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OVERBILLING BY POWER DISTRIBUTION COMPANIES UNACCEPTABLE: PM SHEHBAZ

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Sunday, 29 December, 2024 I 26 Jumada Al-Akhirah, 1446

PREMIER ORDERS INSTALLATION OF SMART METERS AS SOON AS POSSIBLE TO ENSURE TRANSPARENCY

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ISLAMABAD

DIRECTS TO ENSURE PROCESS OF DISCOS’ CHIEF EXECUTIVE OFFICERS AT EARLIEST IN A TRANSPARENT MANNER

STAFF REPORT

RIME Minister Shehbaz Sharif on Saturday ordered that the installation of smart meters be completed as soon as possible to ensure transparency, warning that overbilling by power distribution companies (Discos) was unacceptable.

Chairing a meeting, PM Shehbaz termed overbilling unacceptable, stating that strict action would be taken against officers involved in such practices.

He expressed concern over the delay in the appointment process of Discos’ chief executive officers (CEOs) and directed to ensure that the appointments were made at the earliest through a highly transparent process.

“Recruitment of workforce in distribution companies should be merit-based, with no compromise on transparency,” the prime minister asserted.

Meanwhile, the meeting was apprised of the progress of smart meters’

installation as well.

The advanced metering infrastructure (AMI) meters, also known as smart meters, automatically transfer the reading data to the control room (main server) on the exact meter reading date and time, enabling the officials to quickly process and send bills to the consumers.

Pakistan can’t move forward with ‘remote controlled democracy’: Saad Rafique LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) leader Saad Rafique on Saturday stated that Pakistan cannot move forward through “remote controlled democracy” and expressed his dissatisfaction with the country’s direction, emphasising that this was the reason he was not part of the government. He added that he would not remain silent when there is wrongdoing.

While addressing an event on the 52nd martyrdom anniversary of Khawaja Muhammad Rafique, Saad Rafique said, “Pakistan cannot progress through remote control democracy. This is not the way to move the country forward. The country is entangled in internal conflicts, and today the country is not on the right path.”

He further criticised the situation in Azad Kashmir, stating that groups form and the government yields to them. “Why was someone appointed in Kashmir politics who has no connection to the region? We had warned against this, but no one listened.”

He added, “How long will we sit in drawing rooms and complain? We have to speak up. Who will speak? This is why I am not part of the government. My colleagues know this. I am still a part of my party, but I cannot remain silent when there is wrongdoing.” Saad Rafique also mentioned that the new U.S administration has no interest in Imran Khan, and their focus remains on Pakistan’s nuclear and ballistic missile programs.

Rs 20.00 | Vol XV No 173 I 8 Pages I Lahore Edition

Since the system also allows Discos to receive and check readings on a daily basis, it minimises the chances of corruption (overbilling, tampering, etc) by ending the obsolete manual reading system.

Pesco took the top spot for the installation rate, with 51,173 installed out of 152,559 smart meters, according to fig-

ures reported by state-run APP. Out of 223,365 three-phase smart meters, 49,470 had been installed by Lesco. Fesco had only installed 11,276 out of 192,311 smart meters. PM Shehbaz also said all available resources should be utilised to meet the targets set by Nepra.

According to a detailed briefing on the achievement of targets, recovery rates up to November of the current fiscal year (FY 2024-25) were reported as 96.82 per cent for Lesco, 87.98pc for Pesco and 97.57pc for Fesco.

Transmission and distribution losses (up to November of FY 2024-25) remained at 13.04pc for Lesco, 33pc for Pesco and 6.01pc for Fesco.

Minister for Economic Affairs Ahsan Iqbal, Minister for Power Division Awais Khan Leghari, Minister of State for Information Technology and Telecommunication Shaza Fatima, Minister of State for Finance and Revenue Ali Pervez Malik, PM’s Coordinator Rana Ahsan Afzal, and other senior government officials attended the meeting.

Bilawal cautions PML-N against making ‘unilateral decisions’ LARKANA

STAFF REPORT

Pakistan Peoples Party (PPP) Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari on Saturday urged the ruling Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) to make decisions based on consensus rather than unilaterally, cautioning that ignoring smaller provinces could lead to discord.

Addressing a gathering in Larkana, Bilawal criticised PMLN’s governance approach. “If they want to govern successfully, they must make decisions with mutual agreement. They seem to believe they have a two-thirds majority and do not need to consult anyone,” he said.

The PPP chief stressed the need for equitable resource distribution, highlighting water as a basic right for all provinces. “The federal government must ensure that provinces receive their rightful share,” he asserted.

Bilawal recalled that the PPP supported the PML-N’s prime ministerial candidate based on a mutual understanding. “We voted for their prime minister with the hope that our grievances would be

31 FIA officers linked to Greece boat tragedy put on passport control list ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

The government has decided to put the names of 31 Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) officials and personnel, allegedly linked to the Greece boat tragedy in which several Pakistanis lost their lives, on the passport control list. According to officials of the interior ministry, of these 31 FIA inspectors, subinspectors and personnel, 19 are deputed at Faisalabad airport, five at Quetta airport, three at Sialkot airport, two at Lahore airport and as many officials are deployed at Islamabad airport.

At least four Pakistanis were killed while dozens went missing after their wooden boat capsized off Greece’s southern island of Gavdos, the coastguard said, and witnesses said many were still missing as search operations continued. A number of arrests have been made in recent days in different cities of the country as part of a crackdown on those linked to the tragic incident.

In related development on Saturday, the FIA arrested two human smugglers during a raid on a fake visa factory in Gujranwala. FIA Composite Circle Gujranwala carried out a raid in Shadman Colony and arrested Ziaur Rehman and Ijaz Ahmed.

The suspects provided fake visas to citizens with the help of agents in different parts of Pakistan.

They were involved in making and selling fake passports, visa stickers and other travel documents to innocent citizens in lieu of huge amounts of money.

It was also revealed that they were part of an international network of human traffickers.

During the raid, 20 Pakistani and 31 foreign passports, a large number of fake visa stickers were recovered.

The machines used in the production of fake visa stickers were also recovered.

Gen Bajwa, not PTI, proposed negotiations with TTP: Omar Ayub ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

addressed seriously,” he said.

However, he criticised the federal government’s attitude toward smaller provinces, claiming it had failed to honour commitments on development projects. “It was agreed that the Public Sector Development Programme (PSDP) would be prepared in collaboration with provinces, but this has not been the case,” he added.

Bilawal singled out PML-N’s approach as dismissive of provincial rights. “They think their majority gives them the authority to make one-sided controversial decisions. Let me remind them, they

don’t have the kind of majority to act unilaterally,” he said.

He compared recent decisions about canal infrastructure to the controversial Kalabagh Dam project. “The decision to construct canals was made unilaterally, just like the Kalabagh Dam. Resistance to such projects didn’t start in Sindh but in KP, and we ensured such contentious plans weren’t implemented,” he explained.

Bilawal warned that federal harmony hinges on consensus-based decision-making, reiterating that divisive policies could jeopardise the stability of the PML-N govern.

Opposition leader in the National Assembly Omar Ayub on Saturday distanced the Pakistan Tehreek-eInsaf (PTI) from the ‘now-controversial’ decision on negotiations with the banned Tehreek-e-Taliban Pakistan (TTP), asserting that it was proposed by former army chief general (Retd) Qamar Javed Bajwa during the National Security Committee (NSC) meeting. “This was not PTI’s decision rather General Bajwa advocated for negotiations with TTP with the argument that every issue can be resolved through dialogue. It was discussed in the NSC that negotiations should be held with the TTP,” Omar Ayub claimed while addressing a press conference here on Saturday.

He questioned who is responsible for fuel smuggling along border with Iran? and criticised the state’s inability to curb fuel smuggling, which he claimed amounts to Rs550 billion annually. Ayub dismissed the possibility of such revelations being widely covered by the media. “We live in the era of the internet, not the Pakistan Times of yesteryears. Information will find its way out, despite efforts to suppress it,” he added. The PTI stalwart also highlighted alleged financial neglect of Khyber Pakhtunkhwa by the federal government, asserting that the province has not received Rs1,500 billion owed to it.

Decades-old problems will be resolved in days if Nawaz, Imran and Zardari sit together, says Rana Sanaullah ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Advisor to Prime Minister on Political and Public Affairs Rana Sanaullah on Saturday suggested that if heads of the three major political parties — the PTI, PML-N and PPP — sit around the table for negotiations, 70year-long crises being faced by the country would be resolved in a span of mere 70 days.

“The multifarious crises that have surrounded the country for 70 years would stand resolved if negotiation committee comprising former premiers – Nawaz Sharif, Imran Khan and President Asif Ali Zardari sit together,”

Rana Sanaullah emphasized while addressing a ceremony in Lahore on Saturday.

“Nawaz Sharif’s name should be there [… ] Imran Khan’s name should be there and Asif Ali Zardari’s name should be there,” he said.

“We, the politicians, should sit together.

The problem is that before we sit down, it is very important that the mistakes that were made by the people who are sitting down are accepted.”

He said that two documents — the 1973 Constitution and the charter of democracy — were important political documents.

In the charter of democracy, both leaders — PPP’s Benazir Bhutto and PML-N’s

Nawaz Sharif — accepted their mistakes and then the conversation moved forward, PM’s aide Sanaullah said.

He said that the PTI claims that its mandate was stolen and it should be returned.

“Only yesterday, you (PTI) had [the mandate]. Why did you not speak then?” the PML-N leader said.

“We do want to make them [negotiations] successful with complete sincerity,” Sanaullah said, adding that if “today’s grievances are to be accepted then yesterday’s should also be accepted”.

Sanaullah said that his party had always called for negotiations to solve the political

problems, citing former premier Nawaz Sharif’s October 21 speech last year.

He said that negotiations were the only way to move forward and solve the issues.

Defence minister questions PTI’s ‘change in tone’ Separately, at the same event, Defence Minister Khawaja Asif questioned PTI’s reasoning for wanting negotiations after refusing to have talks with the PML-N for around two years.

“They used to say that they (PML-N) have no authority, and we will talk to those who have the authority,” he said.

“Why now? What has happened in the

past 15, 20 days that you have agreed for negotiations,” the PML-N leader said.

“Someone tell me what the secret behind this is? […] With all seriousness, tell me what the secret is,” he said.

“I am in favour of the negotiations,” he said, however, he said the government should be cautious with Imran.

“Tell me who has he been faithful to?”

Asif said. “He [Imran] uses people. Don’t get used. I am warning you,” he advised the government he is a part of, adding that he wanted the negotiations to be successful.

“I have been saying this on the assembly’s floor that there should be a social contract.”

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GERMANY TO OPEN FIRST CENTER TO REPORT CRIMES AGAINST MUSLIMS g

Sunday, 29 December, 2024 | LAHORE

NEWS

Market experienced volatility throughout the week, driven by portfolio adjustments and realignments at year-end AGENCIES

MEDAR center to be set at North Rhine-Westphalia where more than 1.7 million Muslim live a woman speaks to police officers on potsdamer platz during an unannounced pro palestinian protest amid the ongoing conflict between israel and the palestinian group hamas in berlin germany october 22 2023 photo reuters A woman speaks to police officers on Potsdamer Platz, during an unannounced pro-Palestinian protest, amid the ongoing conflict between Israel and the Palestinian group Hamas, in Berlin, Germany.

A populous western German

state will open the country’s first anti-Muslim racism reporting center in spring 2025, local media reported.

The state of North RhineWestphalia, home to more than 1.7 million Muslims, will establish the center, called MEDAR, to document and report attacks and crimes targeting Muslims.

The center, which will be set up by the state government, will also track other racist activities directed at non-Muslim foreigners, public broadcaster WDR reported on Friday.

Planned to open by March or April 2025, MEDAR is the fruit of three years of preparations.

North Rhine-Westphalia, Germany’s most populous state with a population of over 18 million, will become its first to launch a dedicated reporting center for anti-Muslim incidents.

The state has witnessed several attacks on Muslims and their places of worship.

In January 2022, numerous Muslim graves in the city of Iserlohn were vandalized, with headstones broken and overturned.

In April 2022, North RhineWestphalia also launched the Research and Information Center on Anti-Semitism aimed at documenting antisemitic incidents across the region.

Cabinet extends licences for four explosive export-import firms

KSE-100 Index expected to deliver 55.5% return in 2025: report g

Waah Associates, Jamhex, Wah Nobel, and Araka Enterprises granted extensions

Market experienced volatility throughout the week, driven by portfolio adjustments and realignments at year-end PROFIT

staff report

According to AKD Securities, the index is expected to post a strong return of 55.5% in the coming year, supported by robust profitability in the fertilizer sector, improved sustainable return on equity (ROE) in banking, and enhanced cash flows in exploration and production (E&P) companies and oil marketing companies (OMCs), all benefiting from falling fixedincome yields.

The market experienced volatility throughout the week, driven by portfolio adjustments and realignments at year-end. However, the bullish momentum prevailed, leading the KSE-100 index to a weekly gain of 1,838 points, closing at 111,351 points, reflecting an increase of 1.68%WoW. Major contributing sectors to this rally were commercial banks, contributing 780 points, followed by Oil & Gas Marketing Companies with 336 points and investment banks, and securities firms, which added 313 points.

Moreover, T-bill yields in the recent auction remained largely flat, clocking in at 12% for the 3month and 6-month paper. On the macroeconomic front, the current account reported a surplus of US$729mn, taking the 5MFY25 balance to a surplus of $944 million. SBP held forex reserves decreased by $228 million WoW, ending the week at US$11.9bn as

SBP introduces revised regulatory framework for exchange companies New framework to strengthen governance, reporting, and IT requirements

much of this selling pressure with a net inflow of $15.0 million. Among companies, top performers included PGLC, which rose by 46.5% during the week, followed by TRG, DAWH, JVDC, and FCEPL, with gains of 32.3%, 13.2%, 13.2%, and 11.5%, respectively. On the other hand, PKGP, CHCC, ATRL, BNWM, and SCBPL were the laggards, with PKGP recording a 9.5% weekly decline.

Currently, the KSE-100 is trading at a price-toearnings (P/E) ratio of 6.0x, which remains below its 10-year historical average, despite achieving an impressive cumulative return of 130% over the past two years.

SBP doubles minimum capital requirement for exchange companies to Rs1b g

Stricter regulations aim to curb illegal currency trade and stabilize exchange rates PROFIT

PROFIT

staff repoert

of Dec 20th, 2024. Average Daily Trading Volume remained lower, down by 31.0% WoW, clocking in at 796 million shares, compared to 1.2 billion shares traded in the earlier week.

The Pakistani rupee remained stable against the US dollar throughout the week, closing at 278.47 PKR/USD. Key developments during the week included a 14% year-on-year surge in exports to the European Union during the first five months of FY25, reaching $4.8 billion. Additionally, the Senate panel endorsed legislation to close bank accounts of non-filers holding balances exceeding PKR 1 million, while the Federal Board of Revenue announced a crackdown on tax evaders.

The government reaffirmed its target to achieve a 13.5% tax-to-GDP ratio within three years, and Pakistan International Airlines revealed plans to acquire eight new planes next year.

Sector-wise performance for the week highlighted notable gains in Jute, Leasing Companies, Property, Oil & Gas Marketing Companies, and Glass & Ceramics, with Jute leading the rally with a 34.8% increase.

Conversely, the Exchange-Traded Fund, Textile Spinning, Vanaspati & Allied Industries, Transport, and Woollen sectors experienced declines, with ExchangeTraded Funds dropping by 12.2%.

In terms of market flows, significant net selling was observed from Other Organizations, recording an outflow of $9.3 million. However, Individuals absorbed

PROFIT

staff report

staff repoert

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has unveiled a revised “Regulatory Framework for Exchange Companies (RFEC)” aimed at consolidating and updating governance, IT, and enforcement standards for exchange companies (ECs). The revised framework replaces the existing Exchange Companies Manual and will take effect from January 1, 2025.

“The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has undertaken a comprehensive review of the existing regulatory instructions. Accordingly, a consolidated and updated “Regulatory Framework for Exchange Companies (RFEC)” has been developed,” read the notification issued by the central bank. The RFEC outlines comprehensive corporate governance structures, internal controls, IT systems requirements, and strengthened supervisory and enforcement mechanisms. Additionally, it introduces updated reporting guidelines, providing a unified source of regulatory guidance for ECs. The SBP has directed ECs to align their policies, procedures, and systems with the new framework by June 30, 2025, ensuring full compliance. The framework is part of the SBP’s efforts to modernize regulatory standards and enhance the operational efficiency of exchange companies.

The State Bank of Pakistan (SBP) has raised the minimum paid-up capital requirement for exchange companies to Rs1 billion, significantly tightening regulations to formalize the currency market.

Dawn reported that the updated regulatory framework poses challenges for older companies while making it more difficult to establish new ones.

In September 2023, the SBP initially increased the minimum paid-up capital requirement from Rs200 million to Rs500 million to reduce the number of exchange companies.

The latest move doubles this requirement to Rs1 billion, with capital-deficient companies given staggered deadlines: Rs600 million by December 31, 2025, Rs800 million by December 31, 2026, and Rs1 billion by December 31, 2027.

The new framework mandates companies to maintain this minimum capital on an ongoing basis.

Additionally, 15% of the paid-up capital must be held as a regulatory reserve in cash or approved government securities with the SBP. Exchange companies are also barred from withdrawing funds as loans or credits without prior

The Federal Cabinet has approved the extension of licences for four firms involved in the export and import of explosives after the completion of required formalities. According to a news report, these firms include M/s Waah Associates, M/s Jamhex Company Private Limited, M/s Wah Nobel Detonators Private Limited, and Araka Enterprises (Pvt) Ltd. The Petroleum Division informed the Cabinet that the Department of Explosives (DoE), which operates under its administrative control, oversees public safety across manufacturing, transportation, storage, import, export, sale, and use of explosives, petroleum products, and hazardous chemicals. The DoE had requested federal government approval for amendments to the licences issued under Form “EL01” as per Explosives Rules, 2010. The Cabinet was told that, under the Explosives Rules, 2010, while the Chief Inspector (Director General of Explosives) has the authority to grant licences, any amendment to licences in Form “EL-01” requires Federal Government approval under Rule 111(1)(b). The Petroleum Division first presented the matter to the Cabinet on February 19, 2024, but was directed to obtain clearance from the Ministries of Defence, Defence Production, and Interior before resubmitting the case. Following this directive, the Petroleum Division sought clearance from the relevant ministries in March 2024. The Ministries of Defence Production and Interior raised no objections to the licence amendments, while the Ministry of Defence clarified that the matter did not fall within its jurisdiction. The Petroleum Division assured the Cabinet that all procedural requirements, including applications and prerequisites for amending the licences, had been fulfilled. With this confirmation, the Cabinet approved the amendments to the licences in Form “EL-01” for the specified firms in compliance with the Explosives Rules, 2010.

Lahore installs Pakistan’s first anti-smog tower

Pilot project offers hope, but root causes of pollution remain unaddressed PROFIT

staff report

SBP approval. The same restriction applies to obtaining financing for business activities, except for leasing vehicles required for operations.

Shareholders are prohibited from divesting any part of their capital without SBP’s consent.

The Environmental Protection Department has launched Pakistan’s first anti-smog tower in Lahore, an initiative aimed at combating the city’s worsening air pollution. Capable of filtering 50,000 cubic meters of air per hour and purifying up to 1.2 million cubic meters daily, the tower is currently undergoing a 15-day trial at no cost to the government. If successful, more towers will be installed across the city. While the initiative signals progress, experts argue that such measures only treat the symptoms of air pollution rather than its underlying causes. Lahore’s transportation sector remains the largest polluter, contributing 83.15% of emissions in 2022.

Across Punjab, transportation accounted for 39% of emissions between 1990 and 2020, far exceeding industrial, energy, and agricultural sources. The surge in vehicle numbers—from 4 million in 2000 to 20 million in 2020—has exacerbated the issue, particularly as most vehicles still rely on substandard fuels that fail to meet Euro 2 standards.

SIFC directs SSGC, JJVL to finalise deal to restart LPG extraction plant by Jan 15 g

Plant's closure results in an annual loss of $108m, totaling $432m in foreign exchange losses over the past four years PROFIT

Monitoring Desk

The Executive Committee (EC) of the Special Investment Facilitation Council (SIFC) has directed Sui Southern Gas Company Limited (SSGC) and Jamshoro Joint Venture Limited (JJVL) to finalise and sign a revenue-sharing contract by

January 15, 2025.

The agreement is aimed at restarting the JJVL LPG-NGL extraction plant, which has been non-operational since June 2020.

According to a news report, the Executive Committee of the SIFC, during its meeting on December 11, 2024, highlighted that the plant’s closure has

caused an annual loss of $108 million, amounting to a total foreign exchange loss of $432 million over the last four years.

Senior officials from the SIFC Secretariat and the Petroleum Division emphasised the urgent need to operationalise the plant to curb further economic losses.

As per the directive, the revenue-

sharing agreement, once signed, will be presented to the SSGC board for approval. The plant is expected to resume production within 45-60 days following the agreement. Based on a formula already endorsed by the Supreme Court of Pakistan, the resumption plan includes the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) concluding its inquiry into JJVL operations. A progress report on the inquiry will be shared by January 31, 2025.

Additionally, the pending undisputed dues owed by JJVL to SSGC must be

cleared before the gas supply to the plant resumes. The finalized agreement and its compliance will be submitted to the SIFC Secretariat, which will forward it to the EC-SIFC for endorsement.

The Petroleum Division has been tasked with reporting progress to the SIFC by January 20, 2025.

This initiative is expected to reinstate the plant’s production of liquefied petroleum gas (LPG) and natural gas liquids (NGL), offering a significant boost to the country’s economy while addressing the prolonged financial losses.

K-ELECTRIC SEEKS RS4.98 PER UNIT TARIFF CUT FOR KARACHI CONSUMERS

Sunday, 29 December, 2024 | LAHORE

NEWS

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November ’s fuel cost adjustments to provide Rs7.17b relief PROFIT

staff report

Electricity consumers in Karachi may see a reduction of up to Rs4.98 per unit in their bills as K-Electric (KE) has submitted a petition to the National Electric Power Regulatory Authority (Nepra) for a fuel cost adjustment (FCA) for November 2024.

If approved, the adjustment will offer consumers a total relief of Rs7.17 billion.

The reduction is attributed to lower fuel prices and a shift in the generation mix.

Nepra has scheduled a public hearing on January 15 to review KE’s request. The hearing will examine whether KE adhered to the economic merit order in dispatching

power from its plants and procuring electricity from external sources, including the national grid.

This is KE’s third consecutive request for a negative FCA adjustment, following reductions of Rs0.16 per unit for September and Rs0.27 per unit for October 2024. The company’s earlier FCA petition for October resulted in a provisional relief of Rs0.27 per unit, while Nepra also approved a Rs1.14 per unit negative adjustment for ex-Wapda distribution companies (DISCOs) for the same period.

The provisional Rs4.98 per unit adjustment for November reflects reduced reliance on furnace oil and adherence to the economic merit order. KE customers had

generally paid lower rates compared to those served by other distribution companies over the past three years, a Nepra member noted during a recent hearing.

Fuel cost adjustments allow power utilities to pass variations in fuel costs to consumers, subject to Nepra’s scrutiny and approval. The process ensures that reductions in fuel costs benefit customers.

KE’s request is provisional, as its multiyear tariff (MYT) has yet to be finalized. The submission follows past practices for adjustments from July 2023 to September 2024. The regulator’s decision will determine the period over which the revised tariffs will be reflected in consumer bills.

State-owned enterprises incur Rs408bn loss in six months, report reveals g

SOEs contribute Rs200b in taxes; National Highways Authority reports largest loss at Rs151.3b PROFIT

staff report

Pakistan’s state-owned enterprises (SOEs) reported losses of Rs408 billion during the first half of fiscal year 2024, bringing cumulative losses since 2014 to Rs5.9 trillion as of December 2024, according to a bi-annual report for fiscal year 2024, issued by the Central Monitoring Unit (CMU) of the Finance Division.

The report also noted that SOEs contributed Rs200 billion in taxes, a 14% decrease compared to the preceding six months. Gross revenues for federal SOEs totaled Rs7.011 trillion, marking a 15% increase from

the prior year’s corresponding period.

However, net aggregate losses stood at Rs147 billion after excluding Pakistan Sovereign Wealth Fund (PSWF) entities.

Among loss-making SOEs, the National Highways Authority (NHA) reported the largest loss at Rs151.3 billion, followed by QESCO with Rs56.2 billion and PIA with Rs51.7 billion. Other notable losses were incurred by PESCO (Rs39 billion), Pakistan Railways (Rs23.6 billion), and SEPCO (Rs20.9 billion).

Additional entities contributing to the losses include Pakistan Steel Mills (Rs14.4 billion), IESCO (Rs12.1 billion), and GENCO-II (Rs8.3 billion).

Meanwhile, profit-making entities such

Tobacco growers hit by delayed quota announcement, reduced procurement targets PROFIT

staff report

A two-month delay in announcing the annual tobacco procurement target has left growers in financial distress, as national and multinational companies further slashed their buying targets for the upcoming year, reported Dawn.

Industry sources revealed that the total procurement demand for 2025 has been reduced by 2.5 million kilograms, bringing it down to 74.81 million kilograms, compared to 77.32 million kilograms in the current year.

This 3.24% reduction continues a downward trend observed over recent years, with the 2023 demand standing at 85.5 million kilograms.

Sources highlighted that the total demand has dropped by 10.69 million kilograms, or 10.5%, over the last two years, raising concerns about the future of tobacco cultivation in the country.

Under Martial Law Order (MLO) 487, companies are required to announce their tobacco quotas for the upcoming year by October 31, allowing farmers to decide between cultivating tobacco or wheat.

However, the delayed announcement has left growers with no choice but to cultivate tobacco, as the wheat sowing period has already passed.

as OGDCL (Rs123.2 billion), PPL (Rs68.7 billion), and National Power Parks Management (Rs36.2 billion) demonstrated financial resilience.

Despite accounting profits, the report emphasized liquidity challenges and high Weighted Average Cost of Capital (WACC), which ranged between 17% and 22%. The sector’s Economic Value Added (EVA) was recorded at negative Rs2,400 billion, reflecting inefficiencies and financial instability.

The government extended Rs436 billion in fiscal support during the sixmonth period, including Rs120 billion in grants, Rs231 billion in subsidies, and Rs85 billion in loans. Non-tax revenues dropped 27% to Rs349 billion,

Cabinet approves ordinance to raise bank tax rate to 44%, abolishing 15% additional levy PROFIT

staff report

The federal cabinet has approved the promulgation of the Income Tax Amendment Ordinance 2024, abolishing the 15% additional tax on profits banks earn from lending to the government while increasing the standard income tax rate for banks from 39% to 44%. This decision made just days before the fiscal year for banks closes, is expected to generate Rs65 billion for the government by December 31.

According to news reports, Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif chaired the meeting that formalised an agreement between the Pakistan Banks Association (PBA) and the federal government.

The ordinance, which awaits President Asif Ali Zardari’s approval, provides legal cover for past transactions and revises the tax framework for banks.

Under the new structure, the 44% tax rate will apply for the current tax year ending December 31, 2024. This will gradually decrease to 43% in 2026 and 42% in 2027 and beyond. Previously, banks were required to pay an additional tax if their lending to the government exceeded a set threshold.

Deputy Prime Minister Ishaq Dar led the negtiations, securing a compromise with the banking sector. The government had initially attempted to waive the 15% tax in June without recouping the

Corporate sector drives agricultural innovation and growth in Pakistan; report g

PBC and PAC spotlight corporate contributions to farming at report launch PROFIT

staff report

The corporate and financial sectors are increasingly channeling investments into Pakistan’s agriculture sector to foster growth and sustainability. This trend was highlighted during the launch of The State of Pakistan’s Agriculture 2024 report, organised by the Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and the Pakistan Agricultural Coalition (PAC) at the National Foods Limited (NFL) Corporate Head Office.

Ehsan Malik, CEO of the PBC, emphasised the sector’s vast potential to contribute to economic stability, food security, and rural development. “This report showcases how the corporate sector is playing a pivotal role in advancing agriculture,” Malik remarked during his opening address.

Kazim Saeed, CEO of PAC, noted that many of Pakistan’s internationally competitive agricultural practices are backed by leading corporate entities collaborating directly with farmers. “Corporate and financial players are providing the capital, technology, and expertise needed to propel the agricultural sector toward growth and prosperity,” Saeed said. He also highlighted the increasing adoption of sustainable practices such as regenerative agriculture and ecofriendly production methods.

Abrar Hasan, Global CEO of National Foods Limited (NFL), praised the collaborative efforts of the

while dividends fell sharply by 71% to Rs9 billion.

Key structural challenges included circular debt, which stands at Rs2,800 billion net, primarily stemming from inefficiencies in the power sector. This debt burden has impacted strong entities such as OGDCL, PSO, and PPL, while liquidity issues have constrained operations across the SOE portfolio.

SOEs face additional financial strain due to transmission and distribution losses in the power sector, averaging 10–15% of purchased electricity units.

This resulted in losses amounting to Rs140 billion in six months, significantly affecting financial stability and operational liquidity.

PBC, PAC, and other corporate contributors. He spotlighted NFL’s case study in the report, detailing the company’s focus on self-sufficiency, export growth, and the digitisation of farming to maintain a robust value chain. Hasan emphasised NFL’s success in developing the tomato value chain, which has reduced reliance on imported tomato paste. “Our ‘Seed to Table’ initiative reflects our commitment to expanding beyond borders while supporting the national economy through exports,” he noted. Hasan also pointed out the export potential of tomatoes, advocating for further development of this value chain in response to the rupee’s sharp depreciation.

Other notable presentations included insights from Adil Sattar of K&N’s, who detailed the company’s pioneering efforts in poultry breeding and processing technologies, maintaining food safety and Halal certification. Faraz Zafar, Investment Director at AlKaram, unveiled plans for the country’s largest shrimp farm, spanning 400 acres in Thatta, Sindh. Additionally, Taimur Malik from Drawdown Farm by Thal Industries highlighted the critical role of regenerative agriculture in preserving soil, water, and biodiversity.

Further contributions came from Amer Aziz, CEO of HBL Zarai Services, who outlined corporate strategies to better support farmers, and M Aminuddin, CEO of TPL Insurance, who underscored the importance of crop insurance in safeguarding livelihoods.

losses. However, this plan was abandoned after public scrutiny, leading banks to increase private-sector lending to avoid the levy.

To resolve the issue, PM Sharif constituted a highlevel committee chaired by Dar. The agreement entails abolishing the 15% additional tax while raising the standard income tax to 44%. Despite the higher rate, sources suggest banks will benefit, as full recovery under previous rules could have exceeded 45%.

The ordinance also makes changes to the First and Seventh Schedules of the Income Tax Ordinance, clarifying provisions for calculating gross advancesto-deposit ratios (ADRs). The additional tax, originally introduced in 2022 to encourage lending to industries, had led banks to readjust their lending portfolios to avoid the levy.

Minister of State for Finance Ali Pervaiz Malik described the ordinance as a reasonable deal, aimed at encouraging capital formation and promoting voluntary lending to the private sector. He emphasized that the government does not intend to intervene directly in private lending markets.

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) faces a significant revenue shortfall, having collected Rs5.08 trillion by December 27 against a target of Rs6.009 trillion by December 31 to meet IMF conditions. The revised tax rate is a crucial step in bridging the gap.

FBR introduces competitive procedure for customs agents licensing New rules emphasise qualification tests and stricter compliance standards PROFIT

staff report

The Federal Board of Revenue (FBR) has issued a revised procedure for the grant and renewal of customs agents’ licenses, emphasising a competitive selection process and stricter compliance criteria.

These changes were made through an amendment to the Customs Rules, 2001, notified via SRO.2071 on Friday. Under the new procedure, the FBR will invite applications annually on November 1 through advertisements in reputable newspapers. The applications will be assessed in line with specific terms and conditions, with eligibility determined through a qualification test conducted by an accredited institution. The qualification test will evaluate applicants on customs laws, allied regulations, rules, procedures, computer proficiency, and knowledge of the customs computerized system, as outlined in an appendix to the rules. For existing provisional license holders, participation in the first examination under these revised rules is mandatory.

Failure to appear will result in the cancellation of their provisional licenses. Candidates are allowed two attempts to pass the qualification test. If unsuccessful on both occasions, the provisional license will be blocked, with a final third chance provided.

Applicants must secure at least 50% marks in the test to be considered for a license. Additionally, licenses can be blocked, revoked, or canceled if holders fail to file any goods declaration within the past year, fail to appear before the licensing authority for identification, or accrue zero aggregate points in the customs computerised system. The new rules aim to enhance the professionalism and efficiency of customs agents by ensuring that only qualified individuals are licensed to operate.

04 COMMENT

Enhancing South Asian Stability and Development

Sunday, 29 December, 2024

Why target him?

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Bilawal introduces new element in the national debate

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PP Chairman Bilawal Bhutto Zardari has introduced a new element in the national debate by claiming that the USA was backing the release of jailed PTI founder Imran Khan so as to bring to office someone who would help reverse Pakistan’s nuclear technology. It does provide an anti-PTI explanation of why the USA might wish to get Mr Khan, though it raises a number of other questions.

Mr Bhutto Zardari referred, while speaking at the commemoration of the 17th death anniversary of his mother Benazir Bhutto at Garhi Khuda Bakhsh, to the role of both his grandfather Zulfikar Ali Bhutto and mother Benazir in building Pakistan’s nuclear weapon. He made no mention of the actual test of the weapon, in 1998, when the present PM’s elder brother was PM. The supposed enmity of Mr Khan towards the country’s interests, including the nuclear and missile programmes, is assumed by his opponents, but there has been no real response, until now, of why elements in the USA, including incoming members of the Trump Administration, were speaking up about how Mr Khan should be released.

It appears that it was not enough for the PTI to be accused of spending vast sums on lobbyists, but that it was necessary to provide a reason for Mr Khan’s release. Mr Bhutto Zardari has obliged, with a reason in addition to the one about Mr Khan being complicit in the Indian abolition through a combination of Mr Trump and Indian PM Narendra Modi. Mr Bhutto Zardari and other Pakistani politicians, including Mr Khan himself, must be wary of flinging around this charge so casually that its currency becomes debased, much as it is no longer believed if any politician is accused by an opponent of treason.

While what Mr Bhutto Zardari said requires a great deal of evidence to be believed, the tale he tells hangs together, and Mr Khan’s supporters cannot dismiss it as beyond belief. It also provides a motive for his driving the economy into the ground, because that would provide the reason for abandoning the nuclear and weapons programme. Mr Bhutto Zardari also has an uphill task, and must produce the evidence for his charge, which is a serious one. If he does not, he will be guilty of the kind of casual flinging out of accusations without basis that he and so many others accuse the PTI of doing.

Bangladesh’s pledge for the revival of SAARC Asif Khurshid

R Muhammad Yunus, the Chief Adviser of the interim government of Bangladesh, once again called for the revival of the South Asian Association for Regional Cooperation (SAARC).

“There should be an active SAARC forum for the sake of the Douth Asian region,” he said while addressing, from Dhaka, by videoconference to the SAARC Federation of Oncologists (SFO).

"SAARC means a lot to me. As soon as I became Chief Adviser I called for its activation,” he added.

He has consistently emphasized the critical role of SAARC in regional progress. During both a UNGA sideline meeting with the Prime Minister of Pakistan and a meeting with the Pakistani High Commissioner to Bangladesh, Yunus accordingly reiterated his commitment to reinvigorating the forum. He emphasised that leaders of South Asia should make SAARC dynamic for the collective benefit of the region-- despite the challenges, especially the long-standing hostility between India and Pakistan. Yunus firmly stated, "Problems between the two countries should not affect other countries in South Asia," calling for unity and cooperation across the region. His repeated calls for unity, particularly during his interactions with key leaders and diplomats, reflect his unwavering dedication to overcoming the operational challenges that SAARC has faced, especially in light of ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan.

Yunus's pledge to revive SAARC highlights his vision for a cooperative and prosperous South Asia, where regional issues are addressed collectively for the greater good. Yunus's call to revive SAARC underscores his vision of a cooperative and prosperous South Asia, where regional challenges are tackled collectively. He highlights the pivotal role of President Ziaur Rehman of Bangladesh in uniting eight regional states under SAARC. Bangladesh has long prioritized regional solutions to its issues, especially with India and Nepal, while maintaining historical ties with Pakistan. As a nation landlocked on three sides, Bangladesh has consistently pursued peace-oriented relations with its neighbours, advocating an integrated region where no country dominates others, and continues to champion regional cooperation within SAARC. Regionalism has become a key driver in global politics, with organizations like the EU, ASEAN, and the OIC showcasing its potential for fostering economic and security cooperation. In South Asia, SAARC was founded with similar goals, but its effectiveness has been hindered by the ongoing tensions between India and Pakistan. Despite these

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late) Founding Editor

challenges, revitalizing SAARC is essential for peace, stability, and prosperity in the region. The path forward lies in both countries prioritizing mutual benefits, overcoming political differences, and working towards regional integration to unlock the full potential of South Asia.

Pakistan welcomes the revival of SAARC as its stance is firmly rooted in a commitment to regional cooperation based on sovereign equality, economic synergy, and mutual trust. The country believes that SAARC can play a pivotal role in enhancing the quality of life for South Asians by fostering economic growth, improving connectivity, and addressing shared challenges such as terrorism and regional security. Despite ongoing bilateral disputes, Pakistan remains dedicated to SAARC’s objectives and advocates for stronger collaboration among member states and observer countries to make SAARC a more effective and vibrant platform for regional progress.

The last SAARC summit, which was scheduled to be held in 2016 in Pakistan, had been postponed after India refused to participate, citing concerns over cross-border terrorism and interference in the internal affairs of member states. Following India’s withdrawal, Bangladesh, Afghanistan, and Bhutan, all close allies of India, also pulled out, leading to the suspension of the summit. India’s decision was seen as an attempt to divert attention from its actions in Kashmir, with Pakistan accusing India of obstructing the SAARC process. Nepal, the current chair of SAARC, expressed hope for resolution but was unable to confirm if the summit would go ahead.

Babar Nizami Editor Profit

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HILST the Atlantic Ocean has long been a center of economic and geopolitical activity, its security dynamics are changing quickly. Non-traditional maritime dangers that cross national borders and involve non-state actors have supplanted classic maritime risks like naval conflicts. To maintain stability and sustainability in the South Atlantic, these risks necessitate quick and well-coordinated solutions.

Climate Change and Environmental Challenges: One notable non-traditional security threat in the South Atlantic is climate change.

Ecosystems are changing and coastal populations are under danger due to rising sea levels, warming waters, and an increase in extreme weather occurrences. For instance, nations like Brazil and Ghana are more vulnerable to saltwater intrusion and coastal erosion, which endanger their water resources and agriculture.

Populations are uprooted and resource-based conflicts are intensified by such environmental disturbances.

Additionally, falling fish stocks in important fishing zones are a result of marine biodiversity being impacted by ocean warming. The problem is made worse by overfishing, which is frequently caused by uncontrolled ships from far-off countries. Strong regional frameworks are required to support sustainable practices and safeguard biodiversity in light of the twin challenges posed by environmental and human-induced pressures on marine resources.

Maritime Crime and Piracy:Maritime crime in the South Atlantic, including piracy, illegal fishing, and drug trafficking, continues to pose severe challenges. The Gulf of Guinea alone accounted for over 95 percent of global piracy incidents in 2020. Criminal networks exploit vast, under-monitored waters and weak governance to execute these illegal activities.

Illegal, unreported, and unregulated (IUU) fishing depletes marine resources and undermines local economies. For instance, IUU fishing costs West African economies an estimated $2.3 billion annually. Similarly, drug trafficking routes connect South America to Africa and Europe, underlining the transnational nature of these challenges. Enhanced naval capabilities and stronger international collaborations are vital to tackling maritime crime effectively.

Human Trafficking and Organized Crime: The South Atlantic is increasingly used as a corridor for human trafficking and smuggling. Migrants fleeing poverty and conflict often risk dangerous ocean journeys, with many falling victim to exploitation. According to the International Organization for Migration, thousands

of migrants are trafficked annually through this region, highlighting the need for improved monitoring and rescue operations.

Additionally, the South Atlantic has become a hub for illicit trade in arms and counterfeit goods, further destabilizing the region’s economies. Combating these forms of organized crime requires intelligence-sharing among states, robust border controls, and targeted socio-economic interventions to address root causes.

Geopolitical Rivalries and Resource Exploitation: The South Atlantic is home to rare minerals and hydrocarbons, which the world has come to recognize. This, in turn, has elicited competition from superpowers and thus created concerns about non-sustainable resource exploitation. For example, although deep-sea mining is economically lucrative, it permanently threatens marine ecosystems. Oil exploitation in Brazil's pre-salt reservoirs adds to the chances of an environmental disaster, such as oil leaks.

The increasing military involvement of outside nations in the South Atlantic makes the security environment more complex. Even though they are often rationalized as protecting trade routes, strategic naval deployments have the potential to worsen tensions and threaten regional sovereignty. Regional governance organizations such as the Zone of Peace and Cooperation of the South Atlantic (ZPCSA) should be reinforced to promote fair resource usage and avoid geopolitical confrontations.

Suggestions for Addressing Non-Traditional Dangers: Countering non-traditional security challenges to the South Atlantic requires a multifaceted strategy. The following ideas might be a future solution: 1. Strengthen Regional Alliances: The ZPCSA should be renewed and expanded as a means of fostering regional collaboration. Enhancing collective security should also be facilitated by information sharing, training initiatives, and naval patrol coordination.

2. Enhance Maritime Governance: In order to better punish criminals, coastal states should modernize their high seas governance structures by coordinating their legal systems and investing in monitoring technology.

3. Encourage Sustainable Development:

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Karachi – Ph: 021-32640318 I

at

Editor’s mail

Fiscal vision

Environmental preservation and sustainable resource use must be the main goals of policy. The International Maritime Organization ought to take the lead in enforcing stronger laws governing mining and fishing.

4. Involve Local Communities and NGOs: When developing security plans, local communities and non-governmental organizations should be heavily involved. Participation at the grassroots level guarantees inclusive solutions and increases confidence in public programs.

5. Put Climate Adaptation Measures into Practice: Initiatives to restore ecosystems and build resilient infrastructure can lessen the effects of climate change. These initiatives in vulnerable areas can be supported by international financial sources like the Green Climate Fund.

The changing security environment in the South Atlantic, which is marked by unconventional threats including marine crime, climate change, and geopolitical competition, emphasizes the necessity of creative and collaborative solutions. These difficulties can be turned into chances for development and stability through inclusive governance, sustainable policies, and regional collaborations.

The South Atlantic's experiences can be a useful case study as maritime security gains more and more attention on a global scale. By working together, the area can protect its communities, preserve its resources, and build resilience against complicated threats.\ The writer is a freelance columnist

The South Atlantic's experiences can be a useful case study as maritime security gains more and more attention on a global scale. By working together, the area can protect its communities, preserve its resources, and build resilience against complicated threats

Lahore – Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965

reached

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

A Case Study of the South Atlantic MudAssir AbrAr

The writer can be asifkhurshid.ndu@gmail.com

Therefore, India must respect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and start a new chapter in its relationship with the country. India should now drop its hegemonic designs in South Asia and focus on strengthening regional cooperation through SAARC. South Asia is grappling with pressing political, economic, and climate challenges, and it is imperative for the region's leaders to come together with a shared commitment to addressing these issues. By adopting the recommendations outlined above, SAARC can evolve into a more effective and inclusive regional organization, fostering peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for the people of South Asia

Emerging Non-Traditional Security Threats in the Atlantic Ocean M. A. Niazi

Editor Pakistan Today

Although India is not pleased with the regime change in Bangladesh and the emergence of a new government, as the previous one was considered an ally, it is important to acknowledge that the people of Bangladesh rejected the fascist regime of Sheikh Hasina and, through their will, pushed her out of power.

Therefore, India must respect the aspirations of the people of Bangladesh and start a new chapter in its relationship with the country. India should now drop its hegemonic designs in South Asia and focus on strengthening regional cooperation through SAARC. South Asia is grappling with pressing political, economic, and climate challenges, and it is imperative for the region's leaders to come together with a shared commitment to addressing these issues. By adopting the recommendations outlined above, SAARC can evolve into a more effective and inclusive regional organization, fostering peace, prosperity, and sustainable development for the people of South Asia.

Islamabad – Ph: 051-2204545

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FINANCE Minister Muhammad Aurangzeb recently stated that remittances will reach $35 billion in current fiscal. This is really good news! I would urge the PM, the Finance Minister, the SIFC and other powerful stakeholders to think about allocating a chunk of these remittances every year for our national external debt reduction, standing at $133.50 as of September 2024, as per media reports. It would be a great milestone if we can manage to consistently allocate $ 6-10 billion every year from 2025 to 2028 towards paying off the most expensive portion of our external debt.

At the end of the day, controlling the size and quantum of our external debt ought to be one of the cornerstones of our economic policy as it would send positive signaling to the world that Pakistan is fully afloat and capable of paying off its debt through amortization.

The Finance Minister also said that State Owned Enterprises are eating up Rs2.20 billion a day from the national exchequer.

That is another gargantuan issues plaguing our economy. I think we need a multi-pronged approach to deal with this issue: privatise some units; downsize the staff in others; restructure operations in some more; and (finally) close down all those units which are loss-making in a consistent and obstinate manner with no reprieve. Just imagine that billions and billions of rupees thus saved could be directed towards digitalisation and IT programmes, key infrastructure developments, polio programme support, population control endeavours, and so forth, making sure the nation’s socio-economic upward trajectory is solidified.

The Finance Minister is like the captain of an aircraft. He must use the levers and indicators present in the cockpit in a swift and coordinated fashion, using all his professional expertise, to accelerate the economic pie of the country.

ABBAS R SIDDIQI LAHORE

Public rights

THE recent march towards D-Chowk in Islamabad by the main opposition political party, notorious for creating chaos across the country, has raised several questions about the party’s intent and the capacity of the government to handle a law and order situation.

Also, the role of mainstream electronic media once again came under the spotlight. It was not rare to watch journalists provoking party leaders by repeatedly asking them why they did not continue with the procession, and why they did not turn it into a lengthy sit-in.

This behaviour by the media was irresponsible.

I did not see any journalist asking the party leaders why they opted to hold a procession at a time when dozens of inter-national guests were present in the city, just a few hundred metres on the other side of D-Chowk. The party and the media keep saying that it is their ‘democratic right’ to hold processions. No, absolutely not.

What about the rights of the people who live in the vicinity of D-Chowk and get cut off from their place of work, or are unable to reach their homes, hospitals and educational institutions? And what about the businesses that get affected? What was the purpose of this ‘final’ procession?

If the stock market is a barometer of the country’s sentiments, the onslaught on Islamabad led to a historic drop in the KSE-100 index, and a few hours after the procession had been called off, the stock market had its biggest jump in history. Everybody needs to let the country grow, and should not push it towards anarchy.

MIAN A. AHMAD ISLAMABAD

Web: www.pakistantoday.com.pk

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Email: editorial@pakistantoday.com.pk

COMMENT 05

Corruption, Governance and the Society of Pakistan Sunday, 29 December, 2024

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An evil that must be ended dr ZAfAr KhAn SAfdAr

N Pakistan, the deep entrenchment of unethical practices within both social and political spheres has led to a situation where such behaviour is no longer seen as an anomaly but as the norm.

Bribery, favouritism, and the manipulation of systems are often considered not moral failings but rather pragmatic tools for navigating the complexities of bureaucracy or overcoming the barriers of political hurdles.

This normalization of corruption is the result of a long history marked by political instability, weak governance, and the absence of strong institutional frameworks. In such an environment, those who strive to uphold integrity are often seen as naive or unrealistic, while those who engage in these morally questionable practices are regarded as smart or resourceful. This mindset fuels a cycle in which dishonesty becomes the currency of success, reinforcing a system that rewards short-term gains over long-term justice and perpetuating a culture of corruption across all levels of society.

The feeling of impunity among the wealthy and powerful elites only strengthens this cycle. Politicians, generals, judges, bu-

reaucrats, and businessmen who hold significant influence in Pakistan often feel immune to prosecution, and many believe that their wealth and social connections protect them from accountability. This sense of powerlessness within the public leads to a lack of trust in institutions, reinforcing the idea that corruption is an unavoidable part of Pakistan’s political and social structure. As a result, many citizens view corruption not as a personal moral failing but as a necessary survival tactic in an unjust system where the ruling elites often remain unscathed.

This systemic acceptance of corruption has contributed to Pakistan’s steady decline on Transparency International’s Corruption Perceptions Index (CPI). The failure of political and administrative leadership to implement meaningful reforms is a major reason for this persistent decline. Structural factors, such as a politicized legal system and weak institutions, have made it difficult to address corruption at its roots. Political patronage and cronyism complicate efforts to break the chains of corruption, as powerful elites often control state institutions and manipulate the system to their advantage.

Moreover, political instability and changes in leadership frequently result in anti-corruption measures being viewed not as reforms but as political campaigns aimed at discrediting rivals.

To effectively combat corruption, Pak-

istan needs to undertake comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors. A robust and transparent judicial system is essential for holding corrupt individuals accountable.

Furthermore, political financing must be more strictly regulated, as corruption often stems from the unregulated flow of money in politics. Comprehensive reforms in political financing can help reduce the influence of money in elections and governance, ensuring that public office is not a tool for private gain. Another important step is to ensure the protection of whistleblowers, who often face retaliation for exposing corrupt practices. Establishing a legal framework that safeguards whistleblowers would encourage more citizens to come forward and report corruption without fear of reprisal.

Despite the formation of institutions like NAB, which is tasked with investigating corruption and recovering misappropriated funds, the anti-corruption efforts in Pakistan have largely been ineffective. NAB has frequently been criticized for selective accountability, with those aligned with the ruling party often avoiding scrutiny, while political opponents are targeted. The lack of independence and slow progress in investigations has also tarnished its credibility. The pace at which cases are handled is often too slow, and in many instances, corrupt individuals settle for relatively minor penalties, which further erodes public trust in the system.

To effectively combat corruption, Pakistan needs to undertake comprehensive reforms across multiple sectors. A robust and transparent judicial system is essential for holding corrupt individuals accountable. Furthermore, political financing must be more strictly regulated, as corruption often stems from the unregulated flow of money in politics. Comprehensive reforms in political financing can help reduce the influence of money in elections and governance, ensuring that public office is not a tool for private gain. Another important step is to ensure the protection of whistleblowers, who often face retaliation for exposing corrupt practices. Establishing a legal framework that safeguards whistleblowers would encourage more citizens to come forward and report corruption without fear of reprisal

Other anti-corruption bodies, such as the Federal Investigation Agency (FIA) and provincial offices, also face similar challenges due to political interference, lack of resources, and ineffective enforcement.

The consequences of corruption in Pakistan ripple through vital sectors like healthcare, education, and law enforcement, causing profound harm to society. In healthcare, corruption diverts resources, fuels the theft of funds, and leads to the distribution of substandard medicines, leaving the poor to suffer in an inefficient system. Bribes for basic medical services erode trust, worsening public health. In education, misappropriated funds and bribery for promotions or grades create a broken system where ghost schools exist only on paper, perpetuating inequality and hindering progress. This corruption fosters a cycle of ignorance that stunts both individual potential and national growth. In law enforcement, bribery and political interference compromise the rule of law, enabling criminals to flourish and eroding justice. Such systemic corruption not only weakens institutions but also poisons the moral fabric of society. To break free from this cycle, Pakistan must strive for integrity and accountability, embracing justice as the foundation for true progress and equality.

Corruption, with its deep and lasting impact, continues to hinder Pakistan’s development, eroding trust in institutions and deepening social and economic divides. It

obstructs the potential for growth by diverting critical resources that could otherwise be used to foster prosperity, improve public services, and reduce inequality. As corruption becomes entrenched in the political system, citizens lose faith in the democratic process, leading to political apathy, disillusionment, and a sense of powerlessness. The resulting inefficiency and inequality trap the most vulnerable in a cycle of poverty, denying them access to essential services such as education, healthcare, and justice.

Without substantial reforms and a genuine commitment to transparency, the cycle of corruption will persist, keeping Pakistan from realizing its full potential. Engaging civil society, strengthening media oversight, and ensuring public access to government records are key steps towards increasing accountability and fostering a culture of openness. Ultimately, only by confronting corruption head-on can Pakistan break free from its current constraints and begin building a future founded on justice, integrity, and progress, one where the ideals of democracy and fairness are not just aspirations, but attainable realities for all.

The writer is Ph.D in Political Science, and visiting faculty at QAU Islamabad. His area of specialization is political development and social change. He can be reached at zafarkhansafdar@yahoo.com and tweet@zafarkhansafdar.

African victims of clergy abuse deserve How Netanyahu manipulates justice and accountability, too Talmudic myths to occupy Anglican and Catholic churches must not forget or ignore the boys who suffered horrific Lebanon, Syria and beyond abuse at the hands of predatory priests across the continent

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AL JAZEERA

PetinA GAPPAh

HE Church of England is facing a long overdue reckoning in Africa. Its leader, Archbishop of Canterbury Justin Welby, announced his resignation in November after an independent review brought attention to his failure to report to the authorities the barrister John Smyth, a prolific abuser of children.

Smyth is found to have physically, sexually and psychologically abused more than 100 boys and young men over four decades at Church of England-affiliated summer camps in England, South Africa and my country, Zimbabwe. He died in Cape Town, South Africa in 2018, at the age of 77, without ever being held accountable.

The independent review into Smyth’s alleged crimes, and the Church’s attempts to cover them up, makes for harrowing read. His “appalling” abuse of boys in England was identified by the Church as early as 1982, the review found, but he was not exposed to the public nor held to account by the authorities. Instead, he was encouraged to leave the country and moved to Zimbabwe without any referral being made to police. It is believed that he physically and sexually abused at least 80 boys in camps he ran there in the 1990s.

Perhaps his most horrific crime took place in Marondera, just outside Harare in December 1992. A 16-year-old boy named Guide Nyachure drowned under suspicious circumstances at a camp presided over by Smyth. Smyth was initially charged with culpable homicide, but the case was mysteriously dropped after dragging on for a long time with little progress and many mistakes on the part of the investigators. Smyth eventually moved to South Africa, facing no accountability for his alleged role in Nyachure’s death.

The abuse Smyth inflicted on boys in what were supposed to be nurturing, religious settings of learning and growth was unfortunately not an anomaly. In the years that Smyth was active in my country, the abuse of children by clergy appears to have been endemic in many other settings. I first became vaguely aware of allegations of abuse within my

Catholic boarding school in 1989-90, when I was a pupil at the Jesuit-run College of St Ignatius of Loyola, near Harare. There were rumours of the things a few priests did to the younger boys. Yet no one talked about it openly or attempted to do anything to stop it.

I learned about the true scope of clergy abuse at Zimbabwean Catholic schools years later, when I started to do research for a novel I have just completed on abuse at a fictional Catholic boarding school. As part of my research, I talked directly to some of the boys, now men, who said they were abused at my old school, and at two other elite Jesuit schools in Zimbabwe – St George’s College and St Francis Xavier popularly known as Kutama. They gave an account of horrific abuse, inflicted on young, vulnerable boys with impunity.

During my interviews, the names of three priests were mentioned most frequently. I learned that, as was the case with Smyth and the Anglican Church, the Catholic Church moved these men around different settings to shield them from accountability. I was told that one of the three, whom two old boys said they witnessed raping a young boy he had picked up off the street in Harare, was eventually moved to Mbare, one of Zimbabwe’s poorest townships. He is alleged to have found more victims there.

So far, only one of these three men has been tried and convicted for the crimes he committed against children, and can therefore be named in this article: James Chaning-Pearce.

In 1997, Chaning-Pearce was convicted of seven counts of indecent assault against boys at a Jesuit School in Lancashire, England and sentenced to three years in prison. However, the Catholic Church played no role in bringing Chaning-Pearce to justice. He faced accountability only because a former pupil at St George’s School in Zimbabwe, who was abused by ChaningPearce during his time there, identified him in Australia.

He learned that the priest had been named in an inquiry into historic abuse at the school in Lancashire and alerted the British authorities. An investigation had revealed that he had indeed abused children and he was duly extradited from Australia, tried, convicted and sentenced in England. To this day, ChaningPearce has never faced any accountability for his alleged abuse of children in Zimbabwe An acute tragedy of clergy abuse in Zimbabwe is that Catholic schools like St. Ignatius, St. George’s and Kutama attracted some of the brightest children from across the country, many on scholarships. Countless children from poorer families saw these schools as their best chance to make something of themselves. It is heartbreaking to know that so many of them received not the edu-

cation and nurturing care they were promised, but instead were subjected to horrific abuse.

A reckoning must come for the Catholic and Anglican churches in Africa, just as it has in the United States and Europe. Just as they did elsewhere, the Anglican and Catholic churches must launch full inquiries into historical sex abuse at their schools in Zimbabwe, and elsewhere in Africa. African victims deserve, as much as victims in other parts of the world, to receive, if not justice, then accountability.

In announcing his resignation over the mishandling of the Smyth abuse scandal, Archbishop Welby said he hopes his decision to step down makes clear “how seriously the Church of England understands the need for change and our profound commitment to creating a safer church”.

In 2018, the head of the Catholic Church, Pope Francis, had similarly acknowledged fully and apologised for his church’s failings in responding to clergy abuse. In an unprecedented letter to all the world’s Catholics, he promised that no effort would be spared to prevent clerical sex abuse and its coverup.

“The heart-wrenching pain of these victims, which cries out to heaven, was long ignored, kept quiet or silenced,” the pope wrote.

“With shame and repentance, we acknowledge as an ecclesial community that we were not where we should have been, that we did not act in a timely manner, realizing the magnitude and the gravity of the damage done to so many lives. We showed no care for the little ones; we abandoned them.”

It provides a great sense of comfort and relief to see that after decades of silence and attempted coverups, the Catholic and Anglican churches are finally acknowledging past mistakes and are promising to do better to safeguard children in the future. But so far, their repentance seems to be directed solely towards white victims of clergy abuse in the West.

However, children in Zimbabwe and across Africa suffered as much from predatory priests as their white peers did in England, Ireland, and the United States. The churches need to take swift, meaningful action to acknowledge their pain and offer these broken boys, now men, a chance at justice. To fail to do so would be to say the victims of clergy abuse do not matter as long as they are Black Africans.

Petina Gappah is an international trade lawyer and the critically acclaimed author of two novels and two short-story collections. Her latest play ‘Yellow Dog Dingo’, confronts the subject of the historic sexual abuse of children in Catholic boarding schools in Zimbabwe.

“Lebanon is a Jewish homeland as a first step to the borders of Turkey in the north, and the Euphrates in Iraq in the east”

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TEHRAN TIMES

SondoSS Al ASAAd

N a new violation of Lebanon’s sovereignty and UN Resolution 1701, photos have circulated showing right-wing Zionists belonging to the “Uri Hatzvon” movement raising a banner on December 8 that read “Lebanon is ours.” The Israeli army radio has confirmed that these settlers: “crossed several meters across the Blue Line” in the Lebanese town of Maroun al-Ras. In the early summer of 2024, Bezalel Smotrich, the Israeli finance minister, explicitly called for the occupation of southern Lebanon if Hezbollah continued to support the Palestinian resistance movement. Then, on September 24, the Jerusalem Post published an article claiming that Lebanon was “part of the Promised Land of Israel that God will soon return to Israel.” The article was deleted later as it widely angered foreign readers amidst the rising civilian casualties in Lebanon as a result of US-led Israeli aggression.

The article highlighted the Jewish Rabbi Shai Tahan’s question of “where the northern border of the Land of Israel should be religiously located,” and whether Israel is “obligated to conquer the areas included in the divine promise to Israel or are those areas outside its borders?” The Jerusalem Post also published another report in which Rabbi Yitzhak Ginsburgh claimed that God “has given the current Israeli generation the ability to receive the gift again and to conquer and settle Lebanon.”

In turn, Haaretz published a report confirming that “often, religious illusions in Israel quickly turn into state policy.” Besides, the newspaper conducted various opinion polls on the extent of support for establishing settlements in Lebanon.

During the recent US-led Israeli aggression, Uri Hatzvon called for exploiting the war on Hezbollah to “occupy Lebanon.” In the middle of its flag is a cedar tree framed by the Star of David. According to Eliyahu Ben Asher, one of the founders, the movement was launched on April 12, 2024, with the aim of convincing the Israelis that “Lebanon is a Jewish homeland as a first step to the borders of Turkey in the north, and the Euphrates in Iraq in the east.”

Uri Hatzvon has become active after the killing of soldier Yisrael Sokol in Gaza, on January 22, 2024, who strongly promoted that Lebanon is “part of the promised land, Greater Israel.” Sokol was killed along with 23 other soldiers when the Palestinian resistance blew up two booby-trapped buildings. According to his friend Eliyahu Ben-Asher, Sokol’s dream was establishing Israeli settlements in Lebanon. His family has engraved on his tombstone: “Gaza has seen you from the shadow of Lebanon’s cedars.” Ben-Asher adds: “For Sokol, the war was not against terror, or for the sake of the house, but rather a war to return the lands of Israel to its indigenous inhabitants. He always believed that victory meant taking land from the enemy in

Gaza, in Lebanon and on the Temple Mount.”

Uri Hatzfon organized its first virtual conference, on June 17, 2024, to ensure the participation of various Zionists from all over the world.

Among the attendees were: Hagai Ben Artzi, Sara Netanyahu’s brother; Amid Cohen, an IDF reserve officer and the executive director of the Tikva Foundation that runs Talmudic educational projects; Judith Katzber, who advocates for the occupation of the West Bank; Daniela Weiss, head of the Nahala settlement movement and leader of the settlement movement in the Gaza Strip.

Several Zionist rabbis also joined the movement, most notably Rabbi Yitzhak Ginzburg, who promotes Talmudic ideas that have become part of Netanyahu’s political hegemonic plans, which are in harmony with Trump’s blatant statement: “Israel is small and its borders must be expanded.

Currently, the Israeli occupation has given the Talmudic name “Arrow of Bashan” to the US-led aggression against Syria, during which it has taken control of the Syrian buffer zone, in violation of the disengagement agreement signed in 1974. It has also occupied strategic sites on Mount Hermon. “Arrow of Bashan” refers to the area located in southern Syria. According to the Talmudic myth, the origin of the king of Bashan is from the Rephaim (Canaanite Amalekites), who are ancient Semitic peoples who settled in the area since the 12th century BCE. Following the ongoing aggression on Gaza, Netanyahu cited Talmudic texts to justify his genocidal crimes, especially during his speech at the United Nations. This has coincided with a prevailing Talmudic belief among the colonial settlers who are conducting the last war before the coming of their alleged Messiah: “We are approaching truly great days, and only the Messiah can replace Netanyahu.”

In one of his speeches to soldiers, Netanyahu said: “Remember what the Amalekites did to you.” The Amalekites is a tribe of nomads who inhabited the Sinai Peninsula and southern Palestine. According to Talmudic doctrine, the term Amalek means the height of physical and spiritual evil.

06 NEWS

Sunday, 29 December, 2024 | LAHORE

CHINA SANCTIONS 7 US MILITARY COMPANIES, RELEVANT EXECUTIVES OVER ARMS SALES TO TAIWAN REGION

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BEIJING

MIAN ABRAR

HINA’s Foreign Ministry on Friday announced its decision to take countermeasures against seven US military companies and relevant senior executives over recent military assistance and arms sales to China’s Taiwan region.

Recently, the US announced another substantial package of military assistance and arms sales to China’s Taiwan region. Its “National Defense Authorization Act for Fiscal Year 2025” includes multiple negative sections concerning China. These seriously violate the one-China principle and the three China-US joint communiqués, interfere in China’s internal affairs, and undermine China’s sovereignty and territorial integrity, according to the Foreign Ministry’s announcement.

Pursuant to Articles 3, 4, 5, 6, 9 and 15 of the Law of the People’s Republic of China on Countering Foreign Sanctions, China hereby decides to take the countermeasures against seven companies: Insitu, Inc., Hudson Technologies Co., Saronic Technologies, Inc., Raytheon Canada, Raytheon Australia, Aerkomm Inc. and Oceaneering International, Inc., and relevant senior executives, according to the statement.

Their movable and immovable properties, and other kinds of assets within China shall

A Milestone in Sight Restoration Efforts: 200 Corneas transplantation completed LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

The Honorary Consulate General Office of Sri Lanka in Lahore has proudly announced the successful completion of 200 corneas facilitated for eye donation and transplantation. This remarkable achievement highlights the unwavering dedication .

be frozen. All organizations and individuals within China shall be prohibited from engaging in transaction, cooperation and other activities with them, read the statement. This decision will come into force from December 27, 2024, according to the Foreign Ministry.

Chinese Foreign Ministry spokesperson Mao Ning said at a press conference on Friday that seeking “Taiwan independence” is bound to fail. What the US has done to assist the “Taiwan independence” attempt by arming Taiwan will only backfire. Its relevant act containing negative articles on China is filled with Cold War zero-sum mentality and ideological bias.

Without factual basis, the US plays up the “China threat” narrative, trumpets for military support to Taiwan and finds pretext for increasing military expenditure and maintaining hegemony, which disrupts regional peace and stability, said Mao. We urge the US to abide by the one-China principle and the provisions in the three China-US joint communiqués, especially the August 17 Communiqué of 1982, immediately stop arming Taiwan in any form,

view China’s development and China-US relationship objectively and rationally, not to implement these negative articles concerning China and stop wrong words and deeds that harm China’s interests.

Sunday, 29 December, 2024 | LAHORE

CORPORATE CORNER

07 2024: MARYAM NAWAZ REVOLUTIONISES HEALTHCARE SECTOR WITH UNPRECEDENTED PROJECTS NEWS

P g

karachi: At the Sitara-e-Pakistan Award ceremony organized by the Pakistan Global Network, the Guest of Honor, Special Assistant to the Chief Minister of Sindh for Food, Abdul Jabbar Khan, presented an award to the CEO of High-Q Pharmaceuticals and Chairman of the Pakistan Saint Kitts and Nevis Business Council of FPCCI, Atif Iqbal, for his outstanding performance. Brigadier Ghaffar Jatoi was also present on this occasion. PR

CDA Chairman chairs meeting on electric and feeder bus operation ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Chairman Capital Development Authority (CDA) Muhammad Ali Randhawa presided over a meeting at the CDA Headquarters on Saturday to discuss the operations of electric and feeder buses. The meeting was attended by Member Planning and Development, Member Technology, Member Finance, DG Works, Director BRT, Project Director BRT, and other senior officers.During the meeting, a detailed briefing was given to Chairman CDA regarding the feeder electric buses. It was apprised that 160 electric buses have been allocated for all feeder routes, basically integrating and connecting them to various lines of the BRT network. In this project, 216 bus stops and 4 depots would be established at strategic locations, complemented by a robust charging infrastructure to support operations.The meeting was briefed that 4 feeder routes, inaugurated in July this year, are already operational, with a significant increase in their daily ridership. Furthermore, on December 25 this year, an additional 4 routes were introduced, further expanding the network.

It was highlighted that charging infrastructure has already been established at Jinnah Convention Centre and Sector H-9, while the construction of a bus depot at Zero Point is in progress, with the project to be awarded soon.Chairman CDA Muhammad Ali Randhawa expressed satisfaction with the progress made so far and directed that the remaining 13 feeder routes be launched soon,

Spotify partners with JazzCash to localize premium subscription payments in Pakistan ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

JazzCash, Pakistan’s leading fintech platform, has partnered with Spotify, the world’s most popular audio streaming subscription service, to enable seamless payments for Spotify Premium subscriptions. This collaboration will allow users to subscribe to Spotify Premium with seamless payments using JazzCash, making the platform accessible to millions nationwide.As e-commerce payments continue to expand rapidly in Pakistan, transactions soared to 118 million in Q1 FY25.

Notably, a remarkable 91% of these transactions were facilitated through digital wallets, highlighting a significant shift towards digital payment methods, as reported in the latest Payment Systems Review. Building on its extensive network, JazzCash stands out with over 2,000 online merchants integrated into its platform and 2 million unique customers engaging in e-commerce transactions each month. This expansive reach underscores its crucial role in the e-commerce payments landscape.

Resolving public grievances top priority, says IGP Islamabad

ISLAMABAD STAFF REPORT

According to the details, the Inspector General of Police (IGP) Islamabad Syed Ali Nasir Rizvi, held a Khuli Katchery at the Central Police Office Islamabad. During the khuli katchery, he listened to the issues of citizens and police officers and issued directives to senior police officers on the spot for timely resolution of their concerns. He said that resolving citizens' issues on merit is our top priority.

Negligence and carelessness in duties will not be tolerated. Citizens facing any issue related to the police can come to the Khuli Katchery. My office is always open for my citizens, the IGP said. IG Islamabad further directed the officers to resolve the citizen grievances on merit within the stipulated time frame and report back to the Central Police Office. He directed all SDPOs and SHOs to adhere to the designated office hours and prioritize resolving citizens' issues. On this occasion, the IG Islamabad said that the Islamabad Police are taking various measures for the facilitation of citizens. The daily holding of Khuli Katchery helps in resolving issues on a priority basis, he added. Moreover, all zonal officers and SHOs are directed to meet citizens during the designated office hours and resolve their issues promptly and on merit.

PUNJAB HAS BECOME FIRST PROVINCE TO FORMALLY START AIR AMBULANCE SERVICE: CM LAHORE

STAFF REPORT

Chief Minister UNJAB Maryam Nawaz Sharif has revolutionised the healthcare sector by launching unprecedented projects to provide healthcare facilities to the public at their threshold, setting a remarkable example for the other provinces to follow.

She said, “The projects like Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital Lahore, Cardiology Institute Sargodha, Clinics on Wheels, Field Hospitals, Children’s Heart Surgery Card, and Free Medicine Home Delivery have no doubt revolutionised the healthcare system of the Province.” She added, “Chinese cancer treatment method: “No Chemotherapy, No Surgery” will also be introduced for the treatment of cancer patients in Punjab.”

The Punjab CM highlighted, “Punjab has become the first province in Pakistan to formally start air ambulance service.”

She said, “About 6.8 million patients are benefiting from Clinics on Wheels and Field Hospitals across Punjab.” She added, “Mega project of revamping rural and primary health centres across Punjab is nearing completion.” She converted

the traditional BHU into “Maryam Health Clinic.”

The Punjab CM said, “We are revamping a record number of more than 2,800 hospitals across Punjab. Field hospitals are providing quality healthcare services in remote rural areas across Punjab.” She added, “Unparalleled hospital services continue as 950,000 patients have benefitted from the field hospitals.

60,000 X-rays, 135,000 lab tests, ultrasound, first aid and maternal & child health facilities have been provided.”

The chief Minister noted,”6.7 million patients have benefitted from Clinics on Wheels in densely populated areas of cities. Doctors, LHVs, vaccination and ultrasound facilities are available in Clinics on Wheels.”

She said, “Pakistan’s first public sector Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Cancer Hospital in Lahore for the treatment of cancer patients is rapidly moving towards completion. The first Muhammad Nawaz Sharif Institute of Cardiology for the treatment of heart diseases in Sargodha

Six of a same family die as tractor trolley rams into car in Tandlianwala FAISALABAD

Division is also nearing completion.” She added, “A target has been set to meet the shortage of specialist doctors in district hospitals. A proposal of special package for the doctors working in remote areas has also been agreed upon, besides a decision to establish cath labs and cardiology centres in district hospitals of Punjab in phases.”

Maryam Nawaz said, “Free treatment and operation of children with heart disease under the Chief Minister’s Heart Surgery Program have been started.” She added, “Public health is a priority, provision of sufficient resources will be ensured.” She highlighted, “We want to provide a better environment for public in government hospitals than in private clinics.” She underscored, “We want to bring improvement in every hospital, every patient should get free treatment and medicine.”

Meanwhile, Punjab Chief Minister Maryam Nawaz directed the authorities concerned to ensure better traffic management during fog, while expressing a deep sense of grief over the death of 06 people in a traffic accident near Samundri. She offered sincere condolences and extended her heartfelt sympathies to the bereaved family.

Sindh Governor dispatches Liquid Oxygen Cylinders to Kurram Agency

STAFF REPORT

Six members of a same family died and three others sustained injuries when a sugarcane-led tractor trolley, rammed into a car due to dense fog in Tandlianwala late on Friday night.

According to Rescue 1122, the car was heading from Lahore to Samundri when it met the accident.

Rescuers informed that three children were among the dead, while a child, a man and a woman were injured in the accident.

The police and Rescue 1122 personnel rushed to the scene soon after the incident and shifted the dead bodies and injured to the THQ Hospital Tandlianwala.

The police officials stated that the accident occurred due to low

visibility caused by the dense fog.

The police have launched further investigation.

Meanwhile, a woman was killed and two persons were injured after an oil tanker crashed into a

Naya Nazimabad All Orangi Inter-Schools Cricket Tournament begins

motorcycle on the National Highway near Shah Hussain in Khairpur.

The deceased woman was identified as Sonia Channa.

The dead as well as the injured were shifted to a hospital.

Johar Jawans, North Nawabs, and Clifton Popular Secure Victories in KTPL KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

The All-Orange Tape Ball Cricket Tournament has started at Naya Nazimabad Sports Complex. Sixteen teams participated in the opening ceremony. The event was attended by players, management and fans of sixteen teams participating in the event in large numbers. Chief guest Syed Mohammad Talha, president of Nazimabad Gymkhana, officially inaugurated the tournament.Syed Muhammad Talha said that the naya Nazimabad highlights Chairman Arif Habib's concept of a sports city. His organization will continue to support educational institutions for the promotion of sports. He said that he wishes to host other sports competitions here in the future.Eight matches were decided on the first day at Green field. In the first match, Tameer e Millat School defeated Rose House Campus One. Shaheen School won against Rukhshanda Public.

Corporate sector investing to develop agriculture sector

The 13th day of the Karachi Tape Ball Premier League (KTPL) hosted three matches, with impressive performances from Johar Jawans, North Nawabs, and Clifton Popular, as they emerged victorious in their respective matches at the Moin Khan Academy.In the opening match, Johar Jawans defeated Karachi Nights by 10 wickets. Karachi Nights posted scores of 104/1 in the first inning and 105/2 in the second, while Johar Jawans easily chased down 55/0 in the first inning and 159/0 in second. Abdul Basit was the standout performer for Johar Jawans with an unbeaten 94, supported by Waqas Sher’s 49. Zohaib Ur Rehman with 60 and Para Din with 48 were top scorers for Karachi Nights.North Nawabs triumphed over Malir Malangs in the second match, setting a target with 45/2 in the first inning and 147/0 in the second.

Malir Malangs managed scores of 96/3 and 94/2 respectively. Sarmad Hameed was the top scorer for North Nawabs with 69 runs. Malir Malangs' Mimran Khan with 52 and M Jahangir Awan with 42 scored fought hard but couldn’t secure the win.

ABL partners with Kore.ai to launch Pakistan's first-ever IVA

KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

The corporate and financial sector of Pakistan are investing to develop the agriculture sector. This view emerged at the launch of The State of Pakistan's Agriculture 2024 report by Pakistan Business Council (PBC) and Pakistan Agricultural Coalition (PAC) in an event at National Foods Limited Corporate Head Office in Karachi the other day. Ehsan Malik, CEO of PBC, in his opening remarks said that agriculture sector has the greatest potential to contribute to economic and food security and uplift the rural population. “This report highlights how the corporate sector is playing an impactful role in developing the agriculture sector,” said Ehsan. Kazim Saeed, CEO of PAC, said the wherever we see international class agriculture in Pakistan, we often find a leading corporate player working directly with farmers. This report documents how corporate and financial players are bringing capital, technology, and expertise to the agriculture sector for growth and prosperity. “These prospects merit replication and scaling up for the growth of Pakistan’s agriculture,” said Kazim, adding that many companies are adopting practices that reduce environmental impact.

LAHORE STAFF REPORT

Allied Bank Limited (ABL) has partnered with Kore.ai, a global leader in conversational and generative AI solutions, to launch Pakistan's firstever Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) powered by Artificial Intelligence (AI).

This collaboration aims to revolutionize customer experience and enhance operational efficiency. The AI-powered Intelligent Virtual Assistant (IVA) will offer seamless, 24/7 support and human-like interactions to ABL customers across various banking channels, including inquiries, transaction and request processing, and issue resolution. This initiative underscores Allied Bank's commitment to leveraging innovative technology to deliver personalized, prompt, and efficient services.

The agreement signing ceremony took place at Allied Bank's Head Office, attended by senior officials from both organizations. Representing Allied Bank were Mr. Mujahid Ali (Chief Technology & Digital Transformation).

KARACHI STAFF REPORT

Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori has sent relief items more then 20 million rupees worth for the people of Parachinar. The relief goods, including medicines, surgical items, milk for children, and other essential supplies, were dispatched via a helicopter from JDC's Zafar Abbas. In addition, ration bags and other necessary items have also been sent from Karachi to assist the people of Parachinar in this difficult time. On the directives of Governor Sindh Kamran Khan Tessori, JDC's Zafar Abbas has dispatched liquid oxygen cylinders to Kurram Agency. The decision was made after reports of a severe oxygen shortage in hospitals, leading to an increase in fatalities. Each liquid oxygen cylinder is capable of compensating for the deficiency of 100 standard oxygen cylinders. Zafar Abbas stated that the cost of these liquid oxygen cylinders amounts to millions of rupees.

SSGC organizes Open Court Session to Enhance Customer Satisfaction KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

As part of its continued efforts to adhere the directives of PMDU for organizing Khulli Kachehris (both online and in person), focused to facilitate its valued customers, the Sui Southern Gas Company organized its In-Person Khuli Kachehri head office session entitled ‘Rubaru’ that was chaired by ASGM LS-C, Mr. Adnan Rehman.

Supported by other members of the senior management, Mr. Rehman led this session with the aim to resolve customers’ issues, and provide them relief as soon as possible. Mr. Rehman attentively listened first hand to the problems of the customers and assured them of their timely resolution. He told the customers, who had come from various parts of the city to the in-person khuli kachehri that SSGC highly values its customers and satisfying them in their gas related matters and queries is the Company’s primary responsibility. The session was moderated by SSGC’s Head of Corporate Communications Mr. Shahid Shaikh.

Jinnah monument inaugurated at Clifton KARACHI

STAFF REPORT

To celebrate the occasion of Quaide-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah’s birthday and to pay tribute to the founder of the nation, Mayor Karachi, Barrister Murtaza Wahab, Abdul Basit M I Mundia and Team VOK inaugurated Jinnah’s monument.We are grateful to the Mayor of Karachi for his continuous support toward VOK.We also thank all the guests and media personnel for joining us and making it a memorable occasion.

Sunday, 29 December, 2024

PRAYER TIMINGS

cops punished for ‘UnpardonabLe’: May 9 not to be coMproMised, 14 negligence, rule forgiven dUe to ongoing govt-pti taLKs: tarar violations

NEWS

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GUJRANWALA

STAFF REPORT

EDERAL Minister for Information, Broadcasting, National Heritage, and Culture Attaullah Tarar categorically stated on Saturday that the events of May 9 are unpardonable and will not be compromised or forgiven due to ongoing negotiations with the Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI).

During a media interaction in Rahwali, Gujranwala, the minister stressed that overlooking PTI’s anti-state activities would be tantamount to opening the gates of jails (and releasing the culprits).

Letting PTI’s anti-state activities go unpunished would render the country’s jails meaningless. While acknowledging the seriousness of the crimes, the government is negotiating with PTI to prioritize national stability.

Criticizing PTI, he said the party was promoting an incomprehensible false narrative about military court convictions, often changing its stance with remarks like “Are we slaves?” He stressed the importance of adhering to the correct narrative and avoiding politicization of

state affairs, particularly in matters of international relations. PTI often makes statements and then reverses its position.

Tarar stated that 85 PTI activities responsible for the violence on May 9 were convicted by military courts following a thorough legal process. The evidence proving their involvement in the attacks on army installations was considered irrefutable. While the cases of the remaining individuals involved in sabotage activities were being processed in vari-

ous anti-terrorism courts.

Negotiations among political parties were crucial for addressing the country’s pressing issues. Referring to the ISPR DG’s recent press conference as comprehensive, Tarar stated that the DG addressed topics including the May 9 violence, the war on terrorism, and the military trials of miscreants. He noted that trying individuals who attack military installations in military courts is a common global practice.

He stated that those convicted for the May 9 violence were given a fair trial, the right to appeal within military and high courts, access to case records, contact with their families, and were not tried in absentia.

The Federal Information Minister explained that, just as drug cases are handled

by Anti-Narcotics Force (ANF) courts, terrorism cases by Anti-Terrorism Courts (ATCs), mega corruption cases by NAB and attacks on railway facilities by the Railway Police, attacks on military installations are prosecuted in military courts.

He said the convictions were not rushed, taking two years to reach verdicts against the culprits. All were prosecuted in accordance with relevant laws, and stressed the need to prosecute the planners and masterminds behind the May 9 violence. He said that even the harshest opponents of government were acknowledging the economy was on the right track, exports were rising, foreign currency reserves were increasing, and the rupee was stable against the dollar.

He acknowledged PTI’s role in the passage of the 26th Amendment, working together with JUI-F chief Maulana Fazlur Rehman to have various clauses removed from the draft amendment package.

Security forces thwart two infiltration bids on Pak-Afghan border; 15 terrorists reportedly killed Kurram grand jirga yet to reach agreement as deadlock persists over key issues PESHAWAR

STAFF REPORT

The Kurram grand jirga failed to reach an agreement as deadlock persisted over several unresolved issues related to the ongoing peace efforts in restive tribal district. The members of the grand Jirga, convened in Kohat, however, agree to continue efforts for a last peace in the region.

As per sources, despite intensive consultations, the deadlock persisted, particularly concerning the contentious clause requiring the surrender of heavy weaponry to national advisors, preventing the signing of a peace agreement. The lack of consensus on this key matter has left the region’s peace process in limbo.

While both sides have largely agreed on most aspects of the agreement, the issue of weapons storage continues to cause division. Despite repeated consultations with local elders, one side has yet to reach a decision on the matter, maintaining the deadlock.

The Jirga meeting, held at Kohat Fort under the leadership of Commissioner Mutasim Bilal Shah, various points were discussed. Government officials clarified that, until heavy weapons are surrendered, the risk of opening roads cannot be taken.

One of the sides has demanded that all weapons from both parties be handed over to the government, and that decisions from the Apex Committee be followed.

Discussions on this demand are ongoing.

Government representatives also informed the Jirga members that helicopter services have been launched to deliver medicines and other supplies to Kurram.

Health Advisor Ihtesham Ali stated that since December 13, over 16,000 patients have been treated at the Parachinar DHQ Hospital and health facilities across Kurram are providing timely services, including medicines. Ali further explained that there is a sufficient stock of medicines at all health centers, including Upper Kurram’s DHQ in Parachinar.

The Parachinar DHQ has also seen the highest number of OPD patients in its history, with the majority being women and children. For patients unable to visit hospitals, medicines are being delivered to their homes, and insulin for diabetic patients will be dispatched on Monday. He added that diapers for children have been sent, and medication supplies will continue until roads are reopened. Earlier, it was reported that a peace agreement had been reached during a long-delayed grand jirga, held amid escalating violence that had gripped the entire region.

Meanwhile protests against the closure of roads in Kurram district had begun to spread in other parts of the country aswell as the sit-in in Parachinar has entered its sixth day. Roads blockages in the tribal district of Kurram, including Parachinar, continue.

In Parachinar itself, the sit-in on the main Kachehri Road in front of the Press Club has entered its sixth day. Philanthropist Faisal Edhi has urged the government to take appropriate steps to resolve the crisis in Kurram district, warning that it may ignite unrest across the country.

ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

More than 15 terrorists, including Khawarij and Afghan Taliban, were “reportedly killed” when security forces repelled two crossborder attacks by Khawarij and Afghan Taliban in Khyber Pakhtunkhwa’s Kurram and North Waziristan districts.

According to media reports, around 25 militants attempted to cross into Pakistan from Afghanistan’s side, utilising Afghan Taliban border posts. However, Pakistani security forces swiftly responded, thwarting the infiltration attempts, the sources added.

The militants, backed by the Afghan Taliban, opened heavy fire on Pakistani posts, but were met with a robust and decisive response

from Pakistan’s security forces.

Preliminary reports indicated that 15 or more militants and Afghan Taliban were killed, with several others injured. Additionally, the Taliban abandoned six posts and fled following the effective retaliatory action and artillery fire.

When their first attempt to cross the border was beaten back, the Khawarij with the help of Afghan Taliban again tried to get into Pakistan early Saturday and opened heavy firing on Pakistani posts.

The Pakistani troops responded with effective measures and caused huge losses on the enemy’s side.

Only three Pakistani troops were injured in the firefight, the sources said. Pakistan had on several occasions had asked Afghanistan not to let Khawarij use their soil to launch attacks on Pakistan.

Pakistan’s armed forces are taking several initiatives to further enhance the security management at country’s western borders.

Under the Western Border Management regime, 98% of the Pakistan-Afghanistan Border work has been completed, and 91% of the Pakistan-Iran Border work is finished, covering a total of 3,217 Kilometres.

To prevent the movement of terrorists along the western border, 92 percent of the forts along the Pakistan-Afghan Border and 40 percent of the forts on the PakistanIran Border have been completed.

Likewise, the fencing work covering 3,100 kilometres of the western border has been completed.

The completion of the fencing will significantly strengthen national security.

President Zardari vows to uphold Bhutto family’s legacy of public service SUKKUR

STAFF REPORT

President Asif Ali Zardari on Saturday vowed to keep up the Bhutto family’s legacy of public service, dedicated to improving the socioeconomic well-being of the nation.

Addressing the inauguration of Ziauddin Hospital in Sukkur, the President hailed the inauguration of the state-of-the-art hospital as a transformative moment for Sukkur and its surrounding areas.

Sindh Chief Minister Syed Murad Ali Shah, Balochistan Chief Minister Mir Sarfaraz Ahmed Bugti, Dr Asim Hussain, Sindh provincial ministers, MNAs, MPAs, hospital establishment, and people from different walks of life

attended the event. President Zardari lauded Dr Asim Hussain and the Ziauddin Hospital management for their efforts in establishing a facility equipped with cuttingedge technology and a team of highly skilled professionals.

The President reflected on his personal involvement in encouraging Ziauddin Hospital to invest in Sukkur, highlighting the need for such initiatives to uplift healthcare standards in underserved areas. He said that the Government of Sindh would also bear the expenses for the establishment of a university at the Ziauddin Hospital Sukkur Campus. He stated that he had also donated his personal land for establishing Dr Ziauddin Hospital’s campus in Hyderabad.

The President also highlighted that Rohri canal was being lined from its beginning and Rs15 billion would be spent annually in this regard. He said that the funds generated from the trading of carbon credits in the international market were being used for the lining of the Rohri Canal project. The President said that the hospital exemplified Dr Asim Hussain and his family’s unwavering commitment to providing quality healthcare services to the people. He highlighted that Dr Ziauddin was a member of the Central Legislative Assembly before Pakistan’s independence and an associate of Quaid-i-Azam Muhammad Ali Jinnah, and now his family was carrying forward his legacy.

FAJR SUNRISE

ZUHR

ASR MAGHRIB ISHA

6:10

1:30

3:45

LAHORE

The Lahore High Court has ruled that a nonMuslim cannot inherit the property of their Muslim relative under Islamic law.

According to reports, Justice Chaudhry Muhammad Iqbal issued the decision while upholding the verdicts of

two lower courts regarding the transfer of agricultural land in Toba Tek Singh’s Tehsil Gojra.

According to details, the deceased landlord was a Muslim, and after his death, his property was transferred to his three sons and two daughters.

However, one of the deceased’s grandsons challenged the transfer in favour of one of his un-

KARACHI

As Majlis-e-Wahdat-ul-Muslimeen’s (MWM) widespread protests continued in several parts of Karachi including Numaish Chowargi and Shahrah-e-Faisal, many arteries of the city have been experiencing significant traffic jams. MWM has spread its sit-ins from Numaish Chowrangi to across Karachi to protest against Parachinar situation.

The protests have resulted in the closure of several major roads, including MA Jinnah

Road, which is closed for traffic at Numaish Chowrangi. Abul Hasan Ispahani Road is also closed on both sides near Abbas Town.

Additionally, Five-Star Chowrangi is completely closed while University Road is also closed from Metro Shopping Center to Nipa Chowrangi. Main Shahrah-e-Faisal was closed from Kala Pul to Malir Road, while National Highway is closed on both roads near Malir 15 Bridge.

To manage the traffic flow, diversions have been made. Traffic from Malir, Korangi Industrial Area, and Clifton Defence can use

Punjab Police has punished 14 officers and personnel for negligence and violations of departmental rules.

The disciplinary actions were announced by DIG Operations Faisal Kamran after reviewing 18 showcause notices issued to various officers.

The disciplinary proceedings took place at the Police Lines in Qila Gujjar Singh, where DIG Kamran addressed the officers in the Erdal Room, outlining the penalties.

Ten personnel were handed immediate penalties, which included salary and increment stoppage, as well as other forms of punishment. Meanwhile, four officers received final warnings to improve their performance and conduct.

DIG Kamran emphasized the importance of departmental accountability in building a strong and effective police force. He stated that there is no room for negligence, corruption, or misuse of authority within Lahore’s police.

“Police personnel who exceed their authority are enemies of both the public and the police force,” he said.

Underlining the government’s zero-tolerance policy for corruption and abuse of power, DIG Kamran assured that stringent action would be taken against any officer found guilty of misconduct.

At the same time, he affirmed that those diligently performing their duties would be encouraged and recognized. He also vowed not to allow a few ‘black sheep’ to tarnish the image of the entire police department.

Earlier last week, the Deputy Inspector General (DIG) of Operations dismissed 10 officials from the Dolphin Squad on corruption charges. The dismissal followed a comprehensive inquiry which uncovered widespread misconduct within the unit.

Among the dismissed personnel were Sub-Inspector Nasir Khan, Assistant Sub-Inspector (ASI) Shahid, and Constables Sakhawat, Hamza, Amanat, Naqash, and Irfan.

The inquiry report revealed that a corruption scandal involving millions of rupees had surfaced within the Dolphin Squad, leading to the personnel’s termination.

The report disclosed that Rs200 million had been allocated for the repair of motorcycles and other vehicles used by the Dolphin Squad.

However, Rs80 million of this amount was found to have been embezzled. Procurement officers and other officials were also implicated in the corruption, as they were found to have violated the Public Procurement Regulatory Authority (PPRA) rules by purchasing defective vehicle parts and mismanaging funds.

Leghari reaffirms commitment to providing affordable electricity to public ISLAMABAD

STAFF REPORT

Minister for Power Sardar Awais Ahmad Leghari reaffirmed the government’s commitment to providing affordable electricity to the public while presenting key achievements in the power sector.

Addressing a press conference in Islamabad, Leghari highlighted the significant reductions in electricity prices, which reflect the government’s ongoing efforts to make power more accessible for consumers.

According to Leghari, the average price of electricity has dropped to 44.04 rupees per unit, down from 48.70 rupees per unit in June 2024, marking a reduction of 4.66 rupees per unit. Industrial electricity prices also saw a major decrease, falling to 47.17 rupees per unit from 58.50 rupees per unit during the same period, a reduction of 11.33 rupees.

One of the most notable reforms discussed by the minister was the elimination of 150 billion rupees in cross-subsidies from the industrial sector. This move, he explained, has helped stimulate industrial growth by lowering costs for businesses.

The government is also focusing on upgrading the transmission sector, which includes the trifurcation of the National Transmission and Despatch Company (NTDC) into three separate entities, aimed at improving efficiency and reducing losses.

In response to the growing concern of circular debt, Leghari announced that efforts were underway to shift the burden from electricity bills to the national debt, easing pressure on consumers.

cles, claiming that the uncle was an Ahmadi and, therefore, not eligible to inherit property under Islamic inheritance laws.

The courts ruled in favour of the grandson, nullifying the property transfer. During the proceedings, another heir, the son of the nonMuslim uncle, testified that his father was an Ahmadi.

the route from Sanghar Chowrangi to Shah Faisal Colony, Rita Plot, Shama Shopping Center, and Shah Faisal Colony Bridge to reach the airport, according to Karachi Traffic Police. Traffic from Pehlwan Goth to the airport can use the route via Karsaz, Drig Road, Millennium, and Johar Chowrangi.

Traffic police have diverted traffic from Power House Chowrangi to Service Road. An alternative route has been provided from Power House Chowrangi to Service Road.

Incholi Shahrah-e-Pakistan has been closed towards Sohrab Goth.

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Published by Asad Nizami at Qandeel Printing Press, 4 Queens Road, Lahore, for PT Print (Pvt) Limited. Ph: 042-36300938, 042-36375965. Email: newsroom@pakistantoday.com.pk