Epaper_28-03-20 LHR

Tuesday, 28 March, 2023 I 6 Ramzan, 1444

ECC defers price increase of 119 drugs

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World Bank warns of ‘lost decade’ in global growth without bold policy shifts

Stakeholders point out serious flaws in OGRAs foreign exchange losses adjustments

Dissenting sC juDges Call for revisiting CjP’s ‘one-man show’

g Two SC judges’ rule suo motu case on Punjab, KP elections was dismissed by majority

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

in a surprise development, two judges of the Supreme Court –Justice Syed Mansoor Ali Shah and Justice Jamal Khan Mandokhail – issued a 27-page detailed order on Monday, stating that the suo motu case regarding the Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa (KP) elections’ date announcement was dismissed by a majority of four judges out of seven.

The verdict has further exposed fissures among the apex court judges. The two judges also called to “revisit the power of the one-man show” enjoyed by the office of the Chief Justice of Pakistan in order to “strengthen” the institution and “ensure public trust and confidence” in the apex court.

The order stated that the court could not be dependent on “the solitary decision of one man” but should be “regulated through a rulebased system approved by all judges of the court under Article 191 of the Constitution”.

“In regulating the exercise of its jurisdiction under Article 184(3) including the exercise of suo motu jurisdiction; the constitution of benches to hear such cases; the constitution of Regular Benches to hear all the other cases instituted in this Court; and the constitution of Special Benches,” it stated.

They verdict maintained that the power of doing a “one-man show” is

g Formation of full court only way forward: Shah Khawar Advocate

to case basis, after the institution of the cases, “is complete negation of fairness, transparency and impartiality required of a judicial institution to maintain its legitimacy and credibility of its judgments”.

The judges stated that “the suo motu proceedings, in the facts and circumstances of the case, are wholly unjustified in the mode and manner they were taken up under Article 184(3) of the Constitution, besides being initiated with undue haste”.

lahore sehr: 4:26 aM iftar: 6:31 PM islaMabad sehr: 4:26 aM iftar: 6:39 PM karachi sehr: 5:02 aM iftar: 6:57 PM fiqah-e-hanfia islaMabad sehr: 4:36 aM iftar: 6:29 PM karachi sehr: 5:12 aM iftar: 6:47 PM fiqah-e-jafaria lahore sehr: 4:36 aM iftar: 6:21 PM

PM announces free flour distribution for non-BISP poor

not only anachronistic, outdated and obsolete but also is antithetical to good governance and incompatible to modern democratic norms.

“One-man show leads to the concentration of power in the hands of one individual, making the system more susceptible to the abuse of power. In contrast, a collegial system with checks and balances helps prevent the abuse and mistakes in the exercise of power and promotes transparency and accountability…

We must not forget that our institution draws its strength from public perception”.

It continued that the CJP was conferred with “wide discretion in the matter of constituting Benches and assigning cases to them under the present Supreme Court Rules 1980” and the “unbridled power enjoyed by the Chief Justice” had “brought severe criticism and lowered the ho-

PEMRA prohibits live coverage ahead of Imran Khan’s court appearance in Islamabad

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan Electronic Media Regulatory Authority (PEMRA) issued a notification on Monday banning live and recorded coverage of rallies and public gatherings in Islamabad ahead of former prime minister Imran Khan’s court appearance in the capital. PEMRA said the ban will cover public meetings and rallies in the Islamabad area for March 27, and that the licenses of satellite TV channels will be revoked for violating the instructions. According to the notification, the live broadcast of violent mobs and attacks on law enforcement agencies is likely to spread chaos and panic. “Such footage or images were seen on TV without any editorial oversight during the recent standoff between political party workers and law enforcement agencies in Lahore and Islamabad wherein, the violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless policemen and blazing police vehicles,” it claimed. The regulator added the telecast of such footage on different TV stations “created chaos and panic” among viewers and the police. “Such activism by mob not only jeopardises law and order situation but also makes public properties and lives vulnerable”, it cautioned.

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Supreme Court called the order of the Election Commission of Pakistan (ECP) to delay the elections in Punjab, which were scheduled for April 30, until October 8 an “obstruction” in the way of its directive to hold fresh elections in Punjab and Khyber Pakhtunkhwa within a constitutional timeframe of 90 days.

The apex court Monday took up a petition moved by Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf (PTI) against the order of the tribunal to delay the elections which it ruled will now be held together with general elections in the country.

A larger bench of five justices, headed by Chief Justice Umar Ata Bandial and comprising justices Ijaz ulAhsan, Munib Akhtar, Amin ud-Din Khan, and Jamal Khan Mandokhail, heard the case and served notices on the federation, ECP and caretaker administrations in Punjab and KP.

nour and prestige of this Court”.

The judges advised that “in order to build a strong, open and transparent institution, we have to move towards a rule-based institution”.

They added that where “the matter of constituting a bench for hearing a case under Article 184(3) of the Constitution is concerned, there must also be uniformity and transparency, which can be best assured by constituting a regular five or seven-member bench once at the commencement of every judicial year, or twice a year for each term of six months, by including in that bench the senior most Judges or the senior-most Judges of each Province on the strength of this court with the Chief Justice or the Senior Puisne Judge as head of that bench”.

According to the order, the constituting of special benches on case

They furthered that the matter did not constitute a fit case to exercise extraordinary original jurisdiction of the apex court under Article 184(3) and was this “not maintainable” as the “same constitutional and legal issues seeking the same relief are pending and being deliberated upon by the respective Provincial High Courts in Lahore and Peshawar”.

The order maintained that there was “no justification to invoke” the court’s extraordinary jurisdiction to initiate suo motu proceedings, as a single bench of the Lahore High Court “has already decided the matter in favour of the petitioner before the said High Court”.

It added that the intra-court appeals filed against the said judgment were pending before the division bench of the LHC and none of the petitioners had approached the apex court.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Imran gets bail in seven cases related to Islamabad court violence

g Photographer and supporters of former prime minister arrested on way to hearing

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Imran Khan, former prime minister and chairman of the Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) party, has been granted interim bail in seven cases registered against him following a police crackdown on his supporters outside the judicial complex on March 18 by the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

In petitions filed at the court, Khan requested protective bail in the cases registered at various police stations across the capital, which are all linked to the clampdown outside the complex where he appeared in the foreign gifts, or Toshakhana, case. The petitions, filed through Barrister Salman Safdar, argued that Khan would suffer “irreparable loss” if he were to be arrested. They also said that as the head of the largest political party, there is an apprehension that Khan’s opponents could further their political ambitions and nefarious designs if he is not granted bail.

A two-member bench of the court, Aamer Farooq and Miangul Hassan Aurangzeb, has taken up the petitions.

On Wednesday, the ECP postponed the elections for more than five months, claiming that “it is not possible to hold and organise the elections honestly, justly, fairly, in a peaceful manner.” It said it would be unable to provide a “level playing field” to all political parties.

The move violated the Supreme Court ruling earlier this month that a new election be held within 90 days of the two parliaments being disbanded. Subsequently, Barrister Syed Ali Zafar filed a petition on behalf of PTI, requesting that the tribunal be directed to hold the elections on the previously scheduled date of April 30. It contended that the decision violated the Constitution and amounted to amending and subverting it.

During the proceedings, Zafar informed the Supreme Court that the election commission had failed to comply with the court’s March 1 orders to set a date for elections in Punjab and

During the hearing, Safdar argued that the bio-metric verification objection should not be imposed on individuals over the age of 60. Justice Farooq responded by saying that bio-metric verification has become much easier now.

The lawyer explained that they had acquired protective bail for the PTI chairman from the Lahore High Court (LHC), after which they arrived at the judicial complex but were not allowed to proceed further. He further said that additional FIRs against Khan were filed that day.

Justice Farooq asked Safdar why they bypassed the trial court and came straight to the IHC. The lawyer responded he would present the Supreme Court’s judgments on this matter.

The justice also said the security threats to Khan must be genuine as he had been attacked once, and the court had asked the chief election commissioner to provide security to him several times.

Jahangir Khan Jadoon, advocate general for Islamabad, said the trial court was shifted to the judicial complex from a local court in F8 sector.

CONTINUED ON PAGE 03

Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Presenting his arguments, the lawyer for the opposition party said the ECP had violated the Supreme Court’s orders thrice. He explained that the electoral watchdog had rejected the election schedule announced by the president and had now postponed the elections until October 8, even though it did not have the authority to set a new date for the polls. He added that the ECP had overlooked the court’s orders and had violated the 90-day period for announcing the election date.

In response, Justice Mandokhail asked what the petitioner wanted from the court, to which Zafar replied that they wanted the court to ensure the implementation of the Constitution and its orders. At this, the judge reminded the lawyer that the execution of court orders is the responsibility of the high court.

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif announced that dedicated counters would be established to provide free flour bags to needy individuals not registered with the Benazir Income Support Programme (BISP) at distribution centres as part of the Ramadan Package. During his visit to a free wheat flour distribution centre on Monday, the prime minister explained that a significant number of people who are not registered with BISP and living below the poverty line deserve free flour bags. National Database Registration Authority (NADRA) and Punjab Information Technology Board (PITB) have developed a system to include non-BISP people, which will be fully operational by Monday, according to the prime minister. Non-BISP deserving people will be eligible to receive free flour from separate counters after registering their names in the system. The prime minister praised the Punjab government and the Rawalpindi administration for working tirelessly to make the distribution process smooth and uninterrupted. He also commended the efforts of the interim chief minister of Punjab and chief secretary in the flour distribution process. Despite significant economic challenges, the government is committed to working for the relief of underprivileged individuals, according to the prime minister. He also urged people from all walks of life to support the government in its pro-poor efforts. To ensure the smooth distribution of bags to people, he said he would make unannounced visits to flour distribution centres across the province. Sharif also directed officials to accommodate individuals from Khyber Pakhtunkhwa, Kashmir, and Gilgit-Baltistan who are living in Punjab but not registered with BISP.

previously used its authority in the

had to the court’s orders. He observed that only the Supreme Court could decide whether the orders had been violated or not.

Justice Akhtar concurred with the

Shahid Khaqan abbaSi callS for holding ‘electionS within 90 dayS’

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

tHEformer prime minister (PM) and PML-N leader on Monday said that he in favour of ‘elections within 90 days’. In an interview with private TV news channel, the PML-N leader said that he still stands by his stance to hold

elections within 90 days but it is ECP’s responsibility. The constitution also asks the state institutions to assist the ECP in holding elections, he added.

The former prime minister Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said “Now the supreme court will see this matter as the ECP had said they cannot hold elections.” He further said that if any political party violates the constitution, the state

law proposed to transfer implementation of media protection law to info ministry

ISLAMABAD app

Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed

Abbasi Monday introduced the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals (Amendment) Bill, 2023 in the National Assembly. The bill aims to transfer the responsibility of implementing the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021 from the Ministry of Human Rights to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. According to the statement of objectives and reasons of the bill, under item no. 16: Entry-9 of the Rules of Business 1973, the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting is responsible for liaison and coordination with agencies and media on matters concerning government policies and activities. Therefore, the prime minister has directed to make necessary amendments to the Act for its implementation and transferred its implementation to the Ministry of Information and Broadcasting. The cabinet ratified the above-mentioned decision in its meeting held on January 24. The bill has been referred to the relevant committee for further deliberations.

rana Sanaullah wants a civil war in country: rasheed

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Awami Muslim League president and former interior minister Sheikh Rasheed Ahmed has stated that we do not want a fight with institutions, we only want elections. Elections, he says, will be held within 90 days. Speaking to the media outside the Islamabad High Court on Monday, he said hooliganism and fascism in the country was at its peak. “Whatever they do, victory will be ours,” the ex-minister was upbeat. Rana Sanaullah wanted a civil war in the country, Mr Ahmed said and added that he (Sanaullah) would himself fall prey to it. Reacting to Sanaullah’s statement that either they or we would survive, Sheikh Rashid said political parties never end but many “dirty” people have got extinct. He warned Sanaullah of throwing challenge on others and expressed the fear that his end might be tragic. He reiterated his demand for elections, either all over the country simultaneously or step by step. He said he was still standing by his statement of a plan to assassinate Imran Khan. The former minister said “we want to make peace with the institutions on the election date. There is no fight with the army or the establishment; our struggle is against those who have plundered the wealth of the country and taken it out. Our fight is to the extent that they announce a date for elections.

Police arrest Pti activists on imran Khan’s arrival at ihc

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The Islamabad police took several PTI activists including PTI Chairman Imran Khan’s photographer into custody from Srinagar Highway on Monday. The arrests followed the arrival of Mr Khan at the Islamabad High Court (IHC) for pre-arrest bail in seven terrorism cases. PTI leader Ghulam Sarwar Khan managed to dodge policemen and escaped. Police swung into action after PTI workers allegedly violated Section 144 imposed by the Islamabad Capital Territory (ICT) to prevent gatherings. On its Twitter handle, the PTI shared video clips of workers’ arrests.

takes action against it but he is not in favour of baseless allegations against political parties.

The PML-N leader Shahid Khaqan Abbasi said that Nawaz Sharif is his leader, Maryam Nawaz is the party’s chief organizer and Shehbaz Sharif is the president of the party. He doesn’t believe in two leaders in one party. He added that history will tell

how Shehbaz Sharif became the Prime Minister. He asked when Saqib Nisar was the chief justice, what he did in his tenure, can he question anything now?

Shahid Khaqan Abbasi added that jailing political leaders, abuse and hatred is not part of politics and if politics cannot improve the quality of people’s life then all politicians have failed.

Imran files plea in IHC against Rana Sanaullah

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) chief Imran Khan on Monday moved an application against Interior Minister Rana Sanaullah for directly threatening him and his party at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

According to details, Sanaullah in an interview with a private news channel on Saturday, said that “the country’s politics has been brought to the level where the existence of only one of the two [PTI and PML-N] is possible”.

Sanaullah had also said that when the ruling party feels that its existence is under threat, it can go to any extent against its chief political rival—without considering “what is illegal or undemocratic”.

Seeking the IHC’s intervention on the matter, Imran has requested the court to block his arrest and prevent

Pakistan strongly condemns Israeli raid on Al-Aqsa Mosque

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan has strongly condemned the raid by Israeli forces on Al Aqsa Mosque during ongoing holy month of Ramadan, expelling the worshippers and violating the sanctity of the mosque.

In a statement on Monday, the Foreign Office said it is reprehensible that such attacks on AlAqsa Mosque by Israeli occupation forces during Ramadan, have become a regular feature in recent years.The Foreign Office termed such acts grave violation of fundamental right to freedom of religion and belief and an affront to the religious sentiments of over 1.5 billion Muslims around the world.

It said indiscriminate use of force by Israeli

occupation forces against defenseless Palestinians defies all humanitarian and human rights norms and laws and by doing so, Israel has backed out on its own recent commitment to respect the sanctity of Ramadan.

The Foreign Office urged the international community to take urgent action to put an end to the Israeli transgressions that have been particularly ascendant since the beginning of this year.

The Foreign office while reaffirming Pakistan’s unflinching support to the Palestinian people and the Palestinian cause, renewed Pakistan’s call for a viable, independent and contiguous Palestinian State, with pre-1967 borders, and Al-Quds Al-Sharif as its capital in accordance with the relevant United Nations and OIC resolutions.

Pakistanis among migrants rescued off Italian coast

ISLAMABAD

ReuteRS

Around 200 migrants including people from Pakistan were rescued from a wooden boat approximately 20 hours after they departed from Zawiya in Libya.

Some 190 migrants were rescued by Doctors Without Borders (MSF) off the coast of Libya early on Friday (March 24).

The migrants also included people from Bangladesh, Egypt, Eritrea, Syria and Palestine who were rescued from a wooden boat approximately 20 hours after they departed from Zawiya in Libya. They arrived at the southern Italian port of Bari on Sunday evening aboard the MSF vessel Geo Barents. Many sang songs and listened to music during navigation, as they waited to reach a safe port in Italy.

A migrant from Pakistan,

Toseef, who used to sing at weddings, sang a love song and dedicated it to his wife who was still in Pakistan. Italian Prime Minister Giorgia Meloni’s government is forcing migrant rescue ships to dock further and further north along Italy’s coastline, meaning long journeys that raise their operating costs and strain their ability to continue saving lives. Forcing NGO ships

to reach ever-more distant ports increases costs at a time when budgets are stretched by inflation and higher fuel costs following Russia’s invasion of Ukraine.

The new docking destinations policy adds to a December decree, which forces NGO ships to request and head to a port “without delay” after each rescue, rather than continue looking for boats in distress.

CM KP directs to improve mechanism of provision of free flour

PESHAWAR Staff RepoRt

Caretaker Chief Minister Khyber Pakhtunkhwa

Muhammad Azam Khan has directed the concerned authorities to improve the mechanism of provision of free flour to the deserving and needy people in the province.In a statement

issued in Peshawar on Monday, he asked the District Administration officials to ensure their presence on ground during distribution of free flour across Khyber Pakhtunkhwa. Muhammad Azam Khan stressed the need for proper monitoring of the process of free flour distribution so that the needy and poor families can get the flour.

PTI ready for talks but govt has malafide intention: Qureshi

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf Vice-Chairman Shah

Mahmood Qureshi said on Monday that issues relating to elections could be resolved through talks but government’s intention was not good. Talking to media persons outside Islamabad High Court, Qureshi said curbs on media could not hide facts. He said his party was hopeful.

“We are hopeful and constitution clearly tells when the elections will be held. The excuse which is being advanced, is a lame one,” the PTI leader said. He said government had no resources for elections but it had funds for PSL and for the force being deployed at the

time of Imran Khan’s attendance at court.

He hoped that court would protect the constitution. “We stand by the superior judiciary. Our workers were arrested in Punjab. As many as 2,000 PTI supporters were arrested. Idol of the fear has been broken,” he maintained. The PTI leader said that his party was not avoiding negotiations but government had a malafide intention behind. On one side the government was talking about negotiations but on the other side it was arresting PTI workers. He said government and PTI could sit together and talk about elections, country was experiencing political instability. Qureshi said Ishaq Dar’s statement in Senate had created frenzy among people.

the respondents from acting on their “plans”.

Notably, in addition to Sanaullah, the federal government, IG Islamabad and SSP operations have been made respondents to the case.

PTI Secretary General Asad Umar has issued a statement saying courts should take notice of Sanaullah’s statements, adding that the party “has no intentions of threatening his existence”.

“We did not make any cases in government,” he said, “all cases against Sanaullah were National Accountability Bureau’s references.”

He simultaneously lamented the crackdown on PTI workers, claiming “500 PTI workers have been arrested in Islamabad alone”. Similarly, former minister and Awami Muslim League (AML) chief Shiekh Rashid .also condemned the interior minister’s remarks.

“They usurped the state,” Rashid said claiming that Sanaullah “wants bloodshed in the country”.

another case filed against hassaan niazi in Karachi

KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

A case was registered Monday against Hassaan Niazi, nephew of Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) Chairman Imran Khan, and his associates in Karachi. The case was registered in the Jamshed Quarters police station on the complaint of a citizen named Muhammad Iqbal. “In a video shared by Hassaan Niazi on social media, he incited the people to rebellion,” the text of the first information report (FIR) read. “Hassaan Niazi addressed the national defense institutions and threatened them. His statement had angered the people,” it added.

PPP wins big in unofficial results of Sindh local government repolling

KARACHI

Staff RepoRt

The Pakistan People’s Party (PPP) emerged as the biggest winner in Sunday’s local government polls held in various Union Councils’ wards across Sindh, according to unofficial results. The party won 39 seats, while the Grand Democratic Alliance (GDA) won six seats. Independent candidates secured nine seats, making the results inconclusive. The PPP also won 10 out of 16 chairmen and vice chairmen seats, while independent candidates and GDA contestants secured three and two seats, respectively. Based on the unofficial party position results, PPP took the lead with 21 general member seats out of a total of 32 seats. Muttahida Qaumi Movement (MQM) Pakistan and GDA secured one seat each, while an independent candidate won 11 member district council seats. Jamiat Ulema-e-Islam (JUI-F) and Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) won one general member seat each, and the PTI candidate secured one seat of chairman and vice-chairman. The PPP won 22 general member seats, while the independent candidate bagged four seats. The voting was held in 15 districts of Sindh in response to widespread allegations of rigging during previous local government elections. A total of 109,687 registered voters were expected to cast their votes, with 59,310 male and 50,377 female voters. The local government polls were facilitated by 15 district returning officers, 26 returning officers, and 52 assistant returning officers, with a total of 81 polling stations established across 15 districts.

railway Minister announces 10 to 15pc reduction in train fares

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Minister for Railways and Aviation Khawaja Saad

Rafique has announced 10 to 15 percent reduction in the fares of freight trains. Addressing a news conference in Lahore on Monday, he said Pakistan Railway has formulated a 100-day plan, according to which new cargo trains will run between Peshawar and Karachi. The Minister said that two more trains are going to run on the pattern of Green Line. He said the inclusion of two more trains will help reduce load significantly on Green Line train.He said Pakistan Railways land will be used for commercial purposes. He said Pakistan Railways has made a plan to convert its offices and stations to solar energy. Talking about PIA, he said the airline will soon launch direct flights for England and Europe.

alvi diSPleaSed over cda’S ‘diScriMinatory act’ of non-allotMent of reSidential quarter to woMan eMPloyee

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

PRESIDENTDr Arif Alvi has expressed displeasure over the Capital Development Authority (CDA)’s discriminatory and misogynist act of non-allotment of a residential quarter to a woman employee.

The CDA had taken the plea that quarters could only be allotted to adult male working dhobis (washer men) as per past practice.

President Alvi said that CDA had discriminated against the female employee, and upheld Wafaqi Mohtasib’s orders

directing CDA to allot the quarter to the female employee.

While rejecting CDA’s representation against the orders of the Wafaqi Mohtasib, the President said that the most unfortunate part of the CDA’s defence was that allotment could only be made to a male and could not be made to a female for the same services.

“This is highly discriminatory, CDA is directed to improve its rules that are ensuring such misogynist practices and send the report to Wafaqi Mohtasib of the same in 60 days,” he said.

The president underscored that Pakistan could not progress if its female equal

imran gets bail in seven cases related to islamabad court violence

COntInuED fROM PAgE 01

He also held Khan responsible for not ensuring a peaceful environment, pointing out that people had burned cars while he did not even get out of the car. Justice Farooq inquired what the petitioner would do if the administration gave irresponsible statements, to which he replied that party would arrange its own security if the administration did not provide it. Finally, the judges granted interim bail to Khan, following which he left the high court. Earlier in the day, a video posted on the opposition party’s Twitter account showed Khan entering the court premises, surrounded by a large contingent of Islamabad police.

SUPPORTERS ARRESTED: Meanwhile, supporters and workers of the party have been arrested ahead of the hearing. According to Shireen Mazari, a party leader and former minister, Khan’s photographer, Imran G, and three other people were taken into police custody while on their way to the court. She tweeted that the four individuals were “unarmed civilians” and had been arrested without committing any crime. The group was allegedly taken to Ramna police station.

govt making hectic efforts to provide relief to common man: na told

ISLAMABAD Staff RepoRt

The National Assembly, which met at Parliament House in Islamabad on Monday with Speaker Raja Pervaiz Ashraf in the chair, was informed that the government is making hectic efforts to provide relief to the common man keeping in view the current inflationary trends. Responding to the queries of the members during Question Hour in the House today, Minister of State for Finance Aisha Ghaus Pasha said we have enhanced the stipends under Benazir Income Support Program to support the deserving families. She said, Ramadan package has also been given to provide essential commodities to the people at reduced rates. She said the government is also planning to provide targeted subsidy on petroleum products. The Minister of State said it is our effort to bring down the inflation which has both domestic and international factors. She said we need the cooperation of the provinces to check the price hike. Aisha Ghaus Pasha said the government is also giving priority to the tax revenue mobilization in view of the current economic challenges and to reduce deficits. She said a committee has been formed to expedite tax cases pending in different courts. Responding to a question, the Minister of State said the government is committed to an interestfree economy. She said a committee has been constituted and deliberations are underway to prepare a transformational plan in this regard. Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi told the House that National Disaster Management Authority (NDMA) has received data of the houses destroyed in recent floods from the three provinces, while data from two federating units is still awaited. He said minimum compensation for fully damaged houses has been revised up to five hundred thousand rupees and for partially damaged houses, it has been fixed at two hundred and fifty thousand rupees. Responding to a Calling Attention Notice, Minister of State for Interior Abdul Rehman Khan Kanju said FIA is taking steps to check human trafficking with the cooperation of international organizations. He said the capacity building of the relevant departments is also being done to deal with this menace. Meanwhile, the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Amendment Bill, 2023 and the Press, Newspapers, News Agencies and Books Registration Amendment Bill, 2023 were also laid before the House. These were laid by Minister for Parliamentary Affairs Murtaza Javed Abbassi. At the outset, newly elected MNA Muhammad Mohsin Leghari took oath of his office. Speaker National Assembly Raja Pervaiz Ashraf administered the oath to him.

members of the society were discriminated against in such a manner. He said that it was against the spirit of the founders of Pakistan, the fair practices of Islam, and also the Constitution.

He directed CDA to comply with Wafaqi Mohtasib’s orders and redress the grievance of the complainant and, if so required, and seek the approval of the competent authority/forum without further loss of time.

Shahnaz Begum (the complainant) had alleged that her late husband was an exwasher man attached with CDA, and he had applied for allotment of a Dhobi quarter. She joined CDA as a washerwoman,

after the death of her husband, and made a request for the allotment of a quarter, but CDA issued the same to another employee who was junior to her in the seniority list.

Feeling aggrieved, she approached Wafaqi Mohtasib who passed the order that maladministration on the part of CDA was evident as it had discriminated against the complainant and was recommended to issue allotment orders for the quarter in question to the complainant and submit a compliance report within 30 days.

The CDA filed a representation against the orders of the Wafaqi Mohtasib and contended that from the beginning, the accommodation had been allotted to CDA’s

male employees (washermen) and it had never been allotted to any female (washerwoman).

The CDA further argued that Dhobi had been defined as an adult male working Dhobi and the relatives of Dhobi meant adult blood relations viz. father, brother, and son. After perusal of the record and hearing the parties, it was observed that CDA had already issued allotment of another quarter to a female washerwoman in the year 2000. The president, therefore, rejected CDA’s representation and upheld Wafaqi Mohtasib’s orders to issue the allotment letters of the quarter in question to the female Dhobi.

NA speaker directs MoI to take action against officials involved in violence against journalists

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

National Assembly Speaker Raja

Pervaiz Ashraf on Monday directed the Ministry of Interior (MoI) to take action against those officials involved in acts of violence against journalists during the appearance of Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf chief Imran Khan before at the Islamabad High Court (IHC).

During the Joint Session of the Parliament, the journalists staged a walkout from the Press Gallery to protest the government’s failure in taking action against those involved in violence, the arrest of journalist

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01

Siddique Jan and not forming a commission as enshrined in the Protection of Journalists and Media Professionals Act, 2021, besides the lingering issue of unpaid salaries by media houses. The speaker, in his ruling, said, “I hereby direct the Interior Ministry to probe violence against journalists and the elements involved in the violence should be brought to justice.”

About non-payment of salaries to journalists, he said, right now the National Assembly’s Standing Committee on Information is considering the issue and the journalists would be given representation in it.

“Once a constitutional issue is pending before a Provincial High Court, keeping in view the Federal structure of our Constitution the autonomy and independence of the apex provincial constitutional court, should not be readily interfered with but rather be supported to strengthen the provincial autonomy and avoid undermining the autonomy of the provincial constitutional courts”.

The order concluded that even otherwise “without prejudice to the above”, such matters “should best be resolved by the Parliament”.

Justices Shah and Mandokhail highlighted that they were in agreement with the decisions of Justice Yahya Afridi and Justice Athar Minallah when they questioned the intent of the suo motu and urged the constitution of a full bench.

The judges dismissed the present constitution petitions and dropped the suo motu proceedings.

FORmATiOn OF FUll cOURT Only wAy

FORwARD: ShAh KhAwAR ADvOcATE:

Commenting over the judgement of two judges, Shah Khawar Advocate told Pakistan Today that the judgement was “alarming” and it required immediate review of the situation.

“There is a clear divide among the judges .. the larger bench that heard the petition filed by PTI today against postponement of the Punjab elections

was an off shoot of the same case. This was perhaps the reason that Justice Mandokhail today had raised a question, arguing which judgement of the top court had been violated,” he said.

Shah Khawar Advocate said that following the verdict by the two judges on Monday, the previous judgement has become controversial.

“It is incumbent upon the chief justice to put the matter before a full court which is the way forward. The judgement to hold Punjab election on April 30 has also become controversial now after this majority judgement and impartiality of the Supreme Court is under question. Wisdom requires that the Chief Justice form a full court to take up the case, failing which the respect would be under question,” he added.

Asked whether the bench was also divided on political lines as was the case back in 1997 when the bench had revolted against the then Chief Justice Syed Sajjad Ali Shah, Shah Khawar Advocate said the division of the bench was not political in nature and rather it’s a matter of interpretation of law.

“The judges are honouarble and one may not jump to conclusion but extreme positions taken by judges on powers of the chief justice and rest of the judges require immediate rethink and review. Things are getting controversial now and the repute of the court is being questioned,” he concluded.

Census staff failed to reach several areas: MQM-P

KARACHI Staff RepoRt

The MQM-P’s Rabita (Coordination) Committee has pointed out that the census staff had failed to reach several areas.

It announced that if there were errors in the statistics of the ongoing 7th Population and Housing Census in the country, the party would conduct its own head count.

During a huddle of the MQM-P’s Rabita Committee, presided over by the party’s convener Khalid Maqbool Siddiqui, sources said the participants discussed a range of issues including the country’s political situation, census and local government by-elections.The party expressed its grave concerns over the process of the country’s

lhc gives directive to police to resolve imran’s security issue

COntInuED fROM BACK PAgE

The former prime minister submitted that his popularity in the political arena has become a cause of concern for his political adversaries who after the failure of several criminal cases have now resorted to the opinion of “eliminating him altogether for the political scene as final disposal”.

He also stated that since he was ousted from the government, the present regime decided to lodge a series of bogus cases against the him and senior leadership of PTI who were also subjected to torture on the basis of serious charges like sedition and mutiny.

“All state machinery was misused with the sole object of political victimization and score-settling. Being aggrieved by malicious campaign launched against him and senior members by registering baseless and false cases across Pakistan, the PTI decided to protest against incumbent Pakistan Democratic Movement (PDM) and announced “haqeqi Azadi March,” the petition read.

The ousted premier contended that the assassination attempt was properly planned and executed at the behest of the political adversaries of the petitioner who were of immense popularity.

“The petitioner wishes to fight with politically motivated cases but due to inadequate arrangements he remained unable to attend some hearings physically, the petition added.

Imran, in his petition, also sought strict action against respondents for failing to maintain law and order on court premises during his court proceedings.

The petition further sought “no adverse action and no arrest” until he is provided proper security for court attendance and appearances.

first digital census, observing that its reservations over the exercise were coming true.

The participants of the meeting further maintained that in many areas, several people living in the same building had been counted as a single individual. Earlier this month, on the MQM-P’s demand, the prime minister had ordered to extend the census from three to 10 days and to mark each flat instead of the main entrance of multi-storied buildings.

In February, the party had written a letter to the Pakistan Bureau of Statistics (PBS) chairman, saying that allocating only three days for conducting the census in the densely-populated Karachi was not enough. The letter had read that at least 10 days should be set aside for household head counts.

stakeholders point out ‘serious flaws’ in OGRAs foreign exchange losses adjustments

COntInuED fROM BACK PAgE

Your impartiality is critical to ensuring that the interests of all stakeholders are protected and that the industry thrives on innovation and healthy competition.”

Furthermore, OMAP is highly disappointed with the recent vague statement issued to newspapers in response to the allegations of disbursement of foreign exchange losses adjustment to non-deserving entities.

The statement issued is quite weak, unclear, and fails to address the actual issue at hand.

The allegations of disbursement of foreign exchange losses adjustment to non-deserving entities are serious and require a thorough investigation.

Instead of providing a clear explanation of how these entities were selected and why they were given preferential treatment, your statement merely refutes the allegations without providing any evidence or explanation.

Furthermore, the statement does not address the larger issue of OGRA policies in favor of big oil marketing companies and discriminatory policies towards emerging OMCs. This is a major concern for the industry and the people of Pakistan, and it requires a clear and transparent response from the regulator.

He wrote that OMAP, being the true representative of emerging OMCs, is deeply troubled by this biased behavior and believes it goes against the very principles of fairness and competition that

our society is based on. As a result, new emerging oil marketing companies are being compelled to adopt other remedial ways to get their rights, which will not only impact the industry negatively but also tarnish the image of OGRA as a fair regulatory authority.

“Therefore, I urge you to reconsider your decisions and policies and work towards creating a level playing field for all players”, he said adding that the new emerging oil marketing companies deserve a fair chance to succeed, and it is your responsibility to ensure that they are not unfairly disadvantaged. We hope you will take appropriate action to address these concerns and work towards creating a level playing field for all players in the market.

Petitioner was witnessed appearing before the Anti-Terrorism Court (ATC), banking court, judicial complex and Lahore High Court (LHC). Prior to the assassination attempt on his life petitioner never hesitated from performing his legal obligations, added the petition.

“The petitioner wishes to fight with politically motivated cases but due to inadequate an improper arrangements petitioner remained unable to attend some hearings physically. Despite a failed assassination attempt that let him critically wounded and despite several demands to provide proper and inadequate security the Respondents deliberately are exposing the petitioner so that he may fall a prey to any attack that may be launched or directed towards him,” read the petition.

He requested the court to direct the concerned quarters to provide him foolproof security and permission to mark attendance into court proceedings through video link to avoid further untoward incident.

Dissenting sC judges call for revisiting CJP’s ‘one-man show’

Trigger-happy with bans

The more things change….

IF all you have is a hammer, all problems will look like nails. And in the government’s hammer-only arsenal, a blanket ban through Pemra is used often, regardless of who is in government.

The Pakistan electronic Media Regulatory Authority (Pemra) Monday barred the television channels from live and recorded coverage of rallies or public gatherings by any party, organisation, or individual being held in the federal capital. The rationale is yet another smattering of the usual: “Such footages/images were seen on TV screens without any editorial oversight during a recent standoff between political party workers and law enforcing agencies in lahore wherein, a violent mob used petrol bombs, injuring armless policemen and blazing police vehicles. The live telecast of such footages on different satellite TV channels created chaos and panic among the viewers and Police.”

That’s an argument for better law enforcement and not for banning coverage. It might also be an argument for not letting things come to a pass politically, for there to be such conflagration. Yes, hell is other people and yes, the political opposition might be behaving unreasonably but what is politics, if not the art of the possible?

Granted, there can be limits to such possibilities and a sitting government might have to take some unsavoury (but legal) steps. But why should they involve the banning of coverage of political rallies?

The previous dispensation used to live in the first half of the last century, given how it used to block newspaper routes as well, ensuring that entire housing societies don’t get particular newspapers in the morning, in addition to arm-twisting the local TV cable operators to ensure a particular set of TV channels aren’t broadcast. The incumbent government might not have done that but have taken the ‘legal’ route of banning things through Pemra.

None of the governments realise themselves, or is informed by the state’s information apparatus, that even if we discount for the principles being violated in this banning spree, they won’t achieve much of any desired effect either, because news content is increasingly being consumed on digital platforms and social media. The internet networks cannot be shutdown given how much foreign exchange our ever burgeoning IT industry gets us. And even if, in the throes of desperation, the internet services are shut down momentarily, all the backlog cellphone footage piled up during the blackout will be uploaded nigh immediately when things are back online.

We need more transparency, less opacity.

Dedicated to the legacy of late Hameed Nizami

Arif Nizami (Late)

Founding Editor

Yousaf Nizami Editor

M. A. Niazi

Joint Editor Umar Aziz Executive Editor

Don’t forget Indian spy Kulbushan’s case

Proof of RAW’s nefarious activities in Pakistan

joining RAW. he also served as a scrap dealer and had a jewelry business in Chahbahar, Iran, after he joined RAW in 2013.

During interrogation, Jadhav revealed that at Wadh, khuzdar, he was in contact with haji Baloch whom he provided financial and logistic support including separatists and the Islamic State network in karachi.

he elaborated that his job was to hold meetings with Baloch insurgents and collaborate with them to carryout terrorist activities, leading to the killing or maiming of thousands Pakistani citizens.

Indian officials.

And the Foreign Office (FO) on July 18, 2019 announced: “As a responsible state, Pakistan will grant consular access to Commander kulbushan Jadhav according to Pakistani laws, for which modalities are being worked out” with India.

Nevertheless, Islamabad on September 2, 2019 provided Jadhav an “unimpeded, uninterrupted and recorded” consular access in line with the international legal norms and commitments. But, New Delhi fumed in anger and frustration after its convicted spy Jadhav supported Pakistan’s stance during his meeting with top Indian diplomat in Islamabad. Besides, showing optimistic approach on humanitarian ground, Pakistan had also allowed mother and wife of Indian convicted spy kulbhushan Jadhav to meet him. They visited Pakistan on December 25, 2017 and met him at the office of Ministry of Foreign Affairs in Islamabad.

PAkISTAN is facing so grave multiple crises that political leaders and media have ignored many important issues and matters.

In this regard, Indian Spy kulbushan Jadhav’s case also needs attention to keep it in the limelight. kulbushan Jadhav, alias hussain Mubarek Patel, is an Indian spy (terrorist) who was apprehended on March 3, 2016 during a counter-intelligence operation from Mashkel, Balochistan province, while he was travelling to Pakistan on an Iranian passport.

A serving Indian Navy officer Jadhav was involved in espionage, acts of terrorism, and sabotage against the state of Pakistan, especially in the Balochistan. his cynical activities cost Pakistan thousands of lives and hence he was awarded death sentence in April 2017 by the the Field General Court Martial (FGCM).

Yadhav joined the Indian National Defence Academy in 1987 and was commissioned in the engineering branch of the Indian Navy in 1991. During his service years, he was promoted to the rank of Naval Commander.

Notably, in a video statement, kulbhushan openly admitted that he was the serving agent of Indian secret agency RAW in Balochistan, and during his stay, he contacted various Baloch separatist leaders and insurgents, including Dr Allah Nazar Baloch to execute the task to damage the China-Pakistan economic Corridor project (CPeC). he confessed that he spied for India and was “assigned with the task to create unrest in karachi and Balolchitan…to destabilize Pakistan.”

In this context, addressing a joint press conference with the then Federal Minister for Information Pervaiz Rasheed, the then Director General of Inter-Services Public Relations (ISPR) lt. Gen. Asim Saleem Bajwa said on March 29, 2016: “kulbushan Yadav’s arrest is a rare case that does not happen very often.” he pointed out that Yadav was an active officer of the Indian Navy prior to his

Jadhav disclosed that he had met haji Baloch several times, sometimes for planning sectarian violence in karachi and the rest of Sindh province. he also told that the masterminds of the Safoora bus attack, where gunmen shot dead 45 Ismaili passengers, were also in contact with haji Baloch.

While, upon information provided by Jadhav, Pakistan’s intelligence agencies arrested hundreds of undercover operatives, working to sabotage peace in Pakistan, saving thousands of innocent lives from potential harm.

During interrogation,

It is mentionable that in their self-created arguments, India’s lawyers had told the ICJ that the case was “farcical” and based on “malicious propaganda”. Pakistan’s lawyers hit back by accusing Jadhav of “terrorism”. Pakistan’s attorney general stated that Jadhav’s “unlawful activities were directed at creating anarchy in Pakistan and particularly targeted the China-Pakistan economic Corridor”.

he was in contact with Haji Baloch whom he provided financial and logistic support including separatists and the Islamic State network in Karachi.

Meanwhile, the haguebased International Court of Justice (ICJ) announced its verdict about the case of kulbhushan Jadhav. In its judgment, ICJ President Abdulqawi Ahmed Yusuf stated that Pakistan should review the case, while considering, under the laws of Pakistan. The Court, however, rejected all other remedies sought by India, which included the annulment of the military court decision convicting Jadhav, restricting Pakistan from executing the sentence, securing Jadhav’s release and ordering his return to India. Therefore, Islamabad was given options—somehow an appeal should lie before the civilian courts in this case.

On April 10, 2017, Pakistan’s Army Chief General Qamar Bajwa had endorsed the death penalty for Jadhav. In June 2017, the Indian spy had filed a mercy petition against the death penalty, in which he again confessed to his involvement in terrorist activities in Pakistan.

however, before Pakistani authorities could make a final decision, the ICJ, after being approached by New Delhi, had ordered a stay in his execution through an interim order.

On July 17, 2019, after a petition lodged by India, the International Court of Justice ordered Pakistan to allow Jadhav full and unimpeded consular access to

Unseen and unheard

The issue of refugees is a complex and pressing global concern. Millions of individuals around the world have been forced to flee their homes due to conflict, persecution, and other forms of violence. These refugees often find themselves in precarious situations, without access to basic necessities such as shelter, food, and healthcare. The United Nations high Commissioner for Refugees (UNhCR) was established in 1950 with the mandate of protecting and supporting refugees around the world.

The agency has played a crucial role in providing humanitarian assistance to those in need, as well as advocating for the rights of refugees on a global scale. Despite the best efforts of the UNhCR, there are certain regions where the agency has fallen short in fulfilling its mandate. Two such regions are Malaysia and Pakistan, where the UNhCR offices have been criticized for their poor performance in addressing the needs of refugees. In Malaysia, the UNhCR has been criticized for failing to adequately protect refugees from arrest, detention, and deportation by the Malaysian government.

The country is not a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, and as such, it is not bound by its provisions. This has left refugees in a vulnerable position, with little recourse when it comes to seeking legal protection. The UNhCR in Malaysia has also been accused of failing to provide adequate assistance to refugees in terms of housing, healthcare, and education. Many refugees in Malaysia are forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, with little access to basic services.

The government has a policy of detaining refugees and asylum seekers who are found to be in the country without proper documentation. This has led to a situation where refugees are often forced to live in hiding, unable to access essential services for fear of being discovered and detained. One example of this is the case of Syed Fawad Ali Shah, a Pakistani refugee journalist who was registered with UNhCR Malaysia. Fawad was abducted in Malaysia and taken to Pakistan, where he was held in detention for several months. he was subsequently released but now faces false charges filed by the police and the FIA cybercrime circle. his name has also been added to a stop list maintained by Pakistan’s Federal Investigation Agency’s Immigration to prevent him from leaving the country and exposing corruption in Pakistani institutions.

Despite the danger he faces, the UNhCR and the International Organization for Migra-

tion (IOM) have failed to provide Fawad with a safe haven. This has left him in a precarious situation, with little hope of escaping the persecution he faces. In Pakistan, the situation is equally dire. The country is home to millions of refugees, including Afghans, Bangladeshis, and Uyghurs. Many of these refugees live in makeshift camps or urban slums, without access to basic services such as healthcare, legal aid, education, and sanitation.

The UNhCR in Pakistan has been criticized for its lack of action in protecting refugees from forced deportation. This has led to situations where refugees are sent back to their home countries, where they face grave danger, imprisonment, or even death. One example of this is the situation facing the Uyghurs refugees in Pakistan. The Uyghurs are a Muslim minority group from China those have faced persecution and violence at the hands of the China government. Many have fled to neighboring countries such as Myanmar, Russia, India and Pakistan where they are seeking refuge. however, in Pakistan, the Uyghurs are not recognized as refugees. This has left them in a precarious situation, with little legal protection or access to basic services. In recent years, there have been reports of Uyghurs refugees being forcibly deported from Pakistan to China. The situation for refugees in Pakistan and Malaysia is complex and multifaceted, with a range of challenges that must be addressed by the UNhCR and other relevant actors.

One of the key issues facing refugees in these countries is the lack of legal protections afforded to them. In Malaysia, the country’s non-signatory status to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention has left refugees in a vulnerable position, with little legal recourse when it comes to seeking protection. The Malaysian government has a policy of detaining and deporting refugees who are found to be in the country without proper documentation, which has led to a situation where many refugees are forced to live in hiding, unable to access basic services for fear of being discovered. Similarly, in Pakistan, refugees face a range of legal challenges.

While Pakistan is a signatory to the 1951 UN Refugee Convention, there are concerns that the country is not fully adhering to its ob-

ligations under the convention. This has led to situations where refugees are deported back to their home countries, where they may face persecution, imprisonment, or even death. In addition to these legal challenges, refugees in Pakistan and Malaysia also face a range of practical challenges when it comes to accessing basic services such as housing, healthcare, and education. Many refugees are forced to live in overcrowded and unsanitary conditions, which has led to a range of health issues. There have been outbreaks of infectious diseases such as tuberculosis and dengue fever, which have further exacerbated the challenges faced by refugees in these countries. The lack of access to education is also a significant challenge facing refugees in Pakistan and Malaysia. The UNhCR and other relevant actors must work to address these challenges and provide adequate support and protection to refugees in these countries.

This may involve working with the governments of Malaysia and Pakistan to ensure that refugees are afforded legal protections and are not subjected to forced deportation. It may also involve providing support for basic services such as housing, healthcare, and education, as well as working to combat discrimination and prejudice against refugees in these countries. One area where the UNhCR and other actors can make a significant difference is in the area of resettlement. Resettlement is the process of relocating refugees to a third country where they can rebuild their lives in safety and dignity. however, resettlement is a complex and time-consuming process, and there are often far more refugees in need of resettlement than there are available spaces. In order to address this challenge, the UNhCR and other actors must work to increase the number of available resettlement spaces and to streamline the resettlement process. This may involve working with governments around the world to encourage them to accept more refugees for resettlement, as well as providing support to refugees to help them prepare for the resettlement process.

The writer is a columnist & human rights activist. He can reached at ihtisham0001@gmail.com

While challenging his sentence in the ICJ, India had fabricated the story which also claimed that the spy kulbhushan Jadhav was kidnapped from Iran where he had business interests after retiring from the Navy.

In fact, Yadhav was running a network of terror from Iran to sponsor terrorism in Pakistan, and was in collusion with terrorist outfits such as BlA, BRA, MQM (militant wing), TTP, leJ, and Daish (ISIl). Many of these groups have conducted a number of terrorist related assaults in Pakistan, Iran Afghanistan including some other countries of South Asia.

Nonetheless, Yadhav remains a living proof of Indian hostility and state-sponsored terrorism against Pakistan. The world must take notice of Indian inimical designs and policy of aggression against its neighbours.

Although in the remote past and in the recent past, various agents of RAW were captured in Pakistan, yet the case of kulbushan Yadav has exposed the real face of India’s ruthless terrorism, while New Delhi has, openly, been trying to save kulbushan from the execution.

We can conclude undoubtedly that Indian role in Pakistan became naked after the arrest of kulbhushan Yadav, and his confession clearly proved that Indian RAW has a well-organized espionage system in Pakistan.

Sajjad Shaukat writes on international affairs and is author of the book: US vs Islamic Militants, Invisible Balance of Power: Dangerous Shift in International Relations and can be reached at: sajjad_logic@yahoo.com

Editor’s mail

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

Being overweight and its problems

MAlNUTRITION is a state of deficiency at macro and micro levels owing to deficient or surplus consumption of energy and nutrients. The term encompasses under-nutrition, over-nutrition and micronutrient deficiencies, indicating intake issues related to vital minerals and vitamins in diet. Under-nutrition includes stunting, wasting and being underweight, while excess of nutrients or calorie consumption is defined as overweight and obesity. According to the World health Organisation (WhO), more than one billion people suffer from obesity, with 39 million children, 340 million adolescents and 650 million adults being obese. A report published by the World Obesity Federation in the ‘World Obesity Atlas 2022’, projected that about one in five women and one in seven men will be affected worldwide by obesity by the year 2030.

With one-fifth of world’s population, South Asia is facing significant health problems in the form of obesity. The WhO reported that 58.1 per cent Pakistanis are overweight, and 43.9pc are in the obese category. It is alarming that around 40pc of children in Pakistan are overweight or obese. earlier this month (March 4), the World Obesity Day was observed as a reminder of the widespread menace which is actually largely controllable. The day is observed to raise awareness about the global epidemic of obesity and its serious implications on health. The day encourages individuals, communities and the government to take action by tackling obesity, which is the leading cause of preventable death globally. Its widespread prevalence can be attributed to the availability of convenient and processed foods as well as the huge popularity of high-fat foods, sweetened sugary drinks and beverages in Pakistan. Simultaneously, a sedentary lifestyle due to the widespread use of digital gadgets has decreased the level of physical activity.

efforts to combat obesity must include public health initiatives to change diet and physical activity patterns by creating green spaces, walking or cycling tracks and recreational parks close to residential areas where women, children and men may spend time in healthy physical activities. The promotion of balanced diet should be encouraged at home and schools with the aim of raising a healthy generation. It is time to reverse this predictable disease, which requires a multi-faceted approach in prevention and treatment by involving healthcare providers, policymakers, general public, higher authorities and food industries.

TABINDA ASHRAF SHAHID ISLAMABAD

Bad driving and its consequences

ROAD accidents are all too common here and despite efforts to improve road safety, the number of mishaps has remained high. Also, with the increase in population, a significant spike in such accidents has been noted over the years. According to official statistics, over 5,000 road accidents in the country over the last three years have resulted in as many deaths and some 15,000 injuries. even though a number of motorways have been constructed and the condition of highways has been improved, serious accidents continue to take place. One of the main issues is that many drivers in Pakistan are untrained or have only informal training, which leads to reckless driving and poor decision-making on the roads. Additionally, the passenger buses lack basic safety features, like seat belts and air bags. To make meaningful progress in terms of reducing the number of accidents, continued investment in road infra-structure and driver education is necessary. Besides, stricter enforcement of traffic laws and penalties for reckless driving can help discourage dangerous behaviour on the roads. In this regard, a national transport policy needs to be introduced, making it compulsory for transporters and private vehicle-owners to compensate the victims of their reckless behaviour. FAWAD

Jadhav revealed that at Wadh, Khuzdar,

Sajjad Shaukat

Syed IhtISham BukharI

The UNHCR in Pakistan has been criticized for its lack of action in protecting refugees from forced deportation. This has led to situations where refugees are sent back to their home countries, where they face grave danger, imprisonment, or even death.

A closer look at the plight of refugees

Aurat March

they all belong to a robust patriarchal background, they have no apprehension with the rights of women, they don’t care how brutally women are being treated in this country, and they are the honourable devotees of Islam and the defenders of Islam.

let me scrutinize their thoughts. The most conspicuous issue they have with the Aurat march is slogans.

Most of the time they come up with the most famous slogan of Aurat March ‘mera jism meri marzi’(My body my choice). It is a slogan used in Aurat March to grapple with the issue of sexual harassment, forced marriages, marital rapes, and reproductive choices which is a health issue. Any sane individual will not find this slogan unmannered but people with obscenity in their minds will impede this slogan to the bed only.

ACCORDING to the Global Gender Gap index report, Pakistan ranked as the fourth most dangerous country for women, 153/156 for women empowerment, 145/156 for economic participation and opportunity, 135/156 for educational attainment, and 143/156 for health and survival. If you search anything about gender discrimination in Pakistan, you will uncover this country vying in the last row.

Still, people dare to question the Aurat march which is the only substantial non-governmental and non-profit organization working on women’s rights in a country where women aren’t considered equal citizens and be murdered, raped, and thrown acid on their faces for the lanky inconvenience or no convenience at all.

On the 8th of March, people marched to demand fundamental women’s rights which are their essential human rights. I have followed the Aurat march on different social media platforms like Facebook, Twitter, and YouTube to see how it has proceeded. Usually, I ignore the videos of different Youtubers who deliberately try to cover the March to ask nonsense questions of the participants to mortify them.

They come with the agenda of an anti-Aurat march. They consider themselves a journalist even though they are not but they believe that any person with a camera and mic is a journalist. But journalism has morals but these so-called YouTubers do not have basic etiquette. But this time I give it a shot and decided to watch their videos to know about their opinions regarding Aurat March.

There are a few things that I noticed in all of them;

This insane populace believes that when they go home and wished for to have sex with their wives they should not be halted no matter what. They are not fond of hearing No and when they hear No they end up doing marital rapes, domestic violence, or most often beheading their wives, and burning them. But if we look at the chronology of this slogan it emanated from men during feudalism who were enslaved by their masters.

Today it is the slogan of feminism so men shouldn’t consider it controversial because it was started by them. Another thing which they come up with is that Islam has given women all the rights then why are they marching?

To answer this, Yes Islam has given women rights but have you let them practice those rights? What I notice in them is that they have only read one thing from the entirety of Islam and that is women should cover their bodies. I ask them, when have you seen women roaming naked on the streets?

Not being biased, I have never caught a glimpse of any woman wandering unclothed on the streets and I know you too haven’t. So it is a baseless allegation that women do not cover their bodies. Anyway wearing jeans and a shirt isn’t considered a stripped dress code but the religion of some insane people comes under threat when they see women wearing these attires their Islam doesn’t come under threat when Zainab was raped when Noor Mukdam was brutally murdered, mullahs doing sexual activities with the children with Quran in their hands, and recently man killed his wife because the tea wasn’t good.

Yes, where were you then who preach Islam every year in the Aurat march? Aurat march isn’t a threat to Islam or any other religion. It is a baseless assertion that people who participate in this march aren’t religious. Peo-

ple from different religious beliefs can participate in this March and they will be treated equally in March. It is a citizens’ voice, quelled citizens of the country due to the stronghold of patriarchy in the country. These citizens demand “equal rights” not less, not more. Another argument that they come up with is that Aurat March nurtures homosexuality.

First of all, homosexuality exists in all parts of the world and it is a reality. It has a long history.

Secondly, scientific evidence supports the idea that homosexuality is a natural and intrinsic aspect of human sexuality, rather than a choice or learned behavior.

In 1979, Zia introduced the Hudood ordinance which introduced strict laws and punishments for crimes. However, these laws primarily discriminated against women and it had made it difficult for women to report sexual assault.

Research has shown that sexual orientation is tenacious by a complex interplay of genetic, hormonal, and environmental factors. But if you carefully witness the Aurat march it supports the rights of the people. It has nothing to do with anyone’s personal relationship. The patriarchal social structure is so potent in this country that it is indeed strenuous to smash free of all the agents of this structure who are frequently being the reason for remorse for themselves and the country.

Patriarchy has never let them thrive in their evolution period. It has a definite link with the policies of General Zia who is not alive today but the country is still suffering in every realm because of his rigorous policies.

Zia boosted a hidebound and patriarchal version of Islam in this country and it has curbed the participation of women in public spheres. In 1979, Zia introduced the hudood ordinance which introduced strict laws and punishments for crimes. however, these laws primarily discriminated against women and it had made it difficult for women to report sexual assault. If they report them they become the victim of character assassination and ended up being avenged even for their rapes.

Aurat March is a ray of hope for the women of this country who are continuously being mauled since the inception of Pakistan. This movement is very peaceful and not misunderstood. It is only misunderstood by the populace who fear the pre-eminence of women. As long as we continue to march, our voices will only grow louder, our movement will only get vigorous, and the destiny we dream of, where women are truly free, will only get nigher. And remember, the Aurat March is not just a oncea-year event; it’s a powerful reminder that women’s rights are human rights and they deserve to be acknowledged, esteemed, and protected every day.

The writer holds a degree in International Relations and he tweets at @usama_1599

Why do some people get addicted and others do not?

Scroll anIrudh kala

MoScow TiMeS

dmItry glukhovSky

The trial in absentia of exiled Russian

author Dmitry Glukhovsky began in a Moscow court on March 21.

Glukhovsky has been charged with “spreading deliberately false information about the Russian army” over his outspoken criticism of Russia’s war in Ukraine. This is his open letter to the court addressing the charges against him.

We need the law to protect the weak from the strong, and to protect the strong from the temptation to target the weak. We need the law to hold criminals accountable and to prevent new crimes. To eradicate the worst in humans and to nurture the best.

There is nothing more important and precious than your life. Your life belongs only to you, and to you alone. No one has the right to take it away from you. No one has the right to hurt those you love. And no one has the right to order you to kill an innocent person.

If a law is passed that forces me to kill the innocent, my duty is to break this law. If a law is passed that forces me to cover up the murder of the innocent, I must violate this law, too. If a law is passed that forbids me from telling the truth about others killing the innocent, I am not obligated to abide by it.

It’s irrelevant if the murderers are our own soldiers. It’s irrelevant if they were following orders issued by their commanding officer or by the commander-in-chief. A soldier killing an innocent person is a criminal. In fact, he is worse than a regular criminal as he is backed by an enormous organized force that the victim is helpless against.

Cases of torture, rape and extrajudicial killings have all been documented in Ukraine. The bodies — hands tied behind their backs with the white ribbons that Russian soldiers order Ukrainian civilians to wear — have been exhumed. These are facts.

This has already happened. You cannot ban the truth. You can only try to conceal it in order to carry on with your killings, torture and rape with total impunity.

The war against Ukraine is the most destructive and dehumanizing thing that has happened to Russia in recent memory. Without reason or cause, my country invaded the territory of our neighbor that we used to consider a brotherly state. It sent out tanks to seize the Ukrainian capital. It sent planes to bomb Ukrainian cities. It ruined countless human lives. It razed dozens of cities and settlements to the ground. It occupied Ukrainian lands and called them its own with utter disregard for international law.

This war has no justification. Its horror and senselessness are too obvious. But the people who ordered the invasion — Vladimir Putin and his close circle — cannot back down as they are the real criminals and they are afraid of being punished for their crime.

Russia is now ruled by force alone. This breaks people’s backs, bends the law and steamrolls the legal system to allow the authorities to continue breaking the backs of the weak and bending the law to their will. This is why Russia is introducing anti-human laws.

They forbid us from calling the war a war: we are told to say “special military operation” instead. This is done so that they won’t have to be held accountable in front of their own citizens about how many Ukrainians have been killed for nothing; and how many Russians lost their lives in vain. To silence anyone who dares speak out. To send them to prison for 10 or 15 years.

They forbid us from calling out the state’s lies and from seeing the truth. There are even laws forcing us to say that proven facts are “deliberately false information.” They have allowed the killings of the innocent. They ordered us to cover up their crimes, to free criminals. To encourage criminals to kill again.

Those in power are giving us a crash course in how to believe that unimaginable evil is normal, even welcome. They are trying to force us to abandon our basic moral principles, which we have been taught from childhood by our parents. They are forcing us to get used to lies and murders.

There is a reason for this ban on speaking the truth and this demand to proclaim lies in public. The reason is to rid a new generation of Russians of any self-respect. To break their dignity, to make them give up on themselves in fear of unfair punishment, and to make them renounce their moral code.

The war against Ukraine is the most destructive and dehumanizing thing that has happened to Russia in recent memory. But, unable to dehumanize Ukrainians, the Russian government is dehumanizing its own citizens. The scale of destruction in Ukraine can be seen with the naked eye, even from space. While the destructive processes launched by a government obsessed with self-preservation in the soul of the Russian nation, in the very fabric of our society, are unseen for now, they threaten the very existence of Russia itself.

In order to save themselves, the Russian government is destroying its once beautiful and prosperous neighbor. But it is also destroying Russia, my homeland. There is nothing I can do to stop it, but I cannot stay silent.

I am confident that I am telling the truth by exposing the crimes of the Russian army in Ukraine. I am confident that the Defense Ministry and the Russian leadership are lying and have been lying for some time in an attempt to justify this terrible, senseless war. I am confident that I am not the one committing the crime against Russia and its future here — they are. There are certain laws that no one must ever abide by. And I won’t adhere to them, either.

Dmitry Glukhovsky is a journalist and author of the bestselling dystopian novel “Metro 2033” and its sequels.

ThIS chapter takes up a frequently asked question: to what extent are the processes involved in the initiation and maintenance of addiction influenced by genetics and to what extent by the environment? In general, there are three types of genetic evidence which can tell us whether an illness is hereditary or not. These are:

1. Family Studies: If the occurrence of an illness is higher in the first-degree relatives (parents, siblings, children) of a person suffering from an illness as compared to the seconddegree relatives (cousins, uncles, aunts, nephews, nieces), who in turn have higher rates as compared to the general population, it is strongly indicative that heredity has a role to play. however, close family members also share the same environment and so family studies alone may not be enough to prove that heredity is responsible for addictions any more than shared environment. For example, if the parents drink, chances are high that bottles of whiskey or vodka may be lying around the house and be easily available to an adolescent. Chances are also high for the parents to be more tolerant of their child taking a sip once in a while than in a family where everybody is a teetotaller. So, how do we know if the reason is the parents’ genes or their permissive attitude?

2. Adoption Studies: If children who are adopted soon after birth show a higher incidence of addictions when they grow up than the members of their adopted family and that incidence is more like the incidence in their biological family, it would mean that genetics plays a more important role in causing addictions than the environment. If the opposite is true, one would be correct in concluding that environmental factors are more important in causing addictions than genetic factors.

3. Twin Studies: Identical twins share genetic material which is the exact replica of each other, while non-identical twins, genetically speaking, are like regular siblings. When both members of a pair of twins suffer from the same illness, they are said to be concordant for that illness. If concordance rates for an illness in a series of identical twins are much higher than concordance rates in a series of non-identical twins, it is safe to assume that in the causation of that particular disease, genetic factors have a major role to play since the environment during early childhood is the same for both sets of twins.

In the case of addictions, family, adoption, and twin studies all show that an individual’s risk for addiction tends to be proportional to the degree of genetic relationship to a relative with addiction. Various genetic studies have shown that addictions have a moderate to high hereditability. A safe estimate would be that at least 50% of the burden of causation is shared by genetic factors and the rest by social and environmental factors such as the availability of drugs and stress.

A significant view on the shifting balance of genetic and environmental influences has been obtained from the developmental perspective. The Virginia Twin Study, in a series of publications, revealed that in early adolescence the initiation and use of nicotine, alcohol, and cannabis are more strongly determined by familial and social factors like permissiveness and availability, but these gradually decline in importance during progression to young and middle adulthood, when the effects of genetic factors become the maximum.

As a broad rule, environmental and social factors like easy availability and social sanction are more important in initiating drug use at a young age and genetic factors play a more important part in determining who eventually becomes addicted and who does not. Simply put, if a drug is available during adolescence and parental controls lax, there are more chances of a young person using that drug but not all of them grow up to be addicted to those drugs. To a large extent, genetic factors determine who does and who does not.

The moderate to high heritability of addiction disorder is paradoxical because addictions initially depend on the availability of the addictive agent, and it is the individual’s choice to use it or not. The availability of addictive agents is determined by the culture, social policy, religion, economic status and narco-trafficking, and it changes across time and place. Thus, the Twin Studies on addiction indicate that under particular societal scenarios, genes play a substantial role in causation of addictions. like other complex diseases such as obesity, diabetes, cancer and coronary heart disease, addictions are strongly influenced by genetic background but also

by lifestyle and individual choices.

however, what is inherited is a generic addiction trait, not the propensity to develop addiction to a specific drug or behaviour. In a genetically predisposed person, which drug or behaviour the person will get addicted to would depend totally upon access, permissiveness and the environment.

One summer, a couple of years back, a young man was brought by his parents and twin brother to my outpatients’ clinic for treatment. It was a nuclear family unit, which was a part of an extended business family living in connected houses and involved in wool trade in the downtown part of the city. The patient was in his late twenties and had been using heroin for several years. he had been admitted multiple times to psychiatry and addiction treatment units at various city hospitals. each of these admissions had resulted in remissions lasting a few weeks to a couple of months. Repeated questions by the resident psychiatrist about history of addictions in any other members of the family was met with indignant denials.

This of course is possible, but here we had the patient’s identical twin sitting right next to him, whom the family swore was totally unlike his brother – highly responsible, an ideal son and utterly devoid of any addiction.

I sensed that the young man (the ideal twin) had something in his mouth. As things unravelled, it came to light that he had been using tobacco for even longer than his twin brother had been snorting heroin. And a dentist’s warning one year back after he discovered a suspicious patch of discoloured mucosa in his mouth had made no difference. Also, the father had been drinking half a bottle of whiskey every day for over 15 years even after a diagnosis of inflammation of the oesophagus. None of them were considered by the family to be addicts since alcohol and tobacco were not thought to be addictions.

Also, the patient’s uncle, the father’s brother, had left home at the age of 25 without telling anybody and was gone without a trace. After 15 years, a neighbour had spotted him in an ashram adjoining a temple in haridwar with a group of ganja-smoking sadhus, whom he was living with. This indicated a mixed behaviour and drug addiction. When the family went to see him, he had met them cordially but refused to go back home saying that he was happy where he was. however, none of these three members of the family were considered to be suffering from an “addiction” like the young man with heroin use. They were not even considered fit to be mentioned in the context of addictions even after being specifically asked about addiction in any other family member.

As for me, looking at the family afresh provided me with the possible genetic connection between the patient’s heroin addiction, his twin brother’s advanced nicotine addiction, his father’s alcoholism and his uncle’s behavioural and cannabis addiction.

THOSE IN POWER ARE GIVING US A CRASH COURSE IN HOW TO BELIEVE THAT UNIMAGINABLE EVIL IS NORMAL, EVEN WELCOME

When governments make immoral laws, it is our duty to disobey them

China reaffirms opening-up, stresses Cooperation at Development forum

Mian abrar China

ChinesePresident Xi Jinping on sunday reiterated China’s commitment to opening-up in a congratulatory letter to a high-level dialogue forum that saw the gath-

ering of officials from international organizations, global executives, and economists, sending a strong signal to participants that the nation will continue to create new opportunities for a world that has been derailed by regional conflicts and disturbances. Coming as fears about a spillover effect of the silicon Valley Bank failure send fresh

shudders through the markets, and growing protectionism and geopolitical conflicts are casting a shadow on the already weakening global economic recovery, the three-day event, China Development Forum (CDF), marks a rare and precious global dialogue platform for global elites to settle concerns and seek for growth in the “unprecedented

changes,” observers said.

Xi said in the letter that at present, momentous changes of a like not seen in a century are accelerating across the world, regional conflicts and disturbances are frequent, and the global economic recovery is sluggish. The facilitation of a global economic recovery requires consensus and co-

operation, he said, according to a report from the Xinhua news Agency. he noted that China will remain committed to its fundamental national policy of opening to the outside world, pursue a mutually beneficial strategy of opening up, and continue to create new opportunities for the world with new advances in China’s development.

corporate corner

11th Annual Convocation of Wah Medical College held

11th Annual Convocation of Wah Medical College

(WMC) held at College Auditorium. Lt Gen Wasim Alamgir, HI(M), Vice Chancellor National University of Medical Sciences who graced the event as Chief Guest, awarded degrees among successful students for the sessions 2016-17 & 2017-18. In both years 108 & 123 students completed their graduation respectively. Dr.Romaila Khan and Dr. Amina Ali were declared student of the year 2016-17 & 201718. Both students were awarded Gold Medals. Students graduated with distinction were also awarded Medals and Certificates. Students who stood First, Second and Third were also awarded Cash prizes amounting to Rs. 3, 2 and1 lac respectively. Major General Abdul Khaliq, HI(M) (R), Principal Wah Medical College while addressing the ceremony, lauded the efforts of Faculty in educating and training students in professional manners, and appreciated their hard work and dedication. pr

Askari Bank elects new directors

This is to inform that 31st Annual General Meeting (AGM) of Askari Bank Limited held on Wednesday, March 29, 2023 at 11:00 am. Besides other agenda items Election of Directors was also on the agenda of the meeting. The members were informed that pursuant to Section 159 (3) of the Companies Act 2017 the following persons have filed notices offering themselves to be elected as Directors of the Bank: Since the number of persons who have offered themselves for election is not more than the number fixed by the Board in terms of Section 159 (1) of the Companies Act,2017,therefore, the above named persons stand elected as Directors of the Bank for a period of next three years w.e.f. March 29, 2023, subject to the clearance of the State Bank of Pakistan. pr

NUST ranks No 160 globally, No. 1 among Pakistani Engineering & Technology varsities Islamabad: The National University of Sciences & Technology (NUST) Pakistan, has ascended 19 positions in Engineering & Technology to stand at #160 globally, and retained #1 position in Pakistan for the 7th consecutive year as per QS World University Ranking by Subject 2023. Overall, NUST has stood first in Pakistan across 6 subject areas, including Electrical & Electronics Engineering; Computer Science; Mechanical, Aeronautical & Manufacturing Engineering; Chemical Engineering; Civil & Structural Engineering; and Material Science. NUST currently stands at #334 in the World University Rankings, #67 in Asia University Rankings. pr

NOT-BY- PROFIT

Stagflation: a challenge for policymakerS in pakiStan

islamabad NEWS DESK

WRITINGfor The Express Tribune, author Fahd Rehman explains that Pakistan is currently experiencing political turbulence that is causing economic uncertainty. According to the author, the lingering political situation is leading to a cat and mouse game between opposing political parties, further exacerbating the already fragile political landscape. The government's temporary pause in dialogue with the International Monetary Fund (IMF) is also contributing to the economic uncertainty. The IMF plays an important role in stabilizing Pakistan's economy, and any delays or standoffs in dialogue can have significant consequences.

Furthermore, the dwindling foreign exchange reserves, which are hovering around $4.6 billion, are posing a significant challenge to the government. To maintain a minimal level of reserves, the government has im-

posed import curbs, which have slowed down the economy.

As a result, a significant number of large-scale manufacturing plants are bound to shut down due to the shortage of raw materials and intermediate inputs.

Pakistan's economy has become increasingly dependent on imports, as critics have come down hard on the import substitution strategy and pushed for export-led growth. Proponents of export-led growth have been maintaining this position since the 1990s when a policy shift was taken to orient the economy towards the socalled export-led growth.

However, they may not have anticipated the current situation where business firms need to compete on price and quality, requiring time and effort to achieve mastery. The process of learning by doing is essential for businesses to become competitive, but it requires an enormous amount of effort, where firms act in small steps, and these steps are combined to achieve mastery.

Unfortunately, many firms fail to

achieve this mastery, and only a few firms become successful in this vein. Business firms must plough back to expand and remain competitive in the globalized world.

This requires industrial capitalists to focus on their core business and stay away from speculative business activities. However, the country's industrial capitalists engage in real estate and other speculative activities, and even invest their profits in buying stocks. These quick capital gains divert their attention from their core business, resulting in a mushroom growth in housing schemes.

The unplanned growth of housing schemes has already started to create havoc for the metropolitan cities. The cities are experiencing water, noise, and air pollution, and green land is being converted into brown land in haste. There is a need to properly assess the cultivated area as food grains are not meeting the domestic needs.

In addition, there is a shortage of food grains, which is making them more expensive day by day.

For instance, the support price of

wheat was fixed at Rs2,200 per 40 kg in 2022, which has been jacked up to Rs4,000 per 40 kg in 2023 as the impact of devaluation of the rupee played a major role in it. The expensive food grains increase the money wage of the working class. In a laborintensive industry, high money wages make products expensive. As a result, expensive products lose their competitiveness in a tough competitive environment. In short, Pakistan's economy is experiencing stagflation, where unemployment increases along with acceleration in prices. This is a complicated situation for policymakers to address, and it remains to be seen how the government will deal with this situation in the coming months. It is clear, however, that the government will need to take a comprehensive approach to address the country's economic challenges, including the need to shift towards more sustainable and competitive business practices.

To read the full article visit www.tribune.com.pk

Evolution of data protection laws and regulations

islamabad NEWS DESK

EXPORT-LED GROWTH STRATEGY FAILS TO ADDRESS CURRENT ECONOMIC IMPASSE IN PAKISTAN VARIOUS COUNTRIES SUCH AS CANADA, SINGAPORE, AND AUSTRALIA HAVE MADE THEIR OWN DATA PROTECTION LAWS

Personal information is a valuable asset in today's world and protecting it is crucial. According to the article in The Express Tribune, the author believes that data privacy is an evolving concern, with the rise of the internet and increasing online sharing of personal information.

The definition of personal data has expanded to include sensitive informa-

tion such as biometrics and location, making it difficult to determine what is protected by law. Laws and regulations governing data privacy are constantly evolving, and the increasing use of artificial intelligence makes it more complicated. However, steps such as creating awareness, implementing security

Tamasha launches ‘Family Bizniss’, featuring struggles of a middle-class Pakistani family

islamabad pr

Pakistan’s largest homegrown OTT platform, Tamasha, has launched its first-ever original series, “Family Bizniss”, in collaboration with Big Bang Entertainment. The launch event was recently held at the Jazz Digital Headquarters attended by Kaan Terzioglu, CEO of VEON Group; Aamir Ibrahim, CEO, Jazz; Aamer Ejaz, Chief

Digital Officer, Jazz; and leading actor and producer of the series, Fahad Mustafa. The series dives into the struggles of a middleclass family while also exploring the relationship between coming-of-age children and their parents. Staying true to its values, Tamasha has also attempted to educate the audience about entrepreneurship and digital inclusion in a comical way as the characters are shown hustling to establish an online business in an attempt.

Engro Foundation recognizes NDF, ConnectHear with IATC Impact Awards 2022

Karachi pr

Engro Foundation, the social investment arm of Engro Corporation, has announced National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) and ConnectHear as the two recipients of I Am The Change (IATC) Impact Awards 2022. Initiated in 2012, IATC is the flagship initiative of Engro Foundation to recognize and reward philanthropic and social enterprises that are creating an impact in

the development sector. The IATC Impact Awards 2022 attracted more than 100 entries in the categories of Social Development and Social Enterprise. The entries were adjudicated by the IATC team at Engro Foundation, along with an independent jury comprising Laila Jamil (Director, British Council), Madiha Rehman (Co-Founder & CEO, Phygital), Muhammad Waqas (Co-Founder & CEO, WonderTree), Zehra Mehdi Aneek (Director ESG and Sustainability, K-Electric) and Fauzia Viqar (Chair, SPDC).

Engro Foundation recognizes NDF, ConnectHear with IATC Impact Awards 2022

Karachi pr

Engro Foundation, the social investment arm of Engro Corporation, has announced National Disability & Development Forum (NDF) and ConnectHear as the two recipients of I Am The Change (IATC) Impact Awards 2022. Initiated in 2012, IATC is the flagship initiative of Engro Foundation to recognize and reward philanthropic and social enterprises that are creating an impact in

the development sector. The IATC Impact Awards 2022 attracted more than 100 entries in the categories of Social Development and Social Enterprise. The entries were adjudicated by the IATC team at Engro Foundation, along with an independent jury comprising Laila Jamil (Director, British Council), Madiha Rehman (Co-Founder & CEO, Phygital), Muhammad Waqas (Co-Founder & CEO, WonderTree), Zehra Mehdi Aneek (Director ESG and Sustainability, K-Electric) and Fauzia Viqar (Chair, SPDC).

measures, conducting risk assessments, and providing training can be taken to protect personal data.

Pakistan has taken steps towards data protection, but concerns remain about the effectiveness of measures in practice. Future developments in personal data protection may include strengthening regulations, increasing

transparency, and greater consumer awareness.

As individuals and organizations become more aware of data privacy and security, efforts to protect personal data will increase.

To read the full article visit www.tribune.com.pk

ECC dEfErs PrICE INCrEAsE of 119 drUgs

g indusTry’s demand of 38% increase in price shown red lighT by govT

ISLAMABAD Shahzad paRacha

THEEconomic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet on Monday deferred summaries of the Ministry of National Health Services on fixation Maximum Retail Price (MRP) of 54 new drugs and increase in prices of 119 drugs.

Federal minister Ishaq Dar presided over the meeting of the Economic Coordination Committee (ECC) of the cabinet.

The ECC considered a summary of Ministry of National Health Services for

maximum retail price of 100 mg Remdesivir injection for the treatment of Covid-19 and decided to not increase its price. The existing MRP of Rs 1,892/vial is fixed.

A simmering price dispute between the pharmaceutical industry and the federal government has resulted in an acute shortage of critical medicines, forcing patients to rely on smuggled and potentially counterfeit drugs at increased costs.

The industry demands a 38% increase in price to grapple with rising production costs owing to inflation and devaluation of the local currency in recent months. The government, however, has rejected

the demand, propelling pharmaceutical companies to either stop or go into a limited-scale production of scores of essential and non-essential medicines.

Making matters worse, the importers have stopped or drastically reduced the imports of about 100 crucial medicines related to general anesthesia, plasma-derived products, vaccines, oncology products, and biological products, causing a dearth of medicines across the country.

Earlier, president of Pakistan Media Association (PMA), Usman Mako, said that, “We suggest that instead of increasing

prices, the government and the pharmaceutical industry together share the burden of inflation and rupee devaluation”.

Reportedly, a senior official from the Drug Regulatory Authority of Pakistan (DRAP) claimed that pharmaceutical companies are “not exactly in loss” but their profits are shrinking.

“There is an estimated 20-25% loss in that pharmaceutical companies are currently enduring due to the dollar-rupee disparity and rising inflation. But to claim that they are not in a position to run their businesses is not true,” he added. other develoPments : The ECC

World Bank warns of ‘lost decade’ in global growth without bold policy shifts

WASHINGTON

ReuteRS

Average potential global economic growth will slump to a three-decade low of 2.2% per year through 2030, ushering in a “lost decade” for the world’s economy, unless policymakers adopt ambitious initiatives to boost labor supply, productivity and investment, the World Bank warned on Monday.

Failure to reverse the expected broad-based slowdown in potential gross domestic product (GDP) growth would have profound implications for the world’s ability to tackle climate change and reduce poverty, it said in a new report.

But concerted efforts to boost investment in sustainable sectors, cut trade costs, leverage growth in services, and expand labor force participation could boost potential GDP growth by up

to 0.7 percentage point to 2.9%, the report said.

“A lost decade could be in the making for the global economy,” said World Bank chief economist Indermit Gill, adding that policies which incentivized work, increased productivity, and accelerated investment could reverse the trend.

The average GDP growth rate is a sort of “speed limit” for the global economy, charting the maximum long-term rate at which it can grow without sparking excess inflation.

The report said the overlapping crises of the past few years, including the COVID-19 pandemic and Russia’s invasion of Ukraine, had ended nearly three decades of sustained economic growth, adding to building worries about slowing productivity, which is essential for income growth and higher wages. As a result, average potential growth in

Mansoor Usman Awan appointed new attorney general

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

President Dr Arif Alvi on Monday appointed Mansoor Usman Awan as the new attorney general of Pakistan (AGP) after accepting the resignation of Shehzad Ata Elahi. A statement issued by the Aiwani-Sadr said that the president had accepted the resignation of Elahi — who had quit the top law last week for “personal reasons” — and had appointed Awan as the AGP under Article 100 of the Constitution on the advice of the prime minister. The Ministry of Law and Justice subsequently notified Awan as the new AGP. The notification said Awan would have the rank and status of a federal minister. In his resignation letter that he addressed to the president on March 24, Elahi had cited “personal reasons” for tendering his resignation. However, he later issued a clarification denying that he had been asked to resign. Elahi was appointed as the AGP on February 2 after Awan, who’s nomination for becoming the country’s principal law officer was approved by the president in December last year, expressed his inability to take charge as the AGP. Awan had conveyed his intention to not take the office in a letter to Prime Minister Shehbaz Sharif. “Due to unavoidable professional commitments, I will be unable to serve as the AGP at this time,” he had said at the time. A source close to him had told that Awan was frustrated by the inordinate delay on part of the law ministry to issue the notification of his appointment.

GDP was seen dropping to 2.2% from 2022-2030, down from 2.6% in 201121, and nearly a third lower than the 3.5% rate seen from 2000-2010.

Low investment will also slow growth in developing economies, with their average GDP growth dropping to 4% for the rest of the 2020s, from 5% in 2011-2021 and 6% from 2000-2010.

Rising productivity, higher incomes and declining inflation helped one out of four developing countries reach highincome status over the past three decades, but those economic forces are now in retreat, the report said.

It said productivity was likely to grow at its slowest clip since 2000, investment growth in 2022-2024 would be half the rate seen in the last 20 years and international trade was growing at a much slower rate.

To change the trajectory and attract more investment, policymakers should

prioritize taming inflation, ensuring financial-sector stability and reducing debt. Increased climate-friendly investment in transportation and energy, climate-smart agriculture and manufacturing, and land and water systems could boost potential growth by up to 0.3 percentage point per year, it said.

Lowering the costs associated with shipping, logistics, and regulations could boost trade, it said, calling for changes to remove the current bias toward carbon-intensive goods inherent in many countries’ tariff schedules and eliminate restrictions on access to environmentally friendly goods and services. Boosting exports of digital services could result in big productivity gains, while raising labor force participation rates for women and others could raise global potential growth rates by as much as 0.2 percentage point a year by 2030.

PTI to launch report featuring human rights violations against party today

ISLAMABAD

Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Tehreek-i-Insaf (PTI) is all set to launch a report today Tuesday which summarises all the human rights violations against PTI from May 25 till now”.

While talking to a country leading Newspaper, PTI central leader Fawad Chaudhry said the party is launching a report on Tuesday (tomorrow) which summarises “all the human rights violations against PTI from May 25 till now”.

He alleged that the government in Pakistan is involved in crimes and custodial torture for political reasons”. When pressed on the allegations of a political witch-hunt led by PTI when Mr Khan was in power, Mr Chaudhry said: “This is a false parallel, it’s rubbish. There is a difference between what happened then and now. As members of the embattled Pakistan Tehreek-iInsaf face a slew of cases, late-night arrests and even alleged enforced disappearances, representatives of the party in the United Kingdom and Europe have sprung into action by staging protests, writing to MPs and speaking with human rights organisations to inform them about the crackdown against the party at the hands of the PDM government.

PTI’s focal person for UK and Europe Sahibzada ‘Chico’ Jahangir said the party doesn’t want anything

from the international community, but it is certainly calling upon the Pakistan government to hold free and fair elections.

“The European countries specially are very prodemocracy and pro-human rights,” the source said, adding that though “it is obvious no intervention is expected, they are keen to know our point of view regarding what’s going on”.

Separately, PTI member and former National Assembly speaker Asad Qaiser approached the Inter-Parliamentary Union (IPU), a global organisation of national parliaments, about the “political victimisation, assassination attempts and attacks on PTI”.

Mr Qaiser wrote a letter to the IPU, which has 179 members, in which he criticised the PDM government as being “fascist” and accused it of “illegal policies and severe violations” of human rights.

Mr Qaiser hoped the forum would take notice of the situation and play its role in protecting the people of Pakistan.

In the last week, large PTI protests have been held in London outside Parliament House and 10 Downing Street, as well as a sizeable demonstration in Brussels outside the European Parliament. At each of these protests, chants in favour of Imran Khan and against PML-N leader Nawaz Sharif were heard.

considered and approved a summary of Ministry of Energy (Petroleum Division) regarding arrangement of Finance Facility for funding Government of Balochistan’s share obligation in Reko-Diq project. The dispute settlement with directions to the Finance Division to arrange payment of markup amounting to Rs 6.23 billion for the period from March 31, 2022 to December 30, 2022 to the National Bank of Pakistan (NBP) for the short term finance facility of Rs 65 billion.

The ECC also deferred a summary of the Ministry of Aviation on the engagement of International Finance Corporation as transaction advisor for the outsourcing of three airports.

LHC gives directive to police to resolve Imran’s security issue

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

The Lahore High Court on Monday directed superintendent (SP) security to resolve Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf

(PTI) Chairman Imran Khan’s security issue in accordance with the law. Justice Abid Aziz Sheikh made the remarks during the hearing on the former prime minister’s plea seeking “foolproof security and permission to mark his attendance into court’s proceedings through video link” to avoid any incident after he survived an assassination attempt at Wazirabad last year. For permission linked to video link appearance, Justice Sheikh directed the petitioner to approach the concerned court. Imran had filed a petition through advocate Azhar Siddique. In previous proceedings, the court had directed Siddique to visit Imran’s Zaman Park residence for the sake of satisfaction after a deadlock erupted between police high-ups and PTI’s leadership over the deployment of security personnel. Police told the court that sufficient police officials had been deployed at Zaman Park while the PTI’s leadership argued that no security had been deployed. They appeared before the court and said that 123 police officials had been deployed there while PTI’s leader Shah Mehmood Qureshi differed from the version of the police, maintaining a lack of police security at the premises.

Petition: Sharing information from his credible sources, Imran contended in his petition that “he would yet again be targeted during his exposure in the court hearings and appearances”.

PTI responsible for inflation, economic crisis: Maryam Nawaz

LAHORE Staff RepoRt

Pakistan Muslim League-Nawaz (PML-N) Senior Vice President and Chief Organizer Maryam Nawaz on Monday said that the previous Pakistan Tehreek-e-Insaf (PTI) government was responsible for current inflation and economic crisis in the country. The four year rule of PTI was full of rampant corruption and bad governance, she said adding that nothing was done for the welfare of the people except giving them hollow slogans. Speaking during a meeting of the party spokespersons chaired by her, Maryam Nawaz said that baseless promises of providing millions of jobs and houses were made by the PTI but not a single job or house was provided practically. She said that PTI chief Imran Khan claimed to end corruption in 90 days whereas the country went 14 grade up in corruption index during PTI tenure. Commenting on 10 point agenda given by PTI chief, she said these were only lies like past as he did not have any agenda for the people. Maryam Nawaz said that real objective of PTI chief was to protect himself from cases registered against him. Irrefutable evidences were there against Imran Khan in cases including Toshakhana, Tyrian and foreign funding, she added. She said that the people had rejected the negative politics of PTI. The meeting reviewed party stance and policies in detail and decision was taken to present the facts before the people. It was also decided to tell the people facts about four year corrupt rule of the PTI which resulted in economic devastation.

Stakeholders point out ‘serious flaws’ in OGRAs foreign exchange losses adjustments

OGRA Shahab omeR

The stakeholders of the oil sector have pointed out serious flaws in the policy of the Oil and Gas Regulatory Authority (OGRA) regarding Foreign Exchange losses adjustments, Profit learnt here on Sunday.

The reference was made to the meeting organized by OGRA on March 21, 2023, at ODGC House to discuss the Mechanism of Exchange Rate Adjustment. The agenda of the meeting was to discuss unfair and unjustified working & distribution of FX losses.

In this regard, the Chairman of the Oil Marketing Association of Pakistan OMAP wrote a letter to Chairman OGRA Masroor Khan demanding his attention to the questions raised by all the stakeholders present in the meeting.

In the letter, Chairman OMAP Tariq Wazir Ali addressed the Chairman OGRA and held him responsible for distress to emerging oil marketing companies. He

wrote, “Your lack of action on these matters is causing great distress to emerging oil marketing companies who are struggling to compete with the established players in the market. Your deliberate negligence towards these demands has been deeply condemned by all oil marketing companies in a recent meeting, and it is clear that this issue needs to be addressed urgently. “

The letter of OMAP further explained the meeting’s proceedings that in the Question-Answer session, the industry pointed out very clearly that the entire industry barring PSO is facing an existential crisis and this is mainly driven by the lack of a coherent policy by OGRA. “It was specified that in a regulated environment, it was the duty of OGRA to ensure that the industry gets a level playing field and that the industry has been miserably failed by the regulator, you have consistently failed to settle foreign exchange losses adjustment, negative IFEM, pricing, oil marketing companies margin revision,

and other related issues”. Chairman OMAP Tariq Wazir Ali went on to say regarding alarming OGRA of the situation multiple times and said, “The record is evident that OMAP is repeatedly knocking on doors of OGRA and Petroleum Ministry to adopt an efficient mechanism for FX losses disbursement to ensure that each penny of national money goes to the true & eligible entities, without any pick & choose and ill-intended calculation to fetch a fortune for non-entitled entities. Serious flaws were pointed out in the mechanism due to which the exchange losses due to the industry have not been compensated. Instead, the industry pointed out scenarios whereby the OGRA formula has allowed FX compensation to companies who did not even import any cargo”. All top companies including multinational players pointed out the serious flaws in the formula and demanded OGRA to fix the formula and ensure a level playing field for the industry except PSO being the

benchmark company.

During the meeting, OMAP strongly suggested the establishment of FAP (Foreign Exchange Adjustment Pool) for justified distribution of FX losses among genuine & rightful entities hence barring any unfair & unjustified distribution due to favoritism, actual losses in line with the pricing formula are reimbursed to the affected companies and resultant saving to the national exchequer, the prime need of the hour.

The OMCs representatives also registered a serious concern that besides clearcut instructions given by the Minister of State on Petroleum in very loud words, the regulator failed to initiate OMCs Margins review, negative IFEM, and stock holding cost and had only focused on negating the demands of the industry on exchange losses.

OGRA’s refusal to create a level playing field is not only causing huge losses to the OMCs which is an existential threat, a bad name for the current Govt being contradictory with their directives and objective to

bring ease in doing business and making essential commodities accessible and affordable for the general public.

The regulator’s current role is also seriously closing the doors for new FDIs in the sector and also impacting investor confidence and the ability of the sector to maintain strategic reserves.

In the letter, Tariq Wazir Ali wrote, “It was very unfortunate to observe that on the hidden instruction of the regulator, OMAP, the only legal entity & strong voice of emerging OMCs was denied the right to present its complete point of view, in a very derogatory & deprecatory way, that seems to be a preplanned intrigue. The role of OGRA is to regulate the oil and gas sector and ensure a level playing field for all players. However, your recent actions seem to suggest a clear bias towards the big players, which is not only unfair but also goes against the very purpose of your organization. As the guardian of this industry, it is your responsibility to ensure that all players, big or small, are treated equally and that there is no favoritism.