O S A L COMSTECH par tnered with C hinese University for training program in C hina ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t
X i n j i a n g e n j oys s o c i a l s t a b i l i t y, re l i g i o u s f re e d o m a n d e c o n o m i c d eve l o p m e n t : H i n a Pe r va i z B u t t Rare
LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t Birdwatchers in Lahore were treated to a pleasant surprise with the arrival of rare Eurasian and Himalayan griffon vultures in a local housing society This sighting marks the first time these vultures have been seen in Lahore after a long absence of almost three decades, leaving experts to believe that changing weather patterns are influencing their migration Experts believe the harsh weather conditions in the northern regions of the country coupled with the search for food have forced these vultures to abandon their usual habitats The sight of these two different species together in the southwestern area of Lahore has left bird and wildlife enthusiasts delighted Fahad Malik a prominent wildlife activist and head of the Mission Awareness Foundation noted that these rare vultures haven t been seen in Lahore for nearly three decades While the vultures managed to settle for a short period, crows and kites eventually forced them to take flight again, soaring high into the southern skies The presence of these vultures in Punjab is significant as they haven’t been spotted in the region for decades Back in 2005 the Punjab Wildlife Department in collaboration with the World Wide Fund for Nature, established a restoration and conservation center for these vultures in the Changa Manga area The center reported remarkable success in 2015 having successfully bred 32 vultures However concerns regarding the natural habitat of these vultures remain Experts are hesitant to release them back into the wild due to fears that they may not survive without suitable and safe environments Street gang war leaves shopkeeper dead in Lahore’s Model Town LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t A cross-firing between two rival groups on Model Town Link Raod claimed the life of a passer-by on Wednesday According to the details, a shopkeeper of Hafeez Trade Center in Gulburg Muhammad Yunusa (34-year-old) was passing through the Model Town Link Road when he came in the middle of a cross-firing between two rival gangs and a bullet hit him in Chest Passer-by Muhammad Yunus was badly injured and rushed to Jinnah Hospital for medical assistance but he died on the way Soon after watching the injury of a man, both the gang members immediately escaped from the crime scene The deceased’s family told the media that Mohammad Yunus had no enmity with anyone The victim s family demanded the authorities give them justice and punish the murderers In a separate crime incident in Lahore, dacoits shoot to injure a brave shopkeeper Malik Amir in the Garhi Shahu area on resistance while looting cash from traders According to the channel report the shopkeeper resisted and ran after dacoits who fell from their motorbike and started a scuffle The dacoits with a fear of being captive opened a fire on the resisting shopkeeper Amir who was injured by the bullet
real and beautiful Xinjiang to more people ” said Shakeel
vultures seen in Lahore after three decades
NAR OWAL S ta f f R e p o R t A woman with the help of her lover kidnapped her own son in Narowal, police said on Wednesday The police recovered 10-year-old child Muhammad Zubair who was kidnapped two days
I E L D H O S P I TA L I N B A H AW A L P U R
Ministers Khawaja Salman Rafique, Special Assistant Zeeshan Malik MPA Sania Ashiq Chief Secretary Secretary Health Secretary Information and other relevant officers were also present on the occasion
After lull in March, militant attacks rise by 38pc in April: PICSS
The Pakistan Institute for Conflict and Security Studies (PICSS) on Wednesday unveiled its monthly security assessment report, revealing that after a brief lull in March militant attacks in Pakistan surged once more in April 2024 with Khyber Pakhtunkhwa particularly its southern districts bearing the brunt These PICSS, an Islamabad-based think tank, disclosed its findings in the monthly security assessment titled: April 2024: Surge in Militant Attacks Moderate Human Impact vs March: PICSS Report The report revealed that the country experienced at least 77 verifiable militant attacks during April, resulting in 70 fatalities, including 35 civilians and 31 security forces personnel, with four militants killed and 67 individuals injured among whom were 32 civilians and 35 security forces personnel In comparison March 2024 saw 56 militant attacks, resulting in 77 fatalities and 67 injuries This indicates a 38 percent increase in the number of militant attacks, although there was a 9 percent decline in deaths with no change in the number of injuries The PICSS security report also underscored the efforts of Pakistani security forces in thwarting numer-
ous potential attacks during the month At least 55 suspected militants were killed, and 12 others were arrested including individuals involved in the Basham suicide attack marking a 55 percent increase in militant deaths compared to March
The report further highlighted that 73 percent of the total militant attacks reported in April occurred in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province including its tribal districts with 56 attacks reported in the province during the month in which 43 people were killed including 26 security forces personnel and 17 civilians while 32 people were injured including 19 security forces personnel and 13 civilians Within Khyber Pakhtunkhwa mainland districts saw more attacks and fatalities than tribal districts (formerly FATA) Mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa witnessed 31 attacks, resulting in 25 fatalities and 10 injuries The southern districts of DI Khan, Lakki Marwat, Bannu, and Tank were the most affected with DI Khan and Lakki Marwat facing seven militant attacks each Bannu facing six and Tank witnessing two attacks Together these districts accounted for 71 percent of the attacks in mainland Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Additionally, the capital Peshawar faced four attacks while other districts such as Swat Swabi
The newly elected Executive Committee of the Management Association of Pakistan (MAP) held its 599th Executive Committee Meeting on Monday April 29 2024 at a local hotel in Karachi During this meeting, the following Office Bearers were elected, for the period 2024-2027: Senator Sarmad Ali –President, Mr Abid Akber Vazir –Vice President Mr Khalid Zaman Khan – Honorary Secretary and Mr Farrukh V Junaidy – Honorary Treasurer Earlier the Association held its 58th Annual General Meeting at a local hotel in Karachi and the following Executive Committee members were declared e lected unopposed for the period 2024-2027: Mr Abid Akber Vazir, Executive Director, Cherat Cement Company Ltd Mr Ahmed Zahid Zaheer Country Chairman & GM Chevron Pakistan Lubricants (Pvt ) Lim-
Charsadda, Shangla, and Batagram experienced one attack each
In the tribal districts of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (formerly FATA) PICSS recorded at least 25 attacks resulting in 18 fatalities and 22 injuries North Waziristan, Bajour, and South Waziristan were the most affected districts, with nine, five, and four attacks reported, respectively
According to the PICSS report Balochistan faced 16 attacks resulting in 21 fatalities including 17 civilians and four security forces personnel, with 31 individuals injured Most of these attacks were concentrated in the Baloch belt of the province particularly in the south and southwest Specifically three attacks were reported from Khuzdar two from Kech Kohlu and Quetta each, and one each from Chaman, Dera Bugti, Duki, Kalat, Kharan, Mastung, and Nushki Punjab also witnessed a surge in militant activities with four attacks reported in April compared to one in March resulting in three fatalities Similarly one attack was reported in Sindh resulting in three fatalities In the first four months of the year, Pakistan experienced a total of 323 militant attacks resulting in 324 fatalities and 387 injuries
ited Mr Fahd Kamal Chinoy CEO Pakistan Cables Ltd Mr Farrukh V Junaidy, Sr Partner Junaidy Shoaib Asad Chartered Accountants, Mr Humayun Akhlaq, CEO / Country President Schneider Electric Solutions & Services (Pvt ) Ltd Mr Khalid Zaman Khan SEVP Group Head HR Learning & Development Meezan Bank Ltd Mr Muhammad Intesaruddin Director RG Blue Communications (Pvt ) Ltd Ms Saadia Naveed Dy Managing Director, English Biscuit Manufacturers (Pvt ) Ltd , Senator Sarmad Ali, Group Managing Director & President Revenue, The Jang / GEO Media Group, Mr Zubair Haider, CEO Lumina Consulting Services (Pvt ) Ltd Syed Ali Hasan Naqvi continues to be the Executive Director During the 58th AGM the Annual Accounts of the Association and the report of
Two valued collec tions of modern Urdu verse
may/Mahekuthahaiandherabhiraushnikitarah
Maeinundar say kahiNtootahuahuN/Mujheybahar say jorajarahahai
Ankh say aasmanjatahai by Tariq Naeem (480 pp) ‘Haikel’ by IqtidarJaved (176 pp)
Tariq Naeem and IqtidarJaved are now veterans of Urdu poetry with seven and nine miscellaneous literary publications to their respective credit Lately the former has published his Kulliyat viz Ankh say aasmanjatahai (a super-collection of his three poetic anthologies titled Waqtkaintizarkaunkaray , Diye may jaltiraat , and RukihuishamoNkirahdariyaN ) whereas the latter has recently brought out his latest verse collection viz ‘Haikel’ comprising some 82 numbers of ghazal Ankh sayaasmanjatahai
Tariq Naeem is a seasoned poet Nostalgia, stream of consciousness, self-discovery through creativity, river, sand and mirage, night, probability, desert, evening, lamp and dream are the recurring images in his poetic verbiage In his prefatory remarks added at the head of the three collections of this Kulliyat the poet has ventured to expatiate on the binaries of his poetics such assense and sensation, vision and vanity, reflection and reverie,fantasy and fear, dogma and doubt,angst and agony, delight and despair In the modernistic sense, his poems epitomize introversion, inquisition, and inflexion
contributed eloquent forewords to the book in view They have delved deep into the mechanics as well as merits of Tariq Naeem s verse in general and the three works constituting the collection Ankh say aasmanjatahai , in particular The dictum that literature (and in essence poetry) expresses, represents and communicates experience by means of language can pertinently be applied to this brand of poetry which is the
ence for its own sake In it the experience of receivi
communicated are indistinguishable
Here are some lines from the book intended to acquaint the reader with the style and complexion of Tariq Naeem’s poetics:
AbgirahuN to hoshayahai/MaeiNhawa par sawar that pahlay Ajeebbaatbataihaiaainay nay mujhey/Haraik ankh may pinhaNjamal-e-aainahai
Ek din jonaguzra to kisayyaadrahuNga/HarrozeguzartahuNsar-e-sham
jahaN say HazaroNkhwabdaikhay par bhiyehkhultanahihai/Mritabeerkokiskhwab may rakhagayatha
BadalrahayhaiNbahutzindagikaypaimany/Naeysiray say maeiNiskanisablikhuNga Yehkischaraghkolayagayahaimaqtal
Is tarah zarf-e-hawaaurbhikhulsaktahai/Ekdiyaaursare-baamjalayajaaey Tamashabarhrahahaiaakhrilamhatkijanib/Tamashagar bhikhudekiste’arahonaywalahai Haikel
This is famed poet and column writer IqtidarJaved s latest verse collection, in fact his third collection of ghazal Commendatory opinions of FarrukhYar, ArifaShahzad, and Ata-ul-HaqQasmi are mentioned on the flaps of the book which as already indicated comprises 82 numbers of his ghazal
Ata-ul-HaqQasmi praises the form content and style of IqtidarJaved sghazal that mark an instant impression nay impact on the reader His poetry seems to be an artistic fusion, as it were, of his knowledge, wisdom, experience and sense perceptions, his unconventional modernistic phraseology notwithstanding Like the metaphysical poets he too tends to synthesizethe intricate processes of his thought and feeling into a palpable whole directed to enlighten the reader on the subtleties of his poetic art besides underlining the conflict between the development of the moral sense and the dehumanized world picture provided by the discoveries of the scientists
Here are a few quotes from the book meant to illustrate the preceding observations: Aeyshayr-e-kargar tri taufiqshukriya/Maienthadua to harf-e-duakardiyamujhey
Alfaazaurqawafi tarakeebaurishq/Hum logoNwastaykoi gulzarkhulgaya WahaNhumlogpahunchay to savera ho rahatha/Ba harsuChe Guevara Che Guevara ho rahatha Neechaydo abay may zaraaanaykidayrthi/Seenafarakh ho gayadarya-e-tang ka
Aik Big Bang thaphooloNkichatak say nikla/Kaamsui say nanikla to palak say nikla
HamarineeNdhai so toot-tihaidarmiyaN say/Hamaramulkhai so ibtilajariraheygi EkhaqiqatjobayaNkartahuNmaeiNalfaaz may/ChahtahuNjistarahaisaybayaNhotinahiN FarrukhYar a contemporary poet critic and intellectual, has rightly averred that the ghazal of Haikel is like a vast but luminous realm of experimentation which is ever-expanding to the benefit of its umpteen practitioners
BOOK REVIEW Thursday 2 May 2024 | LAHORE NEWS 03 PML-N currently bur ying its own politics: Asad Umar ISLAMABAD S tA f f r e p o r t Former federal minister Asad Umar on Wednesday castigated the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N), saying that the party is currently “burying its own politics” Speaking during a programme of a private TV channel Umar stated that PML-N is currently standing where the Pakistan Muslim League-Quaid (PML-Q) was standing in 2006, implying that the party has gone back on its political progress Commenting on Pakistan’s current situation, the former PTI leader severely criticized the country’s leadership saying that they have failed miserably in addressing the nation s problems Asad Umar stated that the leadership has done irreparable damage to the country and its people, and that Pakistan has been left behind while other countries have made progress He added that the current system has failed to deliver and needs to be changed He emphasised that democracy is the solution to the country s problems but politicians must find a way to work together and make decisions for the betterment of the country He also criticised the failure of the Charter of Democracy, saying that it was a mistake to think that someone else would make decisions for the country He warned that if politicians continue to fight with each other it will not yield any positive results In response to a question, Umar said that former Chief Minister Usman Buzdar is and will always remain PTI founder Imran Khan’s favourite He added that if PTI forms the government again in Punjab Usman Buzdar will be reinstated as the Chief Minister The former minister also claimed that Imran Khan was wrongly targeted with cases, but no cases were filed against Usman Buzdar LAHORE S tA f f r e p o r t C H I E F M I N I S T E R Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif reached Bahawalpur after inaugurating Field Hospital in Lahore and arrived in the suburban area of Abbas Nagar Chak Number BC-6 The CM also inaugurated the Field Hospital in Bahawalpur after its inauguration in Lahore on the same day She inspected the Mobile Health Unit and reviewed provision of facilities available over there She monitored the ultrasound room, pharmacy, laboratory and communicated with the paramedic staff She also inspected provision of facilities in the Field Hospital CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif went to the women after the inauguration ceremony and sat on a cot with them On the appeal of an elderly woman, The CM herself took her to the Field Hospital and got her x-ray ultrasound and ECG by standing alongside She showed affection and love to a son of a woman Usman by calling him close to herself She went to the residence of a villager Jamsheed Arshad on his invitation The residents of the house showed their pleasant surprise on seeing CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif present among them Madam CM got herself introduced with the women and expressed her formal apology on giving them untimely inconvenience The rural women warmly welcomed the CM on her arrival and remarked Thawada ana sade sar mathe te gam gam pe awo The Chief Minister accepted the offer to take a meal with the family members She had a meal with them by sitting on the cots She praised the simple indigenous food and thanked them The CM said She felt heartily pleased in meeting with the kindhearted rural people Their neat and clean houses as well as living are admirable It is my firm resolve to ensure progress and uplift of every village of Punjab I desire availability of a school and a hospital in every village along with nice roads as well as a clean environment CM Maryam Nawaz Sharif inaugurated a 26 km long road project stretching from Ahmadpur to Jhangrasharqi Senator Pervaiz Rashid Senior Provincial Minister Marriyum Aurangzeb Information Minister Azma Zahid Bokhari, Provincial
F
ISLAMABAD
C M M A R YA M N AW A Z I N A U G U R AT E S
S tA f f r e p o r t
KARACHI p r e S S r e l e A S e
December 31,
A B O U T M A N A G E M E N T A S S O C I AT I O N O F PA K I S TA N: The Management Association of Pakistan is a professional Association, a not-for-profit and a nonpolitical organization The Association has an elected board of directors, i e the Executive Committee, comprising corporate leaders from P akistan’s top-notch companies Since its inception in 1964 MAP has dedicated its efforts in promoting professionalism in management disciplines and best management practices The primary objective before the Association has always been to stimulate interest in, and disseminate knowledge about modern managerial practices and techniques The Association has flourished for over 60 years as an apex forum for training and communication of ideas in the field of management in Pakistan Over last sixty years the Association has organized about 1800 Seminars and Training Courses with over sixty-five thousand participants so far having benefited from such programs MAP elects new executive committee members, office-bearers M a r y a m N a w a z ’ s m e s s a g e o n I n t ’ l L a b o u r D a y LAHORE S tA f f r e p o r t Chief Minister Punjab Maryam Nawaz Sharif in her message on the International Labour Day said," I pay tribute to all the labourers across the globe on the International Labour Day The labourers are the friends of Allah Almighty and I salute all of them The religion of Islam grants a status of dignity to those who puts in hard labour for earning fair livelihood along with granting us consciousness to award respect to the labourers I especially pay tribute to those women workers for providing support to their families by working hard I pay homage to the Chicago martyrs for waging their commendable struggle on awakening peoples consciousness about rights of the labourers The labourers are the shining stars of every industry and every labourer, every worker is a real hero The determination of every labourer is the basis of progress and prosperity The sweat and hard work of labourers are included in the construction of every building every bridge every boulevard and every project of the world We pledge to respect the rights of the labourers The government is fully determined for elevating quality of life of the labourers along with ensuring their prosperity We will have to ensure awarding adequate salaries protection and respect to the labourers Lets promote the culture of giving respect to the labourers We should strive to establish such a society where every labourer is valued and acknowledged We are going to enforce Occupational Safety Act' for the protection of labourers " Zardari orders ‘elimination’ of crimes in Sindh to bolster public confidence CONTINUED FROM PAGE 01 Furthermore he instructed measures to prevent drug infiltration into educational institutions and launch awareness campaigns for parents and teachers President Zardari assured the MQM-P delegation of personal oversight in improving the city s law and order stressing the issue s importance and his commitment to addressing it M Q M D E L E G AT I O N C A L L S O N P R E S I D E N T Z A R D A R I: Meanwhile, a Muttahida Qaumi Movement Pakistan (MQMP) delegation led by Federal Minister Dr Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui called on President Asif Ali Zardari here at CM House on Wednesday On the occasion the MQM delegation, comprising Dr Farooq Sattar and Mustafa Kamal, congratulated Asif Ali Zardari on assuming the office of the President of Pakistan for the second time Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah and Minister for Interior Mohsin Naqvi were also present on the occasion
the auditors and the Executive Committee for the year ended
2023, were also approved
T h e d i c t i o n o f Ta r i q N a e e m ’s v e r s e i s s y n t a c t ic a l l y s o u n d a n d u n b l e m i s h e d t o o I t h a s a n a u r a o f simplicity about it The tone and tenor of his style in verse is characteristically unaffected by any conceit or equivocation The metaphoric grace of his lines is e n h a n c e d b y a n i n n a t e m e l o d i c f e l i c i t y p e c u l i a r t o t h e i r a e s t h e t i c d e s i g n N o t e d l i t t e r a t e u r s a n d p o e t s S y e d M u j t a b a H a i d e r S h i r a z i a n d A n j u m k h a l i q h a v e
e x p r e s s i o n o f l a n g u a g e f o r i t s o w n s a k e o f e x p e r i -
n g t h e c o m m u n i c a t i o n , a n d t h e e x p e r i e n c e
Syed AfSAr SAjid
TH E Federal Board of Revenue’s blocking of the SIMs of all those who have not filed income tax returns may not yield as great results as expected, not, that is, if it is the only step it intends to take The FBR has been the target of much ire recently, especially with the latest tax collection figures showing a Rs 34 billion shortfall with an actual tax collection of Rs 7 38 trillion against a target of Rs 7 414 trillion In Riyadh, while addressing the World Economic Forum, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif held up his government’s wholesale suspensions and transfers at the FBR as the centrepiece of its reform He told the same meeting that there were huge revenue leakages which had to be plugged, and because of which Pakistan could quadruple its revenues The ‘Mr Nice Guy’ approach does not seem to have worked A scheme to bring retailers into the tax net seems to have fallen flat, as only 75 retailers have voluntarily registered under its scheme, which will presumably be followed by the compulsory registration of all those operating a business in six cities
It seems that there is a strong incentive for most retailers to stay out of the tax net One factor encouraging this is that the cost of paying bribes to a corrupt tax machinery is apparently lower than paying taxes honestly Another is the problem that the money raised is embezzled by rulers, not spent on public welfare With revenue destined to go in debt servicing, there is really little incentive to pay The belief that the tax reforms are merely windowdressing for the sake of the IMF, which Pakistan wants to grant another package in negotiations scheduled to take place in Islamabad this month
Even without the assistance of complaisant taxmen, the SIM blockage can be overcome by those evaders bent on staying out of the tax net If the FBR thinks that this measure is enough, it has better think again However, if this is the first step of several, then it has a prospect of working It is perhaps paradoxical that the first (and so far only) ex-President of a chamber of commerce and industry to become PM should act against retailers but they should be glad that they have had such a good run It is time for it to come to an end
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar
under those circumstances as a sort of credit for oneself (debt for the party indulging in wrongdoing) No such consolation is there when it is obvious that the other party is acting out of plain stupidity for it is harder to think of the matter in terms of credit/debt
Most of us vacillate between these two positions de-
TH E other day I had the singular misfortune of viewing an old clip of Meera reciting her own ‘poetry’ on a TV show That alone would have been cringeworthy enough What made it even more unwatchable was the fact that she was doing it in front of Ahmad Faraz!
Of course, the poetry was beyond pathetic, and (predictably) she had no idea just how bad it was On the contrary, she seemed very pleased with it; so too the host who apparently possessing an even worse aesthetic taste would not stop praising her effort Ignorance is bliss it is said Ignorance for whom though? This part is not usually mentioned The episode sure was delightful for Meera and the host of the show Not so much for Faraz, nor for any sensible viewer for whom it was unendurable torture An obviously distressed Faraz must have entertained some pretty unmentionable thoughts But to his immense credit though he squirmed in his chair he showed impressive composure by not giving in to any criminal temptations Here is some food for thought: What if Meera knew perfectly well how abysmal her poetry was, but had basked in the glory regardless? That would have been rank dishonesty on her part The way the by-now infamous college student acted in a bait baazi
part) have been any better (or worse) than the one based on her blissful delusion of adequacy? Oft-times one finds it easier to tolerate stupidity as compared to evil That is why we tend to forgive minors the senile the Meeras of the world, and those with
ating
of
(and
which one finds oneself on the receiving end of In that frame of mind, one is convinced that there is a certain heroism in facing evil without oneself stooping to those depths It is common to regard wrongful behaviour as a sort of debt and behaving admirably
avo i d a bl e s h a r e o f t h a t
b e h av i o u r w i t h o u t l e t t i n g t h e m s e l v e s b e c o m e b i t t e r i n t h e p ro c e s s
T h e s e a r e t h e h e ro e s W h e t h e r t h ey a r e r e c o g n i z e d a s s u ch o r
r e m a i n u n s u n g i s b e s i d e t h e p o i n t F o r c o u l d a ny t h i n g b e n o t o n ly n o bl e r bu t ( i n t h e m e d i u m - t o - l o n g - t e r m ) a l s o w i s e r t h a n b e i n g p o s i t i v e , t h a n k f u l , ch e e r f u l , a n d h a p py fo r ev e r y b o dy ? I f s o , c o u l d
arm and a leg as it historically did What s happening right now to combat climate change is just the tip of the iceberg Setting climate justice as the primary purpose and sowing the seeds of intergenerational equity will catalyze positive change and avert the doomsday In the age of socioeconomic and political inequalities and injustices the world cannot afford climate injustice and as long as this injustice persists climate change will continue to haunt and hunt down lives Climate justice is the last hope of humanity since via this justice an environment suitable to all can be created After the Glasgow Sharm El-Sheikh and UAE COPs all eyes are on Baku in Azerbaijan to see the world commit to pledges made in the previous conferences in different countries and renew the pledges to climate justice and environment protection for the survivability of all species breathing on
The writer is a freelancer He can be reached @insafalibangwar98@gmail com C l i m a t e j u s t i c e : H o p e o f h u m a n i t y
world will surpass this cataclysm without costing an
t h e r e p o s s i bly b e a ny b e t t e r g i f t t h a t o n e c o u l d g i v e t o o n e s e l f ? A
i ro n m e n t p ro t e c t i o n fo r t h e s u r v i va b i l i t y o f a l l s p e c i e s
b r e a t h i n g o n t h e g l o b e .
Putting record straight
04 Thursday 2 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 T r y i n g t o p l u g t h e l e a k s
Th e F B R ’s b l o c ki n g o f S I M s w i l l n o t y i e l d re s u l t s by i t s e l f
Nizami Editor Profit Dedicated to
legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
I T is incomprehensible to understand why there is a step-motherly treatment by the authorities of people living on both sides of the Islamabad Expressway beyond Koral interchange Commuting on the expressway beyond the interchange has now become a nightmare and tests the skill and patience of the drivers especially in case of an emergency The Korang bridge expansion project was to be completed by the end of 2021 but even after an additional year, looking at the ongoing pace of work, it does not seem like it will be completed anytime in the near future It was unwisely believed that once the ill-planned and faulty PWD interchange was functional housing societies including Korang Town Media Town Doctors Colony Bahria Town Pakistan Town and PWD Society would use the newly-constructed service road to access the Islamabad Expressway and that the traffic would not get clogged down at the PWD and Korang exits on the expressway It was wrongly presumed that both these points would be closed on becoming superfluous and redundant MUHAMMAD K SUFI ISLAMABAD
W E often travel from Islamabad to Multan to meet our grandparents Despite the rather heavy toll tax we use the motorway because of a variety of reasons even though in recent times the condition of rest areas and the public washrooms therein especially between Faisalabad and Multan has taken a turn for the worse During our recent visit, we had a horrible accident A few miles before Abdul Hakeem interchange, an animal trying to cross the road rammed into our car resulting in serious damage to the vehicle Luckily all the six of us in the car remained safe and were able to park the car by the roadside Stuck in the middle of nowhere we called the National Highways and Motorway Police (NHMP) helpline 130 We were put on hold for an irritatingly long time considering it was an emergency helpline and no one had asked us what the emergency was Eventually, help did arrive and our car was towed away to safety During all this chaos, I kept wondering how an animal even entered the fenced motorway During a family discussion later, I came to know that locals of the area cut the fences to facilitate their own movement mindless of the fact that it is a serious threat to the life of commuters SHAHRAM PITAFI ISLAMABAD
the
Discrimination
Motor way safet y
T H I S refers to the letter 1971 in perspective , which, among other things, said 70 per cent of Pakistan s revenue was generated from jute, but the share of East Pakistan was reduced to less than 30pc by the military rulers” The fact is that the jute cultivators were saved from the colonial era exploitation by Calcutta (now Kolkata) Besides as academic Anwar H Syed showed: American advisers guided the ordering of priorities in Pakistan s development plans (which some of these advisers later chose to condemn as having been exploitative of East Pakistan) (China and Pakistan: Diplomacy of an Entente Cordiale, OUP, 1974, p 35) By 1968, cotton had overtaken jute as the largest foreign exchange earner Why did the year 1971 spell the end of the jute industry in Bangladesh? It is a relevant question on all counts As regards the contention that Yahya Khan had refused to hand over power to the majority party of Sheikh Mujibur Rahman; here is what Yahya said in his deposition before the Hamoodur Rahman Commission: I offered to appoint him the deputy chief martial law adminis- trator there and then He laughed and rejected the idea as too ridiculous (A Basit, The Breaking of Pakistan, Liberty, 1997, p 32] DR MUHAMMAD REZA KAZIMI 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 I N a world already mired in socioeconomic and political injustices, climate injustice adds more injury Prior to prioritising climate justice understanding injustice serves as a key to imagining the bigger picture More than a century and a half of burning Earth s resources yielded climate change as its byproduct That change in climate has triggered numerous changes to the environment, climate and weather patterns Massive floods in Pakistan heat waves haunting Europe bypassing the Mediterranean Sea extremely severe formation of Biparjoy Cyclone in the east-central region of the Arabian Sea, droughts in the Horn of Africa, hurricanes in the Caribbeans and melting of gigantic glaciers are some of the incidents that occurred in recent years Hark back the injustice is: the population that become victims are widely different from those having considerably contribution to climate change For the Maldives, Seychelles, Tuvalu, and Palau, among others, climate change serves as a time bomb The climate change repercussions perpetuate life-threatening impact on the island countries owing to widespread melting of gigantic glaciers The rising waters in the oceans will catalyse the small islands to disappear Isn t it unfair? Are island countries responsible for their own land disappearance? Compensating countries for all the toll caused by large economies is known as climate justice in legal terms Through the loss and damage fund in technical terms nations are paid reparations to recover the loss in form of either men or material With the temperature of the globe rising global warming at a snail-pace, climate justice is brought in action to provide means and coerce to take measures to forestall the rise before it becomes too little too late Since it took centuries and more to warm the globe considerable time is required to reverse it if not as many centuries The concept of climate justice is to turn the country s economy and functioning style into something more environmentally friendly by negating fossil fuels usage bit by bit It is farcical to think that countries will fluctuate overnight from nonrenewable yo renewable energy sources because many countries economies mostly depend on fossil fuels Take Aramco of Saudi Arabia, and OPEC members Like them, many other Middle East nations function on fossil fuels To slow down the use of non-renewable, and to accelerate the adoptation of renewable energy sources international organisations come to the rescue signing treaties and agreements among the nations to stick on renewables and act upon actions minimising carbon emissions into the environment The Kyoto Protocol, Rio Declaration and Conference of Parties (COPs) are the leading apparatus to a) help financial compensation to climate-struck vulnerable countries to recover the loss and damage b) to make them pledge and provide frameworks in adopting novel initiatives to minimise the carbon emissions The process of compensating the countries starts with the island countries given their vulnerability to climate change and its repercussions Island nations are prioritised because the oceanside waters are rising rapidly as mentioned in the third paragraph of the piece Not just the Tuvalu many other island regions are sinking in Asia as per a report issued by the United Nations recently stating “Asia wracked hardest by climate in 2023” The justice is say developing countries to compensate us as much as $100 billion by 2030 to reverse and recover the loss and act upon actions less harmful to the climate change and environment and as time passes by, the finance will also skyrocket since according to climate scientists, the same developing nations will require $400 billion by 2040 and over $1 trillion by the halfway point of this century With
time not just the amount to recover and adaptability will rise the time span would also get stretched The best time is now By prioritising intergenerational equity, compensating climate debts in dribs and drabs or otherwise and addressing the slogan and right “right to development” the
the globe Though many ineffective and ephemeral attempts are attempted bringing the global temperature in doldrums in static motionless mode will require all the nations across the globe to lead this mission to help the world achieve this goal and sustain and maintain life and temperature since unity is power
l i m ate c h a n g e n e e d s to b e t a c k l e d by c l i m ate j u s t i ce INSAF AlI BANgwAr
C
contest when not knowing any relevant couplet he invented a particularly atrocious one on the spot Of course for all her faults the one thing Meera cannot be accused of is scheming of that sort But, for the sake of the ar-
would such a deliberate act
Meera’s
gument,
(on
medically certified cognitive deficiencies for the exact same behaviour that we have a hard time toler-
such behaviour on the part of those who have no such excuses On other occasions
in a different mood) one finds silliness or plain stupidity a much sterner test
one s patience than conspiracies and machinations
pending on our circumstances and how our moods strike us on any given day Do the circumstances of the other party make any difference though? In other words, is evil a greater bane to society than stupidity, or vice versa? Also, should one deal with the two differently? I have thought long and hard on these questions The older I get the more I feel inclined to the view that there is no clear line separating stupidity from evil Even if such a line does exist, it is an extremely thin one It is therefore best not to see it as a stupidity vs evil issue For the two items are one and the same: stupidity happens to be the greatest of evils; and conversely to choose to be evil is to choose to be stupid as well Because while evildoers are rightly considered villains they happen to be clowns as well– because in the ultimate analysis the joke is on them Grudging other people their success and happiness, indulging in double dealing and intrigue, playing the victim, being unduly proud, spying on others, anticipating the worst possible behaviour from others and acting to pre-empt that, complaining and whining, being angry all the time and basing one’s behaviour on extreme and perpetual entitlement are some of the more common manifestations of social evil Considering that these are also some of the surest recipes for making oneself miserably unhappy, can stupidity ever be separated from evil? Evil and stupidity are necessary ingredients of the world without which heroism and wisdom would also lose their meanings Those who understand this maintain their cheerfulness in the face of silly and nefarious behaviour and suffer their unavoidable share of that behaviour without letting themselves become bitter in the process These are the heroes Whether they are recognized as such or remain unsung is beside the point For could anything be not only nobler but (in the medium-to-long-term) also wiser than being positive thankful cheerful and happy for everybody? If so could there possibly be any better gift that one could give to oneself? The author is a connoisseur of music literature and food (but not drinks) He can be reached at www facebook com/hasanaftabsaeed E
p
d
is the graver menace? E v i l a n d s t u p i d i t y a r e n e c e s s a r y i n g r e d i e n t s o f t h e wo r l d w i t h o u t w h i ch h e ro i s m a n d w i s d o m wo u l d a l s o l o s e t h e i r m e a n i n g s . T h o s e w h o u n d e rs t a n d t h i s m a i n t a i n t h e i r ch e e r f u l n e s s i n t h e f a c e o f s i l ly a n d n e f a r i o u s b e h av i o u r, a n d s u f fe r t h e i r u n
v i l v s s t u
i
i t y Which
l a s g ow, S h a r m E l - S h e i k h , a n d UA E C O P s
a
l
f t e r t h e G
,
l
ey e s a r e o n B a k u i n A z e r b a i j a n , t o s e e t h e wo r l d c o m m i t t o p l e d g e s m a d e i n t h e p r ev i o u s c o n f e r e n c e s i n d i f f e r e n t c o u n t r i e s a n d r e n ew t h e p l e d g e s t o cl i m a t e j u s t i c e a n d e nv
HASAN AFTAB SAEED
also moved swiftly to yank Meta-owned WhatsApp and Threads from Apple s app store over alleged national security concerns , adding a new layer to the aggravating tech Cold War The pretext, as always, revolves around cybersecurity and inflammatory content purportedly targeting China’s President Xi Jinping This clash between Washington and Beijing serves as a cautionary tale In an era where technology transcends borders, the battleground for digital sovereignty is increasingly contested and the casualties may extend far beyond mere apps The clamuor for a TikTok ban in the USA defies a simple explanation but a closer examination reveals a complex tapestry of motives Amidst bipartisan calls for action, concerns over data privacy loom large as the primary driver The bipartisan consensus on reining in TikTok reflects a broader unease about the platform’s allegedly opaque operations and potential national security implications
Yet alongside legitimate concerns whispers of jealousy and protectionism lurk in the shadows, complicating the narrative The apprehensions surrounding TikTok extend far beyond American borders, resonating with global anxieties about data security and governmental oversight In India the app faces a complete ban with similar restrictions imposed on government devices in the UK, Canada, and Norway The crux of the matter lies in TikTok s data repository, which falls under the purview of Chinese
regulations raising concerns about the extent of governmental access and control TikTok s meteoric ascent owes much to its user-friendly interface and savvy adaptation to the digital age Central to TikTok’s allure is its algorithm a technological marvel that discerns user preferences with uncanny precision propelling the app to the forefront of social media addiction The algorithm has become the Holy Grail for startups worldwide, emblematic of TikTok s unrivalled influence and technological prowess
With a staggering 170 million US users out of its global 5 3 billion the app’s ubiquity underscores its resonance in an interconnected world Yet as TikTok faces legislative scrutiny globally its future remains uncertain Whether it will be able to maintain its dominance or succumb to regulatory pressures and emerging competitors like Reels, TikTok’s journey embodies the complexities of digital globalization where success hinges on agility amid geopolitical tensions
In the ever-evolving narrative of technological innovation the USA has long been labelled as the epicentre, with Silicon Valley standing as its emblematic brand From industry titans like Apple, Meta, and Google to growing disruptors such as Nvidia and OpenAI American ingenuity has shaped the global landscape However the ascent of TikTok shattered this conventional wisdom disrupting the established order and eliciting discomfort among American policymakers and tech elites alike
For decades USA-based companies dominated global markets reshaping industries and setting the pace for innovation Yet TikTok s meteoric rise upended this narrative, leaving older players scrambling to adapt Meta, the parent company of social media giants Facebook Instagram and WhatsApp epitomizes this struggle as envy turned to urgency in the face of TikTok s exponential growth TikTok s allure particularly among youngsters, lies in its user-generated content and algorithmic prowess, relegating incumbents like Facebook and Instagram to the sidelines In response, Meta introduced Reels in 2020 a tacit acknowledgment of TikTok’s influence and a bid to reclaim relevance in the fast-evolving social media landscape Public opinion in the USA on the IsraeliPalestinian conflict has shifted palpably, particularly among Democrats and younger demographics, preceding Israel’s recent offensive TikTok’s meteoric ascent owes much to do with the speed with which the Biden Administration and Republicans joined hands to slap legislative restrictions on it The Gaza war exacerbated this trend, nearly doubling support for Palestinians among young voters within a few weeks The conflict poses a dilemma for the Biden Administration complicating its political calculus TikTok despite assuring stakeholders it does not amplify pro-Palestine protests has thrust the Biden Administration into a delicate position
Mandating an American takeover of TikTokÊs operations raises questions about the integrity of US policy-making, exposing what can be perceived as hypocrisy The US governmentÊs actions reflect a dual objective: preserving economic benefits while asser ting control over TikTokÊs operations These moves will be closely scrutinized by the international community, impacting perceptions of American leadership and integrity How the USA fairly tackles issues of technological competition and national security will shape not only its own reputation but also global views of its governance and influence
of the TikTok saga, China
Google fired me for standing against tech complicit y in Gaza genocide
Lahore Luxe tawaif saga runs on empt y
TGoogle workers are expec ted to develop technology that can be evidently used to streamline Israel’s genocide, and we are expec ted to remain silent about it
Google would continuously deny the military nature of the contract for years even as Israel itself has said otherwise When Israel began its medieval siege against Gaza over 200 days ago my fears about working for Google intensified It quickly became clear that Israel intended to commit a genocide and was leveraging artificial intelligence to enable it To commit a massacre of this scale, data is as important as ammunition The Israeli occupation boasts about the sophistication of its targeting systems which are developed by training machine learning models on extensive data collected through invasive surveillance of Palestinians Israel prefers striking targets while individuals are in their family homes tracking Palestinians using automated systems with depraved names like Where s Daddy Merely returning home exposes Palestinians and their families to risk When questioned about their preference for using conventional bombs over precision-guided weapons that could minimize civilian casualties the Israeli military stated that they do not see the value in expending expensive munitions on unimportant people In response to Israel s crimes of genocide and collective punishment, Google has doubled down on their relationship with the Israeli military FROM SEARCH ENGINE TO THE MILITARY INDUSTRIAL COMPLEX: As recently as a month ago, a Google contract proved direct services to the Israeli military, confirming that company leadership had been misleading workers for years regarding the military applications of Project Nimbus In other words Google workers are expected to develop technology that can be evidently used to streamline Israel s genocide, and we are expected to remain silent about it Once upon a time Google’s slogan was Don t be evil They abandoned this motto in the last decade to transition into a glorified military contractor What appeared to be an incredible job from the outside now resembles a dystopian adult daycare centre to me
veneer of liberalism and a collection of inconsequential, constantly shifting projects,
are fervently promoted by Google’s propaganda to obscure the company s business model that seem to include profiting from no-questions-asked militarisation that can enable genocide
With just a few public statements about how black lives matter, Google could pretend that it hadn’t - allegedly - made billions off of the destitution of black people in the Congo With a tweet celebrating Indigenous People s month, Google could unironically evade criticism for operating an office in Tel Aviv, a city built on the ethnic cleansing of Palestinians in Jaffa Google mastered the song and dance of wokeness for the public and internally it keeps an iron grip on dissent For years, I and other Googlers with the No Tech for Apartheid campaign opposed Project Nimbus within the company We shared petitions sent internal memos and submitted ethics reviews In response we were doxxed harassed silenced ignored then ultimately fired in order to ensure that Google s profits in occupied Palestine and the global military industry remained unchallenged
Many workers witnessed this repression but company culture promotes fear and apathy over integrity Google is two-faced The colorful office, scooters, music rooms, and desserts all serve to distract from the backdrop of aggressive retaliation and a culture of fear Google can only sustain profits from violence if it is able to ensure the complicity of its workers And it is disheartening how some of the world s brightest minds can be placated by comfort and used to increase wealth at the expense of human life But make no mistake; Google is destined to fail Workers are waking up to the reality of their exploitation and our ability to stand against the unethical use of our labour is only growing stronger Abuse and oppression are unsustainable in the long term Today, on Wall Street, Google’s ticker symbol sits next to an upward green arrow business has been prosperous for the profiteers of genocide But workers play a critical role in the growing
enervating pair with a miscast
Sharmin Segal particularly proving herself incapable of portraying Alamzeb s star-crossed journey
out of place
The acting too is just this side
H E E R A M A N D I: The Diamond
Bazaar is the kind of visual extravaganza that we have come to expect from Sanjay Leela Bhansali
The Netflix series has an endless supply of impeccably turned out characters, grandiose sets and ornate costumes that might spur demands on tailors for replicas Sheer effect and the imitation of a noble cause – this chronicle of oneupwomanship between courtesans in Lahore on the cusp of Independence from British rule swoons to conquer The uninspired screenplay by Bhansali and Vibhu Puri will have you believe that there is more to Heeramandi than a vicious catfight The baublehead parade begins with a striking image that recurs – that of a supine tawaif She, like others in the eightepisode series will unleash spite from that state of repose Mallikajaan (Manisha Koirala) is the so-called queen of Lahore s pleasure quarter Heeramandi As mean as her mien is impressive, Mallikajaan demands subservience from her posse, which includes her sister Waheeda (Sanjeeda Sheikh) her daughters Bibbojaan (Aditi Rao Hydari) and Alamzeb (Sharmin Segal) and her maids Phatto (Jayati Bhatia) and Satto (Nivedita Bhargava) Lahore’s nobility too trembles before Mallikajaan’s tyrannical hauteur stash of uncomfortable secrets edicts on how patrons should treat courtesans (always respectfully) and whether the women should fall in love (absolutely never) A formidable challenger emerges in Fareedan (Sonakshi Sinha) Fareedan finds no shortage of recruits among Mallikajaan s victims from the resentful Waheeda to the odious British officer Cartwright (Jason Shah) The adversaries wildly claw away at each other, caring little for who else gets hurt, whether it’s Waheeda Bibbojaan or Alamzeb The flamboyant foes – Mallikajaan has bad hair days; Fareedan mimics Cleopatra in her pearls-inwine imbibing – are always more watchable than the poetry-loving Alamzeb and her lover, the nobleman Tajdar (Taha Shah) Far too much screen time is devoted to this
The freedom struggle rages in the background, but we can scarcely recognise it The show’s consciously ahistorical version of 1945 Lahore erases the Muslim League as well the possibility of Partition Instead a handful of rebels fervently mouth the slogan Inquilab Zindabad
The Pakistan-sized hole in the plotting is especially untenable given the wider evocation of the subcontinent s Muslim ethos Muslim etiquette attire and language are mere formulaic elements in a smoke-and-mirrors display that looks inviting but eventually evaporates The embittered women’s back stories are as thin as the curtains surrounding them are diaphanous
The vitriol that flows between Mallikajaan and Fareedan reveals the cruelty that is masked by the airs and graces associated with popular depictions of tawaifs While Pakeezah and Umrao Jaan inspire visuals and plot points in Heeramandi the rude banter is closer to Mandi and Bhansali s own Gangubai Kathiawadi
The histrionics seethe amidst Bhansali’s predilection for symmetry which is executed to the hilt by cinematographers Sudeep Chatterjee Mahesh Limaye and Huentsang Mohapatra Characters move in formations so precise you could measure the distance between them with a ruler
Actors stand in the exact centre of frontally framed compositions drawing the eye to the costumes by Rimple Narula and Harpreet Narula as well as the production design by Amit Ray and Subrata Chakraborty A sequence or two revealing the women’s daily toilette in which the attire of both masters and servers is colour-coordinated to match each other and the backdrops would not have been
Thursday 2 May 2024 COMMENT 05
N a decisive move President Biden has inked into law a foreign aid package bearing a particularly pointed provision: a ticking time bomb for TikTok’s parent company ByteDance The clock is now ticking for ByteDance to shed its ties to the app facing a one-year ultimatum before a potential ban takes effect What seemed like legislative limbo just a few days ago has seen a sudden surge forward, propelled by deft political manoeuvring in the Senate The bill initially at risk of languishing in the political quagmire found new life when bundled with crucial foreign aid measures for US allies This strategic pairing coerced the Senate s hand, compelling them to confront the issue head-on This tactic, coupled with an extended divestment timeline, garnered broader support among lawmakers As the sands of time slip away ByteDance finds itself under intensifying pressure to act swiftly and decisively What distinguishes the latest iteration of legislative scrutiny is the extension granted to TikTok - a generous 270day reprieve to find a suitable suitor However, President Joe Biden also retains the option to extend the deadline by an additional 90 days in the event of progress toward a sale Proponents of the bill point to concerns over data privacy and national security vulnerabilities citing TikTok s Chinese ownership as a potential vector for undue influence and data exploitation Conversely, critics are arguing for the preservation of market competition
the protection of consumer interests in an increas-
monopolized digital ecosystem
a tit-for-tat display
techno-diplo-
in the wake
I
and
ingly
In
of
macy,
The timing of whether to ban TikTok, risking alienation of a crucial voting bloc, or abstain and potentially strain relations with Israel is fraught with implications Trump s about-face on TikTok underscores the genuine pressure confronting Democrats As the Administration grapples with this conundrum it must manage the complex interplay of domestic politics, international relations, and evolving public sentiment on a deeply contentious issue Against the backdrop of electoral pressures and the party’s reliance on young voters the prospect of a TikTok ban in the USA faces a significant hurdle The Democrats calculus hinges on this demographic, and banning TikTok, whether under the banner of defending free speech or free markets, seems increasingly problematic Despite lingering concerns the party is bound to risk alienating this crucial constituency especially amid intensifying political battles As Democrats grapple with the intersection of politics and principle, the fate of TikTok in the USA remains uncertain, emblematic of broader struggles within the party’s ranks The TikTok ban serves as a stark reminder of the escalating risks confronting tech companies in the USA as authorities increasingly wield harassment and suppression tactics Amidst this climate of uncertainty, businesses must fortify themselves against unfounded accusations and the spectre of trade bullying necessitating a nuanced understanding of regulatory landscapes The cases of Huawei and TikTok offer striking parallels revealing a consistent pattern of US intervention when faced with foreign competitors threatening US dominance This trend underscores a strategic effort to politicize and reshape the regulatory landscape to maintain supremacy in key sectors As legislation targeting TikTok progresses concerns arise regarding the justification for compelled divestment and the erosion of free-market principles Mandating an American takeover of TikTok s operations raises questions about the integrity of US policy-making, exposing what can be perceived as hypocrisy The US government’s actions reflect a dual objective: preserving economic benefits while asserting control over TikTok s operations These moves will be closely scrutinized by the international community, impacting perceptions of American leadership and integrity How the USA fairly tackles issues of technological competition and national security will shape not only its own reputation but also global views of its governance and influence The writer is a freelance columnist
The Palestinian protests pushed the USA to tr y and control it
H E software engineering job offer I received from Google came at the perfect time I was in my senior year of college, lacking confidence and riddled with anxiety The email from Google in my inbox validated all the years I spent studying The hard work I had put into sharpening my coding skills had paid off, and I felt elated When I started working at Google in August 2022, I remember sending my parents photos of the office and cherishing their amazement I remember bringing friends in to try the food and to experience an office that was famous for feeling like a college campus I loved seeing their smiles looking at the New York City Financial District skyline from the 14th-floor terrace Google is famous for being a ‘worker-friendly’ workplace combining forward-thinking engineering with free food massages, and even nap pods How wrong that all turned out to be A few months after I joined the company, my excitement about this job was shattered when I learned about Project Nimbus Google s and Amazon s $1 2 billion cloud computing contract with the Israeli government The details of the agreement were deeply unsettling: massive cloud server clusters of vague purpose would be built within the borders of Israel where indigenous Palestinians are subject to military occupation and apartheid rule routinely persecuted dehumanized, displaced, and killed in an ongoing, state-sponsored process of ethnic cleansing aided by high tech infrastructure Security and management of the clusters would be handed over to Palestine s occupier potentially allowing the Israeli military free reign to use Google s technology however they wanted despite Google s repeated denials that are disputed even by Israel’s military Worker dissent and public opinion objections to the deal were to be contractually ignored under the deal with Israel, despite clear evidence that the project would serve the goals of the Israeli military To avoid criticism
attitude
false
The reality of working at Google is that it is a place where a chipper
a
movement for liberation, and we will not forget Google s complicity Justice will prevail Mohammad Khatami a former Google software engineer and organizer with NoTechForApartheid movement
ASlAm JAVED I s t h e c l o c k t i c k i n g f o r T i k T o k ?
NEW ARAB m o H A m m A D K H ATA m I
of
most non-affected
member
the veteran Farida
plays
grandmother
with delightful ease
memory of older actors also results in a cameo for Anju Ma-
who is stately as the head of an informal tawaif council Manisha Koirala sporting a deep voice and her nastiest manner, gives a near-parodic role her best shot But she is hard-pressed to portray Mallikajaan’s campy tendencies Like Mallikajaan Koirala is upstaged ever so often by an in-form Sonakshi Sinha Fareedan is as slinky as her heavily embroidered saris permit Sinha, who is made-up to resemble the movie star Rekha, is utterly comfortable with Fareedan’s dastardly scheming; plus she has the diction to carry off the aphoristic dialogue Sanjeeda Sheikh fares decently despite Waheeda s hysterics Aditi Rao Hydari, as Bibbojaan, is the only actor who can actually dance among the cast Rao Hydari is well-placed to do the heavy lifting required of her soft-hearted but secretly tough character Richa Chadha appears in a cameo, her Lajjo providing Mallikajaan with one of exactly two instances where the madam gloriously redeems herself Sadly for Mallikajaan the effort comes to nought on both occasions proving that her queenliness is exaggerated None of the men, which include Adhyayan Suman and Shekhar Suman suit Bhansali’s baroque schema except for Indresh Malik as the fixer Ustaadji Fardeen Khan is as confused as his character Zorawar, unable to summon up the appropriate response in his scenes The show’s Lahore Luxe soon runs out of ways to cast a spell The music also by Bhansali falls flat; the tinkling of anklets fades away to be replaced by the echoes of better tawaif sagas past
mannered The
cast
is
Jalal, who
Tajdar s
Qudsia
Bhansali’s
hendru
SCR OLL N A N D I N I r A m N AT H S a n j ay Le e l a B h a n s a l i ’s e i g h t - e p i s o d e s e r i e s i s o u t o n N e t f l i x
POlICE ARRESt DOzENS Of PRO-PAlEStINIAN PROtEStERS At COlumBIA uNIvERSIt y
China’s economy continues to recover and improve in Q1: Top economic planner
Officials from China s top economic planner, the National Development and Reform Commission or the NDRC, said that since the beginning of this year China’s economy has continued to recover and improve Economic growth has remained stable and shown signs of improvement, structural adjustments have progressed steadily, and quality and efficiency have steadily increased They’ve also stressed that people s livelihoods have been effectively safeguarded market expectations have generally improved, and a stable and promising start has been achieved for the first quarter First from the perspective of macroeconomy major indicators have accelerated Official data from the NDRC shows that in the first quarter, China s GDP grew by 5 3 percent year-on-year Industrial added value increased by six per-
cent up 0 8 percentage points from the previous quarter; fixed asset investment increased by 4 5 percent up 1 5 percentage points from the previous year; the total value of goods imports and exports denominated in RMB increased by 5 percent with exports up by 4 9 percent an increase of 4 1 percentage points from the previous quarter
Second, regional economies have stabilized and improved According to officials, provinces with strong economies in the eastern regions such as Guangdong Jiangsu Shandong and Zhejiang continue to play a leading role The economic growth of key regions such as the Beijing-Tianjin-Hebei region, the Yangtze River Delta, and the Guangdong-Hong KongMacao Greater Bay Area has been relatively fast Industries in the central and western regions have accelerated their transformation and upgrading, with high-tech manufacturing industries in Anhui and Hubei provinces growing by 23 4 percent
and 21 5 percent respectively and high-tech industry investment in Sichuan province growing by 17 7 percent, all significantly faster than the national average Major projects in the northeastern region are also accelerating Third from the perspective of industries and enterprises operating efficiency and confidence have steadily improved during the first quarter Official data shows that the total profits of industrial enterprises above the designated size increased by 4 3 percent year-on-year in the first quarter The Purchasing Managers Index (PMI) for manufacturing in April was 50 4 percent above the boom-bust line for two consecutive months
New products and formats are flourishing with the production of 3D printing equipment service robots and new energy vehicles growing by 40 6 percent 26 7 percent, and 29 2 percent respectively in the first quarter Online retail sales driven by instant retail and live streaming also grew
ISLAMABAD N E W S D E S K
ASTRAZENECA the pharmaceutical giant that became widely known during the Covid-19 pandemic, has acknowledged that its Covishield vaccine might cause uncommon side effects such as blood clots and low platelet count The company faces a class ac-
tion lawsuit alleging that the vaccine created with the University of Oxford resulted in death and severe harm in several instances
The company acknowledges that the AZ vaccine may cause TTS (Thrombosis with Thrombocytopenia Syndrome) in exceptionally rare cases The underlying cause is not determined stated the firm in court filings according to The Telegraph
Covishield was developed by the British-Swedish corporation in partnership with Oxford University and manufactured by the Serum Institute of India It was administered extensively in over 150 countries Research during the pandemic indicated that the vaccine was 60 to 80 percent effective in preventing the novel coronavirus as reported by The Inde-
UNITED NATIONS
R E U T E R S
The debris from a missile that landed in the Ukrainian city of Kharkiv on Jan 2 was from a North Korean Hwasong-11 series ballistic missile, United Nations sanctions monitors told a Security Council committee in a report seen by Reuters on Monday In the 32-page report the U N sanctions monitors concluded that debris recovered from a missile that landed in Kharkiv, Ukraine, on 2 January 2024 derives from a DPRK Hwasong-11 series missile” and is in violation of the arms embargo on North Korea Formally known as the Democratic People s Republic of Korea (DPRK), North Korea has been under U N sanctions for its ballistic missile and nuclear programs since 2006, and those measures have been strengthened over the years Three sanctions monitors traveled to Ukraine earlier this month to inspect the debris and found no evidence that the missile was made by Russia They could not independently identify from where the missile was launched, nor by whom ” “Information on the trajectory provided by Ukrainian authorities indicates
Th d y 2 M y 2024 LAHORE 06 NEWS NEW YORK R E U T E R S N E W York City police arrested dozens of pro-Palestinian demonstrators holed up in an academic building on Columbia University campus late on Tuesday and removed a protest encampment the Ivy League school had sought to dismantle for nearly two weeks Shortly after police moved in Columbia University President Minouche Shafik released a letter in which she requested police stay on campus until at least May 17 – two days after graduation – “to maintain order and ensure that encampments are not re-established ” Within three hours the campus had been cleared of protesters said a police spokesperson adding dozens of arrests were made At the start of the police operation around nine pm throngs of helmeted police marched onto the elite campus in upper Manhattan a focal point of student rallies that have spread to dozens of schools across the US in recent days expressing opposition to Israel s war in Gaza We re clearing it out, the police officers yelled Soon after, a long line of officers climbed into Hamilton Hall an academic building that protesters had broken into and occupied in the early morning hours of Tuesday Police entered through a second-story window, using a police vehicle equipped with a ladder Students standing outside the hall jeered police with shouts of Shame, shame! Police were seen loading dozens of detainees onto a bus, each with their hands bound behind their backs by zip-ties the entire scene illuminated with flashing red and blue lights of police vehicles Free free free Palestine chanted protesters outside the building Others yelled, Let the students go “Columbia will be proud of these students in five years, said Sueda Polat, one of the student negotiators for Columbia University Apartheid Divest the coalition of student groups that have organized the protests She said students did not pose a danger and called on police to back down, speaking as officers shouted at her and others to retreat or leave campus P R O T E S T D E M A N D S Protesters were seeking three demands from Columbia: divestment from companies supporting Israel s government greater transparency in university finances, and amnesty for students and faculty disciplined over the protests President Shafik this week said Columbia would not divest from finances in Israel Instead she offered to invest in health and education in Gaza and make Columbia s direct investment holdings more transparent In her letter released on Tuesday, Shafik said the Hamilton Hall occupiers had vandalized University property and were trespassing, and that encampment protesters were suspended for trespassing The university earlier warned that students taking part in the Hamilton Hall occupation faced academic expulsion
BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T
within the territory of the Russian Federation they wrote in an April 25 report to the Security Council s North Korea sanctions committee “Such a location, if the missile was under control of Russian forces, would probably indicate procurement by nationals of the Russian Federation they said adding that this would be a violation of the arms embargo imposed on North Korea in 2006 The Russian and North Korean missions to the United Nations in New York did not immediately respond to a request for comment on the report by the sanctions monitors The U S and others have accused North Korea of transferring weapons to Russia for use against Ukraine, which it invaded in February 2022 Both Moscow and Pyongyang have denied the accusations but vowed last year to deepen military relations At a U N Security Council meeting in February the U S accused Russia of launching DPRK-supplied ballistic missiles against Ukraine on at least nine occasions The U N monitors said the Hwasong-11 series ballistic missiles were first publicly tested UN exper ts say Nor th Korea missile landed in Ukraine’s K harkiv Effective implementation of Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 stressed at JJANP launching LAHORE S TA F F R E P O R T In a concerted effort to address the pressing need for the effective implementation of juvenile justice laws in Pakistan the Juvenile Justice Advocacy Network Pakistan (JJANP) was inaugurated at a significant ceremony Held amidst the esteemed presence of legal professionals civil society members and child rights activists, the event served as a rallying point for stakeholders committed to safeguarding the welfare of children in conflict with the law Presided over JJANP Convenor Sarmad Ali the ceremony underscored the need for establishing a collaborative platform to bringing together all stakeholders Ali emphasized the pivotal role of such a network in exerting pressure on decision-makers to ensure meaningful enforcement of the Juvenile Justice System Act 2018 Despite the passage of over five years since its enactment, the Act has yet to be fully implemented across the country falling short of its intended objectives Beyond infrastructure: China, Serbia eye closer ties with ironclad friendship BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T The friendship between China and Serbia has been hailed as ironclad by Chinese President Xi Jinping, after decades of cooperation and partnership, from the Belt and Road Initiative (BRI) to a free trade agreement (FTA) “Iron friends” or “iron brothers” –as strong as metal – this is how Chinese people refer to their closest friends Woo-woo trilled the whistle as a train arrived at Serbia s Novi Sad station and was warmly welcomed by locals on March 19, 2022 This marked the official opening of the 80-kilometer-long, Chinese-built Belgrade-Novi Sad high-speed railway By March of this year, the railway had transported over 6 83 million passenger trips at speeds of up to 200 kilometers per hour between Serbia s capital and second-largest city DIG Operations Syed Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari holds orderly room ISLAMABAD P R According to details, following the special directives of the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad, Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, the DIG Operations Syed Shahzad Nadeem Bukhari holds orderly room where complaints against police officers investigations into cases and assessments of their performance were examined a public relations officer said He said that the DIG Operations issued show-cause notices for negligence, disciplinary violations, incomplete investigations, negligence in duty, and involvement in corruption against three inspectors, 10 sub-inspectors seven ASIs two head constables and five constables Whereas four police officers namely ASI Abid Hussain Head Constable Abid Majeed Constable Muhammad Shoaib and Constable Areeb Ali were dismissed from service While the demotion orders of six police officers including Inspector Tahir Khan, Inspector Shams Ul Akbar Sub Inspector Muhammad Farooq Sub Inspector Zahid Hussain ASI Iftikhar Ahmed and Head Constable Riaz Jalalwere issued However annual increments of 13 officers were halted while the service of four police officers was also confiscated DIG Operations said that negligence and dereliction of duties will not be tolerated in any way within the department The protection of citizen’s lives and property is our foremost responsibility and any negligence or irresponsibility in this regard will not be tolerated he added Bill tabled in PA to increase girls minimum marriage age to 18 years on NCHR recommendations ISLAMABAD P R The National Commission for Human Rights (NCHR) Regional Office in Punjab recommended to the Punjab Government to raise the minimum marriage age of girls from 16 to 18 years The collective lobbying from all stakeholders including NCHR, parliamentarians judiciary and civil society has led to a Bill being tabled in the Punjab Assembly by Parliamentarian Ms Sarah Ahmad to amend Section 2(a) of the Child Marriage Restraint Act 1929 The Commission believes that as per its obligations under the United Nation s Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC), which defines a child in Article 1 as “every human being below the age of eighteen years” raising the minimum age of marriage is a critical step towards ensuring the rights and safety of girls in Pakistan NCHR Member Punjab Mr Nadeem Ashraf in a letter to the Chief Secretary of the Government of Punjab, recommended the legislative amendment to demonstrate the commitment of the Punjab Government in fulfilling its gender and child rights obligations under the International Covenants that Pakistan has ratified BEIJING S TA F F C O R R E S P O N D E N T The Fujian China’s third aircraft carrier also the first equipped with electromagnetic catapults on Wednesday started its first sea trial session a move analysts said will test newly integrated technology and lay a solid foundation for the commissioning of the 80,000 ton-class warship Experts said the Fujian can be compared with the most advanced aircraft carriers in the world and can undoubtably represent the top level of conventionally powered aircraft carriers The aircraft carrier Fujian set sail for its first test voyage from a pier at the Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai on Wednesday morning, the Xinhua News Agency reported China Central Television broadcasted footage of the Fujian leaving the shipyard live on social media The official confirmation of the Fujian s maiden voyage came after China s maritime safety administration on Tuesday issued two navigation restriction notices, one stating that a large ship will exit the estuary of the Yangtze River on Wednesday, and another stating that military activities will be commenced in an area in the East China Sea from Wednesday to May 9 which observers said indicates that the Fujian s maiden voyage will likely last until May 9 Based on the progress of the aircraft carrier construction program, the sea trial will mainly focus on the reliability and stability of the Fujian’s subsystems including propulsion and power Xinhua said The first sea trial session of an aircraft carrier usually tests the ship s basic functions a Chinese military expert who requested anonymity told the Global Times on Wednesday In the coming months, the carrier will conduct several sessions of sea trials and test more complicated operational components including electromagnetic compatibility weapons systems as well as takeoffs and landing of aircraft the expert said Given the namesake of East China s Fujian Province and the hull number 18, China s third aircraft carrier was launched at Jiangnan Shipyard in Shanghai on June 17, 2022 From that time the construction work of the Fujian proceeded smoothly according to plan, successfully completed
tests
equipment calibrations granting the car-
technical
tests out in the sea
said While the Shandong China
second air-
carrier
first built domestically, took a little more than a year from launch to maiden
it took the Fujian a little less than two years, and this is likely because the Fujian incorporates many new and advanced technologies that require explorations including the electromagnetic catapults analysts said The longer mooring tests made full preparations for the test voyage, so the Fujian’s first sea trial has a very good chance of succeeding experts said Having a full displacement of more than 80 000 tons and equipped with electromagnetic catapults and arresting devices the Fujian is China s first fully independently designed and built aircraft carrier with catapults, Xinhua reported By comparison, China’s previous two aircraft carriers the Liaoning and the Shandong, displace about 60,000 tons each and use ski jump ramps to assist aircraft takeoffs Experts noted that the bigger size and displacement enable the Fujian to carry a larger number of aircraft and the equipment of electromagnetic catapults allows the third carrier to launch aircraft more efficiently, including launching heavier aircraft launching more types of aircraft launching fully loaded aircraft and launching aircraft faster C h i n a’s 3 r d a i r c ra f t c a r r i e r t h e Fu j i a n b e g i n s f i r s t s e a t r i a l
it was launched
mooring
and
rier the
conditions for
Xinhua
s
craft
and the
voyage,
A s t ra Ze n e c a a d m i t s to cov i d va cc i n e s i d e e ffe c t s, ex te n d s ‘s y m p at h i e s’ to a ffe c te e s
CORPORATE CORNER
Govt committed to
violence against women, children: A zra Pechuho
IMARAT Group celebrates inauguration of new head office in Mall of IMARAT Tower 1
town, Mall of IMARAT serves as a central piece in our vision to create a multifaceted urban hub It reflects our focus on integrating luxury with accessibility providing an elite yet inclusive environment for all PR
economic system and keeps its alive and active Federal Minister stressed that we must adopt such ways to provide maximum facilities to the labor class and to include them in the national stream Abdul Aleem Khan expressed his good wishes for every laborer living in this country and prayed for their success
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
COMSATS participated in Planet vs Plastic campaign reaffirming its unwavering Commitment to Greener Future Commission on Science and Technology for Sustainable Development in the South (COMSATS) and the Ministry of Climate Change and Environmental Coordination (MoCC&EC) Government of Pak-
istan, jointly organized an event titled "Pakistan’s Roadmap for Plastic Action" to mark Earth Day 2024
The event featured the introduction of the Pakistan National Plastic Action Partnership (NPAP) a government initiative implemented as part of the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) under the auspices of the World Economic Forum Held at the COMSATS Secretariat at Islamabad the participants were unanimous in em-
phasizing the critical need to combat plastic pollution for the wellbeing of both humanity and the environment Her Excellency Ms Romina Khurshid Alam Coordinator to the Prime Minister of Pakistan on Climate Change and Environmental Conservation (CC&EC), graced the occasion as the Chief Guest Ambassadors High Commissioners and Diplomats from COMSATS member states and other countries in Islamabad also graced the event with their presence H E Ms Romina emphasized Pakistan's pressing issue with plastic pollution, especially in urban areas Owing to these daunting challenges Pakistan has taken proactive steps such as banning single-use plastics and polythene bags in 2019 to mitigate plastic waste generation She stressed the importance of global cooperation in combating plastic pollution citing initiatives like the Global Plastic Action Partnership (GPAP) led by the World Economic Forum and
07 NEWS Thursday 2 May 2024 LAHORE
In a significant stride towards combating sexual and gender-based violence Sindh Health Minister Dr Azra Fazal Pechuho also holding the portfolio of Population Welfare reaffirmed the Sindh government's unwavering commitment to addressing the pressing issue of violence against women and children Speaking at the inaugural ceremony of the Model Anti-Rape Crisis Cell (ARCC) at the esteemed Jinnah Postgraduate Medical Center (JPMC) Dr Azra emphasized the crucial role of the newly established facility in providing essential support to survivors We thank all those whose efforts enabled the launch of this model facility," Dr Azra expressed her gratitude, acknowledging the collaborative efforts that made the ARCC a reality PR N av i g at i n g I n d u s Wate r Tr e at y: I n d i a’s hy p e r n at i o n a l i s m a n d Pa ki s t a n’s wate r s e c u r i t y c h a l l e n g e s The Centre for Aerospace & Security Studies (CASS), Lahore, hosted a seminar titled ‘Navigating the Indus Water Treaty: India’s Hypernationalism and Pakistan’s Water Security Challenges’ The event focused on the heart of Pakistan s socio-economic wellbeing – its water resources and the challenges the Treaty faces due to the changing political dynamics in India The seminar commenced with opening remarks by Dr Bilal Ghazanfar, Associate Senior Researcher at CASS, Lahore, who emphasised that cooperation, not conflict is the key to securing a shared water future for the region This was followed by a keynote address by Engineer Suleman Najib Khan Convener Water and Resource Development Council, who spoke about India s water aggression and termed it as an ecocide in motion PR Nestlé Pakistan recognised at 6th OICCI Women Empowerment Awards 2023 KARACHI: Nestlé Pakistan was recognised at the Overseas Investors Chamber of Commerce and Industry Women Empowerment Awards 2023, held in Karachi becoming the first runner-up The acknowledgement serves as a reaffirmation of Nestlé Pakistan s unwavering dedication to fostering an inclusive culture particularly in a country where there is a significant gender gap and limited female participation in the workforce Upon receiving the award, Masam Abbas, Nestlé Pakistan’s Gender Diversity Champion and Business Executive Officer –Juices said “Long-term prosperity hinges on the provision of equal opportunities for women to realize their full potential We have made considerable efforts to not only integrate these principles within our organization but also extend them beyond our boundaries ” PR Security Papers reports record 151% increase in profit for Q3 FY 2023-24 K A R A C H I: Security Papers Limited is pleased to announce its unaudited financial results for the nine months ended March 31 2024 with a record profit of Rs 1 083 million representing a 151% increase from Rs 431 million in the same period last year The Company s outstanding performance was driven by successful pricing negotiations improved operational efficiencies and timely investments in its portfolio Net sales increased by 46% to Rs 5,297 million, compared to Rs 3,616 million in the same period last year The sale volumes were at 3070 tons as against 3038 same period last year whereas production was 3157 tons vs 3177 tons same period last year Reflecting on the Company's vision to ensure efficient cost management and to achieve enhanced operational efficiency SPL reported gross profit soared by 136% to Rs 1 483 million up from Rs 628 million in the corresponding period of the preceding year PR Minister for S ocial Welfare along S ecretar y and DG visits ANF HQs in K arachi K A R A C H I :Sindh Minister of Social Welfare Mir Tariq Ali Talpur, Secretary social welfare Sajid Jamal Abro and DG social welfare Mr Nisar Shaikh visited the ANF headquarters in Karachi and met Brig Umar Farooq Regional Director of ANF Sindh to discuss the issue of narcotics control They then visited the Benazeer Shaheed ANF Model Addiction Treatment Rehabilitation and Reintegration Center (Drug Rehabilitation Center) in Malir The project director Lt Col (R) Parvez Hussain gave an overview of the hospital s project The Honourable Minister expressed their gratitude for the ANF s efforts and its large contribution and service to the community He expressed his desire to expand the hospital's capacity in the central region of Sindh During visit, 93 drug addicts patients were admitted in the Center P R C z e c h I T c o m p a ny I c e wa r p t o i nve s t i n Pa k i s t a n K A R A C H I: Icewarp a software company from the Czech Republic announced its plans to launch its full-fledged operation in Pakistan including a handsome investment in the establishment of a data center Established in 1998, the software company is operating in more than 100 countries with its specialized and highly cost-effective services such as hosted email, TeamChat, ChatGPT integration, online conferences, etc On the occasion, Global Chief Sales Officer Icewarp Jan Urbik said "Pakistan is a highly potential country with digital transformation taking place from public sector entities to private businesses We at Icewarp will support Pakistan in its mission to adopt digitalization through affordable solutions Our company will set up a data center in Pakistan in compliance with local regulations to keep the data and privacy of the citizens within the borders PR
a significant stride towards real estate innovation IMARAT Group proudly inaugurated its new head office within the tower 1 of Mall of IMARAT This event marks a notable milestone in the development of IMARAT Downtown Shafiq Akbar, Chairman of IMARAT Group reflected on the significance of this development saying At IMARAT we re making remarkable strides Opening our head office in Mall of IMARAT is a clear indication of our progress and firm resolve This building is at the core of IMARAT Downtown which integrates residential comfort with commercial prosperity all within an ecologically friendly design aimed at sustainability Farhan Javed, Group Director at Graana com, emphasized the innovative aspects of the project: The launch of our head office signifies more than just physical growth; it represents our commitment to pioneering new standards in real estate Mall of IMARAT Tower is just the beginning We are setting the stage for a series of developments that will transform Islamabad s skyline and offer unprecedented amenities Sharjeel A Ehmer Group Director at Agency21 added As part of the larger IMARAT Down-
addressing
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said on Labor Day
he salutes the high morale
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ISLAMABAD S
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has great share in the country's
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COMSATS obser ves Ear th D ay 2024 with MOCC PR OFIT R E U T E R S N EOM a unit of the kingdom’s sovereign wealth fund secured a new revolving credit facility (RCF) worth 10 billion riyals ($2 67 billion) from local lenders, according to a NEOM statement seen by Reuters Saudi National Bank Riyad Bank and Saudi Awwal Bank acted as the lead arrangers on the new facility while other participant banks are Al Rajhi Bank Alinma Bank Arab National Bank Bank Albilad The Saudi Investment Bank and Bank AlJazira the press release shows The new facility will be used to support NEOM’s short-term financing requirements as it moves forward in the development of major projects S A U D I A R A B I A ’ S N E O M S E C U R E S $ 2 . 7 B N E W F I N A N C I N G FA C I L I T Y g N E W FA C I L I T Y W I L L B E U S E D TO S U P P O R T N E O M ’ S S H O R T-T E R M F I N A N C I N G R E Q U I R E M E N T S CDA conducts vigorous operation against illegal housing societies in Zone Four I S L A M A B A D:The Capital Development Authority (CDA) administration is conducting a vigorous operation against illegal housing societies in Zone Four of Islamabad Under which the offices made for the management and publicity of the illegal societies are being sealed In this regard, the administrative offices of the illegal housing scheme Rawal Enclave have been sealed It should be noted that action was taken against the illegal housing scheme Rawal Enclave for illegally buying and selling plots in violation of the provisions of Capital Development Authority Ordinance 1960, ICT Zoning Regulation 1992 and ICT Building Control Regulation 2020 In this regard the Capital Development Authority management has repeatedly warned the public through newspaper advertisements to avoid buying plots in illegal housing schemes and to ensure before investing that the sponsor of the society has obtained NOC from CDA after fulfilling the conditions PR KARACHI SPORTS REPORTER The Prime Minister's Handball Youth Sports League organized by Sindh Madrasatul Islam University and Higher Education Commission is starting today Thursday May 2 Boys teams from Karachi Hyderabad Shaheed Benazirabad Sukkur and Larkana regions will participate in the league HEC Chairman Professor Dr Mukhtar Ahmed will be the chief guest of the inauguration ceremony While Vice Chancellor of Sindh Madrasahul Islam University Professor Dr Mujeebuddin Sehrai Memon Director in charge of HEC Regional Office and Director of Sports Javed Ali Memon, Dr Shah Zaman Khan, Head of Health and Physical Department, IBA Sukkur University will be the guests of honor The closing ceremony of this league which will be held from May 2, will be held on May 6 The competitions of the event will be held at Scouts Sports Complex, Gulshan Iqbal L A D I E S F U N D c e l e b r ate s E i d M i l a n K A R A C H I: LADIESFUND the renowned platform dedicated to empowering women, hosted a memorable Eid Milan event, bringing together a diverse array of guests for a joyous celebration The occasion was graced by the presence of over 100 esteemed guests from diplomatic circles corporate sectors ministries press women SMEs celebrities fashion designers models all coming together to mark the joyous festival of Eid Attendees adorned themselves in traditional Eid attire, adding to the vibrant atmosphere of the gathering which was a testament to the spirit of unity and camaraderie Spotted at the event were Dmitry A Petrov Stanislav Toporov Amin Gulgee Shamaeel Ansari Atiya Khan Farrukh Shahab Kulsoom Aftab transgender doctor Dr Sara Gill Majyd Aziz, Sana Pirzada, Aamir Butt, Faisal Lodhia, Dr Sadaf Khan, Muneeza Labuschagne, Haseeb Khan, Mehreen Illahi, Raheela Baqai, Kiran Zubair, Naveen Balkhi Aamir Butt Zurain Imam et al PR E n g r Q a i s e r N awa b c a l l s o n R a n a M a s h h o o d t o d i s c u s s yo u t h d e ve l o p m e n t I S L A M A B A D: Engr Qaiser Nawab a prominent global youth leader called on His Excellency Rana Mashhood Ahmad Khan Chairman Prime Minister s Youth Programme Pakistan During the meeting which took place at the Prime Minister s Office of Pakistan focused on the significance of youth development as a key strength of Pakistan with its population comprising about 70% youth PR PM’s Handball Youth Spor ts League star ts today
UNEP
PM REAFFIRMS L ABOUR WELFARE, HARMONISING DOMESTIC L AWS WITH GLOBAL STANDARDS
Vawda wants IHC to make public correspondence between Justice Sattar, Justice Minallah
ISLAMABAD
Senator Faisal Vawda on Tuesday submitted a request to the registrar of the Islamabad High Court (IHC) demanding the release of communications between SC Justice Athar Minallah and IHC’s Justice Babar Sattar concerning the latter s green card
In the interest of justice and to uphold the dignity of constitutional courts [ ] I request from your esteemed office the disclosure of the documents detailing this [correspondence between the two justices] to put an end to this controversy and malicious campaign Vawda stated in his letter
The senator s letter addresses the online campaign targeting Justice Sattar, which accuses him of possessing U S citizenship and having a business stake in a private school within the country
Deputy
PM
the border into Punjab The firefight left seven policemen injured who fought valiantly against the terrorists the district police officer said The injured cops were identified as ASI Imran constables Muhammad Amir, Ashiq Zain, Rahmatullah, Sanaullah and Elite constable Tariq Another Elite constable, Shahid Mazoor, was rushed to Nishtar Hospital in Multan with serious wounds According to police DG Khan regional police officer and district police officer had visited the Jhangi post two days ago and alerted the jawans about the possible threat of terrorist attack A Punjab police spokesman said that the DG Khan RPO had also supervised a rehearsal for defence of the post The DG Khan RPO said the security of the Jhangi post was also beefed up with additional reinforcement necessary equipment and more weapons Jhangi post incharge Sub-Inspector Mohiuddin along with his team displayed excellent skills while defending the post the RPO said Punjab IGP Dr Usman Anwar showered praise on the police jawans for defending the post, saying Punjab police is alert and will not let terrorists succeed in their nefarious designs to harm the country ” On Monday an alert was sounded following intelligence reports of potential terrorist attacks targeting the inter-provincial checkpost The inter-provincial checkpost faced an attack by terrorists on December 14, 2023 CM Maryam condemns attack Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz strongly condemned the terrorist attack on Jhangi post and paid tribute to the police team for neutralizing the attack Maryam Nawaz directed
This situation prompted a reaction from the IHC which issued a statement through a public relations officer denouncing the malicious campaign against the judge Justice Sattar has only ever held Pakistani nationality,” the statement clarified, adding that the judge’s wife and children hold dual citizenship of Pakistan and the U S They resided in the U S until 2021 but moved back to Pakistan following his appointment as an IHC judge, the statement further noted
The IHC PRO also specified that since his appointment Justice Sattar has not purchased any property All properties owned by him whether in the U S or Pakistan, were either inherited or acquired while he was practicing law, and have been declared in his tax returns
Citing a Supreme Court ruling which states that constitutional courts must release information
Ishaq
under Article 19-A of the Constitution Vawda noted that prior to his appointment as an IHC judge Justice Sattar informed then Chief Justice Minallah of his Pakistani nationality and possession of a green card, which allows him visafree travel to the U S
It is also notable that Justice Sattar is one of six IHC judges who wrote to the Supreme Judicial Council (SJC) regarding the alleged meddling by members of the executive, including intelligence agency operatives, in judicial matters
He is also a member of the bench in the audio leaks case and imposed a fine of Rs500 000 on the Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA), Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA), and Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) on Tuesday for their unsuccessful attempts to have him recused from the case
Dar arrives in G ambia to represent Pakistan at OIC S ummit
ISLAMABAD
S TA F F R E P O R T
Deputy Prime Minister and Foreign
Minister Ishaq Dar on Wednesday arrived in Gambia to represent Pakistan at the 15th Organisation of Islamic Cooperation (OIC) Summit being held in Banjul on May 4-5
Dar announced his arrival in Gambia in a post on social media platform X erstwhile Twitter
Dar was received by the Gambian Minister of Petroleum and Energy Nani Juwara, Foreign Secretary of Pakistan Ambassador Muhammad Syrus Sajjad Qazi and Ambassador of Pakistan to Senegal accredited to Gambia Saima Maymunah Sayed
The Foreign Office announced in a press release on Wednesday that Dar would also attend the OIC Council of Foreign Ministers Meeting preceding the summit on May 2-3 During this meeting, ministers will discuss and finalise the agenda and outcome documents for the summit
The summit is being convened at a critical juncture for the Muslim Ummah particularly as the conflict affecting the people of Gaza persists without resolution It presents an important opportunity for OIC leaders to address the dire situation in Gaza and present a unified stance on the Palestinian question
According to the press release At the Summit the deputy prime
minister and foreign minister will speak about Pakistan’s perspective on the ongoing genocide in Gaza the right to self-determination of the people of Jammu & Kashmir imperatives of solidarity and unity of the Ummah, rising Islamophobia, issues of climate change, terrorism, and other contemporary global challenges ” The statement further emphasises He will underline the need to find collective solutions to challenges confronting the Muslim Ummah On the sidelines of the summit, the deputy prime minister and foreign minister will hold bilateral meetings with leaders and foreign ministers in attendance concluded the statement
Interior Minister Naqvi announces upgradation of Pakistan Coast Guards
g SBP ALSO SOLD PAKISTAN INVESTMENT BONDS WORTH RS193 546 BILLION IN A SEMIANNUAL AUCTION, MISSING RS280 B TARGET
Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965 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 4:40 5:18 1 30 5:15 6:45 8:30 Thursday 2 May 2024 NEWS G R E E N C A R D C O N T R O V E R S Y ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T P R I M E Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Wednesday reiterated the government s commitment to bolstering labour welfare and harmonizing domestic workforce legislation with international standards on the occasion of Labour Day Labour Day is an annual holiday to celebrate the achievements of workers The day has its origins in the labour union movement, which advocated an eight-hour workday Celebrated on May 1, the day aims to spread awareness of the contribution made by the workers and the working class to society Also it raises awareness about workers rights labour force exploitation, and better initiatives for improved working conditions Various public and private organisations will host conferences seminars marches and walks to commemorate the holiday In his message on International Labour Day the premier honoured the immense sacrifices of the workers who laid their lives while waging a relentless struggle for their rights The prime minister said enhancing occupational safety and health across various sectors was the top priority for government and added that he will soon convene the National Tripartite Labour Conference PM Shehnaz also praised the invaluable contributions of workers who work day and night in the fields, factories and elsewhere to feed their families “These workers have been the driving force behind the country’s progress ” The premier maintained that the government will continue its efforts to improve the working and living conditions of the working class by further promoting their welfare through better education, healthcare, housing and social security benefits Upholding Dignity of Labourers President Asif Ali Zardari in his message also reiterated the government s commitment to upholding the dignity of labourers and paid tribute to their historic struggle He said that the day serves as a reminder for all to safeguard the rights of the working class, and work for their social protection fair wages and safe working conditions The president added that labourers and the working class in Pakistan are facing unprecedented challenges due to unemployment, rising cost of living, inflation and also the adverse impacts of climate change Zardari said that the crucial role of protecting the rights of the workers implementing and enforcing policies to end labour exploitation, protecting their rights and providing social support lay on the governments shoulders The president called upon employers to adopt fair wage practices take steps for worker safety and health and ensure the provision of necessary training and safety equipment for workers working in hazardous environments ‘Punjab CM salutes workers’ Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif saluted the hardworking individuals worldwide and particularly emphasized the respect for labor in Islam She hailed the efforts of working women in upholding family honor and stressed the importance of societal programs for workers welfare She emphasized the need for a culture of respect for workers and initiatives aimed at creating a society where the contribution of every laborer is valued Meanwhile, Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi commemorated the day by remembering the struggle and sacrifices rendered by Chicago workers against oppression and tyranny He praised the laborers as heroes contributing to the nation s prosperity and called for efforts to protect their rights and enhance their social well-being The leaders collectively reiterated their commitment to safeguarding the rights of workers and pledged to take measures for their welfare and social uplift
PR OFIT N E W S D E S K With the government facing nearly Rs550 billion ($1 98 billion) in outstanding payments to Chinese Independent Power Producers (IPPs), there are plans to establish a payment schedule before the upcoming 13th Joint Coordination Committee (JCC) meeting of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) This precedes an anticipated visit to Beijing by Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif slated for early June According to reports the Chinese have requested that PM Sharif visits after the JCC meeting This approach aims to resolve existing issues and craft a collaborative roadmap for the next phase of CPEC during the state-level discussion While the visit is tentatively scheduled for the beginning of June the date for the JCC meeting remains unconfirmed due to unresolved matters The focus of the Pakistani delegation, led by Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal who also co-chairs the JCC alongside his Chinese counterpart is to settle all outstanding issues Key among these are the resolution of the overdue payments to Chinese IPPs and ensuring future payments proceed smoothly, including those under the established revolving fund Reports indicate that the pending dues to Chinese power companies amount to approximately Rs550 billion and there have been delays in the scheduled payments from the revolving fund in recent months Reports state that Chinese financial bodies are seeking reassurance for continued cooperation on crucial projects, underlining the need for confidence-building measures The delay in payments and China’s request for specific energy tariffs for Special Economic Zones (SEZs) have negatively impacted several major projects and investments within these zones In response, Planning Minister Ahsan Iqbal has conducted numerous meetings with relevant ministries and agencies Recently, he chaired two significant meetings on a single Tuesday one with about thirtyfive representatives of Chinese businesses and another focusing on inter-ministerial and agency cooperation During the inaugural meeting of the Cabinet Committee on Chinese Investment Projects (CCoCIP), Iqbal discussed the pressing issues related to CPEC IPPs, which are crucial for the financial completion of key initiatives An official statement quoted him urging the IPPs to promptly report their outstanding amounts related to CPEC energy projects The minister highlighted the necessity of supplying electricity to SEZs at a subsidized rate while ensuring the government remains financially sustainable He has directed the board of directors of the power firms especially the National Transmission and Dispatch Company to swiftly address the issues related to SEZs Additionally the minister also held a comprehensive meeting with 35 Chinese enterprises and Pakistani business entities to gather insights and suggestions on enhancing bilateral cooperation and capitalizing on shared opportunities He emphasized that the second phase of CPEC focuses on industrial cooperation and fostering business-to-business partnerships, building on the foundation established in the initial phase of the corridor Govt to address C hinese IPPs ’ dues ahead of CPEC committee meeting, PM’s Beijing trip Seven cops injured as Punjab Police foil attack on DG Khan border post DERA GHAZI KHAN S TA F F R E P O R T The Punjab Police personnel on Wednesday thwarted a major terrorists’ attack on a bordering checkpost in Dera Ghazi Khan and forced the group of terrorists to flee through a swift and effective response while seven police officials were injured in the fire exchange According to a police spokesperson terrorists affiliated with a banned organisation attacked the Jhangi Police Checkpost, situated in the Wahova area of DG Khan This was the second assault on the post in as many months The terrorists targeted the personnel stationed at the checkpoint with the aim of capturing them About 20 terrorists armed with rocket-launchers hand-grenades laser light guns and other modern weapons launched the attack on the police s Jhangi post , the spokesperson informed The police jawans present on duty put up a stiff resistance, beating the terrorists back and foiled their attempt to infiltrate
for providing best medial facilities for the injured personnel The Punjab chief minister vowed to wipe out the terrorism once for all
KARACHI: Interior Minister Mohsin Naqvi has announced upgradation of Pakistan Coast Guards on Wednesday Mohsin Naqvi presided over an important meeting at the headquarters of Pakistan Coast Guards in Karachi today Addressing the participants, the interior minister said Pakistan Coast Guards will be upgraded on modern lines and Coastal Guards have to play an important role in anti-smuggling operations The Interior Minister said that despite the limited resources, the performance of the Coastal Guards is excellent During his visit of Coast Guard Headquarters Muhsin Naqvi placed flowers on Yadgar-e-Shuhda and recited Fateha S TA F F R E P O R T PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has announced that 506 671 individuals who did not file their tax returns for the year 2023 will face the blocking of their mobile phone SIMs This action follows the issuance of Income Tax General Order (ITGO) no 01 of 2024, which mandates the suspension of SIM services for these non-compliant taxpayers until they are reinstated by the FBR or the relevant Commissioner Inland Revenue The directive from the FBR requires immediate compliance from the Pakistan Telecommunication Authority (PTA) and all telecom operators These entities are to report their compliance to the FBR by May 15 The agency has identified 2 4 million potential taxpayers absent from the tax rolls These individuals were subsequently issued notices for noncompliance Of these, over half a million have been selected for the SIM blockade as they have previously declared taxable income in one of the last three years but failed to file their returns for 2023 Restoration of SIM services will automatically occur for those who submit their 2023 tax returns The FBR updates its ATL every Monday and submits the names of compliant taxpayers to the PTA and telecom companies for SIM restoration every Tuesday This restoration process is fully automated, with no separate steps required for the taxpayers once they file their returns FBR to block mobile SIMs of 0.5m non-filers PR OFIT N E W S D E S K The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) sold Market Treasury Bills (MTBs) totaling Rs252 92 billion in a recent auction, missing its target of Rs300 billion With maturities of 3, 6, and 12 months, T-bills fetched yields of 21 6601%, 21 3849%, and 20 8990% respectively showing stability from the last auction Bids received amounted to Rs890 18 billion with the central bank accepting only Rs252 92 billion Specifically, the SBP accepted Rs45 06 billion for the 3-month bills, Rs7 73 billion for the 6-month bills, and Rs137 47 billion for the 12-month bills An additional Rs62 65 billion was accepted from noncompetitive bids The bid-to-cover ratio indicating demand was 3 52 up from 1 78 in the previous auction translating to the SBP accepting about 28 41% of the total bids This contrasts with the last auction on April 17, 2024, where the SBP sold MTBs worth Rs538 billion, surpassing the Rs525 billion target PIB-PFL auction The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) also sold Pakistan Investment Bonds – Floating Rate (PIB-PFL) worth Rs193 546 billion in a semiannual auction for 5 and 10 years, falling short of its Rs280 billion target The auction saw the 5-year PIB-PFL cut-off price at Rs95 9152 and the 10-year at Rs93 8371 SBP received bids totaling Rs357 5 billion for semiannual PIB-PFL and Rs1 895 billion for quarterly PIB-PFL accepting only the semiannual bids The funds raised included Rs132 471 billion from 5year bonds and Rs61 075 billion from 10-year bonds, totaling Rs193 546 billion The settlement date for these bonds is set for May 02, 2024 The competitive bids raised Rs179 95 billion, supplemented by Rs13 596 billion through noncompetitive bids The goal was to raise Rs160 billion from the sale of 5-year and 10-year semiannual PIBs targeting Rs80 billion each For quarterly PIB-PFL, the target was Rs60 billion from 2-year and 3-year bonds In comparison, the previous auction on April 17, 2024, garnered Rs353 23 billion against a Rs220 billion target The latest yields show a slight decrease in cut-off prices following the Monetary Policy Committee s decision to maintain the policy rate at 22% for the seventh consecutive meeting Gov t raises Rs252.92b in T-bills auction, falling shor t of Rs300b target
TA F F R E
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P O R T