DISCOs inc ur Rs589 bln losses in c urrent fisc al year: PBF
mix substantial transmission and distribution losses and chronic issues like circular debt and regulatory inefficiencies Including an outdated infrastructure and inefficient power plants further exacerbate costs while under utilisation of domestic resources such as hydropower and coal add to the problem
extreme marginalization and violence which are often underreported and inadequately addressed The fellowship s stories have highlighted these injustices, bringing much-needed attention to the plight of transgender people and advocating for their rights and safety
Our cross-provincial analysis reveals disturbing perceptions about domestic violence Between 25% of women in Punjab and 59% of women in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa believe that a husband beating his wife is justified
Among those who never reported domestic violence 24% believed the violence was not serious 15% were embarrassed to report it, 12% did not want to bring shame to their family, 9% feared further violence, and 8% did not report due to fear of their marriage ending By sharing stories of gender-based violence and child marriage the media has raised awareness about their prevalence and impact humanized statistics encouraged empathy and understanding, inspired survivors to speak out, held perpetrators accountable, and influenced public opinion and policy Participants included reporters copy editors multimedia journalists district correspondents op-ed writers and current affairs show hosts
The fellowship has created a network of dedicated journalists committed to solutions journalism mobile journalism and digital editing Prizes were awarded by Deputy Chairman Senate Syedaal Khan Nasar and Chairperson NCSW Nilofar Bakhtiar to the following journalists: Urdu Print Media: Shirin Karim; Sameer Ajmal,Shazad Naveed; English Print Media: Wajiha Haider Bakhtawar Ahmed Asim Khan; Electronic Media: Najia Mir Akhtar Shaheen Rind Saqib Abro Digital Media: Laiba Zainab Arzoo Khan, Wagma Feroz
PBF also rejected the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority revised tariff for distribution companies and Karachi Electric for the month of June after making fuel cost adjustment, a Rs3 33 per unit hike for them which would reflect in June 2024 bills
This move was expected to help them to raise about Rs29 billion ($101 4 million) of additional revenue this month
The authority has reviewed and assessed a National Average Uniform increase of Rs3 332 1/kWh in the applicable tariff for XWDISCOs on account of variations in the fuel charges for the month of April 2024 said the NEPRA notification
of factors including high reliance on imported fossil fuels, inefficient energy
In this regard PBF suggested for a short team measure to setup an Anti-theft Task Force, an assembly of officers from the armed forces, law enforcement agencies district administration and intelligence services This task force would align itself with DISCOs suffering significant losses specifically the Quetta Electric Supply Company (QESCO), the Peshawar Electric Supply Company (PESCO), the Sukkur Electric Power Company (SEPCO) the Multan Electric Power Company (MEPCO) and the Hyderabad Electric Supply Company (HESCO)
The above adjustment of Rs3 3321/kWh shall be applicable to all the consumer categories except Electric Vehicle Charging Stations (EVCS) and lifeline consumers,” it added Apart from these companies the power consumers in Karachi will pay an additional Rs2 68 per unit in June raising the tariff to Rs10 1 per unit The tariff will further increase to Rs3 11 per unit in July which would ease to Rs0 998 per unit in September 2024 under monthly fuel cost adjustment charges according to the notification
M d y 10 J 2024 | KARACHI NEWS 03 NEW DELHI AG E N C E S n A R E N D R A M O D I was sworn in as India s prime minister on Sunday for a record-equalling third term but as a restive coalition s head after a shock poll setback that will test his ability to ensure policy certainty in the world’s most populous nation President Droupadi Murmu administered the oath of office to Modi at a grand ceremony at the Rashtrapati Bhavan the president s palace in New Delhi attended by thousands of dignitaries, including the leaders of seven regional countries, Bollywood stars and industrialists Modi, who started as a publicist of the Hindu nationalist Rashtriya Swayamsevak Sangh (RSS) the ideological parent of his Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) is only the second person after independence leader Jawaharlal Nehru to serve a third straight term as prime minister Modi, 73, secured the third term in elections that concluded on June 1 with the support of 14 regional parties in his BJP-led National Democratic Alliance (NDA) unlike in the previous two terms when his party won an outright majority The outcome is seen as a big setback to the popular leader as surveys and exit polls had predicted BJP would secure even more seats than in 2019 Modi delivered world-beating growth and lifted India s global standing but appeared to have missed a step at home as a lack of enough jobs high prices low incomes and religious faultlines pushed voters to rein him in When Modi was the chief minister of the western state of Gujarat from 2001 to 2014 BJP enjoyed strong majorities allowing him to govern decisively Modi s new term as prime minister therefore is likely to be fraught with challenges on building consensus on contentious political and policy issues in the face of different interests of regional parties and a stronger opposition analysts say Some analysts worry that the fiscal balance in the world s fastest-growing economy could also come under pressure due to demands for higher development funds for states ruled by the NDA’s regional partners and a possible push by BJP to spend more on welfare to woo back voters it lost in this year s election Modi, whose election campaign was marked by religious rhetoric and criticism of the opposition for allegedly favouring India’s 200 million minority Muslims has adopted a more conciliatory tone since the shock result We have won the majority but to run the country it is unanimity that is crucial we will strive for unanimity, he said on Friday after the NDA formally named him coalition head SWAT I N P Federal Minister for States and Frontier Regions (SAFRON) and Kashmir and Gilgit Baltistan Affairs Engr Amir Muqam here on Sunday said that huge foreign investment had again started coming to Pakistan due to successful policies of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif Government that had restored confidence of the international investors Addressing party workers here at Malam Jabba, the federal minister said that important MoUs and agreements were signed during the successful visit of Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif to the brotherly country of China that would largely benefit the people of Pakistan Engr Amir Muqam said that investments were also coming from brotherly Islamic countries including Saudi Arabia and UAE which strongly reflected investors confidence in the economic and foreign policies of Shehbaz Sharif Govt He said that vast opportunities for investment were existed in agriculture mines and mineral tourism and Information Technology in Pakistan especially in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Owing to the prudent economic, fiscal and trade policies of PML-N Govt, he said that prices of daily use commodities were significantly decreased and the value of rupee against dollar stabilized He said that Opposition leaders were victimised during PTI Government and fake cases were registered against PML-N leadership He said that PML-N leadership had faced all the cases with steadfastness and were acquitted by the courts of law On the other hands he said that PTI leadership was making tall hallow slogans in a bid to instigate people and putting pressure on institutions to release PTI founder arrested in corruption cases He said that these negative elements were provoking people to repeat the May 9 gory incidents Engr Amir Muqam said that PTI agenda was person-specific and wanted to get favour for the release of PTI founder who was apprehended in mega corruption cases He said that the government would not allow anyone to take law in hands, attack official and security institutions and repeat May 9 rioting He asked the Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa to concentrate on resolution of people problems instead of relying on hallow tall slogans The people of Khyber Pakthunkhwa have given full mandate to the PTI back candidates in last general election while the Chief Minister KP was insulting the masses’ mandate he claimed Engr Amir Muqam said that the hate based politics was not in the people and country s interest Pakistan is our country and we should all work tirelessly for its progress and prosperity as the politics is linked with survival of Pakistan, he expressed T h e f e d e r a l m i n i s t e r s a i d t h a t t h e country would make progress only when all state institutions were strong He said t h a t t h e c o u n t r y c o u l d a c h i e v e h e i g h t o f s u c c e s s w h e n a l l s t a t e i n s t i t u t i o n s w o r k u n d e r i t s c o n s t i t u t i o n a l d o m a i n a n d t a k e decisions on merit He questioned about poor development in Swat during tenure of former Chief Minister Mahmood Khan and lip service of the past rulers of PTI that deceived people of KP on the name of change for 11 years The minister said that people of Swat had faced the brunt of terrorism with steadfastness and had become IDPs for the sake of Pakistan He said that national flag was hoisted again in Swat He said that former Prime Minister Muhammad Nawaz Sharif had constructed a state of the art of art Kidney hospital in Minglawar Swat benefiting thousands of poor patients Besides hospitals and schools, he said that roads infrastructure were strengthened and gas facilities were extended to Swat He said that the workers were the real assets of the Party and all their genuine problems would be addressed
ISLAMABAD
Nilofar hails UNFPA & CE J-IBA’s suppor t for launching National Media Fellowship on Women’s Rights Foreign investment coming back to Pakistan under PM’s leadership: Engr Amir Muqam new gov t employees in Balochistan to benefit from contributor y pension plan QUETTA I N P The Balochistan government has introduced a new pension scheme for its future employees as confirmed by officials from the provincial Finance Department on Sunday The announcement, set to be officially made during the upcoming budget presentation, outlines a contributory pension plan for individuals recruited in the next fiscal year Under the new scheme a specified portion of the monthly salary of the employees will be automatically deducted and allocated to their pension funds Additionally, these contributions will be matched by the provincial government, effectively doubling the retirement savings for the employees The funds accumulated in this manner will be accessible to employees upon their retirement It s important to note that this change will only affect future government employees Those already employed by the government will remain on the existing pension plan pM grieved over shahadat of securit y personnel in lakki Mar wat ISLAMABAD A P P Prime Minister Muhammad Shehbaz Sharif on Sunday while reiterating the resolve to continue fighting against terrorism till its complete elimination expressed his deep grief over shahadat of seven security personnel including Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas shaheed in a terrorist attack in District Lakki Marwat The prime minister prayed for the bereaved families to bear the losses with equanimity, PM Office Media Wing said in a press release He said that the entire nation saluted the law enforcement agencies for their services and unprecedented sacrifices and stood with the brave Jawans The prime minister also resolved to make terrorists accountable asad umar shifted to private hospital due to back pain KARACHI I N P Former federal minister Asad Umar was shifted to a private hospital on Sunday due to back pain Due to sudden health problem Rescue 1122 ambulance was called to shift him to hospital Asad Umar praised the Sindh Rescue 1122 ambulance service terming it a blessing for the people of the metropolis Director General Rescue 1122 said that the Rescue 1122 service of the Sindh government was engaged in serving the people without any discrimination and highly professional and trained staff was hired for the purpose DG Rescue 1122 further informed that very soon the scope of Rescue 1122 will be wider across Sindh and more people will be benefited indian brutalities cannot suppress Kashmiris’ freedom sentiment: aphc SRINAGAR I N P The All Parties Hurriyat Conference (APHC) has said that illegal arrests, crackdowns, attaching properties, terminating Kashmiri employees and other brutalities by Indian forces personnel cannot suppress the Kashmiris’ resolve for freedom and they will continue their struggle till it reaches its logical conclusion According to Kashmir Media Service APHC spokesman Advocate Abdul Rashid Minhas in a statement issued in Srinagar strongly denounced the surge in Indian atrocities, including attaching properties and terminating Kashmiri employees from government services in Indian illegally occupied Jammu and Kashmir The APHC paid glowing tributes to the martyrs of Chhota Bazaar massacre on the eve of their martyrdom anniversary Indian troops had martyred dozens of innocent people by firing indiscriminately on innocent and unarmed shopkeepers passers-by women and children in Chhota Bazaar area of Srinagar on June 11 1991 He said that the sacred mission of the Kashmiri martyrs would be accomplished at all costs He called upon the international community to take cognizance of the grave situation of IIOJK and put pressure on India to resolve the lingering Kashmir dispute in accordance with the Kashmiris aspirations He also condemned the Hindutva RSS/BJP non-Kashmiri student in Srinagar for making derogatory remarks against the Prophet Muhammad (PBUH) and said that such acts were intolerable for the Muslims pMl-n gov t decides to continue pti’s ten billion tree initiative ISLAMABAD I N P The PML-N-led federal government has decided to continue Ten Billion Tree Tsunami project initiated by the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) government, a private news channel citing sources said on Sunday The government has decided to increase the budget for the Ministry of Climate Change by Rs11 82 billion for the fiscal year 2024-25 with aiming at mitigating the effects of global warming and promoting sustainable development The budget includes a significant allocation of Rs15 62 billion for the Green Pakistan initiative, previously known as the Ten Billion Tree Tsunami – a project initially launched in 2018 by PTI The project aims to plant trees across the nation and combat the adverse effects of climate change The government has also proposed a new project to combat climate change, details of which are yet to be disclosed It has also been proposed to provide Rs1 019 billion to the Ministry of Climate Change to enhance its technical capacity and effectively implement climate change projects The budget also allocates Rs15 775 billion for four ongoing schemes, aimed at promoting sustainable development and environmental conservation Furthermore, the government has proposed Rs100 million for the Pakistan Biosafety Clearing House In a move to improve water quality monitoring capabilities the government has allocated Rs30 million for the purpose
LAHORE I N P Pakistan Business Forum (PBF) seeking government s intervention to privatize all state owned DISCOs called for appointing professionals of the energy sector till the completion of the privatization process Chairman PBF Punjab, Muhammad Naseer Malik said all 10 governmentowned DISCOs would incur losses of Rs589 billion in the current fiscal year
that the main
this sit-
ensuring that the
their
electricity
massive losses
electricity
combination
He said
concern in
uation was
DISCOs find a solution to cut
losses by curbing the theft of
which they claim was the reason behind their
Naseer Malik further said country already produces expensive
due to a
D eath in Q uetta shows polio not just unconquered but still fatal
TH E programme to eliminate polio from the world received a setback as Pakistan recorded its firth case and a fatality as it was not confirmed until Friday that the patient had suffered polio even though he had died 17 days before The onset of paralysis had taken place on April 29 and though the patient a two-year-old boy from a village in Quetta died on May 23 the diagnosis was not confirmed until well too late
There seems to have crept in a sort of complacency, which can perhaps be understood, but which could prove very dangerous If cases are not suspected until too late, and if cases are then subjected to overrigorous confirmation procedures, it is likely enough that false alarms will be avoided, Physicians must be saved from such pressures, and encouraged to act as if the worst is true After all, though polio has long been known as a crippling disease it should not be forgotten that it can kill The effort to eliminate polio has now been narrowed down to Afghanistan and Pakistan Indeed it should not be imagined that the disease occurs all over the country It is limited to what might be described as the borderland between the tw2o countries This forms one tribal belt Pakistan has to take up some of the slack of Afghanistan, and cover for the inefficiencies of the Taliban government Another problem is the fencing of the Durand Line, which has made illicit crossings a problem Without a more vigorous approach to this problem, there is very danger it may get out of hand The highly desired aim of complete elimination means that there will be more effort involved in tackling the last cases As the elimination goal comes in sight the need for the government to keep sight of it becomes all the more necessary Apart from the achievement inherent in the elimination of a disease which has killed and crippled millions the government needs to understand that from a healthy productive member of society, polio changes the individual to someone who needs special treatment all his life That means there must be none of the relaxation of effort even when Pakistan reaches the position of having no polio cases, and then waits out the year of freedom from disease that will mark the achievement of elimination
Dedicated to the legac y of late Hameed Nizami Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor
M A Niazi Editor Pakistan Today Babar Nizami Editor Profit
Ac r
y f o r h e l p
NO B O D Y wants spaceships flying in space and his child dying on earth nobody wants rockets going out to space and bombs falling, and nobody wants scientific discoveries and discovering the bodies of his loved ones from rubble Everybody wants to live a happy life, everybody wants his children playing and laughing around and everybody wants to succeed in life All those things are only possible when there is a peaceful environment The first and foremost responsibility and right of a man is to attain a peaceful environment for himself and his family The child, tired of this exhausting world, goes to the lap of his mother to heal himself because that is the safest place for him in the whole world Peace is the most important thing for everyone The word goal triggers thoughts of materialistic things not of peace the need of the day The dream worth chasing in life is attaining peace for everyone, not a Ferrari or a billion dollars The thing that separates the hero from others is his passion for leading humanity to a better way- the way to peace Securing a peaceful environment for every individual should be everybody s priority Peace is not just the absence of war rather it is the presence of opportunities freedom and justice The obstacles in the way are egos, short-term thinking, complexities of issues, and leadership Humans live with biases, fears, and competition Most of the time, the focus is on winning not on solutions Minds fall for the emotional and persuasive language of hawks and don’t listen to doves perspectives The diplomatic field is very backward in some countries Their voices are not heard and get
be dealt with collectively Politicians should bury their egos Implementation of policies should be focused instead of just words that have no importance The focus should be on cooperation instead of fighting To save the victims of violence and war, every global citizen should perform his responsibility Palestinians Kashmiris and others like them must be liberated by
mosque in the heart of Rafah After intense shelling, they advanced towards the western neighborhoods and took up trenches on the Zurub hilltop Not all of the Palestinians taking refuge there are able to leave and some have determined that it would be riskier to do so given that violence still occurs in many parts of Gaza and that there is little food, water, shelter, or sanitary facilities elsewhere Most of Gaza’s assistance has been cut off by the Israeli campaign Throughout the first seven months of the conflict the Rafah and Kerem Shalom borders served as the primary entry points for food fuel and medical supplies However, in the more than three weeks between May 6 and May 28, just 216 relief vehicles entered Gaza, according to UN statistics Palestine was formally recognized as a state by Ireland Norway and Spain on May 28 Although no major western power has recognized the state of Palestine as of yet, more than 140 countries already do The European trio s move could raise eyebrows in Washington and other nearby cities Palestinians applauded the action, but the Israeli government replied by snubbing their envoys and removing the ambassadors from all three countries Although Palestine s official statehood would only be acknowledged as a symbolic gesture, it would heighten the
To promote peace , star t with yourself and star t right now The action of the plan includes raising awareness, using emotional intellig ence and diplomacy, establishing, and regulating strong institutions, making laws, spreading knowledg e regarding environmental science , and using creativity and ar t. Communication technology has the most essential role , for it has made conflict monitoring better by informing others and working tog ether.
enormous diplomatic pressure that is presently being applied on Israel due to its violent attacks on Palestinians in Gaza Furthermore, Norway, Spain, and Ireland are not truly adopting policies that are entirely in favour of Palestinian interests just because they have recognized the sovereignty of Palestine During the joint news conference yesterday the foreign ministers of Ireland, Norway, and Spain made that much clear All three of them denounced Israeli acts in a very strong manner, but they also repeated US policy demands that harm Palestinians and advance Israeli objectives They emphasized for instance the normalization of relations between Saudi Arabia and Israel which the USA, Israel s most ardent friend, has long hailed as a revolutionary agreement that would benefit all parties Without a doubt, the USA, Saudi Arabia, and Israel would gain enormously from the planned normalization agreement
It is unacceptable to remain silent or uncaring in the face of such extreme pain The appeal made here must be heard, and the world s response must be one of empathy, determination, and steadfast support for human rights and the protection of human life To break the cycle of violence and create a future in which the Palestinian people may live in honour assurance and peace will need a concerted effort based on empathy and a shared awareness of our shared humanity
The writer is a freelance columnist
Karachi’s crime rate
Technical content writing
Stray dogs in Karachi
Neglected village
04 Monday 10 June 2024
P o l
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COMMENT
i o s c o u r g e n o t
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I am writing to express my concerns about the rising crime rate in Karachi and to advocate for stronger community policing strategies to promote safety and security in our neighborhoods As a student residing in Karachi, I have witnessed an alarming increase in incidents of theft, mugging, and other criminal activities, which have left many residents feeling unsafe and vulnerable in their own communities It is distressing to see Karachi becoming a hub for snatchers and goons where innocent people are constantly at risk of falling victim to crime We urgently need proactive measures to address this issue including increased police presence in high-crime areas community engagement initiatives to foster trust between law enforcement and residents, and collaboration with local authorities to implement effective crime prevention strategies By prioritizing community safety and crime prevention, we can create a safer and more secure environment for all Karachi residents It is crucial for our government and law enforcement agencies to work together with communities to identify and address the root causes of crime provide support to at-risk individuals and implement measures to deter criminal activity Together we can build stronger more resilient neighborhoods where everyone can live without the fear of crime QURATULAIN SHAIKH KARACHI
TECHNICAL content writing involves the creation of clear concise and informative content aimed at conveying complex technical information to a specific audience Whether it s user manuals product guides technical documentation or online tutorials technical content writers play a crucial role in translating intricate technical concepts into accessible language that can be easily understood by non-experts This type of writing requires a deep understanding of the subject matter, as well as the ability to communicate complex ideas in a simple and straightforward manner Attention to detail, accuracy and organization are paramount in technical content writing to ensure that the information provided is accurate comprehensive and easy to follow Additionally technical content writers often employ visuals such as diagrams charts and illustrations to further enhance understanding and facilitate learning Overall, technical content writing serves as a valuable tool in bridging the gap between technical experts and end-users, ultimately facilitating better comprehension and utilization of technical products and services MANAL JAFFERY LAHORE
T H E population of stray dogs has increased manifold across Karachi regardless of the socioeconomic status of the locality One can see these animals roaming the streets in large numbers, forcing the people to live with the constant fear of getting bitten There is a specific department within KMC to handle these stray dogs, but it apparently does nothing MUMRAIZ KHAN KARACHI
WAHID Baksh Khoso village in Johi tehsil of Dadu is known for its rice crop However like most villages across Sindh Wahid Baksh Khoso village has remained deprived of basic facilities like clean drinking water proper roads reliable electricity, elementary school and healthcare The relevant authorities should work on improving the quality of life in villages across the province FAROOQUE KHOSO JOHI 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
S R A E L S army keeps on pounding the southern city of Rafah killing 45 people after striking a tent camp housing displaced Palestinians in a proclaimed safe zone on Sunday night Due to the military campaign that has left much of the 2 3 millionperson enclave in ruins the majority of its residents are now homeless and in danger of famine Palestinian sources report that two Israeli attacks on Rafah s displacement camps on Tuesday resulted in the deaths of at least 29 people, the majority of whom were women and children This was the second assault since Sunday; the first occurred on Sunday night when a terrifying strike nearby on Sunday night ignited the shelters used by displaced people on fire There were allegedly at least eight deaths at the Tal al-Sultan camp and twenty-one at a camp in Al-Mawasi According to Gaza s Health Ministry, during the most recent 24-hour reporting period on May 30, there were 357 injuries and 53 fatalities in the territory The civilian population in Rafah is suffering greatly as a result of the violence that is getting worse Since early May bombardments a scarcity of food and water, and completely unfit living circumstances have forced around a million people many of them children to flee Rafah according to UNRWA The lives of these displaced people especially the youngest and most defenseless children depend on an instant ceasefire and unfettered access to humanitarian supplies, humanitarian organizations have warned The Israeli military s occupation of the Rafah border has made matters worse by obstructing humanitarian organizations’ ability to restock supplies and deliver vital support to individuals in serious need As fierce combat destroyed most of the remaining Gaza and Israel advised Palestinian people to take shelter in Rafah for several months As Israeli forces advance into the final sector that has not experienced ground action, they are now being ordered to move once again Since taking control of the Rafah crossing of the border with Egypt Israeli ground forces have only explored the city s periphery and only penetrated its eastern regions during most of May But on Tuesday, Reuters said, citing witnesses, tanks were spotted close to the iconic al-Awda
I
R afah’s children and the urgent need for peace
I t i s u n a c c e p t a b l e t o r e m a i n s i l e n t o r u n c a r i n g i n t h e f a c e o f s u c h ex t r e m e p a i n T h e a p p e a l m a d e h e r e mu s t b e h e a rd , a n d t h e wo r l d Ês r e s p o n s e mu s t b e o n e o f e m p a t hy, d e t e r m i n a t i o n , a n d s t e a d f a s t s u p p o r t fo r h u m a n r i g h t s a n d t h e p ro t e c t i o n o f h u m a n l i f e To b r e a k t h e c y cl e o f v i o l e n c e a n d c r e a t e a f u t u r e i n w h i c h t h e Pa l e s t i n i a n p e o p l e m ay l i v e i n h o n o u r, a s s u r a n c e , a n d p e a c e w i l l n e e d a c o n c e r t e d
mosin Fareed sHaH
Peace can be achieved by working and coming to-
It starts at home an individual having a peaceful environment can go beyond the seven skies because of the freedom The study by WHO reveals that a peaceful
contributes to better mental health and higher productivity of an individual In communities
of fighting on petty matters problems should
ing is inevitable because the oppressor is not going to move without getting defeated The real oppressor is the one who remains silent sees everything and does nothing No one can say that he doesn t have any concerns with them If he is not going through that situation right now, he could be in the future, or his kids, or maybe his ancestors have gone through this Being Pakistanis we all know the migration of 1947 and its terrific incidents By realizing peace sustainable economic development will be possible and resources will be used in a better way Policies will be planned for the long term The Institute of Economics and Peace reports that the absence of peace costs the global economy $ 14 6 trillion which is 12 46 percent of the global GDP If peace is attained this large amount will not get wasted The healthcare sector and welfare projects can have more allocated funds for the whole community Education standards will become better Working on discoveries and inventions will be expanded, better research will be published due to more resources provided to them Opportunities, facilities, justice, security of life property and freedom will be provided to everyone In Global Peace Index rankings countries having top positions are Iceland Denmark and Ireland are the ones where all these things are provided to everyone These countries are also on top in the World Happiness Report To promote peace start with yourself and start right now The action of the plan includes raising awareness, using emotional intelligence and diplomacy, establishing, and regulating strong institutions, making laws, spreading knowledge regarding environmental science and using creativity and art Communication technology has the most essential role for it has made conflict monitoring better by informing others and working together This generation has a greater burden on its shoulders because they have seen on their screens what the actual war is, instead of just hearing the word war The most important responsibility and right of an individual and community is to get a peaceful environment It leads to the development of the economy better education establishment of businesses improvement in the healthcare sector, and provision of resources for collective welfare projects It is the responsibility and need of humans to advance in the thriving world and it must be everyone’s goal because the next steps of the ladder will be taken after taking the first one which is attaining peace The writer is a freelance columnist
rejected on the global level Their voices are not rejected because of a bad economy but also because of incompetence in representing the case What matters is pushing the right person to the right place to speak the right words If one thing is missing everything is gone
gether
environment
instead
our efforts Sometimes for peace fight-
A t t a i n i n g P e a c e f u l E n v i r o n m e n t : E v e r y o n e ’ s r e s p o n s i b i l i t y a n d r i g h t 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 Peace is not just the absence of war
aHmad
Hadia
IN the digital age with the integration of artificial intelligence (AI) and where information travels at the speed of light, social media has become a battleground for narratives ideologies and geopolitical manoeuvring
This is no more evident than in the frosty relations between India and Pakistan The virtual war rages on, with a special focus on India, deploying an arsenal of misinformation, disinformation, and propaganda to shape public opinion and influence global discourse As Joseph Goebbels the Nazi Minister of Propaganda stated If you tell a lie big enough and keep repeating it people will eventually come to believe it
This seems to be the motivation of Hindutwa propagandists as disinformation thrives on ambiguity and emotion India leverages historical grievances cultural stereotypes and fear to create a toxic brew False narratives about Pakistan s nuclear programme alleged state-sponsored terrorism, and religious extremism have found fertile ground online, shaping public perception and policy decisions beyond just the realm of trolls and bots India has mastered the art of using social media as a weapon Its campaigns against Pakistan are carefully orchestrated targeting not only domestic audiences but also the international community From Twitter storms to coordinated Facebook posts, India s propaganda machine churns out narratives that demonize Pakistan question its legitimacy and amplify existing fault lines For instance an investigative report compiled by Disinfo Lab from the European Union exposed a New Delhi-based investment firm, the Srivastava Group, for arranging an extensive disinformation campaign and influence operations According to the report, since 2005, these campaigns have specifically targeted EU politicians and institutions to portray Pakistan and China negatively The investigation also uncovered a con-
The battle of by tes: Uncontrollable social media propaganda of India
nection between 10 UN-accredited NGOs and the Srivastava Group, based in Brussels and Geneva The report includes evidence of 10 NGOs accredited with the UN being directly linked to the Srivastava Group operating in Brussels and Geneva and organizing trips for European Parliament members to Indian-occupied Kashmir falsely representing them as sanctioned by Parliament The European non-profit organization, EU Disinfo Lab, has also proven the Indian agenda of spreading disinformation against Pakistan and China particularly through the popular Indian news agency Asia News International (ANI) Furthermore, India s main news agency, ANI, predominantly features articles from over 500 fake news sites spread across 96 countries associated with the Srivastava Group While India’s government denies any involvement these revelations accentuate the persistent distrust between the two nuclear powers India and Pakistan despite their shared history and geographic proximity The report highlights ANI s repeated use of false sources, including a defunct think tank called POREG journalists bloggers and fictional geopolitical analysts These fabricated narratives aimed at smearing India s geopolitical adversaries make it impossible to trust Indian claims of noninvolvement in the spread of such misinformation The rapid expansion of internet access
has enabled the proliferation of misinformation by Indian users It was observed during the covid-19 epidemic that internet users in India escalated from 422 2 million in 2017 to 845 7 million in 2021 amplifying the spread of misinformation This trend was observed to be exacerbated by the covid-19 pandemic as the affordability of low-budget mobile phones and internet plans led to an even greater influx of users With the increased number of users, the chances of more misinformation increased as social media sites and apps did not include any fact checkers in them As a result the public shared all the misinformed posts in a great number
Another example of the influx of misinformation resulting in tensions between the religious minorities within India during covid-19 The Hindus blamed Muslims propagated and linked this misinformation blaming the Muslims for the spread of covid19 resulting in economic hardship for Muslim vendors, illustrating the profound impact of misinformation on minority communities The consequences of this misinformation warfare were far-reaching It fueled mistrust, escalated tensions and perpetuated a cycle of hostility between the two religions Hindus and Muslims
Moreover the BJP Government in India has used this manipulation of information to sway public opinion, a stark departure from Narendra Modi’s initial slogan of “Sabka Saath Sabka Vikaas (Everyone’s support everyone’s development) ” As Modi consolidated power the discourse shifted fostering
extremism and stoking anti-Muslim sentiments The biggest tool of Modi in this war is the manipulation and spread of disinformation through social media apps explicitly overseen by the Modi-led media wings Resultantly any misinformation or disinformation spread by Indian users through apps like WhatsApp remained unchecked On the contrary, any post or source of disinformation against the BJP is immediately removed from the app proving the fact that the government itself is involved in the evil media game The recent election in India highlighted the widespread dissemination of misinformation aimed at manipulating the outcome Bollywood stars rarely engage in political discussions, so when videos surfaced showing two celebrities criticizing Indian Prime Minister Narendra Modi and endorsing his main opposition the Congress party they quickly went viral However these clips featuring A-list actors Aamir Khan and Ranveer Singh were fake, AI-generated videos, representing yet another instance of false or misleading
The capture of the EU by the far-right agenda is illustrated by its evolving migration polic y, staunch Israel suppor t and hostility towards Islam and the Palestinian cause
The growing political heft of the far right has led to its stealthy normalisation by the traditional centre -right
Yparties to form a government The Netherlands is thus on its way to joining the expanding ranks of EU members that are either led by far-right parties, have them as ruling coalition partners, or rely on them for parliamentary support, such as Italy, Sweden Finland and Hungary
Significantly the Dutch deal was announced just a few weeks before this month s EU elections which will have an impact on the European bloc s policies for the next five years, including who will run the European Commission, the EU’s powerful executive body Polls augur a surge for far-right parties, mirroring developments in the Netherlands with two political groups in the European Parliament meeting that definition: the European Conservatives and Reformists (ECR) and Identity and Democracy (ID) According to Politico s poll of polls , the ECR and ID combined are projected to win more than 140 seats in the 720-strong assembly up from the current 127 But these numbers do not capture the extent of the potential ECR and ID influence as the biggest force in European politics - the centre-right European People s Party (EPP), projected to win 170 seats - has increasingly cooperated with parts of the far right, especially the ECR, at the na-
tional level and in the European Parliament European far-right parties diverge widely on a range of issues Italian Prime Minister
Giorgia Meloni who leads the ECR party at the European level, is a staunch supporter of Ukraine, while the French National Rally and Alternative for Germany (AfD) - both parts of the ID party (until AfD was expelled late last month over its leading member ’s comments on the Nazi SS) are seen as more friendly to Moscow FORTRESS EUROPE: What unites all of these parties, however, is their ethnocentric view of Europe as a fortress where white, Christian people are entitled to innate privileges over those of a different particularly non-white background; their hostility towards migration and Islam; and varying degrees of social conservatism
In terms of foreign policy, such views translate into staunch support for Israel, along with hostility to the Palestinian cause and any players seen as sympathetic to, or representative of political Islam such as Qatar Turkey Iran and the transnational Muslim Brotherhood Such views also express themselves through support for actors in the Muslim world seen as a bulwark against these allegedly destructive forces, such as the UAE and Saudi Arabia, as seen through voting patterns in the outgoing European Parliament on matters pertaining to the Gulf
The growing political heft of the far right has led to its stealthy normalisation and mainstreaming by the traditional centre-right, embodied by the EPP The president of the outgoing European Commission, Ursula von der Leyen, who is seeking a second term, and her EPP have sought to cultivate Meloni’s support partly out of political opportunism and partly because of a sincere convergence of views Of note Von der Leyen has distinguished herself as one of the most staunchly pro-Israel EU officials MIGRATION POLICY: In less conspicuous but more profoundly consequential ways the capture of the EU by the far-right agenda is illustrated by its evolving migration policy particularly its rejection of non-white migration
This essentially consists of bribing client states in North Africa to prevent migrants from coming to the EU A recent investigation by Lighthouse Reports details how EU funds are used to commit human rights abuses against sub-Saharan communities, under the guise of “migration management” deals
This strategy enjoys backing across the political spectrum in the EU among both conservatives and liberals The extent of the mainstreaming of this right-wing agenda has been so notable that it prompted the EU commissioner for jobs and social rights, Nicolas Schmit, to openly challenge Von der Leyen over the efficacy, transparency and human rights compliance of these EU-promoted and funded deals However with the way the political winds are blowing in Europe it is unlikely that such policies will be reconsidered Wilders s victory in the Netherlands points in the opposite direction The coalition deal not only pledges to institute the “strictest-ever” asylum policy, but also foresees measures that would alienate the existing Muslim population such as a commitment to consider moving the Dutch embassy in Israel to Jerusalem Until recently Wilders was seen as an eccentric pariah in Brussels But that may change Once a Ukraine skeptic, he pledged continued support for Ukraine as part of the new government deal As Dutch political scientist Cas Mudde noted on X (formerly Twitter): Like Meloni Wilders has learned that support for Ukraine has become the new litmus test for acceptability within EU Agree to that and you have more space to weaken liberal democracy at home ” One could add that it also provides more space to shape EU policy in other areas such as the Middle East This will please the right-wing government in Israel and authoritarian rulers across the Arab world
Eldar Mamedov has degrees from the University of Latvia and the Diplomatic School in Madrid Spain He has worked in the Ministry of Foreign Affairs of Latvia and as a diplomat in Latvian embassies in Washington D C and Madrid
CH I N A recently announced that it had arrested two of its own nationals on suspicion of aiding British foreign intelligence agency MI6 According to Beijing, the suspected couple were lured by the husband s desire for money” having recruited him while he was studying in the UK claiming that they subjected him to “repeated persuasion enticement and even coercion The individual named only as Wang then worked with his wife on behalf of British intelligence in an attempt to spy on the Chinese State
The revelation of two spies allegedly working for MI6 coincides with a growing alarm in the UK regarding supposed Chinese espionage Across the past few months two men have been charged with spying for China, one who was a parliamentary researcher, another group of men were then charged with doing so on behalf of the “Hong Kong Economic and Trade Office ” Finally in addition to that the UK government publicised several alleged hacks and leaks including in the Electoral Register and Ministry of Defence, which it has blamed on Beijing It is easy amidst these allegations to assume that Beijing is engaging in a “tit for tat” given the widespread negative publicity coming from Britain and it is obviously in Beijing s political interest to make the cases of alleged UK spying known, but that doesn t mean that the allegations are necessarily without merit It might first be added, that while Western establishment media promulgates constant paranoia about China the UK remains part of the Five Eyes network which is the most comprehensive and sophisticated intelligence alliance in the world London actively cooperates with Australia, Canada, the United States and New Zealand to share intelligence, and closely follows its geopolitical goals
Second MI6 has hardly made it a secret that it seeks to increase its focus on China Alex Younger the former head of the Agency, stated last year that Britain is in a competition with Beijing and “must wake up ” In 2021, the current head of MI6 stated that China as well as Russia and Iran were the agency’s top priorities Logically
Monday 10 June 2024 COMMENT 05
claims circulating online to influence India’s election Additionally various claims have circulated online in India misrepresenting details about voting procedures alleging without evidence that the election would be rigged, and inciting violence against India s Muslim population Researchers monitoring misinformation and hate speech in India argue that the poor enforcement of tech companies’ policies has created ideal conditions for harmful content to distort public opinion incite violence and leave millions of voters uncertain about what to believe The spread of misinformation can trigger real-world actions, affecting diplomatic relations security dynamics and even the delicate balance of nuclear deterrence As long as social media exists so will the battle of bytes India must recognize that its virtual skirmishes have real-world consequences A multifaceted approach utilising various communication channels is essential to address the dangers of deception and emphasize the importance of evidence-based information This includes leveraging social media traditional media and community engagement to broaden the reach towards factual data Partnering with respected community figures, influencers, and experts can help strengthen the message and build trust Creating compelling and educational content based on truth and facts such as infographics videos and podcasts will engage interest and encourage sharing It is crucial to empower the public to identify and report misinformation, fostering a sense of accountability and ownership Integrating media literacy and critical thinking skills into school curricula and community initiatives along with organizing events rallies and educational campaigns will increase awareness and spread evidence-based information Using data analytics to monitor misinformation patterns, identify vulnerable audiences, and tailor messaging accordingly is also vital Promoting a culture of critical thinking by encouraging people to verify information before sharing and providing user-friendly fact-checking tools and resources, like browser add-ons and mobile apps, can make a significant impact Finally, educating the public on how to critically assess information recognize biases and identify reliable sources while collaborating with government NGOs media and technology sector partners will enhance the message and optimize resource utilization The writer ia a Research Fellow at the Balochistan Think Tank Network (BTTN) Quetta
E T another European Union country the Netherlands recently took a sharp turn to the right After six months of negotiations following the 2023 general elections, Geert Wilders, leader of the far-right Party for Freedom, notorious for his Islamophobic views, reached a deal with three centre-right
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MIDDLE EAST EYE
looking at such open political rhetoric it seems improbable to assume MI6 would not be attempting to infiltrate China and its government This after all is not just the British agency’s chief objective, but also that of the CIA in the US too William Burns current head of the CIA, has been quite open in stating America s objective to rebuild its network” in China which has in fact been forcibly suppressed by the Communist Party One can only assume based on this that the UK is a willing accomplice It is for this reason that China has aggressively intensified its domestic campaign to root out and arrest spies in its home territory, an effort predictably framed by the media as “closing up” or being “arbitrary ” When we think of spies especially British ones there is always a temptation to assume they are super skilled secret agents like James Bond but in reality, intelligence gathering works in a mundane way by making connections inside of key institutions in order to gain access to confidential information Those who are successfully bought and exist on the inside are known as assets and are often financially rewarded for their efforts There is also a grey zone that overlaps between what constitutes intelligence and research in the form of information, and thus the work of the CIA and MI6 often strongly connects with the state and military sponsored think tanks Take for example Michael Korvig a Canadian who was arrested on espionage charges in China following Canada s arrest of Huawei CFO Meng Wanzhou Although the mainstream media proclaimed his “innocence” constantly it was ultimately revealed that he as an employee of the International Crisis Group think tank was providing intelligence to the Canadian Secret Intelligence Service Because of this, China has also cracked down on US consultancy firms in the country such as for example Mintz which is headed by a former CIA official Why does it crack down on these firms? Because they can gather research about Chinese companies and organisations which can then be passed back to the US government, especially on issues such as supply chains Thus, China typically pays close attention to locals who cooperate with these firms who can become witting or unwitting spies All in all this teaches us about the various efforts the UK and US go to in order to spy within China Although the mainstream media paint McCarthyist and often absurd exaggerations of Chinese spying everywhere often opportunistically the reality is that this works both ways The CIA and MI6 want to infiltrate China s own government, meaning a real Cold Warstyle spying game is taking place behind the scenes Timur Fomenko is a political analyst W h y y o u s h o u l d b e l i e v e C h i n a ’ s s p y i n g a c c u s a t i o n s a g a i n s t t h e U K RT T i m u r F o m e n ko Th e c u r re nt h e a d o f M I 6 s t ate d t h at C h i n a , a s we l l a s R u s s i a a n d I ra n , we re t h e a g e n c y ’s to p p r i o r i t i e s
P ro m o t i n g a c u l t u r e o f c r i t i c a l t h i n k i n g by e n c o u r ag i n g p e o p l e t o v e r i f y i n fo r m a t i o n b e fo r e s h a r i n g a n d p rov i d i n g u s e r- f r i e n d ly f a c t - ch e ck i n g t o o l s a n d r e s o u rc e s , l i k e b row s e r a dd - o n s a n d m o b i l e a p p s , c a n m a k e a s i g n i f i c a n t i m p a c t .
How India indeed c yberspace
Summra Hamid
which ranks 16th among the top 500 fastest computers worldwide according to a list published by the TOP500 Project last month has been used as a platform for drug discovery
Supported by Virtual Screening on Tianhe-2 (VSTH), a high-throughput screening platform running on Tianhe-2, the team led by researchers from Sun Yat-sen University has found that 2MBC
a branched-chain acylcarnitine can significantly speed up the rate of blood clot formation in the body
This discovery paves the way for novel therapeutic targets and innovative strategies in combating complications associated with metabolic disorders like diabetes said the researchers
The Tianhe-2 team has also vowed to enhance the drug discovery platform capitalizing on the rich data resources and the platform s superior performance to catalyze groundbreaking innovation in the field of biomedicine Diabetes ranks among the most prevalent chronic conditions worldwide It has the potential to trigger a cascade of complications including blood clot formation a leading contributor to both disability and mortality within the diabetic population
The researchers have found that
2MBC exerts a direct influence on platelets, augmenting their capabilities for aggregation, spreading and contraction and the effect is present in both rodents and humans The chemical is a metabolite origi-
nating from the gut microbiota, and therefore, pre-treatment with antibiotics to clear the gut bacteria effectively halts this metabolic conversion according a study published recently in the journal Cell Metabolism A
Monday 10 June 2024 | K AR ACHI 06 news SAUDI ARABIA N e w s d e s k Saudi Arabia announced Saturday that security forces had removed hundreds of thousands of unauthorised pilgrims from Makkah before the upcoming annual Hajj pilgrimage S a u d i o ff i c i a l s h a v e r e v e a l e d t h a t managing the crowd during Hajj which is one of the five pillars of Islam is a s i g n i f i c a n t c o n c e r n a s i t d r e w m o r e t h a n 1 8 m i l l i o n M u s l i m s l a s t y e a r, AFP reported Those turned away in recent days from the holy city home to the Grand Mosque and the Kaaba include 153 998 foreigners who travelled from abroad on tourist visas rather than the required Hajj visas, the official Saudi Press Agency said In addition Saudi authorities have rounded up 171,587 others who are based in Saudi Arabia but are not residents of Makkah and did not have Hajj permits, SPA said The Hajj, which begins on June 14, must be undertaken at least once by all Muslims with the means and it involves a series of rituals completed over at least four days in Makkah and its surroundings in the west of Saudi Arabia Many seek to complete the rites through unofficial channels as obtaining the formal permits and travel packages can be extremely costly with limited quotas for pilgrims from each country The latest move by Saudi officials is an effort to avoid a repeat of the 2015 stampede in Mina, near Makkah, which killed up to 2,300 people during the stoning of the devil ritual As of Saturday, over 1 3 million registered pilgrims had arrived in Saudi Arabia for the Hajj Makkah regional authorities said on X BEIJING s tA f f c o r r e s P o N d e N t Chinese scientists, leveraging one of the world’s fastest supercomputers, Tianhe2 have identified a promising therapeutic strategy for treating diabetic complications Located in Guangzhou City south China s Guangdong Province, the Tianhe-2 supercomputer,
C h i n e s e s u p e r c o m p u t e r h e l p s c o m b at d i a b e t i c c o m p l i c at i o n s S A U D I A R A B I A E V I C T S 3 0 0 , 0 0 0 U N R E G I S T E R E D P I LG R I M S F R O M M A K K A H A H E A D O F H A J J BEIJING s tA f f c o r r e s P o N d e N t As the Dragon Boat Festival holiday approaches the tourism market across China continues to thrive According to the Ministry of Culture and Tourism, this year s festivities are set to be dominated by short-distance leisure trips, with theme parks and museums among the most popular destinations T h e D r a g o n B o a t F e s t i v a l a l s o c a l l e d D u a n w u F e s t i v a l f a l l s o n t h e fifth day of the fifth month of the Chinese lunar calendar It will see a threed a y b r e a k t h i s y e a r, s t a r t i n g o n Saturday T h i s y e a r ’s D r a g o n B o a t F e s t i v a l holiday witnesses a heightened preference among travelers for two- or threed a y s h o r t d i s t a n c e t r i p s t o n e a r b y locales According to data from China s o n l i n e t r a v e l a g e n c y C t r i p , d o m e s t i c b o o k i n g s f o r n e a r b y g e t a w a y s d u r i n g the Dragon Boat Festival holiday have surged by 20 percent compared to last year A steady rise in tourism interest has been witnessed in Altay Prefecture in northwest China s Xinjiang Uygur Autonomous Region, following the release of “To the Wonder,” a TV series adapted from Li Juan’s prose collection “My Altay Altay one of the pastoral areas in Xinjiang is home to vast grasslands stretching between the Altay Mountains and the Junggar Basin Zhou Weihong, deputy general manager of Spring Tour travel agency, said that nowadays travelers are increasingly inclined to visit destinations for the sake of a good meal or a popular film or TV series Consequently we are witnessing the rise of more newly emerging niche destinations The inquiries and bookings related to Altay have surged by over 200 percent compared to last year Zhou added Passengers waiting for trains in the waiting hall of Nanning east railway station, Nanning, capital city of south China's Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 7, 2024 /CFP Passengers waiting for trains in the waiting hall of Nanning east railway station Nanning capital city of south China s Guangxi Zhuang Autonomous Region, June 7, 2024 China will see a boom in railway trips during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday travel rush, China State Railway Group Co Ltd (China Railway) said Friday Some 74 million railway trips will be made from Friday to Tuesday, with average daily railway trips reaching 14 8 million, the group confirmed Passenger flows will peak on Saturday with about 17 million railway trips expected to be made China s railways are elaborating holiday transport plans, increasing capacity, implementing measures to facilitate and benefit the people, and striving to provide guarantees for passengers to travel safely and orderly the group said Nearly 70 38 million railway passenger trips were made nationwide during the Dragon Boat Festival holiday travel rush last year, according to China Railway People look at movie posters displayed in the movie theater Shanghai China June 6 2024 /CFP People look at movie posters displayed in the movie theater Shanghai China, June 6, 2024 Meanwhile, China s Dragon Boat Festival box office (including pre-sale) surpassed 40 million yuan (around $5 5 million) as of 9:30 a m Monday according to Chinese box office tracker Dengta Data Chinese drama Wo cai bu yao he ni zuo peng you ne (I don t want to be friends with you), Sao Hei Jue Bu Fang Qi (Walk the Line)” and “Gold or Shit” currently hold the top three spots in box office sales China cashes in on vibrant Dragon Boat Festival holiday spending Muslim representation in India’s Lok Sabha falls to near historic lows NEW DELHI I N P The 18th Lok Sabha has witnessed a significant decrease in Muslim representation, with only 24 Muslim Members of Parliament (MPs) elected, which is about 4 42% of the total 543 members This is the second lowest figure ever recorded despite Muslims making up 14% of India s population The reduction in Muslim MPs is largely due to major political parties nominating fewer Muslim candidates than in past elections For instance, in 2019, 115 Muslim candidates were fielded, but this number fell to 78 in the 2024 elections The Bharatiya Janata Party (BJP) has elected no Muslim MPs this term while the opposition India Alliance accounts for the majority of Muslim MPs with 21 representing nine states Key parties such as the Indian National Congress Samajwadi Party and Trinamool Congress also reduced the number of Muslim candidates nominated The Congress, for example, decreased its Muslim candidate nominations from 34 in 2019 to just 19 in 2024 Political analysts suggest that this trend may be influenced by the BJP’s narrative which has reportedly made other parties cautious about fielding Muslim candidates to avoid polarising the electorate Despite the overall decrease some Muslim candidates have achieved notable victories, including Asaduddin Owaisi of All India Majlis-e-Ittehadul Muslimeen and former cricketer Yusuf Pathan The election also saw a slight increase in the number of Muslim women MPs with two being elected Although there has been progress in terms of individual successes the community s representation remains far from the high of 49 Muslim MPs achieved in 1980 This decline is often seen as reflective of the rising Hindu nationalism, which analysts say has led to the political marginalization of the Muslim community in India ROK says DPRK resumes sending trash-carr ying balloons over border SEOUL Ag e N c e s T h e R e p u b l i c o f K o r e a ’s ( R O K ) m i l i t a r y h a s s a i d t h e D e m o c r a t i c P e o p l e ’s R e p u b l i c o f K o r e a ( D P R K ) r e s u m e d f l y i n g t r a s h - c a r r y i n g b a l l o o n s o v e r t h e b o r d e r o n S a t u r d a y n i g h t S o m e 3 3 0 t r a s h b a l l o o n s w e r e d e t e c t e d a s o f S u n d a y m o r n i n g , Yo nh a p N e w s A g e n c y r e p o r t e d T h e R O K ’s m i l i t a r y s a i d o n S u n d a y i t t a k e s t h e b a l l o o n s “ v e r y s e r io u s l y a n d i s o n a l e r t t o t a k e a c t i o n i n r e s p o n s e w h e n n e c e s s a r y I t d i d n o t e l a b o r a t e o n w h a t a c t i o n i t w o u l d t a k e S i n c e l a s t m o n t h , t h e D P R K h a s f l o a t e d h u n d r e d s o f h u g e b a l l o o n s , a l l e g e d l y d u m pi n g m a n u r e c i g a r e t t e b u t t s s c r a p s o f c l o t h w a s t e b a t t e r i e s a n d e v e n d i r t y d i a p e r s o n a r e a s a c r o s s t h e R O K T h e D P R K h a s s a i d i t s o p e r a t i o n w a s i n r et a l i a t i o n f o r a p r o p a g a n d a c a m p a i g n b y R O K a ct i v i s t s , w h o r e g u l a r l y l a u n c h h e l i u m - f i l l e d b a l l o o n s t o d r o p a n t i - P y o n g y a n g l e a f l e t s a n d U S B s t i c k s l o a d e d w i t h K - p o p m u s i c v i d e o s a n d d r a m a s BUCKINGHAM Ag e N c I e s Buckingham Palace has shared its first social media post after Kate Middleton issued an emotional statement on Sunday The palace shared the post on Instagram and revealed that on Saturday Queen Camilla joined actors authors and members of the public at Hampton Court Palace for the Queen s Reading Room Festival 2024 Sharing the photos of Queen Camilla, the palace says, “Yesterday, The Queen joined actors, authors and members of the public at Hampton Court Palace for The Queen’s Reading Room Festival 2024 Alongside a star-studded line up of literary acts visitors had the opportunity to enjoy an array of street food explore the gardens of Hampton Court and discover new authors According to media reports, Queen Camilla was joined by authors and actors at the festival, including Sir Ian Rankin Ann Cleeves Miriam Margolyes and Elizabeth McGovern Earlier Kensington Palace released Kate Middleton s statement on social media In a letter to Irish Guards, Kate Middleton says: I wanted to write to let you know how proud I am of the entire regiment ahead of the Colonel’s Review and Trooping the Colour I appreciate everyone Trooping this year has been practising for months and dedicating many hours to ensure their uniforms and drill are immaculate Maritime tensions escalate with new Houthi missile strikes near Aden DUBAI I N P Tw o s h i p s w e r e s e t a b l a z e a f t e r b e i n g t a r g e t e d b y m i s s i l e s t r i k e s n e a r Ye m e n ’s p o r t c i t y o f A d e n a cc o r d i n g t o r e p o r t s f r o m t w o U K m a r i t i m e a g e n c i e s o n S u n d a y A m b r e y a B r i t i s h s e c u r i t y f i r m r ep o r t e d t h a t a m i s s i l e s t r u c k a n A n t i g u a a n d B a rb u d a - f l a g g e d g e n e r a l c a r g o s h i p 8 3 n a u t i c a l m i l e s s o u t h e a s t o f A d e n , c a u s i n g a f i r e t h a t w a s l a t e r c o n t a i n e d I n a s e p a r a t e i n c i d e n t , t h e U n i t e d K i n gd o m M a r i t i m e Tr a d e O p e r a t i o n s ( U K M T O ) r e
h e r s h i p b e i n g h i t b y a p r o j e c t i l e 7 0 n a u
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d e r c o n t r o l B o t h i n c i d e n t s o c c u r r e d w h i l e t h e v e s s e l s w e r e n a v i g a ti n g t h e G u l f o f A d e n I n t h e f i r s t i n s t a n c e , t h e s h i p w a s t r a v e l i n g s o u t h w e s t a t a s p e e d o f 8 2 k n o t s w h e n a m i s s i l e h i t i t s f o r w a r d s t a t i o n s t a r t i n g a f i r e t h a t w a s q u i c k l y n e u t r a l i z e d A s e c o n d m i s s i l e w a s s i g h t e d b u t m i s s e d a n d s m a l l b o a t o c c u p a n t s i n t h e v i c i n i t y r e p o r t e d l y o p e n e d f i r e o n t h e s h i p d u r i n g t h e a t t a c k T h e c r e w m a n a g e d t o c h a n g e c o u r s e a n d a c c e l e r a t e w i t h o u t a n y i n j u r i e s r ep o r t e d T h e a t t a c k s a r e p a r t o f a s e r i e s o f h o s t i l e a c t i o n s b y t h e H o u t h i m i l i t i a a l i g n e d w i t h I r a n a g a i n s t m a r i t i m e t a r g e t s T h e H o u t h i s c l a i m t h e s e a t t a c k s a r e i n s u p p o r t o f P a l e s t i n i a n s i n G a z a T h e o n g o i n g c o n f l i c t h a s p r o m p t e d s h i p p i n g d e t o u r s a r o u n d s o u t h e r n A f r i c a , i n c r e a s i n g c o s t s a n d e xt e n d i n g t r a n s i t t i m e s I n r e s p o n s e , t h e U n i t e d S t a t e s a n d B r i t a i n h a v e c o n d u c t e d s t r i k e s a g a i n s t H o u t h i t a r g e t s i n t h e r e g i o n B o t h v e s s e l s a r e p r oc e e d i n g t o t h e i r n e x t p o r t s o f c a l l w i t h n o c a s u a lt i e s r e p o r t e d a c c o r d i n g t o A m b r e y a n d U K M T O Buck ingham Palace issues first statement af ter Kate M iddleton’s emotional letter
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Tthe Federal Government Requisition of 500 troops as ex-post facto sanction and requisition of 200 new troops as security for foreign nationals are working in various projects in Hazara Division was placed before provincial cabinet for approval Legally section 131-A of Code of Criminal Procedure 1898 read with Article 245 of constitution stipulates that if provincial government is satisfied that assistance of armed forces is required for the public security protection of citizen and property public peace and maintenance of law and order may request federal government to direct any officer of the armed forces to render such assistance The Home and Tribal Affairs Department placed a case of to allow inclusion of Calcium Ammonium Nitrate (CAN) and Potassium Chlorate in the definition of Explosives exercising its powers as enunciated in Section 2 (f) clause (iii) and section 23 of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Explosives Act, 2013 This was approved by the provincial cabinet A summary for concurrence of Provincial Cabinet for obtaining loan by the Federal Government for the project Flood Protection Sector Project-III was presented in the meeting The cabinet agreed to the summary in principle and granted concurrence Flood Protection Sector Project (III) costing Rs 194 625 billion over the first five years (2023-28) was recommended by CDWP in its meeting held on 23 05 2023 and approved by ECNEC on 27 06 2023 A summary for implementation plan for proposed energy conservation measures were placed before the cabinet The cabinet
as recommended by the Energy and Power Department approved the amendments in rules of Business, 1985 empowering the Provincial Electric Inspectorate to enforce NEECA Laws/rules/regulations/instructions/guidelines/codes in respect of Energy Conservation in all the sectors across the province
The Agriculture Department presented a proposal for the reconstitution of Pakistan Tabacco Board which was approved As the tenure of the board has been expired on 2301-2014, Ministry of National Food Security & Research Islamabad has requested the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province for the nomination of three progressive tobacco growers to be notified as members of PTB for the next tenure under section 3(1)(b) and one official member under 3(1)(d)
A panel as nominated by the Search and Nomination Council for non-official members of the Boards of Governors Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Health Foundation was placed before the cabinet The cabinet approved names of Dr Shabana Haider as Chairperson and Hasnain Khurshid Ahmad, Muhammad Yahya, Anam Saeed and Dr Sobia Sabir Ali as members
A summary for appoint of PEDO members in different committees were presented before the cabinet As recommended by the Policy Board the cabinet approved names of Aziz Raza for Renewable Energy and Hamood-ur-Rehman for Finance committees respectively Recommendations for members of the Board of Directors of WSSC Swat and Mardan were presented before the cabinet which were approved
A summary for the Up-gradation of Teachers of Special Education Institutions and Welfare Homes from BSP-17 to BPS-18 in light of Peshawar High Court Judgement was placed before the cabinet which was approved An executive summary for revision of pay scales of the teachers working in institutes of the handicapped was presented in the cabinet meeting Agreeing to the proposal the cabinet approved award of scale to pay effect (BPS-17) to the 32 teachers from the date of acquiring of degrees The Zakat, Usher, Social Welfare, Spe-
cial Education and Women Empowerment department presented a proposal in the meeting for requesting Rs 2 7 million supplementary grants-in-aid in order to clear the outstanding amount under Drug Free Peshawar Program Phase II Under this program 240 number of drug addicts have been rehabilitated The proposal of the Finance Department to adopt the revised MP Scales Policy 2023 of Finance Division Islamabad was placed before the cabinet which the cabinet approved to be adopted at provincial level The estimated annual financial implications associated with the proposed revision of Management Position Scales is Rupees 23 537 million based on currently 14 filled posts Whereas the additional annual implication would potentially increase to Rs 53 436 million if all sanctioned posts are filled in future
The request for one time grant in aid for Rupees 20 million to pay pending salaries of the employees of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Urban Mobility Authority was presented before the cabinet which was approved Proposal for Special Grant of Rs 667 500 million as payment of 150 kanals of land for construction of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Judicial Academy at Regi Model Town Peshawar was placed before the provincial cabinet by the Law Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department The cabinet formed a committee for need assessment and present recommendations before the next meeting of the cabinet Law, Parliamentary Affairs and Human Rights Department placed
CM S indh Inaugurates L andmark Projec ts at Naya Nazimabad, Enhancing Community living and Public Infrastruc ture
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Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah inaugurated three value-added projects at Naya Nazimabad – Naya Nazimabad Gymkhana, Naya Nazimabad Flyover, and Naya Nazimabad Jama Masjid The simple but impressive ceremony was widely attended by a large number of people Chief Minister was accompanied by: Mr Sharjeel Inam Memon Mr Saeed Ghani, Syed Nasir Hussain Shah, Sardar Muhammad Bux Khan Mahar, Barrister Murtaza Wahab - Mayor of Karachi Parliamentarians, top businessmen, bankers, and industry leaders of Karachi also attended the ceremony Speaking on the occasion Syed Murad Ali Shah said that providing high quality living with all amenities for health sports and entertainment, to its citizens is the topmost priority of the government But government alone cannot provide all the facilities at its own due to its limited resources Participation by the private sector through socially impactful projects like Naya Nazimabad is essential I have been observing the development of Naya Nazimabad over the past few years I am confident that such projects not only provide healthy habitat to its residents but also
contribute greatly towards the urban regeneration, social upliftment and economic wellbeing of the province I congratulate Arif Habib sb and his team for making an impressive progress in this project Sindh government would provide all necessary assistance to this and similar projects Public-private partnership is the economic model to follow Mr Arif Habib – Chairman, Naya Nazimabad, expressed his gratitude to Sindh government, regulatory bodies, banks, financial institutions, customers of Naya Nazimabad, its architects engineers contractors and area people for the confidence imposed in and the support extended to Naya Nazimabad He said that the collaborative model of undertaking large impactful projects by involving all stakeholders under transparent and disciplined structures is the key to success He said, Naya Nazimabad is fast becoming the complete integrated habitat for the mid-income class
Smar t National College to provide qualit y education at par with The Cit y Schools LAHORE s ta f f r e p o r t We guarantee excellent results and a promising future for students at Smart National College, said Shehzad Mohammad Khan, Chief Operating Officer "Other institutions should follow The City Schools Group's lead in providing quality education " remarked Dr Bushra Secretary of the Lahore Board of Intermediate We are confident that Smart National College will excel with its outstanding campuses and capable teachers, stated Professor Dr Ansar Azhar, DPI Colleges Punjab "The private sector s contribution to higher education is commendable," noted Dr Ahmed Islam, Registrar, Punjab University
07 NEWS Monday 10 June 2024 | K AR ACHI CORPORATE CORNER Federal Minister Maritime Affairs Leads Boat Rally to Commemorate World Ocean Day PESHAWAR s ta f f r e p o r t Federal Minister Maritime Affairs Mr Qaiser Ahmed Shaikh leads boat rally to commemorate world ocean day organized by Chairman KPT Syedain Raza Zaidi at Return Wharf Berth No 1 Karachi On this ocassion, MNA of Pakistan Peoples Party Mr Abdul Qadir Patel and other dignitaties were also present MNA Mr Abdul Qadir Patel applauded the efforts of Federal Minister and Chairman KPT to uplift blue economy Mr Patel was hopeful that both officials will play role to resolve issues of Keamari district While addressing, the Federal Minister said, "the government is open to support ocean initiatives in order to keep our oceans resilient There is need of public private partnerships to counter impact of carbon emissions and global warming which has direct effect on our oceans We are taking measures and ready to support all entities willing to contribute towards this great cause for our generations to come ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t The visit of the Prime Minister and Federal Ministers to China is going on for investment in various sectors and the promotion of bilateral trade activities Federal Minister for Investment Board Communications & Privatization Abdul Aleem in Beijing on Saturday held an important session with China s 60-year-old CZK Huarui Group In these negotiations attended by the delegation from Pakistan it was decided by high ups of China business group to invest in Pakistan in Artificial Intelligence Science & Technology Modern Agriculture Healthcare Logistics Infrastructure while expertise will be made in supply chain market sectors It was also on the main agenda to enhance E Commerce in Pakistan through cooperation of China which is the dire need of the hour Federal Minister of Investment Board Abdul Aleem Khan assured the Chinese Authorities of providing a favorable and congenial environment in Pakistan and said that as neighbors trade relations like China and Pakistan are of great importance in the region which has positive effects on both countries Chinese group Chairman Liu Yafie General Manager Sophia Lee Davi Dong Chen Wenlong and Shi Jie assured the Pakistani delegation that their group will play a major role in increasing import and export goods in Pakistan as well as bilateral collaboration in Industry Academia Research and Asset Management will also be focused In the meeting Federal Minister for Commerce Jam Kamal Khan assured the Chinese Authorities of full cooperation in trade terms and appreciated the interest of the Chinese Authorities in investing at big scale in Pakistan DIG Islamabad chairs meeting to check crime rate in capital ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t According to details, Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Police Islamabad Syed Ali Raza presided over a crime meeting in which SSP Investigation Hasan Jahangir Vito Zonal SPs SDPOs and SHOs participated as stated by a public relations officer He mentioned that DIG Islamabad congratulated the newly appointed SHOs emphasizing that they had all been appoin ted on merit He instructed them to work solely on merit and refrain from engaging in any illegal activities Furthermore, he urged all SHOs to form their own teams and collaborate closely with them to combat crime effectively He emphasized the importance of officers being vigilant against criminal activities DIG Islamabad directed all officers to increase patrolling in their respective areas to control crime and ensure their visible presence He also instructed them to compile a list of absconders and proclaimed offenders involved in serious crimes and to locate and apprehend them PESHAWAR a z z B u n e r i The devastating floods in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa during the year 2022 and the current year 2024 caused severe damage to the 36 6 MW Daral Khwar power station in Swat district, after which the department of Energy and Power and its subsidiary Pakhtunkhwa Energy Development Organization (PEDO) restored the affected power plant on an emergency basis It had been re-connected with the National Grid However the construction of the Protection Wall will be completed soon to protect the power plant from future flooding In this regard, Secretary Energy & Power KP Nisar Ahmad Khan paid an emergency visit to Daral Khwar Power Station, Swat While giving a briefing on this occasion, it was said that the power station under the supervision of PEDO was successfully completed by a team of Chinese and local engineers in 2021 which is earning Rs 1 3 billion 30 annually to the province However the power plant suffered severe damage due to the catastrophic floods in 2022 and later in April 2024 Secretary Power Nisar Ahmad Khan, who is also serving as acting Chief Executive Officer PEDO inspected the spillway sand trap power channel switch yard and other parts of Daral Khwar Power House inspected and also issued necessary instructions to keep the power house safe from future flood situations PESHAWAR a z i z B u n e r i
HE 8th meeting of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa provincial cabinet held at the Chief Minister House was presided over by Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur The meeting underscored key initiatives to strengthen the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police, enhance revenue from the mineral sector, and improve the execution of developmental schemes Chief Minister Sardar Ali Amin Gandapur emphasized the allocation of additional resources to the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Police to bolster law and order in the province He also highlighted the need for improved revenue generation from the mineral sector through better structures and processes The establishment of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Minerals Development and Management Company (KPMDMC) was lauded as a positive step towards responsible mining and international marketing of minerals The meeting of the provincial cabinet was attended by Ministers Advisors Special Assistants Chief Secretary Additional Chief Secretaries and relevant administrative secretaries The cabinet approved the proposal for the establishment and incorporation of KPMDMC, which will focus on exploring, developing excavating processing and marketing minerals with an emphasis on mechanized economic excavation Draft bill for amendment in section 116A of the Motor Vehicle Ordinance, 1965 duly endorsed by Law & Finance Departments was placed before the provincial cabinet to re-allocate the 25% quota/share of traffic fines from traffic education awareness purchase of machinery & equipment to 15% and the remaining 10% to be remitted to the Police Welfare Fund The provincial cabinet has approved this summary of the Home and Tribal Affairs Department In order to introduce online payment system and integrate the existing Motor Vehicle Registration System Excise Taxation and Narcotics Control Department to introduce a complete IT solution through an MOU with KP IT Board on payment of service charges equitant to once percent Agreeing to the proposal the cabinet approved the proposal for a period of one year A summary for clearance of compensation cases with respect to property losses of citizens of South Waziristan upper at the cost of Rs 1 5 billion was presented in the cabinet meeting The cabinet approved the summary as non-ADP scheme/AIP titled Citizen Losses Compensation Programme South Waziristan Upper
The amount will be paid by
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a proposal for relaxation of ban to purchase 04 vehicles and allocation of Rs 39 730 000/- as supplementary grant The cabinet relaxing the ban approved the allocation of fund for the judges of the Peshawar High Court The vehicle will be purchased in accordance with the terms of Government of Pakistan Law and Justice Division Islamabad guidelines A summary for Transfer of playground 55 kanal from Education to Sports Department in District Swabi (Zarobi) was placed before the cabinet After deliberations on the agenda the Chief Minister directed the departments concerned to prepare modalities for MOU signing between the Education and Sports Departments for better utilization of the play grounds keeping in view the future needs and challenges of the adjacent schools Payment to contractor as per arbitrator award for non-ADP for the case Ms Am Associates vs Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa for road from main Khan Songahoo to Kingergalli district Buner was placed before the cabinet The Chief Minister constituted a committee to examine this 15 years old case and provide recommendations to the cabinet for decision Payment to contractor as per arbitrator award for non-ADP for the case Muhammad Fayaz vs Government of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa was approved A revised policy with respect to resolution of issues faced by the committee under the Deputy Commissioners during the distribution of assets and liabilities under section 121-A of the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Local Government Act 2012 was presented before the cabinet which was approved The Annual Budget (2023-24) of the Pakhtunkhwa Highway Authority was presented before the cabinet by the Communication & Works Department which was granted approval However this will be subject to audit as prescribed in the rules The annual report of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Revenue Authority for the year financial 2021-22 was placed before the cabinet to be allowed for placement before the provincial assembly which was approved A summary with respect to cancellation of Plot measuring 10 marla in respect of Senior Clerk of Establishment Department was presented before the cabinet which was approved The senior clerk was declared successful in ballot category of 10 marla plot in Government Servant Quota in Jalozai Housing Scheme Phase –III However, he did not deposit 10% down payment which was mandatory on his part as a result plot No 670-A was cancelled by the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa Housing Authority Posting of Dr Qaisar Zaman senior lecturer/demonstrator in MTI Khyber Girls Medical College Peshawar was approved by the cabinet K P C A B I N ET A P P R O V E S P R O P O S A L F O R E S TA B L I S H M E N T O F K P M D M C F O R E X P LO R I N G , P R O C E S S I N G M I N E R A L S Karachi: AVM (R) Dr Rizwan Riaz, Danish Aman, Justice of Peace sign MoU for SWG Join hands with support Education of Deserving Scholars through Zakat at a ceremony Picture shows Adnan Zahur Zahid Hameed and Arooba Gillani, also present C hina invests in ar tificial Intel S cience & Tech Modern Agri IESCO issues list of defaulting government institutions ISLAMABAD s ta f f r e p o r t Timely payment of electricity bills is crucial to ensure uninterrupted power supply and the timely completion of ongoing system upgrade projects IESCO has issued a list of defaulting government institutions vide letter number 3886-99 dated June 7 2024 According to this details Government of AJK 54862 million Ministry of Defence 5295 million CDA 4063 million CDA (Pak Secretariat) 1065 million CDA (Cabinet Secretariat) 116 million, CDA (Chairman Senate) 68 million, Cantt Board Chaklala 1642 million, Cantt Board Rawalpindi 256 million, WASA 967 million Ministry of Railways 295 million Hospitals under Federal Government 279 million Pakistan PWD 260 million Federal Police 251 million TMA Rawal Town 190 million TMA Murree 162 million Ministry of Interior 143 million, Punjab Police 135 million, Parliament Lodges 118 million, Punjab Jail and Convict Settlement 116 million, Ministry of Health 76 million, PBC 75 million, Ministry of Culture and Sports 75 million GM Hydel 66 million Punjab Health and Welfare Department 54 million Chief Commissioner Islamabad 51 million Ministry of Education 48 million TMA Hassan Abdal 46 million, FIA 32 million, District and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi 28 million
wallconstruc tion of Daral Khwar
Station to be completed soon: Gandapur
Protec tion
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7 soldiers mar tyred as militar y vehicle blown up in Lakki Mar wat
Seven soldiers were martyred on Sunday when a security forces’ vehicle was attacked with an improvised explosive device in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Lakki Marwat district on Sunday said the Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR)
According to the military s media wing Captain Muhammad Faraz Ilyas (age: 26 years, resident of Kasur District), Subedar Major Muhammad Nazir (age: 50 years, resident of Skardu district), Lance Naik Muhammad Anwar (age: 34 years, resident of Ghanchi district), Lance Naik Hussain Ali (age: 36 years resident of Ghizer district) Sepoy Asad Ullah (age: 33 years resident of Multan district) Sepoy Manzoor Hussain (age: 27 years resident of Gilgit district) and Sepoy Rashid Mehmood (age: 31 years, resident of Rawalpindi district) all made the ultimate sacrifice and embraced Shahadat (martyrdom)
The ISPR said that “sanitisation of the area” was underway to eliminate terrorists and added that “the perpetrators of this heinous act will be brought to justice” [The] security forces of Pakistan are determined to eliminate the menace of terrorism and such sacrifices of our brave soldiers further strengthen our resolve the statement added On May 27, 17 terrorists were killed and another two were injured in two separate operations conducted by se-
foundational slogan,
Izzat Do (Respect the Vote), and criticised the party s shifting narrative from confrontation to reconciliation, and now focusing on economic issues He highlighted that the PML-N leadership had considered calling for elections immediately following the noconfidence motion against Khan with preparations for then-Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s assembly dissolution speech already underway Zubair, who has not yet decided to join another political party, stated, “I conveyed my differences to the party leadership long ago ” He emphasized that his decision to leave was influenced by the 16-month performance of the Pakistan Democratic Movement s government and other internal party issues Born into a politically active family Zubair s political journey began with his joining of PML-N He served as the governor of Sindh, where he was involved in various developmental initiatives aimed at improving the socio-economic landscape of the province During his tenure with the party Zubair held significant roles and was influential in shaping party policies and strategies ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t India on Sunday evening beat Pakistan by 6 runs in a thrilling nail biting finish, capturing top slot in the group Pakistan opened with Azam and Mohammad Rizwan to chase down India’s unexpectedly-low target of 120 However successive wickets kept tumbling after a good opening partnership between Mohammad Rizwan and Babar Azam Pakistan could only
‘Joint Statement ’: China, Pakistan vow to build CPEC into ‘exemplar y projec t of Belt and Road cooperation’
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As Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif s visit to China concluded, China and Pakistan on Saturday issued a joint statement, stressing the authority of the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 not to be disputed or challenged while vowing to build together the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) into an exemplary project of high-quality building of Belt and Road cooperation The two sides reiterated their AllWeather Strategic Cooperative Partnership and ironclad friendship with the Chinese side stressing that this pair of relationship is a priority in its foreign relations, and the Pakistani side underscoring it as the cornerstone of its foreign policy,” Xinhua News Agency reported Recognizing the CPEC as “a pioneering project of the Belt and Road Initiative the joint statement said the project has changed the development landscape of Pakistan, benefited its people s well-being, and promoted the integrated development of the two countries
After the successful first decade of CPEC the two sides are committed to carrying out the eight major steps for supporting high-quality Belt and Road cooperation, forging an upgraded version of the CPEC by jointly building a corridor that is innovative green and open aligning with Pakistan’s 5Es Framework based on Exports E-Pakistan Environment Energy and Equity & Empowerment to better benefit the two countries and their peoples China and Pakistan will work together to build CPEC into an exemplary project of high-quality building
of Belt and Road cooperation
The two sides have also recognized the significance of Gwadar Port as an important node in cross-regional connectivity They reiterated the need to speed up the development of the auxiliary infrastructure of the Gwadar Port in order to fully realize the potential of the coastal city especially as a transshipment hub with its own shipyard
In the joint statement they also reaffirmed their unyielding support for each other on issues concerning their respective core interests On the Taiwan question in particular both sides stressed that the authority of the UN General Assembly Resolution 2758 brooks no dispute or challenge Pakistan reaffirmed its firm commitment to the one-China principle, and reiterated that Taiwan is an inalienable part of the China’s territory, and that Pakistan firmly supports the Chinese government s every effort to achieve national reunification and opposes any form of Taiwan independence
Shedding lights on counter-terrorism efforts, the two sides reiterated their commitment to combating terrorism in all its forms and manifestations with a zero tolerance attitude
and agreed to further strengthen cooperation in counter-terrorism and security through a comprehensive approach
Meanwhile, China and Pakistan expressed their firm opposition to the double standards on counter-terrorism, and opposed the politicization and instrumentalization of this effort
Chinese Premier Li Qiang held talks with Shehbaz in Beijing on Friday noting that China is willing to work with Pakistan to enhance the synergy of their development strategies, focus on upgrading the CPEC, expand trade and investment cooperation and deepen cooperation on industry agriculture aerospace information technology ecology and environmental protection
He noted that China is willing to import more quality products from Pakistan and supports Chinese enterprises to invest more in the country
Following their talks Premier Li and Prime Minister Shehbaz attended a signing ceremony for a number of bilateral cooperation documents in such fields as transport, industry, agriculture, market regulation, livelihoods, capacitybuilding and film and television according to Xinhua
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 : 2 5 5 1 5 1 : 3 0 5 : 3 0 7 : 2 5 9 : 3 0 Monday 10 June 2024 NEWS Published by Asad Nizami at Plot No 66-C, 1st Floor, 21st Commercial Street, Phase-II (Extension), DHA Karachi and printed at Ibn-e-Hassan Printing Press, Hockey Stadium, Karachi, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited Ph: 021-35381208-9 Email: newsroom@pakistantoday com pk ISLAMABAD a h M a d a h M a da n i The Islamabad Electric Supply Company (IESCO) has issued an urgent call for action to defaulting government institutions, and demanded the payment of their outstanding electricity dues within a week of receiving the notice Dr Muhammad Amjad Khan the Chief Executive Officer of IESCO emphasized that timely payment of electricity bills is crucial to ensure an uninterrupted power supply and the timely completion of ongoing system upgrade projects In a letter dated June 7, 2024 (No 388699) IESCO detailed the significant amounts owed by various government institutions According to the letter the Government of Azad Jammu and Kashmir (AJK) is the largest defaulter with an outstanding amount of PKR 54,862 million The Ministry of Defence follows with dues amounting to PKR 5,295 million The Capital Development Authority (CDA) also owes substantial amounts with PKR 4,063 million due, along with additional dues from its subdivisions: the CDA (Pak Secretariat) owing PKR 1 065 million the CDA (Cabinet Secretariat) owing PKR 116 million and the CDA (Chairman Senate) owing PKR 68 million The Cantt Board Chaklala has an outstanding amount of PKR 1,642 million, while the Cantt Board Rawalpindi owes PKR 256 million The Water and Sanitation Agency (WASA) is also a significant defaulter with dues amounting to PKR 967 million Further the Ministry of Railways has an outstanding amount of PKR 295 million, while hospitals under the Federal Government owe PKR 279 million Pakistan Public Works Department (PWD) has not paid PKR 260 million and the Federal Police owes PKR 251 million Local government bodies such as TMA Rawal Town and TMA Murree owe PKR 190 million and PKR 162 million respectively Other significant defaulters include the Ministry of Interior (PKR 143 million) Punjab Police (PKR 135 million), Parliament Lodges (PKR 118 million), and Punjab Jail and Convict Settlement (PKR 116 million) In addition the Ministry of Health owes PKR 76 million Pakistan Broadcasting Corporation (PBC) owes PKR 75 million and the Ministry of Culture and Sports also owes PKR 75 million The GM Hydel has not paid PKR 66 million, while the Punjab Health and Welfare Department owes PKR 54 million The Chief Commissioner Islamabad is due to pay PKR 51 million and the Ministry of Education has outstanding dues of PKR 48 million Smaller amounts are also owed by institutions such as TMA Hassan Abdal (PKR 46 million) the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) (PKR 32 million) District and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Rawalpindi (PKR 28 million) AG Maintenance (DP) (PKR 28 million), Ministry of Hajj and Auqaf (PKR 25 million) and Health District Government Rawalpindi (PKR 24 million) Ministry of Environment and URB (PKR 23 million) Balochistan House (PKR 23 million) Cantt Board Attock (PKR 21 million) Islamabad High Court (PKR 20 million), District Government Rawalpindi (PKR 19 million), Health District Government Jhelum (PKR 18 million), TMA Potohar Town (PKR 18 million), Federal Board of Revenue (FBR/CBR) (PKR 16 million) District and Tehsil Headquarters Hospital Attock (PKR 16 million) TMA Jhelum (PKR 15 million) Director General Special Education (PKR 14 million), Meteorological Department (PKR 12 million), Ministry of Local Government (PKR 12 million), Intelligence Bureau (PKR 10 million) National Highway Authority (NHA) (PKR 10 million) and Sindh House (PKR 10 million) G
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Pakhtunkhwa, the military’s media affairs wing said In a press release the (ISPR) said that in an operation conducted in Tank District own troops effectively engaged the terrorists location as a result of which ten terrorists were sent to hell Another engagement occurred in the general area [of] Bagh, Khyber District, wherein the security forces sent seven terrorists to hell while two terrorists were injured” the ISPR said
forces
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Nawaz Sharif advocates strengthening parliament over street protests ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t Former Prime Minister Nawaz Sharif Sunday said that taking to the streets is a futile exercise as the real forum for strengthening protecting and ensuring supremacy of the Constitution is the Parliament These views were expressed by the president of Pakistan Muslim League – Nawaz (N) and three-time former premier during a conversation with the Deputy Chairman of the Senate, Senator Syedal Khan, who called on him in Murree on Sunday Syedal Khan congratulated him on being elected as the President of PML-N On this occasion Senator Irfan Siddiqui the leader of the PML-N parliamentary party in the Senate was also present Nawaz Sharif also congratulated the Deputy Chairman of the Senate on assuming his position and expressed the hope that he would play an effective role in the Senate for the strengthening of the federation, national unity and the promotion of democracy Pakistan urges US to maintain balance in South Asia ties for regional stabilit y WASHINGTON i n p Pakistan s Ambassador to the U S Masood Khan has called for a more balanced U S foreign policy in South Asia cautioning against the over-alignment with India Speaking on a podcast hosted by Tim Horgan from the World Affairs Council of New Hampshire, Khan emphasised that a restoration of equilibrium in the region would bolster peace and security Khan highlighted the recent recalibration of Pakistan-U S relations focusing on security and economic partnerships which now also include collaborative efforts in climate change, healthcare, and education These elements are intended to strengthen the bilateral relationship through extensive people-topeople contacts Discussing U S -China relations, the Ambassador praised the U S leadership for managing ties with China with great care and wisdom He mentioned recent visits that have paved the way for a collaborative rather than confrontational approach and suggested that Pakistan could serve as an economic bridge between China and the U S Khan proposed that as the U S seeks to decouple from certain global dependencies, it could consider relocating industries to Pakistan facilitating manufacturing that targets the Chinese market On the issue of Afghanistan the Ambassador urged the interim Afghan government to intensify its efforts against militant groups, specifically the TTP, to bolster regional security, which is vital for both local and international stability Reaffirming Pakistan’s stance on Kashmir Khan advocated for a peaceful resolution that allows the people of Jammu and Kashmir to decide their future through democratic means rather than force He also touched on India s regional relations, suggesting that India s progress would be significantly enhanced by fostering positive relations with its neighbors and investing in economic connectivity This approach, he noted, would contribute to a peaceful neighborhood Ex-Sindh governor Zubair quits PML-N, cites shifting par t y narratives ISLAMABAD n p
League-Nawaz (PML-N), citing disagreements with party leadership over several key issues including the no-confidence motion against former Prime Minister Imran Khan In an interview with a private TV news channel Zubair expressed his discontent with the PML-N s departure from its
score 113 runs in stipulated 20 overs Hardik Pandya sent back Shadab Khan in the 16th over as Pakistan suffer fifth loss Jasprit Bumrah came back into the attack for India in the 15th over taking down Mohammad Rizwan who anchored Pakistan s innings with a decent 31 off 44 balls Pandya clinched the crucial wicket of Fakhar Zaman as he was caught behind India earlier reviewed umpire’s not out call against Usman Khan s LBW, which is overturned as Khan departs Bumrah took the first wicket for India as Captain Babar Azam was caught in the slip in the fifth over Pandya and Ravindra Jadeja put the brakes on Pakistan boundaries Arshdeep Singh took the new ball for India, giving away 9 runs in the first over Mohammad Siraj gives away 6 runs, taking Pakistan to 15-0 Pakistan bowled out archrivals India for 119 in the last over as Naseem Shah and Haris Rauf took three wickets each while Mohammad Amir bagged two in a splended display of pace bowling I think we did well as a bowling unit, but this is a decent total on this track We need to bat well and sensibly It’s a bit tricky We need to start well and finish well Amir said at the end of the Indian innings Rauf was on a hat-trick in the death overs as he took down dangerous-looking Hardik Pandya and tail-ender Jasprit Bumrah Amir was also on a hat-trick after taking down Rishabh Pant and Ravindra Jadeja Naseem Shah got Shivam Dube caught and bowled and Haris Rauf took down Suryakumar Yadav with Amir taking a comfortable catch in the field Shah came back into the attack for the eigth over and bowled out Axar Patel Iftikhar Ahmed bowled the seventh over and got hit for a four by Rishabh Pant Babar Azam also introduced Imad Wasim into the attack as he looks to slow down the run rate Pant dropped in the sixth over by Usman Khan during Amir s second over India reach the first fifty mark with 50-2 as the power play ends Patel hit Shaheen Shah Afridi for back-to-back boundaries as he looks to rebuild India s innings after Rohit Sharma Virat Kohli departed early Haris Rauf takes a good catch for Pakistan as Indian Captain Rohit Sharma got out after playing a lobbed shot off Shaheen Shah Afridi’s bowling Virat Kohli caught at point on Naseem Shah’s third delivery Kohli hit Naseem Shah for a four on the first delivery after play resumed The T20 World Cup match between Pakistan and India resumes at 9pm PST amid frequent rain interruptions with India at 8-0 after the first over The toss for the rain-hit match was earlier also delayed due to light drizzle and overcast conditions Rohit Sharma takes on Shaheen Shah Afridi in the first over with a six on just the third delivery as rain takes over once again after the end of the first over with at India at 8-0 Virat Kohli to face the first delivery after the resumption Pakistan’s captain Babar Azam has won the toss in the crucial T20 World Cup encounter against India and elected to bowl first First delivery of the match expected to be bowled at 8:20 pm PST ISLAMABAD
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Former governor of Sindh Muhammad Zubair on Sunday announced his resignation from the Pakistan Muslim
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I n d i a b e a t Pa k i s t a n i n T 2 0 Wo r l d C u p n a i l b i t e r
PPP raises concerns over ‘not being consulted’ on budget ISLAMABAD
ta f f R e p o R t Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) central party leader Syed Khurshid Ahmed Shah on Sunday raised reservations over his not party not being consulted on the upcoming federal budget 2024-25 The government neither told us anything related to the budget nor took us into confidence We don t know what the Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) is doing about privatisation policy, taxes, developmental program ” said the PPP leader Shah further said that the PPP does not know anything in terms of relief He said he s unaware whether the government is making the budget or the International Monetary Fund s (IMF) budget is being imposed The PPP leader said that their proposals should have been included in the federal budget at any cost “People will ask us what have we done Will we tell them that we don’t even know about it?” he questioned Shah further said that the Bilawal Bhutto-led party will have to see politically what decision to take regarding the budget which will be announced on June 12 On the other hand, Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervez Malik rebuffed the reports about the further increase in tax on the salaried class saying that they are baseless and false Speaking during Geo News Naya Pakistan programme Malik said that the government is focusing on fair tax system GANDAPUR REFUSES TO WITHDRAW TOBACCO TAX A day earlier, Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) Chief Minister Ali Amin Gandapur refused political pressure of his party to withdraw the tobacco cess and provincial excise duty on tobacco companies Gandapur told the party leaders that he will not tolerate any obstacle to increasing the provincial funds The KP government has imposed Rs50 as provincial excise duty on tobacco to collect an amount of Rs5 billion Similarly, the tobacco cess rate has been revised from Rs6 to Rs50 per kilograms but the provincial cabinet fixed it at Rs25 per kg The decision will help the provincial government collect Rs7 5 billion for the province as a whole I am not someone who relies on IMF : Nawaz On the other hand, PML-N President on Saturday criticised the IMF conditions, questioning how will the policies not be difficult for the poor if they are accepted “I am not someone who relies on the IMF ” said the three-time prime minister g I E S C O I s s u e s U l t i m a t u m t o D e f a u l t i n g G o v e r n m e n t E n t i t i e s f o r O u t s t a n d i n g D u e s
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