Epaper_24-06-3 ISB

PAKISTAN’S ATTENDANCE UNCERTAIN TO MAINTAIN ‘NEUTRALIT Y’

Legal action against PTI over social media hinges on FIA probe: Tarar

there are legal grounds [to prosecute the PTI] Statements encouraging an attack on our country s integrity and sovereignty should not

be allowed There is a big difference between statements and actions, Tarar continued “When Nawaz Sharif was removed from office, he made a comparison to 1971 only once [ ] it was a one-off Imran Khan s followers have created this narrative of Khan Nahi tou Pakistan Nahi (No Pakistan without Imran Khan) after a pattern of statements and actions On Saturday the FIA summoned PTI leaders – Barrister Gohar and Omar Ayub and party spokesperson Raoof Hasan regarding the misuse of incarcerated PTI founder Imran Khan’s X account for disseminating incendiary content against state institutions On May 26 Imran s official account shared a video along with a quote attributed to him: Every Pakistani should study the Hamoodur Rahman Commission Report and get to know who was the true traitor, General Yahya Khan or Sheikh Mujibur Rahman The video argued that the former military dictator was the one re-

sponsible for the country s breakup referring to alleged atrocities committed by the Pakistani military during the civil war The video also interspersed images of the current civilian and military leadership alleging they stole the party s mandate in the general elections

The federal information asserted that the PTI created political instability and they had staged sitins in the past, claiming that messages to burn Jinnah House or the statues of our martyrs are not a oneoff thing This is the culimination of years of harmful statements and messages This is a full-blown campaign,” he added Asked whether the federal government would entertain former president Arif Alvi s offer to negotiate a truce the information minister accused the PTI of saying one thing then doing another Raoof (Hassan) disowned the PTI’s social media team, but Imran praised them ” Tarar said “They say one thing and do another They have not made up their minds about negotiation

scrutiny in closing findings based on proposed corrective actions rather than actual evidence deviations from established procedures, and a severe understaffing in the Flight Standards Directorate Despite these issues no major safety concerns were identified in the airworthiness or personnel licensing and training organizations which were found to be appropriately staffed Fly Jinnah, one of the air carriers assessed, was noted for needing improvement in record keeping and management of findings

The PCAA presented a Corrective Action Plan (CAP) on May 6, 2024, and elaborated on the steps taken to address the identified issues during a hearing before the EU Air Safety Committee on May 14 2024 Notably the PCAA increased the number of qualified inspectors from one to nineteen in the Flight Standards Directorate, established a Quality Control section in each department, and created a central Quality Assurance department Fly Jinnah detailed its current

operations and the measures taken to address quality management system flaws including the use of software tools for various operational functions and outsourcing key activities to Air Arabia

The EU Air Safety Committee in its report stated that continuous monitoring of the safety situation in Pakistan is essential Regular technical meetings in Brussels and progress reports from the PCAA will be part of this ongoing oversight,” the EU report said

The Committee also emphasized the need for the Pakistani government s continued support and leadership stability within the PCAA

For now, the EU has decided not to lift the ban on Pakistani air carriers urging Member States to continue verifying compliance through ramp inspections

The Commission warned that any revelation of imminent safety risks could prompt further action, underscoring the critical nature of maintaining international safety standards

Pakistan’s 49.6m tones solid waste potential source of energy, rec ycling for circ ular economy

Salik stresses devotion, effective communication to enhance pilgrims experience

ISLAMABAD S ta f f R e p o R t

Minister for Religious Affairs and Interfaith Harmony, Chaudhry Salik Hussain has urged the Hajj welfare staff (Moavineen-e-Hujjaj) to perform their responsibilities with devotion as serving the pilgrims is a sacred duty

fort, given Pakistan s multicultural nature with language diversity,” he added

He urged the supporting staff to ensure that the pilgrims should be provided with the best possible facilities and services during their stay for Hajj showing compassion and empathy towards them in addition to their duties

The minister noted that properly marked and men-supported bus pick-up points could facilitate the transportation of pilgrims to and from their residences He urged guides to be proactive in guiding pilgrims to the right ways towards their destinations, ensuring they were readily available to assist those who may feel distracted or lost on their way to their residences

Emphasizing the need for effective communication the minister suggested that guides fluent in various Pakistani languages should be deployed to assist pilgrims visiting the Haram Sharif for Umrah or prayers “This move would enhance the experience of pilgrims and help them navigate the area with com-

He said this on the occasion of orientation sessions held by the Hajj mission for supporting staff in Makkah to make them aware of assisting pilgrims during the Hajj days

It is important to note that over four hundred members of Hajj welfare staff currently performing duties in transport accommodation, and food departments, have already received orientation sessions to prepare them for their roles during the Hajj days

KP Health Depar tment revamps medicine proc urement committees

p o R t The Health Department Khyber Pakhtunkhwa has announced the dissolution of its existing Medicine Coordination Council committees responsible for government medicine procurement In their place three new committees have been formed effective from the next financial year (July 1st 2024)

According to a notification issued, the previous committees, formed last year for the current financial year ’s procurement will be replaced The new structure aims to enhance efficiency and oversight in the procurement process The Technical and Evaluation Committee will be led by the Additional Director General of Monitoring and Evaluation Health The committee will include the Deputy Director of the Medicine Coordination Council as Secretary and Member along with the Medical Superintendent of Police Services Hospital, Principal Pharmacist Services Hospital, Additional Director MCC, a Specialist in Medicine, a Specialist in

Patience and passes

Surgery from Nasirullah Babar Memorial Hospital Peshawar, a Pediatrician, an Anesthetist from Services Hospital a Gynecologist from Molvi Ameer Shah Memorial Hospital and the Deputy Director of Pharmacy Services Additional members may be included as needed

The Inspection Committee will comprise the Chief Drug Inspector Senior Drug Inspector and Drug Inspector It will also include one pharmacist from a hospital and one from the pharmacy department of a government university Additional members can be appointed by the competent authority The Rate Contracting Committee will be chaired by the Director General of Health Services The Additional Director General of Monitoring and Development Committee will serve as Secretary and Member The committee will also include the Director General of Drug Control and Pharmacy Services, Director of Finance Health Directorate a Professor of Cardiology from Peshawar Institute of Cardiology a Professor of Medicine from HMC a Professor of Surgery from LRH the Chairman of the Pharmacy Department at the University of Peshawar a District Health Officer, Additional Director General Drugs, and Additional Director of Pharmacy Services One additional member may be appointed by the competent authority This restructuring is intended to streamline the procurement process and ensure the effective supply of medicines to government hospitals and facilities across the region

CHINESE COMPANY ANNOUNCES FIRST PHASE OF CRUCIAL WATER SUPPLY PROJECT FOR RAWALPINDI

The APCC meeting acknowledged that even the achievement of these modest economic targets hinges on political stability This underscores the deep-seated political turmoil plaguing Pakistan, which is a major obstacle to economic recovery The current government is facing increasing pressure from opposition parties and public discontent due to the worsening economic situation The political landscape remains volatile further complicating the country s ability to implement the necessary economic reforms

The IMF’s continued pressure for transparency and anti-corruption measures presents a critical opportunity for Pakistan to address these long-standing issues However, the government s reluctance to implement such reforms raises concerns about its commitment to tackling corruption and fostering a more transparent environment The financial experts emphasized that Pakistan stands at a crossroads and it must address its economic challenges and political instability if it wants to achieve sustainable growth and improve the lives of its citizens They are of the view that the IMF’s demands offer a path forward but it remains to be seen whether the Pakistani government will seize this opportunity for meaningful change

China-Pakistan Children’s Cultural Festival celebrates 73 years of diplomatic ties

On the joyous occasion of Children s Day, children from China and Pakistan gathered to celebrate their cultural diversity and strengthen ties between the two nations

The inaugural China-Pakistan Children s Cultural Festival jointly organized by the Overseas Chinese Association of Pakistan, the Chinese Language Education Association in Pakistan China-Pakistan Educational and Cultural Center and the China-Pakistan Youth Solidarity Initiative was held in celebration of the 73rd anniversary of the establishment of the diplomatic relations between the two countries According to Gwadar Pro, the festival held in a vibrant atmosphere fea-

tured a wide range of art performances showcasing the unique cultural heritage of both countries

Children from China performed traditional dances and music, while Pakistani children presented folk songs and stories that captured the essence of their rich cultural traditions The performances were met with thunderous applause demonstrating the strong cultural ties between the two nations

Offstage the festival offered interactive activities that provide an immersive cultural experience for children Language exchange sessions enabled children to communicate in each other ’s languages fostering cross-cultural understanding and friendship Art workshops and traditional handicraft experiences gave children the opportunity to explore and appreciate the artis-

tic traditions of each other Amidst the lively performances and cultural festivities a unique event took place the awarding ceremony for the 1st Pakistani Silk Road Cup art competition Artworks on display ranged from vibrant paintings of pandas and antelopes to abstract interpretations of the Silk Road The ceremony recognized the exceptional talent and creativity of young artists from both China and Pakistan The event was attended by dignitaries including former Pakistani Counsellor to China Zamir Awan, Executive Director of Pakistan-China Institute Mustafa Hyder Sayed President of the Overseas Chinese Association of Pakistan La Jielian and Chairman of Chinese Language Education Association Ma Bin

Beggar mafia chiefs to be kept in special barracks in Punjab jails

LAHORE S ta f f R e p o R t

To counter the menace of professional begging, the Punjab government has decided to establish special barracks across the province’s jails where beggar mafia chiefs will be imprisoned

The Punjab Home Department announced the establishment of designated barracks for beggar mafia chiefs in jails across the province

This initiative follows the instruc-

tions of Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz Sharif and represents a significant step in the province s crackdown on organised begging According to a spokesperson on Sunday, each barrack in the first phase can accommodate between 100 to 200 individuals The number of these specialised barracks will be increased as necessary particularly in larger cities where the issue is more prevalent

In addition to these logistical changes, the Punjab Home Department is also drafting legislation to impose

stricter penalties on leaders of the beggar mafia The proposed law will target those involved in the kidnapping and coercion of children imposing severe penalties on those found guilty

This amendment aims to ensure that those who exploit innocent children and women for professional begging face significant legal consequences

The spokesperson emphasised that the government is committed to eradicating the beggar mafia from the province

The PM’s resistance to the IMF is not backed by expanding the tax net

PR I M E M I N I S T E R Shehbaz Sharif has turned down an IMF proposal that the income tax structure for the salaried class be revamped, so that Rs 600 billion could be raised out of the Rs 3 6 trillion extra, which would be about 40 percent more than the Rs 9 trillion expected to be collected by the Federal Bureau of Revenue this year FBR had apparently hoped to manage the collection from one of the easiest sources, the salariat, whose tax is deducted by the salary-paying organization and deposited with the FBR allowing it to count the collection towards its target, even though even the cost of book-keeping is borne by the salary-paying organization

For the first time though the CBR is faced with a PM who not only has a background both in business and academic economic theory, but who is also convinced that leakages from the system It may be noted that he has managed to absolve his business community brethren of any wrongdoing and has shifted the blame to the taxation machinery, which he says should collect four times the revenue it does, but which it does not His problem is that he is a political officeholder here today out on his ear tomorrow His first predecessor, PTI chief Imran Khan, is in jail; a graphic reminder of the tribulations that await politicians He managed to convince the IMF in his first tenure to grant Pakistan an SBA, and hopes to get a larger, longer-term package now At the moment, he has neither a yes nor a no, and much rides on the coming budget The IMF mission has more experience with the permanent officials, and would prefer solutions that suit them Thus, though the IMF too makes noises about the tax net, it probably thinks squeezing the salariat gets the collection the IMF wants It will be interesting to see whether Mian Shehbaz sticks to his demand, made basically because he cannot afford the political cost of further squeezing the salariat, which has both been ravaged by inflation and hit by the economic downturn or whether the need to keep the IMF happy is too strong to resist

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

M A Niazi

TH E US and international troops withdrawal

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The most prominent and brutal organization in the central and South Asian

ISKP (Islamic State Province Khorasan) was encouraged which had carried out many deadliest attacks in Pakistan and Afghanistan Islamic State Of Khorasan Province first came into existence at the end of 2014 when pro-IS slogan ‘Daesh Zindabad’ (Long Live Daesh) was found written on the outer wall of Kabul University Later it led to the declaration of the expansion of Islamic State into Afghanistan and Pakistan named Khorasan Province by its spokesperson Abu Muhammad Al-Adnani The exact number of the fighters was elusive but the number estimated by a former general of US and NATO troops to Afghanistan at between 1000 to 1500 and most of its members joined from the Pakistani Taliban (TTP) who were forced out by the military operation Zarb-E-Azab in the exFATA region, and its initial recruitments were from the Pak-Afghan border In 2021, the United Nations estimated its numbers to be from 1500 to 2000 centring on the Kunar and Nangarhar provinces in Afghanistan

ISKP is a wilaya meaning a province of the Islamic state aiming to broaden the ideology of Islamic States, and Daesh aims to establish Caliphate system under its strict version of Islamic Jurisprudence and their motto “Baqiya Wa Tamaddad” urges other Muslims to pledge their alliance with Caliphate Islamic State has issued Aqidah wa Manhaj al-Dawlah al Islamiah fi al-Takfir (The Creed and Methodology of Takfir) stating that one who reject the caliphate will be labelled a infidel (kafir) and executed On the basis of this concept, their actions emerged as more violent and spread across

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or to protect lowerincome group consumers there could be an element of subsidies given unjustifiably to segments of society, which do not qualify for such financial support Moreover, the basic need of subsidy arises in the first place due to increases in tariffs, because of weak governance resulting in significant losses in the energy sector and due to the sub-optimal nature of contracts with independent power producers (IPPs) whereby even idle capacity needs to be paid for Hence instead of reforming the sector and drastically moving towards renewable energy, subsidy has to be provided at a large scale, which in turn, eats into the development budget For instance, reportedly Rs 204 billion have already been taken away from the development budget allocation for the current fiscal year Here the need for meeting International Monetary Fund s primary surplus programme conditionality on one hand, and over-board austerity policy keeping interest payment expenditure on the high side, significantly dents the development budget, which together with an overall weak domestic resource mobilization effort and low economic growth also keeping revenues on the lower side among other reasons does not allow making ample development- economic resilience related and welfare related expenditures

Given the fast-unfolding nature of the climate change crisis, and its strong causation with the likelihood of the ‘Pandemicene’ phenomenon, it is required to spend large amounts on making the economy resilient Moreover there is a need to make much higher welfare related spending in the wake of rise in poverty and inequality caused in the wake of pandemic, and the catastrophic flooding in 2022

Moreover, weak multilateral spirit has also accentuated the problem of lack of fiscal space available with developing countries including Pakistan in

the region In late 2014 and 2015, intense clashes occurred between Taliban and ISKP commanders over territory and resources in regions such as Kunar Jowzjan Farah Sare Pul Nagrahar Helmand and Ghazni In these clashes several Taliban commanders were targeted, and by mid-2015, ISKP fighters were able to capture eight districts in Nangarhar province Since 2015, the group has become more frequent in its operations and deadly In 2017 ISKP was alone responsible for 22 percent of the civilian deaths killing more than 2000 From 2014 to 2019 the strategy of the organization was to capture the territory and consolidate it, but after the intense pressure and attacks from US/Afghan forces led to loss in the territories of ISKP it consequently changed its strategy to urban warfare Still ISKP continues to operate in the region faces targets from all the three sides In August 2020, it intensified its urban warfare strategy, exemplified in the complex suicide attacks on Nangrahar central prison in Jalalabad, resulting in the release of about 1000 prisoners and approximately 280 ISKP inmates In Pakistan the Islamic State s network is mainly controlled by two factions One comprises the former leadership of TTP (Tehreek-eTaliban Pakistan), mostly from the northwestern Khyber Pakhtunkhwa province The second faction consists of anti-Shia sectarian groups operating in the southern Balochistan Within Pakistan IS engages in small arms and RPG attacks against relatively small groups accused of association with entities that oppose it including police officials, intelligence, religious and ethnic minorities and political figures IS prioritizes suicide attacks for a large-scale destruction, such as attack on Shia mosque in Peshawar and a suicide attack on political rally of JUI(F) in Bajaur district which resulted in the deaths of 54 people The last phase of a group s demise is when it stops its violent acts and campaigns as a terrorist organization This could happen when a group’s leader is captured or killed Although

terms of both lack of provision of climate finance and sub-optimal debt relief provided by countries especially by those countries which have a strong carbon footprint; while Pakistan, for instance, although among top-ten countries to be affected by climate change crisis, has a very small carbon footprint Suboptimal provision of financial support with regard to climate change– both bilaterally and through their donations to the multilateral institutions– once again adds to lack of economic resilience- and welfare related spending in developing countries

Also, years of under-investment in the educational-, and economic empowerment of the demos has reduced the quality, and strength of political voice resulting in lack of pressure from the demos on public representatives to legislate towards for instance enhancing the base and progressivity of taxes

Here if adopted the proposal by renowned economist, Emanuel Saez, and Gabriel Zucman to adopt a national income tax by countries should be made part of the upcoming budget

The two economists pointed out in their book ‘The triumph of injustice: how the rich dodge taxes and how to make them pay in this regard as a national income tax is a tax on all income whether it derives from labour or from capital and whether

At the same time, the budget will be presented in an environment of reined-in policy rate over the coming months, whereby a lesser amount will have to be earmarked for making interest payments. This will help create, in turn, more fiscal space for spending on enhancing resilience, and welfare in the economy. Moreover, lower cost of doing business, will likely produce positive consequences for instance, for economic growth, expor ts, employment, and revenues.

ISKP has lost many leaders and hundreds of its fighters it still remains active across the region after the withdrawal of US and NATO forces from Afghanistan Furthermore, it is recruiting members from all nations and spreading its ideology US withdrawal from Afghanistan facilitated the rise to power of the Afghan Taliban and served as catalyst for religious militant groups such as TTP and ISKP in the region These groups espouse anti-state agendas based on their supra-state ideologies In Afghanistan, ISKP has established a stronghold in the Nazian, Achin, Kot, Deh Bela, and Spin Ghar districts of Nangarhar and is working to establish an ‘operational Caliphate ’ which could have implications for neighbouring border regions in Pakistan including Bajaur Dir Chitral and Khyber Agency The restructuring of religious militant groups in Pakistan and Afghanistan has complex implications, as both countries are economically crippled and politically unstable Both states must address socio-economic disparities foster tolerance and unity and provide access to education healthcare and employment opportunities to all their citizens

The writer is a freelance columnist

Stray dogs

The budget will also have to be green

Dr Omer JaveD

Implications of climate change on mental health

CL I M AT E change, beyond its physical and economic impacts has profound implications for mental health The increasing frequency of extreme weather events rising temperatures and shifting environmental conditions are contributing to a range of mental health issues worldwide

The trauma associated with these disasters can lead to acute stress anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) Climate change is an omnipresent threat that affects all demographics but its impacts are not evenly distributed Low-income individuals are disproportionately affected by the environmental, economic, and social repercussions of climate change This vulnerability extends significantly to their mental health exacerbated by a lack of resources to recover from climate-induced disasters

Extreme weather events such as hurricanes, floods, and wildfires can lead to acute traumatic stress According to a report by the American Psychological Association (APA), individuals exposed to such disasters experience high levels of trauma anxiety and posttraumatic stress disorder (PTSD) For instance Hurricane Katrina in 2005 resulted in significant mental health challenges, with a study in the Journal of the American Medical Association finding that 49 percent of survivors developed an anxiety or mood disorder

Long-term environmental changes and the constant threat of natural disasters contribute to chronic stress and anxiety The Lancet Countdown 2023 Report highlighted that climate change-related stressors, such as prolonged droughts and the loss of livelihoods, can lead to ongoing psychological distress Farmers facing crop failures for instance are at heightened risk of depression and suicide

Rising temperatures have a direct impact on mental health High temperatures are associated with increased irritability, aggression, and violence, study shows a correlation between higher temperatures and an increase in suicide rates estimating that climate change could result in an additional 21 000 suicides in the USA and Mexico by 2050

Young people are particularly vulnerable to the mental health impacts of climate

change The UNICEF report “Unless We Act

Now emphasizes that children exposed to climate-related disasters experience significant psychological stress which can lead to long-term developmental issues The trauma of displacement and witnessing devastation can result in anxiety, depression, and behavioral problems

Indigenous populations who often have a deep connection to their land face unique mental health challenges due to climate change It is reported that environmental changes threaten their cultural practices, leading to a loss of identity and increased rates of depression and substance abuse Climate-induced displacement and migration can lead to loss of community cultural dislocation and increased risk of mental health issues Displaced individuals often experience social isolation and lack of social support, contributing to feelings of loneliness and depression What to talk about Low-income individuals who are disproportionately affected by climate change and its mental health impacts They often lack the resources to recover from disasters leading to prolonged stress and anxiety They have limited access to healthcare services, including mental health care This lack of access means that psychological conditions related to climate change are underdiagnosed and undertreated in these populations The World Health Organization (WHO) report on climate change and health indicates that socio-economic disparities exacerbate the mental health burden on these communities Climate change can disrupt agriculture and fisheries leading to loss of income and employment Economic insecurity is a sig-

nificant stressor that can lead to mental health issues like depression and anxiety Malnutrition due to food scarcity can affect brain health and cognitive function leading to developmental issues in children and mental health problems in adults and Uncertainty about access to food and clean water can cause chronic stress and anxiety Disasters and economic strains can disrupt community cohesion leading to loss of social support networks that are crucial for mental health Further, scarcity of resources can lead to conflict within communities, which can increase stress and anxiety The reason behind this is that Third-World countries often have inadequate mental health infrastructure The increased demand for mental health services due to climate impacts can overwhelm these already limited resources and Persistent worry about the future and the ongoing threat of climate change can cause eco-anxiety, a chronic fear of environmental doom In children and adolescents it can be a challenge to cope with and increase Developmental Issues because exposure to traumatic events and chronic stress during critical developmental periods can have long-term effects on mental health and development Women, especially in rural areas, often bear the brunt of climate-related responsibilities like securing food and water which can increase their stress and mental health burden According to a report women are the worst affected by climate change it is estimated that by 2025, climate change will be a contributing factor in at least 12 5 million girls globally each year not completing their education It is very well said by Noam Shpancer

Unless we consider mental health as impor tant as physical health we cannot produce resilient communities. Climate chang e poses a significant threat to mental health globally, with impacts that are both immediate and longterm. Addressing these challeng es requires a holistic approach that integrates mental health ser vices into climate adaptation and disaster response strategies

Mental health is not a destination, but a process It’s about how you drive, not where you’re going ” Mental health is as important as our physical health As long as climate change is concerned it is a global phenomenon with phenomenal implications for thirdworld countries like Pakistan Addressing the Mental Health Crisis is pertinent in this situation of rapidly changing climate Governments and organizations need to integrate mental health support into climate change policies and disaster response plans This includes providing psychological first aid during and after disasters training

The Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath, recently remarked that an inheritance tax would be akin to the jazia imposed by Aurangzeb, which was obviously a tax imposed on religious grounds In attacking the wealth tax proposal, the PM whipped up hatred against Muslims, trashed Congress, thereby protec ting his super-rich patrons

Athat unrestrained growth in wealth and income inequality poses a threat to the future of capitalism It is this recognition that prompted several American billionaires some time ago to issue a statement suggesting that greater taxation should be imposed on themselves and on other wealthy people

The Indian wealthy segment, at least in the contemporary epoch, however, is singularly devoid of any such foresight It believes that supporting a fascistic outfit which can win elections by playing the religious-communal card and then use extreme authoritarian measures to suppress any challenge to its dominance, will be enough to allow its share of wealth and income to increase ad infinitum There was a time when leading elements of the Indian bourgeoisie, like G D Birla, used to advise capitalists in the country not to flaunt their wealth; but that was a period when the fear of a popular backlash had haunted the bourgeoisie

justified on the grounds that he “earned” it the son’s owning this wealth cannot possibly be justified on the same grounds Inherited wealth in other words is a pure windfall that accrues to a person by the sheer accident of his birth, and cannot be justified even by bourgeois theory This is why most advanced capitalist countries have substantial inheritance taxes in the form of death duties Japan for instance has an inheritance tax that goes up to 55% But the shocking fact is that India has no inheritance tax whatsoever The absurdity of this situation was realised even by persons who are by no means Leftists or opposed to the neoliberal agenda In fact, it is a non-resident techno-savvy Congressman, Sam Pitroda who recently mooted the idea of having an inheritance tax; and the BJP leadership came down on him like a tonne of bricks The Indian super-rich obviously get frightened by this idea; and the BJP, as the defender of the super-rich, was expected to come to their rescue by attacking the idea But it did so not on any of the several expected grounds namely that such a tax would be difficult to implement or that it would destroy capitalists incentives or that it would create an atmosphere where global finance will get frightened and be reluctant to come to India, making our balance of payments situation precarious It attacked the idea on the entirely spurious and utterly communal-fascistic grounds that such a tax would take money away from the Hindus and hand it to the Muslims! It added for good measure in order to impart a dash of sentimentality to its nasty construction, that such a tax would take away the mangalsutras of Hindu women for benefiting the “infiltrators”!

A misinformation campaign on this scale must be quite unprecedented An inheritance tax is obviously not imposed on the basis of religion; it is imposed on the magnitude of wealth that is inherited The BJP s suggestion that it will be imposed on religious grounds is astounding But in case an impression got around that the BJP had just made a mistake and had decided to remain quiet about it afterward it took steps to dispel any such impression The Uttar Pradesh chief minister Adityanath, recently remarked that an inheritance tax would be akin to the jazia imposed by Aurangzeb, which was obviously a tax imposed on religious grounds Neither Prime Minister Narendra Modi nor Adityanath can be excused on the grounds that they are ignorant about what an inheritance tax means Their sticking to this theme of Hindu wealth being taxed to benefit Muslims is a deliberate propagation of falsehood And it shows quite clearly how the super-rich are being pro-

tected through a false religious narrative that simultaneously fans hatred against a religious minority and against an opposition political party for allegedly appeasing this minority

For the BJP, therefore, the tirade against an inheritance tax kills three birds with one stone: it promotes further hatred against this minority; it trashes the opposition political party; and it kills the idea of an inheritance tax and thereby protects the super-rich who are its main patron And this feat is achieved by resorting to a nasty falsehood of the kind that communal-fascistic outfits habitually resort to

This, however, raises another question The premise underlying any democratic arrangement is that the people are capable of comprehending all issues in the public domain and taking informed and wise positions on each one of them But of course in an exploitative society, where the people are deliberately kept ignorant, it becomes important that issues are discussed in public and explained to them

The Marxist tradition explicitly theorises about it and assigns an important role to declassed intellectuals for bringing theory to the working people But even many bourgeois writers recognise the importance not of declassed intellectuals (for they do not cognise society in class terms), but of an educated and conscientious intelligentsia, for explicating issues before the people and thereby making democracy work

The bourgeois economist John Maynard Keynes for instance had talked of the importance of the educated bourgeoisie for the functioning of a democracy The task of the “educated bourgeoisie”, according to the Keynesian conception, would have been precisely to explain to people that an inheritance tax is not a tax imposed on the basis of religion

The ascendancy of fascistic elements in the polity with their deliberately false narratives therefore, is indicative according to this conception of a marginalisation of, or an abdication of responsibility by, the “educated bourgeoisie”

No matter what reservations one may have about Keynes’ conception the empirical phenomenon of a weakening or disappearance of the educated bourgeoisie is undeniable The very fact that the BJP bigwigs can get away with presenting an inheritance tax as a religionbased tax, without the media making a noise about it, is indicative of this disappearance; indeed the so-called “godi” media (or lap media) is a symptom of this disappearance

The question is: why does this happen? The educated bourgeoisie is after all a segment of the bourgeoisie It can play the role that Keynes thought it had to, only when it is clear in its own mind about the direction that a bourgeois society with a democratic polity should take Its weakening as a democratic pillar and hence its acquiescence in the fascistic project is an indication of the severity of the dead-end that neoliberal capitalism has reached, a dead-end that Keynes could not have imagined and that presages major class struggles that Keynes had wanted capitalism to avoid H o w B J P m a s k e d i t s c l a

TH E Chief of the Army Staff Gen Manoj Pande who was to retire on May 31 has been given one month s extension by the Appointments Committee of the Cabinet under Army Rule 16A(4) of the Army Act, 1954 Gen Pande will now retire on June 30 The last-minute announcement of the extension amid the Lok Sabha polls has stunned many defence officers and observers, especially over the question of seniority Lt Gen Upendra Dwivedi, currently serving as the Vice Chief of the Army Staff, is the senior-most officer after Gen Pande followed by Lt Gen Ajai Kumar Singh the Southern Army Commander Back in the 1970s the Indira Gandhi-led government had extended the tenure of then Army Chief Gen GG Bewoor by one year In the present case, of the next two senior Army commanders one would perhaps become the next Chief Undoubtedly it is the government s prerog-

parameters against which performance is measured assessed and evaluated Seniority in the defence forces forms the bedrock of tradition and discipline Earlier, when Lt Gen Praveen Bakshi then the senior-most Army commander was superseded (along with another commander) to promote Lt Gen Bipin

Another challenge it brings

hamZa Tanvir

TRUMP SAYS AMERICANS COULD REACH ‘BREAKING POINT’ IF HE IS JAILED

conversation and foster an environment supportive of the political sentiments and aspirations of the Kashmiri people the statement said The APHC spokesman while hailing the just stand and patience of the Kashmiri people struggling for their political right to live in peace urged world to support the people of Kashmir and advance dialogue and peace in the region The

jails on fabricated charges He said that these Kashmiri detainees were the worst victims of political vendetta On the other hand the relatives of illegally detained Kashmiri Hurriyet leaders and activists have expressed deep concern about the safety of their loved ones in the jails of India and the occupied territory They urged the world to pressurize

War ended in an armistice

TOKYO A G E N C I E S As Japan plays host to a record influx of tourists one of the country s more private attractions the high-tech toilet is becoming a must-have in luxury bathrooms worldwide

With their warm seats and precision spray technology, bidet toilets are the norm in Japan where more than 80 percent of homes have one according to a government survey Now sales are surging abroad and especially in the United States, led by A-list bidet fans such as Drake, the Kardashians and Alexandria Ocasio-Cortez

Japanese company TOTO

oping

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ogy that Seoul and Washington

violates

resolutions North Korea has said its balloons were in retaliation for a propaganda campaign by North Korean defectors and activists in South Korea who regularly send inflatables containing anti-Pyongyang leaflets, food, medicine, money and USB sticks loaded with K-pop music videos and dramas across the border

The North Korean balloons carrying garbage such as cigarette butts cloth paper waste and plastic were found across the capital Seoul from 8 p m on Saturday to 1 p m on Sunday (1100 GMT on Saturday to 0400 GMT on Sunday), South Korea’s Joint Chiefs of Staff said It said the military was monitoring the starting point and conducting aerial reconnaissance to track down and collect the balloons, which have large bags of trash suspended beneath them South Korean officers with ri-

which pioneered the electric bidets it claims have sparked a global revolution from

fles were picking up and bagging what appeared to be trash from the balloons in cordoned-off areas local media footage showed North Korea on Wednesday sent hundreds of balloons carrying trash and what was labelled as manure across the border as what it called “gifts of sincerity” Seoul responded angrily calling the move base and dangerous North Korea has not commented on the weekend balloons South Korean Defence Minister Shin Won-sik told US Defense Secretary Austin Lloyd at a conference in Singapore on Sunday that the balloons violated the armistice agreement according to South Korea s military The two reaffirmed a coordinated response to any North Korean threats and provocations based on the South Korea-US alliance’s combined defence posture it said Emergency alerts were issued in North Gyeongsang and Gangwon provinces and some parts of Seoul on Sunday, urging people not to come into contact with the balloons and to alert police

In March immediately after Pakistan s general election President Xi Jinping sent congratulatory letters to President Zardari and Prime Minister Shehbaz respectively on their inauguration, highlighting that we should jointly build the the upgraded version of the China-Pakistan Economic Corridor (CPEC) and an even closer China-Pakistan community with a shared future for the new era Pakistani leaders replied with gratitude expressing their strong agreement with President Xi Jinping s important opinion PM Shehbaz said in letter that the new government regards high-quality building of the CPEC as its core agenda and will spare no efforts in implementation It is against this backdrop that PM Shehbaz pays his first official visit to China realizing the first meeting between top leaders of China and Pakistan since the new government came into office During the visit, President Xi Jinping, Premier Li Qiang and Chairman of the Standing Committee of the National People s Congress Zhao Leji will meet with PM Shehbaz and exchange views on major subjects in our bilateral relations We are ready to implement the important consensus reached by our leaders, elevate our all-weather cooperative partnership to a new level with new achievements to truly benefit both peoples and enrich the profound meaning and vivid practices of the ChinaPakistan community with a shared future Pragmatic cooperation across the board strengthens and refreshes the momentum in our relations Since the CPEC’s start in 2013 and President Xi Jinping’s historic visit to Pakistan in 2015 the CPEC from the initial layout of cooperation with focus on Gwadar port infrastructure development energy and industrial cooperation to the construction of an upgraded version with growth corridor livelihood enhancing corridor innovation corridor, green corridor and open corridor, has now become an important platform and a well-known name card for all-round cooperation between the two countries As a landmark project of the Belt and Road international cooperation batch after batch of projects have been launched completed and put into operation under the framework of CPEC, bringing a total of US $25 4 billion in direct investment, 236,000 jobs, 510km of highway, more than 8,000 megawatt of electricity and 886km of core electricity transmission network On 30 May the multi-mission communication satellite PakSat MM1 was successfully launched from China s Xichang Satellite Launch Center It will bring about revolutionary changes to Pakistan’s telecommunications landscape, and stand as another testament to PM Shehbaz’s praise that “China-Pakistan friendship is beyond the boundary and has now reached the outerspace in commenting the launch of lunar probe ICUBE-Q in early May We expect the leaders to reach new important consensus on high quality development of the CPEC, so that we can constantly level up our pragmatic cooperation to assist Pakistan to achieve sustainable development and refresh the momentum for future development

of our relations All-weather strategic cooperation ensures and safeguards our relations As good neighbors, good friends, good partners and good brothers, our peoples stand together through thick and thin, our ironclad friendship becomes even stronger as time goes by History will remember that at critical moments when the People s Republic of China restored the lawful seat in the United Nations, faced with natural disasters and difficult challenges, our ironclad brother Pakistan always stepped forward and provided precious help History will also remember that China has always been Pakistan s strong backing when Pakistan is in need Whether it s Pakistan s generous provision of tents to China during the Wenchuan earthquake in 2008, the firm support between each other in jointly fighting the COVID-19, China’s full efforts in helping Pakistan cope with the once-in-a-century flood in 2022 or China-donated aid projects including Gwadar seawater desalination plant and China-Pakistan friendship hospital our time-tested friendship constantly evolves with practice During PM s visit, there s no doubt that leaders from both sides will reiterate the firm support for each other on respective core interests and major concerns It will once again show the all-weather friendship s important role in ensuring and

safeguarding our relations In a turbulent and

KARACHI S TA F F R E P O R T Pakistan and Turkiye have deep relationship with greater understanding since the establishment of two Countries, said Chief Minister of Sindh Syed Murad Ali Shah he was talking to Journalists during the traditional Turkish breakfast hosted by the Consul General of the Republic of Turkiye Mr Cemal Sangu at his residence Attendees included Federal Minister of Maritime Affairs Qaisar Ahmed Shaikh Provincial Minister Makhdoom Mehboob uz Zaman DIG Maqsood Hussain Memon Syed Syedain Raza Zaidi Chairman KPT, showbiz fraternity, navy and government officials, Mr Halil Basaran Representative TIKA Mr Murat Güzeller Vice

Business community likely to face additional depreciation in value of currenc y in upcoming FY: President PBF

needed to deliver

The President PBF further said it is the need of the hour to devise regional trade agreements among South Asian countries to improve the economic well-being of billions of people; though Pakistan s regional trade is below the desired level which needs to be seen in whole perspective before SIFC

He emphasized that in international relations it is a common axiom that a state can change its friends but it cannot replace its neighbours due to geographical compulsions If neighbours cannot be replaced, ideally a state should enjoy at least cordial relations with its surrounding states if not the best relations

tariff is direly

ISLAMABAD S TA F F R E P O R T

Dr Shahid Rasheed Butt, former President of the Islamabad Chamber of Commerce and Industry (ICCI) raised alarms on Sunday about the exodus of international investors from Pakistan due to unresolved issues and a challenging business environment In a strongly-worded statement, Dr Butt emphasized the urgency of addressing foreign investors concerns to maintain their presence in the country How can new investment come to Pakistan when both local and foreign investors are fleeing?" he questioned

He highlighted that numerous foreign companies in sectors such as oil, gas, pharmaceuticals, mining, telecom, and transport have either left Pakistan or significantly scaled down their operations This trend he noted is detrimental to Pakistan s investment reputation

Dr Butt pointed out that Shell after 75 years of business in Pakistan, sold all its assets to a Saudi retailer last year Now, British American Tobacco (BAT) threatens to exit if taxes increase further He criticized the uniform tax hike on all companies suggesting instead that authorities differentiate between compliant companies and those evading taxes

He further accused the influential cigarette mafia of controlling 58% of Pakistan s market with political support, thereby creating obstacles for tax-paying companies like BAT, which supports the Khyber Pakhtunkhwa government financially Dr Butt lamented the burgeoning foreign investment in neighboring India and Bangladesh contrasting it with the incompetence and poor planning of Pakistan's politicians and bureaucracy He cited high electricity and gas prices a 22 percent interest rate political instability smuggling and law-and-order issues as escalating challenges for industrialists He warned that if the bureaucracy

opposes appointment of retired judges for election tribunals

Tens of thousands rally at ‘All Eyes

O n Rafah’ march in K arachi

registration of unjust FIRs [first information reports]” against the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) workers He announced that his party was ready to launch a protest movement led by parliamentary political and regional leaders against the injustices The first protest will target the inspector general (IG)

Tens of thousands of protesters packed the main road in Karachi on Sunday to denounce the Israeli offensive of Gaza that has killed over 36 400 people mostly children and women since last October Organised by Jamaat-e-Islami (JI) and attended by thousands of women and children as well, the rally was part of the global movement “All Eyes On Rafah ” Carrying tri-colour Palestinian flags and banners inscribed with anti-Israel slogans the protesters started to gather at the Shahrah-eFaisal at 4pm local time (1100GMT) from different parts of the city It was a hot day as the South Asian country has been in the grip of a severe heat wave while protesters many of them wearing the Palestinian scarf keffiyeh, kept pouring in Stop Genocide in Gaza was engraved on the main banner displayed on an overhead bridge while another was inscribed with Labbaik ya Aqsa (Aqsa we are here) and Salute to Hamas resistance A group of young protesters carried a 30-metre-long (approximately 100 feet) Palestinian flag as a mark of respect to those who died in Gaza A large number of Christians also took part in the rally This was the third major proPalestine march in the country s

commercial capital this year as Pakistan has seen massive protest rallies following Israel s onslaught Free free Palestine, protesters shouted in unison as the JI’s newly-elected chief, Hafiz Naeemur-Rehman and other party leaders made a human chain on the stage Israel is humiliating the humanity The way its forces are bombing even those areas, which themselves have declared so-called safe zones, Rehman said in his address He accused the US of toeing a policy of “bigotry” to allow Tel Aviv to invade Rafah by providing all kinds of lethal weapons On the one hand, Washington claims it wants a cease-fire, and on the other, it continues equipping Israel with lethal weapons to carry on its onslaught ” he added

He claimed that Arab leaders instead of supporting Hamas and Palestinians, are trying to save their kingdoms “We will not leave Hamas and Palestinians